Pretty and Poor

I was just chatting with a coworker about the perils of boot shopping. It’s not easy, especially if you have calves. At least half the girls I know, including myself, have trouble finding knee height boots that fit properly. And, I’m a weirdo; my left calf is bigger than my right calf, not only making me a certifiable freak show, but making boots that zip up over my right calf miss the mark on my left calf. It’s dramatic. Trust me.

Did I mention I’m stubborn? I’ve vowed never to wear those “stretchy, mom boots made from fake spandex leather.” This weekend, however, I broke my own rule. I found a fantastic pair of boots. They fit like a charm. They’re sassy. They’re stylish. The best part? They’re stretchy.

While out shopping this weekend, I walked by my new boots a number of times before deciding they were stylish. The first time I walked by I thought, “hooker boots, no thanks.” The second time I considered them, “they might be cute, but that rounder toe will definitely make my legs look fat.” Third times a charm. I gave in and convinced myself to try them on.

They zipped up, around both calves, on the first try. They hit just below the knee. They were suede with a shiny heel. The height they gave me was impeccable. I felt like a vixen, a total fox. They were the kind of boots that made me want to run out and buy a leather cat suit. These boots were mine, and they weren’t made for walking. They were made for strutting.

And that’s how I opened my mind to stretchy boots and totally rocked my own world. P.S. I’ve been looking for these boots online and can’t find a picture anywhere. When I find one, I’ll post it so you can also share in the love.

For a really long time, a number of my sorority sisters in college knew me as “the girl who wore those pajamas to the new member retreat.” Let me explain. When you join a sorority, all the new members get together for a fun sleepover where they play games, talk and get to know each other. The retreat occurs within the first month or two of your membership, so you’re interested in getting to know people and making new friends. The whole ordeal is a bit of a first impression; it’s no doubt that I left a pretty strong first impression on all my sisters, thanks to my pajamas.

While most girls brought t-shirts, shorts or sweat pants to snuggle up in, I brought sleepwear of a different breed. My pajamas were bright pink with a crazy umbrella pattern all over them. They were shiny and silk—they consisted of pants with a matching button-up top. They were great! Everyone commented on my eccentric pajamas, which turned out to be quite the conversation starter. Four years later, when my sorority sisters and I were well in our senior year of college, we laughed about the distinct impact those pajamas made. We still laugh about those pajamas today. I will never live them down—and I don’t want to.

Through the years, at many sleepovers, my pajamas have created countless commotions. I’m flattered.

Point being, don’t be afraid to wear crazy pajamas. If you can’t have a fun with your pajamas, what can you have fun with? Ironically, I’m typing this article while lounging in a pair of white pajamas, lined in leopard print, with stiletto heels all over them. It's only appropriate.

This pretty, calming blue patterned pair is totally something I would wear.

Anyone up for a cocktail? Add a little fun to your girl's night with fun, flirty drinks in flannel.

Buy yourself a pair of fun pajamas this winter—especially if you live in a colder climate! You’ll love slipping into those warm, expressive PJs and snuggling up by the fire (or someone special).

I think I need glasses. I’ve always had perfect 20/20 vision but lately things have been a little off-kilter. While watching the election results roll in on a 60-some-inch flat screen television I was called-out for squinting while looking at the screen. Then there was the situation a few weeks ago when I put on a pair of my mother’s glasses for a good laugh and ended up seeing better through her frames. The thought of glasses kind of scares me—I’ve never had to think about anything pertaining to my eyes.

On the flip side, however, I see glasses as a wonderful accessory. They’ll make me look smarter. Actually, let me re-phrase that. They’ll allow me to look as smart as I really am (which is extremely intelligent). Wink-Wink. Maybe, just maybe, people will start taking me more seriously in certain situations. I can just see it now….pulling the glasses down to the tip of my nose, analyzing some data then looking up while taking the glasses from my face and positioning them in the corner of my mouth and saying, “Actually, according to the numbers it appears we’re running a surplus of gargantuan proportions. Upon my careful analysis, incremental profits for the month of November will be comfortably high.”

Keep dreaming. Another positive, glasses are a great way for me to express myself fashionably. The styles. The colors. The brands. In the event I do have to get glasses, here’s what I’m thinking:

This great pair of Chanel frames is timeless and completely chic. I could see myself in these.

I could show my sassy side with these red-hots from Christian Dior.

And then I found these, which are perfect. Black (which would look great with my blonde hair) and just enough bling for the sparkle and shine I need! And Dolce and Gabbana are two very good friends of mine (they just don't know me as well as I know them).

With all this talk of designers and colors and rhinestones, I’ve completely lost sight of the issue at hand: it’s time for an eye exam.

I stole that headline from Pringles (shout out to my friends over at Proctor and Gamble—Pringles are delicious). This posting, however, has very little to do with chips in a tube. Instead, this posting is about the magic and excitement of "popping" champagne. I’ve always liked champagne, it’s just something I don’t always think to order—especially when I’m out and about. Most people believe it’s reserved for special occasions or events. I’m over that. I’m making it my personal goal in life to change that stigma. Champagne is a little bottle of fun that you can order any time to add sparkle to any old day.

Take Friday night, for example. Friday was going to be a low-key, relaxing evening: dinner with the girls followed by a movie. Dinner ran late and ended up making us 20 minutes late to the movie. Not wanting to sit in a crowded theater and miss the first several minutes, my friends and I decided to hang out at a nearby restaurant until the next showing nearly two hours later. At the restaurant we headed straight for the bar, ordered a round of drinks and sat down (this spells trouble). We struck up a conversation with a woman at the bar who had nearly been ditched by her date (he showed up late and redeemed himself).

Long story short, one of my friends suggested we order a bottle of champagne. We did. It was a small bottle. That led to the desire for a bigger bottle and the gesture of sending a bottle to our new friend and her date (you know, to spice their evening up, too). Two hours, and no movie later, we ended up leaving…feeling particularly bubbly.

We'll take the brut!

So why don’t we drink champagne more often? Pop open a bottle of Dom just because it’s Monday? Break into the Cristal after a good work out? Add a little Andre to our evenings? Everyone says you’re supposed to celebrate the little things in life—champagne will simply be my new way of living up to that philosophy.

Yesterday I realized that 80’s music is a lot like crack. I went a little nuts on iTunes. I bought a lot of songs that brought back great memories—meaning they reminded me of crimped hair with teased bangs, layered tube socks and neon colors. I found a new compilation in iTunes Essentials called “High School Crush: The 80’s.”

I stumbled across this set while searching for I Think We’re Alone Now by 80’s teen sensation Tiffany. In my quest for one measly song I found so much more. Two hours later, the damage was extensive.

:: I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder
:: You Got It All by The Jets
:: You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates
:: So Emotional by Whitney Houston
:: Do You Believe In Love by Huey Lewis and The News
:: Is This Love by Whitesnake

What’s wrong with me? Halfway into my purchasing frenzy I also realized that I needed a really good Billy Joel album…or was it Bruce Springsteen….anyway, it was something I’d been meaning to invest in for a long time. Somewhere in between Piano Man, We Didn’t Start the Fire and Only the Good Die Young I got hold of my inhibitions.

Oh, and I nearly forgot, I purchased I Think We’re Alone Now by Tiffany. Yes. I actually bought what I intended to in the first place. Amazing how self-control gets thrown to the wind at the mall and at the iTunes virtual store.

And I’ve listened to Whitney Houston’s So Emotional at least 30 times in the past 24 hours, each time secretly wishing she would come back as the old Whitney and produce a whole slew of chart-topping hits. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. I'm definitely sick.