favorite thing - shoe mint

Mittens. Earrings. Shoes.

You have to have a pair. You have no choice.

So if you have to buy two, they might as well be fabulous.

Ok, so I know you don't ACTUALLY buy two - but there is something extraordinary about a PAIR of shoes. That new box. The first time you slip on a pair. You know THAT feeling.

You can be wearing the most boring of outfits...but then the shoes. Ahhhhhh. Completion.

If you know me at all you know I have a thing for boots. But a girl cannot live in boots alone. Well, at least that is what I've been told. But truthfully, outside of boots, I sometimes struggle with the fashion of shoes. I like a bit of guidance.

In walks...ShoeMint.

I had heard about them from all the fashion sites I pour over. I finally took the leap. HOOKED!

"The style of fashion icon Rachel Bilson, the vision of celebrated stylist Nicole Chavez, and the shoe-making expertise of the legendary Steve Madden, combine to bring you ShoeMint - a shoe shopping experience unlike any other. Step into the impeccable style and craftsmanship of an inspired luxury shoe you could pay hundreds of dollars for - without having to."

ShoeMint is one of those "clubs". You have 5 days at the beginning of the month to either choose a pair of shoes, or decline. They actually base your shopping choices on a profile you fill out. For me? They have been right on the money.

I've been a member for about a year. I do not purchase shoes every month. In fact, I have only bought 5 pairs. But what I love is that they are way ahead of the trends!

"Our designers combine incredible vision and impeccable taste to create shoes that will take your breath away — always fashionable and of exceptional quality. With each ShoeMint pair, you'll always be one step ahead of the crowd."

Warning. Make sure you stop by the site in the first 5 days or you will be charged the $79 fee whether you buy shoes or not. It goes into your credit box and can be used later, but still...it's $79. Spoken from one who found out the hard way!

But seriously...look at these shoes! I am IN LOVE!

And these...I bought these in the spring for my Florida trip. I wear them all the time.

If you need shoe advice, or you just don't have time to shop...I highly recommend ShoeMint. I mean...you have to wear shoes...they might as well be fabulous. {smile}

xoxooxoxooxo

lisa

scatter the magic

Today I have the privilege of guest posting on one of my favorite blogs...

kind over matter

Amanda has a passion for the creative community. She truly has a heart of gold. This "place" she has created is an environment of "loving souls changing the world by living authentic lives". Can you see what I love her so?

Please...go...check our her site and become a part of it. You won't regret it.

I am writing about being kind in business. Being authentic. Being magical....

Will you read it and leave a comment...for me? 

Here's the link ... scatter the magic ...

love you to pieces,

lisa

when life gives you more than you can handle

Life. It often gives us lemons, does it not? Forever we have heard the cliche'...

"when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

It's a proverbial phrase. It's purpose is to encourage an "I can do it" sort of mentality when the going gets tough. Finding the sweet in a sour situation.

But what happens when you run out of lemonade?

I spent the weekend with my two oldest girls and a friend at an outdoor country music concert in Michigan. {{ Side note? We had a blast. }} Anyway....at one point I actually laughed out loud, and then hoped none of the 40,000 people around me noticed. After standing in line - not once, but twice - to refill my daughters fresh-squeezed-lemonade we arrived at the front of the line to be told, "I'm sorry, we are out of lemonade."

To me...THIS was funny.

Why? 

Because in the last 9 months we have been pounded by lemons. I've been squeezing those things and mixing up batches of lemonade like crazy. If you can make it with a lemon, I've done it.

But what happens when you run out of lemonade?

That's kind of where I am right now.

Last summer our world turned upside down. Mid August we found out we were moving to Indiana. We moved within a couple weeks. We told the kids to pack for three months to live in a tiny rental home until we can find a home of our own.

New school. New friends. New church. 

New. New. New. Lemon. Lemon. Lemon.

Ten months later. 

We bought a home.

Lemon. We can't move into the end of July.

Lemon. We have to move out of our rental home this week.

Lemon. NEW rental home has no air conditioning. And no laundry facilities.

Seriously? I'm out of lemonade.

I've squeezed and squeezed...but there isn't a drop of lemon juice. I have nothing. Empty.

Right now nothing seems to matter but getting through these next 8 weeks.

Eight.

Fifty-six days.

One-thousand-three-hundred-and-forty-four hours.

My brain is mush.

So please forgive me if the jewelry and the blogging gets a bit sporadic.

Eight weeks. 

Will you stay with me?

Will you support me?

Will you be MY listening ear?

Do I dare ask YOU for encouragement?

And hey, if you have any ideas for dried up lemons I'd be all over it!

In the meantime, I'm going to go mix up the "we-are-on-a-new-adventure-Kool-Aid" for my family. 

Because...

I DO believe there is a higher plan.

I DO have so much to be thankful for.

I DO know this is minor in the great scheme.

I don't even like lemonade any more.

So here is to the Kool-Aid. CHEERS!

love you to pieces,

lisa

Thoughts on aging and what I would tell my younger self

I no longer have a baby or a toddler. That became painfully obvious when my smallest person came out of school yesterday sporting THIS t-shirt!

In our home there are no preschoolers. No longer kids in elementary school! 

So why do I identify MY age with the age of my kids?

If I had a toddler would I feel younger? 

Do I need to to feel younger?

Why is so much focused on ones age?

Why do I focus on that?

Why does age matter?

I was analyzing my face the other day. I AM aging. It happens. It's inevitable. Go figure!

But why do I / we fear it?

I decided I love my smile lines and the wrinkles around my eyes. It proves there has been profound joy in my life.

I will embrace the furrowed lines.  It reminds me of the battles I've walked through. 

I admit, I cringe at the grey hair in my bangs. For some reason that one gets me all undone. What do I do? I pull them out! Bad idea. They grow back. Not grey. WHITE. And they stick out all funny.

But really what would I tell myself looking back? At 18? 25? 30? even 35? What do I tell my girls?

• Fret less. Smile more.
• You look dang good. And you will never look this good again!
• Judge less. Others and yourself. You are so, so hard on yourself, please be more gentle.
• You are uniquely you. There is NO ONE like you. And you are perfectly made and beautiful. 
• Embrace your curly hair. It's different then everyone else.
• Accept who YOU are. You were created with a purpose that is yours and yours alone.
• Love yourself - and others will do the same.
• Eat healthy.
• Exercise more.
• Stay out of the sun. Protect your body as a temple that it is.
• Chase your dreams. All of them. Never accept status quo.
• Be kind.
• Be compassionate.
• Love others deeply.
• Think less of who you are and more about others.
• Those woman older than you? They have wisdom to impart. Learn from them.

Back to the aging part. Why does the fact that I have teenagers make me feel old?  At this rate, I will feel ANCIENT if they ever get married and {{gasp}} have children!  And really, that's stupid!

So basically, this is a letter to myself. 

Telling myself to SUCK IT UP. 

Telling myself to get over it. 

And telling myself that I am beautiful TODAY and at every age. 

Why?

Because I am working on the beauty on the INSIDE.  

Yes, I take care of the outside. But come what may I AM going to age. 

However, if I focus on being beautiful on the inside.  On developing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control - then my beauty will show for all to see!!

And that kind of beauty? Well, that never grows old.

Just think if I had focused my energies there for the last 40 years?

Good thing it's never too late.

Girl. You are insanely beautiful! 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Now go.

Get your shine on!

xoxooxox

lisa

Favorite Thing - Rocket Mascara

Let's face it. 

Our eyes truly are a window to our soul. 

And...you want that "window" to look it's best...right?

I am an advocate of "good" make-up. Like our shoes, you get what you pay for. However, that being said, it doesn't seem to translate to mascara. At least for me.

I have tried it all. High end. Low end. In between. For years, and I mean years I have always come back to Maybelline's Great Lash. For 40 years this has been America's favorite mascara, that works for me. And at about $4.50, I can live with that.

(also available on Amazon for $4.15!)

Except. I was bored - and out of mascara. So off to Target. But really, who needs an excuse to go to Target?

Anyway, there on the end cap was yet another "new" mascara from Maybelline (I think they have like 100 now). It's called Volum' Express The ROCKET Washable Mascara - the name alone got me, and it's BRIGHT blue packaging, and, hey, it was on sale! I got sucked in. Cha-ching.

Guess what? I love it!

Here's what I look for in a mascara. 

• No clumping. 
• Not too thick. 
• Won't flake into my contacts. 
• Doesn't make me look like I have whiskers. 
• Easy to remove.

This stuff actually does what it says. And my eyes look fabulouso! It's a bit pricier. $6.00. Lol. That was supposed to be funny people! It's worth much more, just don't tell Maybelline! I do believe there is a waterproof version too for you water lovin ladies.

If you are looking for a change, I highly recommend it. But don't go batting those newly gorgeous eyes around. I will not be responsible for the results {smile}.

xooxoxoxo

lisa

All shoes are NOT created equal

Shoes. 

They seem to be something everyone can get excited about. 

Guy or girl. 

Age unlimited. 

An easy way of self expression. 

Extremely functional.

And yes, somewhat necessary.

But all shoes are NOT created equal.

THIS I have discovered first hand.

I am a huge fan of shopping at Payless. The shoes are inexpensive and fun. It's a great way to try a style and see if wedges or strappy sandals or high tops or knee high boots are for YOU without making a huge commitment.

Typically, that works for me, but this last pair did not. {sad panda }

I love high heels. Well, I love high heels ever since I learned to embrace my height. I sorta enjoy being "up in the clouds". It helps me exude a certain intimidation confidence. 

Ever since my favorite pair of Cole Haan heels broke I have been on the hunt. Those shoes were the ultimate. I could wear them for hours. I could even run in them - if necessary. Although, I may have looked sort of like an awkward giraffe...but I COULD run.

Scenario? 

New dress. 

Need black heels. 

Payless to the rescue. They look great, do they not?

I can wear them for about 5 minutes and I'm done. Pain. Agony. They are even Payless "high end" designer Christian Siriano. Too bad. VERY sad. Can't wear. I even tried again in Toronto last week. Let's just say, I have walked the streets of Toronto bare foot. Yup. True story.

I believe with inexpensive shoes you often get what you pay for. They may be trendy. They may be uber sexy. They may LOOK amazing. But what you are getting is a style that has not been tested thoroughly like a pair of the more expensive nature. Sometimes that works. This time it did not.

But let's talk high end expensive. Those Cole Haan's that I adored. I purchased them on sale-on-sale and THEN discounted for $50. To me, that still was an investment. But when they broke I researched a replacement pair. Those sexy little things began at at $250 {gulp}. And step into the world of another Christian, one who goes by, 'Louboutin' ...a comparable pair begins at $600! What the what? (but they are GORGEOUS!)

Rewind to a couple weeks ago. I take my son suit shopping for prom. We buy a nice suit...we need shoes. I cringe at the thought. Size 14. That's a LOT of leather.

I brace myself.

Helpful sales woman suggests - in a lovely lilting accent that makes you WANT to buy from her - a pair of...are you ready for this...Cole Haan's - you know "based on the size and shape of his foot". I cringe. Then unabashedly blurt out, "he's only 17!". (as if she cared.) However, she didn't give me the "eye". Must be a mom? She says (again in her lovely accent) "no, these are good price!".

GIANT shoes that are 1. good quality. 2. extremely stylish. Price? On sale for $99 - minus the 30% 'sign-up-for-the-Macy's-card-discount"? $69.30! SIXTY-NINE DOLLARS.

Is anyone else seeing the injustice here? A tiny bit of leather on a woman's sexy shoe is 3-6 times the price? They basically have an entire cow hide on their shoes! Wrong I say. Wrong.

But dang. Those sandals are just too cute.

I can't win. Rant over.

Bottom line. If you can, invest in the best. If you can't, buy band aides, or buy yourself a pair of men's loafers cut them up and make your own shoes. Hey wait....maybe I can do that...

See you in the shoe aisle...at Target....

xooxoxox

lisa

Taking pride in my children - how did they do with the move?

Everyone takes some pride in their children. We would not be parents without it. Some pride is good...many forms of pride are unhealthy.

But when I was asked by Miranda how my kids did with the move from Michigan to Indiana? My first thought is how proud I am of them.

We haven't been THOSE parents. We don't believe our kids are the "best", or the "brightest", or the most beautiful. We don't believe they are entitled to anything.

Yes, our expectations can be abnormally high at times...but we also expect failure along the way.

We want them to experience life as children...not as small people training for the 2020 Olympics. Children. Children that laugh and fall and make mistakes. Children that know how to play and play and play.

These four human beings we "created" are amazing to me. And I am proud of them. Especially with this move.

As they finish out the school year, I am reminded of what a traumatic year they have endured.

Yet. They held fast.

Friends and family left behind. A home left behind. A horse left behind. A life of being "somebody" in a place where they were known, or we were known. The familiar. The comfortable. All...left behind.

Sure we made the choice to move as a family. But...

They were literally thrust into NEW.

NEW school. NEW people. NEW surroundings. NEW church. NEW.

No real home. Nothing familiar. 

Sure we had each other. And we had a firm belief that this is exactly where God led us. But that belief was vastly tested at times.

There have been days of anger and frustration. Days of "this isn't fair".

Yet...they persevered.

The transfer from home school to a giant public school. Middle school for the first time. Mean girls. Bulliess. Academic testing. Proving of ones athleticism. Loneliness. Fear.

Yet....they carried on.

And then there is this tiny house with shared bedrooms and bathroom. The fight for ones own space. No place to ever just "be".

Yet....they just did.

And they didn't JUST get through it. They have thrived. They have accomplished so much. They have excelled academically. They have done well in sports. They have won awards. I am blown away.

These four human beings have taught me so much this year. They have taught me what it's like to really have faith. To truly believe in what is unseen.

They have taught me to never give up.

They have taught me that there is hope for tomorrow.

And they have taught me to love more deeply.

Ages. 17. 16. 13. 11.

Who knew such wisdom and knowledge could be imparted by such youth?

Do not get me wrong! These children are not angels. In fact, they tick me off....regularly! But then again, they are kids. It's their job. And they have a lot to learn.

But, as far as their persistence. As far as they have trusted US. As far as they have believed in a God who is in charge. They blow me away.

So yes. 

I am proud of you Noah, Anneke, Isabel and Tahlia. 

When I look at you I see a bright future. Not only for each of you, but for any who may have the privilege of coming into contact WITH you. 

Now do me a favor. Go clean up your rooms and be nice to each other!

Thank you Miranda for the question, for forcing me to process and think. If you have ANY question at all, please feel free to email me. We are friends right? And if I choose your question you will receive a $25 gift certificate to my store :)

love you to pieces,

lisa