Our Little Geekling

I had lunch with a friend today, A, and we were talking about shoes after lunch (while window-shopping. It wasn’t completely random) and she said she hates TOMS shoes. I wear a pair of TOMS almost every day. Of course I get that there are discrepancies about the company’s “good” deeds, and that the shoes are somewhat expensive for what you get, but I like that I’m buying a pair of shoes for someone in a third-world country every time I get a new pair. And I also like the shoes. They’re simple and I think they’re cute and they are SO comfortable. But I have several friends that don’t like the way they look, discrepancies about the company’s mission aside. I said that I worried about buying Eriana a pair of Tiny TOMS because I’d heard that the kids shoes aren’t super durable, and I’ve had all of mine for at least a year.

A asked, though, if they’re worth it for the cost if they don’t last very long, and I was confused. I said that I don’t think I’ve ever had a pair of shoes last much longer than a year if they’re worn regularly. She said she has some shoes she’s had since high school (we graduated in 2000). She asked about sandals (which I don’t wear that often anyway), and I said that I guess I’m pretty hard on shoes. A pair of sandals I bought this summer are already scuffed. ALL of my TOMS are scuffed on the toes. I’m clumsy, and I’m hard on shoes, I guess.

This… isn’t normal? My Keen boots (similar to, but not exactly like the ones linked to) that I bought in 2009 have lasted me a few winters, but I didn’t wear them much the last two years, either (due to swollen pregnancy feet and/or fairly warm winters). I have some dress shoes in REALLY bad shape that I still wore because I’m cheap. I had some flip-flops I bought in 2002 that I finally replaced this spring, but I wore MAYBE once a year (if that). I also have a pair of flip-flops that I only wear to/from pedicures (which I don’t often get) that I’ve had for several years, but bought just for that reason (I was wearing boots on my way to a pedicure and didn’t want to have to wear the papery sandals they give you to wear, so I bought a pair of flimsy sandals for ~$3. I have some shoes in really good condition that I never wear (a pair of silver dressy shoes I’ve worn maybe 3 times in 5 years, a couple of pairs of boots I bought when pregnant and before I stopped wearing heels everyday and have worn maybe twice each in three years, etc.), and I have some shoes in TERRIBLE condition that I just haven’t yet thrown out. The only shoes that are still in good wearing condition that I wear often are workout shoes, and they’re only in good condition because you can wear running shoes for things other than running for much longer than you can wear them to run.

So. How long do YOUR shoes last?

So. You guys know that I have a few tattoos. I have an angel on my right ankle* (obviously, for our Angel),

Eriana’s name on the inside of my left wrist, written in Jim’s handwriting,

and two daisies on my left foot, for my little sister and me, both April birthdays, for which daisy is the birth flower.

I’ve been thinking that I’d like to get a tattoo for our miscarried baby, but I don’t know what to get. The baby wasn’t developed enough for us to know the sex or to name it. We didn’t really even have a due date, though we suspected I would deliver in mid-late November. We just don’t have much to go on. Do I get a three because it was my third pregnancy? Do I get the November birth flower (mum)? Do I get a small heart (or three hearts linked together somehow)? I just don’t know. But I want something.

Also, where? I want to only get tattoos in places I can easily cover, should I have a career someday and need to dress in professional clothing. So my collarbone is out, the back of my neck is probably out since I wear my hair up almost every day. Maybe my shoulder? Or the top of my right foot? Or my left ankle? The top of my back? My forearm (although that’s probably not super hideable in short sleeves)?

You’re smart, Internet. What say you?

*The Angel tattoo was done by my friend Jason, in Japan, shortly after we lost our baby. (He was stationed there and I worked with his wife.) He drew it on my ankle with a marker, then filled it in. He is AWESOME. If you’re in the Buffalo, NY area, he just opened a new shop in West Seneca (see the contact info on Facebook here). Not only is he an incredible artist, he’s a great guy, and his wife is awesome, too, so that’s worth noting. You can see the tattoo he covered in this picture, but normally it isn’t super noticeable unless you know it’s there (it was a cross with music notes that I got when I was 18).

Y’all. Can we talk about my face for a minute, please? I mean, I don’t want you to tell me what’s wrong with it, and I don’t want you to tell me that I’m pretty. This is not a request for complaints or compliments about my face.

Here is my face, sans makeup.

Here are the cosmetics I use everyday (I have a darker eyeliner that I wear when I go “out.”) (Also: I typically wear L’Oreal brand, but there was a bunch of CG on clearance last time I bought makeup, and I’m not happy with it. Basically my makeup is: moisturizer, base under eyes and on blemish/red spots, brownish eyeliner and brown/black mascara. And chapstick.)

Here is my face after makeup.

I think it’s pretty obvious that I focus on my eyes. Without makeup my eyelashes are pretty invisible, and my eyes sort of disappear.

My problem here is that I HATE makeup, but those bags under my eyes have GOT to go. I’m only 30. I sort of look 45 in that picture. And every picture, apparently. What do I do about those bags, you guys? I don’t want to wear a whole face full of thick makeup, and I don’t want to spend more than 5 minutes on my face everyday, but I have to do something. Suggestions?

So, since I wrote a practical post on things I wanted to buy (and did buy much of) I also want to write a post on things I don’t necessarily need, but want regardless. In the interest of full disclosure on some of these, you should know that I’m a big geek.

1. Patronus Shirt

2. Horcruxes Shirt

3. Owl Shirt

4. Engravable, stackable rings

5. Accio Keys Keychain

6. Bookshelf Necklace

7. Purple TOMS

8. Striped Bag

9. Library Embosser

Oh, and just because she’s so cute, here’s my favorite girl on the swing at the playground. The swing and the slide were the biggest hits.

Oh, you guys, it’s pouring down rain here and I love it. But I’m going to Mexico in 17 days, and I’m SUPER excited about it. Despite failing miserably at my personal Whole30 challenge, I’m still excited about going to the tropics. Taking a card from Elizabeth, I decided I don’t need a lot, but I do need some new stuff for summer. Last summer I lived in ill-fitting jeans and too-small shirts. Despite my weight/size loss, my clothes are mostly either too tight or too loose, and about 80% of them are 6-8 years old and in need of replacing anyway. So I’m stocking up on some essentials that should get me through the brutal Oklahoma summer, and thought it would be prudent to go ahead and shop, since I’m in need of clothes for our trip, and since it’s already been in the 80s here. (Stupid Oklahoma weather!) So I need capris, t-shirts, comfy skirts, a couple of dressy things, and a rash guard (pale, pasty me needs protection from the sun!).

So, as a refresher, I bought this swimsuit. And I bought some board shorts at Walmart yesterday (in black). Here are some things I have picked out that I need to order, buy, or try on. Colors will vary, of course.

1. Summer Shade Tee from Athleta

2. Women’s Fold-Over Jersey Skirt from Old Navy

3. Women’s Tie-Waist Dress Pants from Old Navy

4. Women’s Tri-Blend V-Neck Tees from Old Navy

5. Women’s Soft Vintage Crew-Neck Tee from Old Navy

6. Women’s Welt-Pocket Bermudas from Old Navy

7. Women’s Trouser Jean Capris from Old Navy

8. Women’s Chambray Tie-Waist Capris from Old Navy

9. Women’s Belted Cap-Sleeve Dress from Old Navy

Add a couple of $2.50/pair flip-flops from Old Navy, take into account the ~10% of my current wardrobe that fits properly and is season-appropriate, and I’m ready for my trip, for visits to the pool this summer, and to have lots of outdoor fun with my favorite little monster. Isn’t she cute?