Snapshots: Halloween

Today is Halloween and I am cowgirl.

Here's my getup.

Yeehaw! 

 I'm not an authentic cowgirl by any means.

I'm missing a proper hat, holster.

and bandana.

But I'm cowgirl enough.

I enjoy the excuse to wear my embroidered dress

and some good ol' cowboy boots.

This morning
I organized a Halloween potluck for my work peeps,
and had a fun time with the decor.

Maybe a little too much fun. :) 

Tonight Travis and I plan on laying low, 

watching a scary movie and handing out candy to the 

neighborhood ghosts and goblins, just like last year! 

Sounds perfect to me!

Happy Halloween friends! 

XOXO

Aimsters

Happy Valentine's Day

We like to keep Valentine's Day simple. . .

. . . and what better way to do that than with a cozy night at home?

Travis made me a very nice dinner while
we listened to jazz music and drank wine.
We ate by candlelight, then watched a cheesy
movie and partook in New York cheesecake for dessert!
 

Yum!

 

I got Travis these two cards. . .

. . . because one is never enough.

I plan to frame them and put them up in our bedroom.

They are from Sugaboo Designs. 

Cute, right?
I'm a sucker for nice stationary.

Keeping it simple is just what the doctor ordered.

And I gotta say, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening.
 

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day!

XOXO,

 
Aimee

The New Year: An End, A Beginning

This New Year’s. . .

. . . unlike years past, we didn’t spend it partying like it was 1999.

In fact, we didn’t even stay up late enough to witness the clock turn midnight.

(Prince would be so disappointed.)

I think we were in bed by eleven.   

Instead, we spent the end of 2011 on a 

relaxing trip to one of our favorite places, Cambria.

I spent mornings taking long runs along the 

beautiful central coast, while Travis slept in.

(Travis isn't much into running. 

Biking, yes. Running, no. 

He is, however, into sleeping.)

We spent our days going to farmer’s markets. . .

. . .and making homemade chicken noodle soup.

Which I'm pretty sure was the best soup we ever made.

I'm sorry Campbell's, but we kicked your butt on this one. 

We spent it hiking in Big Sur.

Feet atop large granite boulders. . .

. . . and against the green slopes of cliffs that fell into the ocean's edge.

We spent it driving along meandering country roads,

 pretending this was our barn. . .

. . .our house with the horse, goat and chickens. . .

. . . our field of dreams. 

 Like Kevin Costner says, "If you build it, they will come." 
Er something like that. 

It was spent wine tasting in the early afternoons. . .

. . . trying various cheeses while chatting with the locals,
 and of course, taking some time to pet their cute pups.

 We stood in a field of yellow wildflowers among gray-barked trees
with branches that reached out to each other, and to the sky. . .

. . . my boots half lost in the tall grass,
my hair blowing wild in the wind.

We spent the end of 2011 gazing at coastal sunsets. . .

. . . with the sound of nothing but waves crashing on the shore,

the wind funneling into our ears,

 and the hum of promises to myself. 

And though it was the most laid back New Year's we'd ever had, 

I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Happy New Year.



Dear Santa

All I want for Christmas. . .

. . . is more shoes. 


And even though I have roughly over 100 pairs. . . 

(I had to count them when Travis and I renovated our master bedroom 
so I could be assured I had enough shelf space in our walk-in closet) 


. . . I want more.  


I think this probably qualifies me as a bit of a shoe addict. 

And I sometimes have to remind Travis that when he married me,  
he knew what he was getting into.  

I realize my Christmas wish for more shoes may seem a little greedy, 
but I have at least three pairs of TOMS shoes. . .

. . .which means that there are three children in third-world 

countries who have benefited from my gluttany. 

 

My red TOMS, a much anticipated birthday gift from my brother, Sean.

Thanks... I love them. Can you tell? 

And that makes me feel a little bit better about my over-indulgence.

Well, I wouldn’t go THAT far! 

My love for shoes started at a young age.

I have a vivid memory of a particular visit to my pediatrician’s office where,

while in the waiting room, I physically tried to pry a lady’s heels off her

 feet so I could try them on. 

 I was about three.

And about yay big.

And those heels were tall and shiny and I wanted them.  

You can imagine my Mother's embarrassment. . .

. . . but that lady was kind enough to indulge me for a few minutes 

and I was a happy girl.

There is something so delightful about being a kid 

and trumping around in too-big heels. 

When I was in 2^nd grade,

I remember drooling over the black patent
leather Mary Jane's that all my friends had.

I wanted a pair so bad.
 But I never got them.

With four kids to clothe, feed, and put through Catholic school, my
parents assured me that my fashion wants were not a high priority. 

Note to my 6 year old self.

But I quickly learned to do something about it.

When I was old enough, roughly 10 or 11, I started washing cars 
for $5 a piece to raise money for my converse high top collection.  

They were $25, and I wanted one pair of each color.  

Although this mutli-colored one would’ve saved me a lot time and money.

My clientele started with my parents, and then it 
quickly increased to next door neighbors.  

My Dad played the role of quality control.  

He wanted to ensure our neighbors weren't getting a 
shotty job for their money’s worth.

And believe me, there were times I did not pass the twenty-five point 

inspection. And I would be sent back for a do-over.

Washing cars to raise money for my shoe collection taught me 
discipline, and to take initiative to achieve something I wanted.  
And there was pride and satisfaction in that.

But it also taught me . . .

. . . that when you are a kid, your neighbors feel pretty much obligated 
to fund your personal goals as long as you ask them with a smile.

So, thanks nice neighbors! 

As I’ve grown older, I’ve become less of a planner 
& more of an impulse-buyer when it comes to shoes. 

Totally. 

I admit, I’m a sucker for a good deal.  And everyone who knows me, knows this.  

 

My adrenaline starts pumping, a smile ensues with a giggle or two,

. . . & then BAM! I’m at the register.  

   

But even though I may buy a new pair, I do not forget about the old. 


I have a 'No Shoe Gets Left Behind' policy. 


And with that, I have had many-a-heel replaced, sole resurfaced 
or re-glued thanks to my local cobbler. 

And each time they come back like brand new, 
shiny and ready for those very soles to hit the pavement once again.    


Ready to go where I go.  One foot at a time.      

  So Santa, if you are listening, I have been a bad girl. 

But I make a killer batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies. . .

. . .and I’m really hoping that will earn me enough
bonus points for a new pair of shoes.  


See below for current shoe wish list: 

For fancy. 
(I guess 20-something years later, I'm still a sucker for Mary Jane's.)

For Cas. I like me a pair of Vans slip ons.

Oh, & just in case you forgot. . .

I'm a size 7. 


Thanks.  

XOXO 

Aimee