Friday Favorites: Shoe Love

Other than dishes, there is probably nothing I love more than SHOES......heels, flats, flip flops, boots.....you name it.  I guess you could say I'm head over heels for shoes.

There's just something about slipping on a great pair of shoes that makes you feel better, that touches your sole soul......something magical about it.  After all, it was Dorothy's ruby red slippers that got her where she wanted to go & Cinderella's glass slipper that helped her to move up in life & be united with her prince charming. 

Okay, so maybe shoes don't have quite that much power in real life, but I do think that sometimes the right shoes can just help you feel better......prettier, more feminine, more comfortable.

Since this week is "National Shoe Week," I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite shoes with all of you shoe-lovers out there.  I have to admit, there is no tiptoeing around it......I have a lot of shoes!  Come on now, don't be a goody two-shoes..... I know I'm not the only one! 
{You wouldn't want me to give you the boot, would you?}

So whether you share the same shoe-love & have "walked in my shoes" or whether "the shoe's on the other foot" for you, I hope you take a couple minutes to put up your feet & enjoy the show.
{I promise I'm done with the puns now!}

I love a great pair of heels for church or those special occasions.....

 This pair by LifeStride is one of my FAVORITE pairs for spring & summer! 
Don't you just love the cute beaded dragonfly?

And these heels by Liz Claiborne {seen in my recent Pink Queen of Sole tablescape} are great just about any time of the year
{well, maybe not if it's below 50*, but anytime other than that!}

 

So what about those days that are below 50*?  Well, there's always boots!
These ankle boots by Antonio Melani are so much fun.

But I have to be honest, as much as I love the look of heels & boots, they are not always the most comfortable.  So I also have a large collection of flats that I wear to work quite often.....

I love the tone-on-tone sequins of these Steve Madden flats.....

And these zebra print flats by Yellow Box are to die for!  As if they wouldn't be cute just with the zebra print, one large clear rhinestone adorns the top!

These leopard print flats by Gianni Bini are not only adorable, but they are some of my most comfortable shoes! {The buckle is what sold me on them!}

Of course, why pay for an expensive pedi if you're just gonna hide your toes?
Sometimes, you just gotta show 'em off......

These fun flats by Naught Monkey are adorned with multiple colored rhinestones, making them easily paired with a variety of outfits.

What?  Not enough toe showing? 

Well, check out these sparkly sandals from the B2 by Bernardo collection.

Still too much shoe?  Well how about these CL by Laundry sandals? 
Wouldn't they be so much fun for a garden party?

And these cute leopard print sandals with the red rhinestone buckle {by Vaneli} are great for Spring, Summer, or Fall!

 I love the color combo of the brown leather & turquoise rhinestones on this Yellow Box pair!

{Guess by now you're learning that I love me some animal print & a little bling!}

But I have to say, if I had my choice, I'd wear flip flops ALL the time.

A little bling dresses up this pair by New York & Co.....

.....while these flip flops by SO are great for a more casual look.

But then there's these {again by Yellow Box}.....my most comfortable pair of shoes EVER!

But what about those rainy days?

I love a great pair of rainboots......I have to admit, even though I already have 2 pairs, I'm always seeing cute rainboots that I'd love to have!

And then there's those snow days {which, although only a handful of days each year, can be pretty crazy in Oklahoma}......gotta have a great pair of snow boots!
The band of fur on the top of these Coach snow boots definitely helps keep you warm!

Okay, just one more......a great pair of houseshoes {yet another pair by Yellow Box} are not only soothing on a tired feet, but their bright pink color & bling just put a smile on your face!

Believe it or not, this is just a small sampling of my shoes!  {I plan to do a post on shoe storage in the near future, so you'll get to see a few more!}  But I have to admit, while it might look like I spend a lot of money on shoes, I love a good bargain & the majority of these (with the obvious exception of the Coach boots) were less than $30 a pair! 

In case you're wondering, here'a a quick run down of where I got 'em:

{Keep in mind, I purchased most of these at least a year ago & some as much as 5 or 6 years ago!}

Dragonfly Heels - Famous Footwear on sale

Leopard Heels - Steinmart on sale plus a coupon

Leopard Boots - Dillards on the clearance rack

Steve Madden Flats - Ross (enough said)

Zebra Flats - 1/2 off at a little shoe store in Marlow, OK

Leopard flats - Dillards on sale

Naughty Monkey Peep Toe Flats - Ebay (about 1/2 the regular cost, but still new)

Green Sandal by Bernardo - Westies on sale

Rose Sandal - Ross

Leopard Sandal with Red Buckle - 1/2 off at The Webb (a little store in Norman, OK)

Brown/Turquoise Sandal - on sale at Shoetopia (another little store in Norman)

Pink Flip Flops - New York & Co on sale & with coupon

Animal Print Flip Flips - Steinmart (likely on sale or coupon)

Yellow Box Flip Flops - Shoe Warehouse on sale

Rainboots - Steinmart on sale

Coach Snow Boots - Ebay (about 1/2 the regular price, but still brand new)

House shoes - Hallmark!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you again soon!

I'm joining How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday!

Friday Favorites: Basket Case

Today I'm making a case for baskets & containers.  {Get it?  Basket Case.}

Why?  Because I love them.....any shape, any size, any style. 

I love using them not only to organize my huge amount of "stuff," but also as gifts. 


And since putting together fun gift baskets is one of my FAVORITE things to do, I thought I'd share a few gift "baskets" I've put together over the past few years {& maybe along the way it'll get your creative juices flowing as well}!

Up first is this little gift basket I put together for a co-worker who was having a sweet baby boy.  {I bought the basket clearanced after Easter.}

And this is an all blue & green Easter basket I gave to my husband a few years back.

{I was too lazy to dig up some of my pre-digital pics, but one year I put together a golf-themed Easter basket for my husband, using more natural materials.  The brown twig-like basket not only held golf supplies, but it was lined with a golf green (made out of moss), complete with a hole (made out of a little sauce cup) & a golf flag!}

 Or instead of a basket, you could use a trunk.

 I put this together for my little "tween" cousin, who was re-doing her room in turquoise, lime green, & zebra at the time.  It's full of fun desk accessories!
{I also made the memo board in the background......I'll have to do a tutorial on it someday!}

Another option is to use an urn or planter!

 I put this together for my husband for Valentine's Day a couple years ago.  It's filled-to-the-brim with tools.  I attached little notes to each tool that went along with the item, such as "you light up my life" & "we make a good pair."

You can also use caddies to hold the items.  I love using containers that coordinate with the theme & can serve multiple functions!  This is a "basket" of fun pink & green cleaning supplies I put together for a young friend who was getting married.  It would also be great for someone who was moving into a new house.

 I tied various styles of pink & green ribbon to the handle to add a little more pizzazz.

Remember the cousin I made the "desk accessory" basket for?  Well, the following year, I put together this "bathroom accessory" basket, complete with a personalize bathwrap.

 
I added ribbon to the flip flops as well {another future tutorial!}.

It even includes coordinating blue & green nail polish!

I think this would make a great gift for a college student, too!


Another option is to use a colander!
I put this together for another friend who was getting married.  Again, it would be great as a house-warming gift.

 I randomly pulled ribbon through the holes in the colander & tied bows.

Another colander basket with a simple bow tied around it:

 

And last year for Easter, I made a basket for my hubby using a trash can!  It's filled with OU items. 


I love doing themed baskets.  For the past few years, I've done a different "theme" for my sister every year.  For instance, there's been polka dots, houndstooth, eiffel tower, damask, numbers, etc.  Here are a few examples.

This one included polka dot bowls, napkins, coasters, etc.

I used this beverage tub as a basket, holding other polka dot serving pieces.  Notice the ribbon, tissue, & notecard are also polka dot.

Just recently I did an all numbers theme, including cocktail napkins, plates, & a little pitcher.

I had already purchased all of the filler items items, when I came across this fabulous mirrored box at TJ Maxx, with numbers all over it!  It was absolutely perfect to use as a gift basket.

{It's hard to take pics of mirrored items because all of the surrounding items - including the carpet it was sitting on - are reflected.  Oh well.}

I even found some "number" tissue paper!

And last, but not least, remember these galvanized tubs I decorated for a couple friends' baby showers?
They'll be great for holding baby supplies after the baby arrives!

Well, even though this is just a small sampling of the baskets I've put together (just the pics I could quickly get my hands on), it's quite easy to see that I love gift baskets. 

Hope it got your creative juices flowing.  I'd love to hear from you some creative gift baskets you've put together!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great Friday!

Friday Favorites: Stacked Pillow Tuffet

A couple years ago, when my hubby & I were touring a "dream home," I came across this stacked pillow tuffet from Bella Rose by Chateau's "Esmerelda" line:

And I fell in love!.........with the materials, with the tassels, with the style, but not with the price!

Over the next couple months, I came across the same tuffet in a few high-end furniture & decor stores.....and when I say high-end, I mean it was WAY out of my price range!

But I just couldn't get it out of my mind!

So I continued to check periodically, hoping that one day it would be mine.....you could say I was a tuffet stalker!  My husband, knowing my obsession, even offered to try to make me one!

And then it happened!  One day while visiting a local decor store, I came across it yet again, only this time something was different, this time it was on sale!  Almost 70% off!  I couldn't believe it!  Although still a bit pricey, I just couldn't resist.....not after all of that!  And I knew that even if we attempted to make it ourselves, the materials alone would be close to that amount!

So I grabbed it up, & loaded it in my car......a Camaro at the time.....I must have been quite a sight trying to get that thing to fit.....but I adjusted the seat, scooting it & leaning it back as far as possible, and then squeezed the tuffet in the front passenger seat.....smiling the whole way home!

And now it sits happily in my living room......

.......by our fireplace.......

.......where it typically holds a Gracious Goods tray & magazines.......

.......but also showcases the occasional seasonal decor.......

.......and when company comes, it adds a little extra seating as well. 

And every time I look at it, I smile!