sunrise
Sunrise over the Atlantic
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Boots, boots, and more boots
So I have to say I'm completely addicted to high heels, boots, and any sexy shoe wear. Despite what pain it causes to my feet, despite how much money they cost, despite how much taller they may make me over the guy I'm out with - I love shoes, but specifically boots.
I'd have to say I most likely inherited this obsession in part from my mom, who used to wear boots in her day. And I have to say GoGo Boots in fun colors are still really hot.
I know that if I'm having a blah day, I can put on a pair of fire engine red, high heeled, over the knee suede boots in a size 9 and feel like the queen diva of my universe that all women deserve to be. There's nothing quite like what a tall pair of boots can do for a girls ego. It changes your whole mood. They can make you feel empowered, sexy, spicy, vivacious, like a sex kitten, like a sex symbol - all these things, all at once.
I know for me - I personally feel empowered and sexy at the same time; more confident, more in control, and powerful. Like I can yield my sexiness as a secret weapon!
And I know, guys don't understand the shoe thing. I understand we are hard to figure out sometimes. I know they don't understand our retail therapy needs and the compulsion to shop with girlfriends for an entire day.
You guys don't really have to - our girlfriends understand, our sisters, and moms, and that will have to be enough for us. I know my best friend understands me better than any man ever has and probably ever will. I have to accept that and I have. But men do appreciate the way high heels make women's legs look sexy.
My BFF understands that when I put on my boots, it's like, I become part superhero for the night. She understands that even though I have 9 pairs of black high heel boots already that THESE are different from all the others, and they are on SALE, and that I must HAVE them!!! Because they are hellasexy on me and make my legs look hot!
For all of my other shoe/boot lovers out there, if you have not visited Zappos.com I think you should take a look around! You may find some great buys there throughout the year and they have a HUGE selection. Happy Hunting!!! Go get 'em girls!
Retail Store Spotlight
This little gem sells really cute comfy sleepwear, underthings, shapers, and regular clothing as well as a few choice perfume/shower things. Find it at local malls or online at Soma.com. They have an awesome price adjustment policy where if you buy something and it goes on sale within 2 weeks, you can go to them to get a partial refund to match the sale price. They also have a rewards card that allows you 5% off everything in addition to sales and other discounts. It's free to sign up and I have already taken advantage of mine. I love them!
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| Ciao Bella Chemise |
To the left is another beautiful chemise they offer. I'm thinking about picking this one up before it's gone.
This little blue lace cami bra below is so awesome underneath low cut shirts! The lace is very soft, as is anything that touches your body, that they sell. I have one in every color they offer
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| Brianna Lace Cami Bra |
This strapless convertible maxi below is so colorful and it seems very forgiving to the girl without a perfect figure.
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| Sensory Stripe Vanessa Maxi |
This sleep gown below is again, very colorful and beautiful. I think Soma's sleepwear is some of the most comfortable stuff I have ever slept in. It can't be beat for comfy elegance!
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| Painted Earth Sleep Gown |
And finally, this fun exotic print maxi is so attractive to me! Another pattern that takes the emphasis off of a girl without a perfect figure who wants a flattering dress.
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Terrestrial Tattoo Idira Maxi |
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Hello my pretties!!!!
Just wanted to mention a short blurb today.
If you have not shopped at a place called Last Call, you are missing out!
It's Neiman Marcus' outlet store. They are usually located in outlet malls only, but can also be shopped online @ lastcall.com.
They have some really awesome deals on cute shoes, accessories, and handbags, as well as women's and men's fashions. Some items are still expensive, but they are much less than what you'd pay retail for designer labels. Enjoy!
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If you have not shopped at a place called Last Call, you are missing out!
It's Neiman Marcus' outlet store. They are usually located in outlet malls only, but can also be shopped online @ lastcall.com.
They have some really awesome deals on cute shoes, accessories, and handbags, as well as women's and men's fashions. Some items are still expensive, but they are much less than what you'd pay retail for designer labels. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Please Stand By While I get my Shit Together...
So, if you're following along with me....
I've just added quite a few new pages to my blog.
Please remember, I have just started this up and currently there are no enteries under ANY of my pages but this one, SO, just wait. I will have some content in them thar' pages soon my little cowpokes!
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I've just added quite a few new pages to my blog.
Please remember, I have just started this up and currently there are no enteries under ANY of my pages but this one, SO, just wait. I will have some content in them thar' pages soon my little cowpokes!
Book to Movie Review
Out of all the books I read last year, I only read one twice and then saw the movie.
I very much enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Published 2004
546 pages
It's a fresh romance novel that has humor, tragedy, and flows in a way that makes you want to learn more about the characters.
Henry is a Chicago librarian that has had a problem with time travel his whole life. Without much control he literally disappears from his current time and slips either into the past or future constantly running into himself.
Clare is a sculptor who uses paper and wires to express her feelings. She is always waiting on Henry to come to her or come back to her depending on how old she is.
The first time they meet as seen from Clare's point of view is when Clare is 6 and Henry is in his 40's.
The first time they meet as seen from Henry's point of view is when Clare is 20 and Henry is 28.
The book changes its point of view between the 2 characters making some story lines meet in the middle. This is definitely not a linear book. It might make you flip back and forth from the beginning to the point you are currently reading, but this didn't bother me much. I did it out of my own curiosity to make a few connections and clarifications.
It's a powerful love story that shows how much one person is willing to sacrifice to wait for their true love to return.
Henry is always trying to solve short term problems like finding clothes (since whenever he jumps times he arrives naked) and Clare has one long term problem (will Henry come back this time, when will he be here again).
It certainly hit the mark with me and moved me to tears more than once. The couple has some very challenging problems develop over time and sometimes there are no good solutions.
It's definitely a good read. I give it 4 out of 5 bookmarks only because I would've liked to read a bit more steamy love scenes.
AND NOW - the movie version.
Release date: 2009
Run time: 107 minutes
Starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Directed by Robert Schwentke
How disappointing that you can love a book so much, completely fall in love with the characters, and all of their problems and then have it all fall apart onscreen.
That's what I'm afraid I have to tell you about this movie. I was so looking forward to seeing it once I read the book. The story line was rich with character development and completely sucked you into Clare and Henry's world that you simply couldn't put the book down. The movie was such a let down.
For some reason unknown to me, the movie has really changed up some of the scenes, some of the very important beginning and ending scenes. Henry and his mom at the beginning of the story is different in the movie from the book. And to me, this is a pivotal point in Henry's young life.
The movie changed the ending. Something that solidifies one characters struggle throughout is now missing.
Huge oversight.
In the book, one character ASKS for something from the other and gets it - in the movie - the same character doesn't ask for it, they MANIPULATE the other character to get it. Not only does this change the original story for the person who sees the movie alone - it makes the perception of the independent people within the couple, and their values skewed. Tricking your partner into giving you something you want is a huge deception (given what the thing is in the story). The movie goer sees this person now as someone who's willing to do anything, even disregard the other's thoughts and feelings about this issue to get it. Completely changes the dynamic of the partnership. I can't believe the author allowed this particular change because to me, it affects the entire story and the morals of the character who does the manipulation.
In the book, the person who has been asked for something decides to give it of their own free will because they realize how important it is to the other's happiness. That's what love is supposed to be - thinking of your partners needs in addition to your own wants and desires.
In a separate problem of the movie, there's a large section of the book that deals with someones accident that limits a lot of things they used to be able to do. I feel the movie gleans over this and it's almost an afterthought to put it in. In the movie, you really don't feel the misery and pain that this character experiences in the book and it's a very VERY big deal to them. I don't feel it was handled right at all in the movie. I mean, it's not like the movie is running too long at this point -it's full running time is 1 hour and 47 minutes; I think a few more minutes devoted to montage scenes, without dialogue, could have effectively shown what the audience needed to understand about the loss for the character.
The museum scene towards the end of the book is emotional, but in the movie it's shorter and omits another very emotional scene. Very disappointing to see this left out as personally, I remember reading this scene vividly and feeling a true sense of urgency in the characters. So rich with emotion, such a shame it wasn't there in the movie for the audience, what a missed opportunity!
The acting was good. Clare's played by McAdams and Henry by Bana. I think the individual performances were strong but they lacked some necessary chemistry to provide on screen fire. Whether the director or screenwriter are to blame for the changes I'll never know but whoever did it should be ashamed of themselves.
Reading/viewing a story like this you have to put yourself in the plot and ask some questions.
Do you want to know your future?
Do you have any control over your life really, or is it destiny?
Knowing that certain things happen in the future, can they be changed?
For example - Henry and Clare are looking for a new house. Henry knows from his time travelling that it looks a certain way in the back yard. Clare looks at every house fresh and with an open mind. Henry meanwhile walks in, looks out the back window and within seconds says it's not the right one.
Does Clare have any choice really if Henry already says we live in a house that looks like this in the future?
I give the movie 2 out of 5 ticket stubs because so many big scenes were altered or omitted it changed the whole story, plus the lack of onscreen chemistry for Bana and McAdams.
I very much enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Published 2004
546 pages
It's a fresh romance novel that has humor, tragedy, and flows in a way that makes you want to learn more about the characters.
Henry is a Chicago librarian that has had a problem with time travel his whole life. Without much control he literally disappears from his current time and slips either into the past or future constantly running into himself.
Clare is a sculptor who uses paper and wires to express her feelings. She is always waiting on Henry to come to her or come back to her depending on how old she is.
The first time they meet as seen from Clare's point of view is when Clare is 6 and Henry is in his 40's.
The first time they meet as seen from Henry's point of view is when Clare is 20 and Henry is 28.
The book changes its point of view between the 2 characters making some story lines meet in the middle. This is definitely not a linear book. It might make you flip back and forth from the beginning to the point you are currently reading, but this didn't bother me much. I did it out of my own curiosity to make a few connections and clarifications.
It's a powerful love story that shows how much one person is willing to sacrifice to wait for their true love to return.
Henry is always trying to solve short term problems like finding clothes (since whenever he jumps times he arrives naked) and Clare has one long term problem (will Henry come back this time, when will he be here again).
It certainly hit the mark with me and moved me to tears more than once. The couple has some very challenging problems develop over time and sometimes there are no good solutions.
It's definitely a good read. I give it 4 out of 5 bookmarks only because I would've liked to read a bit more steamy love scenes.
AND NOW - the movie version.
Release date: 2009
Run time: 107 minutes
Starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Directed by Robert Schwentke
How disappointing that you can love a book so much, completely fall in love with the characters, and all of their problems and then have it all fall apart onscreen.
That's what I'm afraid I have to tell you about this movie. I was so looking forward to seeing it once I read the book. The story line was rich with character development and completely sucked you into Clare and Henry's world that you simply couldn't put the book down. The movie was such a let down.
For some reason unknown to me, the movie has really changed up some of the scenes, some of the very important beginning and ending scenes. Henry and his mom at the beginning of the story is different in the movie from the book. And to me, this is a pivotal point in Henry's young life.
The movie changed the ending. Something that solidifies one characters struggle throughout is now missing.
Huge oversight.
In the book, one character ASKS for something from the other and gets it - in the movie - the same character doesn't ask for it, they MANIPULATE the other character to get it. Not only does this change the original story for the person who sees the movie alone - it makes the perception of the independent people within the couple, and their values skewed. Tricking your partner into giving you something you want is a huge deception (given what the thing is in the story). The movie goer sees this person now as someone who's willing to do anything, even disregard the other's thoughts and feelings about this issue to get it. Completely changes the dynamic of the partnership. I can't believe the author allowed this particular change because to me, it affects the entire story and the morals of the character who does the manipulation.
In the book, the person who has been asked for something decides to give it of their own free will because they realize how important it is to the other's happiness. That's what love is supposed to be - thinking of your partners needs in addition to your own wants and desires.
In a separate problem of the movie, there's a large section of the book that deals with someones accident that limits a lot of things they used to be able to do. I feel the movie gleans over this and it's almost an afterthought to put it in. In the movie, you really don't feel the misery and pain that this character experiences in the book and it's a very VERY big deal to them. I don't feel it was handled right at all in the movie. I mean, it's not like the movie is running too long at this point -it's full running time is 1 hour and 47 minutes; I think a few more minutes devoted to montage scenes, without dialogue, could have effectively shown what the audience needed to understand about the loss for the character.
The museum scene towards the end of the book is emotional, but in the movie it's shorter and omits another very emotional scene. Very disappointing to see this left out as personally, I remember reading this scene vividly and feeling a true sense of urgency in the characters. So rich with emotion, such a shame it wasn't there in the movie for the audience, what a missed opportunity!
The acting was good. Clare's played by McAdams and Henry by Bana. I think the individual performances were strong but they lacked some necessary chemistry to provide on screen fire. Whether the director or screenwriter are to blame for the changes I'll never know but whoever did it should be ashamed of themselves.
Reading/viewing a story like this you have to put yourself in the plot and ask some questions.
Do you want to know your future?
Do you have any control over your life really, or is it destiny?
Knowing that certain things happen in the future, can they be changed?
For example - Henry and Clare are looking for a new house. Henry knows from his time travelling that it looks a certain way in the back yard. Clare looks at every house fresh and with an open mind. Henry meanwhile walks in, looks out the back window and within seconds says it's not the right one.
Does Clare have any choice really if Henry already says we live in a house that looks like this in the future?
I give the movie 2 out of 5 ticket stubs because so many big scenes were altered or omitted it changed the whole story, plus the lack of onscreen chemistry for Bana and McAdams.
Monday, June 27, 2011
I don't feel like writing dammit.
So, I told myself I would try to make this a daily thing for me.
Today's post is not going to be about anything in particular. It's just I'm feeling like I'm going through things and the world just doesn't want to hear it or care.
My "friend" that was supposed to give me an answer about something important completely blew me off. He proved within 1 week that after 3 years of friendship he is truly an asshole after all. I shouldn't be surprised - he always told me how he wasn't as good as I thought he was. I suppose the last 3 years he's just been pretending to be a nice guy.
My parents are going to let 2 almost complete strangers stay in the house full of my stuff for a week. I'm freaking - I can't afford to fly home and move everything out of the way and I feel like no one is listening to my warnings that my parents could be murdered or things could go missing after they leave. I mean, one of them is a 14 year old year girl that no one's ever met! I stole things when I was her age! I tried to talk to my husband about it today while he was getting ready for work and he said nothing. Not a damn thing about it. He said he didn't have enough time to have an opinion about it. I was ready to buy a plane ticket home after I got off the phone with my mom, but maybe I'm overreacting. No one else seems to care if my stuff gets stolen, so maybe I shouldn't either. I plan on getting drunk later on tonight, so I'll not care for sure after that.
I realize that being here I don't take care of myself. I insult myself before my husband can. I don't exercise and I eat whatever I want. I go to bed late, I get up late and I'm always suffering from terrible stress. Why did I think that this was all ok when I started it up 4 years ago? Why didn't I just pay attention to my gut, to my friends, to my family, to all the warning signs, to common sense? Now I'm as heavy as I've ever been, I'm depressed, I'm sad, I'm unemployed, I'm broke, I'm stressed out, and I'm lonely. Jesus Christ, I've messed up so bad. Why did I even start this blog? Just to depress my friends with my stories of poor me? I'll stop now before this post gets anymore depressing. Just know I went on the record to say this whole strangers staying in the house was a TERRIBLE idea mom and dad!
Today's post is not going to be about anything in particular. It's just I'm feeling like I'm going through things and the world just doesn't want to hear it or care.
My "friend" that was supposed to give me an answer about something important completely blew me off. He proved within 1 week that after 3 years of friendship he is truly an asshole after all. I shouldn't be surprised - he always told me how he wasn't as good as I thought he was. I suppose the last 3 years he's just been pretending to be a nice guy.
My parents are going to let 2 almost complete strangers stay in the house full of my stuff for a week. I'm freaking - I can't afford to fly home and move everything out of the way and I feel like no one is listening to my warnings that my parents could be murdered or things could go missing after they leave. I mean, one of them is a 14 year old year girl that no one's ever met! I stole things when I was her age! I tried to talk to my husband about it today while he was getting ready for work and he said nothing. Not a damn thing about it. He said he didn't have enough time to have an opinion about it. I was ready to buy a plane ticket home after I got off the phone with my mom, but maybe I'm overreacting. No one else seems to care if my stuff gets stolen, so maybe I shouldn't either. I plan on getting drunk later on tonight, so I'll not care for sure after that.
I realize that being here I don't take care of myself. I insult myself before my husband can. I don't exercise and I eat whatever I want. I go to bed late, I get up late and I'm always suffering from terrible stress. Why did I think that this was all ok when I started it up 4 years ago? Why didn't I just pay attention to my gut, to my friends, to my family, to all the warning signs, to common sense? Now I'm as heavy as I've ever been, I'm depressed, I'm sad, I'm unemployed, I'm broke, I'm stressed out, and I'm lonely. Jesus Christ, I've messed up so bad. Why did I even start this blog? Just to depress my friends with my stories of poor me? I'll stop now before this post gets anymore depressing. Just know I went on the record to say this whole strangers staying in the house was a TERRIBLE idea mom and dad!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Alright, so where was I? Oh yes, my latest obsession...
So if you're not a girlie girl I suggest you stop reading this post right now.
I have found something completely adorable to collect recently and I'm now totally addicted.
In the past my obsessions have been in no particular order:
Stephen King books (active)
Silky cute nightgowns (dormant except for what's available at Soma)
Lingerie (Definitely active given I lose a few more pounds)
Puffkins (cute little round stuffed animals - much like beanie babies only better) (dormant due to lack of new products to buy - I think the company folded or just stopped making them.)
High heels (non-boots) (active always - always must have more shoes)
Miniature perfume bottles (dormant)
I have found something completely adorable to collect recently and I'm now totally addicted.
In the past my obsessions have been in no particular order:
Stephen King books (active)
Silky cute nightgowns (dormant except for what's available at Soma)
Lingerie (Definitely active given I lose a few more pounds)
BOOTS! (Hell yeah, that's never going to work itself outta' my system. My boot addiction is incurable.)
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| Steve Madden boots |
Puffkins (cute little round stuffed animals - much like beanie babies only better) (dormant due to lack of new products to buy - I think the company folded or just stopped making them.)
High heels (non-boots) (active always - always must have more shoes)
 |
| Prada heels |
Halloween village items from Department 56 & Lemax (Active!)
 |
| hehe |
And that leads us to my newest passion.
Juicy Couture charms!
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| box of crayons |
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| frappe |
Juicy Couture started out as a very small company selling fashionable track suits in the late 1990's by Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, 2 best friends in California. They got very lucky after sending Madonna a sweat suit that she wore out in public and the company began to get some major attention. The rest is history...they opened store and store across the country and expanded into clothes other than track suits, jewelry, perfume, shoes, and handbags.
Unfortunately in 2003 the company was bought by Liz Claiborne and the original founders left over creative differences.
In 2004 the company started a line of charms and charm bracelets that have only grown in popularity in the last 7 years. To date, they've produced about 675 charms in all and some of the most popular include holiday editions for Halloween and Christmas.
I found out about these in March of this year while I was looking for a new charm bracelet. I always wanted one since I found out as a little girl my mom used to have one. I liked the idea of expressing little things about yourself through a piece of jewelry. Something that literally made a statement without saying a word about yourself. The problem with other charms were that they were usually 2 dimensional and a bit bland. Only coming in either silver or gold (and don't get me wrong precious metals are always nice) and still really expensive for plain looking jewelry.
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| boring 4 leaf clover |
 |
| looks more like a guitar pick doesn't it? |
Fast forward 20 years later and I find out about these charms online. As soon as I discovered them, I knew I had to have these. I've always had a thing for miniatures (see above past obsessions).
There are a ton of places online to purchase these as well as shopping malls across the country. The prices range from $42.00-68.00 each depending on limited availability and intricacy of details. The charms have no lack of imagination - they do all sorts of items. Things like food, animals, flowers, wedding items, school things, and countless other items in 3d miniature.
Ebay is the best place to find older, retired charms that are no longer in production, but there is a dark side to all of this. There's a very large market for counterfeit charms. They copy all the little details of Juicy charms and sometimes it's very hard to tell the difference even for someone who's been looking at these for a while.
I'm always careful to study the charms I'm about to purchase on websites I've never bought from, or sellers on Ebay. There's a new batch of 13 due out in Mid-July and I have already pre-ordered my set! I know I'll mention them again since they are always coming out with new ones.
Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes
Hello and welcome! I have decided to create a blog, mostly for myself, but also to share with others what I'm thinking. It really doesn't have a common thread other than it'll be stuff that I'm thinking, watching, listening to, shopping for, enjoying, or reading, etc. So, most likely, the only people to be interested in this blog will be friends and family first. If it goes beyond that then great!
This is my very first post and I'm very glad to notice the handy-dandy spell checker available...whew! That's always used well by me.
I titled this entry such because I needed something new to pour my energies into and I thought this would be a healthy solution. My life is pretty stagnant right now and I need something good to do with my free time.
I titled the blog "The Experience Syndicate" because I needed a title that encompassed my need to have as many experiences as possible before my death. That's the game, that's how I win at it, and that's my goal.
Everyone knows what experiences are but maybe a formal definition of syndicate is needed.
From Merriam-Webster.com:
Syndicate = noun \ˈsin-di-kət\
This is my very first post and I'm very glad to notice the handy-dandy spell checker available...whew! That's always used well by me.
I titled this entry such because I needed something new to pour my energies into and I thought this would be a healthy solution. My life is pretty stagnant right now and I need something good to do with my free time.
I titled the blog "The Experience Syndicate" because I needed a title that encompassed my need to have as many experiences as possible before my death. That's the game, that's how I win at it, and that's my goal.
Everyone knows what experiences are but maybe a formal definition of syndicate is needed.
From Merriam-Webster.com:
Syndicate = noun \ˈsin-di-kət\
2
: an association of persons officially authorized to undertake a duty or negotiate business
3
a : a group of persons or concerns who combine to carry out a particular transaction or project
The 3rd definition is what we're looking for here. I would like everyone I know to contribute something to this blog about good things they've experienced. Even if it's something small like a good dentist they go to (come on now, how many people do you know that rave about their dentist?!) It just so happens that I do, but that's for another post.
I remember when I was on Myspace.com my favorite part of that whole thing was to express my concerns in a little section off to the corner. This is basically picking up where I left off. I am not currently on Myspace or Facebook just to let you know. A lot of people are always asking me if I am or not.....no, I'm still not.
Anyway, I just discovered Dunbar's number - it's referring to how many stable meaningful relationships your brain can actually maintain at one time. The number is averaged at 150. Anything after that people just become numbers. So people with 1,000 friends on Facebook/Myspace.com you are not fooling me.
Oh, Mom's calling. I'll pick this up later!
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