The race was today and the energizer bunny balloon goes ahead of the rest, stops somewhere and makes a giant X on the ground and when the other balloons go over it, they drop beanbags onto the X.

Josh holding Jonas on his shoulders.

"Mom, can I have a Bratz doll?" our six year old asks. The answer is always no. I am not considered a very conservative person, but when it comes to our daughter and pop culture, I feel a lot like Madonna. The pop singer, of course. The rules of inappropriateness is a skewed version of the age old saying "Do as I say not as I do" because while I am not necessarily in pasties dancing on a stage singing "Like a Virgin" I am an adult. There are various contradictions when it comes to the rules. I do not buy tiny high heels for her. She can wear high heels when she dresses up for the prom. We have played with makeup, but she doesn't wear makeup-she can barely manage to wear Dr. Pepper flavored chap stick because when ever we buy it, it somehow magically ends up in the dryer leaving really fun grease spots that only Palmolive & a toothbrush can take out.

Those clothes, that I so lovingly restore to their natural chapped selves are usually unbranded. When I met my husband I was wearing a bright red adidas shirt. Though I wasn't necessarily a mallrat, I frequently wore Roxy Quiksilver, Rusty and whatever other brands where popular seven years ago. He snowboarded, but aside from a pair of goggles and his snowboard(which he fixed with alterations), he was against labels. He figured if they aren't paying him to promote their product, why should he? This somehow resonated with me, especially after all the money that went down the drain just to have a label. If the clothes where made well enough, the label was more respected for being discreet anyway. This is how we dress ourselves and this is how we dress our kids & in some ways having an autonomous wardrobe is just as important as being age appropriate.

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Mermade Baubles Blog

The point of Talk Like a Pirate Day is just that-to talk like a pirate. It is not necessary wear pirate garb. It is FUN to wear pirate garb! Here are a few awesome pirate-y pieces that I love. September 19th is just around the corner!

Corseted Pirate Full Gown by damselinthisdress
This would be an amazing homecoming formal ensemble as well.

Je Taime Java by Mermade Baubles

Please come read the rest of Avast Ye Landlubbers! in the Mermade Baubles blog.