wishbone clover

These Shoes Complete Me. For Now.

You know when you meet a pair of shoes, and there is that moment of recognition, like you were together in a past life, or an alternate plane of existence, but somehow you were separated through time and space? But thanks to all of the photon energy in the universe aligning at the right moment, you were magically brought back together again, and are now complete?

Today I had one of those moments. Behold my new green shoes: DKNY clogs with a perforated design on the toe box.

Yes, those are stars on the toes. Also, they are green. Green like grass in a codeine induced dream.

I can just tell we're going to be very happy together, at least for a season or two. I might sleep in them tonight. I mean, I might forget to take them off "by accident".

 

And because I would want to know: yes, extremely comfortable, Loehmann's, under $50.

Flying Monkey of my Dreams

One of the best things about our visit to Monterey is that we went to the big antiques barn one street back from Cannery Row. They have all kinds of emerald green glasses, funky jewelry, and a whole booth filled with Wizard of Oz paraphanelia.

I really, really wanted this flying monkey cookie jar, but it was $175. On sale. There was also one of the Emerald City, complete with a full rainbow. Even marked down, that one was over $200.

When we saw the rainbow later that day, I said to Chief, "See? It's a sign that I need to go back and get that Emerald City cookie jar."

"No it's not," he replied.

And then we talked about the other stuff. He always knows how to distract me in the moment, but I'm still dreaming about having my very own flying monkey.

A Bookstore is Like a Library for Rich People

Remember how exciting it was to go to the library as a kid and walk away with a tower of books that you'd ferret away and never return? Skitter home, plop down on your bed with 12 books (the much disdained limit on children's cards), and plot ways to keep them all to yourself.

Because you deserve them, right? You love them more than anyone else could. That is, until your card's revoked and you are forced to break into your grandpa's collection of WWII classics, like A Bridge Too Far and The Damned Die Hard.

Wait: is that just me?

Bulletin: Target Peddles Dresses for Women with Big Hips, Big Tits

If, like me, you suffer (or delight) in hourglass syndrome, shopping can be a pain. The waists are too loose, the hips too snug, buttons across the chest buckle and pop.

This week I got a Target gift certificate from work, and uncharacteristically shunned the housewares section in favor of the Isaac Mizrahi for Target spring dresses. Because ladies: they're good.

I bought:

• This nautical print cotton dress, which seems like a good choice for my Easter brunch, especially with a cardigan.
  

Coupons Are Like Lottery Tickets That Always Win

There are excellent coupons in the Sunday paper. Like the $2 off Herbal Essences that I used today. (Stick with the orange flavor, the red one has some powdery old lady scented action. Bleah.)

Coupons are guaranteed free happiness. A lottery ticket costs a buck, and sometimes you get your money back, but mostly you lose. On the other hand, a coupon is a similarly sized scrap of paper that is always a winner.

For example, tampons. They mostly don't go on sale, and they never go stale, so it's always worth snagging a box when you find a deal. Turn to the Sunday paper, find a 50 cents off tampons coupon, voila, you now have 50 bonus cents to spend on nail polish, perhaps on your next Walgreens period shopping trip!

It won't replace Girl Scout cookies, but the right coupon can make your day.

Purse Meme

Thank you BFF Stefania for tagging me with the Purse Meme. Just what wishbone clover needs: yet another post where I provide specific examples of how crazy I am. Yay! A million pictures and more detail than necessary after the jump.

Yet Another Reason To Visit Dolly Parton's Dollywood

As if Dollywood wasn't enticing enough with the rides and the acts and the livestock, not to mention the Smokey Mountains, do you realize there are also over 40 themed shops there?

Stores like Cas Walker's Shop, where you can get a poodle skirt and Coca Cola memorabilia. Eagle's Nest has a bunch of eagle and flag gear -- carved, scorched, wood sculpture gear. Of course there is A Touch of Ireland (self explanatory, insert shalaylee joke here.) Most exciting and best of all is Ashley's Photorium.

That's right. An old timey dress up photo shop. Where you can squeeze into an 1880s costume previously worn by Dolly fans from all over the world (oh, I'm sure they launder them daily) and immortalize the moment to share with friends and family back home.

My new piggy bank goal: Dollywood Road Trip '08!

I Have A New Love

AT LAST AT LAST AT LAST AT LAST!

I waited a whole year for my Sprint contract to expire. (And also for Apple to work out the bugs. Call me cynical, but we all know how it goes with brand new Apple items.)

Finally, this Friday night Chief and I made the pilgrimage went to the Apple store in Union Square. I walked in, handed over my credit card, and they gave me the magic box. One longish trip to the AT&T store later, my sleek, exciting, overpriced, perfect iPhone was open for business.

Bliss.

Today I put in all of my contacts, consolidating my cell phone and Filofax and iPod all into that sweet little form.

Deep, satisfied sigh.

I love you iPhone. Even if I am a year behind the rest of the world.

More Cool Gifts

I've been trolling through every "50 Best Gifts" list on the internet. Some of the most helpful are posted at the online versions of Lucky and Real Simple. I discovered some ideas that are so good, I just have to share. For instance:

For your geeky/hipster friend: gear from the World Rock Paper Scissors Society ProShop...and by "gear" I mean one of the two t-shirts available.  Okay, limited selection, but what a cool graphic!

Buy It: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss

Over the last few two days, I've spent [amount redacted] at Walgreens. And what a find I have found.

Generally I'm a Chanel girl, but I've been converted to a new lip product. Revlon's Super Lustrous Lip Gloss is best in show, a knockoff of Chanel Glossimer, but in a shorter tube and at less than half the price.

I picked "Cherries in the Glow," a flattering rosy tone. It's shiny, not sticky, and doesn't dry out your kisser. Unlike Glossimer, it does not impart a frosted hue, a look best left to the 1980's or pinch-browed reality show contestants.