WEDNESDAY'S WORDS TO LIVE BY

Image found on Pinterest via mrnevergiveup.com

TUESDAY SHOESDAY

I'm loving this fresh take on a classic bootie from Cole Haan - the buckle makes all the difference. And it comes in one of my favorite colors - greige! But don't wait, because after tonight the $159.95 price tag goes back up to $328!

 Image found via Cole Haan

MY NEW FAVE - THE ANIMAL PRINT SHOP

I cannot even begin to express how happy I am that I came across The Animal Print Shop today. I have been tirelessly searching for neutral colored prints to hang in my daughter's nursery since I was pregnant and she's now 8 MONTHS OLD! So, her walls have been sad and empty because I just couldn't find anything that I loved.   

Until now. 

Thanks to Gloria of Little White Whale, I stumbled across The Animal Print Shop, and the rest is history. It's like Sharon Montrose crawled inside my brain and created everything I've ever imagined. Everything I've been seeing before now has been too young (in a cheesy nursery cliché sort of way) or too adult-like and boring. But these animal prints are just perfect and I especially love the neutral color palette and clean, natural aesthetic.

I couldn't stop myself and purchased the 6 below from the Babies collection. They really do look amazing all grouped together, and will be such a nice addition to the nursery's taupe and white patterned bedding, ruffly white curtains, and ivory shag rug - I can't wait to see it all come together!

Photos by Sharon Montrose, found via The Animal Print Shop

Oh, and the best part...Thanksgiving is at our house this year (for the first time ever!) and of course I want everything to be pulled together by then (since we just moved into our house this past August and are still unpacking!), so I sent an email to see if there was any way to ensure my package would arrive by the day before Thanksgiving...well, not only are they shipping it today via Priority mail, they're not even charging me extra - just the standard $5 flat rate shipping cost. Does it get any better than that?

Thank you Animal Print Shop (especially super sweet Jenny who responded to my email), I am your newest #1 fan, and will be singing your praises to everyone I know - much love! 
 

TUESDAY SHOESDAY

Tell me these jewel-encrusted pumps don't scream holiday party. You can rock these for all your glitzy December events, and then continue the party into the new year. They are the perfect black heels by BCBGMAXAZRIA that will go with everything, while adding that little something extra. 

And the fact that there is only pair left on Amazon in my size is making me feel like this whole lovefest I have going on is totally meant to be.

Shoes by BCBGMAXAZRIA, found via Amazon.com

BE THANKFUL

So I've been putting off blogging for the past couple of weeks...first because I was without power for a week due to Hurricane Sandy. And then after that, because I just couldn't get myself to write about shoes and weddings and other pretty things when all I could think about was the houses burned to the ground in Breezy Point, and the mom in Staten Island whose babies were snatched from her arms by the aggressive flood waters.

So many people lost so much and I couldn't get the images out of my head. I can't imagine what it must be like to attempt moving on with life once your babies are gone, your home is gone, all of your hope for life and your future...gone.

Then it hit me that life does go on. It has to. And all we can do is be thankful for everything we do have and to help the less fortunate in any and every way possible, whether that's donating time, money, or support. So I will do that to the best of my ability. And I will not let a day go by without being thankful. Thankful for my precious baby girl who has made my life worth living. Thankful for my loving husband who keeps me calm and sane (or at least tries to). Thankful for my supportive family who always believes in me. Thankful for my dear friends who keep me laughing. Thankful for the roof over my head. Thankful for my career. Thankful for all the little details that keep life interesting.

What are you thankful for? Really think about it this Thanksgiving and don't take any of it for granted ever again. 

I'll be back tomorrow with some beautiful shoes for Tuesday Shoesday...because life goes on, and because we need these little things to look forward to, and because, thankfully, there will be many weddings in my future, and many happy moments to celebrate.