Goodbye to you - goodbye to my shoes...


This morning I woke to see the sun streaming in through my closet window shining on my array of shoes. Let me rephrase that - the sun was beaming on my piles of shoes. I live in a 100 year old home and the closets have windows for natural light. Due to refurbishing, my closet door is missing - which I found I actually like. Walking by my closet and seeing pretty things peek out at me makes me happy. Hey - to each their own!

Awakening to this obvious sign - clean your shoes out - I immediately set to work. When was the last time I did this, maybe a year ago? My husband always jokes about how many pairs of shoes I own. I can boil it down to a few reasons - deprivation to only 2 pairs growing up or maybe it's my Filipina roots (I could be related to Imelda Marcos).



I rifled through sandals, boots, flats, pumps and sorted: out of style, worn out, this will come back, classic, etc. I sadly held my favorite Franco Sarto ankle boots for the last time - one of the decorative buckles was broken. These were the hardest to part with.


After all was said and done I discarded 9 pair of shoes. They will go to Love, Inc. Burlington, WI's community outreach center. I counted every pair of shoes in my closet - 55 pair. Not too bad. Compared to Carrie Bradshaw's 100 pairs and Imelda Marcos' 1060 pairs my shoe collection is conservative.

Summer Surmising

Remember the lazy days of summer? To me the memory seems forever ago. I’m sad to say I don’t know if they exist anymore? Dog days is more like it!

I have yet to sit down and enjoy the sun with a drink in my hand and a book on my lap. The pace I’m going is dizzying. I am running from one activity to another. When I'm not taxi driver I am trying to cram in work and everyday home responsibilities.

Spur of the moment, which is all I seem to have these days, I decided to make a summer pact with myself.

I will:

1. spend one day at some form of water, beach or pool, not stressing.

2. try a new summer drink.

3. read something wicked fun.

4. have a grown up, girls only, getaway weekend.

5. of course splurge on a new summer outfit!

With a short list how can I not accomplish 90% of my goals? At least my toenails are painted. Pssstt….OPI Shootout at the OK Coral.

Take time out for yourself – enjoy a few idle summer days.


Goal #2 – Try a New Summer Drink

Pineapple Upside Down Martini


2/3 cup pineapple juice, chilled
1/3 cup vanilla vodka
1 oz. white cranberry juice
1 dash grenadine syrup
Pineapple wedges
Maraschino cherries


Pour juices, vodka and grenadine into a shaker full of ice. Shake, and pour into two fabulous martini glasses accessorized with flip flop wine charms. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple skewer. For an extra shot of sweetness rim your glass with cocktail sugar. Pomegranate or vanilla cocktail sugar goes well with this martini.

Cheers!

Chocolate City USA


Sleepy little Burlington, WI has a few claims to fame. One of them is the Nestle chocolate factory. At least once a week you can smell the scent of chocolate in the air - much like brownies. After a battle with Hershey, Pennsylvania Burlington, WI won the right to be called Chocolate City, USA.


Every year to commemorate its title Burlington, WI hosts Chocolate Fest - during Memorial Day week. Each year there is a different theme. The festivities include chocolate tasting, fair, parade, art shows, chocolate geocache, beauty pageant, concerts, chocolate carving contests, boat races, etc.

This year I was ecstatic to be asked to judge the second year of Project Yum-Way - similar to Project Runway. Instead of fabric the contestants had to design fashions with Nestle candy wrappers. It was soo fun - and I hope they ask me next year. We have some talent here!




I also helped serve Grounded Coffee Shop coffee in the Chocolate Experience tent for Chocolate Indulgence Wine & Chocolate tasting. Of course we wore Creations by Willy aprons, "Can-can Couture" - my tribute to Paris. I also discovered Europa Chocovine chocolate wine and Cholive Chruffles. Delicious!

If you are ever in this area of the Midwest during our Festival please stop and smell the chocolate.