SHOES, SHOES, SHOES!!!!!

I'm a late bloomer. I started wearing contacts at 17, I am still barely 5 feet tall and I have been a size 6 shoe since the seventh grade. Shoes are something that I always hated to shop for when I was young. So many colors to choose from, so much pain to bear, why are women faced with such hard decisions?

Besides award ceremonies or violin recitals, there was no need for me to buy heels. My sister… she always rocked them. She had her heels living like thieves in her closet shelves nicely stacked in their original boxes.

But there comes a time when every woman falls in love with a pair shoes. And it starts with just one dangerous pair. It can come to her when she walks in the store and sees the heels of her dreams on a high and prestigious shelf. It can unexpectedly take her by surprise when another woman confidently walks by in gorgeous platform pumps. For my sister, it happened when she tried on my mother’s red leather pumps at 2 years old. For me, it happened when I needed to buy work shoes for Spain. It started with one pair and then I saw a couple more on sale. And then I realized my mom had a coupon and another pair just fell into my hands.

So I went a little crazy this weekend and now I have a haul of shoes to share with you.

Take a look at some of the shoes I will be taking with me to Spain:

Nine West "Nuncio" - I was reliably informed that these shoes are the most comfortable for work. Once I tried them on, I understood why. The kitten heel and pointed toe create a "flat" effect making it feel like you are not in dress heels.

Libby Edelman "Alice" Flats - Absolutely the most comfortable flats I have ever owned. The groves on the sole prevent the notorious feeling of walking on the floor while wearing typical flats. They are so light almost like a leather jeweled Croc but trust me, in a good way.

Michael Kohrs Cone Stretch Sandal - These babies are about a year old. My aunt bought them for me for my birthday. They are really easy to walk it and they are the edgiest sandals I own.

Mossimo "Vivien" Sandals - I got these on Easter weekend with my sister. She loved them too so she bought a pair as well. They've gotta be good if the queen of shoes buys them right?

Mossimo "Pearce" Pumps - I lied. This is where it started. With these babies. When I bought these nude pumps in the fall I realized that comfortable heels existed outside of Payless. Sorry Payless ;)

Carlos Santana "I Believe 2" Heels - The award winners for beauty. Just got these last week. They compliment my warm undertone beautifully. LOVE LOVE!!

Stephanie & Kristine's Spain Luncheon Recap

I am a little late with this report but better late than never! Last week on April 18th, Kristine and I packed 100 lunches into to-go boxes. Eighty seven lunches were sold. Huge thanks to USF Admissions, USF Athletics, Green and Gold Guides and the USF Foreign Language Department.

Here's the run-down of the timeline of events leading up to the luncheon:

Friday: Went home with Kristine with intentions to be productive but we just lounged all day :)

Saturday: Mom/Daughter double date at The Elephant Bar (highly recommend). We exchanged some groceries that Kristine's mom, Lynn, donated to us. This was also the day where we cooked up a storm. I went home with my mom to cook the chicken and rice and Kristine and her mom made cheescakes.

Sunday: Kristine and I had an empanada factoty on Sunday. We made 100 empandas and a couple extra as a congratulatory gift to ourselves :)

Monday: We sold 95 lunches and made $600 even!!

Thank you again to all who purchased! A special thank you to my neighbor, Carol, who donated the to-go boxes. We couldn't have done it without them.

Beef Empanadas - My hands were sore after folding them!

Chicken Legs seasoned and ready to be baked!

Chef Kristine and Chef Stephanie

Primers Unveiled.

Many makeup lovers claim that Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (UDPP) is brilliantly crafted to prime the eyes and prevent eye shadow creasing all day long. I won’t deny that. However, I received a travel size Primer Potion with my Naked Palette and found that MAC Paint Pots are better in my opinion.

Sure, UDPP has adorable packaging (which wastes product), but the overall feel of the primer is oily and not as “sticky” as the MAC Paint Pots. That stickiness is a necessity for eye shadows with stubborn fallouts.

For a while UDPP had color over Paint Pots with many people asking, “Why buy so many Paint Pots in different colors when you can get the colorless primer potion?” Well now UD is selling primer potions in four new colors and is charging more for their new squeezable tubes. If I am looking for a colored base that can be used as a primer and as an all-over eye color, I am going to use the more affordable and reliable MAC Paint Pot.

For those of you who have UDPP, I have two tips for you:

1. Never throw it out without cutting it open with a knife and re-potting the excess product.

2. When looking for a colorless base, choose MAC’s Painterly, Rubenesque, Soft Ochre or Bare Study Paint Pots.

MAC Paint Pots - $16.50

Urban Decay Primer Potions - $19

Great cause, great friends, great times ... sleep can wait.

What an interesting start to my weekend. Last night, April 8th, I participated in Relay for Life. I did this previously at my high school, but never spent the night. So naturally, I had to do it this time around with my G3's (Green and Gold Guides) even though I knew my weekend was way to busy to miss out on sleep. BUT they had me at hello with Zumba at 6 a.m.!!

So I literally got zero sleep while I was there. Came back at 7ish in the morning and got about an hour sleep before meeting my girls at Cracker Barrell for breakfast. Although I am a tad loopy, infested with bug bites and victimized by dark circles at this point, IT WAS WORTH IT. We raised close to $800 for a beautiful cause and that's all that matters. Great cause, great friends, great times ... sleep can wait. :)

About those dark circles: Nothing concealer cant fix.

I recommend:

Mac Select Cover-up

NYX Concealer in a Jar

Japan Matters.

My friend, Monica, is selling these "Pray for Japan" bracelets. Before the catastrophic earthquake stampeded through the country, she planned to go on a missions trip to Japan. Now there is a louder calling for her help and she is selling these bracelets for $5 in order to help fragile communities in aid and in faith. Friends of USF contact me if you are interested in playing a part.

Magic in a Bottle.

I am dying to try OPI's Katy Perry line! The line consists of five polishes and one of them is unlike anything I have ever seen before. This particular polish creates a shattered effect to the nails. You apply a base coat of whatever color you want and then apply the black lacquer over the base coat. The black will begin to crack as it dries!! Below is a photo of the outcome. Its a little piece if magic in a bottle!

OPI Shattered Nail Polish in Black Shatter

Different in a GOOD way.

Charlotte Russe Black & White Polka-Dotted Romper &

Mossimo nude pumps

Forever 21 "Sheet" Dress

In celebration of completing the application process and paying the deposit for my Spain trip, I started looking at my closet today and putting together potential outfits for this summer! Accessories to come. I'm thinking a bright colored bag with the romper would look great! As for the "Sheet"dress .... talk about exciting!! Picture a square piece of fabric sewn on the sides and tied in the top by braided tassels. Never bought anything like it and my aunt had to convince me, but I am glad I got it. Definitely different.. in a good way!!