Tuesday, July 29, 2008

check out my knickers

There are some days when all goes well - Bean takes good naps, I have a nice breakfast, the cats don't puke at 2am, Chip is an a great mood, and the whole world seems like a beautiful place. The kind of place I'd like to hang around for a while. Other days seem marked with trouble - Alice won't nap (AT ALL), the washing machine seems to be possessed, Phoebe redefines UNDERFOOT and I step on her about 12 million times, and there's nothing good to make for dinner.

Today is sort of between those two extremes, but I'll tell you what: even the worst day can be so much better when you get a PACKAGE in the MAIL from TESSIE. I received my winnings from her pay it forward contest.

I took about a bajillion photos of the thing to try to really capture it's, um, essence. But all I ended up doing was feeling dumb.


With shots like this:



And this:
And this:


In case you can't tell, there's a box of Texas chocolate (I didn't know that Texas had an official chocolate - it's Texas Pecan Pralines, in case you were wondering). There is also a very handy mug describing my current state: WICKED TIRED. There is a little something for Bean. And lastly, HOT DISH RECIPES. Like a whole stack of them. I do believe we'll be having a weekly HOT DISH, Miss Tessie, thanks to you. Shucks, it was such a nice present -



I am beginning to think it should be DON'T MESS WITH BEAN, but maybe that's just me.

Now, in return for this box of fantastic loot, I am (again) hosting a(nother) Pay it Forward: Pay it Forward III, This Time It's Personal. Or, at least, this time it's a little gimmicky. I decided to put a twist on PIF III.

The prize will be whatever I can fit into THIS BOX.


Mystery prize package, but I promise it will be good. And then, if you win this PIF, you need to host your own PIF, using the SAME BOX. With the same concept (only what will fit in box). I was one of those sad little kids who always wanted to launch a balloon into the sky with my name and address tied to the string, in the hope that the balloon would be found by someone in Kansas or Michigan, or somewhere else that's totally fancy. Alas, my balloon was always the one that got caught in the power lines right outside the school. So I totally knew who found my balloon: ME. This is my chance, people, to SEE HOW FAR THIS LITTLE WHITE BOX WILL GO!

Edited to add the following:
- If you're the winner of the PIF (and the plain white box) - you should add some kind of decoration to the box, could be anything.
- Everyone who gets the box should also write their city and state inside the box's lid
- I'll post a link to the box's whereabouts. Because I'm seriously reliving the whole elementary balloon launch experience, and this time I'm not going to be disappointed! No siree!

You can enter this PIF by answering this question in the comments: what was your favorite school outfit (any age). Mine has to be my red knickers (do you remember KNICKERS?) with my blue and red BLOUSE. (Tell me what 3rd grade kid wears a BLOUSE to SCHOOL anymore? I loved those darn knickers. They had snappy things at the knees. And I wore my white KNEE SOCKS with them. I swear I must've looked like a deranged Pinnochio, but I thought I looked awesome.

Your turn. Contest runs until next Wednesday, August 6, 6pm PST. Go!


42 comments:

Pickles and Dimes said...

Awesome, awesome gifts! I love that Bean is already breaking in the bib.

My favorite school outfit was a Ronald MacDonald dress. I KID YOU NOT. I apparently wore it every day, as every photo of me in kindergarten has me wearing it. It was bright yellow and had white and red stripes on it. Lord.

stacie d said...

I loved my first name brand item: the black Guess t-shirt with red in the background of the logo. I wore it ONLY with my red/black plaid shorts, of course. I have it on in so many photos from that era (freshman in high school), it's a bit pathetic. Even the family trip to Yosemite. HA!

Anonymous said...

OMG that baby is adorable!!!!

My favorite outfit was either my rainbow shirt (the rainbow that crossed onto the sleeves) or my jersey style shirt with a roller skate iron on and my name on printed on the back. Hello 80s!!!

MzEll said...

Oh! I remembered! Ok, 4th grade. Teal tights, light demin mini skirt, purple shirt, and a sweater that was teal, purple, and magenta. I was stylin! My dad picked it out for me, ha!

Your girl has the most tasty cheeks. And the bow on her head is just too much for me!

ya ya's mom said...

OMG I had this brown polyester dress. It had buttons I think on the top part and a curved collar (I'm so technical...) At any rate, I was such a dork at the time but I thought I was so stylish!

aibee said...

I wore a school uniform all. the. damn. time. so my favorite school outfit DIDN'T EXIST.

Aside: would Bean fit into that box? Theoretically. Or not. Your choice. AHEM.

Unknown said...

This is my first PIF contest, but seeing how far the white box will go? Sounds so fun! I had to enter!

Tess said...

Dude, I guess I should ENTER! Although I am quite low on Scotch tape, so I hope I don't WIN!

I had a Guess sweatshirt with lace LEGGINGS, and I LOVED that outfit. The sad truth is that this outfit is like, BACK IN STYLE NOW. Gah.

CP said...

Oh great question! I had this hooded cotton dress-thing. It was yellow with bog color blocks of red and blue on it. Super fashionable, I imagine. I wore it until it was so short I had to wear shorts under it.

Oh but there's more! Fast forward from 1-3rd grade (yellow hoodie dress) to 5th grade when I was uber-cool with my cream colored painter pant cords, pink blouse (with tie at color no less) and a blue shetland wool polo sweater. To tie this ensemble together? A comb, tied with pink and blue ribbons that was placed into the loop of my painter pants. It's probably a good thing that I can't recall the shoes I wore with that fabulous outfit.

stephanie said...

OK, I'm in fourth grade. I was WAY into breakdancing (shush, it was 1984) and this was my STANDARD outfit:

~purple pinstriped nikes
~white ruffled ankle socks
~purple parachute pants, rolled up to my calves, OF COURSE

and the piece de resistance???

~a baseball (you know, white in the middle and colors on the sleeves - in this case, PURPLE) short sleeve shirt that had "BREAKIN" silkscreened on the front and "STEPH" IRONED ON THE BACK.

Oh I am SO NOT JOKING. if only i had pics. le sigh.

-R- said...

I always had great dreams for how far my balloon would go too! But my balloon postcard was never returned. Ever. How sad, I know.

In 6th grade, my favorite outfit was a blue/green shirt with a purple vest attached to it and a matching pair of biker shorts with a short skirt attached to the shorts.

S said...

I had to wear a uniform all through my school years. But my favorite outfit outside of school was a true work of art.

I had these awesome purple and black leggings with a turquoise skirt attached to it. Then this black and purple shirt with cool turquoise squiggles all over it. I then wore black high tops with turquoise socks. I rocked.

Robin said...

What a fun contest! My favorite outfit is the one I am still shocked my mom bought for me, let alone let me wear. And wear I did, on the 1st day of 5th grade, and many days after that. A navy shirt that read "you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny" and a white jean skirt. Swear to god! I guess my parents thought it would be funny/ironic considering I was definitely not a bully.

Kristi said...

Ooh. I love this question. When I was in the the 1st grade I had this oversized yellow sweatshirt with a dog on it. The dog had a turquoise collar that was raised a little off the fabric. I paired that with super awesome turquoise leggings tucked into my socks. I was such a fashion forward 6 year old!

Fianna said...

Black leggings and my dad's old red shirt. Oh goodness, thank god I am the second child that has absolutely no pictures taken of her. I love my parents for that. It has saved me much embarrassment.

FunnyGal KAT said...

Ha! Good question... I had a pair of white, embroidered skinny jeans that had been handed down from my fashionable cousin. I loved wearing them with a big, blue button down shirt (untucked, of course), which was over a white T-shirt. And the jeans were pegged and worn with white Keds. I don't even have to tell you that my hair had those stupid curled bangs, right?

Alice said...

came here from tessie! what a great PIF prize.. and i love the box idea. i was always doing the "mail 3 postcards and you'll get 29376834 back from all over the world!" chains, which never worked EITHER.

fave outfit: black leggings, with CUFFS you folded up on the bottom, which approximated wearing 3 layers of slouch socks, but they were BUILT INTO THE LEGGINGS. also, the 3 fake socks were purple, hot pink, and neon green. and then, obvs, an oversized matching tunic sweater on top. HOTT.

Simply AnonyMom said...

I came from Tessie

My favorite outfit had to be in about the 3rd or 4th grade. i had a brand new (not from the thrift store) Rainbow Brite long sleeve t-shirt that had these awesome puffs on the top of the sleeves. It was pink and gold. I wore it with my Thrift Store find of real authentic parachute pants and my donated-nearly-new yellow converse all stars. I LOVED that outfit and rocked it hard.

Chraycee said...

my favorite outfit for school was a bright pink t-shirt with one of those circle things you threaded the edge of the shirt through paired with black stretch leggings, 3 pairs of socks (white, then pink, then black) and my pink converse high tops - in which I sported some crazy black and white super wide shoelaces. Of course I had a pony tail with multiple scrunchies topping off my fab ensemble.

Sleepynita said...

Wanna ship that box to Canada (with Andes chocolates, Red Vines, Fruit Stripe Gum, Lemonheads and Real Orange Tic Tacs in it? Because I would kill for some Yankee candy by now!)?

Favorite Outfit was from a store called Au Coton in Canada. It was these baggy tan colored pants that had to have the fold 'n roll cuff (cool people did it to their Levi's me? cotton pants. Go Nita!) With 2 baggy t-shirts (pink, white) layered and a cotton web belt tied overtop. I think this was about the same time that I rocked the side pony tail.

So hot I know.

LoriD said...

In grade 5 I had this denim outfit - jeans and a jacket - that was a pale peachy-orange colour. Man, I loved that outfit. My bff had the same ensemble in baby blue. We were so cool.

angelalois said...

I'm not here to win any prizes, but I just want to say these are my favorite pictures of Bean so far. Sooooo cute.

Zakary said...

In 4th grade, I had an oversized giraffe sweater that was turquoise and the giraffe was balck and hot pink. I wore it over black stretch pants with RED hightop Converse. Like almost everyday. Tragic.

You have a cute blog!

Bird said...

What a good idea for a PiF!

I have a couple favorite outfits:
1. Pink and White Saddle shoes- I think I wore them with everything (elementary school)
2. Black corduroy skirt with small roses on it with mint colored turtleneck (Jr. High)
3. Denim Overall dress with red and white striped shirt and the cutest brown mary janes ever! (HS)

JackeeG4glamorous said...

Adorable baby! Our "hero" Tessie comes through!!!
So, favorite outfit has to be in Jr. High, about 8th grade. I was finding my groove, had a cool boyfriend. I wore (this was the 70's guys...are you with me?) a navy turtleneck body suit, complete with crotch snaps, navy tights and a red crushed corderoy hot pant! Ohhh, I was so cool. And then, on my dress up days, I had a brown calico fitted baby doll style dress, short, and I wore matching panties under it. I wore saddle shoes and white opaque knee socks with it. It was an 8th grade boys version of Bad Little girl... EWWWW, what was I thinking? My mom thought it was sweet. I was making my style statement.

I got better.

hangel said...

Oh the outfits...I had one of those Hypercolor shirts...remember those? They would change colors based on heat? I loved that shirt.

Adriane said...

I had a Hypercolor shirt that when from grey to hot pink when body heat was applied. (Anyone else remember these?) In theory, it would change when someone put their hand on it and leave a cool pattern, but mostly I walked around 7th grade with hot pink armpits and two hot pink circle boobies. That, paired with my roll cuff jean shorts and Eastlands loafers with the tassels tied just right...

Top it off with a Swatch Watch and a misting of Love's Baby Soft, blue mascara and a couple of friendship bracelets and it sums up my entire middle school experience.

Adriane said...

Hey Hangel! You beat me to the hypercolor shirts by two minutes! Great minds think alike...

Emblita said...

Ooh, during winter, def. my tartan skirt (with suspenders) and a white shirt. During summer my strawberry shortcake scratch'n'sniff shorts and matching top...
Wasn't growing up in the early 80's grand?!

Tiffany said...

I had this blue plaid bodysuit with white jean shorts that I thought made me look HOT. In seventh grade. Ah, the nineties.

Cherish said...

Came over from Swistle...

I actually cant remember a single outfit from my school days. My mom picked out almost everything I wore so I guess I didnt pay much attention.

Your box idea is so good, I cant wait to hear more. Maybe if each person wrote a little message inside or something?

Scott Driza said...

I think my favorite high school outfit was my white cowboy boots, jean miniskirt, and peach Esprit sweatshirt. Yikes, it even sounds scary in writing.

And there's one more day to win the Billabong dress on my website, at which point, I'll be putting a new item up for grabs!
http://www.houndrat.com/2008/07/28/the-great-purge/

Missy said...

This is such a great idea!

I had to wear a uniform all through school, but I remember on one free clothes day wearing a blue and white top and DENIM OVERALLS. That's hott.

caley said...

I was really into Madonna when I was in 3rd grade (this was like, '88 or '89). So my favorite outfit was inspired by her: black leggings underneath a little black skirt. I wore a huge, off-the-shoulderey type baggy black sweater with it. And lots of bangles on my wrist. And to complete the outfit, a black, Blossom-like (remember Blossom???) hat. With a big flower on it.

How that outfit represents Madonnna, I have NO IDEA. But at the time, I was so sure not only that it was something she would wear, but if she happened to see ME wearing it, she'd totally copy it for herself.


Also, my mom let me dress like that in 3rd grade??? Wha..?

laura said...

my purple skirt and matching shorts in elementary school.
-minnie
http://www.screamything.com

Tonya said...

I was the same way with sending off balloons as a kid. I just know they never went anywhere other than to the next neighborhood over, but I just had to do it.
As for my favorite school outfit... I was also a uniformed child so it was just school picture day that we got to wear regular clothes. My favorite school picture day outfit was a polo-type shirt dress with wide yellow and white horizontal stripes. Loved that dress. Loved.
Also, love this contest. So fun!

(happydash dot com)

arbee said...

I love your box idea! I can totally relate to the balloon thing...mine always was the lame one that didn't go anywhere.

My favorite outfit (in the 70's) was a polyester coulotte outfit in a grandma-green color...yeah, I know! I was only about 6 though, my tastes have gotten better since then. :)

Michelle said...

That is so fun! I love the box concept, and I hope it goes and goes and goes and goes.

My favorite school outfit I think had to be well, keep in mind I went to Catholic school until 8th grade sooooo... I think it's the yellow leggings I had (butter yellow) and the yellow sweatshirt with four or so donuts pasted on it. Burlington Coat Factory, bought with my own money. Yeah...

Amy said...

I was hoping for a picture of the knickers! My favorite outfit was in 6th grade (1986-ish)... tropical flowered "jams" (remember those?) and a bright colored t-shirt (any color since the shorts had every color in the rainbow) to match. With Keds, no socks. I thought I was awesome.

nursenicki said...

First, let me say thank you, as a Michigander, for thinking that Michigan was fancy in your elementary-school days...

My favorite outfit would have to be the purple corduroy pants and pastel-striped, puff-sleeve T-shirt I frequently wore in Kindergarten...until Jerry G., the naughty boy in class, jumped on my group table during snack time and spilled my chocolate milk (and the milk of three other kids) all over my outfit. I had to wear a mustard-yellow sweatsuit issued by the school nurse (with my saddle shoes, mind you) for the rest of the day.

pseudostoops said...

Whew, just under the wire for this contest. My favorite outfit game from my uber-cool godmother in Los Angeles and was made by Esprit (fancy!) and was kulottes and a matching blouse, both in a print that featured magenta lily pads with bright green frogs jumping off them. HOT.

Cherish said...

Woo-Hoo, I actually won one! Hehe thanks Whimsy, Ill send you an email ASAP!