Excessive Accessories

My Mother in Law is world renowned for her enthusiastic application of jewelry. She is a fan of "the layered look."

She wears so many necklaces at one time, that my Father in Law has been known to call her Mr. T.


And she'd be the first to wonder why anyone stops at one ring when the space between knuckles so clearly allows for three. Bracelets are a no brainer - to live without the constant jingling of bangles is just no life at all.

Lately, I've been thinking that my daughter, Eleanor has inherited this gene.

Since she doesn't have access to real jewelry, she must be content with draping herself in Mardi Gras beads. But she finds other outlets for her preference for excess.

On Saturday morning I put a Thomas Tank Engine bandaid on one of Oliver's boo boos, and Eleanor insisted having one too. One on her right hand turned into one on each hand which evolved into one on each hand and one on her forehead:

She would have kept going if I let her.

Then last week, she took barrette placement to a whole new level. She's already pushing the envelope with her general insistence that she wear one on each side - but this was ridiculous:

And you can't even see the ones she made me put in the back of her hair.

Yes - she's just a little Mr. T. in training. And she's thrilled with herself. She thinks she looks fabulous - and "pities the fool" who dares to disagree.