I’ve always thought that looking forward to vacation was the best part. Sound crazy? Hear me out here. Once you get there is great, but the time flies. It’s the sweet anticipation that fills me with happiness for weeks on end. Unfortunately, those weeks of bliss come to a crashing halt on the dreaded day AFTER vacation. The dreams of pools and daiquiris are replaced by not so dreamy baskets of laundry. For me, the reality was extra harsh this year because it meant doing real laundry for the first time in months. When I say “real laundry” I mean the kind you sort into loads by color and ability to go in the dryer. You see, since about March— and certainly since April 25— I’ve been wearing nothing but leggings, t-shirts and the occasional t-shirt dress. All items that go in a single load and are easily moved from the washer to the dryer. I put most of my pre-baby summer clothes in storage because I was convinced they wouldn’t fit post-baby (totally not the case) and after Arabella arrived, sleeping, pumping and well, just surviving, took precedence over shopping. But alas, oversized sweats don’t cut it at the beach so I bought a few pieces during a splurge at Target (crazy town, I know). It feels good to be back (in normal clothes, that is), but dang it’s nice wearing nothing but stretchy black and gray yoga gear. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. You don’t realize how much time you spend doing laundry until you stop. Sometimes that time is better spent elsewhere– and that’s OK.
Trina Orlando 