Behind The Butter

Simple Lessons in Life, Part I

I don’t really know what’s going on here.

All I know is that it was last Easter, I had fake brown hair, and was about to pee my pants (err suit?).  I’m clearly struggling for air, about to keel over, and my poor mother is desperately trying to come to my rescue.

Let it be known that it was her idea I try on the suit to begin with.

Does that seem funny to you? I didn’t think so.

I also know (now) that it’s never a good idea to try on a wetsuit after eating fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.

At the time, I blamed the wetsuit, which was given to me by an ex-boyfriend’s mother and had hung in the back of my closet, unused for years and years. And after I finally peeled that horrendous thing off my body (pulling a few arm hairs along with it), I calmly hung it back up in my closet where it has remained ever since. And then I ate another piece of chicken. I really did!

Moral of the story: never become too big for your britches.

happy birthday, mom!

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  • Mom
    October 15, 2010 at 11:37 am

    Thank you sweetheart !

    • jenna
      October 15, 2010 at 11:38 am

      i hate that darn wetsuit!!! never make me try it on again!

      • C
        October 15, 2010 at 12:10 pm

        puh-lease! she HARDLY forced you to try it on!!

        • jenna
          October 15, 2010 at 12:11 pm

          Oh yeah..I forgot..you were there too. You witnessed the near death experience and all you did was stand there and laugh! No room to talk.

          • Mom
            October 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm

            the wetsuit is officially gone…

  • Andrea
    October 15, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Super duper cute. You look rockin in the wet suit, hyperventilating or not.

  • ModelBehavior
    October 15, 2010 at 11:48 am

    so wait…are you laughing in the pick or struggling?

    • eatmovelove
      October 15, 2010 at 11:50 am

      That’s what I was wondering! I thought it was laughing…but gosh if your struggling, I feel so bad for you!

      On another note, I so didn’t think that was you!…and blue looks good on you 🙂

    • jenna
      October 15, 2010 at 11:50 am

      who knows. i think a little of both. my life is so odd.

  • Karen
    October 15, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    Happy Birthday, Jenna’s Mom!

    • Mom
      October 15, 2010 at 12:23 pm

      thank you!

  • Thetreadmilldiaries
    October 15, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    Ah – the stories and events that get shared between a mother and daughter. Love em.

  • MMiller
    October 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Happy Birthday to your MOM! I was thinking of you today, Jenna, when I went to Trader Joe’s for the first time! I couldn’t buy much of anything as I need to pack it in my carry-on luggage! Boy do I wish they would open one in Florida!

  • Lauren at KeepItSweet
    October 15, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    LOL thank you for that friday afternoon piece

  • cathy b. @ brightbakes.com
    October 15, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    I may never try on a wet suit after reading this!! even if I was going scuba diving! :p
    Love,
    Cathy B. @ brightbakes

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
    October 15, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    Happy Birthday ELR Mom! You have a funny daughter lol.

  • Heather
    October 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    Happy Birthday to your Mom!!!!

  • jessica @ how sweet
    October 15, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Happy birthday ELR Mama! Have a fabulous weekend – both of you!

  • Dorry
    October 15, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    love it! nothing better than those genuine moments caught on camera. happy birthday to your mom! 🙂

  • Rachel
    October 15, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Haha I would have had more macaroni too 🙂

    Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

  • Kendra
    October 15, 2010 at 12:29 pm

    I totally didn’t realize that was you!

  • tina
    October 15, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    omg, this post made me smile! especially your mom’s comments- so freaking cute!!! happy birthday, jenna’s mom!

  • Shutupandrun
    October 15, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Yep, you don’t want to be stuck in a wetsuit when nature comes a calling. That’s for sure.

    • jenna
      October 15, 2010 at 12:35 pm

      no. no, you don’t.

      • Paj
        October 15, 2010 at 1:05 pm

        Surfers are known to pee in their wetsuits to keep warm. What can I say, I know cold water surfers…

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
    October 15, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Hahaha…that is such a great picture. I give you credit for just pulling that thing on. To think I complain about skinny jeans. 😉

    Happy Birthday to Jenna’s Mom! 😀

  • Natalia - a side of simple
    October 15, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Awesome post. Happy birthday to your Mom! I wish her many more years of love and good health 🙂

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
    October 15, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    That is too funny – I used to be a competitive swimmer, so I always had to wiggle into small bathing suits!

  • Sarah
    October 15, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    As much as I enjoy your reading your blog, it’s really tough to read it on a Friday afternoon when I am painfully waiting for the clock to hit 5 so I can get out of my office which I have already spent about 50 hours in this week. And then I think “Jenna’s job is to write little tidbits about funny things that happen to her, and lovely things she bakes” when I’m looking at row 3000000 on a spreadsheet. Makes me wonder where have I gone wrong in life? 🙂

    • jenna
      October 15, 2010 at 1:15 pm

      no way, dude! I’m sure you have a dishwasher AND hot plans tonight. I have neither.

      • Sarah
        October 15, 2010 at 2:02 pm

        Well you got me on the dishwasher. Ha!

    • Krista
      October 15, 2010 at 7:08 pm

      Lately I’ve been detecting lots of jealousy in the comments here. Jenna has not had an easy life, she’s worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices. She purposely keeps it light here and uplifts us with her positive attitude. Kudos for being you Jenna. And many happy returns to ELR mama 🙂

    • Sana
      October 16, 2010 at 12:48 pm

      You can easily choose to make your life happier.

  • Lisa
    October 15, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    What a good story. I needed a laugh today!

  • Jen
    October 15, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Happy Birthday Jenna’s Mom!!!

  • hippierunner
    October 15, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    I hope your mom has a great birthday! And I love that wetsuit picture it is hilarious!

  • Camille
    October 15, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    Hahaha, awww!
    Happy birthday to your Mom!

  • courtney
    October 15, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    Awww, Happy Birthday Jenna’s Mom!!

  • Laura
    October 15, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Jenna, a semi-related to this post question–

    What is the best way to dispose of oil after making something like fried chicken? I know you aren’t supposed to dump it down the drain to prevent clogging. Do you just pour it in the garbage can and hope the bag doesn’t leak?

  • Sandy
    October 15, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    I’m just hoping your mom sold it on ebay and made some money.

  • katie hery
    October 15, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    also never think its a good idea to try on old prom dresses with your sister while you are home over christmas break and just ate your weight in stuffing and pie.

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
    October 15, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    Great story…I HATE WETSUITS! Omg I hate shorties, I hate dry suits, I hate wet suits. If I can’t dive with just a skin, I aint going. I got my scuba dive certif in the freezing cold waters of San Diego. Yes, 58F and cloudy water is freezing to me! And I vowed to never wear another wetsuit as long as I live. And so far, I havent. Warm water or bust, baby!

    I love this story of yours!
    🙂

  • Chicago Cuisine Critique
    October 15, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    Awesome post. Thanks for sharing your stories. 🙂

  • sara
    October 15, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Haha! This reminds me of today when I arrived at work and my jeans were adhered to me like a wetsuit because of a torrential rain storm!

  • Exercise and Eat
    October 15, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    Happy birthday, ELR Mama!

  • Lauren
    October 15, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    HAHAHAHA OMG, I think I just peed my pants a little after this. 🙂

  • zoe (and the beatles)
    October 15, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    it’s kind of hilarious you got a wetsuit for a present. you should have some themed party and resurrect it from your closet! just for some more laughs 🙂

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit
    October 15, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Great life lesson! haha. HB to your Mom 🙂

  • Bonnie
    October 15, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Haha! Wet suits are not flattering on ANYone…well maybe except young CA men. 😉 but you make it look good, fried chicken or not! Fun post, and happy birthday to your mom. 🙂

  • Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    October 15, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    I love photos like this that make you laugh every time you see them!

  • Mom
    October 15, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Thank you ~ everyone ~ for the lovely b-day wishes. You brought a huge smile to my face 🙂

  • Suzanne de Cornelia
    October 15, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    Very Happy Birthday to Jenna’s beautiful Mummy!

  • Moni'sMeals
    October 15, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Just awesome! This reminds me of say when you are laughing so hard and not trying to spit out a drink or not pee your pants either, right?! or am I alone on this one?! 🙂

  • Moni'sMeals
    October 15, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Just awesome! This reminds me of say when you are laughing so hard and not trying to spit out a drink or not pee your pants either, right?! or am I alone on this one?! 🙂

  • skinnyrunner
    October 15, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    i kinda think you should try it on again!!

  • Leigh
    October 15, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    Happy Happy birthday, Jenna’s Mom !!

  • Amanda
    October 15, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    Thats awesome… so awesome.

  • Julia
    October 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    Hilarious! Happy Birthday to your Mom!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    October 16, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    that’s awesome…i started cracking up just seeing that photo!

  • sherri
    October 19, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    how ever did i miss this post the first time around? at least you didn’t put the wetsuit on backwards like me. there’s a dive master in roatan who still won’t let me live that one down. happy belated birthday to your mommy!