{Ode to the Shoe}

I live in flip-flops.

Summer.  Fall.  Winter.  Spring.

There is always an extra pair in my car, several pairs in my closet, by the back door, or stashed in my gym bag.   I must have a pair accessible at all times.

Some are average pairs, but then there are others that are favorite pairs. 

Like these:

They traveled with me on many adventures, through years of wanderings. 

Both single, and married. 

They traveled on my honeymoon and explored northern Michigan.

They flew across the ocean to Hawaii where they whale-watched, and walked the monuments at Pearl Harbor. 

They walked the beaches of Lake Michigan, and streets of Chicago, Illinois.

They rummaged garage sales in local neighborhoods, and grocery shopped hundreds of times.

But they have finally wore out.  Done.  Kaput. 

They have walked their last and were replaced this week. 

Replaced by a snazzy pair of cushioned-sole Nike sandals. 

 I have high hopes, but I doubt they’ll be as good as my $7 pair of rubber Walmart flip-flops. 

Do you have a favorite pair of footwear that gets you everywhere?

A Girl Can Never Have Too Many...

Doesn't every girl love an excuse to get a new pair of shoes?

Due to a policy change at work, I had to purchase a couple new pairs of shoes.

What a shame.

Right.

These lovelies are on their way to my doorstep, hopefully to arrive before the end of next week so I can walk about the office in style.  (At least as far as my feet are concerned.)

Coming a few weeks later will probably be these:

I like to have the option of flats in case I have to go dashing through the rain, run after a mailman, or just don't feel like being three inches taller than normal.

Can you believe these shoes were made by Crocs -- the company that started out with garden-shoes that should never have been seen in public?  (and yes, I have a pair, much to my husband's chagrin.) 

 I never cease to be amazed at how sturdy and comfortable their footwear is, and now they're even stylish!  They went from play-in-puddles clogs to wear-at-work fabulous! 

Who would have thought?

Do you wear Crocs?

images from: crocs.com

I Smell Something. . . different.

Am I the only one that didn’t know that Victoria’s Secret scent “Very Sexy Now” changed every year? I fell in love with the Brazilian tones of the scent last year, went to buy more last month and it smelled completely different! That’s when the sales associate informed me that it’s all about what’s sexy now, not what was sexy last year.

Humph.

It was my beach scent, Hawaiian scent,
my happy scent and not-too-heavy-scent.

A luscious combination of:

 Papaya zest, exotic Orchid and creamy Coconut milk. 
How could it not smell amazing?

Which leads me to my dilemma:

What do I get to replace it?

Suggestions?

images from: fragrantica.com

What Not To Wear

Does anybody else watch What Not to Wear on TLC?

I’m addicted.

Granted, Stacy & Clinton can get a bit annoying at times (ok, a lot annoying!), but still…

I’ve learned SO much from watching that show. Sometimes it’s rather embarrassing just how much I’ve learned! Several times I’ve realized that I’m doing the very fashion faux pas they are talking about.

The idea of using handbags as an accessory was completely off my radar until I saw them doing it. I pretty much will use the same boring purse year-round, because

1.) I like it. 
2.) it’s practical.

Big they use big bold colors and it adds such a great *POP* and *SPARKLE* to the outfits – I love it! Buying new handbags isn’t exactly in my budget though, so I’ll have to keep my eyes out at garage sales or thrift shops for something that will help give me some pizzazz.

I also adore how they use shoes to spice things up. My collection of shoes is 95% black, 2% brown, 2% white and 1% red. How boring is that? Heels really hurt my feet, but I’m trying to branch out a bit with some wedges and cute flats. I wear heels on occasion, but they usually come off after about an hour.

The one topic I disagree with them on is Flip-Flops. They come down very harshly there, and I just can’t go for that. Flips-flops & I are pretty much inseparable and I don’t think it’s fair that anyone try to split us up. So there.

I love watching them pair various colors together and have it look amazing. So lately I’ve been experimenting and actually enjoying the results. One of my favorite combinations has been bright blue and coral. Not two colors I normally would have put together, but I love it and it’s a great summer look! Old Navy is another great place to get color inspiration – they use so many different combinations on their manikins and it always looks fabulous!

I have a big soft spot in my heart for Carmindy. I think she’s completely amazing and I love her philosophy on makeup – it’s to accentuate the natural beauty that’s already there in every woman. I enjoy reading her Blog and getting new ideas for makeup application and healthy or homemade products. Not to mention she’s gorgeous herself.

And Nick, well, all I’m going to say is he has great hair and a really cool accent.

New hair stylist Ted Gibson, not a big fan.

I think that's all I have to ramble about at the moment. :)

Do you watch it?

What have you learned?

A Bit of Pizzazz

Last week I acquired my first pair of red shoes.

I’m in love.

 

They’re such a blast; who knew a pair of shoes could be so fun!

Well, Mrs. Southern Bride knew, but I’m glad to have the chance to find out for myself!

Pair them with jeans and a red sweater, a black & white dress…
the options are endless!

Admittedly, they are quickly becoming one of my favorite ‘accessories!’

But of course these will always be at the top of my list…

My Clarks “Luna Galaxy” dress boots.

Oh. So. Classy.
Be still my heart.

What’s your favorite pair of shoes?

Bargain Shopping & Thrifting

I love a good bargain; I shop resale, clearance racks, thrift stores, and ebay. If there is a deal to be had, I try to be the one to find it! My parent’s raised me knowing how to make-a-dollar-stretch, and for that I am very thankful. The inspiration for this post came not only from years of thrifting, but also some recent bargains that I've been excited about. I like to be cute & fashionable as much as the next girl, but I just don’t want to pay big bucks for the look…and I can’t afford to pay big bucks for it! Besides, I think my way is more fun! My wardrobe includes clothing from New York & Co, Gap, the Limited, Banana Republic and Old Navy… and I didn’t buy anything from the stores themselves.

There are so many ways to find a good bargain, but the only ‘down’ side is that sometimes it takes a bit of extra time….but not always. When I enter a store like Target or Kohls, I head straight to the clearance racks where the sales vary from 30%-80% off. When you’re bargain shopping, you have to be able to think “out of season” because sometimes that is where the best deals are. It might be a little disappointing at the time, if you’re out looking for a cute summer skirt and end up with a fuzzy sweater, but when it comes time to pull out clothing for the next season, I love seeing the clothes I had forgotten about because I bought them in the off-season and hadn’t worn them yet!

A tip I’ve learned is “thinking outside the box” when it comes to clothing so you can get the most wear out of your wardrobe. I’m trying to get better at making my clothes more versatile by adding layers, accessories, a scarf, etc to make it work for various seasons.

For example: I bought this dress a couple weeks ago for $5 off the clearance rack at Target. Basic black dress, but I’m determined to make it work for all four seasons.

Fall & Winter: Add: Cardigan or Blazer
Nylons or Tights
Knee boots or Heels
Scarf in coordinating color

Spring:Add: Colored cropped short sleeve cardigan
Colored flats
Long necklace

Summer:Colored flats or dressy sandals

Silk scarf or bright jewelry to lighten up the black

There you go; a $5 dress I can wear all year long!

A few months ago I bought an adorable black & fuchsia dress at Macy’s off the clearance rack, that when combined with my gift card, I paid $4.50 for! And low & behold, when I was thrifting this week, I found the perfect pair of fuchsia sandals to go with it – for $2.99!!! $7.50 for a smashing outfit that will be perfect for summer dates with my hubby! Gotta love it!

Goodwill & Salvation Army shops:It can be frustrating to walk into thrift shops sometimes because they can be big, unorganized, or dirty. It helps to go in with a little imagination and the hopes of finding a gem in the midst of the rubble! Here are a few things lessons I've learned along the way.

Look & FeelMy husband has taught me to be a fabric-feeler – if it doesn’t feel good then there is no point in trying it on even if it’s your size. One of the best ways to find good deals on the racks is to feel the fabrics. The trend in clothing the past three – four years has been softer fabrics, so learn to know what you’re ‘feeling’ for, and learn to recognize these fabrics by looking over the racks – it certainly makes the process go faster!

Be Creative

You found a cute blazer but it has shoulder pads… before putting it back on the rack, take a second look. How hard would it be to take those pads out? Cute cardigan but it has hideous buttons? Buttons at the fabric store are cheap – switch out the buttons to something cuter & trendier. Pants fit great but are too long or too short? Check the hem – can you let it out? Or if it’s too long, hem it up. The same rule applies to skirts.

Double CheckLook carefully over your clothing before you make your final purchase. Look for stains you don’t think you can get out, stretched out hems or holes in sweaters, unraveling seams, or basically anything that you can’t fix or don’t want to take the time trying. The clothing may be cheaper, but it doesn’t mean you want to waste your money if there were moth-holes you didn’t see before you bought it.

Tags

I get so excited when I find ‘used’ clothing that still has the tags on it! SCORE! It happens more often than you might think. I also find name brand clothing with increasing frequency! I found this wonderful pair of dress pants from New York & Co at Goodwill, and three days later I found the exact same pair & size at the Salvation Army store (no, I didn’t buy them again…LOL). The name brands are everywhere, but I’m not a brand-snob. I want my clothes to fit and flatter, so I don’t really care what the label says. It is fun to stumble across them though because I know how expensive they were brand new.

Used ShoesI know buying used shoes really grosses some people out… I always look over them carefully to see if they are still in good condition and I always clean them with rubbing alcohol before wearing them. If anybody else has any good sanitizing tips, let me know.

Resale & Consignment shops are usually higher-scale than thrift shops but they have a slightly narrower selection. Often they are cleaner and more selective in what items they will accept in their store. They are pricier, but sometimes you can find the perfect outfit for a special event or occasion. My bridesmaid dress for a friend’s wedding was bought at a consignment shop four year ago – it was the perfect fit and perfect color. These places often have great purse and shoe selections also.

 

Books & Music are also fun to buy second-hand. When purchasing CD’s, always take the disk out of the case and check it closely for scratches or cracks! I have bought several used CD’s over the years and never had a problem with any of them if I take time to check it first. I love books, but it would get expensive if I gave into all my book-buying-impulses, so I always hit the book section in used places. There if often quite a bit of Christian fiction, cookbooks, and trashy romance novels, but I stay away from the latter section. ;-)  For usually $1-$2 you can get books that are practically new and would cost you $15-$30 to buy new. Who doesn’t love that?

 

The possibilities are endless with bargain shopping. Even my wedding gown came from the Salvation Army shop, and it was my dream dress. I had been scouring the Internet for a dress like that, and walked into the store and pulled it right off the rack -- $40 plus the cost of alterations. My wedding veil was given to me by a friend who was getting rid of hers, so I had the hair piece altered and the bottom tier cut off. My shoes were on clearance at JC Penny for $10.00 and the earrings were 60% off at Kohls.

I also have several friends who bought their dresses at Goodwill and Ebay.com, and all the girls have loved them and nobody ever new know the difference!

These are some of my recent finds:


New York & Co: gray dress pants - $4.99

IZOD: black capris for work - $3.99

Coral crop spring cardigan - $3.99 (w/ tags!)
Fanfare: fuchsia sandals to go with my dress from Macys! - $2.99

Point of Grace: Christmas CD - $2.99 (in cellophane!)

"Before I Wake" - by Dee Henderson - $1.99

Well folks, that's about all I have in my stash of bargain information.  If you have any questions or bargain tips, please ask or share! 

Here is a sneak peak at what Nordstrom's is calling the

2010 Spring Color Palette:

Aren't they pretty!?!?

Bath & Beauty Products

What are your beauty routine must-haves? Those bath & beauty products that absolutely have to be part of your day before you feel prepared to tackle what is ahead!
Here are a few of the products that I have fallen in love with after much trial & error, and I would definitely want to make sure they were tucked away in my suitcase if I ended up stranded somewhere…

LashExact Waterpoof Mascara by CoverGirl has been a lifesaver! After dozens of brands, this is the only one I can wear that doesn’t give me raccoon eyes after a couple hours. The flexible brush helps the application go so much smoother and I never end up with unsightly clumps. (And in case you want to run out and try it for yourself, Walmart carries it about $1.00 cheaper than anywhere else.)

Bare Minerals makeup is by far the best makeup I’ve ever used. Not that my experience is overly extensive, but I’m so happy with this that I don’t see a reason to try anything else! The makeup blends easily, has a beautiful shimmer, works great as a sunblock, and doesn’t clog your pores! My skin has never been clearer! 

Aveda Shampure shampoo & condition is very natural, smells great, and doesn’t leave my hair tangled at all. Before switching over, I would use regular shampoo & conditioner in the shower and then put in a leave-in conditioner just to be able to get through my hair with a pick. Now I don’t have to use any after-product – I can comb right through it! It has kept my hair healthy and doesn’t weight it down.

Ouchless Headbands have become part of my everyday routine, either as part of my hair style or simply to push the bangs out of my face while I’m applying makeup. For years I never wore headbands because of the pressure they put behind my ears – after an hour or two I would have a headache that lasted long after I removed the offensive object! Now, I can wear one all day long and I don’t even think about it!

Alba Sugar Scrub was addicting after just the first use. The smell was tropical and it left my skin feeling silky smooth, and eased away rough patches on my elbows or knees. It was a little spendy, at almost $12.00 a jar, but it was so wonderful that I even got my mom hooked on it. It was my personal little spa-moment every morning in the shower.

And then Mom stumbled across Village Naturals Sugar Scrub in the grocery store. Same concept; smaller price. For a stunning $2.00 she decided to try it…and now I’m hooked too! It was a lush Brown Sugary scent and works just as well as the more expensive Alba brand. Try it; you’ll love it!

Eucerin Calming Cream has become a dear friend to me. It’s unscented and completely gentle on my sensitive skin. I am sad to say that I have left fancy creams and sultry scents behind when it comes to creams & lotions because my skin always seems to rebel and will either start itching or leave a not-so-attractive rash across my neck. This cream has left my skin unbelievably soft and because it’s unscented I never have to worry about what perfume I wear on top of it.

Very Sexy from Victoria’s Secret was my husband’s pick. I was a little skeptical at first, but I quickly came to see it from his point of view. It’s fruity, floral, spicy, and oh so yummy. The perfect scent for a night out with your hubby!

Very Sexy Now is my alternate pick: think beach, tropical, Brazil & Hawaii. It’s a little lighter, a little fruiter, but totally lush. Between the two, I have the perfect scents for any occasion!

There you have it!  Those are all the "must haves" I can think of at the moment.  Please share yours!  I’m going to try having a Mr. Linky below if any of you have beauty posts you want to share!

My own version of Fashion Friday

I was very excited to learn this morning that the color Red is listed as one of this fall’s top fashion “trends.” To be a current trend, that would usually imply that it wasn’t one previously, which apparently I was rather clueless about since I love red and wear it quite often. Or maybe I just didn’t care that it wasn’t “in.” That being said, all of us red-loving-people will fit right in this fall with our already red wardrobe. Leggings, of all fabrics and patterns, are also one of this fall’s trends (a continuation from last year I’m assuming) but that is definitely a trend I’m leaving on the shelf. Here is a couple ideas of how to incorporate Red into your life:

Try these shoes like these for a dressy night out

You could sport a cute bag with a pop of red in it, adding a bit of pizzazz to a weekend outfit

You could sport a red apron for your days in the kitchen:

Or you could go for the classy red dress, which is always a fun thing to have available in your closet (red car not included).

What are some of your favorite colors to wear?