From a young age, I’ve been fairly self-entertaining. Even now, as an adult, I can find ways to amuse myself whether I’m among other grownups, or if I’m spending all my time in the company of toddlers and young children. This has worked out particularly well in helping me maintain my sanity while subjected to countless episodes of Dora and friends. It is also an aid against the winter blues which I find are in full effect for me this time of year.
In the weeks following Christmas, especially in winters such as this, where the lack of snow leaves the landscape brown and barren, I need something to pick me up and get me through the short, colder days.
Humor has long been my weapon of choice. You may have seen my nonsense dance to The Nutcracker around Christmas, and that was no accident. When I start to get stressed and anxious (as I was around the holidays), I do something to distract and entertain myself. Many of you commented on the video and said that your “favorite” part was that my kids didn’t seem the least bit phased to see their Mom dancing around the house in a leopard leotard, Santa hat, and tutu. It really is because I’m that stupid on a regular basis. My kids, all being little, are quite taken by my antics and we sing and dance like no one is watching. I’m sure as they get older, I’ll become the most embarrassing parent of all time (a title which I plan on earning). For now, I’m entertaining at least to the three of them and the one of me.
Which brings me to last weekend. I was feeling particularly sullen while sitting in my house which has been stripped of holiday cheer, so I decided to do some retail therapy. Not that I need a reason to look forward to the arrival of Spring, but I thought I’d buy something I could wear when the seasons finally change would brighten my mood.
I’m attending a great charity event in April, The Real Charitable Housewives of Delaware’s Positively 80′s Mom Prom, which will benefit The Andrew McDonough B+® Foundation (you can read about their fabulous work helping critically ill children here). This event is benefiting a great cause and I’ll be bringing a gift basket to raffle (and hopefully some other goodies too), along with my big hair and my radical 80′s prom dress that I ordered from Etsy this weekend.
Instead of a pair of new Spring sandals, a bright colored bag, or a cute outfit, I cheered myself up by buying a fabulous dress to wear to the event April 20th. When it arrived yesterday I knew I could never wait that long to wear it. My kids loved the sparkles and told me it was beautiful. I tried it on…and wore it most of the day.
Making laundry fabulous…one load at a time.
Doing laundry never felt so good.
My whites have never been whiter, and this Mom sure feels a lot brighter.
I’m sure this is not the last you’ll be seeing of this dress. I spent a fair amount of money on it, so aside from Mom Prom, I plan on getting my wear out of it.
Do you have any tricks for cheering yourself up? Leave me a comment and let me know! And while you’re here, please click the banner below and vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs. Just one click is all it takes. Thanks!
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That dress just gave me The Happy Tingles.
When I’m blue:
I wear happy earrings.
I go to a store that makes me very happy, even if I don’t buy anything (See: Anthropologie, the high-end designer floor of Saks)
I bake something amazelicious and eat it warm.
I meet a friend for the best coffee around.
I Stupid Text my girlfriends with lots of gangsta talk until we can’t take it anymore
Feel good, mamacita. We should ALL do laundry in a fancy dress. I know I have some gathering dust in my closet…
OMG. I just saw your picture on Facebook. So glad I could inspire, and was even more tickled to see you took it to the next level! You all can see what I mean here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=234455976632076&set=a.114018762009132.18973.111343302276678&type=1
I’ve been really bummed this week. Last night I laid on the couch to watch tv and was just…sad. Teary. Frustrated.
So your post was a revelation & inspiration for me to break open that box and try on my wedding gown from 2003. Shockingly, it fit. Which totally cheered me up. Then it needed my preschooler’s best accessories to take it up a notch.
Thanks for reminding me that amusing myself and cheering myself up is more than possible, no matter how blue I am. All it takes is a little sparkle and a splash of crazypants.
That is a FABULOUS red dress. And you’ve picked it out for an equally fabulous cause.
May I suggest, when you’re done with it, checking out the Bloggess’ “Traveling Red Dress” campaign? The beginning of the project is here (http://thebloggess.com/2010/05/the-traveling-red-dress/) if you want to read up on it, but the basic gist is very similar to why you bought that dress to begin with – to do something that makes you happy and makes you feel even more awesome. She just posted the other day that she’s looking for more dresses to spread the love, and red is the requisite color.
In any case, rock on wit’ your bad self.
I do follow her, and the thought never even occurred to me that it might be included. I’m sure she gets a trillion emails, but maybe I’ll see if this beauty can help brighten someone else’s day too.
Thanks for the comment!
Perfect. I want to go!
I think the tickets for this one sold out, but if you click on the Facebook page there’s a way to get on a wait list. It’s gonna be fun! Try and come if you’re local!
I’ll do that today!! It’s ’bout time I get the dust off those high heels!!
I promise, it makes the whole experience better!
Genius. I’m in. I have fabulous things some damn place around here, and why shouldn’t I dust in them!
Dusting will never be so fabulous. I promise!
I have several fab dresses from past charity events that are screaming to be worn again. Will play rock paper scissors to decide which one is first.
Unfortunately, there’s usually enough chores to go around. Happy cleaning!
sometimes I put on my sky-high heels, do laundry, and vacuum. I wear short athletic shorts and a lounging top. there is no need to worry about ‘feeling fat’ because shoes don’t give a f*ck if you gained five pounds or not. I love shoes!
I paint my nails. I rarely do, with dishes, cleaning, and poopy diapers I dont even bother but everyone once in a while I will break out the polish and paint my toenails and fingernail. Funny thing is though doing something that small always gets a ‘where are you going?’ from my husband, like I have to go somewhere special just to have nail polish on. Now its fun because my 2 year old joins in, so I get to spend some girl time with her painting her nails also.
My local bestie Amy and I tried on several old prom and bridesmaid’s dresses to cheer up last cold season! Was a complete blast and made the day a lot brighter – it could have been the sequins…..
This sounds like me. Wait til your kids hit the teen years and say, “You’re not a normal mom…” Well, DUH!!
As far as what I do to cheer myself up…number one on the list is playing with the dog. Right now she’s dressed in a bikini.
To cheer myself up from the “winter doldrums” I enjoy lighting small fires. Some call it “arson” I call it “Bright and cheery in a lighter”. Ok. That’s not true. Anymore. Now I just buy myself a new lipstick. And I drink.
And Diane, I just snorted my coffee thru my nose at the thought of your dog in a bikini!! Thanks for that!
I come to your blog when feeling blue… haha! You are so funny and I absolutely love your blog! I wish I knew you in person as I think you would be an amazingly fun friend
Thanks for posting and being crazy!! You are great!
Love this. I actually have a ballgown (yes, I know) from the one and only ball I’ve ever been invited to attend that took me hours to find and cost a pretty penny. It irked me to no end that all of that only benefited me for like 4 hours of my life. But my daughter would love it if I wore it around the house, and my husband would think I’d gone mad, which would make for far more entertainment than the ball.
I have dressed up in a cocktail dress before to have tea with my daughter (at home), but the cocktail dress is black with zero flash. The ballgown? That will accomplish something. Thanks for the great idea.
[...] couple of days ago Susan from The Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva did a post about wearing her new sequinned red dress while doing the household chores. It was [...]
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fantastic! LOVE IT!
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