Tuesday Shoesday

IT'S TUESDAY SHOESDAY!! 

...you have no idea what that means. That's okay. I just thought it up last night.

So I have a sincere love of shoes. I mean, don't all women? No surprise there. Shoes are the way to a woman's heart. I even joked around in college that I would marry the first man who bought me a pair of shoes. Well, if he had dimples. No dimples, no deal. Okay ANYWAYS back to the shoes. 

So since my love of shoes extends much further than my budget for shoes, I decided to occasionally do a "Tuesday Shoesday" post. This will either be of shoes recently purchased that I'm a huge fan of (like today), or it will be shoes on my wish list that I'm dying for and think you will too :) 

And since we're riiiiiight on the fence between summer and fall, I thought I'd kick it off with my two favorite pairs of wedges that are now ON SALE. 

Did you get that? Not only am I bringing really cute shoes to your attention, but I'm bringing really cute shoes that are ON SALE to your attention. You're welcome :)

So I love tall shoes, but in my (sigh) old age, I'm finding that my heels/wedges need to actually be somewhat sturdy and comfortable. I'm pretty sure that's the first sign of getting old, right? When you can no longer cram your foot into the sexy shoe and just grin and bear it?

Well let me tell you - these wedges? Comfortable. And see those wrap-around-the-ankle straps? Sturdy. I give you comfortable and sturdy. And on sale. In case you missed that. 

Michael Kors "Josephine" Wedge

First up we have the Michael Kors Josephine wedge, and I will say that when I first tried them on I thought there was NO way I was going to be able to walk in those things. And then I wore them once, broke them in, and they are now some ridiculously comfy shoes. They come in tan and black, but I personally liked the contrast of the wood in the black pair. 

 And right now they're 15% off at Nordies! See sizes/reviews here. 

Jessica Simpson "Jadyn" Wedge

 I love Jessica Simpson shoes. They're affordable, comfortable, and pretty dang cute. (Is anyone else singing "These Boots Were Made For Walkin?") So when I saw these online and read all the great reviews, I ordered me a pair! And let.me.tell.you. They are my go to pair of wedges. I loved wearing these puppies with shorts all summer. I felt like they made my legs look two feet longer :)

And get this: they ALSO come in tan and black. Imagine that. :) 

I bought mine at Nordstrom, but they're currently out of stock. You can find them on Zappos here.  Pssssst - free shipping!

So there you have it. The Jadyn and the Josephine. Both available in tan and black. The perfect transition shoe from the summer to the fall-that-will-not-even-feel-like-fall-for-another-two-months. 

Speaking of fall....What will be next?! Riding boots? Booties? Fuzzy slippers?! I am just waaay too excited about this Tuesday Shoesday thing. Plus it's really fun to say :) 

Have a great day everybody!

Until next time,
Katy

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Soooo here's the deal. 

This past weekend was the first time I ever experienced the Nordstrom annivesary sale. How? Why? I am so frustrated with my past self! Past Katy missed out on so many good sales! 

I walked straight to eBar, got an iced coffee, and headed directly to the shoe section. Shoes and iced coffee....I was in my happy place. And boy am I glad I had an iced coffee, cause the Nordy's Anniversary sale is NOT for the weary! By the end of the afternoon, my stomach was growling, my toes were cramping, and I literally still had bag bruises three hours after we stopped shopping. 

See? Bag bruises. Spelled d-e-d-i-c-a-t-i-o-n. 

Are you over the logistics? You wanna know the purchases? Okay okay okay....let's begin. 

I actually only had 3 things on my list: earrings, leopard heels, faux fur vest. Well, check check check....and then a few more checks. 

Kate Spade Earrings

Aren't they adorable!? I originally set out for the gold sparkly pair on the right. Aren't they just perfect for Baylor games? (side note: I'm actually looking forward to football season. Probably just because of the earrings) Love these studs. They're large enough to make a statement, even through long layered locks, but not heavy or too dressy. 

And they come in all different sparkle colors!

So then I was headed to check out and saw the blue ones. And they were Texas Ranger blue. So I naturally had to get them. 

Pssst. The blue ones weren't on sale.
Pssst. I also already have these studs in red.
(whispers) I think it's safe to say I really support these ear bobs!

Topshop Faux Fur Vest

I have always wanted a faux fur vest for the winter. It's like a socially acceptable fuzzy robe. And considering I'm wearing my fuzzy robe in July while I type this....I think it's justifiable that I need one for the wintertime. And why not buy one on sale?!

Don't you absolutely want to hug me right now? So cozy. And so cute. You can find the link to it here. Oh and getting dressed for this picture made me want to throw the tank tops in a drawer and pull out all scarves, vests, and boots. Bring on the fall. 

Sam Edelman Leopard Slingbacks 

 I think I became best friends with a shoe on Saturday. Don't we look good together? I've always been a shoe fanatic, because no matter how much Blue Bell you eat....your shoes will always fit. Plus they're just fun. Shoes make me happy. Find this sexy little slingback here.

So...confession. I originally went in for these, because they were actually part of the anniversary sale:

...buuuut then I saw the slingbacks and they won. They were only $15 more and it was worth it to me. Plus I don't have any slingbacks! Like my justification? I thought so. 

Cynthia Steffe Shift Dress

Funny story. After getting the three items on my list, I told Melissa and Kelsey I was done shopping. Then Melissa goes to a rack, picks up this dress, and told me it would look good on me. I replied with, "it's orange." She said "and it would look really good with those leopard slingbacks you're holding." 

 

So, sure 'nuff, tried on the dress...with the shoes...and fell in love. Like I told you on Monday, shopping with Melissa is both a blessing and a curse. :) 

You can find the dress here. 

AND

for your viewing pleasure...

Melissa was right. They do look pretty schnazzy together.

And finally...

(I know I said I was done but these caught me on the way to the parking garage. I really was leaving!)

Zella Yoga Pants 

I have always wanted some Zella work out gear, but I can't ever bring myself to pay the price. Y'all. These pants were $35 on the anny sale. Three five. That's SUCH a good deal for quality work out pants! And they're PURPLE. So I really had no choice in the matter.  Link to the pants here.

And those are my purchases! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale continues through August 3rd - don't miss out! There are a ton of great sales, and it's online too! Save yourself some bag bruises, shop in your jammies, and get those deals shipped to your doorstep (for free!)

Have a terrific Thursday! 

Until next time,
Katy 

Friday Favorites: Friend Edition

I am SUPER excited about today's favorites! Why? Well let me just tell you. 

The favorites below are not necessarily my favorites. (Though after looking through them all, they're quickly becoming some of my favorites). But this week I asked some of my girls to tell me their favorites! So I guess you could say these are some of my favorites' favorites. :)

Eeks!! So excited! Okay, here we go.

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Emily's Friday Favorite

Meet Emily. We're a lot alike. Our love languages consist of Blue Bell (yes, we're still loyal fans), cheesy Lifetime/Hallmark movies, puppies, porch swing chats, and spending time with our nephew/niece. 

Oh and we also bought tickets to the midnight showing of the Justin Bieber movie back in 2011. 

So Emily thought long and hard about her favorite and this is what she settled on:

The Wet Brush

According to Emily, this little puppy is "life changing." Oh and it's only about $10 at Target. Something life-changing for $10 is a must have. She claims that it cuts down on the post-shower hair brush by about 90% (and I've seen Em try to tackle lake tangles....it ain't pretty). 

I have one of these little nuggets and I can attest to its miraculous ways. What I don't understand is it looks exactly like a normal brush. Therefore it just has to have super power bristles. That's really the only answer. If you have long hair - you need this brush. It's a must have for your summer.

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Kristie's Friday Favorite

Kristie is a girl you want in your corner. She's blunt (the good kind), super supportive, and practical. Oh and she's one of those who can watch HGTV....and then actually make it happen in her home. We share a love of bubble baths and Luke Bryan. 

And Kristie is SO practical, that when she sent me her favorite it was in a bulleted outline format with hyperlinks. :)

Rebecca Minkoff Handbags

This is what Kristie is drooling over loving these days. She originally found them on Like to Know It (she's actually the one who taught me about that little nugget of information) and has been researching ever since! See her favorite three below:

Left // Love Crossbody //  Black, Fog, Khaki
Center // Mini MAC // Smoke, Ice, or fun colors like Nautical (yay!), Pink, or Ultraviolet
Right // Quilted Affair // Black, Ice, and Seashell

The Love Crossbody and Quilted Affair also come in mini-versions if you so wish. Kristie also provided a nice lil tidbit: if you're in Texas and order one from Bloomingdales, you don't have to pay sales tax! (Cause we don't have Bloomies here). Thanks to this favorite I might be treating myself to a little birthday gift next month :)

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Lauren's Friday Favorite

Lauren and I were roomies for two whole years! We met on our internship and immediately hit it off (thank you 15-hour workdays!) Then Lauren abandoned us moved to Fort Worth to be with her soon-to-be-coming-in-December HUBS! OH - and we're also huge huge fans of Mix and Match Mama and feel like she's our friend :)

I will say - I half expected her favorite to involve an elephant. Girl loooves her some elephants!

But alas, she chose...

Vail, Colorado

"Colorado in the summertime is hands down the best place in the world!!!  (disclaimer: I haven't been many places in the "world" outside of the United States ;) but I bet it still rivals some foreign destinations, too!)  Growing up, my family would take two trips to Colorado every year--one over Spring Break to ski and one right before school started to escape the 100+ degree days in Oklahoma. Skiing is great and all, but nothing beats Colorado in July/August... especially VAIL!! 

It's the perfect weather.  It gets plenty hot during the day but the evenings are in the 60s and there's almost always an afternoon thunderstorm, which is perfect for napping (Katy knows how much I love my afternoon naps). [KR: I've never met anyone that can match this girl's ability to nap!] My favorite part about Colorado in the summer is how much there is to do.  And most of it is outdoorsy.  Hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, horseback riding in the mountain, 4-wheeling, some of the best farmers' market shopping you'll ever experience... I could go on and on.  I haven't been in two years and I'm dying to go... like now!  Vail, Colorado just makes me a happy girl.  If you're planning a trip, hit me up!! I'd love to give you some tips (and sneak myself into your luggage). Mmkay, thanks!"

 Straight from the girl's mouth - you heard her! Get yo'self to Vail! ...and watch for a Lauren in your luggage....

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Lisa's Friday Favorite

Lisa = Laughter

That's really all there is to it. She will instantly fill your heart with joy and turn any day into fun. She's a chef. Who can sing. And create. Anything. She can create anything. You should get to know her. And you can do so on her blog.

Oh and she's Monica and I'm Rachel.

"FlavorGod" Seasonings

"While this clean-eating, paleo meal-preppin master is all about a fully loaded spice cabinet, I'm also about efficiency. [KR: Yet the girl doesn't respond to alarms or wake-up calls....] After seeing rave reviews of this confidently named "FlavorGod" company, I had to give his seasonings a try myself! Hand-ground from fresh herbs and spices, plus completely healthy and preservative free, the flavor combos are just what I want without me having to combine it all myself.

Start out with a combo pack of the four original flavors and you cannot go wrong. I had never thought of ordering my spices online but large bottles and free shipping make this investment totally worth finding its way to your kitchen.

Side Tip: "Everything Spicy Seasoning" makes some BANGIN Sweet Potato Hash."

Well there you have it. Who doesn't want their food to be "bangin'?" Yeah I'm totally getting some of this. OR maybe I'll just stick myself in Lisa's kitchen for a taste test :) You can get the goods here.

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Kelsey's Friday Favorite 

Kels is my current roomie! We've actually lived together quite a few times over the years. The few years we didn't, we would still act like we did and watch TV shows together by starting the DVR at the exact same time and texting throughout. Things are a little easier when you share a couch :) 

In college, wherever there was a Katy there was a Kelsey, and wherever there was a Kelsey there was a Katy. It was just the way things were. 

So here's the thing. When I first asked Kelsey to choose a favorite, she chose Gatsby (her dog). I told her no ma'am, and that while he was indeed her favorite, that was cheating. SO - then she decided on No-Leg Larry, and when she sent me all the pictures, I just had to approve :)

No-Leg Larry

I die laughing every time I look at these photos. If a cup of coffee and No-Leg Larry can't make you smile on this Friday morning, I'm not sure what can :) Man I love this little dog.

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And there you have it! Those are some of my favorites' favorites! And as a bonus round - this picture has been sent to me probably 30 times in the past 48 hours:

Not wanting to make light of the flooding problems by any means, I just think it's humorous that everyone knows how serious I am about my Blue Bell. 

Happy weekend everyone! Enjoy the last bits of May 2015 to the fullest. For those of you that are in the Texas/Oklahoma region...hang in there. It looks like it's going to be another rainy one...

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..

Until next time,
Katy

Like to Know It

.....ummmm. I just found out what this is. And I am fully aware that that statement may have just made me a total loser but y'all. I am amazed at this little program. 

My [way more 'in the know'] friend Kristie informed me of this last week, and due to being sick all week/end, I've spent quite a few hours familiarizing myself. Much to the detriment of my bank account. 

So, let's discuss.

What is it?

It's basically as if a virtual magazine/catalog meets a personal stylist - and you get advice without having to deal with real people. Did you follow? No? Okay. Let's try the how.

How does it work?

So you follow certain fashionistas on instagram, and then if you double tap, or 'like,' their photo, you get an email with every item of the outfit and a link to where you can buy it! How convenient is that? And I'm talking e.v.e.r.y. item in that photo: shoes, hats, accessories, lipstick - all of it. So it's on a don't ask, don't tell basis. If you follow someone and you only like a few of her outfits - you only get the information about those specific outfits. 

You can watch the official "how to" video here.

Why is it dangerous awesome? 

Because it's so convenient! ...almost too convenient. For example, I'm going on a beach vacation in a little over a month, so I'm on the lookout for all things beachy -- hats, bags, sunglasses, beachy maxi dresses, etc. Well ladies and gentlemen, the search is over, and I don't have to set foot in a store. Can I get an amen??

Plus, I'm not a good shopper. I'll be the first to admit. I'm a manikin-shopper. I walk in, and if the manikin is wearing it, I'll likely buy it. Am I proud of my lack of ability to dress trendy? No. But I'm real. So I might as well let the people that are good at it do it and I'll just learn from them!

Who should I follow?

Once you sign up, you can search the "featured" outfits to find certain stylists. If you find someone you like, I would check the price ranges of their items. If they have a larger closet budget than you do - it's not going to be as much fun. Find someone who makes outfits in your price range. Or, if you're like me, just ask your friends who are already well-versed in this trend who they follow :)

Here are my top three followers as of the moment:

@a_southerndrawl

@emilyanngemma

@blushingbasics

If you have other people I need to follow - please tell me. I'm pretty excited about this little nugget of knowledge I just embarked upon. And I cleaned out my closet/chest this weekend (take that May goals!) so I'm all kinds of ready for some new wardrobe pieces :)

Hope everyone has a fantastic Monday!!

Until next time,
Katy

Kendra Scott

Ahhhh Kendra Scott. A name my sweet boyfriend had never heard of a year ago and is very familiar with now. As all good men with women are :)

Buying my first pair of Kendra Scott earrings (back in 2011) was like trying to eat just one piece of the pie. I had just started working, was trying to be frugal, and would just spend hours on Kendra's website. Wanting and drooling. 

I decided to treat myself with the justification that I'd "just get one." One pair. Then I'd be good. Haha. Ahh yes, the extremely skewed mind of a female. 

My first pair, and the most commonly known pair, was the Danielle earring. I bought them in white, wore them to death, and now have them in about 4 other different colors. They're just a good earring, people. 

Some people complain about the weight of the earrings, but I guess I just have tough earlobes cause they never really bother me....and I wear them frequently. If you want the smaller version try the Elle. For me, bigger is better cause I got lotsa hair. My earrings have to be able to hold their own.

Recently I've been 'branching out' and buying some additional pieces. Are you proud? I was proud. So proud. Go me. 

First we'll start with the bracelet I shared on my Friday Favorites a few weeks ago.

The Andy Bracelet

I got the Goldstone (a pretty shimmery burnt orange color), but they have over twenty different color combos. Surely you'll find one (or seven) that are to your liking :)

Andy - Navy Cat's Eye

Andy - Rose Quartz

Andy - Gold and Black

 So that's my recent find in the bracelet world. Moving on to necklaces...

The Connely Necklace

I purchased the Kiri in white pearl last summer, and the Rayne necklace in turquoise towards the end of last year, but to celebrate our one year dating mark, sweet Jeff bought me this gorgeous statement necklace! (And word on the streets is he contacted the experts for approval - so thanks Kels!)

This is the Connely in gold/iridescent slate. Isn't it pretty? And it goes with pretty much anything and everything. Our one year was in January (aka still scarf season) so I'm super excited to completely overwear it this spring/summer. I wore it to our Newsies date the other night. Isn't it perfect?! Thanks, dear :)

Now onto earrings...

The Alexandra Earrings

When I was deciding what to wear to the ACMs, I knew I wanted a simple dress with some big fancy statement earrings. My friend Emily wore these Alexandra earrings to a Christmas party last year, and I'd been thinking about them ever since. So what better reason to treat yourself than a once in a lifetime experience like the ACMS?! ...I should have been a lawyer. I can justify anything. 

 And again - these puppies come in a bajillion different colors, as well as a smaller version (the Alex).

So there you have it! My three most recent Kendra finds. OH - and for Mama's day I got my precious mom a KS treat of her own :)

This is the Elton bracelet in turquoise. Doesn't it look awesome on her?! I knew the color would look great against her olive complexion (that I did NOT get and am pretty bitter about). And I just love it. It was definitely one of those purchases where you reach the cashier and second guess if you just want one :) But I was strong. I behaved!

...but I can't promise it won't be an item on my next Kendra finds :)

Happy Monday everyone. If it's a rough one, treat yoself. 

And in case it's a REALLY rough Monday (which some of them are doosies), here's a 2-minute video of golden puppies taking their first swim. You're welcome. Around the one-minute mark is my favorite :)

Until next time,
Katy