Modern Wife Life

I love the 4th of July.  It might be my favorite holiday.  Every year, it's a McCann family tradition that all of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins get together for a day at the lake filled with boating, tubing, water skiing, grilling, fireworks, and fun.  Aunt Mary makes her signature Special K Bars.  Uncle Charlie makes his famous mojitos.  Aunt Therese always wins the sunglasses contest for the biggest "Grandma Maude-like" sunglasses.  Uncle George mans the grill.  Uncle Doug tries to wear socks with his Crocs.  The Pike family from Colorado bring the party with blind-chocolate tasting and talent shows.  The Lawler family always start the best, most wisdom-filled conversations about politics, business, and faith.  And the list goes on!  Let's just say, it's a party you DON'T want to miss.   Usually I pull out my American flag mono-kini, but this year, I might switch it up.  Here are 34 outfit ideas for the 4th of July.

I'm constantly reminding myself that life is about the little things.  The little moments.  The little gestures.  The little looks.  If we keep waiting for the "big moments" to come and make us happy, then we miss out on the little moments that can propel us and lift us up each and every day.  Here are some of my favorite feelings ever.

1.  When you feel the warmth of a puppy that falls asleep in your lap.

2. When you walk into your house after being away and smell pure "familiarity."

3. When you feel the paws of a kitten massage your arm or leg.

4. When you are the most prepared person in the room.

5. When you pull on your favorite shorts from last summer for the first time....and they fit the same!

6.  When you leave the gym after a workout and see all of the people coming in who haven't done their workout yet.  You're done!

7. When you go to a store and they have 1 left of the top you want in your size. It was meant for you.

8. When you bake cookies for someone and they can't stop eating them.  Success.

9. When someone says, "Your teeth look really white today."

10. When your manicure lasts more than 1 week without chipping. 

11. When your heels are hurting your feet and you remember you have your trusty flip flops in your car.

12.  When your date texts you 1 minute after the date ends.  You've got them interested.

13.  When you wake up 1 minute before your alarm goes off. 

14. When you fill up your gas the day before prices jump up.

15. When your parents tell you they are proud of you.  (This might be #1.)

16. When you get your oil changed and for once they don't recommend that you replace the brakes, the timing belt, and oh yeah, the engine.

17. When someone introduces your as their "best friend."

18. When you fit perfectly in someone's arms.

19. When you eat a salad that actually leaves you satisfied.

20. When you schedule a hair cut/blow out right before girls' night out. Coincidentally... of course.

21. When a little kid climbs into your lap and gets comfy.

22. When you're walking and you get a whiff of a flowering plant.

23. When someone is comfortable enough to confide in you.

24. When you use a new chapstick for the first time.

25. When you get your updo right on the first try.

26. When you make a bouquet of flowers from your own garden.

27. When your pancakes come out as perfect circles.

28.  When you're not wearing eye make up and can rub your eyes without hesitation.

29.  When you're able to use a difficult experience you've been through to help someone else.  Everything happens in your life for a reason.

30. When someone asks you for your recipe.  Score.

31.  When you take your car to the auto shop and they wash it for you. Surprise!

32.  When you pin a photo that you originally took and someone else re-pins it.   You trendsetter, you.

33. When you and your best friend coincidently show up wearing the same outfit.

34. When your hair starts to lighten from the sun-- it's summertime!

35.  When you are driving to the ocean and you see the first glimmer of water miles away.

36.  When you take a step back after mowing the lawn and admire your work.

37. When your cookies turn out chewy, not crunchy.

38. When no one sits next to you on the airplane.

39.  When you realize you forgot your cell phone before pulling out of your driveway.

40. When you meet someone that reminds you of your mom.  So comforting.

41. When you're ready to go to bed and your bed is made from the night before.  You feel like you'll sleep better just because of that.

42.  When you park in between two really expensive cars-- it's a guarantee that the person won't scratch your car with their doors.

43. When the barista goes crazy with extra caramel drizzle.  Not your fault.

44.  When you're at the mall and realize it stays open an hour later than you originally thought.

45. When you sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom.

46.  When your phone cover matches your outfit.

47.  When little girls ask you to do their hair.

48. When you go to bed and can rest easy knowing exactly what you'll wear tomorrow.

49. When the Starbucks Barista greets you by your name.

50.  When you look up and see a handsome man watching you with a big smile.

1.  When you're casually dating multiple people to find what you like...  

"Dating too many people in too short of time is like smelling different perfumes.  They all start to smell the same." -Dad   If you go on a date with a different person every day, then you're not going to have the time to reflect on any of it.  They will all start blend together, and you'll never have clarity.

2.  When you don't know if a relationship is right/wrong or if you should stay together versus break up.... 

"Sometimes not making a decision is your decision." -Dad  My dad always emphasized that you don't need to make yes/no or black/white decisions.  Sometimes not deciding is making the decision to give something more time or to let things play out naturally.   You don't need to decide the fate of something immediately. You can choose to not decide, and that's a perfectly good decision.

3.  When you feel like there is something going on... 

"Where there is smoke, there is fire." -Dad  This advice doesn't only apply to cheating, but it can also apply to general honesty, or the concept of words not lining up with actions.  People can talk a GREAT game.  If actions do not line up with words-- that's smoke.   If they break promises-- that's smoke.  If they treat others poorly-- that's smoke.  If you sense arrogance-- that's smoke.  If they don't defend you to their friends-- that's smoke.  If you can't tell you're a priority-- that's smoke. Your intuition is a great smoke detector.  Where there is smoke, there is fire.  It's just a matter of time before you get burned. 

4. When you're never sure about things....  

"Doubt means don't." -Dad  If it's been a few months and you still doubt the relationship, then don't deepen your commitment.   Deepening the relationship when you have doubts will not solve anything.  It will only make you feel like you have more invested, which can muddle any gut feelings you may have had.   You're trying to talk yourself into it.

5.  When you feel annoyed..... 

Don't be too hard on the guy/girl.  Picking people apart won't do any good.  Don't compare them to others.  It will create insecurities that may never go away.   No one is perfect.  Always look for the best in someone and focus on what you love about them.

6.  When it comes to disagreements.... 

Never have a difficult discussion after midnight.  My dad always reminded me of this.  It's tempting to want to resolve things right away, but when two people are tired and it's late at night, your logic is clouded.  Nothing good happens when you argue while you're tired.   Wait until you're both rested and level-headed.

7.  When it comes to living a double life.... 

If you cannot be 100% honest and 100% yourself with someone, then it's not going to work out.  You cannot live one way around the person and live totally different when you're not with them.  Hiding things never works.  It only leads to destruction. If you cannot maintain one version of yourself, then you need to end the relationship.  Longevity is impossible when there is lying.

8. When it comes to depending on others....
Trust, teamwork and reliance is healthy.  Utter dependence is not.  You need to make sure you are independent enough to be "okay" if the relationship ends.  You should never need someone to be happy or worse, need someone to live.  If you're afraid to be alone, you will never feel secure in a relationship.  You need to be able to be happy on your own in order to be happy and healthy with someone else. :)

I hope you can find something here to help you in your relationships!  

Thanks, Dad!  

Love,

Dylan

1. Avoid thin cotton-- they will look like Walmart pajama shorts.

2. Avoid drawstring or elastic waistbands-- again with the pajama shorts.

3. Carefully select a pattern-- avoid anything that resembles curtains, bed sheets, or nurse's scrubs.

4. Lose the pockets.  When patterned shorts have pockets the additional seams break the pattern. This leads to a messy patch-work-quilt look.  The fewer the pockets, the better.

5. No cuffs at the hemline.  Again, this chops up the pattern and looks messy.  Go for a straight hemline.

6. Still unsure about this trend?  Choose a more understated black/white pattern or a less exotic pattern such as stripes or polka dots. No one said you NEED to wear rainbow-studded-tribal print.

7.  The fewer accessories the better.  Again, let the shorts take center stage.  Don't create visual competition with leopard print wedges, 5,000 bangles on each arm, and a floral scarf.  We want "fashionista" not "walking-thrift-store."

8. Forget about tights.  Some women have gotten used to wearing black or colorful tights under their shorts to get more coverage.  Patterned and printed shorts can look obnoxious with tights underneath.  Simply the rest of your look.

9. Patterned/printed shorts are more day-appopriate, so how do you wear them at night?  Go for more saturated colors, black/white, or a richer fabric like leather or silk. 

10. Baggy = big.  If something is too big on you, you'll look bigger, especially if it has a pattern on it.  If your printed shorts are too baggy around your leg, they can easily look like they're a super short skirt, not a pair of shorts.  This look is definitely head-turning, but not for the right reasons.

Good luck and have fun!

Love,

Dylan