Boots McBlog

“Adventure is out there!”

This fun musical piece was created by pogo from a mash of sounds featured in the endearing movie UP.   It’s so invigorating and exactly what I needed  to get me UP and at ‘em this week.     Happy Monday, Y’all!

If you’ve never heard Jem’s cover of “Yellow”,  it is a must listen.   Just hit the play button below.   Cheers!

Springbreak.   When I was twelve years old, my mother and I, along with another mother -daughter duo took the trip all southern ladies take at some point in their lives – the Pilgrimage to Natchez, Mississippi.   We toured antebellum homes.  We saw antique silver that had been hidden from the Yankees.  We listened to belles dressed in hoop skirts talk about “the wha-ar”  ( that was “the war” for those of you who don’t speak single syllable words in two syllables, bless your hearts).  We spent a night at Linden – the antebellum home that was the model for the beloved Tara, Scarlett O’Hara’s home in Gone with the Wind.  Those were great lessons for a twelve year. I left that trip with a better knowledege of the south.  I also left with a love — for expensive shoes.

You see, one evening, window shopping amongst the Natchez boutiques, I spied them.  They were pink ballet slipper type shoes with long satin ribbons that tied around the ankle. They were girly.  They were also in a ladies size 6.  They were the perfect shoe for a twelve year old.   We ooo’ed and ahhh’ed.   Everyone agreed they were pretty and I should have them.   We returned to the small shop the next day to behold these perfect slippers.   They were to be MINE!   The sales lady told us they were JOAN & DAVID’s.   I thought, “they may be joan & david’s now, but they are about to belong to me!”  Until she said….. they were $198.00 !   Being a good sensible Mom, my mother  turned  towards me  - the  daughter she had bedecked in head-to-toe Esprit and said,  ”Honey, those are just too expensive”     I was crushed.   And I did what any twelve year old blossoming into a young southern woman would do.  I sulked. I pouted. I threw a royal hissy fit  and I was a total brat for the rest of the trip.    The Old South had rubbed off on me – a little Scarlett O’Hara was brewing inside.  For as God as my witness,  I was going to have expensive shoes one day!

Twenty something years later,  I have quite a passion for shoes.  Expensive shoes.  Since history has a way of repeating itself and the prices have skyrocketed past a mere $198.00,  I find myself  relegated to”window shopping” online boutiques more than I would hope.   As I “shopped” this morning, I realize that a single blog post is not going to be adequate to convey my love of a good shoe.   You girls understand – why else do we have 14 pairs of black shoes:   suede, patent leather, peep toe, classic pump, strappy sandal day, stappy sandal night,  espadrilles,  wedges..and those are just the black ones with 3.5 inch heels and above.    So this post is dedicated to designer high heels for Spring 2010.  We are talking heels so high that only their price is higher.    As we start springbreak, for old time’s sake, lets enjoy a little window shopping.  And  when it comes to prices…. my dears, lets not give a damn.

These are a mod version of that ballet slipper that captured my heart years ago

Barney's New York $1095

Bubble gum pink – a little girl color in a grown up way

Saks Fifth Avenue $595.00

The neon of my youth makes a fresh appearance.  These are GORGEOUS on.  Trust me.

Jimmy Choo $825

A little more ladylike…

Kate Spade at PiperLime.com $325

Taking a walk on the wild side…

Manolo Blahnik at Neiman Marcus $785

Heels, sandal, and a ruffle.  Total shoe love ….

Christian Louboutin Barneys New York $875

A little nod to the red-white-and blue.

Christian Louboutin.com $who knows

Walking on Sunshine

Stella McCartney at Net-a-Porter.com $725

A white shoe that may cause me to break the “never before Easter” rules…

Christian Louboutin.com $who knows

A little 1940′s chic …

Miu Miu at Bergdorf Goodman $610

And good ol Joan and David are still at it and their price points haven’t changed much in twenty years…

joan & david Piperlime.com $220

Thanks for dreaming with me today.  I have a great footloose and fancy free weekend ahead of me.   Hope you do, too.

Now go kick up your heels (no matter what price) and enjoy it.

Cheers, Y’all.

Everyone knows I’m a girly girl to the core, ribbons, bows, fluffy dresses.  But there is something so fun and exciting about a little boy.   Chucks, trucks, and the coy little way  at the  age of three, they already know how to flirt!

little chucks…sigh

little trucks….sigh

little charmer….sigh.

While it seems a calm little stroll through the countryside – he is actually screaming and running away from me….which is why I totally bricked on this focus.  I’m posting the image anyway,  because when he finally gets to his mom’s arms he says,  ”Where did the pretty lady go?”

Told you he was a charmer.

I , then, asked him if would be my boyfriend.   He shyly shook his head yes.    He excitedly  jumped up and down and chanted, “oh boy! oh boy! oh boy!”    It totally melted my heart.   I was walking on cloud nine.   I thought we are about to get some awesome pics of  my cute little boyfriend.  Then he refused to have any more photos made.

This kid totally has my number.  I’m smitten.

As I wrote yesterday, I love a good song. Any kind. Any genre. Although the beats may vary, you will recognize a pattern of poetic lyrics as the basis of my adoration.  I can get lost in a gorgeous melody – but  well cultivated words seal the deal for me.

In the last year, I’ve discovered several emerging artists  - or at the very least -artists who are new to me. Some of these girls and guys may never make the mainstream. Some will. (In this day and age of online music – what exactly is mainstream?)   I’ve decided when a song or artist(s) moves me, I will share their song.   I figure someone out there may be just as moved.  If so, I hope you will buy, enjoy, and support these artists as they pursue their gifts, talents and their creative dreams.

Today, I introduce you to The Civil Wars. This collaboration is made up of Joy Williams and John Paul White. Both Joy and John Paul have incredible tunes on their own. Separate they have unique folk to pop styles.   Together, their voices blend into unique alt- country harmonies that are hauntingly beautiful. I honestly like every one of their creations from “Falling” and their presentations of “Dance Me to the End of Love”, and “Girl with the Red Balloon”.   The title song ‘Poison & Wine” has been on serious repeat mode since I first heard it in November.   The video is visually stunning, as well. (Leave it to me to love the hydrangeas in the white urn behind the sofa and that antique piano)

Let me warn you this is quite the rainy day song, however I’m choosing to share it today to balance with the amazing sunshine.   But when you are in the mood, pour a glass of wine and  get your tissues.  This one is a tearjerker – but oh so worth it.

Download a live version of their tunes