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You Can Quote Me On That!

Everything you need to know in life can be learned from a Pinterest Quote.  Okay, maybe not, but I do love that just when I need to hear (or see it, as the case may be) Pinterest seems to know.  This kind of Big Brother I can live with.

Here are a few of my favorites…

“Everything Happens for a Reason, and Everything Happens for the Best.”

As an adult my mother has said this to me repeatedly,  I feel like this has been a general family motto.  It’s often hard to swallow, especially when you are in the thick of what’s happening. And, it kinda makes you want to punch every friend who says this to you in the face, when you are in the happening.  But when you find yourself on the other side looking back, I’ll be damned if it’s not always correct.

“Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys”

This has been the hardest lesson to learn.  When I get involved in a project, in any aspect of my life, I get deeply in the weeds. I can’t help it. I dive into the deep end, I’m not a wade into the shallow end first kinda girl.  I used to believe that being involved meant being involved in everything, caring about every aspect, listening to every gripe, until I realized it was dragging me down, and turning me into a version of myself that I didn’t really like.   I’m still not a zen master, but I’ll be damned if I let those monkeys get the best of me.

“Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe.”

Admittedly, this quote is a bit more hippy dippy than the impression most people get when they first meet me, but I believe this whole-heartedly.   And my tribe is the raddest, weirdest, most ridiculous group of humans ever assembled. Seriously, don’t know where I’d be without them. If I thanked them all by name, this blog post might never end, but I’m confident they know who they are.  

“You’ve Always Had the Power My Dear, You Just Had to Learn it for Yourself.” – The Wizard of Oz

Because Glinda knows all, and apparently has a really bomb shoe collection!

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Call me Imelda!

Seventy.  I own seventy pairs of shoes… and I don’t see a damn thing wrong with that.  I have always loved shoes. Frankly, 70 pairs is probably the least pairs of shoes I’ve owned since the time I was able to pick out my own shoes.  

I Love SHOES.  All kinds. All colors.  All price ranges.

Shoes are beautiful.  They are art. They are magic.  Hell, they are practically unicorns for your feet.

When my pants don’t fit – my shoes still fit.

When I’m not loving an outfit – my shoes can take it up to 11.

When I’m not feeling well – my shoes comfort me.  Well, my slippers, but you get the point.

Some people have power suits… I’ve got power shoes.  I stand a little taller, walk a little sassier and kick a little higher.  Good luck to the person that decides to cross me when I’m wearing my power shoes! (And no, I’m not going to reveal which pair that is!)

My alter ego lives in black dresses on red carpets – my shoes still live somewhere over the rainbow!  Those yellow Calvin Klein’s with the bow! Ooooh… and those teal, tie-up Seychelles!

I fully admit… I judge people based on their shoes.  I judge and I’m comfortable with it. There’s a big difference between “I wear ugly shoes and I don’t care” and “I hate it but I need to wear these ugly shoes.”  Its real.

Once, I decided not to move in with a guy (just a roommate) because I had serious questions about his shoes.

I’ve definitely said “No, thanks” to more than a few guys at the bar because of sub-par footwear.  

While money can buy you some really, REALLY nice shoes, I don’t believe that the magic a shoe possesses can be equated to its price.  I mean, sure, I don’t own a pair of Manolos (yet!) but I’ve paid more than my fair share to the shoe gods and still gotten blisters. And, by the same account, I’ve bought some “house favorites” at Target, and they have provided more memories than I can count.

I’m an equal opportunity shoe lover!

And, let’s be real…  if some guy legitimately walked up to me in a bar and opened with “Nice shoes, wanna fuck?”  Let’s be clear… I’d think about it. What shoes am I wearing right now? How good is his taste? How ironic do I think he’s being?

Ciao!
Tarrah

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Angela Loves Shoes

Angela Loves Shoes

I love shoes as much as Ron Burgundy loves Scotch.  My love of shoes started early.  The bolder, the better.  My sister had a pair of patent leather, red clogs in the late 70’s, which I inherited in the early 80’s.  Don’t they sound amazing?!  I wore them every chance I got.

There’s a picture of me and my cousins from 1980.  We had just returned from a week of camping and after everyone had showered and gotten ready, we were all going to Pizza Hut for dinner.  There are all the kids in tank tops, shorts and tennis shoes.  Then there’s me, in a pink dress with red flowers on it, socks up to my knees, and my red clogs.

Things didn’t change into adulthood.  In college during the 90’s I was a devout Mary Jane, Doc Martin, and high heeled, lug soled loafer wearer.  I still love a good Mary Jane.  I even had a hideous pair of shiny, red platform stripper heels that looked better suited for Pamela Anderson than me.  I owned them because they reminded me of my red clogs.  And I hate to say it, but I actually wore them on several occasions.  Hey, I lived in Las Vegas.

Recently, I have used shoes as retail therapy.  I went through a rough two years with a separation and a divorce, then a move to another state.  Hideous, shiny and red are no longer on the wish list.  My taste has changed and my shoes can be expensive.

I typically buy them from consignment or ebay and most of them I resell after a year or so.  In two years, I acquired a pair of espadrilles purchased on vacation in Hawaii at a TJ Maxx when I realized my marriage may be past the point of saving.  From there, I bought a brand-new pair of Diane Von Furstenberg tall, black, high heeled boots.  They’re hard to walk in, but they’re gorgeous, and what cost fashion?

Then, I needed to counter those with a tall brown, leather, high heeled Ugg boot that I LOVE because they remind me of the 70’s.  Easy to walk in and oh so comfortable with the shearling lined toe bed.  Next, a pair of Gucci slides which reminded me of Miami in the 1980’s because, why not?!

Stuart Weitzman wedges ala Duchess Kate, a pair of Lanvin block heeled sandals just like a pair my mom had in the 70’s.  Another block heeled sandal by Charles Jourdan because they reminded me of Studio 54, and a purple, lizard, strappy Yves Saint Laurent platform sandal because they reminded me of a classier version of the shiny, red platform.  Finally, a pair of simple black Prada pumps.  And just because flats should be represented, a pair of Loeffler Randall burgundy, suede, ankle tied flats.

Angela Loves Shoes

There are probably six more pairs, but I’ve already sold them.  As you can tell, I’m pretty nostalgic, and I like shoes that remind me of the things I love.   But, I’m also looking to the future.

All this for the amazing, tall boyfriend I’m going to get and the fabulous fucking life I’m going to lead 😉 Dream big, friends, dream big.  And love shoes, because they make you happy.