MATCHING PAJAMAS
For me, wearing a matching pajama set is very important. It’s my prize for me because it’s a thoughtful little outfit that is just about how it feels on my body and how wearing it makes me feel. I used to get these deep pangs of emotional turmoil where I would just think “I don’t want to be cool.” It would last what felt like hours and it was just total distress over feeling like I needed to be “cool.” I felt this for probably 20 years. One day I interrogated the feeling, what would make me feel better right now? I was in bed and I thought immediately, the kind of matching pajamas I wore as a kid or that a granny might wear. Something I could get at Kohls (respectfully) that is a completely earnest approach to putting clothes on my body that make me think “oh that’s cute” but not about how desirable or hot I look— but about the little teddy bear pattern or how the top is cut to avoid feeling tight on sensitive skin. A pure, earnest “cuteness.” So I immediately started looking for my first adult sized matching pajamas. Obviously consumption doesn’t cure anxiety, but for me, building my nest and putting little outfits on my avatar doll makes me feel happy and like the architect of my own world so!! Here we are. My first matching pair was a very adorable flannel capri and long sleeve set with a flower and fairy print from gorgeous Kohls store. I also got very sensible hard soled Dearfoam slippers and a big fluffy robe. Cute and good. You can’t imagine how truly healing it feels to not only not try to be hot at night for literally no reason, but to put on clothes that were made without a thought of sexiness on the horizon. I gravitate now towards crisp poplin sets even though it seems like they’re going to feel like sleeping in business clothes. (They don’t.) I love waking up and having my little “I love myself” costume on! I love walking around the house early in the morning in my little outfit! I love when my cats rest on my chest in my pajamas! I love doing my nighttime routine (more to come) in my suit :) yay :)
Taking a big walk
You have to be taking a big walk, and it has to be by yourself. The idea of the “hot girl walk” was so weird because I feel like it commodified and trendified spending time with yourself in a way that felt really distasteful! To me, a big walk is not about being hot, it’s about feeling my body move, breathing fresh air and noticing little things. I don’t think it’s weird to say that if you do your big walk when it’s evening, you can have a great time looking into houses as you pass. Whatever, see what they’ve got going on! If you’re walking during the day, you can notice a lot of really weird or maybe even sweet things. I recently have been noticing a lot of animals in windows and things left on the sidewalk. Interesting stuff. The other thing about “hot girl walk” is that it was framed in my opinion as exercise. Yes taking a walk is exercise, but I don’t recommend putting on a little workout outfit for this one. I recommend having something loose so you can kind of glide around, but really I love to wear something interesting as long as it’s comfortable because my walk is going to be a few hours. It’s also ok to make your walk be about going places, which is why I don’t think framing it as a workout is for me. I for example, love to select places to stop and explore on my route map. A great walk can result in me having new items!!!!! Including interesting sticks or items I have purchased. I started doing my walks when I lived in Japan. In Kobe, you can walk from the top of a mountain, through neighborhoods, through a city, and all the way to the ocean. That’s the ideal walk because it has all terrains, but walks can be anywhere as long as you’re noticing things. A lot of people think you can’t be listening to music and are too “no distractions”-pilled to understand that sometimes you can really benefit from listening to music and kind of letting the groove inform how you move. Go ahead and add a little shimmy to your step!! Here is my personal Big Walk playlist. Anyway I highly recommend just taking a big walk by yourself. A lot of people are tickled to hear about a walk too, so you can pleasantly know that you can tell people about what you saw on your walk after.
Good Halloween Costume Ideas for You
A lot of people are always telling me they don’t have a costume idea. I can’t relate to that personally!!!! I have always thought of myself as my own most precious doll, and my joy is dressing up my big lifesize doll. Here are some costume ideas!! • Why not be Fancy? You can add a stunning cockroach to the toe of your high heeled shoe. • Jane Henderson from Paris Texas in the pink sweater, cut out the front and encase yourself in a moving box!! You can paint and collage the inside to make your little booth with a phone! • An amazing couples costume would be Avr1l and Melissa • Chicky Baby from Peewee’s playhouse! I always thought she was soooo chic. Or perhaps Miss Yvonne? • There’s a wide world of less primary cartoon characters if you want to be sexy and recognizable, like Karen the computer (Mrs. Plankton) or Sara Bellin. If you look closely at the image, you’ll see I made a Plankton—which is very easy. • 70s Pulp Horror Novel Cover. Great for girls who have vintage night gowns!! • Baby Jane Hudson. This year, I am going to be Jill Valentine from RE2 specifically and a realistic Miss Piggy with SFX pig nose prosthetic. You can use these also. I don’t mind when people say things like “I’ve never seen that” because having poor media awareness is not my problem! And it seems like a lie to humble me sometimes. For example, once I was Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic and not one person admitted they knew who that was. Okay…….
Stella Luna by Janell Cannon
I loved this book as a kid, and remember looking at the pictures for fun. I think stories like this helped me grow up loving animals of all kinds—not just the “cuddly” ones!
