but I like these (all from Zappos)

It’s BOGO time, so the ladies got sandals!

Last night we had dinner out (sans the girl) with several couples, and then a small get-together with the adults and kids at a friend’s house. I was by far the most over dressed, but that is nothing new for me.

I tried out some dramatic smokey blue eyes:

 To go with a striped sweater dress and boots:

  and I enjoyed one of my favorite drinks:

As for New Year’s Resolutions, this year I am going to make them much more broad than I have in previous years, since tight ones never seem to be attainable anyways! I wish I had last year’s to go over, but they were on my now dead and gone first blog! Oh well, I do remember doing a tummy-roll was a goal of mine, and I’ve done that (who wants a video??). For 2008 I will:

1. Be more focused on my family.

2. Make healthy lifestyle choices.

3. Make positive changes with regards to my career.

4. Be kinder to the world and encourage others to do so as well. Starting here, with my blogger pal C.K..

Happy News Years Everyone!!!

So D and I hit the mall early today for some Boxing Day shopping. We had fun together, but there was really not much to buy. There were no spring/summer clothes on sale, and the winter stuff was very picked over and mostly stuff that had already been on sale for weeks. Also,  I don’t really need anymore winter clothes and have gained about 6lbs in the past few months (hello writer’s strike good-bye elliptical) and just don’t feel like trying on clothes until I feel better about myself again. There wasn’t even anything to buy for the girl, as she only wears dresses and there were tonnes of girl’s separates on sale, but only holiday dresses which she does not need. I looked for the man too, but all the nice men’s stuff was either super big or super small  (though I admit, I didn’t look too hard for him!).

I did score a pair of boots though. I decided I need flat(ish) boots as I have been wearing a lot of leggings and long sweaters/short sweater dresses this winter, and it looks sorta…um…trashy with high heel boots, and wrong with shoes. I avoided the dreaded hideous Uggs(yes M, I know they are comfy, but I just cannot do it! They belong in the Hell I normally reserve for Crocs) and scored these instead. Cute, eh:

I also have swollen, pus filled, scarred tonsils. I took a picture for ya’ll, but it is scary, so click here if you dare. I am feeling better though, the fever and sick feeling are almost gone, just another day or so of sore throat, and another 7 days of anti-biotics to contend with.

As for what I want. I WANT A Wii! NOW! I played it for the first time at my cousin’s house today, and let me just say, it is like crack. I would drop those 6lbs like nobodies business if just I had a Wii. As it is, I’ll just have to invite myself to my cousin’s house every day, until I score a Wii for myself. Cousins, listen here: Sorry, but I will not return the favour and invite you to my home for lunch.  I’ll cook for you. I’ll clean for you. I’ll even baby-sit you kids and walk your dog. But any future get-togethers will be at the house with the Wii. And that’s your house. Deal with it. Or give us the Wii. It’s up to you (see ya at 9am tomorrow, k? I’ll phone at 6 to make sure you are awake).

P.S. I know that there are some cute Uggs online, but I have never actually seen them. Luckily, I have never seen these in real life either. It is a good thing, as I think if I did I would have to gouge my eyes out:

P.S. S. Sorry I have been not around much lately. Between being sick and being very busy at home and work right now, I have been rather remiss in my blogging duties. I’ll try to be around more in the New Year! I know how much you all must suffer when I am not here for you…

Since my usual heels or strappy sandals would not be appropriate for the amount of walking Disney World will entail, and my running shoes would look awful with carpis and skirts, my upcoming trip had the added bonus of providing me with shoe shopping opportunities.

I actually got 3 new pairs of shoes for Disney, however the flip flops I got in the summer (with Disney in mind) and got a lot of wear out of, and the closed sneakers I got in the early fall (with Disney in mind), and have also already gotten a tonne of wear out of, as they are perfect with jeans or yoga pants.  The open sneakers are the only ones I got new just for Disney.

Flip-Flops
These Sanuks are actually for men, but so comfy I don’t care. The minute I tried them on (before I realized they were men’s) I knew they were the perfect walking flip-flop with their  well padded straps and thick contoured rubber soles!  I wore them to the zoo last summer, and they made it all day, so I think they will be more than suitable for Disney:

Closed Sneakers
I have wanted good (as in, not Payless) casual sneakers forever. I know that Pumas are trendier than Skechers these days, but I just cannot drop that kind of money on shoes that are only worn to the park, the supermarket and waiting outside the girl’s ballet class. So, when I saw these on sale while I was strolling downtown a couple months ago, I had to have them. I am not sorry, as they are super comfy as well as stylish. I actually wore them on my 5K back in September and jogged in them a few times before I got my good running shoes (link above), and they performed very well. Well enough for Disney:

Open Sneakers
though I have been eyeing these Skechers  for weeks months years, yet never wanted to spend the money (I know the site says $51, but in Canada they are about $80). When I found them on sale for $59 yesterday, they became mine. I suspect they  will get a lot of wear at and after Disney, as they will be perfect with the skirts and capris I plan to wear all next week, and ideal casual shoes come spring.

Yes, I know 3 pairs of shoes for Disney seems excessive, but I find that wearing the same shoes for long walks day after day is hard on the feet, as you get rubbing and pressure on the same spots day after day. I am hoping that alternating between these 3 shoes will keep me upright and in good shape the whole trip! The girl will do the same, with walking sandals, sneakers and open sneakers…

Last night we went to my nephew’s Bar Mitzvah. We had a fabulous time with our family, and it was fun to have our little triad dressed up and out for the evening. I did my own hair and make-up, and was pleased with the results. I have to rave about Lisa Watier Eye Shine Metallic Eyeliner ($16.00CAD). I picked one up in Silver Grey and was thrilled with it. It was very soft easy to use, and made a very pretty shimmery silver line. Perfect. The best part was how it lasted. Often nice soft liners like this go on great and look great, but smudge and transfer easily leaving lines all over the eye-lid. This liner did not budge all night. I applied it with white highlighter on the browline,  silvery shadow blended to just above the crease and lots of Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara:

I wore pants, which is unusual for me. I always wear dresses for evenings out, but I found the top at Winners  and just had to wear it. It would  have been very unflattering with any skirt but a straight skirt, and all my skirts are A-line, so pants it was. Paired with slim fitting dress trousers (from Wal-Mart!!) and sparkly peep-toe pumps,I think it looked elegant and modern. It was also nice to be free of panty-hose (which always end up in the garbage can half-way through an event anyways). I could not get a good picture with the outfit and my face, so use your imagination:

The girl, in all her red gorgeousness. I actually found her dress at Once Upon a Child, where I always look first for dressy things for her. Since dressy kids clothes is rarely worn, it is the perfect thing to buy used. She loved it:

Some pics from the dance floor. You’ll notice I did some very subtle photo-editing to protect innocent eyes:

Girl in motion:

by the end of the evening, the girl was a teensy bit tired:

It’s soon. Very soon. Like 2 and 1/2 weeks away. Here is my wish list (click on images for details):

and, if somebody really wanted to show me some love, this would do it:

at Payless!!!

However I am annoyed because these were $27.99 in store and are only $17.99 on the US website…and they were the girls’ faves of course. I said “no” as they were too fancy and expensive (as this is only for her indoor shoes at DC)…but if they were $17, I would have bought them for her due to the cuteness and the girl love. Grrr….

I got this one at Joe. I tried wearing it with bare legs and high boots like yesterday…but it looked kinda trashy, which was not the look I was going for since I had to be in court this morning, and was meeting an old friend I re-connected with on facebook this afternoon. So the footless tights and ballet flats it was. There, that’s better.

1. My very favorite hangers, soft-grip by President’s Choice. They are coated in a rubbery substance. I originally bought only a few for some wide necked garment, but quickly discovered they are perfect for all items. Not only do they keep wide necked and strappy garments from falling to the closet floor, they keep all your tops in better shape since they stay how you put them…avoiding lumpy marks form hanger arms in the wrong spot, and stretched out necklines. At $5.99 for 3 they are not cheap…I built up my closet slowly, buying a new pack every time I went to the Store until my closet was stocked. A closet with matching hangers looks so much sharper as well:

2. My new shoes:

3. A new dress I got at Winners. Doesn’t look like much in the picture I know, but awesome on. Perfect with black flats now, or opaque tights and black boots once it gets cooler. I have a few events coming up I just know it will be perfect for, though is also are wearable enough for work or a dinner out: