Happy Birthday to me...

UPDATE: the cutey flats from Neimans ran HUGE, so going to have to return and splurge on something else... perhaps something more 'springy' since I'm crossing my fingers we're heading OUT of winter any day now...

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Does anyone else buy themselves birthday gifts? Since I buy myself schtuff of some sort pretty much every other day, I definitely also end up splurging on a few new treats when my birthday rolls around. I've been slammed at work, so while the gifts aren't here to enjoy on my actual 'day', I'll get to extend the birthday fun as these come in the mail! Here's what's on it's way:

The greatest most fabulous day calendar ever (I know, I'm late on getting this, but still have 308 days left of beautiful shoe reveals!)



And some new shoes for this girl!

This gorgeous and fun dictionary for my new office:




And lastly, I'm finalllllllly getting my hair cut and colored later today. I'm way overdue, since I haven't been since before my wedding - I know, I'm actually embarrassed about admitting that.

So that's the roundup of what I so generously bought myself for my birthday. I know, I shouldn't have... :)

Building on my last post...

Ok, so I love shoes. I own many, and I still want more. In fact, I own so many I can't even see them all properly to get good use out of them. This is my MO: I'll fall in love with a pair of shoes, scour the internet until I find the best deal on them, and click, they are mine. At some point, I'll remember that pair that I bought and loved. Loved so much I wanted to keep them safe in the box. Then I forgot to wear them for a while because they were tucked away safe in said box... and then I go rummaging to find that amongst my crammed closet. Whatevs. Then I bust them out and wear the crap out of them.

But seriously, let's be clear here, I love shoes for only one reason: fashion.

Today, readers, I stumbled upon an article about a new approach shoe-giant, Adidas is taking, which I copied below for your convenience.

WTF??

Admittedly, I'm not their target audience, so perhaps that's why I find this shoe-that-is-for-walking-AND-playing video-games completely absurd. But after this, what's next? Will I be able to use my new pair of flip-flops to shave my armpits?

Innovation is taking us places I just don't think anyone wanted to go in the first place... but you tell me.

Sporting goods maker Adidas has unveiled a new limited-edition line of sneakers called the "Originals Augmented Reality Game Pack."

This isn't just any `ol sneaker. It actually doubles as a gaming device. So when you get tired off wearing it, just take it off and use the shoe as a controller.

"We were given a challenge a year ago to introduce a product that leverages technology to deliver specific lifestyle benefits to consumers," said Chris Barbour, head of digital marketing for Adidas "Originals" brand. "We we took a pair of our shoes and added a layer of `virtual' experience around it."

The Game Pack features five iconic Adidas "Originals" sneakers - the Superstar, Stan Smith, Forum, Nizza and Samba. Each sneaker has a barcode on the tongue of the shoe. When you hold the barcode in front of a computer web camera, it unlocks the 3D Adidas Originals neighborhood.

The sneaker then becomes a controller that you can use to play a series of interactive games in the virtual neighborhood. There's a laser blaster game, a skateboarding-themed game and a music-based game.

"We don't consider this a gimmick," said Barbour, hinting that Adidas plans to come out with more products, including an iPhone application and clothing that using similar technology.

"Innovation is critical in this economic environment. Consumers want more value in a product even if they don't want to pay more for it," he said. "What's really cool is these sneakers don't cost any more than they typically would have without the technology."

The sneakers are available in the United States at Champs Sports and on Eastbay.com with prices varying from $64.99 to $94.99.

Shoes make the world go round... right?

I immediately loved this picture. It made my smile. I wish I could rock heels, but it just isn't in the cards for me. So I've embraced my destiny - infinite numbers of adorable flats.




I want these lovely littles to add to my collection... on sale here at Neiman's, but I refuse to pay 16$ shipping, so holding off for now.

I've got the blues... the minty kind

I've always been partial to the color mint, even though not so long ago people would have said it was a color best suited for women in the 80's. That's fine. I mean, I saw how it could make you look rather Boca-Ratonish. But still, still I was drawn to things with that lively, whimsical minty hue. So I allowed myself to splurge on a few things here and there, just making sure to held myself to moderation. Well, as of recent it's come to my attention that I wont have to check my fetish, or worry I'm looking like a senior, because as it appears, mint is back in style for even those who don't qualify for an AARP membership! How do I know? Because they are being hocked at many on-trend retailers, including JCrew, and Banana Republic... sure, they are calling the shade, "pistacio" and "seafoam", but hell, it's mint.

Here are a couple of new pieces I've picked up:
First, this pretty draped, piece, which I'm hoping is one long enough for my tastes, and two not too susceptible to wrinkles or snags (for some reason the way the fabric is pictured, it has me a little worried). I'll take a look when it arrives, and see if it's a keeper.



And this pretty puppy, which sold out in .02 seconds in seafoam, but not before I snagged on in my size (M).



Best part, well one of the other nice perks of this purchase, is BR is currently offer 25% of all full-priced items when you use your BR card! Take advantage with the code BRSPRING25.

Here are a few other adorable-at-least-in-my-biased-opinion mint pieces I've made a part of my wardrobe over the years:

A gorge necklace from one of my favorite Etsy designers, The Bean and Sprout:



A cashmere sweater I picked up on major sale from JCrew. I know, mint AND a bow, it almost made me have a seizure!



And lastly, the ever-popular Fulmar Sweater Skirt made by Moth and sold at Anthropolgie a few years back. I'm not exaggerating when I saw that EVERY time I wear this skirt, I get told how cute I look:



I personally love pairing my mint clothes/accessories with things that are rust/pumpkin colored, a color-palette that is also worn and loved by one of my favorite fellow bloggers, Kim from Anthroholic. Beyond the mint-rust combo though, what other options are out there? Ideas on how to make this color more neutral or usable?

I tried to avoid the doppelganger nonsense, and then hilarity ensued...

I stumbled upon a fabulous widget that apparently uses facial recognition software to determine which celebrities you most resemble. Note, I MOST resemble somone named Queen Rania (should I be embarrassed I don't know who that is?). And she is lovely, so surely, I will take that 75% celeb match. 75% of what, you ask... I have NO idea. But according to Heritage.coms amazing software, I resemble Hugh Jackman at an oustoundingly high 68%. I mean, Hugh is a hottie, but I don't want to think I look like him.



One last comment before I run my husby...could that be a worse pic of Helen Hunt?