Host Chat: An Incredibly Poetic Announcement

Me, my belly and my publicity-wary toddler

Some thoughts from today's Long Branch Half Marathon:

I watched from the sidelines with my toddler son

as racers ran toward Mile 13.1

How did I do that just one year ago?

Now with each step my whole body shouts, "no!"

The reason I'm so slow and tired and big,

Is because soon we'll be having another kid!

Both offline and on, I have slowed to a crawl.

Since November I haven't Facebooked at all.

In coming months I predict more of the same...

I've got naps I must take! I've got diapers to change!

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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Pinterest.com/JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

Airport Style

Ready for takeoff, inspired by J. (below right). Except I
think I'll need a bigger purse. And by purse, I mean diaper bag.

Lately, there seems to be a huge disconnect between the way I look in my mind's eye (clean clothes, decent hair, makeup) and the way I look when I pass a mirror (food-covered sweats, messy ponytail, no makeup). I just watched an episode of Giuliana & Bill in which Giuliana worries about losing her mojo after the arrival of the couple's baby. I don't know about my mojo, but my sense of style seems to have flown the coop. It has only made a few incredibly brief appearances since my son was born a year ago. Each of my rare fashion-forward moments have been inspired by J's Everyday Fashion. J's recent blog on airport style got me thinking about my last flight. It pains me to admit I boarded the plane in workout pants, running shoes, and a stained performance tee. Sigh. 

As I prepare for another flight, J. is the wind beneath my wings. Her outfit (above) is awesome, except I can't wear a chambray shirt. My father-in-law was the king of the denim shirt. If I were to wear one, the whole family would call me "Oren." Don't get me wrong, it's a great look on the right person. I even bought a tiny chambray button-down for my son. Because it's cute for a little boy to look like his grandfather. But it's not cute for a grown woman to look like her father-in-law. So I flip-flopped the dark blue and light blue parts of J's outfit. And now I feel somewhat creative. And quite appropriately-dressed. And completely ready to board the next plane to Fashionville. Or Milan. (Or, lets be honest here, Boca.)

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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Pinterest.com/JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

My Shorts Story

Above right, my inspiration, J.
Above left, her inspiration, J. Crew.

Ack! I've been photo-bombed by Baby Shane!

Nearly a year ago, I had a baby. Last spring, I finally lost all the baby weight (yay!), and I couldn't wait to spend the summer in my standard warm-weather uniform of sundresses, shirt dresses and shift dresses. Especially since I'd spent the previous summer in maternity wear. But I quickly found that dresses aren't practical for new moms. If you're nursing, you have to fully undress every time the baby gets hungry. Dresses aren't ideal for playdates, picnics and park outings either. If you're going to be running crawling around a playground with the under-one-year-old set, you need shorts.
And -- brace yourself -- aside from my running gear, I didn't own any shorts. How is that possible, you ask? Well, I always thought dresses were easier. I also felt like I looked all wrong every time I put on shorts. I end up in too-long cargo shorts that made me look like a 14-year-old boy on his way to the skate park. Terrible.
My beloved Vogue, Bazaar and Elle magazines didn't exactly give me guidance on how to dress for playdates. Sure, I knew exactly I'd wear to the Emmys, but I had no idea what to wear to the park!
Then, I found a website called J's Everyday Fashion. It had thousands of pictures of J. managing to look cute in shorts (and skirts, and jeans). She wore fun colors! Belts! Great shoes! And she did it all on a budget! Which is ironic, because she inspired me to do an obscene amount of online shopping for new shorts, as well as coordinating tops, belts and shoes. I honestly think the management at Zappos is planning to honor me with some sort of "Customer of the Year" award soon. Anyway, when I get that award, I plan to thank J. for inspiring my post-baby makeover, or Momover, if you will. And I'll thank my husband for not making too many comments about our skyrocketing credit card statements. And my baby boy, for napping in my arms while I balanced the iPad on my knees and shopped online. And the good people of Zappos, for honoring me with this award. And my fellow nominees... it's an honor just to be mentioned in the same breath as you!
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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Pinterest.com/JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson