2012: Tying Up Loose Ends

I think at the end of every year, a lot of people, if not all, take a moment to look back and take stock of what happened, what they learned, what they want to change, and hopefully, their blessings. I am one of those people. This was my 2012.

Family. Though they're already 1, I watched my baby cousins, Maddy and Logan, continue to grow, learn, and get more adorable by the day, possibly minute. We haven't had a baby in the family for about 18 years and the addition of these two awesome blessings have almost rejuvenated our family. It's not like we were in shambles, but as everyone gets older, we move further down our paths and life gets busy but somehow, Maddy and Logan have been magnets, pulling everyone back together again. I believe it's reminded us how awesome our family is and how much support is available at all times. Sure, we're crazy but whose family isn't? What it comes down to is that there is love and a whole new crop is on the horizon and it's pretty amazing to watch. (Side Note: While babies are the cutest things ever, childbirth and childrearing are still two of THE most terrifying things. Ever.)

Friends. Relationships take effort. Friendships take effort. You have to make the effort. Period. Oh, and I'm not talking about writing on people's Facebook walls or 'liking' their photos. I'm talking about a real, bonafide effort to show up and to nurture that relationship. I know I can say with each year that passes, I'm more and more thankful for my friends. I've been amazed at the support and love that has been shared over the past year and I was a part of it. I was lucky enough to be in their lives and they in mine. Friends are the family you can choose, so why not take advantage? I hope all my friends know how much I love each and every one of them, because I do.

Career. Let's be honest, we all have dreams of being something other than what we are currently doing, and in time, those dreams might come true or they may morph into something else. I will fully admit I have big dreams that don't involve being a marketing coordinator, but I also know I am very lucky to be where I am and fortunate that I work in a healthy environment. Maybe 2013 will bring new paths. Who knows? I do know that my dreams won't stop and goals will continue to be set and (hopefully!) met.    

Love. Well, I haven't found 'the one' just yet and quite frankly, it's frustrating at times. Not for the reasons you might think. Not because I want to plan a wedding, pick out china, wear a pretty white dress, or have a baby. No, those are not the reasons at all. Frustrating because it's fun to share your life with someone who wants to share theirs with you and to me, that doesn't seem like a tall order. Also frustrating because I see bozos all the time that find each other and it's a travesty. I mean like Grade A bozos who treat each other poorly. Ugh, so sad. And for me, as I've gotten older and more mature, what I really want and what's really important is becoming clear and simple. I'm not looking for a husband. I'm looking for a partner in crime, a teammate, a best friend. A person who gets me, can make me laugh, and has a good heart...oh, and if I'm putting a wish list together: cute, good kisser, and loves dogs. Not too much to ask and if he becomes my husband some day, that's a bonus. There have been some good ones, but still looking for that special someone going into this new year. Here's to lucky number 13!

Fun. There has been NO lack of this in 2012. This is yet another reason why it's good to have good people around, they make life SO much fun! If I had a better memory I'd start listing all the hilarities, but I can barely remember what I did yesterday, and I'm not even lying. Now what was I talking about? Oh yes, fun! I've seen some great concerts, been on some fantastic trips, laughed my ass off on the regular, and have made some great memories (Thanks to social media and camera phones, I don't have to remember them all). I can't wait for next year. What's so great about fun is that it's free and it's around us all the time. You just have to be fun enough to spot it.

2012

You were good, you were fun

I've collected my memories and am still on the run

Another year older and another year wiser

No rest for the weary, no time to be tired.

You brought the laughs, you brought the tears

We've all had our share over the years

I look forward to more and wish for good cheer

To my friends and my family, I love you another year.

Love and shoes,

Kimberly

From Songbird to Jailbird

Fiona Apple was arrested in the Texas border town of Sierra Blanca on Wednesday night for possession of marijuana. You know what else they should have arrested her for?

THAT SHIRT!

While the ill-fitting, straight jacket-esque, horizontal black and white stripe shirt is appropriate for a prison visit, it's not okay in real life. I guess it's all gone downhill since her Lilith Fair days in the 90s. 

Hey Fiona, wake up, drink a milkshake, and get a mirror.

Love and shoes,
Kim

*Public Service Announcement*

I'm sure most of you have seen these heinous things, but I have to share my disdain for such a travesty in fear some women out there might not know what to do when faced with such fashion vomit. First line of defense: run. run away quickly. Second line: scream and beat them senselessly.

Not only are these horrendously unflattering on everyone (toddlers excluded) they don't even have their own department. I found these in the accessories section of Dillard's with the belts and scarves. Pants are not an accessory but even the department stores don't know what to do with these dreadful things.

Ladies, if you know what's good for you and the good of the public, please, please, PUH-LEASE stay away from these leggings of evilness. There are so many other options for colorful bottoms. We don't need to be traipsing around looking like clowns stuffed in ribbed sausage casing.

This concludes my public service announcement. As you were.

Love and shoes,
Kim:-)

On a more personal note

All of my blogs have been about fashion, but this time, I felt the need to get a little more personal. I enjoy writing and it's not always about shoes, so I figured, this is my blog and I can post any random nugget that comes to mind. Am I right? Besides, everyone could use a little inspiration every now and then. It's a little long but I hope you enjoy:-)

Love and Shoes,
Kim

A Letter to My Younger Self

Hey Miss Priss, yeah you, the one with all the sass. I'm you, 15 years from now, here to give you some advice so listen up and listen good.

You'll stress about fitting in the right crowd and the right pant size. There is no 'right' crowd and pants will never fit you the way you want them too, but you'll be just fine. That's why dresses were created, and lucky for us, they never go out of style!

You'll wonder is my hair straight enough? Are my shoes cool enough? Do I have the right friends? Will I get married?

You're hair is curly, always will be, and older women will tell you to appreciate it till the day you die, which will piss you off because you clearly know more than they do, right? Wrong. The invention of the hair straightener will change your life until you realize you live in Houston and will battle frizz no matter how much product you shellac on there. Deal with it. People are dying of Cancer. You can deal with curls.

Never worry about your shoes. You will have a shoe room that people will make fun of but really envy, you'll have the keen sense of knowing a shoe can make an outfit, and will develop a reputation for having fabulous shoes. You will choose a cute wedge over a flat any day of the week knowing it's not good for your sawdust knees but, damn it, it makes your legs look longer, and in the end, that's all that matters.

Your friends are the great loves of your life. Women that get you, appreciate you, and will back up any crazy idea you can ever dream up. Keep them close to your heart and never let those friendships go. They will become women you admire and lean on for the rest of your life and are completely and utterly irreplaceable. You always make time for friends.

As for marriage, hell if I know! We're 32 now and we've had quite the ride. You win some, you lose some, and you date some real ass clowns that could be contenders for Douche bag of the Year. You're going to get your heart broken into a million pieces, hate them for doing it, blame yourself, compare yourself to the new whores, I mean, girls, and then hate them all over again. But guess what? You'll live. You'll date. You'll love. All I can say is that you've got some great stories for your memoir, should you ever choose to write one. It's a concrete jungle out there and you are quite the lioness, just don't show your fangs all the time. There are some good ones out there.

You're body image will never be what it should be: 100% positive. Appreciate what you have and how you look at every moment, because with each year, or minute, that passes by, it gets that much harder to lose weight; to fit into trendy clothes; and to get your ass dressed in the first outfit you choose, which will NEVER happen, so figure out when you should start getting ready and back it up about 15 minutes. You'll complain that your weight is a byproduct of a faulty thyroid, when in reality, it's the food that goes down your throat. One day you'll be taking shots in your Forever 21 top that could double as an ice skaters costume and before you know it, you'll be having a conversation with your friend about how you prefer a mid-rise cut over a low-rise jean. WTF!?! My thoughts exactly. But it happens in the blink of an eye. Just remind yourself that you are beautiful, and no matter what the mirror tells you or what you think in your head, you are NOT a heifer that should just wear a pillow case with a belt.

You're going to worry about money, savings, 401Ks and salary and then you're going to go out and buy a car, one of the worst investments you could ever make, but you love it, and the fact that you couldn't unlock your driver-side door was reason enough to go into debt. You're going to wonder about your jobs, if you should follow your passion, and where life is going to take you. Don't be afraid of the fear because it will paralyze you. Hold on to what you love and keep that in your sight. You will be scared to make big moves, but if you are ever going to find your happiness, you're going to have to let go of your security blanket. Take the leap.

You're going to think your family, immediate and extended, is crazy, and they are, but they are also the people who will mold you, teach you, love you, and provide you with some of the best material for jokes and impersonations to last you a lifetime. Your mom and dad will do anything for you and will love you more than anyone in the whole wide world, no matter what you do, so never take that for granted. They gave you life! Your sister will be your best friend, the person that can make you laugh the hardest, and will always be there for the ups, downs, and everything in between. She might be 4.5 years younger, but she'll turn out to be one of the biggest inspirations in your life.

So, now that I've delivered a few tough pills to swallow, let me spell out the moral of this story. Life is confusing and tangled but it's also beautiful and amazing. There will be days when you feel like you are on top of the world and then there will be days where you could just give up. You will feel accomplished and left behind all in one week. You'll feel ugly and pretty all in the same hour! But let me be clear, you are who you are, there is no one like you, you are loved, and that is enough. You are enough. Cheers!

P.S. You love dogs more than shoes. Shocking, I know!

DSW Rewards Card: It's Worth It!

Hey Fashionistas!

As we all know, shoes are fabulous, and shoes at a reduced price with coupons are even more fabulous. I'm SURE you have all been to DSW before and have been asked to be a part of their rewards program. If you haven't signed on, I suggest you get with the times. I've been a member for quite some time and have graduated to being a Platinum Member, naturally;-)

Truth: you sorta feel like a celebrity when you go to check out and they say "Hi Ms. Russell. Congratulations on being a Platinum Rewards Member." hehe!

But what does all this mean, you ask? Well, if you love shoes, this points program is the bomb dot com. With every dollar you spend you get so many points and rack up those awesome coupons that much faster. I recieved a $30 off entire purchase coupon the other day (it's already been spent) and those are RARE, my friends. You can also keep track of your points online and use them with any online purchases you make. It's so easy and convenient. They even offer a cute little key chain card so the savings are never far away.

This might be old news for you, but for those of you that are new to the game, stick with me, kid. Get the card and keep the addiction alive at an even cheaper price!

Just FYI: I got 4 pairs of shoes for $140 because I had two coupons as a reward for all the hardwork I've put into my shoe collection:-)

Shop on and save big!

Love and shoes,
Kim

New York State of Mind

I recently took a vacation and visited my cousins, Jenny B and Johnny B, in New York City and had a blast! This wasn't my first time but it was definitely a first in regards to the feeling I had while I was visiting. I went by myself, a little older, a little wiser, and knowing a little bit more about who I am. I was able to have more of an open mind and really take in what the Big Apple has to offer its own and visitors alike.

Now being more in tune with my love of fashion I was able to absorb the intricacies of the city and people. New York is a place where you can truly be you, wear what you want, and nobody will give you a second glance, unless they want to ask where you got that fabulous scarf or John Lennon-esque platform shoes;-) Sure you can dress however you want no matter where you live. This is America after all. But let's face it, some cities are a bit more accepting when it comes to risky fashion statements.

Block after block, borough after borough, I saw men and women strutting their best (and worst) without a care in the world. It was refreshing and inspiring. We went to Brooklyn one day, land of the hipsters, and even though I'm not a hipster, I was welcomed with open arms.

See, that's just it. Everyone has a place, a spot, a home, a runway, and you are free to WURQ in whatever fits your fancy.

 

 

 

I heart you and thank you, New York. You are the Apple of my eye:-)

Love and shoes,

Kim

A Nice Touch

Things have been so busy, which is a lame excuse, but nothing has really gotten me excited to hit the keys again. But today...today I was FINALLY moved to blog again. I had forgotten about an order I placed with one of my favorite jewelry makers, Elva Fields (www.elvafields.com), and to my surprise, the box arrived today. It's always a pleasant surprise b/c they truly care about presentation and their customers. I love how they weave their attention to detail from their necklaces all the way down to their packaging. We've all said "it's the little things that matter." Well, let me tell you that is SO true. I opened the box looking for their signature lime green tissue paper with monogrammed brown and white sticker but what I found was this:

Just a simple card. Nothing written on it except the beautiful message you see above. What's so wonderful is that this company knows the type of women that buy their jewelry. They don't know what kind of day she's had, what she does for a living, how many kids she has, if she's rich or struggling, but what they are sure of is that when they open an Elva Fields box, they'll feel like a million bucks even before they put on their baubles, which is exactly what I did for me. I paused for a second, smiled, and immediately posted the card on my refrigerator. This is the type of 'little thing' that makes me a loyal customer. I'm even heading to New York this weekend and am checking out the store C Wonder b/c they carry this line and all the pieces are under $200. Love!!! 

So, you're wondering what I bought? Well, here she is...

I can't wait to pair it with a dress or simple tank. What's also so great is you can flip it around and the clasp becomes the focal point. Fabulous, dahling!

Love and shoes,
Kim

Rainbow Inspiration

I tell ya'. The stores are getting mighty clever with their marketing tactics these days. Drawing people in with a provocative window photo; huge, obnoxious, yet enticing, SALE signs; and perfectly styled outfits for those people who buy off the mannequin. Recently, I became victim these marketing techniques. Victim only because it affected MY bank account.

However, I was drawn in because of their stark white pallet and bright colored clothing. The colors reminded me of summer and you know I love me some summer. If you've been to New York and Company recently, or have even walked by, you know what I'm talking about. Vibrant yellows, happy greens, and kicky magentas just begging to be taken to the fitting room for a chance a finding a home in your closet. Well, it worked, and it worked three times!

The first time was with one of my best friends in San Antonio. I was helping her freshen up her wardrobe because she felt her collection was a bit tired and old and needed to spice it up a bit. We were at La Canterra, the local outdoor mall, strolling along when the NY&Co. window drew me in and it drew me in fast. I made my moves by pulling items while Meg entertained her son Connor on the playground out front. A clothing store is no place for a kid when I'm on a fashion mission. Give me a few minutes and he'd be my assistant holding tops and scarves. A sight I'm sure his father wouldn't find amusing. We had a successful trip and she got some great items that she can mix and match with her 'old' and new wardrobe. I even got her to buy a blue polka dot shirt that she was very hesitant about. VERY HESITANT (it looked ADORBS on her). I haven't heard if she actually kept it or not. Note to self: Investigate location of said polka dot shirt.

Regardless, she looks great and now owns some punchy colors to jazz up her work day and weekend wardrobes. I've since received several texts about her making additional purchases. She was bit by the fashion bug and I couldn't be more proud.

The second time I was left to my own devices at the Houston Galleria. I wanted to find some work pants because I felt my rotation was getting a little ragged. I remembered how the clothes fit Meg and thought it might be a good starting point. Oh, it was a good starting point AND ending point. The fashion gods were smiling down on me because not only was I successful in the fitting room, I was successful at the register too! Well, I guess that's relative. Get this: they were having a sale where you buy one item and the second is 50% off!! So any fashion savvy gal would have done what I did and cash in on this deal. It felt like a clothes buffet! I pulled yellow shirts, hot pink cardigans, green skinny jeans, bright red cigarette pants, and floral dresses. The brighter the better. I left with a sack full of fun. I was in a rush so I knew I would have to reassess the sitch when I got home to make sure I was 100% happy with my purchases. The only item I decided had to be returned was the red pants, and that's only because I liked the green better:-)

This takes us to the third visit to NY&Co. While it was supposed to be a simple return, it never ends up that way. This is when I need to invest in blinders.

Why can I not walk into a store, complete my return, and walk out? Why? Why?!?! The simple answer is because I'm a woman. The complicated answer is also because I'm a woman. No need to expand. This time I decided to hit up Memorial City for a 'quicker' trip. I walked in and of course I was sidetracked by stuff I hadn't seen at the other store. DAMN! I filled my arms with loot and hit the fitting room. I ended up exchanging the pants for a white silky shirt that will get a lot of use. However, now my problem was that I found some eggplant skinny jeans I really liked and a pair of dark wash boot cut jeans that actually fit. I didn't know what to do! Any girl knows when you are faced with this predicament the only thing you can do is BUY THEM BOTH! I mean, when the hell will this happen again?!? But I was trying to be a good girl so I took my shirt to exchange but held on to the jeans just in case I had a weak moment or a miracle happened...which it did. Just as soon as I walked out of the dressing room I saw the sign out of nowhere and it read: 'buy one pair of pants or jeans and get a second for FREE.' Done.

So, now I've got my arsenal of color, ready to face the world. My advice to all the fashionistas out there: if you're feeling blue and want a little pick-me-up, go out and get yourself a little rainbow to brighten your world and the world around you...just be careful for those tricky marketing tactics;-)

Love and shoes,

Kim



Fashion Citation for Moi!

Just a quick, funny story for ya' today. I helped my sister with her lifting competition this weekend. We all met up at 7:15 so I didn't really pay too much attention to my wardrobe because A) it was freezing, and B) I knew most of the girls and thought I'd be out of there by the time regular classes started. Well, I was wrong. I admit, I looked like a hot mess with no makeup and odd clothing choices. I totally deserved the jokes. The best part is that I was razzed by three different people...and they were all dudes! My sister's boyfriend even wanted to take a picture to document my poor choices and upload it to the internet. I beat him to it. I bring you my 'Mug Shot':

WANTED!

It may not seem so bad, but when you have a passion for fashion, it's a bit of a fail.

Lesson Learned: Get cuter, casual, warm clothing!

Love and shoes,
Kim

To Quote Mommy Dearest...

"No More Wire Hangers!!!" That statement sums up my Monday holiday activitiy of switching out my entire closet and hanging all my clothes on the same type of hanger. Some may say "what a complete waste of your time on a holiday!" and to those people I say, with furrowed brow: "what did you do!?! Watch tv for 12 straight hours or spend all day drinking at a bar only to regret your choices the next day at work when you are slammed with a gagillion emails and requests?" Sorry, I get a little testy when people question my organization tangents. I apologize. That wasn't very ladylike of me and there is nothing wrong with watching TV or enjoying some day drinking;-)

But really, Ladies. This is one of THE best things I've done in order to declutter my life. I was having difficulty seeing what the heck was going on in my closet and had actually forgotten about some really great items...and some not-so-great items too! My word! I even found a top from Forever 21 that I wore 8 years ago and believe you me, my taste is NOT the same as my bar hopping, clubbing, party days. Although, it gave me a good laugh when I put it on to revisit some good times on memory lane. I think it may have even had a few stains from all those buttery nipple shots we thought were "SO good!" Oh how I remember those days, well, nights, fondly.

Now that I'm...err...a little bit older and much wiser I've had to really get my act together when it comes to my wardrobe. First impressions are very important and you don't want to look disheveled because you don't know what's what in your closet. Well, in order to make sure I'm armed and ready, I have to be able to SEE and FIND what I need. My mom scored me some of those popular thin, felt hangers that you see everywhere right now. She got 35 for $9.99 at Costco. Can we say bargain? I started the hanger conversion when I realized this job is going to call for WAY more than 35 hangers. By my estimations, I needed over 120! So, we ran back to Costco and snagged 5 more boxes. Here is a comparison shot. The bottom row has been converted and the top row is still a hot mess.

And here is the completed shoebox-sized, yet organized, closet!

I had to sort the clothes by color, too. ROYGBV, baby!

P.S. Even after five boxes worth of hangers, I DO have a few hangers leftover;-)

It's 2012, fashionistas. Get your life, and closet, ready for another fabulously stylish year!

Love and shoes,
Kim