Where in the blog did I go...

Nowhere really.

I've come down with a nasty case of...blogger's block and am currently looking for a cure. Any doctors in the house?

I like to self diagnose if I can so I took to the trusty world wide web and literally searched for "blogger's block symptoms." Turns out I'm not alone. We are a large group of sickies all suffering in the name of the written (or in this case typed) word. Some call it "blogstipation" but I am a gal and gals don't get blogstipated, right?

 My symptoms started about three weeks ago. My fingers become listless, my head became clouded and overrun with visions of grocery lists, piling laundry, dirty bathrooms and house guests. I'll suddenly think, "Oh I'll tell them about that funny time I" and then nothin'. I sit to type it out and instead start searching for a great enchilada recipe (anyone have one, while I'm thinking of it?).

You'll be happy to know that now that I have been diagnosed, I am seeking professional help. Through a strict regimen of intense therapy and heavy drinking, I am expected to make a full recovery. Whew! Hope I didn't have you too worried there!

Wait, hold the phone, I just wrote a blog post, maybe I'm cured! Next time, I'll tell you about that time that I.......................oh, wait, I forgot.

Hope you have a kickin' weekend,

Shoe Gal

Going to my happy place...

To quote a song by these guys: New York, I love you, but you're bringing me down.

You got that right.

For the last week, The Big City has been bleary, dreary and downright depressing. We've had cloudy skies, plenty of rain and chilly temperatures. It's the kind of days where you want to put on your fluffiest socks and hide under your blanket with hot cocoa (with mini marshmallows of course). Which I did. Every day.

It's about the time that I mentally pack up and go to my happy place.

a place where you read a magazine from start to finish without any interruptions.

a place where you can take a nap where you want and when you want and no one will bother you.

a place where you can stop and take in the scenery. 

a place where humans and animals peacefully co-exist. 

a place where your shadow comes out to play.

a place where bonfires and ghost stories are in abundance.

a place where you can kick up your feet and just go where the wind takes you.

a place I love. 

Where is your happy place? 

SG

I don't have the energy so here is some random crap...weekend edition

I don't have the energy to come up with a witty, brilliantly written blog post to kick off the weekend, so I figured I would just write a bunch of random things and hope you'll come back next week when I'm back on my game. Pretty please? With a shot of Tequila on top?

1. "Lost" has me, well lost. Anyone else feel me? I have faithfully watched for 6 seasons now and with only a few episodes left, this is what I know so far: there was a plane, it crashed on an island, some people survived, there are "others" on the island, Hurley keeps getting fatter even though he is stranded on an island (hello writers?), there seems to be a butt load of guns (where did they come from? Did they fed-ex them in?), a man named Jacob, a random submarine and once I believe a polar bear. Awesome.

2. John Hughes was the bomb (does anyone say that anymore? no? damn, I'm still uncool). Anyone who can make Molly Ringwald appear cringe-worthingly awkward regardless if she is the rich, popular gal, the gal from the wrong side of the tracks or the gal pining after the popular jock boy is cinematic genius. Plus you can never go wrong with this and this. Gets me every time. Classic.

3. My 10 year high school reunion is coming up this year. I suddenly have the need for a strong drink.

4. I have a weird aversion to salsa. It literally makes me gag if I smell it or see it. I have no recollection of having any type of traumatic experience with salsa yet I can't stand to be within 50 feet of it. Any therapists out there want to weigh in on this one? In other news, I could eat cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus a snack. Cheese is good for the soul I say.

5. My favorite childhood book is Harold and the Purple Crayon. Being able to draw the world the way you want - awesome. Shoe stores and Starbucks for all!

6. I love clipping coupons - love love love it. Cutting out that little paper square, filing it in my organizer (yes, I have one and it's color coded to boot) and knowing that next time I hit up the grocery store I'm gonna get fifty cents off Texas Toast and a dollar off Fruity Pebbles and I don't even eat Texas Toast or Fruity Pebbles. But if I did, I'd be doing it for a dollar fifty less than most people. Score.

7. When I was little my dad would tell me and my siblings that he actually wrote the song "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles except he titled it "Spin and Yell". I believed him. I was one of those kids.

8. My biggest pet peeve is soap bubbles left in the sink. If there are soap bubbles, I will stand there and turn the water on and off to make them go down the drain. Seriously, any therapists out there?

9. I wish I could draw. I am jealous of someone who can draw an elephant and it looks like an elephant. I draw an elephant and it looks like a 4 year old's version of an elephant. But I still like to pretend I can draw until someone asks me to draw something for them. Then I'm all like "oh my carpal tunnel is acting up, my pencils aren't sharpened, I think my fingers are broken." Fail.

10. I can't think of anything else to write except so I'll leave you with this fun fact: every second Americans collectively eat one hundred pounds of chocolate. I believe I contribute at least twenty pounds of that. Chocolate is also good for the soul.

Love and shoes,

SG

Cooking Culinary Concoctions With Mr. Converse

Say that 5 times fast. I dare ya.

So lately, Mr. Converse has been feeling the pull of the kitchen. It has been quietly calling him, beckoning him to it's gleaming (with smudgy finger prints) stainless steel, smooth (if you don't count the crumbs and I don't) granite and bulging cabinets full of delicious delicacies (ok, let's be serious - I'm lucky if I grocery shop once a month).

For the past couple of weeks, Mr. Converse will randomly call me up and say "hey goddess divine (hey it's my blog, I can embellish if I want, don't judge me), pick a recipe and I'll cook it for you tonight." And then I'll be like, "say what? did I just hear you correctly? you, the man who still isn't sure how to turn our oven on is going to whip me up a culinary feast?"

And he did. Three times. He ain't stupid. He knows the way to any respectable gal's heart is through her stomach.

Score one for wives everywhere.

And Mr. Converse may have scored those nights as well...

Oh Lordy, did I just type that? Sorry Mom. 

All the best (shoes),

Shoe Gal

I see London, I see France...

I see Shoe Gal and Mr. Converse's upcoming vaca via a rad pictograph (wow, lame-o. My deepest apologies).

So anyway, if anyone is still reading this (and I don't blame you if you're not), in a little less than a month, a few hours and some change, Shoe Gal and Mr. Converse will be leavin' on a

headed to

 where they will have a spot of tea with 

and tell their funniest jokes to

they will then hop on a

and end up in

 

where they will see

and fingers crossed (for Shoe Gal's sake) 

and definitely do this

they will visit many

and partake in lots of

and even more 

where inevitably Shoe Gal will get one of these 

but all she needs is a little

and all will be right with the world again.

au revoir pour le moment,

S.G.