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Shoesday Tuesday

Far better than Taco Tuesday is Shoesday Tuesday!

Other than my activities and family, one of the subjects I blog about most is

SHOES

My first shoe post was published on May 11, 2017 and I began it with:

Give a girl the right shoes… and she can conquer the world. ~Marilyn Monroe

That may be a true statement.

Today I’m revisiting fall shoe trends because I want Wendy to have something that she can share with her mom.  And because I like shoes!  If you had any doubt, read on for clarification.

And if you are looking for shoes that are on trend this fall for a good price, you’ve come to the right post!

In yesterday’s post, I shared my most recent shoe purchase…

This cutie bootie came from Kohl’s.

 

Kohl’s always has good deals, especially if you are a cardholder.  Every other month or so I will find that I have a 30% off coupon in the mail from Kohl’s.  These booties were 20% off of  the $44 sale price.

And it gets better…

Last week my fabulous shoe find was from Amazon which is another place for great deals.

These are my new peep toe mules and they were only $17.99These mules have a chunky heel so they are perfect for someone like me who falls off of high heels.  They come in five colors which you can see if you click here.  Mine are blush, which is turning out to be a very popular color this fall.  Pantone has named this color Ballet Slipper and it listed as one of their top colors for fall 2017.

Another of Pantone’s top picks for fall 2017 is Grenadine.  Most people call it red.  This is my favorite red shoe and latest boot purchase, also from AmazonThese boots come in six other colors; At the time of purchase, the price was $27.

LOVE!

Another trend this fall is the over the knee boot.

I had to have them…

but only at a price that wouldn’t make me cry.

These were $29 when I purchased them on August 31st.  Some Amazon sellers prices seem to change often.  Right now the sale price is $37… still a good deal and available in four colors.

Now that I’m putting this in print, I’m beginning to think I have an obsession.  But at least I can say I’m always looking for a bargain.  That said, I have one more to share.

This peep toe bootie was a recent purchase from Amazon… seller ZOOSHOO

LB recently purchased a pair to replace some he wore out and he was very excited about their arrival.

The Nunn Bush Marvin St. Plain Toe Derby Shoe from shoes.com

I just didn’t want anyone to think I am the only shoe lunatic in this house.

 

Happy Shoesday Tuesday!

Monday Musings

Today is Monday… and I’m Musing.
Without fail my Mondays are continually filled with recollections of the previous weekend.  Partly because I like my weekends and partly because I dislike Monday.  A lot.

Today has been no exception.

Blogging is like journaling in a sense. Taking time to write about my life is something I do to evoke mindfulness and boost memory.  It also causes me to be cognizant of what a blessed life I have.

Today I am recollecting Friday night little pizzas and a movie Saturday morning coffee time with Elvis

and my Sunday afternoon outing (typically going shopping or out to dinner) with LB.

Those are the events that take place nearly every weekend.

In a previous post (Friday Favorites) I mentioned that I went to Kohl’s on Friday during lunch to try on jeans. Before I headed back to the office, I stopped by the shoe department. Sadly, I didn’t have time to try any of them on for size. When I mentioned how many cute shoes/booties I came across, LB suggested that we go back.

Am I Going to Say No to That?

shopping Sticker

Sunday afternoon we headed out…and back to Kohl’s. These are the “SONOMA Goods for Life™ Thelma Women’s Peep Toe Ankle Boots” in Olive.

And they came home with me!

In my recent Trunk Club experience, I mentioned that Ann-Claude has included a pair of booties

BP. $89.95

that were just about the same color, which I obviously like, however the price wasn’t right.  The BP. booties could have been mine for $89.98.

The Sonoma booties from Kohl’s were $44

…and I had a 20% off coupon.

 

 

 

Friday Favorites featuring Hobby Lobby

Being the self proclaimed awesome blogger that I am, it is my duty to share a Friday Favorites post at least twice a month.  I’m already behind.

Favorite # ONE

There is a new Hobby Lobby at the St. Johns Town Center!

Last weekend we were shopping for fabric to cover a cornice board (which is a post for another day). We decided to check out the new location and loved it!

It was so tidy, organized, and filled with all sorts of fun items…

Favorite # TWO

 Mexican Restaurants!

In addition to Hobby Lobby, we also checked out the new restaurant “Chuy’s” at the St. John’s Town Center this weekend.

It is a cute place. 

The acoustics in the building make for a very loud dining experience.  When we discovered that the bar area is not quite as loud, we decided that it would be the best place to sit if we decided to go back. 

I can’t say that this is my favorite Mexican Restaurant, but Mexican restaurants in general are my favorite!And leftovers are always great!

Favorite # THREE

This outfit that I wore last Saturday.

Unlike a blogger that has it all together, all I can say is my top is from Shein.com and my denim is from Venus.com.  My handbag was a gift from my sweet girls Stephanie and Amanda.

Favorite # FOUR

Kohl’s for a quick shopping trip during lunch.  (Sometimes you just need to get away from the office even if only to accumulate steps on your FitBit).  Today I stepped away to visit the Kohl’s that is minutes away from my office.  I tried on jeans and my pictures are horrible.  But it is still the best getaway place EVER!

Favorite # FIVE

At the end of a long week I have enough energy to get myself home and that is about it.

When my son and his family are close by I don’t always catch up with them, but I always catch the notifications and posts he and Emily share.

This picture of little Lydia (My GlamBaby) was shared to reveal the coming of her sibling and My 2nd GlamBaby.

This little picture is genius!  I Love It!

More Fall Fun With Pumpkin

LB loves pumpkin flavored goodies and I love making them for him.

A few weeks ago I found a recipe for pumpkin pound cake and successfully created that cake.  I posted about that cake here.  The pumpkin pound cake has long been devoured, so I decided to tackle another recipe.

The notable

Pumpkin Roll

It is easier than you think.

It all began with 3 eggs.  I cracked them into my stand mixer and beat them for 5 minutes.

While they were mixing, I set the oven to 375°.  Then I sprayed a 10×15 inch sheet pan with no stick cooking spray, lined the pan with parchment paper, and sprayed it again.

After the eggs were very well beaten, I added 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2/3 cup pumpkin puree.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the rest of that can of pumpkin.  Send suggestions if you have any.

In a separate bowl, I combined together 3/4 cup all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda, then added flour and baking soda to the pumpkin mixture and blended some more.  Every recipe I researched had a very small amount of flour, which was surprising to me.

Then I spread the mixture over the prepared sheet pan.

I popped it into the oven and set the timer for 15 minutes.When I removed the cake from the oven I turned it out onto a CLEAN dish towel that I had sprinked with confectioners’ sugar.  After it had cooled enough to handle I peeled away the parchment and rolled the cake inside the towel, and left it seam side down to cool.

I made a mess with the confectioners’ sugar when I dropped my cake onto the towel.  SLOB.

The filling is a typical cream cheese frosting that is made by blending together butter, cream cheese, more confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract.  When cake cooled, I unrolled it and spread the cream cheese filling.   Then rolled it up again (without towel, obviously).

I have no more pictures of the process because at this point I had become more interested in licking the bowl after I emptied it of the frosting.

It turned out perfectlyLB is thoroughly enjoying his pumpkin roll.

I think I’ll make another for my Sunday Before Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the frosting/filling:

  • 5 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  2. Spray a 10×15 inch sheet pan with no stick cooking spray, line the pan with parchment paper, and spray again.
  3. In a mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs for 5 minutes.
  4. Add 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2/3 cup pumpkin puree to the egg mixture.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix together 3/4 cup all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
  6. Add flour and baking soda to pumpkin mixture and blend until smooth.
  7. Spread the cake mixture over the prepared jelly roll pan.
  8. Bake 15  minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from oven and allow to cool enough to handle.
  9. Remove cake from pan and place on cotton towel. Roll up the cake by rolling a towel inside cake and place seam side down to cool.
  10. Prepare the frosting by blending together 5 tablespoons butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  11. When cake is completely cooled, unroll and spread with cream cheese filling. Roll up again without towel. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Sprinkle top with confectioners sugar and slice.

 

Trunk Club Tuesday

Trunk Club is an experience that I learned about while reading a post from one of the blogs that I follow and more since visiting the Trunk Club website.  It was originally started as a resolution for those who are overwhelmed and inconvenienced by shopping for clothing in a store.  I don’t fully comprehend the possibility of being overwhelmed or inconvenienced by shopping, but I supposed anything is possible.

Trunk Club carries a variety of high quality inventory for both men and women including weekend wear, work wear, formal wear, outerwear, shoes, bags, and accessories at various price points.  There are women’s sizes ranging from petite to plus, and styles for the trendy, classic, and even the expectant.  It is a convenient, custom, personalized, and just plain fun way to help you dress your best.

The Trunk Club stylists are real people, as I learned last week while chatting with my stylist Ann-Claude.  It is my understanding that the stylists go through extensive training to know which colors, sizes, styles, and brands will look and fit best on each customer.

An overview of the plan here explains

How Trunk Club Works

but I can review it quickly here:

  1. Create a style profile:  Answer some questions about your size, style, and budget.  There is also an option to share Pinterest boards of your favorite styles.
  2. Converse with your assigned stylist:  You can talk on the phone or chat in the trunk club messenger app.  When the items for your trunk have been selected, you’ll be able to review them via digital preview.
  3. Review your trunk:  You have 48 hours to approve or make changes to your trunk preview.  Once approved, your trunk will be delivered via UPS.
  4. Try everything on:  Take 5 days to decide what to keep and what to return. A $25 styling fee will be charged, but credited toward your purchase. Returns are free with the included shipping label.  The process is very convenient.
  5. Reorder when you want.

At this point I have completed each step with the exception of “Reorder when you want”.

This is what my stylist, Ann-Claude picked for me to try:

 

My “trunk” came on TuesdayI opened it upand proceeded to

try everything on

 From the beginning I told Ann-Claude that I wasn’t sure about the dress.  But I wanted to keep an open mind and would try it despite my lack of enthusiasm.

Tah Dah

The black V neck tee is just a plain top, but I like it, I need it, I kept it.

I love the Vince Camuto mock choker neck top!

And kept it too!

The gray sweater was cute and fit well.  It had buttons down the back which I tried to show in the mirror.  My picture taking skills are lacking.   I decided to send it back because I have something similar.

Obviously I have the jeans on in nearly every picture.  And I had fun modelling for myself (hee hee).  I loved the way they fit and the appliqué.  Maybe I’m old fashioned (or just plain old), but I couldn’t bring myself to pay $98 for pants that were fashionably torn in several places.  I’m holding out for some that are not.

The navy lace blouse was simply not my style.

And transparent.

Don’t look too closely.

The pink blouse was not going to work due to my need for a  form-fitting undergarment.  This blouse requires more support than it has the ability to hide.

It was really cute!

Although they were a little heavy, I really liked the earrings and probably should have kept them.While cute, the booties were not impressive enough for the $90 price tag.(only tried one of them on)

I appreciate Ann-Claude’s effort in selecting items she felt would be just right for me.  She was very attentive and did a great job.

Ultimately I returned everything except the two black tops.

Elvis and I are looking forward to my next trunk!

Customer Service Week 2017

The International Customer Service Association started Customer Service Week in 1984 to take time to recognize the great people who deliver great service and value to their customers. In 1992, President George Bush signed a proclamation that stated:
“A business will do a better job of providing high-quality goods and services by listening to its employees and by empowering them with opportunities to make a difference” (source)

Customer Service Week is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of

The People who serve

and support customers on a daily basis.

I am one of those people who serve and support, and my company participated in Customer Service Week again in 2017.

Monday, October 2

was “Be Proud of Your Selfie” Day.

The idea was to dress up in your workday best and make use of the photo booth.Okay so I wasn’t in my workday best.  LB and I had delighted in a four day vacation and returned home just hours before.  Obviously I completely forgot about Customer Service Week.  In this picture I am styling my new Hall & Oates tee shirt because I was too tired to put a decent work place outfit together.  As it turned out, the week would be laden with tee shirts, so this one was appropriate enough.

POW!

Tuesday, October 3

was “Be Proud of the Brand” Day.

The company provided tee shirts for everyone to wear on Tuesday. We took the opportunity to take a team picture for the sake of posterity.

Wednesday, October 4

was Appreciation Lunch Day.

The company arranged a complementary lunch for everyone. Each team was provided a platter of sandwiches. In addition, we took the opportunity to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by donning pink clothing, ribbon pins, etc. I posted about it here.

Thursday, October 5

was Team Tailgate Day.

The idea was to wear a shirt or jersey representing a favorite sports team.

The picture was just weird.

I Can’t Even.

Friday, October 6

was Entertainment Proud Day.

I don’t know what that means… but we were given another tee shirt.and popcorn.How about that!It was a relatively festive week.

Time to go on another diet.

Better Late Than Never

I’m about six days late for this post, but as some wise Latin speaking individual once said

“potiusque sero quam numquam”

translation: it’s better to do something late, than to never do it at all.

And now that we’ve had our Latin lesson, on to the real topic of the day…

Fall Q&A

So… here are MY answers…

1. Favorite Fall Sweet Treat?  Halloween candy2. Red, Yellow or Green Apples?  Any… as long as it isn’t crisp.  I like my apples gritty.  Don’t judge.3. Favorite Fall Sport to Play? Not
4. Best Drink for Fall? Although it is ALL ABOUT PUMPKIN when fall comes around, apple cider comes to mind. I make sure we have a warmed pot ready at our annual ‘Sunday before Thanksgiving dinner’, and a few other times before year end.
5. Favorite Fall Activity? Vacation! It typically happens sometime in October. LB and I will hit the road and head for the Blue Ridge Parkway. There will be foliage, festivals, and fabulous fun along the way.

OH! And let’s not forget shopping!

It will happen!

6. Must Have Fall Purchase? Sweaters, Boots, Jackets
7. Pumpkins: Pick your own or store bought? Sadly, I’ve never been to a pumpkin patch.  So store bought it is. WalMart here we come!8. Real or Fake Pumpkin? Both.  WalMart has everything you need for fall home decorating.  But if you want to get fancy, Pier One is the place!
9. Favorite Halloween Costume? I have dressed up as Captain Hook, “I Dream of Jeannie”, a Cowgirl, Sandy (from Grease), a pirate wench, Poison Ivy (a Batman nemesis), a 20’s Flapper.  I think my favorite was the 1920’s Flapper Girl.Goofing around in the Halloween Store is also a good time!
10. College Football or NFL? There are only 2 football games that I watch during the year: The Super Bowl and the Florida/Georgia Game.  I’m not a big football fan.
11. Fall or Halloween Décor? With the exception of one big Jack-O-Lantern at the front door and a small one just inside the front door, the house is all decked out for fall! I posted about it here.
12. Raking Leaves or No Leaves to Rake? There are definitely an influx of leaves during the fall months, but LB manages them with the lawn mower.
13. Favorite Soup?  Probably Chicken Corn Chowder.  The recipe came from Mama.  I’ll eventually get around to sharing it on the blog.  Very tasty!
14. Favorite Fall Candle Scent? Spiced Cake. I recently purchased two from Pier One and they smell delicious… even when they aren’t lit!
15. Love or Hate Pumpkin Spice? Love it! And I think it is amusing that it is blathered about it incessantly!
16. Short Booties or Tall Boots?  short now, tall later, have both!
17. Favorite Halloween Candy? M&Ms peanut and Reese’s anything
18. PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) Yes or No?

Yes!

19. Hayride or Corn Maze? Never had a corn maze experience, so I suppose the answer is hayride.
20. Favorite Fall TV Show?  It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

 Love the Season!

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