Pic on the front: a beautiful sunset on Sunday evening

It was in the 70s (!!) this weekend and I am here for it! I have been whining long enough on my blog about how done I am with winter. Sunday was especially lovely.

Overall, a well-balanced weekend, with some relaxation, quality time, active rest, and chores built in.

Saturday I went to the gym in the morning while the kids were at gymnastics. Then it was thorough house cleaning time and laundry.

An episode of the Pitt. Then back to the YMCA for their family swim and playground time. In the evening after the kids went to bed: a movie with Emma Thompson called “Dead of Winter”- she acted in it and she also produced it. I liked it but T got bored.

On Sunday I was up early since I missed my cycling class last weekend and was bummed about it. So this time I made sure that I was up and ready to be at the Y by 7:50AM to get on that bike. Whew. That class kicked all of our ass-ets. It was hard. Really hard. But I did feel great afterwards.

Came home, and summoned up the patience and energy to call my family in Russia. Things are as shitty as can be. Dad is losing his mind, seeing things, hearing things, yelling, threatening, and mom cannot take it. She is 80! She is crying and complaining about how hard it is to live with dad nowadays. And YET. She decided to NOT place him into a therapeutic center. I’ll leave it at that, because, if I write anymore, I can feel my anger rising… My phone card ran out at 29 minute mark in our conversation and I was kind of relieved.

After the phone call to Russia, I vacuumed and mopped the upstairs. A nice, big bucket of hot water + a generous helping of Murphy’s oil for wood floors + open windows = bliss.

I finished just in time to go to Morristown where I had tickets to see Riverdance at 1PM. I remember hearing about Riverdance back in the 90s when I was in London. I remember seeing their ad in Piccadilly Circus and wanting to go but didn’t have the funds. This time I coughed up $110 plus a ticket fee, sat in the front row, and enjoyed. Except, they were using a lot of theatrical fog and that made my eyes water. Apart from that, it was fabulous.

No pictures of performance were allowed

An update on work “uniform“. I ordered more of Bloomingdales work trousers. I already have two pairs: a black and a beige. I wear them all the time, with a variety of sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and blazers. To create my work uniform, I need three more so I ordered a burgundy, a navy and another black. These are, by far, the best work pants. They are a wide leg but not in a way that makes one look frumpy. They also have a nice silhouette.

My idea was to create a work uniform. Two or three pieces each time so I don’t have to wreck my brain each morning.

Two piece: pants+sweater

Three piece: pants+blouse+blazer

Add a belt and shoes.

How was your weekend? Have you seen Riverdance? What’s the weather like where you are? Do you have a work uniform/capsule wardrobe? How is the DST treating you?


20 responses to “Weekend/Riverdance/DST”

  1. Melissa Avatar

    Your weekend sounds lovely, except for the phone call to Russia. OMG, how frustrating. G has had a bit of frustration with his parents in the last couple of years on the health front (his mum not so good and them not facing up to it) but they seem to be dealing better with reality now. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you with them in Russia (altohugh I guess at times distance can be a good thing?)

    We do not change clocks until April and for us that will be a backward change. I do not have a work uniform because luckily I work from home, but your system sounds like it will make getting ready a lot easier. And if you find a style of pants that look and feel great then it is very smart to buy multiple pairs.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Common Household Mom Avatar

    I am sorry the far-away family situation is so untenable. I haven’t experienced exactly what you are going through but something similar with my parents and then my aunt. From here I could propose the most sensible path (no path was great, all paths contained suffering) but I wasn’t the decision-maker so my suggestions were not always accepted.

    I am done with winter, too (I hope it is done with us). On the weekend we had a very warm and windy Saturday followed by a giant thunderstorm. And a pleasant day yesterday and today. Our flowers are starting to come up out of the ground! No blooms yet, though.

    I detest the changing of the clocks (either direction) but this time it wasn’t so bad, mainly because I skipped church and broke my routine.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      We also have purple and white flowers and it makes me happy. Slowly, spring is coming. And I’m here for it!

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  3. J Avatar

    Oh gosh, the situation with your parents must be so, so hard. I’m so sorry. You must feel helpless being so far away.

    I don’t have a work uniform, I work from home, but I used to keep it pretty simple when I went to an office. No need to add stress to our lives, right? I used to love a nice pair of dark green pants with a black sweater.

    I think cleaning and exercise are both very therapeutic, and can remind you that while you can’t control everything (your parents) you can control some things.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      It really is so hard. I try not to think too much about the situation but can’t help it: dad is always on my mind.
      My trousers arrived and have to hemmed and then I can start mixing and matching!

      Like

  4. Nicole MacPherson Avatar

    So sorry about the situation with your parents.

    These days my uniform consists of jeans and a sweater!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      I love it Nicole!

      Like

  5. Lisa’s Yarns Avatar

    The situation with your parents is so hard. I’m so sorry! I wish your mom had decided to put him in a therapeutic center. That is the safest choice for everyone. But sometimes logic does not prevail. Dementia is a very hard thing to handle (it sounds like he’s developed dementia from your description) and can be quite unsafe for the caretaker if the person is combative! 😦

    Shifting to a more fun topic, I do have a work uniform. I almost exclusively wear dresses at work/when traveling for work. In the cold months, I wear mostly black dresses with thick tights. When it warms up, I have some spring/summer dresses that are more colorful. I like that I only have to decide on one piece of clothing. Plus dresses mask my tummy which is my biggest trouble spot by a landslide.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      I called yesterday, too. And when I talked to him on the phone he said: “I’m slowly losing my mind.” She needs a break, too. I worry about them a lot and feel helpless.

      Like

  6. Michelle G. Avatar

    I had a VHS tape of Riverdance back in the 1990s, and I watched it over and over. My husband surprised me with a trip to Seattle to see it live, and it was so wonderful! I remember how the dancers’ thundering steps shook the whole theater. I have such good memories of that trip. We also had dinner at the Space Needle and watched Seattle go by as the restaurant rotated.

    I’m so sorry that it’s rough with your parents.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      Wow Michelle! That’s amazing!! What a wonderful memory. Yes it’s incredible how fast they move their feet and legs.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Kari Avatar

    I’m so sorry about the phone call with your mom. I know how frustrating that must feel. I clean when I’m frustrated too. And I love Murphy’s Oil Soap—in fact, I haven’t used it in a long time, so I added it to my list. 💜

    Yay to the 70s! Finally, goodbye to snow!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      When Murphy’s oil mixed with hot water and fresh air… Divine!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Kari Avatar

        I used it this weekend! I thought of you. 💚

        Like

  8. Diane Avatar
    Diane

    Ouf – I’m so sorry things are hard with your parents. The whole situation sounds so stressful for everyone. I’m glad you had some good moments over the weekend too.

    I don’t have a work uniform, but I do plan my outfits at the beginning of the week so I don’t have to think about it in the mornings. Only last week I had planned for warm weather and then the weather was grey and cold unexpectedly so I had to pivot. But usually the formula is leggings + dress + third piece (jacket, sweater, vest, scarf…).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      I USED to plan my outfits but I didn’t build that habit so it dissipated. Want to start again, for sure.

      Like

  9. sarahjedd Avatar
    sarahjedd

    Love that you have a uniform– so smart. Sorry to hear about your family situation– very stressful but you handle it beautifully. I also love a weekend of cleaning and relaxing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Daria Avatar

      The pants arrived now I have to hem them.

      Like

  10. kimhastheruns Avatar

    That Dead of Winter movie keeps showing up on our recommended feed! I am guessing I would be the bored one if we watched it LOL.

    Sending you all the love for making that effort with your parents! I am glad your phone card ran out too 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Weekly Reflection+Weekend List – Mom of Children Avatar

    […] off three pairs of work pants to be hemmed (this is for my “work uniform” […]

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