Summer? (Or: The return of the indestructible blue flip-flops)

I feel like I've been neglecting you, which is inexcusable.

It's been a very busy few weeks, not that that's an excuse!

For one, summer appears to have shown up. It's a little odd... And, with summer, comes summer-mode, a rather terrifying state of mind that I go into when the weather gets nice. Think lots of high-heels, tight skirts and wine. On a merry-go-round. Now, you've about got it. A bit of a whirlwind, no pun intended.
Essentially, my weekend warrior setting has kicked into overdrive, and, it's hard to slow down.

But! That being said, I've been shopping. In fact, I plan to do much, much, much more shopping, as I will be on a plane to New York in just over a week. And, last May, I came back with 15 new pairs. Let's see if we can break that record...

Anyways, back to the present! The sun has been trying to shine the last few weeks, and is slowing gaining ground over the rainclouds! This means one thing: it's time to bring out the indestructible blue flip-flops. If you don't know the ones I'm talking about, let me jog your memory here.

I've also picked up a few new pairs of beauties since we last spoke, one of which I'm wearing today.

It's going to be a beautifully bright summer, people! I love that I can wear these with most anything (I'm in a blue sundress above the patent leggings) and they add the perfect pop of delicious colour that just makes you feel like you're walking on sunshine! Plus, the cork makes them a great day shoe, and the wedges mean you could wear them to the beach and not sink into the sand.

They're much prettier than my ugly blue flip-flops, but sometimes, you can't beat the feel of hideous foam against your toes!

I have a summertime resolution (as we all know I like to make these things at odd times of the year) to keep up my toenail polish, so expect some cool colours in photos to come!

I'd love to see your toes! Please send me photos of what's on your feet, and I'll happily feature them!

Staying on track.

Once upon a time, I refused to attach the term "New Year's resolution" to anything that I actually wanted to accomplish. Buy fewer shoes? Sure, that can go on that list, because, the second that it does, I know it will never happen. In fact, if I resolve to buy fewer shoes under such circumstances, I'll almost certainly have 12 new pairs by Valentine's Day.

Such is not the case any longer, though I still prefer to make "new year resolutions" on my birthday, rather than "New Year's resolutions" on January 1st, because they're more personal and I feel less like another hopeful who will start out attempting to run 15 miles a day and end up ordering greasy Chinese food from the take-out place up the street and demand that they deliver because one simply cannot leave the house with a waistline in such a state. 

All that being said, setting goals any day of the year is good practice, and you're actually far more likely to succeed if you make a point of writing them down. Which is why I told you all mine, way back in January. 

If you recall, my New Year's resolution was nothing quantitative, but qualitative. More exercise, more fruits and vegetables, spending less money on eating out, and spending more time making healthy meals. In short, healthy. 

And, I'm very, very pleased to say that I'm keeping on it! Nearly two months into the year, and I've been walking to and from work everyday (though I've given up on the idea of wearing running shoes in favour of my trusty rainboots, due to my severe lack of faith in the ever-changing Vancouver weather... and they're way cuter), swimming lengths with a lovely friend from work once a week, and, after having a fantastic bicycle ride with my brother on the weekend, have decided that it should be a weekly affair as well. 

On the food front, things have been delicious, nutritious and inexpensive, so we're doing well there too! And, the inexpensive part means that I was able to pick these up, guilt-free:

Vera Wang perfection! I also have the same shoe in flesh pink:

Delish, no?

And, when paired with my new bright pencil skirts (which look awesome on my newly healthified bod!) either pair look simply divine!

They also look fabulous with stovepipe jeans.

In other news, I think there's a gremlin in my basement... I'm missing three different boots, and one pair of heels. He's probably responsible for all the holes in my tights, too. Curses.

Fresh start.

Well, it's the beginning of another year, and what do we have to show for it? An expanded shoe wardrobe, of course!

Hopefully, a little more wisdom and some stories, as well.

It's been an eventful year for this shoe-anista! There were trips to New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans, then back to New York less than a week after touching ground again. There were birthday parties, and themed parties, and lots of memorable moments. And, of course, shoes to go with each.

This past week has been spent relaxing at my parents' house, in the sleepy little town of Gibsons, where my mum runs a successful clothing store, SWISH (check it out on facebook here), which facilitates all the trips to New York, as I am her assistant buyer. I'm also taking on another project, working on her facebook page and writing a style blog for SWISH as well.


All this relaxing means that I've spent most of my time in these:





These are my delicious pink slippers, a Christmas gift from years gone by, and the only suitable footwear for lounging around while watching horror films with your dad. While wearing charming pyjamas, and maybe a touch of blush and mascara. You never know when you'll be hosting unexpected houseguests.


I've worked a few days for my mum at SWISH, as it afforded us the perfect time to spend some quality time together, and it let me shop the leftovers of the season, and get a few good deals (hooray for family discount!!), including these little Candie's numbers:



I'm so excited to break these bad boys in! And, to save my poor toes, I bought about a thousand sets of gel toe cushions from the dollar store in town... Amazing, that I got them for 1$ a set, when the drugstore was going to charge me 7$ for the name brand ones...


Now, because it is the beginning of the year, I'm also going to be spending a lot more time in these:



Because, really, no list of New Year's resolutions is complete without a promise to one's self to get healthier and fitter. With so many sheath dresses in stores right now, a girl simply must be in tip-top shape to rock the look. Shoe shopping counts as cardio, right?

Happy New Year!