White Shirts, Stains, and Tide Pens

I'm going to mesh two posts together. Well, maybe three. The first thought is the quest for the perfect white shirt. Second is food. And the third is, well, read on.

I probably have 30 white shirts. All in search of the perfect one. It needs to fit well, be comfortable, not stain under the arms, be washable and dryable, be either a scoop or v neck, cool and warm at the same time, and not patterned or mixed with other colors.

I am still looking. I am a sucker for white shirts. My newest closest to perfect white shirt is a short sleeve T by Ralph Lauren. It has lace inside the scoop neck. It fits well and is comfy.

Now why I have and want white shirts is beyond me. I can't wear white. Well, I can wear it but I can't keep it clean. Take for example today. I was wearing a white ribbed turtleneck. And carrying a stack of papers. With a lunch tray of pizza on top.

I didn't trip, fall or spill. But it still ended up all over me as it wedged up underneath my, well, you know. (Truly not the best place to get a spot while you are at work.)

This is nothing new. That is why I own 4 Tide pens. Everyone knows at work if they get a spot, come to me cause I have a pen to fix it. I keep one in my desk, one in my purse, one in my car, and then I have an extra here at home.

I like them. They work. I am messy. But they STINK! like baby puke. So it is always a real dilema. Do I want to stink or be unstained? I usually opt for the stink. If I walk fast enough, people will think it is someone else or it came from somewhere else. If I am stained, they know it is on me.

I am regularly doing the following: eating a hotdog with mustard and it goes all over me (wearing a white shirt), eating a sandwich of bologna and overspilling ketchup onto me (and my white shirt), eating BBQ and dripping BBQ sauce down the front (of my white shirt).

This past spring when I came home with white pants my hubby couldn't even believe it. He said, "That isn't going to last." He knows me so well.

As a side note, I refuse to eat in my gi. (white karate outfit) I also have a white bikini and a white summer suit. I love them both too. But the wearing of them also comes with major restrictions.

So I love wearing white, but can't find the perfect shirt. Maybe because they haven't made a stain-resistant one. Or an unstinky Tide pen.

Bras

photo courtesy of nasirkhan @ morguefile.com

It took me 27 years to find the perfect bra.

That's a long darn time. And I have to say that when I found it, I bought 8 of them. They are beginning to wear out. I think I might cry.

They are nothing fancy or expensive. They are made by Bill Blass. You will never believe where I found them. Dollar General. Yep. Forget Victoria's Secret, Macy's, JC Penny, etc. The most perfect bra ever lives at Dollar General and they cost $5 a piece.

They only come in white, but that's okay because they are perfect. (and I wear tons of white shirts - which is a whole nother blog in itself - the quest for the perfect white top)

With these bras I never have seam lines show (or anything else for that matter). The straps are adjustable and don't come off in the wash. They are preformed, so they look like they are full even when laying on the bed. They are low cut in front so I can wear any shirt I want and not worry about it showing. They have three dual hook sections in back (which is great around Thanksgiving time as I grow!) And they always look nice.

It's hard to find the perfect bra. I am hoping Dollar General still has them as it is time to get more. Otherwise I might just wear them until they become rags. And then I would probably still wear them!

Of course, my husband is now laughing hysterically as he just read my blog. He thinks I am nuts. He doesn't get how important the perfect bra is. But us girls know. ;)

photo courtesy of nasirkhan at morguefile.com

The Season

This is my favorite time of year. Well, one of them. I also like New Year's Eve. And St. Patrick's Day. And Valentine's Day. And Fourth of July. And when it comes to my birthday, well that's just a week long celebration. I have a birth week.

Things I don't like - leaves, fall, cold weather, rain. So I am glad most of those things are over.

Christmas holds many special memories for me. No proposals or cars or stuff like that. It's more about the little things. Making cookies with mom and sis. Putting up the tree listening to carols. Getting surprised with a REAL Christmas tree by hubby. And I would have to say one thing that ranks way up there as well is making the perfect gift. MAKING, not buying.

Time is precious. For years I have tried to get my family to exchange only MADE gifts. I keep giving them but they can't really comply. My mom (sometimes - she is pretty crafty with knitting and sewing, etc) and my dad (sometimes - he builds things). My sis did once, and I have to say it is one of my most cherished gifts ever (only because she is not crafty and went to a lot of trouble and spent a lot of time creating a "piece" for every letter in the song "Christmas Alphabet.")

To me, that is what it's all about. Giving a piece of yourself to the other person to let them know they are special to you. It isn't about money. Don't forget that this year.