Bitter Sweet

It's time for me to throw away my go-to work shoe.  I've had these for the last 3 years and have worn them several days a week - for a while when I first got them it was just about 4 days a week.  The metal 'finish' is scraped off most of the buckle and the right shoe lost part of the hardware and there are scuffs galore on these things.

The best place to see - and hear - the wear is on the heel. 

They've been worn down to the metal stud (which makes them loud on concrete warehouse floors

and Wal-Mart's tiled floors.  The metal even has scratches and signs of wear on it. 

The last bit of rubber is what's hanging off in this picture and the back of the heel is scratched up.

When the last bit of sole broke on the heel I decided it was finally time to replace them.  "No big deal," you're thinking.  Wrong.  HUGE deal!  I am rather picky on my shoes and I usually don't go into a shoe store saying this is what kind of shoe I will find today and this is the kind I buy.  I search the clearance sections of stores where you never know what you'll find.  I've been keeping an eye open for some black work shoes for the last 6 months and haven't found anything that stuck my fancy.  The requirements were:

- low heel
- but still a heel
- must be black
- not plain black
- must have something snazzy or interesting to it.
- must fit and be comfortable
- must grab my attention
- must not look too old lady. :)
- I have to love them immediately and not talk myself into them.

Guess what!  I went to DSW for their boots (which they didn't have online in my size) and discovered that they don't have them in my closest store either...so I went to the clearance section and perused.  The first successful find was a new pair of black, low-heeled, work shoes.   This pair had enough punk/interest for me with the studs.  Thank you, Nine West.

In the back of my mind I knew what this meant.  I was going to have to throw one of my staple pair of shoes away.  So to sweeten the deal and take my mind off the pain I found these: 

leopard wedges by Steven by Steve Madden. 

I love them and I was now more than OK with tossing my used and abused shoes.

Tell me what you think!?

Dear (blank), Please (blank).

I found this website and a few stiffled chuckles.  Please enjoy *.

* WARNING: This is a public website of the world.  Langauge is bad if you go to other parts of the website.  **

**  They're still pretty funny though. ***

***   Most of them - some are just dirty and inappropriate and not funny at all.

Help I need help

The packaging and labeling is clever and cute. The website is entertaining.  It has little surprises everywhere. 

A few I found:

- on the welcome screen/home page click the boxes to change colors..make them match?  click too many times and the box disappears.  make them all disappear....

- definitely go under the "bored" heading

- I want the shirt that says Help I have nothing to wear.

- I know someone that needs the shirt "Help I'm bitter and need a table for one"

- I want to make one for the next Blauser Reunion, but Bryce won't let me post what it would say...

Proceed with Caution.  "Help someone" is funny, but a few are inappropriate - we know we all have the freedom of speech and some don't know how to use it and not abuse it.  There are some good solid gems though in these help ads.

EMERSONMADE

I found this through Cup of Jo, a blog I like to visit occassionally. 

Apparently, Emersonmade started out with all the flowers and flower-things and that's what she's known for.

She just started a few clothing items so if you visit the website that's the hooha until you scroll down a bit.  But click through the categories on the right and take a good 10-20 minutes to just dream about what you could do and what you could wear with all the fun flowers!

Here are a few of my favorites:

so casual - so fun!

Big Poppy! Love this.

Jacket from the new clothing line - totally want.

I really like the feel and colors of this. 

I think I could pull it off.

also love.

Super freaking cute idea here!

If I could go back - I would totally redo my bridesmaids for my wedding...I'm sorry guys. :)  You passed the true friend test...

And I leave you with this... Now, go to the website!

Awzker

Everyone meet Awzker (pronounced like Oscar). 
Awzker, meet everyone.

I don't know what it is with Holiday weekends, especially patriotic ones, for Bryce and I.  We spend more money and we seem to find a way to adopt animals. :)  We did get Jamba 2 years ago and I've been fighting Bryce every holiday weekend since against getting another one.  But this July 4th weekend Bryce's long-time dream of having a Russian Blue came 1/2 true.  Awzker was found in a camper neighborhood - like a trailer park but RV's - after it had been flooded out by the nearby river.  The mother they know for sure is Russian Blue and they don't know what the father is.  This was Bryce's chance and they were doing adoptions that day at that time we decided to go by...Bryce got half of his dream realized and I got him to tell me we were done getting pets and that we didn't have to have anymore after these die in 20 years. :)  So when I'm in my 40's life will be pet free?  There's a good answer to the question, where do you see yourself in 20 years....

Awzker is very cuddley, and affectionte.  He has a squeaky toy sound for his meow and sometimes doesn't quite get it out.  He is spastic and we think ADD, even for a kitten.  He loves to rub on you and cuddle on your lap or shoulder.  Bryce's true dream cat.   :)  Oh, and he loves to look as his reflection in mirrors. It must be the Russian Blue part of him, but his nose and the pads of his paws are black.

I think he looks like a rainforest animal in this picture...

When we first brought him home he was started by noise of any kind.  He quickly found his safe spot - behind our kitchen trash can.  We went through name after name for this cat.  From Prince Humperdink or just dink to Dread Pirate Robert and Robbie, to Cat, and we gave it a 2 day effort with the African names (to match Jamba) and Russian names(you know, cuase he's Russian Blue). So we went back to his roots and the trash can and decided Oscar fit, but we couldn't spell it like that....this is where Bryce's strong background in gaming comes in handy and Wa La: Awzker!

His cuddling made the picture and blogging process take longer when he found a good place for a nap.

I realize there's no perspective on these...so he's 2.5 pounds and 4 months old.

In searching for Waldo did we really find ourselves? No, probably not.

Warner Herzog reads childrens' books - unlike anyone else.

CLICK THE POST TITLE for Where's Waldo.  Below the video on this link you'll see Curious George and Madeline if you need more. :)

Enjoy!

2 yr. Pictures

Memorial Day is how we gauge Jamba's birthday, because it was on Memorial Day 2008 that we "rescued" Jamba and brought her home.  To see her "baby" photos click here!  Here are her 2 year pictures:

The cutest ever!

Blue Steel

High Fashion

Jamba was pooped from the photo shoot.

The light's weird but I like the picture - she was trying to bat at the camera strap.

And a movie for your entertainment: click here! Jamba hates dents in the carpet and she attacks them to smooth them out whenever we move a chair or the coffee table.  I was washing the sheets and chaning the mattress cover when she discovered some dents she couldn't smooth out.  She spent a good 10-20 minutes trying though.  This is the first time I noticed her doing it and grabbed my camera.

At the ripe age of 2 Jamba has become more cuddly and less of a menace.  She still enjoys fetch, tag, and her version of hide and go seek (more like I see you hiding around the corner and I will hunt you down and attack!).  She loves bottle caps and small round items like skittles that slide around easily to chase.  She loves being outside: rolling on the concrete and biting the grass, chasing insects and jumping at low flying birds.  When she can't be otuside she sits in front of windows and just stares for long periods of time.

In Memory

pictures from "Today" Women in Uniform (click for link)

Memorial Day is a time to reflect and honor those men and women who served in wars past to gain freedom and give equality.  It's also time to thank the men and women who serve today to protect the freedoms of our country.

My own grandpa was a Seabee in the Pacific Islands.  I know one thing he did was underwater welding in one of these:

 

"During the Second World War, the Seabees performed now legendary deeds in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of Operation...Seabees in the Pacific Theater of Operations earned the gratitude of all Allied fighting men who served with them or followed in their wake. Their deeds were unparalleled in the history of wartime construction. With eighty percent of the Naval Construction Force concentrated on the three Pacific roads, they literally built and fought their way to victory.

"In construction and fighting operations, the Pacific Seabees suffered more than 200 combat deaths and earned more than 2,000 Purple Hearts. They served on four continents and on more than 300 islands."

(Info pulled from the Department of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center )

I bet Arlington Cemetary would be really cool on a holiday like this.

Motor Mount, Motor Mount - goes so FAST!

This is Bryce's newest "improvement" to his Speed3.  This is a motor mount.  This one is specifically designed to be stiffer so the engine doesn't move as much in the engine bay at full throttle - during acceleration. Basically it makes the engine hold still so he can shift smoother. :)

This is the stock motor mount.

This a comparison between the old one (left) and the new one (right).  Bryce would like you to take notice of the gaps on the old one and how solid the new one is.  You can push the old one in with your hands and the new one is noticeably stiffer.

Beauty shot!  The new motor mount is in place and ready for a test drive.

We never posted pictures of the previous additions to his car so here they are!

New bypass valve, K&N air filter, short ram intake and goes down to the turbo inlet pipe (not pictured).

Vent pod boost gauge inside the cock pit.

Talkin' Trash

Georgia has dumps in most of the communities so you can take you plastics and glass and household waste, large boxes, scrap metal and even your car oil here and dispose of it properly.  We've been to ours probably as many times as you can count on one hand but this last time Bryce made a great discovery.  Check out the signage on the bin.  See if you can catch it.

Still looking?

Ok, so look one more time and at the last word.  It's supposed to be Waste, but the original spelling was Waiste - which is not a correct spelling for either homonym. :) Nice!