Two Hearts

It's been a while since I was here. And I don't just mean blogging, I mean really contemplating and really writing. I've had a lot of words stored up and no time or energy to put them down. But I thought today was a good day to do that and a good place to start because today is my mother's birthday.

One of the worst confessions I could make to all of you is that I don't send her a gift. Lately, it seems like I haven't even sent a card. It makes me feel pretty bad, considering on my birthday she always manages to send me something even though I tell her she doesn't have to. It's nice to be at that age and place in life where you don't need gifts from those closest to you. After all, you have each other. And I have been more than blessed in life, especially with my family. So in an attempt to make humble amends for the last few years, I thought I would write a blog post for my mom for her birthday present.

My mom gave me this absolutely beautiful and perfect gift for Christmas: a Tiffany & Co. necklace. There are two hearts on it, one engraved with the Tiffany & Co. trademark wording. This gift has meant more to me than many others I have ever received. I always imagined the first time I was given a blue box with a bow it would be from a man. Then later on, I began to think maybe it would have to be from myself. But it was a pleasant surprise and one of the most fulfilling moments in my life when I received the blue box with white bow from my mom.

Some men have really disappointed me over the years; some friends too. And I have really let myself down a time or two, especially when it comes to money. In other words, I don't know if I would have ever been given such a special piece of jewelry had my mother not been the one to give it to me. I know there have been times when we have disappointed each other, but at the end of the day, my mom will always have a special place in my heart.

As someone who never wishes to be a parent it is always so hard to imagine the connection one must feel towards their child. Families are so different nowadays, they aren't defined with such clean-cut words or measured in household units. Marriages do not even seem to be clearly defined or sacred anymore. Even jewelry has taken on new artistic forms. But I love that Tiffany & Co. will always remind me of a girl who was not in search of the perfect man, the perfect family, or even the perfect piece of jewelry -- she was in search of herself, and all the other findings were merely the white bow on top. If you know Breakfast at Tiffany's, you know what I am talking about.

So, thank you mom, for giving me a heart that beats. Thank you for giving me things I don't need but want badly, and would never have asked for. Thank you for letting me watch old movies when I was growing up. Thank you for teaching me to read and to appreciate a good piece of jewelry. Thank you for standing by me no matter how many times I messed up. Thank you for always sending cards on my birthday and giving me something with a bow every Christmas. Thank you for making me breakfast in the mornings (pancakes on the weekends when I was little and now at 28, coffee with creamer). Thank you for taking me to see Tiffany & Co. for the first time (in San Francisco, many years ago). Thank you for not holding against me all those years I didn't send a card or a box with a bow. Thank you for telling me that I could be whatever I wanted, whether it was a teacher, a writer, or a shoe addict. And thank you for reading this post; I know you will, because you never disappoint me when it comes to reading this blog. Thank you for giving me a reason to write.

2012: A Year in Shoes

I try to change up my shoes from day to day. It's one of the small thrills of getting ready and being a girl. 2012 was a year of many shoe purchases, as blogged about here. However, December brought in a major last minute haul with sales sales sales. While I have no regrets, I think it would be wise to save a bit more money in 2013. Here's a look at my newest additions:

Alice & Olivia polka dot pumps: These will go with everything! Bought at Saks sale. 

Miu Miu glitter flats: Found at Crossroads Trading for $95! I always wanted a pair of Miu Miu jeweled flats, and now I have them for a fraction of the cost. The color of the stones and their unusual shapes make me happy.

Miu Miu bronze bejeweled heels: These crystal stunners were too good to pass up while consignment shopping in my favorite string of stores in Corona del Mar. This pair came from On Que Style - a gem of a store where these gem encrusted shoes were on sale.

 Tory Burch Odile Wedge: I've been eyeing these or a while now. When they went on sale, I leapt for them. They come in silver too!

Zara tiger wedge:  I've wanted these for a while too. They are nice and crazy. Zara's sale only happens twice a year, so I had to strike while the iron was hot. They are not the easiest to walk far in, but I love the height. I'm thinking tiger is my new go to animal print. I bought a couple tiger print sweaters lately too.

Miss Selfridge Pina Colada Wedge:  I found these while browsing and literally gasped. The colors are so unusual and the beading with the bling really is different. My darling boyfriend gave them to me for Christmas, but they are on sale now. And the funny thing is, I don't even like pina coladas. 

Can't wait to see the shoes 2013 brings. Happy Shoe Year! 

Cheers to 2013!

I'm a week late, but nonetheless, welcome to 2013!

It's so weird to me that 13 is an unlucky number, because I think this is actually going to be a very good year. I ended 2012 feeling really grateful and refreshed. I want to keep that momentum going.

My New Year's Eve traditions never really contain much. The only constants are champagne and the Twilight Zone marathon. That's right, I love the Zone. It reminds me of what great writing should be like. I love the twists and turns in the plots, the lessons and the very traditional opening, middle and conclusion of each story. Best of all, these morsels are delivered in 30 minutes. I have always been jealous of anyone who can write a great short story. And that's what good writing is: tight, to the point, and ever so moving. 

Compared to 30 minutes, a year is a lot of time. It provides us with countless minutes, hours, and 365 days to get our story in. While I warned in advance that I am not sure how much blogging I will be able to do here with my new job, it is important to me (call it a resolution if you will) to try and post more this year. My resolution last year was to write more, and I would say it was successful. While not everything was posted on this blog, I was able to be published on the Huffington Post, and was so thankful to continue my writing with Romantic Homes magazine and Made Woman. Let's hope this year is another one for great writing.

Wishing you a blessed and joyful year!