are you a "schlumpadinka"?

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine upon arriving at the elementary school to drop off my kids. I noticed how cute she looked this particular morning and told her so. She replied, "I was turning into a 'schlumpadinka' since being off work and I decided I had to change that!" I never thought she looked anything but cute and casual. If she was a schlumpadinka, then what was I?

This particular morning I had showered, applied makeup, and put on yoga pants, a tshirt, and a jacket. My hair was twisted up in a clip, still wet. I felt like I was more than presentable to walk my kids into class. Usually, I go before my shower, still in jammy pants, I throw my shoes in the car in case, heaven forbid, I get a flat tire, or worse, en route, but I drive in my socks, and I drop my kids off in the drop-off zone. I would never leave the car this way and I just hope that no one really looks that closely as I drive in and out trying to remain unnoticed. You know how when little kids don't want to be seen, they close their eyes? Well, this is the tactic I am using when I hide behind my sunglasses!

Now for those of you who don't know what a schlumpadinka is, it is a term authored by Oprah to describe the woman who just lets herself go. She wears sweats and frumpy faded tees or worse as "going out" attire. She doesn't wear makeup and doesn't care about her appearance. It's all about comfort.

Anyway, while talking with my friend about what it meant to be a schlumpadinka, I realized that as much as I would like to dress that comfortable all the time, I am just NOT a schlumpadinka. This is not to say all my clothes are sassy and chic, but I have always referred to myself as "hygienically anal." I don't generally go places (other than the gym) without showering, getting dressed, and applying makeup. This is also not to say that occasionally my attire of choice is not yoga pants or comfy and casual workout clothes, but I don't have enough of the "I don't care what other people think" attitude to go around in my jammies or sweats and just let myself go. I also care about my appearance simply because it's who I am. My mother always cared, too. Maybe this is where I get it from. On the other hand, if I need to run to the grocery store in the early morning or late evening, you may just see me all decked out in schlumpadinka glory.

Just like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" so is "schlumpadinka-ism." I almost always feel like a schlumpadinka when I am hanging out with my working friends in the middle of the day or when I go have lunch with my husband in San Francisco's financial district. My regular uniform is jeans or capris, nice t-shirts or sweaters, and flip flops or other casual shoes. I never wear blazers, heels, dresses, or slacks to my Stay-at-home-mom job.

So, I don't really know if I am a schlumpadinka or not....I guess it depends on who you ask or when you see me. If you are, indeed a schlumpadinka, I applaud you for being unique and not caring what the world says, if that is actually why you do it. As for me, I just can't.