Back Next Week!

I'm so sorry, I had not planned on being on hiatus for most of this month.  Home improvement projects take a lot longer than expected...  You know, you fix up one thing and the thing next to it looks bad, needs to be fixed/painted/replaced/etc., and so on, and so on.

On the plus side, I've cleaned out my closet to make room for some new shoe arrivals.  I'll be listing lots of things I've decided to part ways with on ebay soon - brand spanking new in box shoes along with some clothing, a few handbags and some Monster High dolls.  I have several pairs readily available for purchase now so have yourself a look now or later.

Signing off to get back to work.  In my best Schwartzenegger voice...  "I'll be back!"

Will Work For Shoes

I know we all joke about working for this or that, and I've always said I would work for shoes...  It finally happened last month.  Besides being a shoe addict, I am an artist/graphic designer and I designed a logo for my friend's new photography business.  She asked me what I wanted for payment, and I thought I'd probably buy shoes with the money anyway so why doesn't she just pay me for the work done with shoes?!

I picked out a few different pairs that I had on my wish list and told her to surprise me with her selection.  Yesterday these were the ones that showed up at my door (I promised to show her a photo of them).  They're called "Telisa" by Beau+Ashe from ShoeDazzle. 

My quick review of Telisa:  As a 6.5, they're true to size.  They could definitely use some extra padding.  They are extremely easy to walk in for someone who wears high heels.  An expensive looking shoe, very well made.  The ankle strap is non-adjustable and I have skinny ankles.  There isn't a lot of extra room on my ankles so an average sized ankle or smaller is all that will fit in these.  Overall, very happy with them!

★

Jeci was also my good luck charm in the "shoefie" contest I won the other day.  She made sure that I was participating, and I'm really glad she did.  With her encouragement (which happened to be right when I was starting my photo shoot) and me knowing her photography skills, I took the time to get THE most perfect photo of my new shoes to submit - it only took 14 tries! 

Everything worked out in the end for both of us, so thank you Jeci for both the shoes and for being my cheerleader!  Best of luck with your new endeavor!! =)

New Month, New Shoes: April 2014

First of all, I have to send a big THANK YOU to ShoeDazzle for picking me as a winner of the birthday shoefie contest for this past Friday!!  Woot, woot, and a very happy 5th birthday to you!!  Here's the photo I posted on my new Instagram account that gave me the win - the shoes are "Misaki", a downright fabulous open toed bootie from the gx by Gwen Stefani collection that is exclusive to ShoeDazzle (fyi, $59.95 VIP members, $110.95 non-VIPs and it also comes in red faux suede with black accents).

So let's get onto the new month of goodies!  Wow, April 1.  Where is this year going?  At least it's in the 70s here this week so I can start breaking in all my new sandals!  I don't want to think about closing up my toes again until long into fall.  It's also time to start showing off fun pedicures, like the one I'm sporting in the above photo.  I decided to do an ombre grayish blue theme (goes from inky black-blue to silvery light blue) with colors from Nicole, Essie and OPI.  That reminds me, I need to make an appointment for this weekend for a new one...  OK, done!  We're talking all sandals for my top 3 ShoeDazzle and JustFab styles!

ShoeDazzle: "Star" by Paper Fox ($54.95 VIP members / $64.95 for non-VIPs)

This is first and foremost the style I will be purchasing this month.  I have been looking for a gladiator sandal boot with a sexy heel that will nicely fit my smaller calves.  This is definitely it - and it also comes in nude.  I'm always more partial to black, so black it is for me.  I am a sucker for a tie front (if you haven't figured that out by now), and I love the studded details.  "Star" is a 4.5" heel with a 1" platform which could be a bit teetery, but with a little practice you will look like a star wearing them.

ShoeDazzle: "Breana" by Beau+Ashe ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)

This sandal is reminiscent of a sandal I had bought on clearance/final sale a few years ago - but it ran big so I ended up selling them on eBay.  It's the caged style and stringlike straps that caught my attention on the other pair, and here again I find myself wanting.  I also like the front of these with the way the vertical straps are placed, and the delicate buckled ankle straps.  With the single sole, it looks like these are about a 4" heel.

ShoeDazzle: "Jaycee" by Shoedazzle ($39.95 VIP members / $49.95 for non-VIPs)

Time to add a little color into the wardrobe with this next pick, "Jaycee".  I would hope these shoes would be as pretty and vibrant of a faux patent pink in person as they are in the photo, so fingers crossed!  The sandals are so unique with the insides being almost like a bootie in structure, and it gives a nod to graphic nature of retro mod fashion.  But the icing on the cake?  Tiny spikes on the buckle to keep with my rocker chic style!  They also come in silver - also pretty - and have a 4.25" heel.

JustFab: "Tallie" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

Last summer I had seen a similar strap treatment but on a knee high gladiator sandal.  I thought it was too much black on the leg as a boot, but as a caged ankle bootie sandal I love it.  The studded detailing and the buckled ankle strap give it an edge.  The heel height looks to be about 4.5" but again with practice will be worth being able to strutt your stuff in these

JustFab: "Makenna" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

I thought this sandal was just so unique in style, as JustFab puts it, "part gladiator and huarache".  I wish it came in other colors besides the navy and cognac (light brown) but as navy I would definitely consider wearing it.  The thick ankle strap mixed with but not touching the gladiator upper is a silhouette I haven't seen before, and I do like how the middle vertical strap is about the same thickness as the ankle strap to balances it.  I know it would be easier to walk in than the stilettos with the 4" stacked chunky heel, but would still give you that height.

JustFab: "Cosette" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

I love this simple cross cross strappy gladiator sandal, and all the colors it comes in!  I'd pick the seafoam for now, but both the black and pink would work well with my wardrobe too.  Even the nude version is appealing here with the caged styling.  This bootie has a zip back entry and 4" heel with a 1" platform.