Boot Shopping

Last year I bought a wonderful pair of knee high camel tone boots (by the lovely Lauren Conrad and her Kohl's Collection) that I LOVE. I mean, I really love them; wear them almost daily, and heck I wear them with black and grey and every other color that's not supposed to match--but I say they do!

Only problem with 365 days of wear (well maybe not because when it was hot I didn't wear them) is that they are wearing out. And I will probably take them to our local cobler and have them re-heeled so that I can still wear them, my dear friend Kelly says I just need to buy new boots. Right, Kel? She even sent me the link to URBANOG.com which has boots galore with price tags that don't make your stomach drop. Check them out! But first, which ones should I buy?

Oh and an important note is that when Hubs saw me looking at the shoes he says, "you do need another pair." And he was serious. Love that man!

1. THESE

2. THESE

3. THESE

4. THESE

5. THESE

 

6. THESE black/brown combo are a  YES, PLEASE!

So which ones do you like? 1-6? And what are these models wearing with their boots??

ps I'm not a big enough blogger to have anyone compensating me for my words here, but darn do I wish I was because they have so much cute going on over there! check it out urbanog.com!

pps thanks Kelly Sue!

14 Days of Ruby Reds

Well, it's DAY 14 of the #31shadesofred #lipstick challenge. I missed posting two days (woops!) because, well, I'm allergic to lipstick and had chapped lips. Yes, yes I did know this prior to started the challenge. Yes I will continue along, I've just been over-hydrating my lips at night to compensate. And actually on Sunday, I did wear lipstick, just forgot a picture.

I'm really enjoying this challenge so far. I have three other ladies actively particpating: @kellysue & @aprilmarie on instagram and my seester on facebook. We've also had some "guest post" support too! I have a lot of thoughts about what wearing lipstick every day has meant for me, and I've talked to Kelly about hers too and they are different experiences. I need to get a hold of April as well to hear her thoughts.

But today, it's two weeks in the wrong order because I can't always work blogger very well, but two weeks of daily photos no less!

If you aren't playing yet, it's not too late! Just grab some lip color (red, pink, coral, purple whatever you like) and put on some lipstick! Even if you do it once, your support would mean so much, and I promise it's fun!

Truth Be Told

I'm a skeptic. A huge one. I have the hardest time believing what I can't see. And I don't buy into others' words at face value. I'm not sure when I started to see the agenda behind the "truths" I am told and when I lost my blind faith, or if I ever had it to begin with.
I guess this isn't just a religious thing but reading this blogpost (can't wait to read more of her stuff btw), lead me to this article today of a neurosurgeon who saw the afterlife just put me on edge this morning. It all sounds beautiful, spectacular even. I would want to go there when I die, no doubt about it. But, dang. It sure does sound like a crock to me.
And that bothers me a bit. Why do I get to decide that his beautiful description of a place where you can do no wrong and live where you cam taste beauty is a collection of really incredible fiction?
And why do I get rubbed the wrong way by religion when I grew up with faith, and even went to a Catholic college. Why does the certainty of others in their beliefs make me so uncomfortable.
I believe in doing good and being the best person I can be. I believe in being a good human not just for the pleasure of being good (though I have a serious problem with disappointing authority, Catholic guilt?) but because we are linked to one another and maybe theirs some truth to karma. I believe there is something bigger out there. I'm just not sure it looks like the carbon copy thing that these big box religions are selling.
I didn't intend to share these thoughts in this space. But it is real. It's what's heavy on ky chest not just this morning but for months. I've been searching, studying, seeking. Which means I'm growing and I appreciate that, I do. I would love to have some answers though. Guess that's why I call this trail and error, huh?

What do you think about he big questions? Do you believe in heaven or an afterlife? Do you remember learning about heaven as a kid?

#31shadesofred #lipstickchallenge

Good morning!! First, please ignore my virtual dust, I'm in the process of revamping my little chunk of the internet and right now it is pretty plain, boring, and ugly!
Second, along with the revamping I'm doing, I am also working to delevop more regular content here! First on my list is a little festive December challenge for the ladies :)
Last weekend our friends hosted a Mad Men themed party and after googling some images (I don't watch
!) I decided that I must wear lipstick! And so did all the other hot ladies there.
My love affair with lipstick hasn't always been so pretty, there was a tense work meeting that left me with unintentional barbie pink lips, and many a tube thrown out for bad color selection. But, I'm taking it back. Lipstick and I are BFF's this month and I think you should play along too!
All you have to do is wear liptick every day in December and snap a selfie to post on instagram or Twitter or Facebook. Don't forget the hashtags #31shadesofred and #lipstickchallenge so we can group.them easily.
That's it: lipstick and pictures each day in December. Or don't do everyday. Who needs rules? Actually I thrive on rules, so you decide of you do or don't. Play around with color. Buy a cute little compact mirror and carry it around so you can do touch-ups. (I am headed to Target after I finish my panera to get one!)
Also I'm brainstorming some additional posts like lipstick diary interviews to see how you feel about wearing lipstick, a how-to with a make up pro, and of course some inspiration so check back here to see how it goes!
Here's todays pre-challenge pic..I need to improve my self-portrait abilities too!

My cup runneth over

Today marks day number two of working as a married woman. I get to make Thanksgiving dinner for my coworkers and clients and while at first it seemed overwhelming I recognize it as a privilege.

I really can't even begin to express how incredibly blessed I have felt since getting engaged really, but especially since the Wednesday before our wedding. Family and friends travels hundreds of miles, just to witness our wedding and that meant the world to me, and Vince too. Walking into the theater I was quite literally overcome with emotions, searching last the faces if those dear to us to see Vince's at the end if the aisle.

I am thankful. Grateful. Overwhelmed with the love and support we have been shown in the last few months. Thank you.

And now I have an early thanksgiving with work family to spend an extra day reflecting in all that we have to be thankful for.

Sitting at the bar waiting to pick up the tab for a clients date I had the opportunity to people watch in one of my favorite locations: an upscale restaurant. The people here vary greatly but tonight and it is entertaining to imagine that they eat here regularly even though a drink and an appetizer tallies up a $30 bill. They must lead such glamour lives :)

Tonight there was one group in particular of about 8 business professionals at happy hour. All were dressed in nice suits, drinking the expensive wine or craft beers, and jovially interacting with one another.

Of the group, only one was female. And of the group, the only one who could be loudly heard using the "f-word" to make her points was said female.

It felt forced. Each time I heard it cross her lips it made me cringe.

Now, don't get me wrong. With the sailors I can sing some pretty dirty songs myself. But something about it came off so incredibly crass.

To the outsider peeking into her world I felt as though she was role playing the part of the young business executive we see on television shows. You know, the male one. The one who is trying to impress his buddies by the number of "ladies" he can bed. That was the part SHE was trying to fill.

Now, I could be wrong. I could be. However, I am rarely wrong. Just kidding! The real however is that there were 7 other men in this group. What they needed wasn't a woman pretending to be one of the guys. They needed her to be her. Why else should they have hired her at their office?

We as women pride ourselves at being adaptable and spreading ourselves thin. Acting like one of the guys doesn't need to be one if the areas that we stretch ourselves in. We can be strong, powerful professionals. Believe me I believe in that 200%. And we can let the perfect little lady charade down and cut loose.

But we don't need to impress others, let alone, our coworkers with outlandish stories filled to the brim with profanity.

We should feel at liberty to be us. Our true us, especially in a social setting. This is the time to show them how much we can accomplish and how incredible we are.

Or at the very least if you have to swear, do it quietly so the whole bar can't hear.

So easy a caveman could do it!

Today marks the first day of our new diet: The Paleo Diet.

I took a client out for breakfast and the best I could do was scrambled eggs and ham with a water to drink.

Not what I wanted to order. And his cinnamon French toast smelt damn good.

Alas, my food was tasty. And I am full. And it did not contain dairy or carbs.