Sunday, August 14, 2016

My Sunday Best: Confessions of a Blogger Stalker

Hey, you know what?  I think I'm going to join Rosie today for the "My Sunday Best" link-up.  (I'm blogging again, I'm linking-up with other bloggers.  Who am I anyway?  For a while there, it almost seemed as if the blog--or at least my blog--was dead...but there's a little life in the old girl yet!)
You might be impressed to find out that I actually know Rosie (A Blog for My Mom).  Well, that's a bit of a white lie--but I have met her and spoken with her, several times.  In real life!  And she's simply adorable.  Like a true blogger stalker, I accosted her in the back of the church once after Mass, when I was down in VA a couple of years ago visiting my second-oldest son and his wife, and in the parking lot of that same church another time.  So I don't really know Rosie.  But my husband and I are seriously considering selling our large Colonial in NH and getting a smaller home down in VA, where we'll be close to 3 of our 5 sons.  (Winters in VA, summers at our Oyster Haven retreat on Lake Champlain: how does that sound for a retirement game plan?)  So there's a possibility that I'll run into her again.  (Fingers crossed!)

I seem to run into a lot of Catholic bloggers whom I admire at churches, or in close proximity to churches.  In 2013, I met Katrina Harrington (Cedars and Tiny Flowers) by the lake across the street from Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Basilica, right after Sunday Mass.  (We were headed out to South Bend for a football weekend, and I actually screwed up the courage to contact her ahead of time and ask if we could meet!)  That was back when her oldest son was just a toddler and she was expecting son #2.

My Sunday best that day was a black denim skirt that had long been (and still is) one of my wardrobe staples, paired with a short-sleeved cardigan with pearl buttons, in royal blue, one of my favorite colors to wear.  (But the gal standing next to me in this picture is the one who really looks like royalty--isn't she gorgeous?)
I also had a photo op with Dwija (House Unseen, Life Unscripted) a couple of months ago. I was visiting my oldest son and his family, who are members of the same parish as the Borobias.  After Mass, there was a big going-away party for the parish's beloved young pastor, who had been reassigned; and since I'd promised my second-oldest son's wife Ginger that I would say hi to Dwija if I ran into her and tell her what a big fan of hers Ginger was, I did just that. After we talked, I left without getting a picture, because I was feeling a little embarrassed about being so star-struck; but my husband insisted that I get one, and he's the one who made this photo happen.

My Sunday best this time was a tea-length flowered sundress that I've had for eons and worn to death (purchased at Costco for about $15) and a black cotton one-button short-sleeved sweater that I found years ago on the clearance rack at Walmart.  (I only shop at high-end clothing establishments, as you can see.)  Dwija looked beautiful in her geometric-print dress--but then again, how could she look anything but beautiful, with that gorgeous face and radiant smile...and that incredibly adorable accessory she's carrying?
I wear the outfit I had on for my photo with Dwija on lots of Sundays in the summer.  It's practically a Mass uniform for me. In early July, when I was down in VA helping out my daughter-in-law Preciosa (she'd fractured her arm, which was very inconvenient for a mom of two under two!), it was my Sunday Mass outfit.  Those three big, good-looking accessories behind me made it look much better than usual.
Seriously, this outfit is so cool and comfortable, I usually don't even bother changing into something else after Mass.  This oft-worn uniform served me well on a walk with my grandson G-Man and his dad, on a sweltering hot July day in VA.  (As he was being pulled along in his wagon, the little guy insisted on holding my hand the whole time--which melted me even more than the Southern sun!)
So these are not outfits that I wore this Sunday for Mass...but they are part of what I consider my Sunday best, so I thought I could get away with posting them here today.

Now if I could just get a picture with Rosie...

While I try to figure out how to make that happen, why don't you head on over to A Blog for My Mom--to get a look at what will undoubtedly be much better fashions than you've seen here!

18 comments:

  1. I am so excited to hear that a woman of my—ah—VINTAGE is so fond of my daughter Rosie! What can I say, you have great taste. ;-)

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    1. Rosie is so cute, and so sweet. In person, she is just as you would imagine she would be from reading her blog.

      I love that you now live in a little house behind hers and are a daily part of your grandchildren's lives. It's a Grammy's dream!

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    2. It really is! It's such a blessing!

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  2. So jealous! I haven't actually met any other Catholic bloggers! One day, one day... Love your red floral dress. It's so awesome when you find something that you just love and you can wear all the time :-)

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    1. I haven't met any Catholic bloggers either. But--- maybe that's a good thing. If I saw Simcha or Kendra or Haley in real life, I'm not sure if I could contain my excitement. :)

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    2. I feel so fortunate to have met these lovely ladies. I know a lot of bloggers have been getting together for a big event for the past few years (Edel?); but I haven't been able to go (and I think I would be sort of intimidated finding myself in the presence of all of those well-known bloggers!). But I do feel fortunate to have had these random one-on-one meetings with gals whom I admire so much.

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  3. So loved this post, reading about all the people you've meet thanks to Catholic blogosphere.

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    1. Blogging has brought me so many unforeseen blessings. How else would I have ever "met" you? :)

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  4. What a lovely family you have and how cute are you! I love your outfits! And I love that you have met and blog stalked all these wonderful people. This post is just one that makes me SMILE a lot. Love it!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words about my family. They are everything to me!!

      I'm almost embarrassed of my blogger stalking history; that first time I met Rosie, I spied her as she was going up to Communion, holding her daughter Cecilia's hand. I got all excited ("Oh my gosh! That's Rosie!"), as if in the presence of a Hollywood celebrity, and decided I just had to approach her after Mass and tell her how much I enjoyed her blog.

      I have a very "little" blog that is not known to many; but it has opened up a whole world for me, and I've so enjoyed getting to "know" (whether in real life or just through their writing) so many inspiring Catholic ladies.

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  5. I keep thinking it would make sense for you to get a house in Virginia with all your family around here! Front Royal is lovely and you could get a little mountain house to escape to when you need a break from your lovely waterfront property ;)

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    1. Years ago, when our kids were still young, we used to joke about moving to Front Royal because it's such a strong Catholic community. And we probably would move there...but we're looking for a town that's a mid-way point between the two cities where our guys live. (What are your thoughts on Culpeper? I've seen it, and it's lovely.)

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    2. Culpeper is beautiful but expensive! Front Royal has a little airport if your husband wants to do any hobby flying over the mountains ;) If you email me or Facebook me I can help more!

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    3. It's a good idea to check out the local parish before you move, too. There aren't many Catholic churches out here in the sticks, and it is convenient to be close to the one you really like rather than having to drive a long way to a more congenial parish. I really like our current parish! What cities do your sons live in?

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    4. We're looking for someplace as equidistant as possible between Charlottesville and Manassas. Culpeper fits the bill distance-wise, and one of my daughters-in-law knows of a wonderful parish that's not too far from there. (Not in Culpeper, but close by.)

      I know that Front Royal is a great place for Catholics! We might want to settle there--it would be a little farther from our sons' towns, but not too much.

      We haven't really started to prepare our home (of 26 years!!) for sale yet. We're thinking we might want to try to sell it next spring/summer, and the thought of it overwhelms me a bit.

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    5. Rosie, thanks, I might be in touch in the coming year. (Pray for us! This is what we want to do, and it's the right thing; but it's still hard!)

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  6. I am a blogger stalker too! Sometimes when a blogger that I truly admire posts on one of my posts, I feel like I'm meeting a celebrity and they aren't even standing next to me :)

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    1. Haha--I know exactly what you mean! Once, Jenny from Mama Needs Coffee left a comment on one of my posts, and I felt that same way! And I'm always tickled to hear from Rosie. :)

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