I'm it! I'm it! I'm it! Yes, tagged again....

Alright, this one from The Polka Dotted Owl, you're going to learn a few more things about me.

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Step 2: tag other people.

1) What are you wearing right now? That was the dilemma of the hour... took me forever to finally figure out what to wear to my friend's Baby Shower/Tea Party but I finally settled on a black and ivory plaid boucle skirt, an ivory sweater, black patterned tights and knee-high black boots.

2) What was the last thing you read/are currently reading? Angels Fall by Nora Roberts. I haven't gotten too far but it's already grabbed me.

3) Do you nap a lot? I only wish!

4) Who was the last person you hugged? My husband.

5) What is your current obsession/addiction? Finding the perfect pair of slouchy, flat-bottomed tall boots.

6) What is the last thing you said out loud? To my husband, "What time are we going to dinner tonight?"

7) What websites do you always visit when you go online? Okay these aren't always, but ones I like: My personal e-mail, blogspot, sometimes dictionary.reference.com (I hate spelling things wrong), wikipedia (I like facts), and occasional browsing for random stuff.

8) What was the last item you bought? A cute black dress from Express (I think this may be the subject of another post).

9) What is your most challenging goal? To finish a half-marathon!

10) If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be? That's tough because in my dream world I'd have like, 4 or 5 fully paid for and furnished houses, all in different parts of the country so we could visit whenever we wanted and not have to stay in a hotel - San Diego, Seattle, Lake Tahoe, Boston... and then another somewhere in Europe. (I know, I dream big). :)

11) Favorite Vacation spot? San Diego, Seattle, Lake Tahoe, Boston.... :)

12) Say something to the person who tagged you: So glad we met out here in the blog world, this has been so fun!

13) Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you: Just about any dessert you could possibly put in front of me.

14) What is your favorite item of clothing? Probably one of my many pairs of jeans; I always feel good in a well-fitting pair of jeans.

15) Favorite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is over flowing with a zillion others?! When I get dressed up I keep going back to my black patent leather T-strap peep toe stilettos by Carlos by Carlos Santana. They're sassy, sexy, and surprisingly very comfortable so I can't seem to get away from them.

16) Name one thing you can not live with out: Flat iron, curling iron, cosmetics bag, a good book, and my camera.

17) What do you envy? Girls that have super long, thick lashes. If only mine would grow in that way!

Now for the tagged girls:
Adorably Distracted
Erica
Could've Been Blonde
Penny

Sorry if some of you were tagged twice - just have fun with it!

Tagged - Random Facts!

Okay, I was just tagged by Ruggy 13 (yay, me!) to list 25 facts, goals, and randomness about me and my life. Hmm, where to begin....

1) I like being picked up. I mean literally, physically lifted off the ground, like in a playful way. Not sure why but there is just something about it that makes me feel good.

2) I hate being micromanaged and like to do things my own way. I'm very independent.

3) When I was a kid I hated nurses, hospitals, and everything about them, in particular the hideous white shoes the nurses wore and the baggy scrubs... and when I grew up I became one (go figure).

4) I didn't know I had a serious love for shoes until after college when I could afford them and my closet kept getting fuller and fuller and I started planning outfits around my shoes... then I remembered childhood details like hating nurse's shoes and wanting to wear my mom's high heels when I was only 4... guess it was in me all along.

5) I miss my two best girlfriends dearly - one lives in Washington and the other in Colorado. :(

6) I hate blue cheese and anything really spicy but love almost everything else.

7) The only other countries I've been to are Canada and Mexico.

8) I feel naked if I'm not wearing a necklace and I love to play with it, sliding the pendant back and forth on it's chain. It's almost like a comfort thing.

9) I have a serious sweet tooth I will never be able to get rid of. Ever.

10) In high school I always felt I was in my big sis' shadow but then I went away to college and completely became my own person - and still am.

11) I took up photography a year ago and someday want my "work" published in a magazine.

12) I'm a daydreamer. Always have been, always will be. (Even had a picture drawn of me in college for a project and the artist titled it Daydreamer because it was so accurate).

13) I never really considered what it meant to have a "signature" but that is what my long red hair has become. (I'm now in Medical Sales and meet with hundreds of people regularly and that is how they remember/identify me). I have a signature! How weird is that?? :)

14) I didn't like church at all as kid but on my own grew to love God and now I gladly go.

15) Even if I won the lottery and didn't have to work I would still do something very part time (only one or two half days a week?), just to have some normalcy, a routine, and a way to get out and socialize regularly.

16) When I was younger I thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom but now I don't think I could handle being at home all of the time (see #15! Have to have regular interaction with adults, must socialize!).

17) I love to play in the snow but I'd prefer to never have to live in it.

18) Even days that I work from home and don't go anywhere I still put on a little makeup and some jewelry (see #8!) because it makes me feel more like pretty. (And then if someone shows up at my door I don't look completely haggard). :)

19) I love being married; he is my best friend.

20) I am obsessed with eliminating split ends (and with hair this long that is heat styled it's inevitable) so sometimes I sit at my desk and trim away in between salon visits to keep it healthy... yeah, I'm doing it right now.

21) I get really embarassed when I get compliments but I still love getting them.

22) I have to have my toenails painted 365 days a year. Have to.

23) There are things I don't like about my body but I love my tush. It's bootylicious. You would think so, too, if you saw it. ;)

24) I hate to clean but I love things to BE clean so I end up doing it anyway... most of the time.

25) I like honest friends that will tell the truth about how something really looks or what they really think... and that's exactly what you'll get from me!

And now for the tagging!

Erica
Could've Been Blonde
The Polka Dotted Owl

Okay, tonight is Movie and Popcorn Night on the Couch so I gots to go! Have fun!

The Letter "R"

Thanks to Ruggy 13 I am doing a fun post on 10 things I like that start with the letter "R". Here goes:

Red High Heels

(I feel absolutely unstoppable in these)

Reading

(Take me to another place)

Road Trips

(Seriously, take me to another place!) :)

Roses
(So beautiful)
Random Acts of Kindness
(Just the best thing)

Racing Go-carts
(Serious adrenaline rush!)

Rain
(Especially when I get to stay inside by the fire)

Romance
(*sigh*)

Rings
(Gorgeous!)

Raspberry Streusel
(Yum!)

And that's it! I'm sure I could've come up with lots more but that gives you at least a taste. ;) If you want to play then leave me a comment to let me know and I'll choose a letter for you. :)

Tangerine Speedo

One night, about 7 or so years ago when my husband and I were dating, we were driving around all night and this song must've come on the radio at least 8 times so we were basically singing it all night. I had completely forgotten about this sweet little memory until Jake reminded me the other day about it and asked if I remembered that song....

Ever heard it? It's hilarious! I heard somewhere that the lead singer of Caviar was in Costa Rica and there actually was a guy in a tangerine-colored speedo... but the funny part he was everywhere in it. No matter what time of day or night or where he was, the singer would see this guy in his tangerine speedo, lounging, chattin' up the ladies, you name it, which prompted him to write the song. Not sure if it's true but that's just too funny!

Happy Jewelry High

You know how getting something new that you totally love just puts you on this unending high? That's how I feel right now.

To give you the background story:

For my birthday 2 years ago my hubby gave me a beautiful bezel-set diamond pendant that I just loved... but the chain kept breaking. Finally, after the 5th break occured right before Christmas I decided I just needed a new chain. And the bail on this pendant was so small that I couldn't take the pendant off myself, the jeweler would have to take the bail apart to get the chain out and put the new one in and then put it back together. Since he was already going to be working on it I decided to have him add a small diamond to the front of the bail - one I already happened to have from another pendant that I never wore, so might as well use it, right? No sense in letting a beautiful diamond go to waste!

The pendant was ready 2 weeks ago and I exuberantly entered the store to see my newly upgraded, fabulous pendant... except that it didn't look upgraded or fabulous at all. The new diamond was, of course, gorgeous, as I already knew since we provided the stone, but the craftsmanship looked as though a 19 year-old in Jewelry Making 101 at the local junior college slapped it together.

Me: "Um, excuse me? This is not right."

Saleslady: "What's wrong?"

Me: "The top bezel doesn't match the bottom one at all. It looks like two different pieces randomly stuck together. And see how the top bezel sticks way out in front of the bottom one? And the bezel isn't even uniform. And the bezel thickness is all off, too. It just doesn't look right at all."

Saleslady: "You are absolutely right, I didn't see it before pulling it out for you. I will make sure it's completely re-done and I promise it will be perfect."

Perfect, she says? It had better be. Needless to say I was nervous going back to the store today. Could they actually do what I had asked? It wasn't that complicated but they were so far off the first time.... I held my breath as it was unwrapped... I caught a glimpse (It looks okay) and then another glimpse (I think it might be right) then I took it in my hands.... Yes! It was PERFECT! Exactly what I wanted! I think I even clapped and jumped up and down just a little in the store (I'm sure I gave the salesguy a chuckle). I've been on a high the whole rest of the day.

It looks very similar to this picture I found on the Tiffany website, although my top diamond is just a little smaller, I think.

And I honestly didn't do it because of Tiffany's design, I had planned to do this before I saw it in their catalog and was plesantly surprised to see that Tiffany had done exactly what I was planning on. Great minds think alike? :)

Needless to say, I am elated right now. Oh, and I love the new chain. :)

Browned Butter

I just ate the unhealthiest dinner ever. But it was sooo good! Jake is my master chef and he knows how much I like the brown butter & mizithra cheese pasta from the Spaghetti Factory so he decided to make it for me... with a twist by adding bacon. Mmmm!! Have you ever had browned butter? It it WAY better than just regular, melted butter, with extra flavors and almost a sweet nuttiness to it. If you've never had it you have to try it. It's completely unheathy so have it in small doses. But here is a recipe taken from this page:

Cut up a pound of unsalted butter into small pieces, and put into a large, cold saucepan. Turn the burner to medium, and let the butter melt, swirling or stirring it occasionally. One pound of brown butter should take about 15-20 minutes to reach the right point. The butter will start to foam, and the milk solids will sink to the bottom before they turn brown, so keep an eye on it and stir frequently, so that it doesn't burn.

It's done when the mixture begins to turn golden and a release a nutty aroma. At this point, it will turn from golden to black very quickly (and black means bitter), so you'll want to transfer it immediately to your clean, shallow bowl, as it will keep cooking in the pan even after you take it off the heat. Let the butter cool down, then cover well and refrigerate. Brown butter loses about 25 percent of water weight as it cooks, so you'll be left with 75 percent of what you started with. Plan accordingly when measuring for recipes.

When ready to use, you'll need to let the butter soften slightly, but a small ice cream scoop works well to remove it from the bowl.

It's actually pretty easy, and if you make a lot and save it like the recipe suggests, just substitute it for normal baking, cooking, spreading on toast, etc. (Although making smaller quantities at a time helps you to not overindulge). :) If you try it, let me know what you think!

Sexy Superhero Legs

Just the other day I was having a talk about this with one of my girlfriends.... Ever notice how all the lady superheros have gorgeous, sexy legs? I think that's how skinny jeans inside boots can make a girl look. Especially if the boots are super sleek with high-heels and the jeans fit just perfectly. Not all skinny jean/boot combinations have that effect but I think most all of them are cute. And even though it's been around for a few years, luckily this is one trend that isn't going away anytime soon so we can still rock them!

I love how this look highlights the curves that start from the top of your tush all the way down to that skinny little heel... sexy little curves the whole way!

Love the slouchy boots, too.

Hot!

A couple of little style tips:

~if you have long or even long-ish legs, go ahead and wear them with flats, but

~if your legs are shorter then wear with a heel; either a boot or stiletto pump (pictured above). The extra height makes your legs look way longer and the sleeker the shoe, the slimmer you appear!

Yep, sexy superhero legs!

P.S. Thanks Ruggy 13, for the signature secret! (BTW, how did your jeans shopping go today?) ;)

Fun French Toast

Earlier this week I heard someone mention french toast and I've been craving it ever since. So after I went to the gym this morning I headed over to the store and bought a sourdough loaf and Cap'n Crunch cereal. "Why Cap'n Crunch cereal", you ask? I decided, instead of doing it the traditional way, after soaking the bread in the milk/egg/vanilla/cinnamon mixture I'd then put it in crushed Cap'n Crunch cereal to coat it before cooking. Ever try it?

YUM!

It is seriously delicious!! I still love it the old-fashioned way but that was a tasty treat!

P.S. That isn't a picture of my french toast up there... mine didn't look nearly so glamorous. (But I bet it tasted better!). ;)

P.P.S. Crap, now I have a box of Cap'n Crunch in my house that I doubt I'll be able to let go to waste.

P.P.P.S. Oh well. :)

Ripped Tights

Great question, Penny, about the ripped tights... personally I think they look awful. Why would anyone want to look like they either just crawled out of a garbage can or had a cage fight with a rabid racoon?

Especially when there are such cute tights out there that can make your legs look great! Like these opaque tights available in 14 fun colors:

And I think these fishbone ones are great:


These pretty diamond shaped ones:


Or the footless kind with lace trim:


I could go on an on. Just about anything is better than a ripped up do-it-yourself look. But I do love my tights! I'm getting quite the collection. I need to stop looking online now or I might just have to buy some more! :)

We're Going to Alaska!

I am SOOOO excited! We are taking our first cruise ever... to Alaska! We've been talking about doing this for about 5 years now and finally we decided that we just need to do it. We both got approved for the time off, Jake did TONS of research on which cruise line we wanted, and on Tuesday he made the final booking for our trip. Yippee!!

We wanted something mellow and I love doing nature photography so Alaksa will be perfect for that. It's the last week in May - right when they "open" for the season. I'n already trying to figure what I want to bring. I pulled these boots out of my closet because I'd love to bring all of them.
But on second thought, if I brought them all they would practically fill my entire suitcase. So instead I think I'll just bring these:

They're waterproof and have great traction - perfect for walking around on glaciers. (Aren't the pom poms so cute??). And, of course, my classic Uggs:

To have something comfy for tooling around on the ship. :)

I know I have over 4 months before I really need to worry about this stuff but I'm already so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Folded Panties

Say what?? Um yeah, saw an ad for these and I'm just not too sure about it. I'm all about being fashion forward and trying new things but, high rise panties that you fold down over the waistband of your jeans?? Oh, and did I mention that some have rhinestone decals that show when you expertly fold them over? Kind of like a panty-tat. Classy.

I just don't think that's one fashion thing that I'll be going for.

You?

Kids Say The Darndest Things

So I have another story to add about Friday night's dinner out with the cousins and our "niece", Teresa (see preceding post). After the host left, the waitress approached our table to take our drink orders.

Traci: "I'll have a mojoti."
Rick: "Uh... a Sam Adams."
Jake: "A glass of house Red, please."
Me: "I'll have a Cosmo."
Waitress: "Sure, but I can I see your ID, please?"
I look up and see she's directed this question to me. Only me.
Me: "Oh, sure!" I start to pull out my wallet, trying not to grin. "And thank you!"
Waitress, looks at my ID. Then: "Oh! You don't look your age! Not that you're old or anything, I just wasn't expecting that!"
Me: "Seriously, thanks, you just made my night!" (FYI, I'm 32, and to have a cute, 23ish girl ask me to prove I'm of drinking age is quite the compliment!)
The waitress leaves the table with our order.
Traci: "Ha ha, you got carded!"
Teresa: "What's 'carded'?"
Me: "It means I had to show her my ID card to prove that I'm old to drink."
Teresa: "Ohh! You got carded!" (As if she knew all along what that really meant). "Mommy, you didn't get carded because she knew you were old enough."
Traci: "Yes, sweetie, that's right."
Teresa (loudly): "You know, because you look older. (Pause). Because your face looks older. (Another pause). Because you have wrinkles on your forehead, around your eyes, and on your neck-"
Traci: "Teresa! Okay, I get it!"
Me, quietly to Teresa: "It isn't nice to tell someone that, even if it's only your Mom."
Teresa: "Oh, okay. Sorry, Mom. Maybe you'll get carded next time."

Don't you just love kids' brutal honesty? Umm, not if it's directed at you, but otherwise can be pretty funny! :)

"My Auntie Jessica is Fancy."

On Friday night we went out to dinner with my hubby's cousin, his wife Traci, and their 8 year old daughter, Teresa. Even though we're technically "cousins" by marriage she still calls us Aunt and Uncle (so cute!).

Teresa is a sweet little thing that LOVES shoes and clothes, but especially shoes. Ever since she was 4 years old her favorite thing to do when they come to our house is to go into my closet, try on my shoes, and prance around in front of my full-length mirror. Traci always says that Teresa is more like me than like her because Traci isn't at all into clothes or fashion, and well, clearly Teresa takes after her Auntie Jessica in that way (Jessica is my name, by the way). ;)

So on Friday we met them at the restaurant and one of the first things Teresa asks me is what I think of her outfit. "Very pretty!" I tell her. "I love the pretty buttons and how sparkly that blouse is. By the way, I have a skirt very similar to that one." Teresa beams, always happy to hear that she owns something that's like mine.

As we're seated at our table the host says to Teresa, "Wow, you're looking really snazzy tonight! Is it your birthday?"

Teresa: "No"

Host: "A special occasion?"

Teresa: "I'm out to dinner with my Auntie Jessica. My Auntie Jessica is fancy."
(I try to stifle a laugh).

Host: Looks at me, smiles and nods, leaves the table.

Traci: "You should've seen her getting ready. She pulled out all of her prettiest clothes and said, 'which one do you think Auntie Jessica will like the best?' and 'which shoes do you think she'll like the most?' It took her 30 minutes to decide what to wear!"

Ah, a girl after my own heart. And "fancy", she says? How cute is that??? I thought maybe after she got a little older she wouldn't be so interested in me anymore but apparently I'm fancy. Love it! But only 30 minutes to get ready? Just wait until she gets older. ;)

Who wants to be DD?

Saturday was my friend Monique's birthday so a group of us decided to go downtown for drinks, dinner, and dancing. But then came the age-old question... who wants to be designated driver?

"Not it!"

"Not it!"

"Not it!"

A taxi ride from where we are is about $100 one way and only fits 4 people so we would've had 6 people between 2 taxis, costing about $60 bucks a person just to get there and back ('cause let's face it, it's never smart to drive if you've had even just a little of your fav liquor). So my friend came up with a brilliant plan - her 17 year old niece and her niece's 18 year old boyfriend (both very responsible, non-drinkers) were babysitting the little kiddies so while the niece stayed with the kids, the boyfriend drove us all downtown. Then, 6 hours later, when we were ready to go, we called and he pulled up on the street corner only 10 minutes after we stepped out of the club.

To thank him we each gave him $10 (he was stoked that he made an extra $60 that night). What could have been better? A personal driver and we only had to shell out $10 apiece! And he even willingly took us through the drive-through at Adalberto's to satisfy our 2am Mexican-food craving!

Just an idea for the partiers out there that want a safe and inexpensive way to travel. :)

P.S. We had a BLAST that night. Tore up the dance floor and closed the place down!

Spaghetti Factory Special

I haven't been to the Spaghetti Factory in eons but a friend of mine told me about their 40th anniversary special they are doing so I looked it up on their website and, sure enough, there it was! There prices are pretty reasonable to begin with but on certain days (January 19th, 20th, 26th & 27th) it's an extra 40% off and the meal includes soup or salad, bread, drink, and ice cream. What could be better for $4.79-$6.59 a person? It's a good way to get out and not feel guilty about how much you're spending. :)

And my hubby has been craving meatballs ever since we watched Hancock (good movie) and the family was eating enormous meatballs and spaghetti. So tomorrow night, Spaghetti Factory here we come!

Interview from Colby!

My sweet friend over at Adorably Distracted is interviewing me... how fun! So here we go:

1. What is your favorite quote or lyrics from a song, and why?
I think I'll stick with quotes and there are so many great ones pleeease excuse me while I list more than one.
"No one is in charge of your happiness except you."
"Time is precious, use it wisely."
"The bigger the challenge, the greater the reward."
"If you look for what is good you will find it."
"Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important."
"I may not know what the future holds but I know Who holds the future."
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. "
~Psalms 37:4

I have to try to remind myself of all of these on a regular basis because they're so easy to forget.... :)

2. Name your favorite past time, and why?
Going to visit my grandparents in San Diego. Grandpa always had fun days of events scheduled for us, complete with swimming, his version of croquet, smores, and a park that he made on their 20 acres just for us kids. His stories about magical things (including a watertank we'd hike to because legend says it brings good luck to all who touch it) were timeless and will always be treasured.

3. If you had 24 hours to live, what would you do?
Wow, that's a tough one. Probably spend it with the people I care about most.

4. If you could do one illegal thing, and not get caught, what would you do?
Not anything that would cause harm or detriment to anyone else... how about stealing from the rich (only the bad rich) to give to the poor? Yeah, that's what I'd do. Become a modern day Robin Hood. (Although I'd have to put myself in the "poor" category, so that means I'd get to keep some of it for myself, right?) ;)

5. If you could be one fantasy character who would it be? i.e. Santa, tooth fairy... etc.
Wonder Woman! She always helped people, had amazing powers, and managed to look effortlessly beautiful in the process.

Great questions! Thanks Colby, that was fun! I hope you like reading my answers. :)

Now,I would really love to do some interviews,so if you would maybe like to be interviewed by me,just follow these few simple steps:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Liquid Liner Love

If you've ever been on the search for the perfect liquid eyeliner, I think I've found it. Not that I have tried that many brands of eyeliner but none I've ever used will stay on all day without smudging. They always need a touchup if I'm going out later that night.

But I found this stuff called Palladio at Nordstrom Rack for only $6 and they had some fun colors so I thought I'd give it a try. I bought the Bronze, the Brown/Black, and the Charcoal Blue. I love love love this eyeliner! It goes on really smooth and I'm able to get a perfect skinny line if that's what I want, no clumping or dragging or chunky spots. And it stays on all day BEAUTIFULLY without any smudges so at night it still looks like I just put it on!

And the colors are fabulous. I actually have a hard time deciding in the morning which I want to wear. The black/brown is a great everyday because it's not as dramatic as black so you can easily wear during the daytime. The bronze is fun and has a little shimmer and so does the charcoal blue - which really looks like a silvery dark grey. Looks awesome when wearing black clothes.

The only thing is it said it is "water resistant" and I'm not sure that it is. I haven't tried swimming with it on or anything but as soon as I get my fingertips wet to remove my makeup and night it comes right off, so you might not want to try it in a pool for the first time unless it's yours and no one else is around to see your possible racoon eyes. Otherwise, it's fantastic!

Cookies, Cookies, More Cookies!

So I know I've offically started training for my half marathon and I guess that means I'm supposed to be eating healthier, too, but... that part doesn't seem to be working so well. I have such a huge sweet tooth I just can't help it! Because of me we buy ready-made cookie dough by the TUB! You know, the kind you can only get at a place like Costco or Sam's Club? Yeah, that's what I've got in my fridge right now because I have to have dessert EVERY DAY.
That shouldn't be too much of a problem for me, though, right? :)

P.S. Don't worry, I hardly ever drink soda. That's for when we have guests. Really. I'm totally serious.

So Far So Good

I know it's only been a week but so far I feel pretty good about my half marathon training. I checked out this website called http://www.coolrunning.com/ that was recommended to me by Lara (check out her cute blog here). Since I don't plan on setting any records or even running the whole thing I'm not going to follow their training plan precisely but it did give me a good idea of what to do.

I've planned out my whole training schedule and started it the end of last week. I managed to do 3 miles last Friday, 5 miles on Saturday, then 4 miles on Monday and 4 more this morning. Yay! Not a bad start! And I've never even done 5 miles before so I was happy I did that on Saturday and still felt like I could go even further. I plan to do the 4 miles-4 miles-3 miles-5 miles-rountine each week for the next few weeks and then increase it from there.

I'll let you know how it goes!

To Ugg or Not To Ugg....

Even though the Ugg boot has been popular for quite a few years it certainly seems like it is one trend that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I came across this article on Fashionista that really brought it to light. It was very interesting to read the comments (the ones I had time to read). So here is my take on the matter:

For years I stayed as far away from Uggs as possible because I thought they were so ugg-ly. Marshmallow-looking boots that made your ankles look thick and feet flat - basically just as unattractive and as un-sexy as a shoe could be. And though I love to be fashionable and everyone and their mother (truly, most mothers, too) were wearing them, I do NOT buy into a trend unless it's one I actually like. That's just my rule. :)

But over time they started to grown on me until I finally found a pair that I thought were cute - the elusive grey Classic Cardy boots that I hunted for last fall (see posts Classic Cardy, The Hunt and Pretty Boots). The wool on the footbed was so cozy that I started to see why people liked the boots so much... and then I wanted more. So I recently decided on getting the Upside because it had the cute fur on top and the laces going up the side (guess that's where they got the name). But once I was at the store I couldn't get away from how comfortable the classic ones are. It's like wrapping the lower half of your leg in a pillow. Plus, you can wear them under jeans, too, not just over them like you'd have to with the Upsides. So I sighed a huge sigh and purchased the Classic Ugg boots in Chestnut, hardly daring to believe that I had succumbed.

While I still think they aren't the most "fashionable" thing, they actually do look pretty cute with the tops folded down so the fur is showing. Not bad for running errands or hanging out at a friends house. And I can't get away from how COMFORTABLE they are. But will you see me wearing them out next summer with shorts or a mini skirt? Um, not likely. :)

So what are your thoughts on these boots???

Funny Posters

These are just some humorous posters that have been circling the internet via e-mail forwards for quite a long time. I always get a kick out of stuff like this. :)

I think we've all been here...

Got dressed in the dark, maybe?

Yikes.

...or attractive.

No morning coffee yet?

I wonder how long that took?

Huh?

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt... maybe they're filled with paint.

Heehee! Hope these gave you a laugh, or at least a little chuckle. :)

Juicy Overload

It's noon and time to get some errands done during the lunch hour. I enter the bank, check in hand, ready to make my deposit. Standing in line I patiently gaze about the room, awaiting my turn.

Clunk, clunk, clunk....

My head turns towards the lound, resounding noise.

Clunk, clunk, clunk....

She walks towards me, a sea of purple velvet. Wow. I almost can't believe the ensemble and try hard to smother a laugh.

Purple velvet Juicy tracksuit, matching purple terrycloth tote, large gold Juice earrings with the big "J" swinging to and fro, and purple high heels.

I like a lot of Juicy stuff including their tracksuits (so perfect for running quick errands, grabbing coffee, or traveling - very comfy and still cute) BUT to add so many other pieces from the same designer looked a tad ridiculous, especially since each piece was so loud. And purple heels with a tracksuit?!? Seriously?!? Sorry to be catty but, c'mon, you know you'd have thought the same thing if you had seen her! :)

A Whole New Year

Okay, so I suppose this post is a little belated since it is now January 8th. But I guess I didn't give a whole of thought to the"New Year" thing (with the exception of the Pajama New Year's Eve party we went to) until the last day or so.

All of a sudden I am excited that it's a brand new year! The start of a new year doesn't have to be something exciting, and for many people it probably isn't, but I'm going to choose to see it that way. A fresh start to try something new, go someplace new, do something a little different. Doesn't have to be extravagant or outrageous like vacationing in Peru (if you've never been) or starting a whole new career. It can be small like taking a dance class or learning to play an intrument... or trying a new outdoor adventure.

My big new thing, as my last post mentions, is trying a half marathon (I've already planned out my training schedule!). And I'm going to seek out photography contests and make a concerted effort to enter some. Who knows, I may even win one! Guess you never know unless you try, right? And maybe I'll develop the next hot Billy Mays infomercial product or create a new all-girls club with a special secret handshake and then move to LA and become the new it-girl that everyone will be talking about... or maybe not. ;) But the world is my oyster! I'm sure I'll come up with some other things to do but I'll figure that out as I go along. :) How about you???

Half Marathon, Here I Come!

A friend of mine called me last night and asked if I'd do a triathalon with her. There is one in our area that is a 5.82 mile run, 12.5 mile bike, and 6.35 mile paddle (kayak). Since my idea of running is to speed walk the first half of each mile, jog the second half and not really go more than 2 or 3 miles, the 5.82 mile run would be a challenge, and, if you've read either of my older posts Princess Promenade or Pink Cycling you'd know that the 12.5 mile bike would be a piece of cake, but... kayaking? Never done it before and it's on the river with currents so they recommend taking some classes first for safety reasons. Definitely would be a challenge and sounds like fun!

I thought the race sounded like the perfect athletic feat for me to try this year and I was all into it until I figured that, with the fee for the race, the kayaking equipment I'd need to purchase and rent, plus the safety classes, doing this race would cost me about $430. Um, not really in my budget for the year. And while doing a swimming triathalon would be much cheaper I have a HUGE phobia of swimming in water that has no sides and I can't see the bottom (that's another story I'll save for a different post) so there is no way you'll get me to do that.

So I instead suggested doing a half marathon. Yikes! I'm not a runner so this will definitely be a big thing for me. But we've already chosen one on Saturday, May 2, 2009 which gives us enough time to prepare (I hope). Guess I'm going to have to get some new running shoes! I'll keep you posted on my progress as I go through my training.... :)

Real vs. Fake Nails

For years I have gone back and forth between wearing fake nails and usung my own. Usually I have the fake ones on for about 5-6 months and then I get tired of them so I peel them off myself and go with the natural look, but that only lasts about 2 months before I want the fake ones back again. Right now I have had my own nails for 6 months - new record!

I've decided that when I want the french manicure then I need the fake nails so that they are all the same length and are all perfect and matching. I'm not into crazy designs or bright or dark colors on long nails... I went through a phase of that for about a year right after college (I felt that it was an easy way to express my individuality) but now I think it tends to look tacky and juvenile. I'm going for the more sophisticated and stylish looks now. :)

So when I want to do color then I use my own nails. Especially since a lot of the colors I've been using for the past couple of years are pretty dark. Short, neatly trimmed nails look great with a bold red, a rich burgundy, or a dark almost-black. The dark browns, greys, and burgundys that have a fresh modern appeal are very chic and fun, and the bright red on short nails reminds me of classy ladies of the 40's and 50's. How can you go wrong with that? :)

So 6 months and counting... we'll see how much longer I go before I feel the need to have the french manicure again. :)

Drinking Chocolate

I know I probably shouldn't be talking about this right at the start of the new year when so many people have doubtless made resolutions to eat healthier, but I just can't help it.

I'm sure everyone at some time or another has had the powdered hot cocoa that you add either hot water and or hot milk to, right? Pretty good stuff... I mean, who doesn't like hot chocolate?? Well, my husband and I recently discovered the delectable drinking chocolate. It is actual real chocolate morsels that you melt with hot milk... so creamy and delicious it puts that powdered stuff to shame. (You can do it in the microwave or on the stove but I prefer it on the stove).

There are a number of brands out there that make this but the one we use is called Schokinag and it's made in Germany. I figure if I'm going to drink chocolate I might as well use the real thing! (Less processed, less fillers, and the purest ingredients equals healthier, to me). :) If you like chocolate you should give it a try!

Afternoon Tea

There is something that is so relaxing about drinking tea. Aside from the fact that it tastes good, it also seems to have a calming effect. At least on me, anyway. :) And so I have recently decided to start collecting tea cups. You know, the old fashioned kind that come with a saucer? I want a bunch of them, but all different. My husband's Granny did that and when she passed away last year we inherited two of them - the start to my collection. At that time, however, I wasn't interested in starting a collection of my own.

But just recently I was having tea with a friend at a darling little tea shop nearby (I was SO excited when this place went in) and she and I were talking about how neat it was that all of their china tea cups were different, but each one unique and pretty. So we both decided that we'd love to start a collection of our own. And what's more, rather than just having them sit endlessly in a china cabinet, we actually plan to use them!

So I found this beautiful set by Spode. I bought this blue set for my friend and the black version for myself.
Isn't it pretty? The company is in England and have been in business for over 200 years - how amazing is that?! At any rate, I have been using my teacup almost every day for the past week. There's something about it that just feels so elegant and sophisticated. It goes great with my new pearls! ;)