Inspired by Amanda…a Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Because I am missing them so, so much right now. Snapped on bath night on Tuesday with my Blackberry which explains the quality…but look at that sweet smile.
I have my list.
It has 7 pairs of shoes on it (including these that you know I ain’t leaving home without).
And 8 pairs of pants in varying forms.
And a whole pile of other stuff I probably won’t need while I’m at Blissdom.
I’m a bundle of nerves and excitement.
I’m worried to death that one of the boys will get sick.
Blissdom is finally here and I’m beside myself excited. I leave in just a bit to drive up and I can’t wait. Borrowed clothes borrowed shoes, borrowed computer (because as much as he says he can live without it, 5 days without a computer will not do for Hunter), borrowed car.
My niece is loaning me her netbook which should be hilarious. But I really won’t need it for much. It appears I’ll be too busy having fun and learning and meeting people.
We all decided taking my dad’s car was probably a better idea than my nearly 12-year-old car with 200K+ miles on it. :) It calms worries for my dad who is not liking my driving all the way alone. Never mind I drive from one end of the state to the other all the time for work? He loves me.
I’m wishing I had another webcam so I could see my boys. But phones will have to do.
Ready or not, Nashville, here I come!
For years, I’ve been lusting after these shoes right here:
I know some of you are thinking…really? Well, you can just sit on the fence with Hunter then because he says they are the ugliest shoes in the world. But I have loved them forever! They have simply been out of my price range since the first day I saw them.
These shoes are called Wallabees and they are made by Clarks. The average cost is around $125 a pair which I realize is ridiculously high. And that’s the full reason I’ve never owned a pair. I’ve scoured thrift stores for them. Nothing.
At Thanksgiving, my aunt asked me what size shoe I wore. ”An 8 or around there. Why?” Oh, I have this pair of shoes like Jena [my cousin] wears and I hate them. I’m going to donate them. Do you know anyone who wears a 9?” “What kind of shoes?,” I asked.
“Wallabees.”
STOP THE WORLD.
Me (eyes about to pop): “You’re going to donate a pair of WALLABEES?”
Now, I did the right thing. I asked my friends. Even my bestest online friend. No one wore a 9.
Then my cousin said it: ”What if you just wore some of those thick socks you’re always wearing?”
Stop the world.
I walked across the street to her house the next day and tried them on with my favorite wool socks.
Ya’ll. They fit like a dream. I think the angels smiled. Seriously.
Tied up snugly, they hug my foot. I love them. I always tell my friends that they’re like walking around on little clouds because the soles are so cushiony and soft. My feet never hurt, even after a full day. I forget to take them off, they’re that comfortable; this is from the girl who prefers barefoot to anything.
And best of all? They were FREE. Possibly my best score yet.
I promise you, I wear them at least 4 days a week and all weekend. I’ve figured out how to incorporate them into my work wardrobe. I wear them out and about. I wear them to church. Don’t believe me?
Here they are this morning:
craptastic photo courtesy of my Blackberry
I do like them Sam I am.
Y’all know I’m as frugal as they come. I hate wasting money and I am often amazed at what people spend on clothes. But I am telling you, Clark’s Wallabees are completely worth it. I am now a customer for life. I will gladly hand over the money for my next pair (possibly in the right size) of Wallabees.
And I have found these Wallabee Chics now that I am lusting after:
Adorable aren't they?!? Hint, Hunter...HINT!
But for now, I will wear my size 9 shoes with a smile on my face and a skip in my step.
What’s your favorite shoes?
(Clarks has no idea who I am but if they’re looking for shoe testers, I will gladly sign up! )
If you’re seeing this and you were reading Blue Ridge Mountain Mama, don’t worry! You’re in the right place!
Blue Ridge Mountain Mama has changed to Life Imperfectly! I’m so excited about this change. There’s a lot of reasons behind my changing my blog (you can read my thoughts here) but mostly, I changed to WordPress and changed my name all at the same time. It’s been a nail biter, let me tell you!
And there’s a lot of things wrong I’m sure but we’re here. Whew! We’ll brush the dust off the place as we go. It may look a little wonky here and there, but I’ll figure it all out (or save up the money to hire someone who knows what they’re doing!)
Welcome to Life Imperfectly!
I’m a little excited about something that’s coming up for me.
My fantastically awesome husband is being nothing but supportive of my going to this conference that I’ve been wishing to attend for 3 years now.
I am beyond excited and nervous. It’s more than a little out of my comfort zone to go to an event like this without knowing someone. I mean, I do it for work sometimes but that’s different. I have to go. This is for me. Because I want to. Because I want to learn more about social media and how to harness its power for personal and professional reasons, and how to be a better blogger. And, because I want to meet other people who love their online lives as much as I do mine.
Other than online, I don’t “know” anyone that’s going but honestly, I don’t care. I know I’m going to have a blast and I know I am going to meet some absolutely awesome people.
The nerves are there. The feelings of inadequacy when it comes to blogging are there because let’s face it, I’m not a very good blogger. My blog isn’t a whole lot to talk about and the design is several years old. It’s all those little things…my old computer, the no tablet, the lack of an iPhone…all those things that I don’t have. The clothes…gah. The worry that my roommate (who I know online but not in “real life”) will hate me. I could go on and on and on. I’m really, really good at anxiety. (And who’s going to care what computer or cell phone I have or what clothes I wear? Really?)
But, its going to be fine. Fine. FINE. I’m going to get there (without getting too awful lost). My roommie and I are going to like each other (we do online! lol). I’m going to meet people that I’ve been waiting months and months to meet. I’m going to meet new people. I don’t need to worry about sitting alone in sessions. I don’t need to worry about my clothes quite so much. It’s going to be fine. FINE. (I’m yelling at myself here).
Because the most important thing is….I’m going. To Blissdom! I’m giddy. If I could squeal like a little girl right now, I would. And I’m not that kind of girl!
I leave in 13 days. (((NERVES))))
Is anyone else going?
