A Grocery Store Barbie.

Again, let's start with the good things about today. Oh, and I changed the blog name because I wasn't always writing about food.

1. It's a day off from the gym. Lovely.

2. Haircuts (a really good one.) with mini facials and back massages, for $22. Seriously.

3. Naps. During the week I rarely indulge because I'm afraid I'll sleep through Nick's pick up, but today---2 hours of bliss.

4. Basketball and pizza. MSU plays at 7 and I was able to stop at 2 slices of pizza. (I'm saving room for ice cream.)


Today's topic.

I love grocery shopping--even with the boys, but alone when I'm not in a rush and can wander is even better (this never happens). What I don't love about grocery shopping is seeing "Barbie." Up front I'll admit it is, in part, jealousy. She's perfectly coiffed--from head to toe, there is no misstep. Her handbag (because it's not a purse when she's wearing it) coordinates with her, just-the-right-length belted trench, and the shoe/pant length issue I always have is absent. I'd love to blame her abundance of money, but quite often Barbie manages to throw together items from Old Navy, Kohl's, and Target with panache I can't muster even on my best days. Adding insult to injury is the fact that she's rock solid--not too skinny (making me glace numerous times in her cart searching for carbs), she's just got that way about her that says--well toned athlete (I'm sure she runs an 8 minute mile) with fashion sense.

If she's unmarried (because we ALL look for the ring here) we wonder where her J. Crew model boyfriend is hiding at Whole Foods. Surely, he's getting some cool small batch locally brewed beer. In his navy blue crew neck sweater and jeans he's handsome and confident in a way that might be annoying sometimes, but at the grocery store is sweet. They leave, with him carrying the bags (of course he is) and drive off in their Pirus.

If she's married, her cart is full of staples both of them enjoy. Beer, good red wine, something from the seafood counter, and lots of organic veggies. You can tell with one glance at the cart this couple does not have children. Nothing contains sugar, and with granola as the only cereal visible--I immediately jump to kid free. (Although my kids like granola, but they're weird.) You wonder how long they've been married--they're so cute it must be new, right? Who still acts like that after 5 years? (I'm being sarcastic, I know all of you who read this canoodle with your husbands in public, especially at the grocery store. Because he always goes with you, uh huh, sure he does.)

If Barbie is married and has kids the whole thing is crazy to me. I can't pull off anything 'Barbie' on a good day, with help. How does she get the kids dressed, get herself together AND get groceries in one afternoon? Usually, I hit the grocery with both boys in tow, straight from the gym, still in workout gear with a hat unceremoniously plopped over my shock of sweaty hair. But what I realized is this: Although I love the idea of being 'Barbie' with kids, it's not me. I can still be secretly jealous (or now since you're all read this you know), but for the most part I am thrilled how my guys behave in the store--using good manners and smiling at other shoppers. Regardless of my appearance, I'm truly happy being there with them.

The moral of this long, drawn out, somewhat funny tale is this: even if you don't have the fashion sense of Reese Witherspoon or the body of Heidi Klum (she's had kids and looks amazing.) You (and I) have something amazing to offer our children, our families, and our friends. Go forth--be a good friend, and wear sweats to the grocery store with pride!

Have a good weekend. God Bless.

Beck