Where have all the stirrup pants gone?

I was home in Amarillo last weekend for my little sister's high school graduation (gasp!). While I was there, my aunt bestowed upon me lots of old photos she had found as she was going through my grandmother's house. There were the requisite cute, aww--invoking images of my childhood. Hello, pigtails and wispy hair that always escaped my barrette.

And then there were the cringe-inducing, what-were-we-thinking photos. Exhibit A: stirrup pants.


Exhibit B: way too big shirts and glasses the size of Montana.


I remember thinking I was SO CUTE in these outfits. sigh I really don't think I figured out that I was not actually a size extra-large until after a year at college.

Rifling through the photos led to reminiscing what other fashion mysteries I've lived through...

• units
• Coca-Cola shirts
• pegged pants
• jelly shoes
• slap bracelets
• banana clips
• shoulder pads
  
• Keds without the shoelaces
• a pair of pants my mom wore that featured neon paint splatters and fish skeletons
• the denim shirt craze
  

Although I like to think that there has been some improvement over the years, I can't complain too much. Our fashion sense might have been crazy, but without it, we'd have a world devoid of 80s parties. And nobody wants that, right?!

Flames & Faith

Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church, my phone started beeping its signal for text messages. To my dismay, when I checked it, I found pictures of the chapel where I used to attend church in Cambridge up in flames. Since then I've had the chance to talk to friends--those still in Boston and beyond. I know I'm just one "generation" of people who have loved the Longfellow Park chapel, and there is something comforting and healing to know that people far and wide are mourning the loss of a place so dear to our hearts. Thankfully, everyone got out safely, and some paintings, books, and important documents were saved. My friends in Boston have all talked about the shock, disbelief, and then unifying feelings they've experienced as they work through this tragedy. I'm grateful that our faith, friendship, and memories will remain even if the place itself is gone. And I do hope that out of ashes, hope and resilience can rise up.

24 hours in DC

My dear friend Alice got married last week, and I got to be there. The wedding was in DC, and I was hoping to make a mini-vacation to see all my DC friends and my favorite DC spots. But the timing didn't work out. I had a big event at the museum on May 5, a preschool class to teach on May 6, and my brother was graduating from his orthopedic surgery residency on May 8. So that meant just 24 hours in DC for me. I made the most of it. I got to catch up with my friend Yvette, see the newly renovated National Museum of American History, run to the National Gallery, and then spend time in the DC temple. Oh and drink up all the green grass, the flowering trees, and drive along the George Washington Parkway--one of my all time favorite drives. So beautiful.


It was crazy rainy all day long. In fact when I drove into the temple parking lot, there was a torrential downpour. But when it was time for Alice and Dave to come out of the temple, there was sunshine and blue skies. By the time I got back on the airplane, rain again. A little help from heaven I think!

My favorite quote of the day was from cute Helen in her British accent: "When I get married, my mom better bring a picnic!"

More Bluebonnets

I had another weekend o' bluebonnet fun...this time with my sister-in-law and the nephews. We drove down south a ways to Euless, the self-proclaimed bluebonnet capital (although there seems to be another small Texas town that claims theirs is the "Official" Bluebonnet Festival...I haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet).

We found fields and fields of the flowers and the boys were willing to play along for the picture-taking bit. But not for too long--Julie and I were snapping away with our cameras and Zach says "Guys, I'm going back to the car!"

I particularly loved learning fun facts from the friendly bluebonnet man (decked out in a bluebonnet-fabric-vest no less!!!). Not all bluebonnets are blue--some are pink or maroon. But all varieties are considered the state flower. They have neon orange pollen. And it is NOT illegal to pick them. But I say let wildflowers be wild. :)


When we finally made our way to town, we enjoyed walking down Main St. and absorbing every aspect of the small town fair. Snow cones, a bounce house, and handmade crafts. What more can you ask for? I'm pretty sure spring doesn't last too long around here and it will soon be blazing hot, so I will enjoy it as long as I can.

**burp**

I've had a wave of friends-having-babies lately and decided to use that sewing machine of mine to make something other than aprons. My friend Erika gave me the idea, and then I found a great tutorial here, so I can't lay claim to any originality, but I think they are super cute. And who doesn't want spit up to be more fashionable?! I'm leaving it to the mom-friends to find out whether or not they are as functional as they are cute. But let me say, super-duper easy to make--only thing the tutorial doesn't mention is that you must wash the diapers before you sew on the ribbon and trim (they shrink like 500% it seems...which is probably a good thing since when I took them out of the package, I couldn't imagine how to fit all that material around a baby bum!). Burp away!

A Thank You Note

Dear Honda,

Thanks for making your cars safe and strong and figuring out that tricky stuff like how it will fold up into a million pieces if it gets hit. I appreciate that this little car took the hit so that my little sister did not (although she is on crutches). Her car is toast, but she is ok. So I'm your newest BFF.

XOXO
Leah

Texas wildflowers

Think fast--what is the Texas state flower? If you said bluebonnet, give yourself a pat on the back! Legend has it that the bluebonnet got its name because the flowers resemble the pioneers' bonnets.

This past weekend MaryAnn and I went on a hunt for the bluebonnet. Apparently a springtime tradition in the Lone Star State is taking pictures of children, dogs, and other cute things in fields of the blue flowers. Since I'm a Lone Star gal again, I figured I better do the Texas thing (and I like flowers). Finding the flowers was a bit of an adventure. In a flash of brilliance, MaryAnn called Home Depot and asked them where we should go. The helpful flower man told us to go to an intersection in Plano. Not out to the country or to a nature preserve, but to an intersection. I love Texas. He was right! There on the side of the road, we joined other people taking pictures.



See? Really, just randomly on the side of the road.

And now for the traditional "girl in field of bluebonnets" picture.


I found an official bluebonnet festival going on this weekend, so there might be even more bluebonnets in my future.