Thursday, September 07, 2006

It's all about the alterations

So much excitement in the Ryan hood last night...

I spent the evening on the couch, watching two Russian women in cocktail dresses duking it in the U.S. Open. While they were huffing and grunting their way through the two-set match, I was huffing and grunting (and maybe even swearing a little) as I duked it out with a new chapter for my work in progress. All I can say is: Worst. Writing. Ever. You know there's a problem when you start to hate your main character, particularly when you're writing a memoir.

It took three and a half hours, but I'm happy to report that the chapter and I are back on track, in every sense of the word. As it turns out, you can say, "I sat on the couch and stared at these people, wondering who they were and what on earth they were doing" in less than 30 pages! Good news for everyone :)

While I was trying to rescue my masterpiece (and keep my dog from curling up on my laptop - something about the heat and the humming noise makes her all snuggly), Steve was in the other room reading this - which made him laugh so hard he almost fell off the bed. I've never seen him this enthusiastic about a book; honestly, I think it was a gift from God to get him through the Red Sox debacle and sustain him until the Patriots opener this Sunday.

And finally, in the WHO KNEW??? department - I just discovered that Banana Republic offers FREE alterations!!! Am I the last person to discover this? Honestly, I almost kissed the sales woman when she told me that the adorable-but-way-too-long jeans I tried on could be hemmed to make me look like one of the "after" shots on What Not To Wear. I am far too excited about this. Pictures may be forthcoming.

Which leads me to ask - where do you find jeans? What are your favorite brands/cuts/styles? They say the tapered, tight-leg look is coming back, but I think if we band together, we can stop the madness!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've put on a few pounds in the last couple of months, so the tight-leg look may be coming back whether I want it to or not. Is there any word on the flab-bulge-over-the-waist look?

Trish Ryan said...

From what I understand, that's called "muffin top"

Britney Spears-Federline is helping popularize this look with her perpetual pregnancies, keeping those empire-waist tops in circulation. Finally, some Britney-inspired fashion we can all use!

xxxx said...

NO SKINNY JEANS! I don't think they look good on anyone. Not even bony 12-year-olds.

I am always on the lookout for perfect jeans. I like wide leg/flare-ish styles. I'm wearing Gap flares today but HELLO! How exciting that Banana Republic does free alterations! I may have to stop by.

Unknown said...

I for one have not been looking forward to the return of the "skinny jean". I wonder whose bright idea this was.....I'm envisioning a bunch of twenty something men sitting around a conference table saying "yea yea, skinny jeans...the new trend. let's go get an energy drink. and a pizza!" lol

Alyssa Goodnight said...

Muffin top! That reminds me of that Seinfeld episode--'Top of the Muffin to You!' and it doesn't really sound any better than 'flab-bulge-over-the-waist'. The latter actually sounds kind of exotic.

Can you tell I'm reaching??

Hoots Musings said...

How about spandex elastic waist jeans with a tapered leg?

Three kids and post menopause is not for the faint hearted!

PS...Nancy recommended you to me!

Kari Lee Townsend said...

Too funny. Skinny jeans?? What's that? Even if I wore them, there'd be nothing skinny about it. Ugh!!! Monday, I'm gonna start on Monday. Bet you've never heard that one before.

LEstes65 said...

People, the 80's are becoming retro. So it's only a matter of time before all my younger siblings, nieces & nephews start showing up in pegged jeans. But if they start wearing the little clip-on straps that are supposed to keep them tucked into boots (come on, you know you used them!) while wearing loafers, I will probably move to another planet. I have to agree with Swishy on this one.