Nina Garcia, Maternity leave, and the dillweed planet.

I love Project Runway and had only merely listened half-heartedly to Nina Garcia's critiques - until now.  She's a high - powered exec at a great magazine AND she's also a judge on Project Runway, AND she has a 3 year old son - AND now she's pregnant with her second child AND (last one, I promise) she's 45! She's probably not up to a-level J-Lo celebrity status in order to command a team of helpers so my guess is she and her husband are doing this on their own (with a nanny and daycare.) But we all know that the behind-the-scenes, in the dark of 4am, way before help arrives, is the most trying and taxing part of the equation: How to get oneself dressed, feed family and arrive at work looking alive, rested and enthusiastic - now THAT's the challenge. Doing this at any age isn't easy but, I have to admit, personally, I get the feeling it might have been a bit easier in my younger years so for Nina to do this at 45 is a huge undertaking. And don't forget the emotional impact. Leaving 2 babies at home or in daycare can be excruciating!  Women are pulled apart daily by the emotional and financial impact of childrearing and yet we contribute just as much (read: if not more) to business and humanity than the male contingent.  States and local governments also don't recognize our sacrifices. (Read this about how you can still get fired for going on maternity leave!) We are made to feel guilty and treated as if we spend our maternity leaves lounging and eating bon-bons.  But when will the rest of humanity realize that the human race will perish without children??  Women aren't taking maternity leaves to take up a hobby or get tattooed, WE ARE RAISING THE CHILDREN THAT ARE THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET, you dillweeds.   I fortunately, had a fairly understanding work environment that allowed me to work from home my last week of pregnancy and also take 30 minutes twice a day to pump since I was breastfeeding. I did take 3 months off but, like every other mother -only in the US! - it was unpaid.  I do applaud Aflac for offering an additional type of insurance for what society has declared a 'disability' - that's how pregnancy and maternity leave are categorized by medical and insurance companies: a disability. I'm pretty sure anyone who has had the privilege of being pregnant and giving birth to a beautiful life, and sustaining that little life fully and completely with your own breastmilk, would disagree that this is a 'disability.'  Don't forget that ever single one of you lawmakers had a mother too and without her, you wouldn't be here.

Bracelet inspiration

Am sporting my new awesome bracelet from my sister-in-law today. Sometimes matchy-matchy works and I'm totally into it right now.  I've had this dress for a couple years and always wore it with a brown leather belt, chunky wooden earrings, etc etc - things along that line.  Then I got this bracelet and it just... tied it all together. Sigh. I like it when the planets align and outfits fall into place.  Of course, it's hard to remember these moments when my normal morning dress-myself routine consists of digging through my wardrobe in the dark (can't wake the HB and the baby) with a toothbrush hanging out of my mouth, while wearing a towel and a wristwatch (constantly reminding me I'm late.)  So, a nice little take away from today's lesson is:  start with the jewelry and then build the outfit around it.  If that doesn't work, go back to bed. Start over.