My Obsession with Shoes

I have a problem.  Shoes.  It doesn’t matter how many pairs of shoes I own, there is still a pair that I need.  OK… maybe not need.  There is always a pair that I want.  If I based my purchases of shoes on need then I wouldn’t have a problem now would I?

I truly did need a pair of black flats.  Every woman knows that this is a basic in every girl’s arsenal of shoes and my previous pair was acquired by a daughter.  No matter, because I really wasn’t crazy about the old ones and they hurt my feet.  The black flats I found are perfect.  Super cute.  Comfortable.  And fit like a glove.  On first glance you would think this was no problem.  I performed shopping like a man.   Know what I need.  Look for it.  Purchase it.  Done.  Not so.

In my efforts to explore the shoe world of black flats, I came across my problem.  More shoes!  It stands to reason that I would come across other shoes in my search for black flats.  I think the shoe stores set up like a grocery store.  You know how they put the milk in the far back of the store so you have to walk past everything else?  Well, black flats are in the back so you have to walk by all the boots, the pumps and the sneakers.  It’s a mine field for a shoe junkie.  Now I feel the need for a beautiful pair of gray boots, a pair of barefoot like sneakers, and some killer red pumps! 

You can clearly see that I do, in fact, have a problem… but it’s nothing my Christmas bonus won’t fix!

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for handmade shoes and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

The Gift of Cosmetic Dentistry

I was at a craft store the other day and a sweet looking young girl, probably in her 20's, was checking me out. She was very courteous and kind and was efficient at her job. She was not what most would call gorgeous, but a nice looking girl. I couldn't help bu wonder that despite all the pleasantries we were showing one another, she didn't really smile, She kind of did a half smile with her lips covering her teeth. It reminded my of the first smiles a teen does after getting braces. Our transaction continued and I said something that brought out a full smile which revealed her reluctance to smile. Her teeth were worn and rotted. I don't think there was single exposed tooth that did not have some kind of mark or decay. It broke my heart. We all know how incredibly expensive dental care is regardless if you have insurance or not. I've always wondered what I would do if I ever was rich. Would I be philanthropic and give to countless worthy charities? Would I buy homes for the homeless? Would I get caught up in buying hundreds of pairs of shoes? It's possible. But after seeing this sweet girl, I had a greater thought. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a moment like this where you could help a person right on the spot. Of course you would not want to offend, but in someway I would have loved to offer to take her to my dentist and get all the necessary work done first to make her comfortable, and then secondly, do any cosmetic dental work that would make her a million dollar smile.

The value of a smile is priceless. The confidence it brings is immeasurable. I don't have fantastically shaped teeth or all of the professionally whitening, but I have a decent smile and I love to smile! I can't imagine what it could do for a persons life to feel free to smile. Sure, there are other greater needs obviously like food and shelter, but to have the extra money to do a deed such as giving someone their smile sure seems pretty great.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for a franklindentist and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

A Flood of Online Marketing

I am grateful to work for such a kind and generous employer. He truly is one of the most giving and thoughtful men I know. Working for him and his company has and will always be one of the greatest blessings in my life. Despite the fact that he maintains all of these wonderful qualities throughout the year, every year, he still gives a Christmas bonus. I can honestly say that it is not necessary. Again, I am blessed beyond reason, but I will admit it is wonderfully fun.

I am very responsible with the vast majority of my bonus, but this time each year I will indulge and buy myself something I absolutely don't need. I buy the item I want, no matter how frivolous. It doesn't matter if I already have a pair of tennis shoes. If there is a really great pair that I just love, I get them. One year, I spent it on filet mignon and See's Chocolates... and it was fabulous! No guilt about spending the money when I could have easily gotten hamburger and a Kit Kat bar. This year I have had my eye on an e reader.

I have been searching the internet far and wide to compare and review The Nook, The Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers. I start to waiver sometimes and think well... maybe another pair of shoes but everytime I am on the internet whether I am checking my email, doing my work, looking up an address in MapQuest... there is The Kindle.  I am not kidding! My MSN homepage has The Kindle. My email sidebar has The Kindle. I am not a push over with advertising. Beer commercials are stupid and do not make me think beer will add to my happiness. A diet Coke commercial doesn't convince me that I am a stick of a model. And Cover Girl commercials do not blind me into thinking that I will be as flawless as Queen Latifah if I use their foundation. And television commercials are in my head for but a moment. But The Kindle is always there... always prompting... always reminding... and seriously making me want to just click on it and buy it! The Kindle has open the flood gates on online marketing!

I haven't caved yet, but I predict when I get my bonus and I turn on my computer to look at what I might want to spend my frivolous portion of it on... The Kindle will be all smiles and jumping up and down for me to buy it!

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for an internet
marketing company and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are
my own.

A Masterpiece

I have a daughter who loves art.  When she was just in elementary school, she entered every coloring contest we knew about.  And, in fact, she won many.  To her, it was never just coloring and staying within the lines.  She would make a dark outline with the color crayon she was going to use and then shade in the rest.  Her coloring book was truly beautiful.

She went into the Art IB Program in high school and positively thrived.  I know I’m her Mom, but she is blessed with an unbelievable talent.  She became the Sterling Scholar in Art.  She then went to Utah State to major in Fine Arts and then fell in love with Theatre Art.  She will graduate in May 2012 with a double major.  She even has a piece hanging at The Huntsman Cancer Hospital.

I give you this background so you may somewhat appreciate that I am not idling talking about a child’s school drawing, when I say that she has drawn a picture for me.  I have wanted a piece of art from her for quite some time and when I saw it, it brought tears to my eyes.  It is a drawing of the Savior’s hand reaching down, as if for me.  Those of you who know my health history will understand how deeply this artwork has touched me.  I want desperately to hang it, however, I have come upon the dilemma of framing this beautiful piece.

It certainly can not be put in a simple cookie cutter frame found in most discount stores.  I ventured out to have the piece custom framed, something I have never done before.  Without question, the custom frame was breathtaking.  It truly was perfection, until the price.  I am the queen of let’s make a deal, but there was no getting the price within reach even with my 50% off coupon.  I looked up framing online and I only saw more exquisite and more expensive custom frames.  It only opened my eyes further to what I could do to enhance the beauty of my daughter’s artwork.  Normally, I would never consider paying so much for a frame… but it’s my daughter’s.  I will begin my savings plan today so I can make this what it is… a masterpiece.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for custom framing NYC and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Mom Knows Best

My daughter and I went shopping yesterday and all I can say is that winter clothes are the best!  I love winter for many reasons… the crisp cold air… the holidays… the snow… baking… snuggling up in blankets.  But I think the thing I like most about winter is that the cold makes people dress in modest clothing.

Summer is awful when it comes to dressing modestly.  There are far too many people out there wearing things that they really have no business wearing.  The first thought that crosses my mind is where is your mother?  A mother has the responsibility to be honest with her children in saying that something is inappropriate.  I am certainly not from the 50’s Leave It To Beaver age where I am wearing a dress to clean the house, or white gloves to run to the store, but honestly is it too much to ask for a girl to wear a skirt or dress that covers her rear end… even when she has to pick up something off the floor?  There are shorts out there that look like underwear.  And men are just as bad.  Shorts slung down below a beer belly with the Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned?  It is certainly not an image I want imprinted in my brain.

But winter is full of warm corduroy pants, sweats, full and bulky sweaters, hats and gloves.  Everyone is covered up.  I am covered up.  And with the holidays and all the yummy baking and Christmas goodies there are no worries about any slight bump or bulge from gaining a few pounds because it is covered with my thick warm sweatshirt, or puffy down coat.  And there’s such variety!  In the summer it is camisole, camisole, camisole.  In winter it is, cardigan, sweatshirt, flannel shirt, cashmere, wool pants, and I could go on and on.

It’s comfortable and cozy, and those vital parts that Mom’s should teach their children to hide are covered.  

This makes winter clothes loveable. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was
compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Our Morning Juice

You know how there are those people who simply can not wake up in the morning without first having a cup of coffee?  And there are even people who can’t start their day without a soda.  Well, for me and my family, it is juice.  This became painfully apparent when I hosted Thanksgiving with all 14 of us staying in my small but cozy home.

In preparation for the week, naturally, I went grocery shopping.  I purchased 2 – 89 ounce orange juice, and 2 – gallon size apple juice.  The first couple of days, the juice slowly disappeared, but by the time all had arrived, I was buying juice almost daily!  Blurry eyed, with hair a mess, and bad breath, one by one, they would all stumble into the kitchen looking for the wake up call of juice.

We love juice.  So much so, that when we talked of “cutting back” we all knew we weren’t talking about cutting back on our juice consumption.  We were talking about cutting back on making so many dishes.  And it began.  The first person would make his/her way to the kitchen and take their glass of juice… but then leave the cup on the counter and without even thinking about it, the next person would pour their juice in the same cup.  And so it went… drink your juice and leave the cup.  The juice disappeared, but we had cut our dishes by more than half!  And, unfortunately, we all caught a cold.  I wonder how that happened with so much Vitamin C in our systems?

I am participating in a blogger campaign for Xango and their mangosteen juice by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Why Organic Meat?

When it comes to organic foods, I have always understood the theory behind eating organic produce.  If they spray chemicals on fruits and vegetables, then it makes sense that we might be exposed to those same chemicals if we don’t wash the produce properly.  And even then, it also stands to reason that some chemicals may not wash off completely.  But when it came to organic meat, I just didn’t get it.  I mean, they don’t spray a cow, and even if they did, what would it matter?  We don’t eat the skin of a cow.

Apparently, animals raised for natural beef are not fed antibiotics or growth hormones.  In fact, they are raised in a much healthier environment and fed with organic feed and nutrients.

In addition, animals raised for organic meat are treated in a more humane way.  They are not confined and spend time in the outdoors in the fresh air.

The manure produced by organically raised animals is used for farming.  Mass producing industrial farms produce so much manure that it can spill over and contaminate wells spreading diseases such as E. coli and other pathogens.

All in all, I can better understand the reasoning behind organic meat and I support it, however, I still prefer produce.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for an natural beef
company and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.