Everything old is new again...

Looking back on what I wore back in the 90's in grade school, I thought I was pretty fashionable. After wearing a uniform all week at school, I couldn't wait for the weekends to sport my "cool" clothes.


No outfit was complete unless a scrunchie was on your wrist...or a slap bracelet. 


Bell bottom and flared jeans became a rag among the 4th graders at my school.


Rompers and jelly shoes were all the fave in 2nd grade.


My mom always told me that she wished she had saved her clothes for me..she always told me vintage is in! In fact, one of my favorite designers is Betsey Johnson, and my mom had a dress from her back in the 70's. I wish I could have it now!


Growing up, I never thought that clothes I wore as a child would come back in style. But I just looked at The Limited and look what we have here...

Looks like my cool rompers from the second grade are back in this season. I wonder if my jelly shoes would look stylish with that? 

Attention Sex and the City fans...

If you're a Sex and the City fan like myself, then I'm sure you're anxious for the sequel to the first movie to hit theaters in May. It's been a long time coming and if any of you are as impatient as I am, here's something to tide you over in the mean time....

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell is a book about what Carrie was like in her high school days. Although it's a "teen" book, I still think it'll be a fabulous read. It comes out on Tuesday so check it out!

Life in the fast lane

This past weekend, I had a little run in with the law (more about that later)....and wasn't able to get out of it using my last name. Cue embarrassing moments here...

See, I'm born and raised from America's Dairyland, Wisconsin. Back home, my dad was a Lt. Detective for the Milwaukee Police Department and was head of the homicide division for 26 years. My dad was quite well-known throughout the city since any time there was a shooting etc, he was on television, and with a last name like Spingola, well he was hard to forget. Having my dad had its perks (and embarrassing moments) and after moving to Nebraska, I lost those benefits......

First embarassing moment with dad...he followed me on my first date.

Next hilarious moment..(which was not so hilarious at the time)..About three weeks after I turned 16, I was driving to dance practice with two of my friends in tow. I was running late so I put the petal to the metal (a trait inherited from my dad the robo-cop) hoping to not show up too late. WOO WOO WOOOOOO....red and blue lights flashed behind me and my heart just about jumped out of my chest. Not even having my license a month and I'm getting stopped. GREAT! A million thoughts ran through my head...

I'll never drive again

Mom and dad are going to kill me

Goodbye social life

How do I tell mom and dad?

Do I tell him who my dad is?

Once the officer reached the window and told me how fast I had been going, I handed over my license (puppy eyes and all) when the officer said "Are you related to Steve?"

"Yes sir, that's my dad"

The officer said I'll be right back and within 30 seconds he was back at my window as I thought to myself that was fast...

Rather than handing me a ticket the officer told me "Instead of giving you a ticket, I called your dad and I'll let him deal with you." Gee thanks officer..

Within a minute, my mom had called me to scream and yell (which she had the right too)..

Story ends with my mom telling me I won't be driving for a VERY long time but dad sat me down asked if I was sorry and told me to never do it again and handed my keys back. Thanks dad!!

Enter this past Sunday...I was heading to Ames to do an Open Call for NAM. I tend to get a lead foot driving the freeway especially on long drives so I always use my cruise control. I was about a half hour from my destination when I turned north onto I-35 and was behind slow drivers in the fast lane. Me being the impatient little girl I am, I changed lanes to pass up these other road warriors. 

As I was passing them, I starting to see a lot of state troopers that had pulled people over and I remembered this was the same spot my bf got stopped last summer. So I decided to slow down...and as I did, WOO WOO WOOOOOO and flashing lights came.

My first thought was "WHERE WAS HE HIDING?!" and as the trooper came to my window, he informed me that a helicopter caught me. But when I handed over my license this time, the officer obviously didn't know who my dad was and now I'm stuck paying the ticket.

I remember when....

I heard an interesting conversation on the radio this morning about whether or not kids should have cell phones. One parent on the morning radio show called in to say that good parents should know where their kids are so they don't need a cell phone. Another called to say her 8 year old had one in case of an emergency and one such emergency was when the bus was two hours late getting her home.

It got me to thinking back to the days when I was a kid and we didn't have the Internet or cell phones and wondered if my parents would have given me one at a young age.

 

I know...it's hard to imagine life without a cell phone or any of the new technology we have today for that matter. 

I remember when Apple had smaller computers back in the 90s and how I LOVED getting to play Oregon Trail and Word Munchers on it any time I got the chance.

I remember when I learned how to "surf the web" in 5th grade. It seemed like a foreign language to me. A search engine? The internet? huh? 

I remember when we got the Internet at our house and we had to use the phone line to dial the connection. If someone called, you got booted off!

I remember when I didn't have a cell phone and my friends had to call my house. And mom or dad would have to interrupt when they needed to make a phone call.

I remember when cell phones first got popular in the 90s and how they were so big that they were almost bigger than my mom's purse (ok, total exagerration but they seemed big at the time.) I didn't get a cell phone until I was 15, which was only because I was going to be driving soon and was only to be used in emergency situations as well as letting my parents know where I was. That of course changed when I got a bf who I, obviously, had to call ALL the time. But at the time, my cell phone was only limited to calling and didn't have all the fancy features it has currently.

I remember when Facebook first came out in 2004. I signed up for it, didn't understand it and let it sit for the next 6 months. When it became a big hit, I jumped on the bandwagon and have checked it everyday ever since.

Boy, I'm starting to feel like I'm dating myself. And I'm sure one day my kids will look at me when I tell them I didn't have the Internet as a kid and they'll think I lived with the Flintstones. Then again, I was the 6 year old girl who truly believed that when we hit the year 2000 the world was going to be like the Jetsons.

It just makes you wonder, if technology has come so far so fast, where are we headed to next?

The case of the heavy purse....

Tonight, I flew back to Wisconsin to spend the weekend with my family. And tonight, all my mom and I did was relax on the couch which was nice. Well....actually I gave my mom a tutorial on her new iphone and filled my new ipod shuffle up with songs...but other than that, it was laying on the couch watching tv.

Of course since it's a Friday night, there's not much on. But, we came across QVC and they were showing Vera Bradley on it. For those of you who don't know, I am OBSESSED with all things Vera..as are my mom and sister. Every time I look at the site, it makes me want EVERYTHING in EVERY pattern!

One of the items they were showing was a new purse. Lately, I have been feeling the brunt of a much too heavy purse and it got me to thinking about what I keep in my handbags...

I remember when I turned 16 and I got my first designer purse...a light brown Coach purse (as pictured above) that was just big enough to fit my wallet and new car keys. And now, I carry a large Kate Spade tote that has a wallet, cosmetic case, inhaler, sunglasses, glasses, car keys, hand sanitizer, and lotion among other things. Everyday it's a challenge for me to find things in my endless pit of a purse. And as much as I'd like to take out unnecessary things, I am a true believer in the Girl Scout mantra of "Always be prepared."

I have kleenex for when you need to blow your nose...

Nasal spray because who knows when my sinus' will act up....

A tide stick since I can be a sloppy eater...

Pen or two for when you don't get one to sign the bill when you're out to eat...

All these among other things..

I wish I was a bit more simplistic and didn't think I'd need all of those things. I'll be honest, it's rare I need to use the Tide stick...in fact I probably use it more when I'm just at home and not out and about! But I bet if I took it out, I'd need to use it.

Maybe it's a bit of a mom instinct in me, but at least I'm always prepared for any situation...

so prepared that I always carry an extra snack with me too. You never know when your tummy will say it's hungry!

So...what's in your handbag? Are you a tote or clutch kind of gal?