This past Friday night, I was deceptively led through The Marketplace at Eden, a specialty food store, and told that this would be a place for our “outing.” I’m open to new things, so I was cool … like “whatever, don’t expect a second ‘outing’ if this grocery store-dinner doesn’t go right.” You know I had to say “yes,” right, to the setting?! Saying yes leads to the possible … Anywho!

Having injured my leg the day before, I wallowed through the store and was directed to a hallway with stairs which led to a mystery place that sat on the 2nd floor.  And I thought: “This should be great for the throbbing pain I just told you about.” I smiled, grinned and went along with IT anyway as he leveled me by holding my hand and might I add attracting many onlookers … He was wide eye and grinning like a Cheshire. Having climbed two flights of stairs, I walked through mahogany double doors, and the Mediterranean opened up before my eyes. I found myself at Above of South Orange, NJ !

Fresh food and faces. We chatted immensely, making the server return 3x for our drink order and 4x for our dinner order. Besides, I’m very indecisive when ‘out’ and can never decide on what’s best to eat! (Hmm ..) He had the vegetarian dish. I had the sea scallops.

Just before dessert, we conversed with a neighboring table, two much older couples on a double date who insisted on the chocolate chip gelato for dessert! “Mmmm, mmmm, mmm,” they raved.

Still much in pain and pleased with a fabulous evening, I spotted the one thing that could bring this memory into recollection, a shoe association that could immediately recall these bountiful images and ‘breath of fresh air’–the DVF Avalon Ankle Boots. One of the ladies wore them with a black shirt, slim jeans, waist-length black, leather jacket and a cute cabbie hat, for it drizzled, rained, and drizzled all night long!

They, the neighboring couples, kept rambling on about their babysitter and her needs, but I, at that moment, continued to covet the leather, platform, polished-just-before-dinner DVF ankle boots she wore and stuffed myself with made-to-perfection pumpkin gelato set in crust topped with walnuts and drizzled caramel with a dollop of whip cream dessert!! Pheww … yes it was a lot to take in at once!

It was a cloying, delightful, spotting affair! Sighs* And there they are …

Diane von Furstenberg Avalon Ankle Boots

Found this on Divine Caroline site. See the spring as a heel.

Barbara Keith’s My Red High Heel

Mark Schwartz Champagne and High Heels Part 2

ArtofLosing’s High Heel and Latex

Did you know that you can still turn in three empty lipsticks at M.A.C and get one free? Are you checking your make up for the empty pots? I didn’t know that the promotion was still going on until Saturday. And I’m glad I found out … I just might have three!

I also found some pink favorites …

Girl About Town Lipstick

Trimming Talk Lipstick

Milan Mode Lipstick

Elizabeth and James Dagger Necklace

Roberto Cavalli Serpent Purse

Nars Matte Lipstick Heatwave

Chanel Polish in Vamp

Pelle Moda Pump Sachi

Italian Wedding Cake Martini- This is my all-time favorite at my all-time favorite restaurant–Brio–here in Charlotte. It’s sweet, and it has a kick of amaretto and pineapple.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Superfine sugar for dipping
• Twisted peel of lemon
• The vodka, triple sec, sugar and lemon juice go into an ice filled shaker.



All I can say is “I’m so ready to get off of work and enjoy good friends, good eats, and great cocktails. And it’s only 7 am. ” Hope you enjoy your day.

Top it off with an after work affair!

Black veils send me shivering the fear that part of me is dying

19

Rosie Meres dances with Katy Carr et al. at the Royal Opera House

See You Jimmy..

The mix of purse porn and social media savvy worked so well in my Social Media Purse Personalities post, I thought I’d try my hand (or foot) at a similar take on shoes. Here’s what Facebook and other online friending sites would look like on your feet.

Twitter

Sexy, with a precariously high heel, this strappy slingback or sandal gets right to the point, leaving little to the imagination, and prides itself on unique details like feathers, bows or glitter. Perhaps an “out there” concept for many, but a perfect fit for fashion-forward, futuristic thinkers.

Facebook

A must-have look that few can pull off, but almost all try, nearly everyone you know has some variation of this seasonal style. This iconic piece of footwear is immortalized in nearly every photo of “right now” and represents socially accessible couture.

MySpace

High, high, attention grabbing heels that are nearly impossible to walk in, these brightly patterned shoes go with next to nothing and are one of those pairs you can never seem to remember why you don’t wear–until you put them on after a few months of more sensible styles.

Friend Feed

Function first, fashion second, these are the shoes you wear on your way to work. Or in the rain, or when you want to save room on packing. They’re versatile, and comfortable, and while you won’t be featured in Vogue anytime soon, they look OK and make up for their fashion flaws with wearability.

LinkedIn

The rounded toe on this classic pump isn’t cutting edge fashion, but works with conservative looks and provides a flattering view of your legs. This shoe is sensible for work, with a heel that elongates with just the right amount of oomph, allowing you to put your best foot forward.

Julia’s recommended products:

Band-Aid Active Friction Block Stick: It’s invisible — you can’t really get any better than that!

Johnson & Johnson First Aid Secure-Comfort Cloth Tape 1 in x 5 yds: not the most glamorous of solutions, but when your feet are in bad shape, this will protect those injured spots from getting way worse.

Nexcare Liquid Bandage Drops: almost invisible, this has a “snakeskin” like effect and will give you a tougher layer for shoes to rub through. Put this one before you start to have issues, if you feel your sandals may be problematic.

Sweaty Pedi: Not only do I love the name of this product, but it is multi-function; it absorbs sweat, protects your feet against blisters, and gets rid of bacteria.

Inspired by a) my purse obsession and recent acquisition of 2 gorgeous new bags and b) Carrie Bradshaw’s abandoned Vogue column that made men the new accessories for fall, I started thinking about the social networking sites I frequent online and the subtle differences in their personalities and uses. Naturally, to a handbag hound like me, my mind quickly traveled to “purse personalities” and voila!

Twitter

Small, possibly sparkly, most definitely brand new and largely impractical, this is one of those bags that no matter how silly some people think it is, you simply can’t live without it. You also probably can’t stop gushing about how much you love it. It goes with you to all the most important events–almost like it had to bear witness to be real.

Facebook

Your “of the minute” bag, this one gets a lot of use in a short period of time before fashion changes and you give your look an overhaul. You update this “go to” bag every few months but like to hang on to the older versions for nostalgia’s sake and put them back in the rotation every once in a while--it’s kind of like reacquainting with an old friend.

MySpace

Kind of tacky, maybe a little bit gaudy, and most definitely not your basic black or brown, you bought this one on sale and rarely bring it out from the back of the closet. But it goes with one or two outfits so you keep it around and wait for the perfect chance to wear it–then wish you didn’t when you realize how attention-starved it makes you look.

FriendFeed

Big, oversized and kind of clunky, this catch-all is more of a tote than a handbag and is most definitely meant for over-the-shoulder use. But it serves its purpose and holds whatever you can throw in it, so while it’s not exactly “in style,” it’s useful and not totally hideous–all in all, not your favorite, but you see the utility and it gets the job done.

LinkedIn

More structured than the rest, this bag has sturdy lines and a boxy, professional look to it. So while it’s not the most fun purse on the rack, it’s definitely practical and a must have for every “working” (not in that way) girl. It doesn’t quite match your everyday look, but it’s nice to break out once a week or so–just to make sure you don’t stray too far from the professional path.

Maintaining your tootsies goes beyond your weekly pedicure. Everyday you should be paying attention to the comfort of your feet. If you’re wearing high heels, you’re putting stress on your feet and chances are that you are feeling that stress at the end of the day. Fortunately there are therapeutic accessories that you can purchase to help you keep your feet feeling good and stress-free.

Dr. Scholl’s Open Shoe Insoles

These discreet insoles contain a massaging gel and are slim enough to wear with sandals and open-toed shoes. After all, your “killer heels” shouldn’t literally kill your feet. Available at Drugstore.com.

Flex-Tastic Toe Separators

Okay, this pair of toe separators may look weird, but after wearing a pair of heels for eight hours or being on your feet all day, your feet will thank you for the five minutes you spend wearing Flex-Tastic. This funky-looking product straightens out your toes, de-stresses your feet and aids in circulation. Think of it as yoga for your toes. Available at Walgreens.

Herbal slippers

Who knew aromatherapy and herbal therapy could be  good for your feet? These plush slippers are packed with lavender, chamomile and other soothing herbs and can be microwaved for added warmth and comfort. Available at Uncommon Goods. 

photo credit: dichohecho