Tomorrow Is Another Day...

Things That I Love: Fit For Tenuous Royalty Edition

It has been over a year since I pulled one of these posts out of my trick bag, but I've got some amazing finds that I'm dying to share with you.

L'Oreal Voluminous
The mascara that I return to time and time again.  We've been going strong for almost ten years now, with some bumpy spots in the road where I decided to try out other miracle mascaras including DiorShow, Buxom Lash, and Too Faced Lash Injection as well as some forays into other drug store offerings including the always popular Cover Girl Lashblast. Admittedly, I did fall madly in love with DiorShow, but realized the reason that I liked it so much is because it gives the same dramatic effect as Voluminous, but for almost $20 more per tube.

I also appreciate that Voluminous offer a variety of levels of drama and impact with different formulas.  But my favorite, and the one that I've gotten repeated compliments and inquiries about is the Voluminous in Carbon Black.  What can I say, I am not into subtlety when it comes to my eye makeup!  The one thing you do have to be wary of is clumping.  It's the only downside, but I think that the tendency to clump is only natural when the formula fattens up your lashes so very much.  It's also not much of a lengthener, so if you've already got thick lashes, and are looking to make them longer, it may not be for you.  But if you're like me (a lot of lashes, naturally long, but fine and light) this could be your miracle product as well.

Mario Badescu Skin Care
When I was a youngun, I had pretty decent skin.  I got away with some stridex pads, a little clearasil, and didn't wear anything other than powder until I got to college.  Then I hit 20, and my skin went bat shit crazy.  We're talking every kind of acne imaginable--blackheads, white heads, cystic--everything.  Thus began my near decade long search for the perfect skin care routine.  I have worked my way through so many brands: Proactiv, Philosophy, Murad, everything available at the drugstore, Clinique, Mary Kay, Arbonne.  Basically, if they touted magical skin clearing properties, I gave it a try.  I even attempted the Oil Cleansing Method which worked fine at first until my skin rebelled with a terrifying explosion of pimples.

Then, one happy day in Ulta, I happened upon their Mario Badescu shelf, and was taken with the simple packaging and wide variety of treatment options.  I'd heard good things about the drying lotion, and decided while I was at it, I'd try out the cleanser and toner.  I was shocked at how much my face cleared up, and after the first month of using the cleanser I haven't had a single cystic acne outbreak in five months.  I can't tell you how amazing that is--cystic acne is not only ugly as sin, but it's incredibly painful.  The personal Badescu cocktail I'm currently mixing is the Botanic Facial Gel as my every day cleanser, Glycolic Foaming Cleanser once every other day, Glycolic Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion (toner), and Glycolic Gel after washing and toning at night.  When I have a breakout, I hit it with the Drying Lotion at night and the Drying Cream during the day, and the Buffering Lotion works well for Cystic Acne.  I've also tried some of the masks and exfoliators and really like the Whitening Mask (has lightened some of my slight scarring) and the Kiwi Face Scrub.  There really is something for EVERY skin complaint, and if you're in the market for a new skin care line, I really can't recommend Mario Badescu enough. 

Game of Thrones/ A Song of Ice and Fire
(Can we talk about how gorgeous Emilia Clarke is?  I mean really.)  So, about a year ago, on one of my pilgramages to NYC to visit my sister, she started talking up this Song of Ice and Fire series.  She was really excited about it because it was an upcoming HBO series and it appealed to her fantasy fan sensibiliteis.  But then she made her tragic error--she compared it to The Lord of the Rings.  And I was out.  I tolerate the LOTR movies, and slogged my way through the books, and while they weren't as awful as I thought they'd be, I wasn't overly excited to read or watch anything comparable.  But then people kept talking about how amazing Game of Thrones was.  Someone compared it to The Tudors in scope and sweep.  And then I read that it was loosely based on the War of the Roses, and just like that, I was hooked.  So, I sat down to watch one episode, and then another followed immediately after, then another, and before I knew it, I had inhaled the entire series up to that point (seven episodes at the time) over the course of three days.  And I loved it.

This is no Lord of the Rings people.  There's so much more passion, and excitement, and adventure, and if you don't like one storyline wait five minutes because another one is coming up.  It's fast paced, even to the point of confusion at times, but the acting, as well as the cinematography, sets, and costumes, is superb.  The last episode of the season is coming up on Sunday, and it has already been picked up for season two and I imagine will go on for at least another couple of years beyond that.  I hesitated at first over whether I wanted to spoil the end of the series by reading the books, but decided I just couldn't wait a year to find out how the story continues, so I've been inhaling the first book in the series over the past few days.  And I'm finding that rather than spoiling the show it is giving me and will give me so much more appreciation for the onscreen translation, as well as so much more depth to all of the character's motivations, histories, and personalites.

(These are all my own thoughts and opinions, I have not been contacted by any companies mentioned in this post.  Just sharing because I heart them!)

The Results Show

Hm.

What to talk about?

It's so awkward to return to blogging after ages away from the blank Typepad Compose page.

...

I guess I could talk about how Colby is gone yet again on another trip.

Or about how my dog, Jack, has a stomach bug that has resulted in a shocking amount of vomit and crap all over my house.

Or that it was over NINETY DEGREES in Charleston yesterday.  And I went for a run.  And it was terrible.

Or how we finally got around to watching Toy Story 3 last night, and it was JUST as amazing as everyone said it was.  And I cried JUST as much as everyone assured me I would.  Buckets.  Buckets of tears.

Or how I had an absolutely splendiferous time in Disney World with my sister and my parents, and all I can think about is going back in 2013 when they open up the Beast's castle, the Little Mermaid ride, and the Dumbo circus tents in a major Fantasyland expansion.

Or about how awesome ebooks are until you forget to charge them.  And then I hate them.  Batteries.  The sole reason robots will never take over the world.

Or maybe I can just fill in some plot holes on the blog, and talk about that other stuff some other time.

Remember when we had a deep, meaningful discussion about whether I should keep my hair brown, or go blonde again?  Well, the internet pretty overwhelmingly agreed that I should keep the brown hair.  And so, I went blonde.  I know!!  Why do I even ask your opinion if I'm not even going to LISTEN!?  Such a brat.  But, I couldn't help it, my inner Barbie refused to be repressed any longer.  And now I know that when next I feel the strong desire to just buy a box of $8 hair dye and be done with it, the brown hair is clearly a winner in your books.

As for the great dress debate, I was able to have my cake and eat it too.  Lynn found a size 2 of the Tuillieres dress at her local Anthro, and kindly purchased it and sent it my way.  It still will require some alterations, but it's waiting patiently in my closet for when that day arrives.  As for the Disney dress, I decided to go with the Verdant Slip Dress, also from Anthro, and could not have been happier.  It's even more beautiful in person, and looked smashing with my glittery platform pumps that I gleefully dropped thirty bucks on at Target the day before I left for Florida.

Pictures, or it didn't happen.
We're such a well coordinated set.  Much more Disney to come next week.  Much, much more to come.

Workshops and Shopping and Aliens, OH MY!

... Took part in a writing workshop at the center for women, and despite the fact that I already knew about the topics they covered, it gave me the opportunity to connect with some local women writers and I'll also get to have conversations with a marketing expert and the author of five novels to get some tips and tricks about the industry.  It got me pretty inspired to start writing again if I can ever finish my dern master's classes and spend some writing time on something other than case studies and examinations of the difference between management and discipline.

... Spent a lovely afternoon walking around downtown on my own, and then met some friends for lunch at a new favorite restaurant, Gaulart-Maliclet--or as it is better known round these parts--Fast & French.  And it was fast, French, and delicious!  I stayed virtuous with a fruit and goat cheese plate, then went completely off the rails with the most decadent chocolate croissant I have ever stuffed in my face.  Heavenly.

 

... Stimulated the economy with a little credit card use on King Street.  Fall has been in the air lately, and I know I'm fully back to my old self, as I am no longer dreading the Fall season, but looking forward to it with great anticipation of pulling out my sweaters and boots.  In honor of the crisp breeze that has been blowing here in the mornings, I shelled out the dough for these gorgeous over the knee boots.  I really was going to hold off, but then the shop girls offered me 15% off the listed price, and honestly, how could I say no to that?  I don't care how hot it still is next month, come October 1st, all bets are off and the Fall clothes are coming out of the closet!

... Worked my way through season 2 of The X-Files.  I've talked before about my obsession with The X-Files, so imagine my surprise when I found that there were multiple episodes season 2 that I'd never seen.  It was also funny seeing some future famous faces doing guest spots--including Terry O'Quinn (John Locke, Lost) and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).  I'm so happy that the show has really held up over time, and with the exception of a couple cheesy special effects and Scully's HORRIBLE 90s power suits, it's just as good now as it ever was.  I can't wait to start on season 3!

Shoes and Other Things

I'm going to take a little break from the trip report today and talk about some things that are either only tangentially related or--gasp!--unrelated at all to Japan!

First up, I have a couple of shoe recommendations for you.  Recommendations as in, if you are going on a vacation that involves great amounts of walking and still desire to wear somewhat attractive shoes, listen up, ya hear!  I've worn and reviewed some moderately comfortable, yet definitely cute, shoes in the past, but I think I have finally hit the jackpot on vacation shoes.

Lands' End Classic Ballet Shoe

I have never worn such a comfortable ballet flat.  I don't know why these are so ridiculously comfortable--is it the soft leather, the cushy insole (yes, I added a Dr. Scholl's insole for extra shock absorption), the rubbery traction on the sole that prevented me from slipping and sliding all over Japan?  I don't know, but I walked miles in these shoes and suffered no more than the expected slight discomfort that comes from pounding the pavement for hours in any pair of shoes.  Incredible.

Skechers Active Bikers Straightaway

If you're in the market for something a little more sporty, yet sleeker than the typical tennis shoe, you can't go wrong with this offering from Skechers.  I don't love the look of traditional tennis shoes with shorts because I'm already a little sensitive about the size of my feet.  I felt like these actually made my feet look smaller, and they were like walking on a cloud.  I do recommend breaking them in for a couple of days as I got a small blister on the inside of my arches just from wearing them without socks, but it was nothing a band-aid couldn't handle.  I was so happy with my shoe choices, and between the ballet flat and the sportier Skechers, I felt like I had a shoe to wear with pretty much anything.

In other news, I've been having a tough time adjusting back to life on Eastern Standard Time.  I've never really experienced more than the most minor of jet lag on the first day arriving in a new country, and part of that has always just been travel exhaustion.  But I'm going on day four of being back home, and I'm still not on a normal schedule.  On Tuesday, I passed out doing homework at 3 pm and woke up from a dead sleep at 9 pm.  Yesterday, I fell asleep watching tv around 7:30 pm, woke up at 10:00 to feed the dogs, and then couldn't sleep past 6:00 this morning.  My big exciting goal for today is to stay awake until at least 10 pm and hopefully sleep through the night.

Of course, it might be helpful if I could actually sleep upstairs in my bed, but our upstairs air conditioning decided to die on us the night before I left for Japan and it hasn't been repaired yet.  With our weather lately, this means that upstairs is generally around 85-90 degrees even in the middle of the night.  So, I've been sleeping downstairs on the sofa where the air conditioning is in perfect working order and the sun is streaming viciously through the window by about 6:30 in the morning.

Finally, I am two weeks into my LAST MASTERS CLASS!!!  This means that unless I have some other surprise awaiting me from Grand Canyon University, I should be masters complete in exactly 6 weeks.  I cannot tell you what an amazing feeling that is, compounded by the fact that this class seems like it'll be a breeze.  Senioritis has set in in a major way.

Thanks so much to everyone who's been kind enough to welcome me back, and I hope you've been enjoying my Japan recollections.  I know reading epic trip journals isn't everyone's cup of tea, so please don't give up on me, just a few more to go and it'll be back to my usual blathering!

Let's Make A Deal

If there's one thing I love, it's the heavenly combination of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, a brownie, sweet cream ice cream, and hot fudge.  But if there's another thing I love, it's shopping.  And then if there's one other thing I love, it's finding an amazing deal.

I didn't get the ice cream yesterday, but I got everything else.  I've been wanting to check out the Tanger outlets here, excited to finally have an outlet store less than two hours away from my house.  And let me tell you, I was crazy impressed.  I think it was the best outlet I've every been to.  There were tons of stores I actually wanted to shop at, and then once inside the stores, they had a great selection and some real screaming deals.  My favorite finds:

Coach Horse & Carriage Tote, Amazon Price $268 on sale for $200
Angela's Price $71

 

BCBG Max Azria Catilda, Endless Price $249 (no longer available)
Angela's Price $49

I also came away with a super cute khaki jacket and a summery smocked dress (apparently I'm four years old again) from Ann Taylor Loft, a pair of white shorts (living on the edge, there) from the Gap, and the one thing I'd actually gone in search of, some casual, every day wear jeans from Banana Republic.  Plus I got to spend time with a great friend and an adorable baby.  All in all, an excellent day!

Now, I'm less than a week away from my trip to New York.  I'm so excited to be seeing my mom and sister for six glorious days, and hopefully meeting up with some dear friends while I'm there.  The keys to the apartment we've reserved for our stay should be arriving today, and I've been spending the past couple of days trying to decide how on earth to pack for early May in New York without bringing everything from a parka to spaghetti straps.

Today I'm wrapping up my second to last class in my Masters program, and while I should be starting another one tomorrow, I'm currently enrolled in the wrong class and am having the worst time getting in touch with an adviser.  My usual academic adviser is on vacation, and the contact that she left in her out of office reply isn't responding to my messages.  So frustrating!  I will be immensely glad when this is all over--hopefully in just eight more weeks!

TGSQ: NYC Edition--The Judging

Okay, so life went and got a little wacky there and shoes just took a lower priority than doing 4 weeks worth of  homework that I've been putting off, visiting Colby on base (where he's been trapped for the past week), and fighting off phantom bed bugs that then turned out to be poisonous plants.  The house is finally back to normal after the massive frenzy I whipped up attempting to uncover just one damn bed bug, and I must say, it's probably the cleanest it has ever been or ever will be right now.

I'm almost caught up on homework, which is a lovely feeling, though not as lovely as the feeling of not having any homework at all.  And Colby should be able to come back home tomorrow, though of course he's scheduled to leave for a real trip this weekend, so that will be a short lived distraction.

BUT!  I have received and tried on all of the shoes detailed in my previous shoe quest post, and now I have reviews to give you, though still not a final decision...

First up, we have Dr. Scholl's Habit Ballet Flat in Taupe Camo ($47.00)

The first point that I have to make is that either my feet are shrinking daily, or everyone who has reviewed every single shoe I purchased is totally off on their sizing recommendations.  Every shoe I bought came with the recommendation to order a half size up because the shoes ran small.  Every shoe I tried on was unarguably too large for my foot.  So, I don't know what to make of that, except to recommend that you go ahead and order both sizes and just keep the one that fits.  Or I guess you could go to the store and try them on, but who does that?  Crazy people, that's who.

But anyway, as for this specific shoe, I have to say that it's incredibly comfortable.  The insoles are suede-lined which will be perfect for soaking up all that lovely foot sweat (you know you get it too, don't even wrinkle your nose at me!), and have just the right amount of padding and arch support.  Some reviewers did say that the heel rubbed, and that is a common issue when breaking in flats, but I always keep heel guards on hand to slip into my shoes if it starts to get too painful.  But here's the bad news.  I absolutely hated the appearance.  From the picture, I thought they would be a sort of greyish beige color, but in fact they're much more silvery and have a great deal of glitteriness to them.  Now, maybe this is just my former military self talking, but camo shouldn't sparkle.  It's just... weird.

On a similar note, Dr. Scholl's Graduate in Camel/Gold ($62.90)

Virtually the same exact review can be copied and pasted here regarding the comfort, and sadly virtually the exact same review regarding appearance as well.  In the picture, the gold plus the snake print didn't seem quite so... tacky.  But when I actually had it on my foot, the super shiny gold PLUS the glitteriness PLUS the giant gold buckle PLUS the snake print was all just way too much.

Miz Mooz Opal in Black ($69.95)

These shoes are absolutely adorable, and I would definitely keep them if only comfort weren't the main requirement.  They do have a suede-lined insole, much like the Dr. Scholl's, but there's less padding and while in the picture the toe looks rounded, it actually comes to a blunted point, which caused some rubbing on my outside toes.  Again, if I weren't going to be walking countless miles in these each day, they'd be keepers, but I could practically feel the blisters breaking out just walking around my living room.

Miz Mooz Vargas in Black ($79.95)

These puppies were an all around bust.  The insole is a shiny gold faux leather that I know would result in blisters on the soles of my feet, there's no padding or support to the shoe, and on top of it all, they just aren't all that cute in person.  I didn't realize from looking at the picture that quite a few of the gold studs all over the shoe are hearts.  Now, I don't have a problem with hearts in moderation, but zillions of gold hearts covering my feet is just a bit too precious, even for me.  So, uncomfortable and uncute.  Bye Bye Vargas!

Miz Mooz Esther in Black ($84.95)

Finally, an all around competitor!  In the categories of comfort, Miz Esther has a well padded sueded insole with even a little hint of arch support.  The details are eye catching and attractive without going over the edge into Tackyville, and I just adore the pleating around the vamp.  On top of all that, the soles are a matte rubber which is my absolute favorite for avoiding slips and falls (you know I pay a lot of attention to that little detail!).  The only reason I hesititate to declare this an outright winner is because the shoe is a little big on me.  I had trouble tracking down a 7.5, but I finally found it and ordered it, so I'll compare the two sizes when it arrives and make a final determination.

SURPRISING TWIST!!

Yet another shoe has been accepted into competition at this late stage in the game.  I just couldn't bear to give up on Dr. Scholl's after walking around in the clouds that they call shoes, so I did a little digging and found what could be the perfect shoe.

Dr. Scholl's Graduate in Bronze ($63.00)

Bet you didn't see that coming!  He was dead the whole time!!

The Great Shoe Quest: NYC Edition

Yes, my lovely readers, the time has come for yet another endeavor to locate the holy grail of shoes: the comfortable, stylish flat.  This shoe must be able to endure hours of walking, standing, and yes sometimes skipping, all while maintaining an adorable exterior that makes people say, "Dr. Scholl's? Really?!?"  It's a role that many a shoe has attempted to fill, thus far with less than stellar results.

This shoe must not only stand up to the rigors of pounding the New York pavement, but if met with great success in the Big Apple, will then go on to the ultimate test of a shoes' comfort and style:  Tokyo.  Is there a shoe in this world that can face these demands with bravado?  That can provide arch support, padding, and a distinct lack of rubbing in all the wrong places?  That can do all of this with stunning good looks and a great personality?  If so, dear readers, I shall find it.

Armed with the knowledge attained through previous shoe quests, I loaded up my endless.com shopping cart with a vast army of contestants.  I focused not only on appearance, but on claims to comfort and support from both manufacturers, reviewers, and my own brand experience.  Much to my chagrin, the adorable Sofft shoes that I so longed to test out are not available until May 25--too late for entrance into this competition.  But let us all spend just a moment of silence, gazing upon their beauteous form.

Sofft Paola available 5/25--$97.95  Better luck next time darlings.

And now for the real combatants in this footwear face-off.

Dr Scholl's Habit Ballet Flat--$47.00

Miz Mooz Vargas Flat--$79.95

Miz Mooz Opal Flat--$69.95

Miz Mooz Esther Flat--$84.95

Dr. Scholl's Graduate Ballet Flat--$62.90

So, there we have them.  Shoes will be ordered this weekend, and if the internet tracking system is to be believed, will arrive for their judging on Tuesday.  Thoughts on each and the announcement of the winner shall be announced shortly thereafter in what is sure to be a momentous victory for my feet and a rather more Pyrrhic victory for our budget.  Stay tuned!

Spring Has Sprung!

I was beginning to think it would never happen.  I'd started to think that maybe we had brought Washington weather with us to South Carolina and that the temperatures in the 50s were here to stay,  But at long, long last, the pollen came to town and brought the warm temperatures with it.  It's been in the upper 70s to mid 80s for the past few days, and on the weather this morning all of the projected highs were in the 80s.  Yippee skippy!!!

Of course, with those temperatures finally showing their faces around here, and summer creeping its way around the corner, I'm starting to get a lot more serious about my summer prep projects.  First and foremost is getting the fence finished and getting some landscaping in so that I can lay out in the backyard with a bit more of a screen between my pasty white body and the neighbors.  Colby has been working his tush off on the fence, with a bit of assistance from your truly, and it looks absolutely amazing!  He only has a couple of panels to put up along the side, and then 8 more post holes to dig and some panels to put in to connect the fence to the house.  I'm so proud and lucky to have such a handy husband, and I'm already lobbying for him to put in the patio before he leaves for his deployment.  He informed me yesterday that it would probably be better for me to wait until the post-fence-construction euphoria had set in to mention that project anymore.  Noted.

I'm also starting to get a little more serious about my Jillian Michaels time.  Granted, it's surprising the muscles that I've been feeling after working in the yard, but shorts season is here and while I don't want to lose any weight, I do want to tone up a bit more before I have to prance around the beach in the equivalent of my underwear.  I'm coming to terms with the fact that long-distance running is just not a good thing to do to my body, but I had made a lot of progress with my run time in January and February, so I'd like to get back to those little 2.5 to 3 mile jaunts around the block.

And the most exciting thing about this time of year?  I am only TWO DAYS AWAY from the lifting of my Lenten ban on shopping!!!  I've only had three slip-ups and have bought absolutely zero clothes, shoes or accessories since before February 16.  I bought two magazines and an iTunes album before I even thought about the fact that by doing so I was technically "shopping", then last weekend I went to a local arts fair and saw some adorable ducks made out of iron and rock that I absolutely had to have. Since the company selling them is located in Minnesota, I figured they might not be back next year, and requested a special Lenten dispensation from Heaven.  But on Sunday, I will once more be able to shop without fear of a lightning bolt from above!!  First things on the list to buy?

 
(L: Lands' End Swim Essentials Underwire Bikini Top, R: Lands' End Chino Utility Shorts)

  
(L: Lands' End Smocked Slub Jersey Dress, R: Lands' End Patterned Cotton Lawn Skirt)

(L: Anthropologie Creative Outlet Tank, R: Anthropologie Hourglass Surplice)

(Ann Klein Sestina)

And PS, when did Lands' End become so awesome?!?  Do they have a new designer for this season, or am I just fully coming into my old ladyhood?

Fantasy Fashions

I've been reading a lot of historical fiction and watching a lot of period pieces of late, and it's gotten me thinking about a topic to which I frequently return when I get into these phases.

I love clothes.  That's not really much of a secret.  I get terribly excited when my Lucky magazine arrives and I can pore through it looking for new outfit inspiration.  I love watching shows like Project Runway and What Not to Wear to get my fashion fix.  I'm pretty choosy about which trends I'll jump on board with--it took me a couple of years to come around to the skinny jeans phenomenon and even now I can only bring myself to wear them tucked into boots--but I like to think that's because I have gotten wise in my later 20s as to what trends actually work on my body and what just looks interesting on the pages of a magazine or walking a runway on a human insect hybrid.

But deep down inside, I've never felt the passion for modern day clothes that I do for the fashions of eras gone by.  I secretly wish that I was bold enough to be a Steampunk gal just so I could wear a bustle and veiled top hat.  I think that over the last half of the 20th century fashion became primarily about comfort and utility, which I suppose is fine in of itself, but I often find myself yearning for the glamour of eras gone by--corsets and all.

 

Well, okay, so I don't really want to wear a corset everyday, but you must admit, the idea of taking a few inches off the size of your waist without resorting to strenuous exercise is a little appealing, isn't it?  And with the voluminous skirts of the antebellum period, you'd never know just how thunderous anyone's thighs are.  And parasols!  Le sigh.

From a purely aesthetic point of view. I think the era of the Gibson Girls was the heyday of women's fashion through the ages.  And the ruffled bosoms, enhanced bottoms, and cinched waists that signified the late 1800s/early 1900s would suit my body shape ideally.  In fact, now that I think about it, I think that's what drew me so much to the silhouette of my wedding dress.  Yes, it all sounds perfectly dreamy until you read about the rib-removal surgeries women would undergo for the sake of their fashion.  Um, yikes.

The 1940s definitely takes us to a complete departure from the voluminous skirts with which I'm so enamored, but I've always been a fan of a perfectly tailored suit.  Not to mention, the 1940s were all about phenomenal hats.  If there's one thing I think could really be a practical come-back from fashions of the past, it's the hat.  Think of it, any bad hair day could be immediately remedied with a molded felt hat or a fascinator.  Who's with me on this?

And finally, the decade I most frequently turn to for fashion inspiration, the 1950s.  I love the simple A-line dresses and the full circle skirts that women returned to once the war ended and they were tucked away back into their pre-war roles as domestic engineers.  I don't agree with the sentiment, but how can you argue with the gauzy romance of those gowns?

So, what about you?  Is there a fashion epoch you wish you could bring back to the future, or are you perfectly content with our jeans and t-shirt generation?  How do you think our fashions of today will be remembered in years to come?

This Wasn't Supposed to Be a Shopping Post

It's a good thing I don't blog for my health...  The thing about having become so sporadic about my blog posting is that so many events build up between the times I take to write here that by the time I make an effort to sit down and type something out, it just seems too overwhelming and I don't know where to start.  Then, before I know what's happened, I'm simultaneously watching television, playing Shanghai Dynasty on Facebook, and perusing realtor.com.  And nary a blog is posted.  So, what say you we alleviate some of this boring wordy wordness with some PICTURES!  As Alice says, "What is the use of a book without pictures?"  Particularly if it's a picture book.

That rather neatly segues me into my first topic, which is Halloween.  I'm going to be mighty sad if I move to Charleston and don't manage to find a group of friends who will get dressed up and get a little crazy with me every October 31st.  However, for now I'll be enjoying my last Halloween with this group of friends dressed as Alice in Wonderland.  And how perfect is this Alice dress?
 

Now, the trick is convincing Colby to dress up as The Mad Hatter.  Come on, how cute would we be??  After purchasing this dress, I promised myself that I just needed one more thing to complete my fall/winter wardrobe before cutting myself off completely from shopping once more.  That thing?  The perfect brown boots.  Now, do I already have a fabulous pair of brown boots?  Well... yes.  But these brown boots are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!  Here's a visual.  Old brown boots:

(Fact that this is a terrible picture acknowledged, but it's the best I could do on short notice)

New brown boots:

They have it all.  Gorgeous color.  Feminine heel.  Interesting details.  And most importantly... comfort.  In my search for these elusive perfect boots, I entered the hallowed halls of Neiman Marcus.  Let me tell you, if you ever want to feel poor, inadequate, and slightly ashamed of your outfit, treat yourself to 15 minutes in Neiman Marcus.  Despite my temporary bout of insecurity, I did feel a little as though I had died and gone to fashion heaven.  I was literally surrounded by labels... Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenburg, Manolo, Michael Kors, Catherine Malandrino... it was thrilling.  And heartbreaking.  I tried on this adorable Nanette Lepore dress and these gorgeous Louboutins, and I'm not kidding when I tell you that I teared up ever so slightly when I had a seriously think about our checking account.

And I've never been accused of having excessively high levels of self-confidence, but for reals y'all, that dress looks SO much cuter on me than it does on the model.  Anyway, the Neiman Marcus effect came into play with the boot purchase in that after having the strength of will to say no to $1500 worth of merchandise at Neiman's, dropping $250 measly bucks at that rat-hole Nordstrom suddenly seemed like a pittance.  I suddenly have a whole new sympathy for shopping addicts.

Um, and seriously, this blog post was supposed to be about so much more than shopping, and yet, that's what it has turned into.  I cannot be held responsible.  I'm sitting here looking at those heavenly purple shoes and my brain has completely turned to mush...  This must be how men feel when women with extraordinary breasts are within view.

*Tap Tap*

I swear, I have not forgotten about my blog.  In fact, I think of multiple blog ideas per day, and am constantly composing epic posts in my brain while refereeing kickball games at school, gasping through a run, cursing Jillian Michaels, or trying to fall asleep at night.  I just cannot seem to find the time to both live my life and actually write those posts down.

Times like these, I really miss the days when I filled endless hours sitting at a boring job with this darling blogging hobby.  I got paid a lot more then too.  Man, what was I thinking quitting that gig?  Oh, right, that I needed to find something more meaningful to do with my life.  But really, what is so wrong with meaninglessness!  Front desk girls are important in their own coffee providing, package signing, office organizing way!

Anyway, right now my life consists of: work, sleep, school, eating, trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, and from time to time, working out.  In exactly one week, work will be gone from that equation, which should give me an extra 40+ hours per week to dedicate to blogging and other amusements for the summer.

Until then, let it be known, I am buying not one, but two pairs of Crocs today.  Truth.  Commence with the hurling of stones in my general direction.

This Weekend I...

(A little housekeeping note:  I played around with my feed in an attempt to figure out why it hasn't been showing up in my reader until hours after I posted, and eventually determined that the best way to follow this site in a reader is by using the following feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/wickedlyscarlett/VQbD.  If that's what you're already using, awesome!  If not, maybe you'd like to update it.  That is all.)

... Experienced a combined five to seven hours of sunlight, which brought me to the simultaneously wonderful and horrifying realization that summer is coming, and soon I will no longer to be able to hide the results of holiday binging and late winter comfort eating under multiple layers of clothing.  On Friday night I went for a surprisingly successful run and Saturday I finally removed the shrink wrap from The 30 Day Shred and completed day one of Level 1.  Today, every single muscle in my body is crying out for mercy.

 

... Bought three pairs of Nine West shoes for $19.95 apiece and ordered the Charles David Pomade shoes for the wedding I'll be attending in two weeks.  It was an exciting weekend for my feet.

... Headed up to Seattle with some friends on Saturday where we stumbled upon a fantastic little Asian tea shop, Vital Tea Leaf, near the market.  We were served five or six tiny  cups of tea by an adorable Japanese girl who giggled and complemented and poured tea like a champ.  I added a little Asian flair to my formerly European tea collection with the addition of Jade Oolong and Jasmine teas, as well as a miniature clay tea pot that looks like it should belong to the little bear in the story of Goldilocks.  If it were set in Japan.

... Went to see The Complex: A Play About Apartment Living at the Market Theatre.  We went in expecting a comedy show, and were instead treated to a sort of dramedy based on the experiences of one of the performers as an apartment manager in Capitol Hill.  It was a fascinating look at how people's lives intertwine in ways you wouldn't expect and was at once hilarious and heartbreaking.  And I want Kevin Brady to marry my sister.  You know, if he's straight.  And single.  And reading this.

All in all, it was a great weekend to counteract a less than great week, and now I'm staring down a tunnel with a glorious light at the end only one week away when I fly to Baton Rouge for eight days of fun and relaxation and no contact with anyone under the age of twenty.  Between my masters class, work, and getting ready for this trip have a million frillion things to do this week, but still Saturday cannot come soon enough!

Monday Miscellany and SHOES!

Well, one positive effect that abstaining from Facebook and Twitter has had is my increased blogging.  It's positive to me anyway--I'm less certain as to whether that is true for you.  It is kind of hilarious how I sort of think to myself in little 140 character Tweets now.

For example, I finished my absolutely miserable English Second Language class yesterday, and it felt sort of anticlimactic to not be able to log on to Twitter and blast out my celebration to my Twitter friends and Facebook.  And whenever a kid says something funny or the dogs do something ridiculous, my first instinct is always to craft a semi-witty little sentence and then I leave it rolling around in the empty cavern of my brain, irrelevant and useless once ten minutes have passed.

Anyway, so hallelujah, at last this class is complete!  I have the sinking feeling that this grading period will bring me my first B as a result of my inability to schedule the practicum hours that counted for 10% of my grade.  I'm frustrated because the whole thing felt like it was not completely within my control, but it's not as though I've never gotten a B before.  Though I've never gotten a B in a class that we're having to pay through the nose for, so that's a bit different...

My weekend was incredibly relaxing (read: slightly dull).  I spent all of Saturday starting and finishing a book while Colby studied for a test, and then I did receive a lunch invitation on Sunday, but that's reserved as my homework day, so I spent the day finishing up readings and papers and got them all turned in with time left to spare for yet more reading.  Another perk of my non-Facebook/Twitter lifestyle: I have suddenly discovered all of this TIME.  I had no idea how much of my life was spent reading status updates and wall-stalking.

Last weekend I stumbled across a fantastic dress at White House/Black Market that I determined to be necessary to my attendance at an upcoming wedding, so this weekend I scoured the internet for the perfect red shoes to go with it.  I do already own a pair of red shoes--two actually--but neither are the PERFECT red shoes, so I'm sure you understand my dilemma.  Dilemma #2? I found five pairs of perfect shoes!  And I want them all!  Lo, as we have another tuition payment looming, I cannot have them all, and I find myself simply incapable of making a decision.

Here is the dress:

And here are the shoes:

RSVP Haidy
I love the simplicity with the sassy little cut out--but maybe too simple?

RSVP Hardy
These perfectly reflect the retro look I'm going for, but maybe they're too perfectly retro?  And a little too tap dancey?

Guess Heda Mary Jane
These stick with the mary jane look, but on a sleeker, more elegant scale.  Not sure if they have a retro feel though, and I'm leaning more toward the chunkier platform toes.

Charles by Charles David Pomade
Oh, slingbacks.  Truth be told, I don't own very many of them, and I'm not sure why, because I love the look.  These are once again a little simple, mixed with some sass, but maybe not quite enough?

RSVP Paris
And finally, another pair of slingbacks with a few additional details--the cap toe is a little pointier and the buckles on the slingack gives a little more flash.  But maybe the details are too much?

I've got a couple of them as forerunners in my mind, and I'll probably try a few of them with the dress to see how they look together, but I'd love to know what you're thinking in this here fancy schmancy poll.

 

Because I can't buy them all...
	RSVP Haidy
	RSVP Hardy
	RSVP Paris
	Guess Heda Mary Janes
	Charles Pomade

Fashion Dilemma: Halloween Edition

Halloween is approaching rapidly, and I'm trying to put together the finishing touches on my flapper costume.  I have the main pieces pulled together, but am still waiting for my back-seamed stockings to arrive and need a couple of other little accessories, which is where you, my favorite readers in the world come in.

First question, I need a bold red lipstick, but I'm having trouble finding a shade that is less five dollar hooker and more Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Keeping my coloring in mind (pale and... pale), does anyone have any suggestions for the perfect red?

Second question, a shoe dilemma.  Here is the dress I'm wearing:

And here are my shoe options:

A) Black Gemma

B) Brown Regina










I'm torn, because I think that the black shoes are a little more dressy, plus they match the black feather in the headband, but the brown shoes have a very nice vintagey feel to them and are a pretty neutral brown.  So, seriously, if I'm going to give Daisy Buchanan a run for her money on Friday night, I really need your help!

The Great Shoe Quest: Oxford Edition, Meeting the Contestants

I was hoping to write my happy birthday blog post tonight, but between working out, Project Runway, and Shear Genius bedtime is suddenly upon me and I just don't have the energy for all of that work.  Tomorrow I am heading over to the school where I will begin working next week for Company B (YAY!) to fill out new hire paperwork, cleaning the house so that if anyone breaks in while I'm gone they won't find my dirty underwear lining the hallways and dog hair coating the carpet, running some last minute pre-trip errands, dropping the puppehs off at camp, and then probably getting around to packing some time around 10 o'clock at night.  You know, the usual pre-trip routine!

As a side note, I am hoping and praying that the rains stay away from Orlando this weekend, but even more than that, I am putting most of my energy into praying that Gustav doesn't go ripping through New Orleans again.  I have so many loved ones down there directly in the line of fire, and I honestly don't know if New Orleans can survive another hurricane--even if it is just a Category 2. It makes me sick just thinking about it...  There are a lot of things I miss about the South, hurricanes are not listed amongst those things.  Though days off of school and work because of hurricane warnings rank pretty high up there...

But anyway, enough of this morose pessimism, let's take a look at the gorgeous shoes that have made it into the first round of contention for The Great Shoe Quest: Oxford Edition!  I have scoured the internet for the top notch oxford contestants, and have broken the shoes down into two groups:  "Classic Oxfords" and "Loafer Inspired Oxfords".  I am still undecided as to which is my preference, and it may come down to trying on a couple of each just to see how they look on my feet.  I do have a preference for a higher, slimmer heel, but I've included a couple of lower, chunkier heels in the mix for those of you who don't enjoy teetering around on stilts!  Also, let me say it now, I do not condone peep toe oxfords, nor do I think that these shoes should be worn barelegged.  I think they look fantastic with pants or a dress and tights, but I just think they look clunky and Herman Munsterish when worn any other way.  I believe those are my only qualifications, so without further ado...

Classic Oxfords

       

Left: Banana Republic "Bree" Wing Tip High Heeled Oxford.  I love the oh so traditional look of this shoe, and love that the heel is high and slim, but still has a bit of substance.  I wouldn't be worried about this puppy getting caught between any cobblestones!

Right: Max Studio Zanzibar.  I'm still leaning more toward wanting a black shoe, but the subtle red of this oxford really is gorgeous.  And the delicate heel and hidden platform are a lovely combination.

Left: Steve Madden Vulture.  This was the shoe that I initially fell in love with in my online perusals, but now I find myself wondering (and I can't believe I'm about to say this) if the heel is actually too high.  I know, who am I, and what have I done with Angela?  I do love the drama of the shiny patent leather though.

 Right:  Franco Sarto Deer.  In stark contrast with the towering heel of the Steve Madden oxford, this shoe retains the feminine sleekness and classic oxford detailing, but with a much more manageable heel.

Left: Stuart Weitzman Nanny.  I must be honest, I'm not sure it was too wise of our dear Stuart to give this shoe such a matronly name, but I think the patent leather and moderately high heel save it from looking like anything that would inspire thoughts of grandmothers or nursemaids.

Right:  Nine West Kimball.  This is probably the most straightforward, classic oxford out of the bunch, and I applaud its traditional appearance.  This would look quite sleek and professional--much more of an in the office oxford, than night out on the town.

Left: Martinez Valero Women's Sachi High Heeled Oxford.  I adore the cream colored accents, squared off toe, and shiny patent leather--I know it's early in the game to begin choosing favorites, but this one is a beauty.  One to watch!

Right:  Dolce Vita Women's Taylor Oxford.  I love the sassiness of the slightly upturned toe and the pert little X that the laces make.  I feel strongly that if I wore these shoes, I would have to get my hands on some spats.

Left: Aldo Magaly.  This is close in the running for the most traditional oxford award, but the perforation details and gleaming patent leather really kick it up a notch.

Right: Anne Klein Quaint.  Houndstooth!  Patent leather!  Oxford styling!  It's like Sherlock Holmes exploded in a shoe factory!  With the solid, yet still feminine heel, I think this could be the Everyman's Oxford.

Loafer Inspired Oxfords

     

Left:  Steve Madden Reilly.  So, do you see what I mean about these shoes being more reminscent of a penny loafer in a way?  Still, the lace up detail is also oxford-like, and so these shoes have made it into the running by virtue of their stunning good looks and willingness to take a chance!  I like the combination of fabric with the patent toe and vamp as well as the perforation detailing.

Right: Bandolino Steffi.  It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but these actually have a lower heel than the Reilly--3" as opposed to 4".  Although, I think sometimes different manufacturers measure from different points when giving heel heights, so maybe that's why these look remarkably similar despite their alleged 1" difference.  Anyway, these are a little sleeker than the Reilly, and it's a nice patent--not too shiny, so potentially a bit more conservative.

BCBGirls Cayla.  Okay, so these aren't really loafer inspired, but with the dramatic cutouts along the vamp, they didn't exactly fit into the Classic Oxford category either.  The nice thing about these shoes, and even the Steffi and Reilly is that I think I could lift my bare legs ban, as they're a bit more delicate than the classic oxfords.  Especially these with the openness of the cutouts.  Definitely very daring--I'm intrigued!

So, there you have it, my thirteen favorite shoes (hm, I wonder if I should have found another shoe to keep the more superstitious of you from falling into hysterics right now) inspired by the menswear/oxford trend.  I'm curious to hear what your thoughts are, and I'll be back at work on the Shoe Quest in early September, winnowing these selections down to the finalists, which I'll then review and eventually narrow down to the ultimate Shoe Quest winner!  Until then, happy shoe hunting!

This Weekend I...

...Had a lovely happy hour with some girlfriends at the Tap House Grill, also known as the home to one of my all time favorite drinks--The Sweet Tart.  Yumminess!  This time I decided to give The Pink Starburst a try as well, and I was NOT disappointed!  Turns out, they also make a pretty mean California roll.  Don't get me wrong, I miss Colby a lot, but it's really awesome to have all of this girl time in my life again.  I didn't realize how much I'd missed hanging around with girlfriends--no boys allowed!

...Took care of some final details for my Labor Day weekend Disney World trip.  What, you didn't know I was going to Disney World?  It's almost like I DIDN'T EITHER!  I swear, generally I spend much more time discussing upcoming vacations on this blog and obsessing over them in my real life, but this trip has just totally snuck up on me.  Fortunately, we booked our hotel a while ago, but I'm still waiting to hear back about our transportation from the airport to the park and am planning to buy my park tickets at the same time as check in.  This is the most fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants as I've been about ANY trip EVER.  I'm not sure I like it.

...Made some fun Disney money selling a dress and some extra Proactiv products on eBay.  Who knew that selling things there would get to be as addictive as buying things?  If Colby doesn't get home soon, he may find that he comes back to an empty shell of a house, me curled in a corner, attached to my Macbook, feverishly checking the status of my auctions as I sell off the last of our belongings.

...Turned in my last paper, effectively wrapping up the first class of my graduate school adventure.  As of right now, I have a 99.4% in the class, so unless I bomb my Philosophy of Education paper, (Which, how depressing would that be?  I think I'd have to rethink my future career plans.) I should be looking at my first 4.0 GPA in a very long time.  I certainly think that's cause for celebration over the next week off of school!  Just think, only two years of this left to go!  Sigh...

...Bought this dress, top, and skirt for the same amount as a dress that I bought at 50% off from Anthropologie and then had to return because it was just TOO orange.  There's lovely orange and then there's TOO orange, you know?  Anyway, I love Anthropologie, but whoever sets their prices certainly does think pretty highly of themselves.  I love Francesca's Collections because they sell clothes that are just as beautiful and well-made as Anthropologie for a fraction of the price.  Because it's a boutique, you do have to deal with some limitations on the size selections (it seems as though smalls are sold out A LOT) and items do go quickly, but you can still find some great deals.  That skirt?  $8.50.  That's all I'm sayin'.

And finally, when I hit post in a few minutes here, I will have posted my 500th post to this blog over the course of almost exactly three years!  I completely forgot my 3 year blogoversary took place on Friday, so that celebratory post will be coming soon.  Just think, if I had spent all of that time that I took writing FIVE HUNDRED blog posts, writing actual literature, I'd probably have at least two finished manuscripts by now.  But it is just so much easier to write about shoes and The Hills.

Anyhow, I've got my big interview with the mysterious Company B today, so here's hoping that goes well!  But while I'm off sweating bullets in a job interview and then going in search of a bra that doesn't insist on peeking out over every single top I wear that dares dip below my clavicle, in celebration of my 500th blog post, I want to hear about the best present you've ever received.  And then I will imagine that I am getting those presents, and together, we can make this day almost as exciting as Christmas!  (Just with fewer cookies.)

The Great Shoe Quest: Oxford Edition

Did you know that it is currently in the low 50s outside the cozy warmth of my house right now?  May I remind you that we are currently still firmly within the month of August, a month that by all accounts is referred to as "summer"?  In case anyone is a little confused, as our heavenly Father seems to be, summer is defined by Dictionary.com as "a period of hot, usually sunny weather" or "the hotter half of the year (opposed to winter)". Now, I'm not saying that God is WRONG by deciding that it should be 52 degrees outside on August 22nd, and in all fairness, the sun is currently shining on the other side of the world, but really, it is my lowly opinion that summer should involve a little bit more sweating than I have had the priveledge of experiencing over the past three months.  After all, the dictionary did specifically say "opposed to winter", not "just like winter, except with rather less rainfall".

However, I suppose I should consider myself lucky that not only did I manage to break a sweat this year--and in 85 degree and below weather mind you (my Louisiana roots are horrified by my weakness)--but I also got away with wearing sleeveless shirts, on at least four separate occasions, without once wishing that I'd remembered to bring a jacket.  In fact, I think that if you were to place all of the beautiful sunny, warm days we've had this year, end to end, we've probably had close to 3 solid weeks of summer.  So, certainly an improvement over last summer, God, and for that, I thank you.  "A" for effort.

So, in short, I have begun steeling myself to the fact that Fall is advancing upon us once more, and soon I will be deep in the throes of Seasonal Affective Disorder, bursting into tears at the slightest provocation and wondering how on earth people can smile and laugh in a world so dark and dismal.  Fortunately, that should last for only eight or nine months before it is summer again and I'm no longer threatening to commit a murder-suicide if we get stationed in Alaska for our next assignment.  And of course, there are certain advantages to fall in Washington--for one thing, it once more becomes acceptable to order hot chocolate at Starbucks without people giving you the hairy eyeball.  Also, I enjoy tights and boots and outerwear, so there are sartorial benefits as well.  Then there's all of that rain, which takes care of watering the yard for me--not that I really remember to water the yard regularly in the summertime, but it relieves the pressure nonetheless.

And to make myself feel even better about the upcoming fall season, I have decided to go a little crazy and jump on my favorite trend from last year, which I never got on board at the time.  That would be the menswear trend--more specifically the oxford pump.  Honestly, when the trend first started popping up last year, I was more than a little uncertain about my feelings for it, but as the season went by and I saw more and more real life examples as opposed to the rather questionable runway looks, I really started to fall in love.  There is something undeniably sexy about menswear for women--from tweeds and military influence to the sophistication and retro glamor of the oxford.  Unfortunately, fall came to a close before my love was fully developed and I figured it was too late to get on that bandwagon, so I moved on with my life.  But when I was in San Francisco for the Fourth of July, I saw a girl wearing the most adorable pair of patent leather oxfords with a delicate high heel and a little glimmer of hope came alive in my heart.  I started searching my favorite shoe sites, and lo and behold, the menswear trend is indeed back with a vengeance for this fall and there are oxfords aplenty on the menu.

Given the huge selection and numerous choices involved--traditional oxford or loafery oxford, high stiletto heel or low chunky heel, patent leather, plain leather or fabric?--I have decided that the only solution is to embark upon another Great Shoe Quest.  Next week I will give the rundown on all of the lovely oxfords that have made the cut and will have the honor of being featured on my highly respected, immensely popular website, and then in September, I will begin narrowing down the selections to find the lucky winner of The Great Shoe Quest: Oxford Edition.  Join me next week, for the exciting season premiere!

Deep Thoughts On A Shallow Topic

This weekend was our big girls night out for the Sex and the City, and it really was a fabulous experience.  We dropped the boys off at a restaurant so that they could spend the evening doing manly things like beating all of my friend Carolyn's Wii Fit scores and playing a Star Wars game featuring Lego characters, all while drinking many, many bottles of Bud Light.  Poor Carolyn, I don't believe she'll ever get that frat party smell out of her house.

Anyway, the boys treated us to cosmos before we left which was pretty precious, and who are we to say no to free, fruity drinks?  (Also, how frightening do my friends look with the face blurring?  I swear, I'm not friends with a bunch of horror movie characters.)  (Or am I??)  (Oh, and has anyone noticed that the pictures uploaded to Typepad really seem to deteriorate in quality??  Hm.)

So, once we'd tossed back our drinks we headed to the restaurant where we were meeting a couple of other girls.  I split a margherita pizza with Carolyn, drank a couple of bellinis and then still managed to stuff down tiramisu and 3 scoops of gelato.  And people wonder how I maintain my girlish, waif like figure.

When we had enough of the high calorie deliciousness, we mosied over to the theater where we managed to find six seats together right smack in the middle of the theater and then proceeded to anxiously await the familiar strains of those long awaited "dun dun, da da, dun dun, da DA!"s

So, now for my spoiler-free thoughts on the movie.  Overall, I really, really enjoyed it.  The  two and a half hours seemed to really fly by, and I feel like they did a pretty good job of bringing back the feel of the series on a slightly grander scale.  The intro was really heartwarming as they did a good job of recapping the events of the series and bringing us up to speed on where all of the women were in their lives 3 years after we last saw them. 

Kristin Davis must have some sort of deal with the devil, because she looked just as fresh-faced as she did when she was introduced in the first episode and without giving away any spoilers, Charlotte was given my two favorite and most intense scenes in the movie.  Cynthia Nixon looked stunning as Miranda, and although the plot supposedly revolves around Carrie's life, I thought Miranda's story was the most compelling.  Botoxed Kim Cattrall was beautiful and sexy as Samantha, and I think she got some of the best lines of the night.  And Carrie and Big.  Well, they were Carrie and Big, and I pretty much wanted to take turns slapping the crap out of both of them for two and a half hours.  Sarah Jessica Parker seems to have aged the most of all of the leading ladies, and while she still managed to look fabulous and stylish for the majority of the movies, there were a few scenes where she seemed incredibly aged and tired.  And not just in the scenes where she was supposed to look aged and tired.

And now where I get a little bit more serious for just a minute.  When I watch a movie that I really enjoy, I always like to troll the internet messageboards to see how people are reacting and what they are saying.  I often pick up little bits of trivia and hear some great theories and thoughts about plot points and characters.  I was excited to read up on Sex and the City and see what the buzz was, and wow, what a horrible experience that turned out to be.  Thread after thread bashing the women who enjoy the series and the characters portrayed.  And not in a thoughtful, meaningful way--words like "slut", "bitch", "hags", "shallow", and "pathetic" were in one subject line after another.  Most of the instigators?  Men.

It is truly frightening to see how incredibly threatened so many men are by successful, older women.  If Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda were male characters, these guys would be applauding their sexual conquests, lusting after the sports cars they drive, and envying their high powered jobs.  I'll admit that as much as I love their beautiful clothes and enjoy watching the drama of their lives unfold, I would never want to be a Sex and the City woman, but that doesn't mean that they are any more pathetic than I am just because they have chosen different lives.  And another point that I think is important to remember?  These characters are NOT REAL!  GOD!

So, yeah, I just deleted some other paragraphs where I keep going off on this tangent, but it was all really boring, not terribly well said, and I think you all know what I'm getting at here.  I love Sex and the City because it's not just a story, it's an event.  It is a catalyst that brings women together, not just because the shoes are fabulous and their apartments are enviable, but because there is at least one facet somewhere in the story with which almost any woman can identify or at least understand.

Well, I'm exhausted now!  Leave it to me to suck all of the fun out of Sex and the City, eh?  I really wanted to leave you with a montage of my favorite outfits from the movie, but since there are only pictures from, like, five scenes on the internet right now, I'll leave you with my favorite outfits from the movie that I could find pictures of, so not really my favorites, but kind of the runners up.  (Oh my God, Carrie's turquoise Manolo's--you know THE SHOES--were to DIE FOR.)

I don't know what Cynthia Nixon did to make Pat Field fall in love with her, but Miranda looked PHENOMENAL in this movie.  I can't think of a single Miranda outfit from the tv show that I would ever want to be caught dead in, but everything from her hair to her makeup to her shoes was just top notch in the movie.  Did you see the shoes that she wore during the therapy session with Steve?  Heavenly!

Although Carrie has always been the fashionista of the show, it's Charlotte's wardrobe that I've adored from afar for the past six years.  I love the timeless elegance of her endless supply of skirts, dresses and suits with the perfectly paired stiletto and purse.  This black Zac Posen made me gasp when I saw it for the first time.  I love the classic design and color paired with the dramatic flare and ruffles on the back.

This white and gold beflowered dress is classic Carrie with a twist.  I love how it hearkened back to the days of the flower pin, but with a new, fresh approach.  Obviously this is a dress that very few women could pull off, but I think that Sarah Jessica Parker looked flawless.  A definite miss however?  The black wide leg jumpsuit that she wore to the Very Important Evening Event.  Ugh.

Leave it to Samantha to make a canary yellow blazer unimaginably sexy.  I wish I'd been able to find a better picture that showed the fascinatingly asymmetric lapels, but alas, this photo will have to suffice.  Also fantastic on Sam?  The shimmering gold skirt and white wrap shirt.  Divine!

It's Actually Pretty Easy Being Green

If you've talked to me at all in the past 24 hours, you'll know that this whole recession that we're not officially experiencing (so then why is my grocery bill double and my gas station fill up $50 a pop) has started to freak me out more than a little.  I've had trouble getting totally worked up about this whole global warming/going green trend that has been going on lately.  Not because I don't believe that global warming is a problem and that recycling is a good thing, because I would agree with both of those statements.  I've recycled for as long as I can remember, but beyond that I'm a horrible human being who doesn't really have time to be bothered about the state of the planet in between keeping up with my blog roll and trying to keep my DVR below 50% capacity.  Priorities, I have them somewhere around here...

Anyway, all of this to say that I haven't really understood the whole "going green" frenzy, but just put Suze Orman on The View for 10 minutes and have her tell me that gas is only going to get more expensive, we'll never be able to sell our houses, and the middle class is vanishing as the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, and, well, I will freak the hell out and immediately begin researching Priuses (Prii?).  Because I can tell you one thing:  I am not getting richer.  I think you can see where that leaves me.  Some people are worried about whether or not their children will be able to leave the house in 20 years without dying from exposure to pollution, and I'm panicking because I really want to go to France sometime before 2010 and the dollar is just complete crap right now.

So, I spent the afternoon cleaning out the house and making a giant pile of books, clothes and electronics to sell.  Is anyone interested in a printer that was supposed to be free with the purchase of my MacBook (except I forgot to fill out the rebate form) or a casual navy blue pea coat from American Eagle circa 2002?  But even with this downward spiral of monetary woe, I cannot stop with the online window shopping. 

I'm exceedingly proud of myself that I haven't made a single shoe or clothing purchase since before we left for Italy (and that's almost two months if you haven't been keeping track), but I think, in some way, I find it soothing to scroll through page after page of beautiful dresses, shoes, bags and accessories.  I can pick new outfits, add them to my shopping cart, and dream about how lovely it would be for a big Nordstrom or Banana Republic box to arrive on my doorstep, all before closing out the window and going back to obsessing over my credit card bill and wondering how on earth it keeps getting so high even when there is absolutely nothing fun crossing our threshold.

In participating in these online viewing therapy session, I've realized something new and a little bit exciting about myself.  I am absolutely in love with the color green this year.  I've always liked green, but I've never just LOVED and been completely DRAWN to green.  I think something about its bright cheerfulness speaks to me in this, my hour of financial despair and endless winter, and I've been seeking out vivid kelly green for the past month.  So, I've decided to go green in the best way I know how--through textiles.

Now, in the spirit of Lucky Magazine, here is your Going Green for Summer Shopping Guide.  Mark my words:  Green is this year's pink!

1) Enzo Angiolini Kellie
2) Tommy Hilfiger Blaine
3) Anne Klein Impress

1) Naughty Monkey Candyland
2) Sugar Princess Grace
3) Naughty Monkey Walk the Talk

1) ABS by Allen Schwartz Floral Silk
2) Teeze Me Seersucker Tank
3) Eliza J Sleeveless Surplice
4) Milly Jungle Leaf Print Silk
5) Sean Collection Bead Satin Gown (I am truly heartbroken that Colby will be deployed for this year's Military Ball, because otherwise I would so totally be buying this and wearing it in September.  Le sigh.)

1) Olivia Moon Flutter Sleeve
2) Plenty by Tracy Reese Ruffled Jersey Shell
3) Theory Keiri Top
4) Banana Republic Beaded Cap Sleeve Blouse

1) Cole Haan Village Medium Work Tote
2) Cole Haan Sabra Canvas Tote
3) Francesco Biasia Belinda

Shoes. OMG Shoes. Let's Get Some Shoes.

I have before me ten beautiful shoes.  Shoes with so much style and comfort and potential.  But in my hands, I hold the photos of only the three shoes that will go on to become winners of The Great Shoe Quest.

Category 1: Practical Ballet Flat Finalists

Clarks - Swan in Dark Brown Leather
Pros:  Very comfortable and the brown is quite dark and rich.  The leather is extremely soft, and the insole very well padded.  It seems like it would need little to no breaking in.  A definite front runner.

Cons:  The vamp comes up too high over the top of my foot, and I felt like it made the shoes look a little clunky.  When I take a step, I can feel little puffs of air coming out of the shoe--it's like a humiliating shoe fart just waiting to happen.

Clarks - Arye in Champagne Leather
Pros:  When I put on these shoes, I was impressed by how immediately comfortable they were.  Like the Swan, the insole was so well padded, it really did feel like walking on a cloud (only less damp, I would imagine).  The color is a very light gold, so it can be worn casually or more dressed up, and it's so neutral that it will definitely go with either black or brown.

Cons:  The 8 was a little bit too big, and the 71/2 felt a little cramped around the toe box.  I think since they're leather they would probably stretch after some wearing, and if not they could always be taken into a shoe repair store for some manual stretching.  The ribbon edging, while adorable, might cause a little bit of rubbing on the foot.

Indigo by Clarks - Giana in Cafe Brown Leather

Pros:  Really, the only pro is how cute the shoe is.  The quilting of the leather is really different and adorable, and the darker ribbon edging the brown leather would help it match black and brown.  The leather was very soft and pliable.

Cons:  While it was certainly more comfortable than some of the flimsier ballet flats already in my closet, it didn't stand a chance when compared to the Swan and Arye.  There is very little padding on the insole, and while it would probably be great for normal wear, I don't imagine my feet would feel so great after walking over cobblestones for miles and miles.

Category 2: Sturdy Walking Shoe Finalists

Privo - Comice in Brown Nubuck

Pros:  The shoe fits my foot extremely well, has a great textured and padded insole, and seems like it would be a very sturdy option for all kinds of terrain.  It's tight enough to fit comfortably without socks, but still has enough room that I could get away with a thin sock if it's cool outside.  The brown doesn't seem like it would match so well with black, but this seems to matter a little bit less since it has more of a "tennis shoe" look to it, and I don't generally worry about matching those to my outfits.

Cons:  Not the most elegant style.  They would work great with pants, but are definitely a little too "sporty" for a dressy skirt or dress.

Privo - Float in Brown Nubuck

Pros: I loved the leather detailing on the sides and strap.  The leather has an almost metallic sheen that dresses the shoe up a little bit.  The insole is the same as the Comice, making it a very comfortable option.

Cons: The 8 was far too loose and the 71/2 was far too small.  Since the majority of the shoe is a mesh fabric, it wouldn't take to stretching very well without loosing its shape.  The leather strap could cause some rubbing issues after prolonged wear.

Privo - Step in Chocolate Nubuck

Pros: Such a cute shoe--the leather detailing over the toe is really adorable and gives the shoe a dressier look so that it could easily be worn with a skirt or pants.  Has the same padded insole as the Float and Comice.

Cons:  Unfortunately, the big pro about this shoe is the cause of the major con.  The adorable leather part on the toe of the shoe puts pressure on your toes and was already uncomfortable after just a few minutes on my foot.  There's always the possibility that it would loosen up with repeated wearings, but I don't know for sure.

Skechers - Bikers Locomotion in Toffee

Pros:  The insole didn't have the same textured padding as the Privos, but it was still extremely comfortable.  The style is quite cute, and like the Step and Float, could be easily worn with jeans or skirts.

Cons:  Far too wide for my foot.  The 8 slid off of my foot with almost every step, and the 7.5 was far too small.  Even if the 7.5 had fit, the shoe seemed to add girth to my foot and made it look much wider than it really is.

Category 3: Comfortable Heel

Ecco - Basel T-Strap in Espresso Patent

Pros:  Really, really cute shoe with a vintage vibe, and quite comfortable.  The heel was a great height, not too tall, not too short, so it was very easy to walk in, and the leather was so soft that it really felt great on my foot.

Cons: The vintage 1940s look was certainly part of the appeal, but I felt like I could only wear it with certain dresses, as it may have been a little too dressy or retro for more casual skirts or pants.  The insole could have had a bit more padding, though this could be remedied with a little Dr. Scholls action.

Ecco - Brig Petit T-Strap in Barollo Patent

Pros:  Another cute shoe with a vintage look--this time a little more Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Again, because the heel was low and chunky, it was very easy to walk in, and the leather was very pliable.

Cons: This would probably be a perfect shoe for someone who wants a dressy heel without a lot of height, but for me, the heel wasn't high enough and it was a bit too thick for my taste--I think the heel looks higher in the picture than it does in person.  Also, the brown is a very pretty color, but it does have a distinct reddish tinge to it that would make it difficult to match with a lot of outfits.

Sofft - Regina in Cashmere/Spirit Tan Leather

Pros:  Looked even cuter than in the picture—the heel is a little more slender, and the sole doesn't have such visible tread.  Remember those commercials where the women were playing basketball in their high heels, as though they were wearing tennis shoes?  That's what I felt like when I put these shoes on.  The insole is very well padded, but so are the sides of the shoes.  The whole shoe feels cushiony and soft.  The lighter tan leather has a little bit of a glimmer to it without being overly glittery, giving it a very nice dressy feel.  Oh, and free.  That's always a really lovely pro.

Cons:  Because the heel is higher than the other shoes I tried, I probably couldn't wear them for as long without getting some fatigue on the ball of my foot.

And the winners are....

Clarks - Arye in Champagne Leather

I'm wearing these today, and I love them.  When I look down, I can see that I'm wearing delicate, beautiful ballet flats, but when I'm walking, I feel like I'm wearing my most comfortable sneakers.  The really were winners in every category, and I haven't had any trouble with the ribbon rubbing uncomfortably so far.  I'm still considering having them stretched, but I'm going to try wearing them for about a week to see if they stretch any on their own.

Privo - Comice in Brown Nubuck

This decision was a little bit more difficult, just because I really did like the idea of a walking shoe that would be sturdy and comfortable, but also easily coordinate with a skirt or a pair of pants.  However, the Comice was just far and away the most comfortable choice, and I don't imagine I'll be doing a lot of hiking in skirts and dresses anyway!

Sofft - Regina in Cashmere/Spirit Tan Leather

This was another really easy decision.  Yes, it was really fantastic that the shoes were sent to me free of charge by Sofft, and I do feel like I should make that very clear, just so that there's no internet scandal about how I'm hiding the fact that I'm reviewing shoes for which I didn't have to pay!  However, even if I had shelled out the ninety-one bucks out of my own pocket (making them, by the way, the most inexpensive of the dressy shoes I tried), I still would have chosen these shoes.  Like the Clark Arye, they were winners in every category--dressy, comfortable, and versatile (can be worn with skirts, dresses, or jeans).

I'm so pleased with all of these shoes, and I just hope it proves that you CAN find comfortable, practical shoes without losing the style factor.  Okay, I'm ready to go to Italy now!

If I Had A Million Dollars...

About a thousand years ago, Bre did a fantastically fun post about what outfit she would buy if she had a million dollars.  I loved the concept, since I spend the majority of my days surfing the net and dreaming of the things I could buy if I had unlimited funds.  I planned to do my own version of her post, but then there was the wedding, then the holidays, then the doldrums of winter hit full force and my blog sort of turned into my one stop shop for internet therapy.

I'm beginning to feel a bit more cheery at the prospect of going to Italy, finding a job closer to home, and the promise of sunny spring days lurking just around the corner, so I'm going to make a concerted effort not to be quite so glum here, at least for the foreseeable future.  I firmly believe that we all make our own happiness, and it's okay to be down in the dumps for a little while, but there comes a time where you just have to reach down and pull yourself out of the mire through any means necessary.  And what is a more cheerful thought than being able to dress yourself in sumptuous, fabulous fashions without any regard to your bank balance!

Ah, the joys of blatant materialism!  And so, may I present to you the outfit that I would be wearing today if I had $11,886 dollars burning a hole in my pocket:

7 For All Mankind Satin Halter Top (in Teal) $158.00

Rock & Republic "Scorpion" Stretch Jeans  $202.00

Anthropologie Wellington Trench $188.00

Christian Louboutin "Mad Mary" $865.00

Helen Welsh Double Pocket Satchel $348.00

Michael Kors Circle Detail Large Frame Sunglasses $225.00

Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Cocktail Ring $8500.00

Tiffany Fringe Tower Earrings $1400.00

What items do you dream of buying if only you had unlimited funds?

This Weekend I...

...Went to a new cupcake shop that just opened in our cute little downtown main street.  I decided on a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting, and Colby had a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting.  Clearly, I have failed spectacularly at my Lenten promise.

...Bought dahlia bulbs and tulip sprouts to plant in a few weeks.  I cannot wait for that first burst of beautiful spring color!!

...Spent Saturday night filing our taxes.  Well, in all fairness, Colby put in most of the effort, but I helped when it came to itemizing our donations, and we finished with only a bare minimum of head biting.  Now we just have to sit back and wait for the almost 5 G's to come rolling in.  I kind of love tax season...

... Received my shoes from Endless AND Zappos and began testing them for The Great Shoe Quest!  Hooray!  Apparently Zappos does still ship shoes overnight?  I don't know.  I'm confused, but I'm not questioning it further.  A few of the shoes were too big, so new sizes have been ordered and results will definitely be posted by the end of this week!
 

... Surrounded myself with pink grapefruit Airborne and Kleenex.  Yesterday, I only moved from the couch four or five times, and that was just to go to the bathroom or to harass Colby into making me chicken noodle soup.  Imagine the most annoying sick person in the world, and then multiply that by ten and that's me when I have a cold.

I'm at work today, infecting the rest of the office because I'm all out of sick days and I'll be damned if I'm going to use a personal vacation day because I don't feel 100% great.  How was your weekend?

Becoming A Reality

February 28.  The first time I ever ordered shoes from Zappos and didn't receive free overnight shipping.  From now on, unless I pay upwards of $7.00, shoes ordered from their website will arrive in 4-5 days.  I really feel like today should be a day of mourning.

In addition to the severe pain that was caused by the loss of Zappos free overnight shipping, Endless is no longer offering negative $5.00 shipping, although it is still free overnight.  It's the end of an era folks.  A beautiful carefree time that will be remembered with the same fondness as the Napster Years.  But life does go on, and so next week, I hope to wrap up The Great Shoe Quest with my thoughts on all of the shoes and my final selections.  I know I'm pretty dang excited!

And to go along with the vacation time that was so graciously bestowed upon me by my illustrious company, Colby's passport arrived in the mail on Tuesday, and mine showed up yesterday.  We're official, y'all!!  Although, I admit that I'm pretty bummed about the fact that I lost the stamps I'd collected over the years in my old passport.  Le sigh.

So, all in all, today I'm feeling pretty okay.  Italy is just over a month away, and it no longer feels like some far off dream.  I've been mentally selecting outfits for the past few days, and I think this weekend I'm going to finish my vacation shopping by purchasing a pair of these pants in lemonade and porcelain blue.  Assuming they don't make my ass look ginormous, that is.

Tonight I'm going to have dinner with Lori, and I'm oh so excited since I think the last time we saw each other was on Christmas Eve.  I'll probably moan about my job a little bit more over cocktails, but then I am putting it out of my mind until next week.  I've done nothing for the past two days but think about whether I should quit, and if so when I should quit--pre or post vacation?--where else I would work, how much it would suck to not buy shoes for the entire duration of the job hunt, whether or not it really is all that bad here, and how tired I am of 11 hour days.  My brain is utterly exhausted, and this weekend I just want to have fun eating cupcakes, buying flowers for our front yard, shopping, and vegging out on the couch.  I'm going to take a page out of Scarlett's book and say, "Fiddle-dee-dee, I'll think about that tomorrow."  After all, tomorrow is another day!

(And there we have it--it took almost 3 years, but I finally managed to throw out the titular line.  Nice.)

Things That I Love--Computers, Corsets, and Crooners

I'd like to present to you another list of things I have come across in recent months that have made me go, "Oh, that's fabulous!" just in case someone else out there might just need a little fabulosity in their lives right now.  This edition of Things That I Love is brought to you by the letter C!

Pinder Giddy Up

I've been on the hunt for a new laptop bag for a while now.  For the past couple of years, I've sported a perfectly adorable bag that I found at Target for under $20.  Unfortunately, as adorable as it is, functionality was not a main consideration for the designers.  There was plenty of room for my computer and the power cord, but trying to fit anything else in the bag was just an absolute impossibility.  Since recently my laptop has become a fifth appendage, I've been growing tired of having to cart around my laptop, and a purse, and a lunch box every day.  So, the mission?  Find a stylish, yet durable laptop bag that can easily fit my computer as well as all of the necessary items that come with me from home to work and back on a daily basis.

And that is exactly what I've found in my Pinder Giddy Up in chocolate brown with hot pink accents.  The bag is made of an extremely tough ballistic nylon, and animal friendly faux leather, and although it's not huge and bulky, I can fit my computer, a book, my humongo wallet, an umbrella, small camera, various pens and paper, makeup and powercord and still have room to spare.  There is one compartment that is a perfect size for my MacBook, and I think would fit most laptops, and the other compartment has a large zippered pocket on the size, two pockets with a velcro flap (one large and one small), and there is an additional zippered pocket on the outside.  There are a multitude of great color options, and while generally I'd balk at a $125 price tag for something that is not a pair of shoes or a fabulous party dress, there's currently a sale running that gets the price down to a much more manageable $69.95.  So.  Worth.  It.

Diva Dollz

I must confess that as much as I adore the show Pushing Daisies, there are really two things that keep me coming back for more.  (Well, I would keep coming back if it was currently on the air.)
1)  Lee Pace, because, oh my God, adorable.  He has actually managed to replace John Krasinski in my heart and my list.  You know which list! 
2)  Chuck's beyond fantastic wardrobe.  For a girl who is supposed to be dead, she really has some great outfits, mostly inspired by fashions from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

But really, where can a girl find clothes like that in the real world?  I have been to vintage shops before but I was incredibly unimpressed, and there are some places online that sell some beautiful clothes, but the prices are staggering.  But I have found a store in Seattle, Diva Dollz, that truly caters to this aesthetic and for remarkably reasonable prices.  Unfortunately, it appears that their website is currently under construction, but they do have a MySpace page if that doesn't scare you too much.  They sell beautiful dresses, jackets, blouses, corsets and undergarments, as well as a wide array of accessories like umbrellas, costume jewelry, and some of the most darling hats you'll ever see, all with a gorgeous vintage 1920s-50s look.  Because I'm doing this vile thing called "saving", I haven't been able to buy anything yet, but I do stare longingly at the display window every day when I walk by, and dream of the day when I'll be decked out in their gorgeous fashions.

Edwina Hayes
It takes a lot to make me stray from the Top 40 artists on the radio.  I just don't care enough about music to actively search out new musicians, and my attention span is such that I rarely make it through an entire album without getting bored and flipping back to Britney.  So, you can either take that as I have no idea what I'm talking about, and am definitely not an expert, OR it takes a really amazing artist to hook me with his or her sound, and maybe you should sit up and take notice.  Or maybe a combination of both!

Either way, I recently came across the music of Edwina Hayes, and I am in looooove.  In fact, I am so in love, that I am doing the unthinkable and BUYING A CD, because apparently her album isn't available on iTunes.  She also has a second album, Pour Me A Drink, coming out this year.  A little bit about Edwina and her music in her own words: "Edwina Hayes is a singer/songwriter who has been a regular performer on the UK acoustic scene since 1999.  In March 2003 Edwina signed as a writer with Warner Chappell. Her influences include Mindy Smith, Ray Charles, Carole King, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin and Bob Dylan."

Her sound is gorgeous--soothing and melodic--and if you want to get a taste of a few of her songs, head on over to her MySpace where you can listen to four full length tunes.

The Great Shoe Quest: Hollywood Round

Well friends, we've skimmed through the preliminary auditions in The Great Shoe Quest, and here we are ready to face our initial selections and whittle them down to the finalists.  Those lucky few who make it from Hollywood all the way to my house in Washington will be facing stiff competition, and great expectations from the judges.  Will they be able to stand up to the pressure?  Will all of their promises of cloud-like comfort and support fall apart under fierce scrutiny?  Only time will tell, but first, let's take a look at those special shoes that have made it this far!

As often happens in this round of the competition, a few shoes manage to sneak through with a Golden Ticket that the viewing audience hasn't seen before.  Thanks to some reader recommendations, there have been a few additions to this round of the competition, specifically in the Sturdy Walking Shoe category:

Skechers - Bikers Locomotion in Toffee
Skechers - Blissful in Toffee
Skechers - Bikers Onlooker in Brown Suede/Plaid

Let's also take a minute to review the criteria of this intense competition:

• Must be supportive, sturdy, and comfortable, with an attractive and streamlined design
• Must coordinate with a large number of outfits
• Must be something that can transition from the cobblestoned streets of Rome to the rugged hills of the Amalfi coastline to the streets of Seattle with ease and style

I made the ultimate decision to go with browns for these shoes, based on two factors.  One, the majority of shoes already in my closet are black, so it seems silly to buy three more pairs of black shoes.  Two, I reviewed the clothes that I'm tentatively planning to pack and everything seems like it will look fine with a brown shoe.  From all of the contenders I made a careful assessment of how the style fit in with my requirements and read the extensive reviews from their owners, from there I narrowed my selection down to these lucky finalists, all of which will be ordered over the next month and put to the test.

Category 1: Practical Ballet Flat Finalists


Clarks - Swan in Dark Brown Leather


Clarks - Arye in Champagne Leather


Indigo by Clarks - Giana in Cafe Brown Leather

Category 2: Sturdy Walking Shoe Finalists


Privo - Comice in Brown Nubuck


Privo - Float in Brown Nubuck


Privo - Step in Chocolate Nubuck


Skechers - Bikers in Toffee

Category 3: Comfortable Heel

Ecco - Basel T-Strap in Espresso Patent


Ecco - Brig Petit T-Strap in Barollo Patent


Sofft - Regina in Cashmere/Spirit Tan Leather (Note: I was actually contacted by a representative from Sofft who came across my blog and offered to send me either their Regina or Serena shoe.  After I scraped myself off the floor where I had collapsed in a torrent of grateful tears because FINALLY this blog has done SOMETHING to earn its keep around here, I responded gleefully that I'd love to try the Regina.  However, as wonderful as their customer service is, that alone is not what got it into the final round.  Everyone that I've spoken to has adored the Sofft brand, and I plan to report back honestly about my opinion on the shoe once I've tried it on my own two feet.)

So, that's it for Hollywood.  I'll be reporting back soon once the shoes start to trickle through my front door with my final choices in each category and thoughts on all of the contenders.  I suspect that it will be difficult to ship the losers back from whence they came, because according to their reviews, they're all fantastic shoes.  Alas, we have elliptical machines and curtains to pay for, and so back to the store some of them must go, next time on... The Great Shoe Quest Results Show!

The Great Shoe Quest Begins

February is off to a rip-roaring great start--already the sun has shone more in the past 3 hours than it did through all of January.  Colby arrived home Friday night and we immediately resumed our places on the couch, cuddled up with the puppies at our feet and tuned into the Lost Season 3 Finale and Season 4 premiere.  All I can say is that if the premiere is any indication, this season is going to be about 5,000 times better than last year.

We also got our passport pictures taken and can I just say, what a ripoff. Granted, it's been a very long time since I got my old passport photo done, but I seem to remember it being a slightly more advanced process than standing in front of a dirty projector screen while a bored Rite-Aid employee takes your picture with a crappy digital camera from 2001.  The pictures are AWFUL and pixelated and a horrific embarrassment, but then I guess that makes them the perfect passport photo.  Enough people in blogland and real life have indicated that it will only take 3-4 weeks tops to get my new passport, so I think I'm going to risk skipping the expedite fee and just keep my fingers crossed that when our plane takes off exactly two months from today, I'll be on it with passport in hand.

And as everyone in the country is probably aware, the Super Bowl was on yesterday.  I tried to give even half of a flip as Colby spent the first ten minutes agonizing over which team he was going to root for, his decision making mostly based on the number of former LSU players on the team, and eventually decided on the Giants.  Since I didn't care one way or another, I rooted for the Giants as well, but felt that I would be happier doing so from behind my computer screen, ensconced in the warm embrace of Zappos.com.

I've been on the hunt for comfortable, but CUTE, shoes to pack for Italy for a few months now.  I've searched the TripAdvisor website extensively looking for suggestions, but honestly the thought of wearing Tevas, Crocs, or hiking boots makes me want to poke my eye out (but just one!).  I have to believe that it is possible to combine style and comfort, but it has become apparent that I am going to have to take matters into my own hands.  Over the next month, I will endeavor to find these elusive "perfect" shoes, so that I can properly break them in before traipsing for miles around glorious Italia.  I'm documenting my search here in the hopes that I will be able to assist other world-traveling fashionistas conquer the planet one blister-less step at a time.

There are three categories that I'm looking to fill with the perfect shoe:

1. A cute, but well cushioned and supportive, flat that I can wear with skirts, dresses, or pants
2. A more sturdy shoe that will be more appropriate for evening hikes through the country-side or up Mt Vesuvius
3. A dressy but low, chunky heel that I can wear out to dinners and still easily walk in without breaking my ankles on the cobblestones.

So, if we liken The Great Shoe Quest to American Idol, let's think of this round of tryouts as the city auditions.  I scoured Zappos and Endless (online stores selected based on their free overnight shipping and easy as pie return policy) for shoes that showed great potential, but not all of these shoes will make it past Hollywood.  For now, I would like to award a Golden Ticket to the following shoes:

Category 1: Practical Ballet Flat
Clarks - Swan in Black Leather
Clarks - Arye in Champagne Leather
Clarks - Demure in Black Leather
Indigo by Clarks - Giana in Cafe Brown Leather or Green/Orange Printed Satin
Indigo by Clarks - Picnic in Red Striped Raw Silk or Black Leather
Privo - Spot in Chocolate w/ Pink Dots
Amy Gladstone - Bow

Category 2: Sturdy Walking Shoe
Privo - Comice in Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Float in Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Acacia in Smoky Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Trumpet in Chocolate or Black Metallic
Privo - Step Flat in Chocolate
Cole Haan - Phebes in Putty Suede/Patent


Category 3: Comfortable Heel
ECCO - Brig Petit T-Strap in Black Patent
ECCO - Basel T-Strap Pump in Black Patent
ECCO - Bristol T-Strap Pump in Black or Olive
Sofft - Serena in Chocolate or Black Suede
Sofft - Regina in Cashmere/Spirit Tan Leather

So, clearly, that is a LOT of shoes, and I'm definitely going to have some serious narrowing down to do over the next few days.  Looking back over my initial choices I can see that some are not exactly practical for traveling purposes--for example, while the red striped raw silk flats are absolutely gorgeous, they're not going to be able to match easily with a large selection of outfits.  Also, I need to do some serious thinking about whether I'll be packing more black than brown clothing and how much I'll care about the possibility of having to mix the two colors.  It's not the fashion sin that it once was, right? 

You know, it's a darn shame I don't put this kind of time and effort into things like keeping the house clean or whipping up gourmet meals.  I'd be giving Martha Stewart a run for her money for sure!

Whatever Happened to Predictability?

I want to talk about what a great time I had in San Francisco, but it doesn't feel right to ignore the whole Heath Ledger situation and act as though it isn't bothering the heck out of me.  I didn't stay up all night sobbing into my pillow, and it isn't invading my every thought, but I would be lying if I said that it doesn't make me want to throw up every time I hear anything having to do with Heath Ledger being dead.  It seems like some kind of sick joke, like he's going to suddenly pop up on E! News all, "Ha!  Fooled you!  No go see how creepy I am in Batman!"  I mean, God, the guy is an incredibly talented actor, was one of my high school heart throbs, and is the daddy to an adorable little girl who will never know her father.  I just... can't wrap my head around it.

Ugh.

So, now that I've dragged you all down into this pit of despair with me, let's see if we can't think about happier things.  San Francisco was indeed a blast, and I'm oh so looking forward to going back again.  I wish I could dash on down there every weekend, and the plane tickets are darn near cheap enough, but once I add in parking fees and the cost to board the dogs the weekend does start to get a bit more expensive.

We did plenty of the touristy stuff--drove up to a Golden Gate bridge viewing point, accidentally went to Sausalito, walked The Embarcadero from one end to the other, shopped in Union Square (including a visit to the original Gap!) and went dancing at The Cellar (They were rocking the 80s tunes--it was beyond fabulous!) with a herd of my college friends.  I even managed to find a beautiful piece of art to take home:

I think when I wear them, I will pretend that I am Cruela DeVille.

In other news, my hair seems to have faded drastically in the past week, and is now beyond a shadow of a doubt RED.  Hmph.  I don't want to shell out another chunk of cash to have the color redone at the salon, so I am considering taking matters into my own hands and having a consultation with Miss L'Oreal at Target this evening.  I haven't colored my own hair in YEARS, but my pathetically thin wallet says that this may be the time to look into it again.  Anyway, I think I'll spend the rest of my afternoon taking various online quizzes that will tell me my perfect hair color and making a last ditch effort to get through Google Reader before I give up and just mark all as read.

(Oh, and if you're wondering--yes I stayed up until after midnight packing.  And yes, I DID remember pants!  Success!)

I've Become "That Girl"

You know, the one that is completely incapable of opening her mouth without wedding related babble spewing forth uncontrollably.  I've been trying to keep quiet at work as much as possible for fear that I will unleash a tirade of nonsense sentences involving flowers, tipping rules, dress fittings, and gift etiquette.  It's like I've come down with an incurable case of Wedding Tourettes.

And the thing is, there really is so much more to talk about.  Like I've been thinking a lot about religion and my beliefs lately, largely inspired by Maggie's serial about her relationship with Catholicism.  And I've had this entry floating around in my head for over a week now about all of the doubts and questions that I have and wondering how one goes about finding a church, and if it's bad to want to go to church just to make friends.  But every time I sit down to write it I get distracted by my photo list or suddenly remember something that needs to be added to my wedding time line.

I want to write about the dogs and how insanely frustrating it is that for the past few months they've made it their sole mission in life to eat the entire contents of our house, yet I still really, really want another puppy.  And then I think oh my God, could that possibly be my biological clock suddenly starting to tick and think marriage, hmm, must be baby time!  But no, right?  Because Colby and I are in harmonious accord about the fact that we want to wait another 4 or 5 years before we even think about kids.  So maybe I really do just want a puppy?  And how can we keep the dogs from eating everything in our house?

I've also got a lot to say about the Seattle transit system, which really isn't all that fascinating, so maybe that's why I haven't written about it.  But seriously, the parking situation at the train stations is absolute crap which led to a parking ticket which I have now lost and need to pay, but don't know how, and then they just randomly decided to cancel my train home without saying anything on Monday because freaking Monday Night Football was in town.  My God Seattle, get your shit together!

So, anyway, the long and short of it is that I just can't bring myself to bore you with another post about the wedding, because you've all been so nice about it and I want you to keep being nice and excited for me, and not like, for the love of all that is good and holy, please shut UP about the WEDDING!

Instead, I'll show you the boots that I bought after all of the wonderful winter shoe advice I received from y'all on Tuesday.  Some people would have thought to themselves, huh, good idea, I should buy a pair of boots!  I thought to myself, huh, good idea, I should buy three pairs of boots!  So I did.

Anne Klein Culhane (Brown)

Nine West Campion (Brown)

Franco Sarto Women's Pension Platform Ankle Boot (Black)

Tuesday Shoe Day

Ugh, what a hideous chose of shoes for Tuesday Shoe Day!  These are quite possibly the clunkiest, least feminine pair of shoes I own, with the exception of my faux Birkenstocks(Remember when EVERYONE wore those Birkenstock slip on clog things constantly?  Or was that just at my school?) that I wear when gardening or trying to coerce the dogs into peeing on the side of the house so we don't have to watch them kill all of the grass that we so lovingly laid out and cultivated over the past six months. 

But do my adorable fuzzy, stripy socks earn me back any fun fashion points?

Yeah, probably not.

But let me tell you what, I have yet to find a cute pair of comfortable shoes (not sneakers) that I can wear with socks, thus protecting my feet from the damp, blustery cold of a Seattle morning.  I have my awesome boots that I wore yesterday (why oh why did I not take a picture and just pretend I wore them today?), but they're too wide around my calf so I can't wear them with pants because the pants bunch up around the tops of the boots. 

If anyone has any suggestions for comfortable, cute winter shoes, I am all ears.  Because the ballet flats just are not cutting it for warmth anymore.  And until that elusive winter shoe comes along, I'll be relegated to the very depths of fashion hell.

Things That I Love--And Want to Buy NOW!

Steve Madden's Shameless Knockoffs

I have been lusting over this pair of Miu Miu pumps for months now--ever since I saw them in one of the summer issues of Lucky Magazine.  Unfortunately, these lovely Contrast Color Brogue Pumps have held steady at $525.00, and if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a pair of shoes, that pair of shoes would be these:

(Christian Louboutin Rolando Satin Pumps...  My God, I love you.  Is anyone still looking for birthday or Christmas present ideas?  I'll take a size 38.5 please.)

Anyway, that wouldn't work either, because I would buy them, Colby would murder me and then what would be the point in having these gorgeous shoes in his closet?  I would just hope that he would marry another woman with size 38.5 feet so that they wouldn't go to waste.  But I have digressed so much it's absolutely unbelievable.  The point is that I have resigned myself to the fact that I will just never have Carrie Bradshaw's closet, and I'm okay with that most of the time.

But then, when I was meandering around the Steve Madden website yesterday, in search of my fabulous gold shoes, what to my wondering eyes should appear but... these:

The heel is a little lower and the colors are a little different, but for $400 cheaper than the "real thing" I've got to say that the wonderful designers over at SM did a pretty great job of totally ripping off the Miu Miu shoes.  Want them.

Tao Media Cabinet

Some people are slaves to Ikea, others prefer the fine furniture of Crate and Barrel.  Colby and I have become devotees to the religion of Cost Plus World Market.  So far we've purchased from this remarkable establishment two nightstands, a chest of drawers, and an entryway console.  And now I've got my eye on one more piece to add to our shrine.

Our current tv cabinet was a graduation present from my parents three and a half years ago.  In the time I've had it, it has served me very well, however the fine workmanship of the Target craftsmen began to fail after my most recent move.  Now it seems to be every so loosely bound together and wobbles precariously when the slightest pressure is placed on it, which has turned the simple act of dusting into a life or death challenge.  We recently acquired a nice new high definition television when one of our friends upgraded to what I like to call a Man TV.  It is much larger than our old television and very, very heavy.  Very heavy.  So heavy that when we swapped out the tv's, there was a visible sag and an almost audible sigh from our current cabinet.

My other complaint is that our current cabinet has no doors, and I hate that we have a big old honkin' television, as well as our various recorders and tuners as the visual focus of our entire downstairs area.  The beautiful Tao Media Center from my precious World Market could be the answer to all of our furniture prayers, and yet, for some reason, they will only give it to us in exchange for valid currency.  Schrute bucks do not seem to be acceptable.  We have a 25% off coupon that would bring the price down a little, so I'm lobbying hard for it, and writing about these things in my blog often seem to inspire Colby to action.

But do you know what I really can't seem to wrap my head around?  Why is it that a pair of beautiful shoes and a piece of furniture can cost the same amount of money, but Colby's head would explode if I spent the money on the shoes?  Ah, the difference between men and women... or possibly shoe people and non-shoe people would be a more accurate comparison.