Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Looking at life...through my patent leather pumps

Before I was a mommy...I literally lived for shoes. I was never really a party girl, never a big drinker. Partying got expensive and quite frankly I wasnt down for losing control and messing up the shoes that I worked so hard for. My life literally revolved around my girlfriends, whoever my boyfriend was at the time and shoes. How to attain them, where to find them, what to wear with them, how my feet looked in them. I was obsessed with pedicures...mostly because, of shoes. Ugly feet can seriously ruin a pretty pair of peeptoes. I had a journal. I would write about shoes and outfits to go with them, then I would go out and hunt for them. At one point in my life, I probably had more shoes then the average girl should ever have. Obsessive Compulsive Shoe Habit. OCSH. Self diagnosed. It was an addiction. Though, many addictions, especially in the charming areas surrounding where I reside, have side effects like you know, stealing, robbing and overall yuckiness for the things they need, I simply would steal from myself. If you could guess the amounts I have paid in NSF Fees...(thats non sufficient fund fees for all you assholes that dont know, if you are one of those people, kindly click on the little x at the top of this screen) I have paid in just the past 8 years, well...you would be shocked to know I could have a much nicer kitchen, or a good couple more years of college education on my resume.

As my life developed more meaning, my shoe collection started to fade. By fade I mean, disappear. After my first born, I started noticing my shoe collection dull. Fall would come and I wouldnt have a fun new pair of boots to tuck jeans into. Winter would come and I would put on the same water stained uggs from the year before. Then we bought our house. No more pedicures. No more fun sandals. You know the the gladiator trend? Yeah, I LOVED it from the very beginning. Did I participate? No. I didnt. I wore the same sandals from the spring and summers before. I found myself indulging in expensive nail polish as opposed to my beloved Shoes. It was cheaper, it was pretty...and at least it was something to look at down there.

It seems the more my life grew in significance, the less bright (and full) the shoe rack in my closet became.

Now with number 2 on the way, it seems the days of shoe collecting are just a faint little doop in my past.

I guess this is my way of looking at how my life has changed. If you would have told me 5 years ago that my closet would look as well, lonely as it does now...I would have probably cried. But looking at my lonely closet has simply made me realize how empty my life was BEFORE when my closet was, well...popular. Now that my life is full of SO much love, real love, not shoe love, my closet is...well empty.

This is not saying that because you dont have kids your life is empty or that because you have kids you shouldnt have nice shoes...this simply is my experience.

Now, dont get me wrong. I'm not running around barefoot only accessorizing with a screaming 2 year old and a pregnant belly. I do have some fun shoes. I just dont have lots of them. This post also doesnt mean I dont want lots of shoes. I totally still do. I really, really do. I just cant afford them like I could with my babies. But I'm not too proud to take donations. I'm a 6 1/2, 7 at Aldo.

Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The One Hundred

Fashion guru Nina Garcia has a book out called the 'The One Hundred'. This book is AMAZING. It's a pretty elaborate version of the usual lists your used to reading in magazines. I can say that after reading this over there are VERY little things on this list that I do not agree with.



Here's the list breakdown:

A: A-line Dress, Animal Print, Ankle Bootie, Aviators

B: Ballet Flat, Bangles, Belts, Bikini, BlackBerry, Black Opaque Tights, Blazer, Boyfriend Cardigan, Brooch

C: Cable-Knit Sweater, Caftan, Camel Coat, Cape, Cashmere Sweater, Charm Bracelet, Clutch, Cocktail Ring, Converse, Cosmetics Bag, Cowboy Boots, Cuff

D: Denim Jacket, Diamond Studs, Driving Shoe

E: Espadrilles, Evening Gown, Exotic Skin Bag

F: Fishnets, Frye Harness Boot, Fur

G: Gentlemen's Hat, Gloves

H: Havaianas, Hobo Bag, Hoop Earrings

I: Investment Bag, iPod

J: Jeans, Jewelry Pouches

K: Khakis, Knee Boots

L: Leather Pants, Lingerie, Little Black Dress, Little White Dress, L.L. Bean Tote, Luggage

M: Mad Money, Man's White Shirt, Mary Janes, Minnetonka Moccasin, Missoni Knit, Monogrammed Stationery, Motorcycle Jacket

N: Nail Polish

O: Old Concert T-Shirt, One-Piece Swimsuit

P: Pajamas, Peacoat, Pearl Necklace, Pencil Skirt, Perfume, Plain White Tee, Polo Shirt, Pucci, Push-Up Bra

Q: Quality Champagne

R: Red Lipstick, Robe

S: Safari Jacket, Sandals, Sarong, Signet Ring, Silk Scarf, Slippers, Spanx, Statement Necklace, Stilettos, Striped Sailor Shirt, Suit, Sunhat

T: Trench, Turquoise and Coral Jewelry, Tuxedo Jacket

U: Umbrella, Underwear

V: Valid Passport, Vans, Vintage

W: Watch, Wayfarers, Wellington Boot, Wide-Leg Trousers, Wrap Dress

X: (nothing for the X)

Y: Yoga Gear

Z: Zippered Hoodie

I italiced all of those that I just dont think are for me per say, but the list is pretty amazing. It's so amazing in fact I think I'm going to put this on my new years resolution list for 2011. I'll bold as I collect my wardrobe essentials. :)

Adding to the list for myself:
Appropriate Short Shorts, Burberry Scarf, Cognac Riding Boots (Frey's harness boots are too chunky for my short legs), Perfect Strapless Bra

I'll keep you posted.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Renovation Inspiration

I bought my house from a family member during the ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) boom that caused so many families to foreclose a couple years ago. My intentions were to help save this persons credit and then to somehow slip out of the loan. My 21 year old understanding of mortgages obviously wasnt very strong, because, well...duh? You cant slip out of a mortgage. Now, here I am doing my best to turn lemons into lemonade. I am going to renovate this house and make it shine.

First on my list of renovations is the bedroom. I'm going for glam, fun, sexy. Very Jonathan Adler. Somewhere where I can take my spaghetti covered mom clothes off and wind down in pretty pajamas with my love.

Ready to be inspired?






Images from Jonathan Adler

The thing I LOVE about all of these rooms is how fun they are, but are still chic, sexy and super glamorous.




Images courtesy of Design Sponge Sneak Peak of Amie Corley's house

Bedroom TO DO list:

1. Make DIY nailhead headboard
2. Find a beautiful old louis chair and reupholster in FUN fabric
3. Paint dresser white
4. Buy a BIG fluffy flokati rug
5. Hang curtains on windows
6. Hang mirrored closet doors
7. Spray paint old brass chandelier and hang

Before and Afters to come!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

So Fresh.

To say I'm a dreamer is an understatement. I often find myself looking forward to the future and planning ways to make it as fabulous as my idealist mind will let me. In this little la-la land that I sometimes find myself in, blogging tends to be on my list towards the top of things I would love to do. I simply think sharing things that bring me joy with others is awesome. Who doesnt need a little extra joy every now and then?

My decision to start a blog now?

Well...this fall, the leaves arent the only thing thats changing around here. I have recently learned of news that will change my life in three thousand six hundred and seventy five ways (since my last calculations). No, Im not confirming anything now (where's the fun in that?!) but I figure it's a great time to start a blog. Maybe I'm buying a new house? Maybe I'm having another baby? Maybe I'm buying a new chihuahua? Maybe I'm getting married? Maybe I'm doing all of the above?

Stay tuned. Until then, I'm painting my toes Mink Muffs by Essie