Today’s Monday Listicles topic is 10 Things In My Closet. At first I thought, Hmmm, what can I possibly do with this one? But once I got started, inspiration struck and I got really excited to see what everyone else comes up with this week.
So my husband and I share a walk-in closet of sorts; the previous owners of our house built a big wall towards the back of our bedroom, reducing the size of the room, but in effect creating a walk-in closet to go along with the two regular closets. The first normal closet is all mine, the second is my vanity area, and the walk-in is for both of us to share. Obviously the good husband got the short end of the stick. Here are some highlights of our closet:
1. My closet is truly the place where nursing bras go to die. I easily have a dozen nursing bras in every possible style and fit. The uber-comfy sleeping bra, the sporty racerback, the snap/clasp variety, the ultra-easy pull your whole boob out type…you name it, it’s in my closet. They all serve a specific purpose: the bra that doesn’t look lumpy or stick out of tank tops, the padded one that hides the nips in thin shirts, the easiest one for whipping it out in a hurry…How exactly I came to accumulate such a collection during my two nursing stints is beyond me. It wasn’t until my second baby was crawling that I was so tired of my dumpy, dirty-off-white, milk-stained collection of bras that I splurged and spent $60 on a black nursing bra with the enticing label of “Hot Milk”. I am not making that up. And it was worth every penny.
That’s a lot of bras.
2. My hat collection I have a handful of hats on the shelf in my closet- mostly beach hats with a few winter hats and bad-hair-day-hiders sprinkled in for good measure. I am slightly obsessed with having a healthy selection of hats to wear to the pool or on vacation. While I think they look great, my friends and family may be embarrassed to be seen with me, kind of like how I think my big sunglasses are fabulous, and they quite possibly just look weird.
3. I have approximately 20 pairs of jeans in my closet. That may be a slight exaggeration, but the point is: I have way too many pairs of jeans, considering that I hate every last f*cking pair of them right now. It’s time for me to call it, and get pregnant again so I can break out my maternity jeans get myself back to the gym. I am constantly on a never-ending quest for the elusive “perfect pair of jeans.” Have you found them? If so, where can a 5 foot 11 mother of two get a pair of non-low-rise, almost hits the belly-button, eliminates any possible muffin top, doesn’t look like mom-jeans, flattering and comfortable pair of jeans? For the love of God, where???
So many jeans…so little satisfaction.
4. A few Halloween costumes from when I was cool. I used to love getting dressed up and having adult costume parties. (That sounds inappropriate, but aside from perhaps drinking too much, I assure you, they were completely tasteful.) I loved wearing wigs and splurging on fun, unique costumes. Oh, to be young again. Halloween is still one of my favorites, but the sexy-costume ship has sailed, I’m afraid. Now I just slap on a pair of cat ears and call it a day.
Those would be my Morticia and Fairy costumes, respectively.
5. My husband’s concert T-shirt collection. His best guess? At least 100 concert T-shirts. For real. My husband is 43 years old, and spent the better part of his 20s and 30s going to every heavy metal concert around. He still goes to a concert from time to time, and I would rather die than join him. Standing up for hours on end while being bumped into by sweaty, drunk people and listening to really loud music? No thanks. Anyway, his lengthy concert-going career has resulted in quite a collection of shirts. Did I mention he wears them all the time? Yeah.
Piles and piles of concert shirts.
6. My childhood dresser As I mentioned, our closet is a walk-in of sorts, and there was room for a whole separate dresser in there. Given that I was unwilling to part with the dresser I have had since I was born when we finally bought a new one for both our stuff, the closet seemed like the perfect place to put it. I fill it with stuff that I don’t need to access on a daily basis, like…
They don’t make ’em like this, anymore…
7. My extensive Holiday Pajama collection I buy myself a new pair every year, and have done so for the past 8 years. You do the math.
Santas, candy canes, playful kittens…I’ve got them all.
8. My “stylish” hospital gown When I was pregnant with Sophie, #2, I decided it might be nice to have a special hospital gown to wear during labor and delivery. Perhaps it was taking my desire of looking nice in photos a little too far, but it was called “The Sophie” style in the catalog, so how could I resist? And to be honest, I kind of loved it.
So worth the fifty bucks
9. Uncool shoes My feet are size 9 AAAA. In other words, they are long and freakishly narrow. In case you have never had the pleasure of shopping for cute shoes in this size, let me bring you up to speed. It sucks. You can’t go to just any shoe store and expect to find anything narrow enough to fit. If you do manage to find narrow shoes, they are frickin’ expensive. So I have far fewer pairs of shoes than most women, and most of them are comfortable, but not at all stylish. I know, I know, you can always shop online and order special narrow shoes, but it’s just not the same as the supposedly fun girls-go-shoe-shopping experience that other people have. It’s annoying, frustrating, and depressing. (I am so sad about this, I will refrain from sharing photos of my ugly shoes with you, but if you scroll back up to the nursing bra photo, you can catch a glimpse of a sad shoe falling off the shelf. Feel sorry for me.)
10. My clothes are organized according to color This may seem a little obsessive-compulsive, but so am I. I find it both helpful and comforting.
Look closely…there is a special pattern.
So there you have it…until next time, what’s in your closet?
Love it. I had a very fancy nursing bra with matching g strings. I was just thinking about it yesterday and how I should not have given it away. All my regular ones are too small… I have my polo shirts color organized too. And my husband has the concert shirts and is the same age. Actually apart from the halloween costumes we are identical twins.
Ha! It’s funny, we are beginning to wean, and as I put on my old regular bras now, I am finding they are sadly too small. There are rolls involved. 🙁 And I personally think all bfing moms should treat themselves to one fancy nursing bra. G-string optional. 🙂
Now had I known that I could buy my own hospital gown to look stylish in those hospital pictures, I can assure you I would have gotten one, too! And my husband also has quite the t-shirt collection…
That gown was another guilty splurge…but I’m glad I did it!
I envy all your closet space! Hubs and I share one wide closet between the two of us, so space is limited. But on the upside, I haven’t got the real estate to justify keeping anything I don’t wear (except for right now, while I’m in post partum wardrobe limbo land).
Hmmm… holiday pajamas… this opens up a whole new area of wardrobe shopping I hadn’t even considered!!! 😉
I organize my kids closets by color but my own is a wreck. Hot milk? I would have splurged too!
I know- Hot Milk! I *had* to do it! I am the opposite- my kids’ closets are a total embarrassment. 🙁
I had to cover my mouth and bite my lip so I didn’t wake my husband with my laughing! So much here that is awesome! Dumpy, dirty-off-white, milk-stained collection – hilarious!!! I love your hats. I need more hats, especially one to protect me from the sun. The one I still wear ALL the time from 1988 is…you guessed it – ugly and makes me look like my mama dressed me – it’s that bad. Jeans – I can’t help you. I’m only 5’3-1/2″. I get Old Navy and Gap and whatever I find at Goodwill. The way you set us up for the pajama collection…I was really having to hold back the laughter on that. Soooo funny! I loved peeking in your closet. So fun!
1988! Your mama dressed you! Hahaha! 😀
i can’t relate to the nursing bra part, but i can totally relate to the jean part! i’m about 5’3″ and it’s no easier to find appropriate jeans for me. i keep wondering where do those of us who are somewhere between the juniors and grandma section go to shop?
Yes! All of us “somewhere between junior and grandmas” get lost in there somewhere!
My nursing bras were shameful…. just like you said: dingy, worn out, raggedy. Yuck! I wish I would have splurged on some nice ones, but just like maternity clothes, I just figured,” eh… it’s just a while longer.”
I felt kind of bad spending that much on a bra, but as my second round of nursing turned out to be much longer than my first, it was worth it!
Stephanie, I can’t say enough that I loved this and I actually just came from Kate’s post of the same nature. You guys make me feel better for all the crap I have in my own closet right now that I barely use and still shaking my head why I still have so much in there that I do indeed not need or use. Seriously, on the jeans front, I am with you on this. I am 5’2″ and petite with the lovely mommy tummy left courtesy of my two pregnancies and am with you on being able to find a jean that fits and is comfortable anymore. I own so many pairs too and rarely ever wear jeans anymore!
I too had an unnatural obsession with nursing bras. Then I found the perfect one, bought it in four colors and used it for at least a year after I was done nursing. (and I’d still be wearing it if my boobs hadn’t gone back to pre-nursing size)
I’m only 5’7” but the most comfortable non-mom jeans I own are from the Gap, the 1969 curvy ones in the dark wash, the regular are a good height for me, but they have them in tall too, and they’re the perfect color for every day or dressing up at night.
Bless you, woman, for sharing an actual helpful suggestion for jeans. I swear, I have dumped more money into my failed jeans collection… To be honest, I have no idea which bras I will be wearing from here on out; I’m afraid I will be “between sizes” for awhile. Ugh.
Love your hat collection! Great list but get rid of those nursing bras!:)
We are *almost* done weaning…then they are history! At least, for now… 🙂
How did you get inside my closet to get this pic of the nursing bras?! I am dying –same scene around here. And I’d say you’re brave to share pics of your closet (mine is a mess), but yours is so organized, it’s just inspiring!
We are almost weaned here, so time to pack up those unattractive nursing bras! I’m not so sure that “organized” is the right word for our closet…aside from the color thing! It was a fun Listicles, that’s for sure!
Of course they’re organized by colour! And then by sleeve length/fabric type within each category. How else would you do it? I feel your pain about the length of pants – I wear a 33-34 inseam and then I like the pants long to accommodate my heels too. Finding pants that don’t make me look like I’m escaping a flood is a nightmare.
None of the nursing bras in the stores fit me. I mean none. And not just “oh, this isn’t flattering”. More like the bra barely hits my nipple line let alone actually containing the girls. I went up a full cup size the first MONTH of pregnancy! Then another over the rest of the first trimester. You can imagine what happened in the third trimester and when my milk came in.
Since I was starting with DDs, this was a big (hehe) problem. I really started to panic at one point, thinking I was going to have to try to make my own bras out of a table-cloth and elastic waist-band pants. Fortunately I found Bravado bras. Best ever. $75 each, but I was just relieved to find a line that fit.
Your comment had me laughing my head off! I think it is the inseam thing that is trick for me- what a pain! Not that your bra transition was funny at the time, but the way you described it was hilarious! Table cloth and elastic pants- hahaha! Thanks for the smile!
Dear God, how big is that closet!! I’m still laughing at ol’ pencil feet…I need a picture because all I am seeing is a woman, balancing oh so carefully on feet about 37 inches long and 2 centimeters wide….HOLD ON
PS LOVE the cover picture of you blogs page!
I nursed six babies, and never had any use for a nursing bra. When you have smaller breasts than most men, all you have to do is pull the bra up and out of the way. Usually, just raising my arms will be enough to get the bra up and over. So sadly small.
I love the dresser. I would’t get rid of that either.
As for jeans, I had the worst time finding any that fit until I tried on some “curvy” jeans. No one looking at me would call me curvy (see above where I discuss tiny boobs), yet curvy jeans are perfect. As for length, good luck. At 5’7″ I thought I was tall, until I tried on jeans for tall women. Sorry I can’t recall which stores had those tall jeans, though. Probably should have just left this part off.
Enjoyed the list!
That is *so* awesome. Six babies- you rock! Someone just posted a comment about having large breasts and still not making enough milk…not necessarily the size of the equipment, huh? Your comment made me giggle. Also, you are the second person to mention “curvy” jeans; maybe I need to give them a try; I assumed that being tall and boy-shaped meant I was un-curvy and avoided them… hmmm…
I have freakishly small, wide feet…4-1/2 EEE! No ‘peep’ hole shoes for these feet. Unfortunately my feet are the only thing petite about me. Haaahaaa!
We “folks on either side of the shoe spectrum” get the short end of the stick! Everybody else gets to take for granted how easy it is to buy shoes of all type and style. Oh well…
OMG I can’t believe you still have so many nursing bras! I have a charity pickup coming Thursday, thank goodness. I really wanted to participate in this one but Tucker didn’t have school today so I get NO blogging done.
Anyway! Guess what?!? I just gave you an award! Check it out here, and congratulations! 🙂
http://www.findingninee.com/bloggers-are-awesome-the-liebster-award/
Jumping up and down and clapping! Why does my husband not understand how exciting it is to get an award? Yeah, how to people get any blogging done when their kids are home? I sure as hell can’t.
Oh my goodness! I wish I had the room to organize by color, or type. But let’s be honest, I probably never would. I organized my shoes once… and then my kid played in the closet.
First of all I am so jealous that you have multiple closet spaces I can hardly stand it!!! The fact that it all looks so neat and orderly…and is organized by color…I am just in AWE!!! I wish you could come by my house and institute a closet intervention. (Even if it means you make me hang up all my bras.)
I think the bra hanging was born out of some form of laziness. You know what else- I never ever hung my jeans until I met my husband, and he did. I guess I felt like if my significant other, a male type person, hung up his jeans, I better do it too. I may have misrepresented myself by not featuring a photo of the floor of the closet…
You are so adorable! lol
Love the “look” into your home and lifestyle. I love the hats too. I wear them a lot, but sadly don’t have as many as you do. I should work on that!
Oh (blushing) thank you! In fact, I need to put a hat on right now. Maybe a bandana. Washing my hair did *not* happen today. 🙁
As a big busted woman I heard all the jokes of how my children would never starve. My first weighed in at 8 lbs 14 oz and could eat like a man. Lactation to keep up never happened. With my second child my boobs went from their already ginormous DDD to a JJ. Stop and ponder the monstrosity of that size if you will. I bought nursing bras at 69 a pop. Guess who STILL could not make enough to feed the linebacker I birthed. I still have those bras. So I totally understand.
I think that is so interesting- did you see one of the comments below from a tiny-busted woman who nursed six babies??? Nature must have a sense of humor, huh?
I want someone to write a theme song to my life entitled “So many jeans…so little satisfaction.” You nailed it!
And feet suck. Those woman with all of the cute shoes are just sucking up the pain. I know I use to, but I’m pretty sure I’m too old for that sh** now. I need to purge until I just have a pair of flip flops, a pair of running shoes, and a pair of Uggs and just call it quits on cute and sexy.
By the way, I will be eternally disappointed that you did not share a good picture of the Hot Milk bra. I mean c’mon! Ellen
You have a very enviable hat collection!! I want!! Also, I’m with you on the jeans. I detest denim. I have THE HARDEST time finding a pair that fits well and when I do I literally cry when they wear out. I’m almost to the ugly cry stage of denim ownership.
LOL, once again, you’re spot on. Your closet could be mine. I started to describe what is in my closets, but after 10 paragraphs, I decided I was writing my own blog, so I gave up. Suffice it to say, in our 100-year-old house, closet space is at a premium. I have taken over more than 75 percent of the closet I share with my husband, we annexed the closet in our son’s room for seasonal and “fancy” attire and the closet downstairs in the family room is filled entirely with my Halloween and belly dancing costumes. I have filled every inch of floor and wall space with dressers, cubicles and organizers in a vain attempt to eek out more storage space. We dream of digging out the basement and making a new, bigger family room, but the truth is, I will fill it with my own collection of super cutesy holiday pajama pants, all hand-sewn by me back in the days before I had a baby when I had time and energy for hobbies like sewing and belly dancing. 😉
I didn’t know you could sew! I am officially jealous now; hand-sewn holiday pajama pants? Will you please start a small business so I can buy some from you next time? Along with jeans, I think my long torso and long leg/inseam problem causes me to dislike the way even my jammie pants fit…if you *made* me some, I bet that would fix the problem! 😉 I remember living in your neighborhood years back, and the closet situation was a disaster. We had one really long, narrow one between the kitchen and dining room, and if you ate too many pancakes in the morning, you couldn’t squeeze through it!