my pink toes

Yes, I succumbed. But, they are adorable, aren’t they?! The salesman totally buttered me up, saying I had THE foot for this kind of peep-toe, and that they needed a perfect pedicure, like mine. I knew he was laying it on, but I ate it up anyway - it made this girl feel good! He continued by saying, "Men LOVE women in shoes like this. You are so tall, this makes you all legs! And men love pedicured toes, trust me!" I laughed, "Actually my husband hates shoes and doesn't see the point of pedicures".

Thanks to Kim for tipping me off to the fact that come Saturday, they’ll be on sale at Nordstrom – I’ll have to take them in next week to get a partial discount.

Also - yes - my feet are very very narrow - see how much the strap hovers above my foot? I’m going to have to get those taken in a bit. But? So. Worth. It.

Abigail is getting married in November. I MUST find a way to wear these to the wedding. Which means I need a new outfit, of course! This is how it starts...no wonder my husband hates it when I buy shoes.

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on July 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

As in, when I see adorable things like these that actually COME IN MY SIZE! Of course, if I still had my day job, I wouldn't have the time to sit and browse for these darlings. (Not that I really have the time NOW - but the laundry can wait a few minutes more). And, I taught Junior High school, so these (adorable) pumps wouldn't be the most practical thing. But man oh man, they are precious!

Also, I am obsessed - OBSESSED with kitten heels. They are just. so. darn. cute! Of course, once elongated out to a size 12, they often lose their cuteness. And, my amply plump body probably looks a bit precarious perched on such an adorably tiny-curvy stem. But someday, SOMEDAY, I WILL have a pair! Of course, that someday will be a long time from now. Star Trek and Donna Reed aside, I don't think heels are the best choice for my current responsibilities of saving the galaxy, filling the kiddie pool, snuggling with tired boys, digging for artifacts a la Indiana Jones, reading aloud, tripping over the cats, mopping, cooking, and washing endless loads of laundry. Although they'd make me look so much cuter doing it!

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on July 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

cue: New Soul by Yael Naïm

At the mall, walking by the Apple store, spying a new MacBook Air in the window.

Me: Hey Henry, look at that! You see that?
7-year-old Henry: What? The computer?
Me: Yeah! Isn't that amazing?
Henry: It looks just like yours
Me: Huh? No, I mean - it's a laptop, yes, but - it's so thin! It's as thin as a peechee!
Henry: What's a peechee?
Me: Um, I guess you guys call them folders now. It's the size of your reading folder.
Henry: Okay. It's a computer, Mom.
Me: No! Um, do you know how big computers were when they were first invented? They were -
Henry: I know, I know. rolls eyes. They were the size of our house. And really really expensive. You've told me already. exasperated, teenage-like sigh
Me: Yes! That's why this one is so amazing.
Henry: So, is that the one you want?
Me: Yes, but... I mean no, not really, but... I mean, it's just so cool! It's so tiny!
Henry: long pause. Can we go now?

Back in my day...
And yes, I bought the song. I am such a Tool.

Filed Under "Henry, Shiny Things" on February 14, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

At first, I thought dark nail polish looked weird. Now it has totally grown on me. I decided I HAD to have dark plum on my toes (no, it's not actually black). Some people have suggested I'm trying to go Goth here in my 30s.

It's on my fingernails, too. I feel cool and trendy, but I wonder what YOUR opinion is!

Opine away!

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on July 24, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

from Essential Espresso

I brought Lazarus IV up to my parents' beach house for the week, so that I could make espresso for all without indulging in the time-consuming and expensive habit of driving into town for my daily jolt.

After my dad's second doppio (with some awesome crema), he struck up a conversation with me about my machine. I told him that I was on my 4th one (thanks, Shona!) and was saving for my dream machine. I also added a lot of blah-blah-brass-boiler-and-grouphead-and-holding-the-steam-pressure-and-
Italian-construction-blah-blah (he reads Tom Clancy, so I figured he liked ODing on technical details). He asked how much I had saved, and I told him I had $220 banked toward this dreamy purchase (including $125 I earned doing market research with HOMEWORK). He then wrote me a check for the balance of what I needed and encouraged me to go order it. Um, OK. Thanks, Dad!

The price had gone up $65 just in the two months I've been saving, but since the old price was still on one place on their website, the gracious folks at Essential Espresso gave it to me for $840.

That was a totally unexpected bonus (it reminded me a bit of the time I saved $40 toward a $100 boom box in junior high that Dad paid the balance of). I'm eager to get my new machine! Here's to some espresso bellisimo!

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on July 06, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

After de-scaling my espresso machine another two times, it seems to have (slightly) resurrected. Two out of three shots actually manage to hold the pressure without leaking tons of water into the shot. The shots are still bitter and unpredictable, and I'm wasting a ton of coffee grounds, but hey - it's espresso!

I also have a stovetop model that I received as a birthday gift (thanks, Hallie!). It is entirely different, but it works ok for lattes.

The steam wand on Lazarus will work indefinitely, so I can steam milk for as long as I need to....

And since I'm saving up for this, it might take me a long time.

THIS is Miss Sylvia. She is absolutely beautiful, not so much in form, but in function.

I really love a good espresso shot, and have learned enough about how to pull a good one. I love to pore over the specs and insight at Coffee Geek, where the information is amazing and the people are really really really passionate about their espresso.

I'm not quite that passionate (yet), but I would love to have a more reliable and robust machine. The Rancilio Silvia is widely regarded as the best espresso machine you can buy for under a thousand dollars. Yes, I said A THOUSAND DOLLARS. The good (?) news is that Miss Sylvia is "only" $540. But, I really need to buy a grinder to go with it, and the whole package costs $850.

That's a huge chunk of change for anything. And since we're now being really financially responsible, it will be a long time before I can afford it. But it will be a good exercise in doing without in the short term to reap long term benefits. Good things come to those who wait, right??!!

Update: My friend Shona has graciously given me her Signore Coffee machine. She claims she hardly ever uses it (being as she has to get up at the crack of dawn for her job). Wow! Mmmm - now I get to enjoy real espresso AND save my pennies. Thanks, Shona!

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on May 25, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I am IN LOVE with this china pattern! I have collected a couple cup and saucer sets, a small plate and a cute mint dish over time and I have now decided to collect it in earnest. My inner 8-year-old girl wants a whole set of this because it's so fabulously pink and girly (gold rims! scalloped edges! roses!). Because of past issues, I haven't been that in touch with my inner little girl (yeah, I'll save the rest for my therapist, don't worry). So, I've decided to indulge her - um, I mean me - by continuing to collect more bits and pieces.

I've been winning a few items on eBay, and almost all of it is in Canada. (Come to think of it, that's where I've found all my assorted bits and pieces, too...). Why Canada? Was it the wedding china of hundreds of 1930s-50s Canadian brides? I'm a trivia junkie, so if you have any information, no matter how small, I'd love to hear it!

Royal Albert Petit Point China

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on March 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm adding a new category: Shiny Things - things I am drawn to like moths to a flame...like crows to tinfoil....
...things I think are cool and that I love to drool over.

My current excitement is about Food Loops (silicone tying strings). I just ordered them, so they'll be too late for Thanksgiving, but I look forward to securing a stuffed pork tenderloin with them sometime in the near future. And, they're pink!

I do admit this photo is a little unappetizing - as if something from a sci-fi movie is attacking my dinner....

Here's a better shot:

Also, these rolling pin spacers. I heard about them from Alton Brown and can't wait to try them!

Now to go work on my shopping lists and plans for Thanksgiving - 17 people HERE for dinner on Thursday!

Filed Under "Shiny Things" on November 19, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)