Guess Where I Am

Hint: I had to take two airplanes to get here.

Bonus: I am traveling for work but I am with my brother!

Puttin' On The Glitz

Somebody tell my husband to pick this necklace up at J. Crew in time for my 31st birthday. It may be a little dressy for everyday wear but I think I've got to keep reaching for the brass ring. I'm keeping my clicky heels, and give me my old lady brooch flower necklace. Add some red lipstick and it's on. Oh yes, it's on.

Looks Good, Smells Great



In our gigantic landscaping project this summer we planted a lot of hydrangeas. Some were cast offs from the gardens of friends, some were gifts, and some were bought from our local nursery. Our gifted plants are so happy to have a loving home that they won't stop blooming. A plant that my brother gave me for Mother's Day is still producing new flowers. This abundance has allowed me to cut a stem here and there to bring the flowers inside. (One of my dreams in life is having a cutting garden so I don't have to have a guilty conscience.) To round out the arrangement I've been cutting basil flowers, which actually helps the plant grow. Can we all agree that fresh basil is The Best Smell In The World? Are there any perfumes with basil notes? Because I would wear them. And if not, why not? It's an outrage.

Also: somebody got her bangs trimmed. I did a sneak attack while she was playing (risky, I know) and then lured her to stay still in her chair with blueberries. I've cut my own bangs enough to be pretty confident in this area, even with an almost 14 month old squirmer. You can call me SuperMom. I'll turn my head.

Oh, and I have only been able to get her lace up Chuck Taylors on while she is sitting in her high chair. Toddlers really force you to think strategically.

The Next Generation Of Shoe Horse

And so it begins.

Now that the weather is cooling down it's time for Baby SevPrez to lace up. I haven't yet put her in the Cons myself, but I assume that at some point I'll get down tying her shoe laces (with a double knot) fast enough to get the job done before she runs away. The fact that my mom has done it several times so far is not all that encouraging... She is a baby whisperer and a magician. But I am her daughter, so there's some hope.

The little one has also been signing up a storm. "Open" is a particular favorite right now. It's interesting to see how she applies the concept of open to things you wouldn't think of. I try not to tell her too often, but I'm pretty sure she's a genius.

From Souls To Soles

Ever since I started my new job I became acutely aware of what turns out to be a collection of shoes I own. I never thought I really had that many pairs. I love shoes, of course, but never considered myself a shoe-horse.

On my first day of work I wore my turquoise suede strappy heels (yeah I said turquoise suede -- chosen by the same part of my brain that picked out the teal velvet couch). They have a decent heel, and they are fabulous. They make me happy to wear them, and I especially enjoy wearing them with an otherwise casual outfit (ripped jeans). Knowing what I know now, my new coworkers were wondering who was this crazy girl with the fancy shoes that make noise? Where does she think she has come to work? They definitely got some comments, not bad, more like "Do your shoes always make noise?" and I facetiously promised to bring the shoe. Tomorrow, purple flats. The day after that. leapard pointy toes with black bows. I was half-kidding, but I became aware that it was definitely possible for me to go into my closet each morning and put on a shoe-show.

These photos are just the beginning. If I really focused on it, I could devote an entire week to shoe pics. Not that you'd be all that intersted.

Happy Labor Day Weekend. It's a big deal here at the Jersey shore.