a little heavy metal

These are Michael Antonio from the $4.99 shoe store...which is one of my favorite places on earth!

Come on & Safari with Me....

These are also, wait for it.....from Old Navy! I saw them and immediately snatched them up! Then....only AFTER I bought them....were they featured in last month's In Style...I love when that happens!!

Who needs yellow patent leather?

Me! I found these at Buffalo Exchange, also brand new! I've only worn them twice, but they happen to match the t shirt I have to wear to work every Thursday. I'm not crazy about them...but since I agreed to wear ALL shoes here they are!

Beagle for Sale

oh. my. gosh. I have a story that if filmed, would be the perfect sitcom drama. It's one of those funny moments that you think never REALLY happens to someone...but oh, it happened yesterday. So, I'm driving down the road with Duke and Slater on the way to the park. What a good dog parent I am. The windows are down because the day is beautiful...and the dogs are all hanging out the window just....being dogs. When all of a sudden I look down and realize Duke is not sitting in the front seat anymore...I look out the window and see a brown flash fly across the highway.

Yes, the dog flew out the window...leapt, rolled, fell...whatever...he JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW!!! I pulled over, turned around and jumped out of the car. Of course, Slater is freaking out at this point...still stuck in the car. So, I'm yelling at Duke, running through a field of corn, and some woman in the trailer across the street comes out with her Miller High Life and ciggie hanging from her lips and says "he's long gone, you need to drive up on in that field...it's dry...you won't get stuck..." Being the rule follower that I am...my first thought was..."Isn't that illegal? Won't I get arrested?" The nice, helpful woman was all, "Nahh....get on in there!"

Then, I'm all like...hey...I drive an FJ Cruiser...it can totally handle this field. I drive into the field as far as I can...to the tree line on the other side and get out and start yelling for Duke. I can hear his collar jingle, I just can't see him. I'm seriously tempted to just leave him there at this point. I break through the brush and he's trotting down the railroad tracks like this is some grand adventure.

I finally get him to come to me and throw him in the car. I am soooo livid that I tear out of this field like the devil was at my heels. Well, at least that was the plan. But nooooo.....the ONE muddy spot in this entire field? I find it. My wheels start spinning and all kinds of not nice thoughts are running through my head. Panic mode sets in and all I can think is that some police office is going to pull up and arrest me for going mudding in someone's field. I call Trey and sob out the entire story and at the end he goes, "So what you're trying to tell me is....you need my help?" Yes, smart guy.

Well, Trey pulls up, gets in the car, turns on the 4 wheel drive (which, in my feminine state of uselessness, I forgot I had) and immediately gets the car unstuck. He (and not to mention the ciggie toting, beer guzzling woman who told me I wouldn't get stuck in the first place) is laughing at me this whole time. I drive my car home, mud flying from everywhere...where I spent the next hour cursing Duke and vaccuming the mud and dog hair from all inside my car.

So, this is why I ask...does anyone want a cute beagle that apparently thinks he's Underdog? Because seriously? Trekking through a muddy field searching for him once a year is so not for me.

I include this picture of my shoes for two reasons. One, to show the havoc I wreaked on them and two...I thought they'd feel left out if I didn't include them in the shoe journal...since I wear them everyday. They deserve some credit for the abuse I bestow on them!

Who I Am

These pictures hold the women I esteem most in the world. They are the shapers of who I am today. Each of them has meant something special and dear to me and I wouldn't trade or replace any of them for all the riches this world could offer. Not only do the genes we share shape my face, my feet, my mannerisms, and unfortunately, my propensity to be short and have to work hard to stay thin for the rest of my life...but also my zest for life, my sense of humor, all the wonderful things I've come to love about myself, and I also see in them the things I need to work on in myself.

I have been blessed in my life. Not a day goes by that I don't give thanks that not only do I have both of my grandmothers, I've grown up near them my entire life! I spent many weekends with one grandmother or another, and spent most holidays happily traipsing back and forth between one side of Dallas to another. Both of my grandmothers adore each other, and my parents are lucky enough to both love their "mother in law". :) Although my Aunt lived in Georgia and then Chicago while I was growing up...I spent many happy months in both places, always feeling immensely welcomed and loved. To this day, I lived within an hour of all of these women, and probably don't spend as much time with them as I should!

My Grandmother Sue is, as I call her, my "fishing grandma". I learned so many life lessons from her, not limited to...how to bait a hook, to call "here, fishy, fishy, fishy", the fact that I should ALWAYS wear lipstick to take a picture (the fact being...I don't, probably to the chagrin of she and my mom), and how to love Jesus with all my heart. My grandmother has the most wonderful laugh, and she is quick to use it! Most of my favorite memories come from playing cards late at night with my family, and my grandmother almost always wins! There are 11 grandchildren on this side, and I've always felt one of a kind with her. She sewed us many a matching outfit or gown, and is one of the best cooks I know! My favorite meal always includes her "Green Stuff", a jello salad that I could eat my weight in. When I got married, she gave me a book with all of her best recipes...some of them even included where she originally got them. That is the wedding gift I cherish most to this day.

My grandmother Ruth, I affectionately call my "Neiman Marcus grandma". She is my fellow Starbucks lover and favorite shopping partner. We laugh all the time at the deals (or should I say, steals) we find! We enjoy eating lunch at La Madeline and strolling though Northpark mall...just window shopping. From her I've learned the gifts of grace and hospitality. You would never meet a more charitable, giving soul than my precious grandmother. She has to be forcefully made to sit and eat during holiday gatherings at her house. She is famous for asking, "Are you hungry?" then opening the fridge to pull out anything that might possibly interest you...even if you reply no! She has an innate knack to choose gifts for people, I think because she so closely listens and watches for any ideas...anything that might please you. She has a timeless style and is up on all the trends and Hollywood gossip. Even if she hasn't always agreed with the choices I've made...she never lets on. She is a tender hearted to the core...a trait that was passed on to me that I sometimes wish wasn't. :) We can't finish a meal without crying over something that touched one of us. I treasure our Friday afternoon "dates" where we sit at Starbucks and sip our caramel frappacinos then head over to Target..."just to look."

My Aunt Kathy, the Queen Kathryn to my Princess Kathryn. I am so thankful for the friendship and bond she shares with my mom. It truly shows what sisters are meant to be. They always say they hated eachother growing up...but to watch them now you would never know it! My aunt has been through so much in her life...and has come out on top. I see her learning to trust in the Lord and love him more through each trial in her life. She has taken each stage of her life and made the best of it. She was a single mom, raising my cousin (who also happens to be one of the best friends I have) Justin, and although times had to be hard, we always had so much fun! Everytime we visited, she would make sure to plan something to make us feel like we had the best trip ever! She uprooted to Chicago and married my wonderful Uncle La...who had 3 boys of his own. Her family of 2 became a family of 6 overnight and after a few rough patches, grew to love all the boys as her own. We lost my cousin Matt a couple of years ago to an accident, and watching her grow during this time has been a balm to my own soul. She's a never ending source of knowledge and good advice. I truly feel as if I could go to her with anything. She's the "cool aunt" but also full of wisdom. She can say, "been there, done that" and mean it.

Last but not least, my mom. My mom and I have always had an easy relationship...mainly because I didn't cause much trouble and was born "30 years old", I've heard it said. My sister and my mom have a tumultous relationship...my sister's been in enough trouble for both of us, and has tested the maternal bonds between she and my mom time and time again. I, however, have always had more or less a friendship with my mom. I earned my fair share of childhood discipline, and have done a few things in my life to disappoint my mom...but for the most part, have always felt a kinship with her. We talk about so much, and sometimes feel we're the "only sane ones" in our family. :) Growing up, she was wonderful. She owned her own business and mostly worked at night so she could be home with us during the day. Wow...that sounds bad...no, she didn't work the streets! I never, ever heard my parents argue or fight. I KNOW they did...but they never let us hear it. She's offered grace time and time again to each of us, which, not being a parent, is hard to wrap my mind around. She's not perfect, and one of the things I love most about her is watching grow in her open-mindedness as she gets older. She's learned to accept things as they come and knows she can't change everything...or everyone! She's a 'fixer' and I am just like her. She wants everyone around her to be happy, to be OK...even if it's to the detriment of her own well being. I'm learning in my own life...even as she learns in hers, that we can't possibly do that! She's a wonderful mother in law...yes, I speak for Trey. :) She doesn't butt in, and while she'll give me her opinion, she steps back and lets us live our life. And she ALMOST never mentions grandchildren. My parents are ALMOST empty nesters, and are still really young to have already shoved us all out of the house, and it's fun watching my mom and dad enjoy life, and enjoy eachother. Yesterday was my mom's birthday...the big 5-0...and she and my dad pulled up to my grandparent's on their motorcycle...something I would NEVER have pictured when I was younger...and it was so beautiful to me...and I am so thankful for my motorcycle riding momma!

I hope that I can bring joy and inspiration to the lives of those around me, just like the other women of my family. Whether it's shopping, playing cards, making a scrapbook, or raising my family...I have to look no further than these beautiful ladies!

She wore an....

itsy, bitsy, teeny, weenie black and white polka dot pair of Steve Maddens.

These are one of those pair that I will never, ever get rid of. I remember being at Stonebriar Mall, walking past the window of the Steve Madden store, backing up, and gazing through the window at these. My shopping partner said, "Those couldn't BE more Kate." And I agreed. There's something about these shoes that takes me back to the 40's when every little detail was important. I can just picture wearing these with a short black formal with pompadour hair and siren red lipstick. I love wearing them with dark jeans....where just the toe and a hint of red heel peeks out. I hope that one day, if I have a daughter, these will be the shoes she looks at and says, "My mom must have had lots of fun!"

Gold Dust Woman

Here's some Fleetwood Mac to kick off Tuesday morning...and to go with my gold gladiator sandals from Old Navy. I'm telling you...Old Navy is stepping up to the plate with cute shoes!

Rock on- gold dust woman

Take your silver spoon

And dig your grave

Heartless challenge

Pick your path and Ill pray

Wake up in the morning

See your sunrise- loves- to go down

Lousy lovers- pick their prey

But they never cry out loud

Did she make you cry

Make you break down

Shatter your illusions of love

Is it over now- do you know how

Pick up the pieces and go home.

Rock on- ancient woman

Follow those who pale

In your shadow

Rulers make bad lovers

You better put your kingdom up for sale

Did she make you cry

Make you break down

Shatter your illusions of love

Is it over now- do you know how

Pickup the pieces and go home

The Monday Blues

We got home from the lake house last night about 10:00, at which point I was already completely passed out due to the Nyquil Trey made me take on the way home after I said, "I'm dyyyinggg" about 300 times because of my allergies. Needless to say, the last thing I wanted to do this morning was get up, get dressed, put on heels and come to work. But, because I am a trooper, I did. And I'm wearing my turquoise patent heels that I got from Buffalo Exchange, the best glorified thrift store ever! They were brand new and they're Michael Antonio, who I've recently discovered makes the most wonderful inexpensive fancy shoes! I feel better already...with these on my feet!

It's easy being green...

I got these super cute green patent flops in Shreveport while shopping with Carrie. They were on clearance at this cute little boutique for $3.00 or something ridiculously cheap like that. They're the classic story of..."I have nothing to wear with these, but they're $3.00..." and now I wear them with everything!

Ahhhh....

After the Payless debaucle yesterday, I slipped my brown Reefs on for the trip to our lake house. Muuuuch better. Then, to play games, I donned my trusty Uggs, really just to get a picture of them because it's getting too hot to wear them.

Shades of Brown

Duke and Slater are all like, "What the crap are you doing?" I love this!! And I ask myself the same question, because there is no way I'm making it through the day at work with these on my feet. There's something to be said for the cuteness Payless offers at seriously low prices, but 8 hours later...your feet start screaming..."Why are you so cheap??"

Little Black Dress?

Forget that...I go for the little black shoe. I got these beauties at Bakers when Summer and I were hunting for the perfect girls night out on the town outfit. I wore them first with this fabulous green and black dress which there are no pictures of...we agreed no pics in order to get more life out of our dresses...because if there's no picture proof...it's like you never wore it. :) I'm headed to see Brian Regan, my favorite comedian tonight with the fam...so I killed two birds with one stone...or two shoes with one day??

And so it begins...

These are some of my favorite shoes ever. I wear them with jeans, sundresses, sweats, whatever. The picture does not do justice to how nasty they look...they're stained red from kool aid dropped by my sweet little cousin, a little brown from being worn to the lake a few too many times, but they're perfectly broken in and I couldn't love them more. They came from The Gap, because The Gap got cool and decided to start carrying Chuch Taylors. I bought them the same time I bought Trey's brown ones, which he also wore all the time, until Slater, the bottomless pit (pun intended :) ) ate one. Now the one that's left sits forlornly in the closet while I continue to enjoy mine.

A journey in footwear

In light of yesterday's blog...my brother in the framily Chris proposed a challenge. To wear every pair of shoes I own in succession, without repeating. And, I accept. So, to record this journey, I'll post a picture of my shoes every day until I've exhausted them all. I'll be excluding boots, because really? You just don't wear suede boots in April in Texas. That can be a challenge for this fall. I'll also, not that anyone cares but me, include where and when I got them...because pathetically...I remember things like that. Maybe not on all of them...but most. Who knows, I might even throw some quotes in, and some songs about shoes.

Today the challenge begins with the new gold shoes whose picture is already posted.

I'll kick it off with a quote...
"Stiletto, I look at it more as an attitude as opposed to a high-heeled shoe." ~Lita Ford

Bewitched

I think, with all seriousness, that Michael Kors has done something to bewitch me. I cannot walk into that store without leaving with something. His design style is classic and chic...and the store at Northpark has the most amazing sales known to man. Boots once thought out of my price range are made attainable at the end of the season. I'll never forget walking into the Dillards in Shreveport and seeing the racks of clearance boots, and spotting the unmistakable Michael by Michael Kors box. Could it be? The boots I already owned in brown, now made available in grey? Grey suede scrunchie boots, oh how I love you. The first pair I greedily grabbed off the shelf just happened to be a 1/2 size too big...but for $42.50...who cares?? I did not let that box out of my grip while I searched for another pair for my shopping partner Carrie. We found one other pair in all of the store, only a size too big...I told Carrie, "Wear thick socks. Buy the boots. You have no choice." They're beautiful...but I digress...

I was at the mall last night, having dinner and drinks with some of my favorite girls when Michelle happened to say, "Michael Kors has the best sale on some of their shoes." My ears perked up while at the same time my mind raced..."do not even think about going in there Katy," said the good, frugal, budget savvy angel on the left shoulder while the shoe loving, designer addicted she-devil on the right whispered, "Just go look...it can't hurt to look..."

I leave the girls and have a genuine errand to run...I need to hit La Occitane to buy a bundle of lavender, and in order to get there...I have to pass...yes, Michael Kors. My feet, on their own will, head into the store where the first thing I see is a 70% off sign above an entire shelf of shoes. And not winter shoes, we're talking cute, summer, wear now shoes. I begin planning outfits around the shoes I'm seeing. I'm still not convinced until the sales girl (who I'm pretty sure said, "Hi Katy" when I walked in) says "Most of those are either $25 or $35 with the sale." "Are you serious?" I asked in genuine astonishment. "Serious," she said with a smile. Much to my chagrin, and Trey's relief, they only had a couple of pairs left in my size. I left with the cutest pair of gold and silver heels...see picture for reference.

I was feeling a tad guilty since every time I buy a new pair of shoes, which is often, I promise myself I won't buy another pair until I clean out my closet, or start wearing everything I own. But I've realized something. I'm on a quest...a quest for the perfect sole mate. I can't fight it. And while Michael Kors is providing me the oppurtunity to search for this mate at very large discount prices, who am I to deny myself that pleasure? I took comfort in Carrie's words..."You're excused because, for that price, it would be a crime to NOT buy them."

I've owned alot of shoes in my life. I love Reef flip flops, low top Chuck Taylors, Jessica Simpson heels, Sperry Top Siders, ballet slippers of any color and style, and over the top heels from the $4.99 shoe store. I'll shop at Nordstrom, Payless, Barneys, or Target. I just LOVE shoes. I feel that one day, I'll find a pair that screams...."I am SO you!" And I'll probably buy one in every color. So to all of you out there on the hunt for your own sole mate, be it Converse, Jimmy Choo, Puma, Christian Loboutin, or Nike...keep searching. That perfect pair is out there somewhere...waiting for your feet to say, "Ahhhh, feels like home."

A few of my favorite things...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

These are the lyrics that were running through my head this morning at 3:45 am while the house shook from the thunder and the room looked like day. I was sleeping soundly, as I usually do during a thunderstorm when all of a sudden I was awakened by a combined 130 pounds of crying, shaking, hyperventilating dog. As it turns out, our dogs are terrified of thunderstorms. I'm not sure if this is a newly onset fear, because I don't remember ever being jolted out of sleep quite like this...and I'm pretty sure that in the 3 years we've had our dogs there have been thunderstorms. Now, Duke...not so much a problem. As a beagle, he can curl up quite small at the end of the bed and not cause any problems. He's also apparently the braver of the two. After the initial jump to the bed...he was A-OK. Slater, on the other hand...kept me up all night. Much to Trey's chagrin, I told Slater he could stay..."he's shaking..." I told him. "Oh, I can feel him," he replied. But with every crash of thunder, he leapt up, and then had to find a new position. 2 grown people, a beagle, and a pitbull in a queen bed do not a night of sound sleep make. I finally shoved him off the bed, only to have him stand with his nose on the bed, still crying. Hence, the singing to myself at 4:00 in the morning. If I were to write a chorus to that song it might go something like this...and I'm not a songwriter by any means AND this is the musings of an incoherent girl at 4 in the morning...

Fresh fruits and veggies from the Farmers Market

running through dew on a warm summer morning

getting mail from the framily...tied up with string...

these are a few of my favorite things...

That's as far as I got last night...I might add more later...maybe everyone else can add to it. :)

Or maybe we can admit that I should never try to change lyrics of famous songs, especially in the dead of night and never mention this again.

getting to knooww you...

So I got these questions off of Chickbug's blog...which I just recently tuned into and love. :)

1- what time did you wake up this morning? 6:45
2- did you watch tv last night? if so, what? American Idol, "No Country for Old Men"
3- what is one thing you are looking forward to in the next month? getting on a boat, The Byron Nelson!!
4- what is your favorite dessert? Green Stuff
5- three websites you read everyday? www.whowhatweardaily.com, www.aol.com, www.dailycandy.com (yeah, I'm apparently THAT shallow)
6- which do you like most: breakfast, lunch or dinner? breakfast, fo shooo
7- if you could go anywhere in the world, it would be....EVERYWHERE
8- favorite day of the year? February 3rd
9- why do you read blogs? to laugh, and to see what other people out there are up to...
10- one thing you want to accomplish in the next year? to do a triathalon, and feel great in my skin!

'Nilla Milk with Tia

Does anyone know what to do with a 4 year old boy? I hope so, because I sure don't...but I'm about to inherit one for a short time. My sweet nephew, whom I adore beyond all reason will be staying with my husband and I for awhile...and while he's stayed with us before...it's pretty much been for one night, and I've gotten to play the cool aunt role. We hit Starbucks together about once a week...Ev gets Organic 'Nilla Milk and Tia (me) has her caramel macchiato. We've been to the zoo, parks, fed the ducks at White Rock, and even Wild About Harry's. The kid's a Dallasite through and through. I LOVE dressing the kid, and taking him to fun places, but raising him? Yeah...news flash....I have NO maternal instincts as of yet...hence the reason Trey and I have not pro-created. We fly by the seat of our pants, to the gym, to dinner, to soccer games, bible study...we love being on the go. Apparently, as people who have children have told me, that's all about to stop. Or...at the very least, slow down a little. I've never shied away from saying that I'm not even sure I WANT to have kids of my own...and if we do...we'll most likely adopt, Brangelina style. But I look into that sweet little boys face and long for him to have a stable home, a home where he knows what time he'll go to bed, where he knows the food he'll eat is good for his body, I long for him to be in church, learning what life might be all about. And so, if it takes a bit of sacrifice on my part to, even for a time, give him what I think it is that all kids need...who am I to shun that oppurtunity? I ask for prayer, and for ideas? Anyone? Beuhler? I am so thankful for the friends I have that have already said, "We'll do anything you need." And while I don't normally call on favors, I am so about to!