Fashion Friday: Fashion meets Literature

I realize that I have been M.I.A. for a little while but lets face it...I'm studying for the bar (its an exam not a lesson on how to drink ;-) in case you are just tuning in) It's pretty much like a full time job which leaves little time to do much else. Fortunately, it will all be over in just a little over a week (hooray) and then I can finally start looking for a job in a field of which I love instead of working at a job of which I must in order to pay bills (I often have to force myself to get out of bed in the morning). But enough about that...back to what this day is really about...

It's fashion Friday! A day to get excited about and discuss all things fashion related! :-) So for all my fashionistas out there...or more specifically my fellow handbag lovers...have you heard of a woman name Dorothy Howell? If you have then you probably know where I am going with this...if you haven't well then have I got NEWS for YOU!

This lovely woman writes an engaging mystery book series with a handbag twist.

Pictured here is the first book of the Haley Randolph Mystery series.

I first discovered the works of Dorothy Howell while perusing a used bookstore outside of Tampa, Florida. The first thing that caught my eye was the title...I mean its covered in handbags and it's catchy. So of course my interest was peaked...then I read the book jacket and knew then that this book screamed me. It not only involved murder & mystery, but the point of view is depicted by Haley Randolph, a girl like me and I'm sure many others, who loves handbags and unsure of what she wants to do with her life takes a job in a department store, where mysterious things are always occurring. These books are not your traditional John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton genre as they are not written in the same serious tone. Instead, these books are written with a more humorous flair following Haley as she attempts to clear her good name, and catch a killer all while trying to get her hands on the next it bag of the season. :-) So far Dorothy Howell has published 3 books in the series with a 4th book (Clutches & Curses) due out in July.



So if you like me share a passion or appreciation for high quality handbags, love a little humor, and enjoy reading mysteries, then these books are for you. Happy Readings Fashionistas!

I confess...I like Harry's Law

 Yes, I admit I like

I didn't think after seeing the previews for this show that I would ever like it...BUT there was a rerun on Bravo and I figured ah what the heck, I'll check it out. Turns out, it's not bad. It combines drama with humor...gotta love Kathy Bates. Obviously, her quick wit make the show. Plus, I love the fact that this show combines two things that I enjoy - the law & shoes! :-) Within the first five minutes of the show, Kathy Bates' character is landed on by a guy trying to kill himself and hit by a car without any life threatening injuries. These two unexpected events lead her to open her own firm, in the hood, in a location that use to be a designer shoe store (the owner was evicted and the whole stock of shoes is still in the building). The cast of characters is a little unconventional and it really is an overdramatized version of what would actually happen in a criminal court (or rather what would never be allowed to happen). BUT I think that is really what makes it a sharp contrast to the other legal shows out there. It adds a little optimism to the legal system and possibly how we wish the justice system would be. If you are looking for something that is still legal but not really as serious as Law & Order, than I highly encourage that you check this show out because we could all use a little less drama in our lives. It comes on NBC Mondays @ 10pm.

Fashion Friday: Shoe Happiness

So I was out yesterday and I saw the strangest thing...a girl wearing one snow boot and one tennis shoe! At first, I admit I thought it was pretty funny and weird...BUT the more I thought about it the more I realized that this girl was probably attempting to solve her own personal shoe dilemma that morning. Not sure of which pair of shoes to wear...so she chose to wear one of each! ;-) I say that's pretty creative and will probably work as long as you aren't deciding between one high heel and one ballet flat...otherwise you will be walking kind of funny all day! :-D

Okay, on a more serious note...I am having a shoe dilemma of my own. For my birthday, one of my closest friends gave me the best gift ever! A gift card to DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse)!
If you have never shopped at their store...well sadly you have been missing out! This is my all time favorite shoe store and not just because they have a wide variety of cute shoes (a definite must have for any shoe store) but because combined with their already low prices and their rewards program (totally free to become a member)...a shoe lover like myself can snag a ton of shoes without breaking her bank account. :-) If there isn't one in your area...don't worry because you can bring the shoe shopping to your own home...check out their website at www.dsw.com.

Anyway, back to my shoe dilemma....so now with the gift card I can buy shoes for free (I so love gift cards!)...only problem is I cannot make up my mind. I am torn between 3 pairs of shoes at the moment and a cute handbag...so feel free to lend me some advice.

The first pair are a cute pair of Dr. Scholl's ballet flats (I know you're thinking...don't they make like orthopedic looking shoes?? But these are cute I promise.) that I was thinking about getting as an extra pair I can wear to work. I am working part time in retail these days (aside from all the studying) and being on your feet for hours on end can really hurt! So I bought a pair of Dr. Scholl's wedges to wear and I love them...super comfy...and was thinking that I might like a pair of flats so I can diversify my wardrobe a little bit.
 also available in zebra which I would also love to get but wouldn't be able to wear to work since we can only wear black. This really stunts my shoe creativity!


The second choice is a cute pair of heels by Ann Marino that I've been eyeing for a few months now...these would be to wear when I get a lawyer job.

  this is them in black....and I am leaning more towards the gray which is slightly lighter than this with a black bow.


Finally, the third pair is just a fun pair that I could wear anytime to a party or something...Unisa Detrick Polka Dot Slingback
  I love these and I have the cutest pink cocktail dress that these would go great with. I'm just not sure about the slingback because they always slip off my feet.

As for the handbag...it's a Nine West Ruffle Crossbody...I absolutely love it and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get it regardless of what shoes I decide to buy. :-) I just don't know if I should get it in black or pewter...

or

What do you think?


I don't think I'm ready to make a decision just yet on the shoes and really, there's no rush. So I will ponder on it some more...usually if I can't get a shoe off my mind...well then I have my answer...so stay tuned...

Happy Thursday! :-)

The weekend is upon us! :-) To be honest though with the way my life is these days everyday feels like a Saturday...well unless I have to work...which I did have to work today. So I'm super excited tomorrow is Friday and that I am off!

If you are wondering why everyday feels like a Saturday these days its because I am no longer in school (hurray!) and I am studying for the Bar exam (T-minus 32 days) so when I am not working...I am technically still working because studying takes up the majority of my life. Sounds exciting, I know. But soon it will all be over and I will be moving on into the next chapter of my life. :-P I cannot wait...right now feels a little like limbo.

So I had a fabulous idea...well I think its fabulous anyway. If you know me, then you know that I love to shop! Mostly, I love to shop for three main things - clothes, shoes and handbags (probably the latter two more than the first considering the quantity that I own these days). Aside from shopping, my other passion (besides reading and writing) is movies (my dvd collection is so expansive that my friends have nicknamed me "Hannahbuster"). So I thought that for my Friday blogs I would do Fashion/Film Fridays (I admit that I was partially inspired with this idea by my friend Mindy with her blog idea for Whatever Wednesdays - I have to give credit where it is do) and discuss either a movie or fashion. Let me know what you think.  I already have an idea what I want to talk about tomorrow...stay tuned :-)...

If you're not being yourself, than who are you?

It's a new year and I'm on a journey to rediscover myself...

It seems to be more complicated than it sounds. More and more I am realizing that often when lost in our insecurities by a desire to be loved or just plain liked we tend to lose a little of ourselves...attempting to become more like those around us until eventually we lose ourselves completely.

For instance, when we fall in love sometimes we can to lose ourselves in our significant other's interests. I have an impression that this likely happens more in women than men. You meet a guy...he's interested in cars (or sports or video games or whatever - for me it was cars and video games)...working on them, racing them, what have you...so as your way of showing how much you care-you listen, learn more that particular area/subject, and become more involved in this interest for him. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing if it works both ways. BUT where it becomes bad...if you are like me...you may find that while you are becoming more involved in his interests...he is not showing the slightest interest in yours. Of course, when you are falling hard for someone at the time you don't see that. Eventually, little by little you see yourself becoming less involved in your own interests...and when that happens...well you lose yourself entirely.

I realize this MAY not happen to everyone but it is, I believe, what happened to me. Usually, I am a grounded person with a lot of common sense. BUT somehow when I'm head over heals in love with a guy...all that common sense goes out the window. I am only 26 years old but two years ago at the end of another long term relationship (almost 3 years)  (this one was slightly shorter than the last by a year) I realized that not only had I not been single since I was 17 (almost 7 years) BUT that somewhere along the way I had LOST myself in these relationships! I had no idea who I was anymore.

Not to say that I didn't have goals - I've always been career goal oriented and despite the rockiness of my relationships nothing had stopped me from completing those goals. I was in law school and headed towards my goal of becoming a lawyer. THAT, however, was not the problem. The problem was that aside from the whole lawyer thing, I was lost. I had no idea (outside of the law) of what I was interested in anymore...

Now, of course, that was two years ago and although I have re-discovered some of those lost passions and interests (like my love for horseback riding and my desire to write (it had been so long since I wrote anything)), last year really threw me for a loop. I have been feeling lately that I am still not living my life to my fullest potential. I haven't quite figured out where God is taking me...I just know that I am meant for something more and so this year is about discovering that purpose and finding happiness in the journey & not the destination.