RACY LACY

RACY LACY

Lacy calls to me from the window of the shoe store, I hear her through the glass saying; “Terry, let’s go dance and play, come on in and liberate me, we’ll have fun, I promise!” I look in the window and there’s a blue radiance beckoning to me; I notice her on a pedestal, the gorgeous blue satin covered with delicate black lace. She is perched next to her more audacious sister who is red satin with the same black lace overlay. There’s no way I can pass up trying her on, so into the store I go. As soon as I put her on my feet I name her Lacy, however little do I know I’m going to have to add Racy to her name the first time I wear her! I roll up the legs of my jeans to my knees and walk around the store; I immediately get several compliments on Lacy by other ladies in the store. Even the young store clerk weighs in and says, “Those are fierce on you Momma!” Although he’s going for the sale, I do agree with him and I decide I must purchase her and find out what kind of fun we are going to have together.

Afterwards, I meet a girlfriend for lunch and when I show her Lacy she immediately asks “What are you going to wear those with?” “First off, she’s not a ‘those’, her name is Lacy and I know exactly what I will wear her with.” I respond. “You name your shoes?” she asks. “Of course I do, they all have their own personalities.” I reply. I then explain to Meg, “I can dress her down with jeans and a simple black tee-shirt, turtle neck or button-down. Maybe for work I’ll pair her with a black skirt or pants and powder blue button-down tailored shirt. Even all black with light blue bold jewelry, but still leaving her the center of attention. I think with stilettos like Lacy you have to keep it simple and just let her make the statement for the outfit.” “Wow, you’ve really figured all that out already?” Meg asks. “I’d say 9 out of 10 times I know exactly what I will wear with the shoes before I buy them.” I answer.

A few weeks later I need to go into Orange County for a sales meeting and dinner with an old friend whom I haven’t seen in five or so years, so I decide it’s time for Lacy to go on her first outing. I put on my favorite black pants and a simple light blue tailored shirt with some fun bold black and blue jewelry and head out the door. I’ve given myself ample time to get there, however in California you never can tell what the traffic demons will have in store for you. Today they decide to mess with me in the way of a red and black Camaro on a winding two-lane highway driving 35mph! I drive behind him for half an hour and wish he would pull over and hand me the keys, I’ll show him how to drive that car! Finally after quite some distance behind him we get an additional lane and now I can get around him. Regrettably I decide to make up the time I’ve lost and I’m speeding a bit; suddenly there they are the red lights and siren right behind me!

As I’m pulling over Sammy Hagar’s voice goes through my head;
“Go on write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n’ all that jive
I can’t drive 55!”

When the Officer comes up to my window, he asks, “Did you know you were going 65 in a 45 zone?” “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was going that fast.” I reply. I hand him my license, registration and proof of insurance. I then suggest to him, “You should be giving a ticket to the guy I just followed doing 35 in the 45 zone for the past half hour.” I’m guessing he doesn’t think this is as funny or helpful as I do because he gives me a ticket. This is the first ticket in a really long time I haven’t been able to talk my way out of; oh well I’m sure I deserved it.

My meeting goes long but very well and Lacy is a big hit in the office, she gets lots of “oooh’s” and “aaah’s” and “where did you find those?” I’m quite delighted with her; she really does make a statement.

Now I’m off to an early dinner with my old friend Tim. Last time I saw him was at a birthday party for a work associate about five or six years ago. When I walk into the restaurant, I spot him immediately (it helps that he’s 6’3”, has powder blue eyes and an electric smile) I give him a big hug. We enjoy a nice long dinner and reminisce and laugh for hours. When it’s time to go, Tim says “I have something to show you.” We head outside and he walks me over to (you guessed it) his new red and black Camaro! I immediately start laughing while he is trying to tell me all about her; startled Tim asks “What’s so funny?” When I finally compose myself I ask him “Didn’t you see me behind you this morning on Ortega Highway trying to get around you or get you to speed up?” “No, I’m usually in my own little world when I’m driving Ortega.” I proceed to tell him about my speeding ticket, what I told the Officer and that I blame him for it. He laughs and says “Here you can drive her down PCH, since you think you’re a better driver than me.” He hands me the keys and I say to him “I am, you drive her like an old lady, let me show you how she should be driven.”

As I slide into the driver’s seat I wonder if Racy Lacy is going to get me into more trouble tonight, I guess we’ll see……

OH, OSCAR!

I love Oscar night; if I’m not hosting a fabulous party then I’m most definitely at one! Except the one year I was a limousine driver (as a favor to my brother-in-law; Michael). I drove Geoffrey Rush; he won best actor that night for Shine. I have a photo of me holding his Oscar in the back of the limo while he was in the Vanity Fair party! In case you were wondering I wore a black suit with a skirt, white button down shirt and of course black stilettos. At one point I was parked waiting for Geoffrey and his group to come out of yet another party and was stretching my legs outside the car when a very inebriated Andy Dick and his entourage walked by and he started yelling “Hey look, Madonna's driving a limo tonight, hello Madonna.” So I waved and blew kisses; he ran over and kept hugging me until they pulled him away.

Anyway, tonight when I walk up to where the party is there’s a red carpet on the ground leading to an open door. When I step on the red carpet flash bulbs go off like I’m surrounded by paparazzi and I start laughing, now this is the movie star experience! As soon as I walk inside I feel as if I just stepped into a champagne commercial (yes, I’m old enough to remember TV commercials for alcohol); everything is beautiful and sparkly with twinkle lights everywhere and everyone is dressed so stylishly, some as their favorite character from an Oscar nominated movie. There are little stars all over the hardwood floor and also on the table that’s set with marvelous looking food; I also notice mini Oscar statuettes placed throughout. Our hostess immediately greets me and hands me some fun star sunglasses and offers me the cocktail of the evening; Blue Angel, its blue Curacao with champagne for the movie Avatar.

I too have dressed for the occasion, in a more subdued way; I am wearing my Sixties Siren Stilettos. When I saw the pale tan color of the patent leather, the detail of the charming bow and side strap, pointy toe and of course that silver spiked heel, they instantly screamed 60’s siren to me. I could picture Sophia Loren wearing these with a tight pencil skirt, smooth tight top with a matching sweater and string of pearls, strolling the streets of Italy. I had decided to emulate the movie Nine (for the era) and Up in the Air and The Blind Side (for their more updated version). In Nine I can see Claudia (the movie star and muse) wearing these with her evening gown as she sings to Guido at the fountain, or Stephanie (the Vogue writer) in them with her chic Chanel suit. In The Blind Side these would have looked great on Leigh Anne when she’s wearing one of her pencil skirts, I can also see them on Alex when she’s sitting at the bar where she seduces Ryan in Up in the Air. I paired my 60's Sirens with my black pencil skirt that laces up the front/side, a tan mock turtle neck with short sleeves, cute black sweater and my gold pearl necklace that has a big crystal flower on the side of it and the matching bracelet. My short blonde hair is already very 1960’s and contemporary at the same time.

I’m enjoying a spirited conversation over who should win best director, actress, actor and picture, while sipping my yummy cocktail and checking out the other guests shoes and deciding to myself whether or not they’re appropriate for their outfit (I do this constantly, no matter where I am). On the table next to me there’s an appealing array of hors d’oeuvres; baked brie, blue cheese vodka balls, garlic spinach dip and several varieties of bruschetta. There are also silver buckets of various types of popcorn and trays of miniature cheesecakes and chocolate truffles, I’m in heaven. The Red Carpet pre-show is on the big screen and I’m loving all the beautiful gowns, the rich reds and purples, bold blues, pretty pinks and yellows; it’s so nice to see the myriad of colors and daring styles from the designers this year, also the up-dos and sleek hair are a beautiful sight! The men all look dashing too, however I must say to my gorgeous Antonio Banderas; what’s up with all the facial hair? We like seeing your handsome face, all of it! Are you with me ladies?

As I watch I realize I have stilettos to go with all the magnificent gowns I’m seeing. I smile to myself knowing I could definitely be the stiletto stylist to the stars; Sandra Bullock in the gold lace Marchesa, Queen Latifa in lilac Badgley Mischka, Sarah Jessica Parker in the buttery yellow (a color not many people can wear) Chanel, Jennifer Lopez in the pale, pale pink Armani Prive, Zoe Saldana in that vivid gradated purple Givenchy, Rachael McAdams in the beautiful soft flower water colored Elie Saab, Penelope Cruz in vivid red Donna Karan Couture and Demi Moore in the peach colored Versace. All of the ladies are dressed very classic old Hollywood tonight and I would love to have chosen their stilettos for the evening. Maybe I missed my calling, should I have been a stylist or costume designer?

While I’m pondering this, the Oscars start and I mingle about watching sporadically while enjoying the scrumptious cuisine, cocktails and conversation. I’m loving the lively discussions after each category and I’m happy when The Young Victoria wins for costume design (if it couldn’t be Nine, that is). As the evening is winding down, there’s an intense discussion at the end about best director and picture. The final consensus on the show is that the 2 hosts were funny; however everyone’s all-time favorite is still Billy Crystal and his comical opening musical numbers. The best picture and director winner is still being hotly discussed, however I’m leaving before I take off one of my stilettos and hit someone in the head with it!

I hate to leave this fabulous party, but all good things must come to and end; on my way to the door I stop to kiss and hug all the beautiful people goodbye.

Until next year......Just maybe when one of the stars is asked "Who are you wearing?" She just might reply, "I'm wearing Versace, however Terry chose the stilettos and aren't they fabulous!"

SWEET CHOCOLATE DREAMS

Chocolate, Chocolate,

Everywhere,

Dark Chocolate,

Do I Dare?

Although not really your traditional stilettos, I still love these high-heels, they seem very 1940’s-ish to me because of the thicker heel and rounded toe. I just love all the detail with the laces on the side, the bric-a-brac across the front and the way they positioned the patent leather with the suede. So no matter which way you see the shoe it looks interesting and I love the cute rounded toe.

When I first laid eyes on these I thought “Yummy – Sweet Chocolate Dreams” (I wanted to lick them); they have all the shades of chocolate I love: the (almost) white chocolate, the milk chocolate and of course the dark chocolate (my favorite!). Since I named these my Sweet Chocolate Dreams I thought it quite fitting to wear them to the Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ tasting party I was invited to – YES I’m not kidding, a
c-h-o-c-o-l-a-t-e tasting party!

I decide to pair my Sweet Chocolate Dreams with my favorite Seven jeans (which finally fit again, however after tonight, who knows...) and a dark brown button-down tailored shirt that has a white trimmed ruffle on the front and of course a really fun ring (my big blue and white crystal Koi fish) and since it is cold out I add my faux chinchilla coat. I feel fabulous and am ready for some yummy chocolate!

When I arrive at Michelle’s most the girls are already there and the air is filled with the fabulous smell of melting chocolate! I hug Michelle, Jodi, Tiffany, and my daughter Bre; then introduce myself to all the other ladies.  We are informed that the chocolate we will be sampling is the Dove Chocolate Discoveries'™ their exclusive line of premium chocolates not sold in stores; Ooooh, now I feel special, let the decadence begin!

First we sample the chocolate covered; biscotti balls, cranberries and almonds, cute little truffles in all three chocolate flavors. Our Chocolatier tells us about their ready-made candies and explains how to make our own truffles, candy bars, mini tiramisus' and chocolate embellishments. Then we sample dark chocolate espresso beans, I don’t think there’s anything better than the sweet bitterness of the dark chocolate then the bite of the espresso bean! Bre and I are reminded of a funny story that she shares with everyone; on a trip to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco about 10 years earlier we bought chocolate covered espresso beans. While walking around all day we ate the entire bag, we were bouncing off the walls later and couldn’t sleep that night and couldn’t figure out why! Can anyone say 'blonde moment'?

Next the Chocolatier shows us how to make 10-minute mousse; yummmmm, creamy smooth fluffy chocolate on my spoon. What’s getting to me though is the melting chocolate that has been wafting through the air since I came in the door; the dark chocolate has been liquefying in the cutest heart-shaped fondue pot and calling to me for the past 1/2 hour. We finally get to taste it and mmmmmmm; it has the most fabulous rich flavor, first I dip a strawberry then a graham cracker, then another strawberry. Okay, I tell myself, time to stop this madness, drop that third strawberry!

I didn’t think we could surpass the fondue but then I see the chocolate martini mix and vodka come out! She first swirls rich chocolate syrup into the frozen martini glasses. “You can also rim the glass in raw sugar mixed with ground chocolate, cocoa powder or the syrup” she tells us while shaking the mix with the vodka and ice. Ohhhhhh my, so many different sensations; the sweet chocolate, the chill of the drink, then the warmth of the vodka, yum, yum and more yum! While enjoying our martini’s she begins to telling us that you can also make chocolate turtle and creamsicle martinis, this just gets better and better!

Later after several entertaining stories and lots of laughter…. Bre and I each order the chocolate martini mix, promising to host a ‘girls only martini party' and head home after an evening of decadent deliciousness!

I know every time I slip these beauties on my feet I'll be thinking of indulging in a yummy chocolate martini.

Goodnight all & Sweet Chocolate Dreams.......

THE GLAMOUR GEEK

I call these my Glamour Geeks because they remind me of that fabulous 30’s & 40’s film start Hedy Lamarr. Not only was she the most glamorous woman of her time she was also a mathematic genius or geek if you will. She was the first film star of her time to have done a full body nude scene early on and still have a substantial acting career in Hollywood.

‘You've Got A Date With Danger, A Rendezvous With Romance In The Glamorous, Mysterious Algiers’; that was the tagline of the 1938 movie Algiers, starring Hedy Lamarr and Charles Boyer (Grrrrrrrr). Hedy plays the beautiful and wealthy Parisian; Gaby who's visiting the mysterious Casbah in Algeria. I imagine Gaby wearing these stilettos with her black dress, white jacket and magnificent jewelry, wandering through the mazelike Casbah where she becomes entangled with Pepe Le Moko. Pepe is an international jewel thief who is hiding out with a fortune of stolen jewels, when he meets and falls for the stunning Gaby. I love the scene where you see him gaze upon each piece of her jewelry, lastly looking intently over her face; you can tell he’s intrigued, you just don’t know which he wants to steal more; her jewels or her heart. There is an extreme close up of her mouth as she smiles at him while he's admiring her and although the movie is in black and white you just know her lips are a vivid rich red.

I also love the art of the innuendo of the old movies:
Pepe le Moko: What did you do before?
Gaby: Before what?
Pepe le Moko: Before... the jewels.
Gaby: I wanted them.

Hedy’s real life had a lot of intrigue of its own; her first husband was a Viennese munitions dealer who consorted with the Nazi industrialists. At his parties in the mid through late 1930’s you could have had a martini and chatted with Hitler or Mussolini. It was during one of these parties Hedy wore all her expensive jewelry and afterwards with the help of her maid they drugged her husband and she made her escape out of the country with the jewelry, fleeing to Paris, where she obtained a divorce. She then moved to London and of course on to Hollywood to become the screen siren of the 30’s and 40’s.

I do believe she preferred her ‘geek’ side because she is quoted as saying: "Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." I wonder what more she could have done had she pursued the intellectual part of her life instead of the acting side.

As for the geek side; she was co-inventor of the earliest form of the telecommunications method known as "frequency hopping", which used a piano roll to change between 88 frequencies and made radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect or jam. The method received a U.S. patent in 1942, under the name "Secret Communications System". I can see her in the stilettos and a sleek suit, jacket off, silk shirt underneath unbuttoned just to there…. In an office with her co-inventor, sitting on the desk leg dangling, cigarette between her red nails, chalk boards filled with code we don’t understand (the perfect Glamour Geek). Now if you think since their invention was used during WWII it is outdated well…. frequency hopping is now widely used in cell phones and other modern technology. However neither she nor her co-inventor profited from it, because their patents were allowed to expire decades before the modern wireless boom. In 1997 she received an award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for her pioneering work in spread-spectrum technology.

For me Hedy Lamarr with her jet black hair, pale alabaster skin, dark red lips and sultry on-screen demeanor in conjunction with the intellect she exuded will forever be the epitome of GLAMOUR!

So today when I went to our corporate office for a test, I decided I had to wear my Glamour Geeks. Although the test was nothing mathematically challenging, it was only on our new sales techniques. I not only felt stylish in my charcoal grey pants, white silk shirt (unbuttoned just to there…), vivid red lipstick and pearls; I also felt more intelligent. It must have worked because I passed with flying colors and looked chic doing it!

EYE CANDY

EYE CANDY

LOVE is in the air; its Valentine's Day today so I decide even though I'm not going to be receiving a dozen or so white roses delivered in the arms of an adorable man and I may not be having a wonderfully romantic dinner with someone special, I'm still worthy of a treat!  Unlike my myriad of friends whose husbands, boyfriends or lovers cooked for them or brought them flowers or sent them off for some pampering or even served them breakfast in bed; no one is around to pamper me; except me.  In contrast to my eldest daughter whose loving and thoughtful husband made personalized cards sending her on a scavenger hunt around their house for a new Coach purse (in her favorite lilac color); nothing nearly that romantic is going on in my life today, which is okay.  I just wish more of my single friends would do something special for themselves today; whether it's a mani/pedi or going to a movie no one else wanted to see or just staying home with a good book and sour apple martini - I want to say to all of them, Do something for yourself, you deserve it!

Today I decide to indulge myself and spend the day with me!  First I head out for a good morning workout with my daughter (yes, the one with the thoughtful husband - who is now off coaching his swim team all day while she relaxes). Then it's off I go to have a pedicure, a nice lunch, maybe some window shopping and if something should catch my eye then I just might have to buy myself something.

I begin at my favorite shoe store (of course) and there she is; Candy, she's sitting on a shelf all by herself or at least she's the only one I notice, I'm drawn to her like a moth to a flame, instantly seduced by her beauty; all I can think is she looks just like a shiny red candy apple!  Although not round like an apple, she has pointy toes, 4" stiletto heels and her patent leather coating is so rich and is the perfect shade of red, I mean just look at her!  They are the ideal Valentine's Day high-heel; red, seductive and flirty, what more could you ask for?  Besides, I never need an excuse to buy red or black shoes because they go with everything!  I try on several other pairs, but none compare to Candy, she's a must-have.

Next it's off to my pedicure appointment; I relax in the chair and feel myself unwinding during my foot massage.  Mmmmmmm, it's so soothing, this masseuse has really strong hands and it's just what I needed.  I've chosen red toe-nail polish to match my new shoes.  When my ten little toes are all pretty in red, I head across the way to Starbucks to let them dry completely.  I sit sipping my latte and people watching, I'm noticing a lot of anxious looking men rushing about, can we say last minute shopping?  My toes are dry now and I change into my new stilettos, Candy looks magnificent peeking out from under my jeans and she complements the hot pink, red, white and black polka-dot top I have on.

I now feel glamorous and feisty, even though I'm wearing jeans.  My candy apple red stilettos make a statement and are most definitely not for the faint of heart!  "I'm a force to be reckoned with!" Candy says, so off I sashay to do some window shopping.

My next stop is one of my favorite department stores where I peruse the handbag, jewelry and shoe sections, I don't find anything I must have, so I head upstairs to the fashion department, deciding on the way I need a new pair of jeans.  I try on many different pairs, and the fit on most are really nice, however I've noticed lately that the majority of jeans start to sag in the rear after one wearing and I have to wash them after every wear (I think it's the amount of spandex they're using in nearly all jeans these days).  My daughter swears by the brand 'Seven' and says they won't lose their shape. I try on a few pairs of 'Sevens' and really like the way they look and fit me and although they are more expensive than most of the jeans I own, I decide what the heck, I'm worth it!  While standing in line to pay for them the lady behind me comments on Candy.
"What beautiful shoes, they're a great color." She says.
"Thank you, I just bought them, I saw the color and couldn't resist." I reply.
I notice the nice looking man standing behind her admiring Candy too, I arch my foot seductively, when he looks up I smile and chuckle, he smiles back coyly.  After I happily leave the store with the perfect jeans (which by the way look great with Candy) I set out to get some lunch.

I sit outside on the patio during lunch and indulge in one of my favorite appetizers and a lemon drop martini, enjoying the time by myself watching people pass by, knowing I have absolutely no obligations today, ahhhhh, peaceful!  At the end of my meal, I treat myself to the perfect dessert; Creme Brule with raspberries, yummy decadence.

After my leisurely lunch I decide it's time to head home.  I take my time walking through the mall, enjoying the looks Candy is getting; all the way through to the other end where the parking structure is. I put my bags in the trunk and notice my cell phone is missing, uggggggh!  I head back into the mall and start backtracking:
Shoe store: NO
Starbucks: NO
Nail salon: NO
Macy's: NO
Restaurant: NO
Mall concierge: NO, damn!

On the way back to my car I ponder when I last saw it, I remember being distracted by that good-looking man in Macy's, did I leave my cell on the counter when I paid for my new jeans? I do believe it's the last place I remember seeing my phone. If I did leave it there accidentally, did he pick it up? Is he roaming the mall searching for me? Eager to meet the woman in those captivating red shoes? Maybe he's hoping to be my knight in shining armor who has rescued my wayward phone... I know, I know, but a girl can dream can't she?  It is Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all my single friends, please pamper yourselves, you deserve it!

LUCKY

LUCKY

I purchased these on the best shopping day of the year - the day after Christmas.  My daughters; Macaria and Breann and I have made this our family tradition for the past eighteen years.  We know we will spend the entire day in our jeans and comfy shoes (yes, I own a few pairs of those too! - notice I said a few) roaming the mall, having a leisurley lunch and making several treks to the car with packages.  No matter how often I shop thoughout the year, this is the ideal shopping day, sharing my favorite sport with my daughters and spending time with them, nothing could be better.  Okay, I'm done with the sappy Mom stuff.

When I tried these on in the store I was wearing my black jeans and they looked marvelous together; they are the perfecrt height and color for the jeans.  Both Macaria and Breann said "Oh, Mom you have to have those!" So I bought them.  I decided immediately they weren't really shoes for work, however they were most definitely fun shoes.  I originally named them my Harley Hotties because I thought they would look great peekin out from under a pair of black leather pants on the back of a big sleek Harley, heading out on an adventure along the coast.

The first time I wore my Harley Hotties they went on quite a different adventure then the one I previously thought they would and I would come to realzie I will have to re-name them Lucky.  I decide to pair them with my black jeans and a nice low-cut cobalt blue top that has a really cool blue and silver beaded embellishment on the front and added some really fun big earrings and bracelets.  I was meeting Tyler at one of the many Indian Casinos we have dotted throughout Southern California.  Anyway, I met up with my darling man for dinner at Cielo, it's a nice steak and seafood restaurant on the top floor overlooking the local mountains.  The ambience is wonderful, their stunning chandeliers change colors mimicking the sunsets you can see out the windows.

After a wonderfully romantic dinner we decide to walk around the casino and do our share of gambling.  Tyler likes to paly craps for a few hours, I however am not much of a gambler, I usually put between twenty and fifty dollars into a slot machine and when it's gone I'm done, whether I've played for 5 minutes or 5 hours.  I've won a few hundred dollars on the slots a couple of times in my adult life.  I don't gamble enough to win big which is okay with me because I don't lose big either.  Walking through the casino we're perusing the tables to see which one feels right; we finally stop at the loudest table, the one with the people who seem to be having the most fun.  There's some open space so we slide into it and Tyler starts betting.  I stay to watch for awhile; and cheer him on, I blow on the dice for luck when it's Tyler's turn to roll.  Someone yells "C'mon, momma needs a new pair of shoes." Tyler whispers to me "You've got enough; by the way, I love the ones you're wearing."  I'm having fun just watching, laughing, yelling and mostly enjoying the high energy from the crowd of people.  After about an hour I guess lady luck got bored, because she seemed to have disappeared from the table.  Tyler decides it's time to stop while he's ahead, about $400.00

He hands me $100.00, kisses me and says "This is for being my good luck charm", I laugh and say "We'll have to see how long I can keep the luck going."  Tyler follows me over to the Wheel of Fortune slot machines; my daughter Macaria and my mom love these ones and always seem to have good luck on them.  "Five cents! You could at least play the dollar slots." Tyler says.  "Yes, but this one caught my eye first." I reply.  I put in $20.00 and hit the 5 lines and 3 bets per line buttons and nothing happens.  Tyler asks "How do you know what lines you're playing and how much you'll win if you only bet 3 per line?"  "I have no idea; I wish these were like the old ones that had only 1 to 3 lines and you could only bet 1 or all 3 lines." I respond.  I decide to play max lines and max bet and hit the spin button, at least this way I know I'll receive the maximum payout whatever that might be, but again nothing.

I hit the repeat bet button and now the fun begins; the maching starts chanting "Wheel of Fortune" over and over again.  I look up to see the wheel at the top spinning; it stops on the red panel and a red banner starts flashing on the screen "$650.00 WINNER" and the machine is cheering.  "Are you kidding me?" Tyler yells.  I start laughing; jump out of the chair and start hugging him, we're both laughing and hugging like a couple of teenagers. Once I regain my senses, I decide to keep playing, but tell myself I will stop at $600.00 and not go any lower.  I play for another half hour and cash out at $599.75.

When each of my daughters turned 21 we had their birthdays in Las Vegas and I taught them when you win, you buy yourself something so you can enjoy the win, then you put the rest away or pay bills.  So..... Momma is gonna get a new pair of shoes - stilettos that is!

I cash out my ticket and when I try to pay Tyler back the money he gave me to gamble with, he nuzzles my neck and whispers "You can buy me dinner next week, until then I have other ideas my lucky lady."  I think to myself; Hmmmmm, I think I need to rename these stilettos LUCKY!

MY VERSION OF CROCS

MY VERSION OF CROCS

When I saw these slithering beauties I knew I had to have them!  I had no idea what I would wear with them, but felt confident I could figure it out.  They just mesmerized me like a snake does to its prey before it stirkes.  I tried them on and the way they wrapped themselves around my foot, across the toes and bridge then up and around the ankle, buckle them into place; ahhh, that feels good.  Walking around the store in them they look alluring and feel amazing.  They keep saying "let's just glide right out the door and keep going".  However I know I must pay for them first, so I slip them off and put them back in their box, while closing the lid I assure them it won't be long before they're free.

At home I decide to name these "Gustave" after the largest man-eating crocodile, because I think these will get more compliments from men than women.  I know, you're thinking "what?"  Women who love shoes know what I'm saying, there are just some shoes men will notice and compliment you on, and I think this is one of those pairs of shoes. I can't really decide if they look more like faux snakeskin or alligator/crocodile, since I don't own any of the real deal, that's okay because I think Gustave suits them well.

Anyway, when I get them home I immediately take them to my closet and start matching them with all my clothes and decide they go with everything in my closet except pink or red (the exception being red toe-nail polish).  I've since worn them with navy blue work trousers and this silky green/black/blue paisley patterend angel sleeved top with navy blue trim.  I have also paired Gustave with my skinny black pencil skirt and sage green button down shirt for work.  When I want them to be the center of the outfit I will wear them with either all black or all grey then add in green jewelry and an interesting green handbag.  I really love wearing them with jeans and a v-neck sweater or tee-shrit becuase they're unexpected peeking out from underneath the jeans.

Today I wore them with black jeans, lime green tank top underneath a black v-neck sweater; they were definitely the center of the outfit.  I headed out the door to the salon to have my hair done (this sassy short blonde hair doesn't come naturally anymore!).  My "hair-day" is all about me; I want to feel good, look good and have a fabulous time!  I love relaxing and enjoying all the gossip; especially when you don't know the person and you get to hear about their husband/boyfriend, neighbor or someone at work.  I'm a little jealous of my daughter (she's my hairdresser, in case I hadn't mentioned it) who gets to spend her days being creative with hair and enjoying all the different people.  When I hear bits-and-pieces she fills me in on what I've missed and if she won't then I know Daniel will (he's a big gossip and I've known him for 20 years)!

While sitting with my head in the shampoo bowl and toner on my scalp (toner tones down the yellow or brassiness in blondes - see Bre, mommy listens), I overhear these ladies talking about a party they were at and are commenting on how tacky one of the guests new girlfriends was because she wore Keds to a dinner party.  They go on to discuss her age and how one of them thought he brought his daughter until he nuzzled her neck.  At this moment Bre comes over to rinse out my hair and I'm thinking; I couldn't agree more about the tackiness of her shoe choice for that particular occasion and I let my mind wander as I think of what I would have worn to that outdoor dinner party.  Darn, my soothing scalp massage is over, back to reality, as I sit up I glance over at the two gossipers' and notice one of them is wearing a pair of those rubber Crocs!  I nearly gasp out loud.  I apologize but unless you have a medical condition that requires you to wear them, you're pregnant, you're a little kid, you're gardening or standing all day behind a hot stove (i.e.: Mario Batali) do NOT wear them out in public!  To begin with they have the unfortunate name; Crocs and my guess would be it's because they look as nice as the wide round flat snout of a crocodile!  Oh, doesn't that just say "wear me, I'm pretty?"

Let me ask you this; if a woman's shoes/clothing are an expression of how she feels and what she wants to project to the world, what are those Crocs saying?  To me they said; I'm bored, lazy, have no sense of style and don't care how I look to myself or others. Yikes!

As I walk back to Bre's chair I can hear Gustave growling and I see him peering arrongantly from under my jeans and I think "I know, how dare they name those shoes after you!"  I sit down in Bre's chair and say to her "These are my version of Crocs."  She laughs and says, as only a daughter can, "Everyone knows how you feel about Crocs and flip-flops Mother."  Oh, yeah don't get me started on flip-flops......

Now I ask you ladies - Crocs or Crrrrrocs?