“The busier I am the more efficient I become. I tend to thrive in chaos.”

During the day, I don’t enjoy “relaxing” and never take a nap. Sometimes, this results in “mishaps,” which I’ve learned to embrace and laugh at. I try to visualize how Lucille Ball would handle it and move on (and usually don’t even tell Ricky aka Alexis). This week, I returned to in-person, part-time work as a retail consultant. During market, (when designers showcase their clothes for the upcoming season), I work with store owners to help them select the styles of the season. On my drive home this Wednesday, I reflected on the last 48 hours and even with all the events and plans I had jammed in, it’s hectic and overwhelming — but I love it. There’s so many different moving parts to my day as a “working-social-sports loving-fashion obsessed-mother.” 

Here is a snippet of Wednesday’s turn of events and back to work day (and it’s exactly how I like it!). I set my alarm for 6:45 am. I know many 52 year olds are up before that, but I love staying up late the night before and watching T.V. (All about those Friends re-runs). I drag myself out of bed 2-3 times with snoozed alarms and dogs in tow to wake up Son number 3… he won’t get in the shower if he hasn’t snuggled the dogs. Then, I head down to make breakfast. For most lunches and dinners, I’m a heat and scoop mom but I make up for it with a daily big, multi-course, homemade breakfast! Before soccer practice, I prepare lunches and mini sandwiches for the boys. I like to make sure they start the day with protein-rich, healthy food for energy. I left Son 2 his breakfast on the kitchen island and went up to shower. As I was getting ready to head to NYC for work, I could see something odd happening in the kitchen through my window. An empty plate hanging sideways off the bar stool at the island. Uh oh. Henry (my 61-pound labradoodle) ate the two pancakes, eggs and bacon left for Son 2. With little time to spare, I made an entirely new breakfast for Son number 2.

It was amazing being back in NYC and working in person. I love being in showrooms, going through the designers’ styles, and pulling together a capsule collection. I am fortunate that I can work part time and love that my day is layered with mom time, work time, and social time. After working (3 hours in a mask!), I grabbed a quick lunch at an outdoor cafe and headed back to CT. On Wednesday, it also happened to be my two close friends’ birthdays. I had a dinner party out for one that evening and hosted a backyard party for the other the following night. On the way home, as my boys were still at soccer or doing homework, I stopped at a few markets to pick up food and supplies for the party. I finished assembling a birthday package (in my trunk) with all of my friends favorite snacks plus ingredients and bar supplies to make great fall drinks and dropped it off. Then, I came home and organized dinner for the boys, fed my dogs (which requires a 1/4 pound of ham to hide medicine for one). I changed in 7 minutes (I have learned to get ready to go out in 7 minutes). It’s a super useful skill as long as I’ve already showered. I can throw on my outfit crazy fast because I plan outfits when I am trying to fall asleep or showering.  After the festive birthday party dinner with Alexis, I returned home around at 10 to check in on everyone, (Sons 2, 3, 4 and a FaceTime with Son number 1 in college), see the sports scores/highlights, chew ice (this is a new and apparently bad problem), and relax with Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, Monica, Ross and Chandler.

As I was lying in bed, I realized…

• I didn’t have my style story ready for today;

• I hadn’t made my final to do list for the next evenings dinner party;

• I hadn’t solved the mishap that my planned decorations for the soiree were dozens of purple tulips, which apparently you cannot get in September…

  
  

  As I started to doze off, this was the text I received from Son number 3 down the hall.

  Son: Can we get an alpaca? They are so cute!

  Me: What?

  Son: I promise I’ll take care of it.
  Me: You don’t even walk the dog, and we don’t know anything about farm animals (…is an alpaca a farm animal?) *He relented. I went to sleep. 
  
  Today started with similar mishaps…. Before I cleaned up breakfast, Henry ate 3/4 stick of butter from the counter and Son number 2 sent me this text:
  Son: “Reminder: stuff to drop off at 11: 45 am. My bagel order: lightly toasted with butter and a turkey, bacon, lettuce, and American cheese lightly toasted bagel. Shin guards for soccer game today too. Love you so much momma, thank you so much.”
  
  PS. You had me at love you so much momma. I literally love being a mom.
  
  PPS: I got busted dropping off food bags at the school bc it’s not a COVID friendly policy!
  
  PPPS: Finishing this Style Story, writing email for my weekly subscribers, setting up outside for birthday soiree, getting flowers, watching my boys first soccer match and then hosting party.  No problem - I got this!