I mean, you can’t wear pumps to the beach or flip-flops to a formal dinner, so you need different shoes for different occasions. 

Yesterday, my darling daughter pulled every pair of shoes from my closet, the utility room, under my dresser, beside my dresser, under the kitchen table, and wherever else she found them and organized them neatly in my bedroom floor.  I think she had to start from the far wall and work her way to the door in order to not paint herself into a corner, so to speak.

Grand total – 79 pairs.  I was surprised.  I thought it would be more.  

That includes footwear that isn’t worn often, such as my white go-go boots that I bought for my 60s themed 40th birthday, two pair of slippers, my leopard-print rain boots (too cute!!) and two pair of water shoes (which I bought for our trip to Antigua and forgot to pack).

There are the special occasion shoes, like my wedding shoes, two pair of blinged-out silver dress heels, gold sequined slingbacks, black sequined peep-toe pumps,  and a gorgeous pair of metallic pink slingbacks.

I have two pair of high-heeled black boots (one for pants and one for skirts) and one pair of low-heeled black boots, in case it’s icy outside.   And three pair of running shoes, because I have a separate pair to run, walk or do yard work.

I have open toed black and brown dress shoes for summer, and closed toe pumps for winter.  I have heels that I wear with skirts, lower heeled mary janes for pants and a pair of clogs I use as my running-out-the-door-can’t-stop-to-tie-my-shoes shoes.

And there are my favorite pink and orange plaid wedges that amazingly go with a lot more than you’d think, my new snakeskin print wedges, and my white wedges with the flowers across the toes.  Speaking of flowers, I adore my wood-soled mules with the pink suede flower across the instep. 

I can’t forget my orange satin slingbacks or my leopard-print peep toes that add a punch of color to an otherwise boring black pantsuit.

See my point?  Although I don’t wear every pair every day, I do wear them, and I do try to avoid buying shoes that go with just one outfit.  Well, except my wedding shoes. 

I ended up throwing out two pair, and packed up about 15 more pair destined for Goodwill (or a reader who wears a 9 or 9.5 who would be interested in black patent cork soled slingbacks, red patent cork soled slingbacks, brown d’orsay pumps, two different leopard-print pumps, and a cute pair of green d’orsay peep toe pumps with a floral motif).

Some people collect baseball cards, others collect figurines.  I collect shoes. 

Oh, wait, make that 80 pair.  I forgot about my golf shoes… nope, make it 81 – I have bowling shoes, too. 

What, is that bad?  How many do you have?

Photo credit – Yes, that’s my collection.

Another film franchise you may be breathless anticipating is the third installment of the Twilight Saga – Eclipse.  I will pause here briefly for the obligatory Team Jacob vs. Team Edward debate and/or swooning…ready?  Need a moment, perhaps some ice?

And as our own Carlie recently informed us, the new seasons of Jersey Shore and Mad Men start new seasons this summer.  Talk about polar opposite wardrobe requirements for those two shows.

As diversified as these films and shows may be, they do have one thing in common – they have all influenced recent fashion trends.   Here are a few ways you can snag the styles you see onscreen and still have some cash left over for popcorn:

This dress is strikingly similar to the white dress Carrie wears on the SATC2 poster, however it is only $44, and you don’t have to worry about spilling your cosmo on it while you strut through your fabulous life.  (asos.com)

 Perhaps Bella is more your style?  Then flash this sparkly reproduction of her !!SPOILER ALERT!! engagement ring.  $35, sparklevamp and wolf-boy sold separately.  (emitations.com)

French manicure?  Check.  Bump-it?  Check.  Sparkly heels?  With these, your How-To-Dress-Like-The-Jersey-Shore list is complete.  These shoes are actually called Snookie, so apparently Steve Madden is a fan.  I’m not sure how I feel about that factoid.  (stevemadden.com)

Looking for something with a vintage vibe?  Take a page from Mad Men and flaunt this Jessica McClintock classic frame bag at your next 3-martini lunch.(zappos.com)

Now you too can be just as glamorous as the onscreen ladies (but I think we already were, amiright?)

Image credits:  asos.com, emitations.com, stevemadden.com, zappos.com, and jewelleryreport.co.uk

It’s not limited to the car, either.  People have trouble walking and talking as well.  I’ve seen people walk out in front of traffic, trip over steps and run into other pedestrians, all because they were totally engrossed in their conversations.  I have a feeling these people are the same ones tying up traffic by driving 70mph, then 60mph, then 70mph again, all because they’re too busy talking to maintain a steady speed.

This article isn’t here to point out the obvious danger that cell phones pose because your concentration is so split you literally can’t walk and talk at the same time.  My point is – are we becoming a society that is so plugged in that we can’t hang up the phone?

I’ve heard people sharing their bank balances, discussing their medical diagnoses, disciplining their children, and airing their marital problems, all while standing in line at the grocery store.   I want to tap them on the shoulder and remind them that just because they’re on the phone doesn’t mean it’s a private conversation.   I’m glad your test came back negative but I don’t think the entire store needs to know, and wouldn’t that be something you’d want to discuss privately?

I see families at restaurants, and instead of enjoying good food and each other’s company, they are paying more attention to their cell phones.   The adults are probably checking their work email, the teens are probably texting their friends about how humiliated they are to be seen in public with the parentals, and the younger kids are probably playing Farmville.

I see parents in the park with their kids, and instead of pushing them on the swing, the parents are talking on the phone.  A recent column in the New York Times raises the question of whether parents are harming their children’s language development skills by spending more time on the phone or email than actually interacting with their babies.

As cell phones become cheaper and more prevalent, children are getting phones at a younger age.  We should set good examples of when and where it is acceptable to be on the phone, and that a phone conversation isn’t private, so save the personal information for a face-to-face discussion.

Hang up and live.  The life you enrich may be your own.

Photo credit – mrosman.com

No one can be Mary Sunshine all the time (at least not without pharmaceuticals), but the adage of “turn that frown upside down” is not without merit.  If you think happy, you might find yourself becoming happy – or at the very least a little less grumpy.

Did you know if you smile when you’re speaking on the phone it comes through in your voice?  Try it next time you’re on a call – say, with your cell phone or cable company customer service rep – you might get better results.   And what better way to change a bad mood than to get your problem solved?

Doing something nice for someone else can give you the warm fuzzies, too.  Call a friend who you haven’t spoken with in a while, compliment a stranger on her shoes, or cook your family a nice dinner “just because.”  Too many times we save the good china or candlesticks for special occasions.  Why can’t Wednesday night dinner be a special occasion?

Don’t forget to be nice to yourself.  Women in general tend to be the caregivers, and put their needs second to the needs of others.  There’s a reason you’re told to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others – you can’t help if you’re incapacitated.   Take a little time for yourself, whether it’s dinner with your girlfriends or a 15 minute walk around the block.  Everyone needs “me time.”

Something as simple as counting your blessings can turn your mood around.  Sure, it may sound hokey, but it works.  Believe me, I’ve got plenty to be upset about but I also have plenty to be thankful for.  Sometimes you have to remind yourself that it’s probably not that bad.

Anger, outrage, disappointment and heartache are all a part of life and we all experience them at some point.  Life has a way of getting you down, but you can get back up.   It takes some effort sometimes, but you can do it.

NOTE:  If you think you are suffering from depression, please seek medical assistance.   I am not a professional and this article is not meant to be professional advice.

Photo credit – www.braillegifts.com

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

With the onset of warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, more and more folks will be abandoning the gym and exercising outside.  Whether you walk, run, bike, or skate, here are some tips to help keep you safe: 

You may know them already but they bear repeating.

• Exercise with a partner – there is safety in numbers
• If you do go alone let someone know when you leave, where you are going, and when you plan to be back.
• Carry identification and a few dollars for emergencies.
• Carry your cell phone.
• Leave the iPod at home.  If you have to run to music use just one earbud, and keep the volume low enough that you can still hear over the music.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, and plan an “escape route” option
• Avoid dark, deserted, unlit areas, unpopular streets and trails. And stay clear of parked cars, bushes, and recessed building doorways
• Vary your route and running times to deter potential observers.
• If it’s safe to do so, go against the flow of traffic so you can see what’s approaching.
• Wear light colored reflective clothing at dawn, dusk and at night.
• Don’t assume cars will obey the traffic laws- yield the right of way at intersections.

Let’s be careful out there.

Image credit – www.proshieldsafetysigns.co.uk

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

Sick days aren’t the most exciting way to spend your hard-earned vacation days from your job, but since you’re home, you might as well try to enjoy it.

Here is a checklist of necessities to keep on hand so you can stay quarantined on your sick day without having to put on pants to head to the store and to share your contagions with the rest of us:

• Tissues – It seems like a no-brainer, however, don’t count on that half-full box in the bathroom lasting for the duration.  One day of sneezing and blowing can burn through a box in no time.  I keep three-pack of Puffs Plus Lotion on hand.  Tissues can be expensive but I don’t mind paying for good ones; a full day of wiping your nose with cheap ones and your nose will resemble the most famous Christmas reindeer. 
• Medication – Whatever your favorite might be make sure you have enough on hand- and make sure it’s not expired.  It’s a good idea to go through your medicine cabinet once a year and get rid of the old and/or empty boxes and make a list of what you need for the coming season – cold and/or sinus medicine, ibuprofen or Tylenol, cough drops, nose spray, Vicks vapor rub, etc.
• Lip Balm – Mouth-breathing will chap your lips in a heartbeat.  I’m currently hooked on Burt’s Bees lip balm, but cherry ChapStick runs a close second.  I even rub a little on the end of my nose after blowing – it keeps me from looking Rudolph-esque.
• Humidifier – It’s not an essential but it’s nice to have around.  The steam makes it easier to breathe and the white noise can help you sleep.  Bonus: you can also use it for facials.

Now that you’ve called the office, what do you do with the rest of your day?

• Entertainment  – Have you ever tried to find something redeeming to watch on daytime TV?  If you have a Netflix account, you can watch movies instantly on your PC.  Hulu even has several collections entitled “Sick Day Classics” (sponsored by Tylenol Cold, of course). 
• Sleep – Rest is paramount when you’re sick.  If you can talk your significant other, roommate, or even your child into making your bed with fresh clean sheets, do it.  Even if you have to pay them cas, it’s money well spent when compared with the head-exploding pain that you would have to endure to bend down and tuck in the corners yourself.  Turn off the phone, shut the blinds, and snuggle in for a nap.
• Indulge – Sure, you could throw in a load of laundry or run the vacuum cleaner while you’re home, but why?  If you’re a Type A personality like me who can’t sit still without looking around at all the things I could be doing, consider your illness a sign you need to slow down for a little while.  A good way to do this is to take a nice long bath, especially if you’re home alone and no one will bother you.  I have been hooked on Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath since I discovered it when my youngest was a baby.  It works just as well on adults.
• Eat – It’s important to keep up your strength when you’re sick, so diet be damned!  Of course, it’s not exactly a free pass to consume a whole bag of chips, but do eat.  The power of chicken soup isn’t just a myth – studies show that it can help clear your nasal passages.  Orange juice is wonderfully soothing on a sore throat, and can help you stay hydrated.
• Exercise – I’m not saying go run for miles, but if you don’t have a fever light to moderate exercise such as a short walk can put you on the road to recovery.  Avoid the gym – you don’t want to infect everyone else.

Most importantly, take it easy and get better.

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

Perhaps I am showing my advanced age and my next post will be a rant against whippersnappers in my front yard, but I guarantee you when I open my front door to tell them to get off my lawn I’ll have on pants.  They will be neither fuzzy nor flannel, nor will they be emblazoned with monkeys, rainbows or sarcastic bunnies.

Just as leggings are not pants, neither are pajama bottoms.  They are meant to be worn to bed, or on lazy couch-dwelling days.  They aren’t meant for public exposure. Oh, and just a tip– pairing Uggs with your Hello Kitty pjs doesn’t improve the ensemble.  Just. Stop.

This trend is going global, but other countries are taking a stand.  A British grocery chain, Tesco, has instituted a no-pyjamas (that’s how the Queen spells it) policy in its stores.  Shanghai, China has also banned pajamas in public.

I am guilty of running to Walgreens at 2am with no makeup, sweatpants and flip-flops because I have a sick kid at home.  I am guilty of going to Home Depot with paint-splattered shorts in the middle of a DIY project. I am guilty of running to the grocery store for milk after going to the gym.  I may have looked a wreck, but at no point did I have on clothing that even resembled nightwear.

Pajama pants just shouldn’t be an acceptable fashion statement… or am I just old and out of touch?

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her at kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

Valentine’s Day is all fine and good if you’re in a great relationship. But what if you’re in a relationship and you’re not happy? Well, you’re in luck because this week is also Dump Your Significant Jerk Week. (Is it saying something that love gets one day but dumping someone gets an entire week…)

Now, I am not here to be a Dr. Phil but I will say that if you are in a relationship and your gut is telling you there’s something wrong, I advocate listening to it. Life is too short to be with someone who doesn’t respect and love you. You and you alone know what kind of person you want to spend your life with. Love at first sight is possible, but it’s more likely you’re going to have to endure some bad relationships before you find ‘True Love’.

Let’s imagine that one day you meet a man, and he’s witty, charming, and attractive, plus he digs you, too. You’ve gone on a few dates, and it’s all going along swimmingly until he casually mentions he does yoga/belongs to the NRA/hates vegetarians/voted for the other candidate.

Would that be a dealbreaker?

Obviously, behaviors such as dishonesty or infidelity are huge dealbreakers, and others might be smoking or drinking too much. But I’m talking about the quirks and habits that some people might be able to ignore but others can’t live with. Is he shorter than you, does he wear brown shoes, did he not call you back soon enough? Yes, those are actual reasons I have personally heard for breaking up with a man.

What’s your dealbreaker?

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

The phrase “serious as a heart attack” certainly applies…

What can you do about it?  First, stay healthy by eating right, getting regular exercise, and getting your numbers checked.  Ask a woman her shoe size and her cholesterol level – which one do you think she is most likely to know?

Limiting stress is important as well.  Easier said than done, right?  Learn to take some time for you – get a massage, go for a walk, or just spend time with a friend or loved one.  Lowering your stress levels is just as important as diet and exercise.

Or, you can go shopping.  Yes, that’s right, shopping can be good for your heart.  Visit shopheart.org, and click the Go Red For Women tab.  Browse through jewelry, accessories, exercise equipment, cookbooks – they’ve got almost everything.  A portion of your purchase price is donated to the American Heart Association directly.

Starting today, February 3, and going through Sunday, February 6, thinking red can also save you some green. Wear red while you shop and you will save 20% on your purchase at Macy’s.

For more information on Go Red for Women and for more heart health information, visit goredforwomen.org, or americanheart.org.

*Stats courtesy of CDC

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.

A couple of weeks ago I was having a bad day, and just needed to get away. I went to the Subway up the street, first stopping in at the 7-11 next door to buy a magazine. I ordered my sandwich, settled into a booth at the back, and flipped through the glossy pages, pausing to take a bite here and there. After immersing myself in carbs and fashion for about 45 minutes, I felt re-energized and clear-headed, and realized I hadn’t thought about my pressing issues for a while. Maybe that was the key– to take a mindless mental break that you don’t get by noshing at your desk while playing Mah-jong or checking Facebook. I was truly unplugged for a time.

If the thought of eating alone makes you self-conscious, you aren’t alone. I used to feel that way also, but the more I did it, the easier it became. Now I try to have a solo meal once or twice a month. I’m still self-conscious at the gym, but that’s another story…

Here are a few tips to get you started on the art of solo dining:

Start small– Instead of getting your latte to go, take a few extra minutes to sit down and enjoy it. Next time, be bold and get a muffin, too.

Entertain yourself– Reading is my escape, so I always have a book in my purse. If you don’t like to read, use a small notebook to write down random thoughts, or draw doodles of your surroundings. Bonus– the wait staff won’t know if you’re a critic, so you might get better service.

Scope out your surroundings– A lot of neighborhood chain restaurant walls are literally covered in memorabilia; now is your chance to really look it over. Or pick a place that has outdoor seating when the weather is nice – people watching is a great way to pass the time.

Enjoy your food– Order something new and exciting. Smell, see, taste and experience your food. Too often we eat on the run and don’t take the time to really savor it.

Don’t feel like a second-class citizen– Don’t feel like you have to sit at the bar or at a noisy table by the kitchen. Just because there’s only one diner doesn’t make your patronage any less important. Ask for a better table, and if it’s in the middle of the dining room and people stare, so what? They’re probably envious of your poise, or wishing they could eat alone so their dining companion would stop eating off their plate.

Taking time for you is never time misspent.

Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.