Friday Shoegasm: Why you should be thinking boots, not sandals, right now

It's really difficult with the sun shining down to 60-degree temps and Daylight Saving Time in a few days and the call of the cruise/camping trip/excursion to your friend's aunt's cottage in eastern Indiana to resist stocking up on sandals that scream to the world you are so ready for summer. Or at least spring. 

But it's not time to throw money at cute cork wedge heels or espadrilles or even fancy flip-flops just yet, no matter what all those sales emails and catalogs and deals of the day say.

It is really time to embrace winter for just a few days more and buy boots. Not only are boots on sale right now, you won't have to worry about gunking them up with slushy snow or street salt. 

Although I adore boots and will wear them until my feet are so sweaty inside them that I can leap right out of them into open-toed heels, getting a new pair wasn't even on my list of things to do while I am waiting to pack my sleeping-back down coat away. Until yesterday when my mom and I made a run to Nordstrom Rack to return a pair of boots she bought me for Christmas (no time like three months later!). 

Of course, the aisles were full of sandals and formal footwear that you will wear once to your college friend's wedding and then ditch forevermore because they are tequila-stained/heinously uncomfortable blister-inducers/make you obnoxiously taller than your date/lost in your car somewhere/all of the above. But there was also a great selection of boots at awesome prices.

Sure, I was tempted by these babies.

Alas, my sheer knee-highs are in the wash and the next, most-awesome Halloween party for adults I will likely be invited to is a long, long time off.

 

But what I ended up trading in the boots (a boho Pocahantes pair of feet-squeezers) for these beauties.

 

They are Enzo Angiolini (love that brand, not even handed buckets of cash to say it) Karissa boot in a pebbled coffee-and-cream-colored leather (the tan is also delicious).

 

The 3-1/2" gives me the boost I want without being too hooker-like for daily drop-off at the old elementary school and still styley enough that I will definitely wear them out on a girls' excursion.

Also? Comfy. Not kidding.

 

And? Unobtrusive treads are barely visible and mean I don't clonk-clonk-CLONK around as much as usual (you're welcome, neighbors). 

Today, I am taking a style tip from Meagan Francis and throwing them over leggings and a flippy little dress (to super-skinny gals)/tunic top (to me).

But I will also wear them barelegged with dresses as the weather warms, before my sandals demand all my tootsies' attention.

Delightful for right now and even better for next fall and winter. Oh, and only $75 on sale. FOR ENZOS (I know). 

Here are a couple of other deals I would have taken if there was more room in my boot box to stock up:

 I am in love with Frye boots, and am crushing pretty hard on this Mimi Scrunch style, in part because they are $120 off. That savings can fund another pair of boots, kittens! Think of it. While you're walking tall in these girls. On Piperlime, $229 (and worth every single cent).

I am a big fan of Franco Sarto shoes and would even be willing to wear flats made by that delicious Italian. Marked down nearly a hundred dollars (ringing in at a sale price of $99), you will be extra happy to find these gorgeous riding boots when the season turns cold again next week/next autumn. 

You all know well that I am late and hesitant in coming to the UGG love. But there I was yesterday at Nordstrom Rack and ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how much wearing these boots felt like walking upon a cloud spun of sugar and air. The photo does not do them justice, but, man do they look sweet on. Also, the ones you order shouldn't have a giant ballpoint pen mark across the top like the ones at the Rack (which is why I opted out). These are suede and will call to your sweaters to join them in winter cute-casual fun. $187 on sale, down from $350.

I've been wearing a lot of dresses this winter-ish with black tights and booties. Sometimes I get really crazy and add patterned tights (what?!). I think a great pair of booties in black or chocolate or whatever color is your go-to is a great investment, even if you are a lady who only wears jeans or fancy pants. If I can only take one pair of shoes for a weekend trip (ohmahgaw, the horror), then I'd choose these because I can use them to dress up or down and outfit. These by Guess are $84, down from $139. These are on my list but for now, I am totally, unashamedly wearing a pair I picked up on sale at Target (yes, you've got it...) last spring for $20.

Click to read more ...

I'm am here now (at least today)

I like to spread the love around a bit sometimes. 

You can find me on Babble, talking about the gifts blogging has brought me here. I loved reading the sageness and sarcasm of other mom bloggers I respect and it was so much fun reflecting on the last almost-six years (gah! SIX!) of writing online.

I also got to discuss the nuts and bolts of getting a post up on Mommyfriend's very-funny post about what's in bloggers' toolboxes (see how I brought that metaphor all the way through?). There's a common theme of buckets of caffeine that won't surprise any person who has ever written a word ever.

I guess if I am willing to spout off on what it takes to write and the gifts of writing, I should maybe...ummm...you know...actually write. Not to worry. There's more of that on the way. After I get another cup of coffee.

{Isn't this print awesome? It reads "You are here now. In the vastness of space and time, may you be present in the here and now." I am coveting it to hang over my desk. Or on my front door. Available here on Etsy for $35.}

Click to read more ...

All too soon, this will erase

It was a long night. Lil E, still recovering from an unknown virus that came and went with fever and vomitting all week, slept fitfully. I sang him back to sleep four times throughout the course of 8 hours. He woke up at 6 a.m., then again at 7. I told him to read for an hour. I felt like I'd only napped all night.

A little after 8, he crept into my room and slid this white-board next on to my pillow. He whisper-asked if he could watch TV and slid out again. 

I could barely read it, my glasses on the nightstand and my eyes heavy. But I saw the words "love" and "pritty" and silly" just before I fell back asleep clutching it and smearing the word "fun" with my fingers.

"She rock-s!" he scribbled in pink.

All of it will fade soon enough. But he used the word "happy" to describe us. "Happy" after a long month of stress and inadvertent weight-loss and worry wrinkling in between my eyebrows. "Happy" after being up most of the night and being home most of the week and a virus that germy-ed up our home. "Happy" after things have changed around here in ways I can't yet fully explain so that we will be living more simply, so that the stress will be swept out slowly and methodically. 

Happy. 

The note ends with lines of Xs and Os, as we always end our letters and post-its and phone calls to each other. But I hope those stay there along with the happy-us, the dry -rase marker imprinting the wish for the words to stay long after the rest has been wiped from the board. 

Happy Mommy. Happy Boy. Through tired eyes and swells of stress, that's what I want to see most.

Click to read more ...