When Dresses Bleed

I never knew that when you purchase an article of clothing that has both black and white on it, you are playing a game (not the fun kind): the fabric dye might run or it might not. You might just wear the item 1-2 times and then after the first wash it is game over because the black has bled onto the white. Technically the dye should be set and not bleed so terribly, but it might, and that is all.

 

So this is what happened:

 

I bought a dress from The Limited on a mega sale… it was the only one, in my size, marked down, and it was mine. A pretty black and white dress, with a gold zipper down the back, and it was the perfect length. It was a S-C-O-R-E, since I am taller than 5 feet, to find a dress in my size with the proper length is a challenge. I saved it to wear on a special Sunday, and then I wore it to work. This pretty modest dress got many compliments, it was comfortable, and it became my favorite.

 

Then came the day that I wanted to wash it. I read the label… “machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry low, dry clean for best results”. It was tempting to throw it in the wash and simply air dry it… but I wasn’t going to risk it. I threw it in the hamper, to save it for a trip to the dry cleaner, of course for best results. But there it sat, at the bottom of the hamper for one  three weeks. I decided that I would just compromise and gently hand wash this dress instead, at 10 o’clock at night…

 

(In retrospect: WHYyyyY, I should have just kept sipping on my tea, eating freshly baked cranberry bars, and reading my book instead.)

 

I turned on the cold water, and as I began to submerge the dress into the water, the black dye began to run right before my eyes, hitting staining the white stripes. I snatched it out of the water, I tried to stop the mean black dye from hitting anymore of my white stripes, but that was it, the perfectly white stripes were now gray, and blotchy. I tried to clean the stains with hydrogen peroxide… nothing… so then I tried rubbing alcohol… nope, so I just sprayed stain remover on the darker spots and let it just be. I turned to Google, and after reading through tips, I concluded that since my mom is 400 miles away, my next best bet for help would be the dry cleaner down the street. They open at 7 in the morning, so I’d stop by on my way to work.

 

In the morning the spots were lighter, YES! So off I went to the dry cleaner on my way to work. The nerd in me thought, I will take a before and after picture and write a fantastic review for this cleaner. Well… to make this long story shorter… the worker at the dry cleaner said that he couldn’t help me my dress me. The dress was probably ruined. No guarantees, actually he made it sound like there was a better guarantee that the dress would get even more ruined once it fully would get cleaned. So off I went, with my dress in hand. But it isn’t over yet….

Chasing Contentment

The poem below was written by a young boy. I came across it a while ago and thought it was very interesting how a kid would write this. Nice reminder to enjoy the moment, right now, instead of always living in hoping for tomorrow.

Chasing Contentment

It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.

It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air.

It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was now winter but it was Spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming nature.

I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.

I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-ages but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired but it was middle- age that I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over but I never got what I wanted. 

-Jason Lehman

Lets Try This Again...

Wow… Here I thought I was going to post a little more frequent in 2013…..

OooOOoops!

Our life is very busy right now (in a very very good way), but so is everyone else’s right? 

I'll try this blog thing again (for the 3rd time).....

Without further ado, lets catch up…. In the past three months:

I’ve tried many recipes that I would love to share,

Ate some really good steak,

Figured out an efficient way to grocery shop,

Found a new store I really like,

Organized and reorganized,

Found a dry cleaner (there are plenty, but I finally picked one), 

I am learning how to take out stains and make white laundry stay super white,

Have had friends and family come visit us from Sacramento,

We went to visit our family and friends back in Sacramento,

Celebrated hubby’s birthday,

Went to a beautiful baby shower,

Ate some really good sushi,

Got to know some pretty amazing people,

Went on a few walks,

Read a few books,

Enjoying the Word of God,

Started a new position at work,

Learned how to make clear broth,

Started running/exercising about twice a week,

Went on a super fun hike,

Found more great uses for vinegar,

Enjoyed a refreshing Crossroads retreat,

Had guests over for dinners,

Enjoyed the beach,

Walked the pier,

Battled and cold/flu germs, I think I won, but I don’t want to brag/celebrate just yet,

Started taking a little bit of vitamins,

(I can keep the list going, but you get the gist of what is going on)

There are a few things going on every single week! I thought that when we would move down to LA I would have all this time to just sit around…. (YE-AH right!!)

Time is flying!

In this hustle and bustle it is so nice to be part of Grace Community Church, Crossroads, and the CoC Bible Study. I love my brothers and sisters here so very much. It is always encouraging to spend some time with them. Everyone is so different, with different backgrounds and situations, but we share a common ground, a love for our Jesus Christ, our Savior.