Shoe porn: the caged bootie

I love shoes.  I don’t know why, I just do.

My current favorite in my collection, the caged bootie.  Love!

I hadn’t planned on buying any shoes that day but they were on sale and they were calling my name.  It was my duty to emancipate them from the drab store shelf.

Eaton Centre, Spring Shoes $35

It was also available in white and brown but I always end up buying black.  I wish they had them in nude!

What I really wanted are these Christian Louboutin caged booties but I can’t justify $1600.

Christian Louboutin caged bootie, $1645

Maybe if I became a professional baby-mama and got pregnant by the right athlete…
But until then… a girl can dream.

image source: polyvore.com

Throwback Thursday: who did it better?

Sometimes I’ll get stuck on one song and I will literally want to listen to it ALL THE TIME.  I’m sure my neighbors think I’m weird listening to the same song on repeat for an hour.

My current obsession is Blackstreet’s Think About You, All I Do remix.

Here’s Stevie Wonder’s version.

Stevie Wonder originally wrote it (when he was 16) for Tammi Terrell.

Although I love the original Stevie Wonder version, I think I’m biased because I grew up in the 90s.

Who do you think did it better?

Good Eats – Famous BBQ

I heart Famous BBQ.  How many times have I walked past the bright orange sign and never noticed it was there before?

Famous BBQ - 385 Queen Street W

My co-worker/friend found this place by googling “best bulgogi in Toronto.”  Google ain’t never lied!

I’m always eating off of people’s plates or suggesting sharing just to so I can get a taste of everything.  Most takeout combos you get one rice/pasta/noodles and one meat or vegetable.  I can never choose what I want since I usually want 3, 4, 5 items.  But not at Famous BBQ!  In their bulgogi combo you get SIX items.  Count ‘em. SIX.

bulgogi beef, rice, fries, garden salad, pasta salad, coleslaw

They have the same combo with spicy pork or chicken souvlaki but the bulgogi combo wins hands down.  The sauce mixes on top of the fries creating this delicious gravy.  And the FRIES! Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.  The coleslaw adds a nice little tang and the pasta salad is simple yet delicious.  The garden salad adds a nice complement to all the meat.  And you can’t go wrong with rice.  Forget about all that no-carbs bs.

I have a fairly healthy appetite (I eat more than the bf) but I have a hard time finishing this combo.  I almost finished it once. I usually eat half and save the rest for later but I always eat all the fries first since they don’t microwave very well.

How much for the delectable 6-item combo? $9.03 including tax.

They get pretty busy and the bulgogi takes a bit longer to make so it’s a good thing I eat lunch early (11:30) but they are well worth the wait.

Oooh wee, I think I’m hungry now.

Frugal Friday: $30 challenge

Runway show and frantic last-minute shopping …just another Friday at the office!

Stemming from a conversation of frugal finds, the $30 challenge was born.  The rules were as follows:

  1. Budget of $30 before tax for a complete look.
  2. Must be separates.  Top, bottom AND shoes.  No dresses allowed.
  3. No gifts allowed.  Must be purchased from a store.
  4. And most importantly, must be wearable in public!

Though I’m always on the hunt for bargains, it wasn’t easy to find a complete look for $30. I was done by Wednesday and spent most of Thursday trash talking since everyone else was still completing their look.  Some had yet to even buy any items!  I told them heifers they might as well stay home since I was pretty confident… until Friday rolled around and I saw that I had some stiff competition.

Here’s a couple pics from the walk off that went down last Friday.  Strutting our stuff on our makeshift runway, we tried to convince the judges and woo the audience with our $30 point of view.

Hilary came out with a strong catwalk.  Someone’s been watching Top Model.  Meow!

I tried to win them over with enthusiasm as you can see by my crazed “you-must-love-me” expression.

Rose was the only person to attempt pants but alas, she went over budget.  However, we let her walk the runway with her shoes.

Aileen wowed the judges with a demo.  The top went from halter to tube top.  No extra points if a boob popped out during the demo though.  It’s not that kind of competition.

Jeanette showed off her price tags since she was “strongly advised” to participate and planned to return her purchases after the competition.  We talked her into keeping the items (and I scored the flip flops off of her!)

Sandra, who was also forced into participating, surprised us with taking the time to add extra flair by adding a blue ribbon onto the hat herself to up the ante!

Final walk.  (click to enlarge images)

Here’s the breakdown.

Hilary
Double-sun-casual:  Two looks, one day.  Without the sweater to catch some rays or with the sweater for a quick lunch on the patio with girlfriends.

Shoes $5.39, The Gap
Jean Skirt $4.31, The Gap
Tank $2.99, The Gap
Sweater  $14.99, Winners
TOTAL $27.69


Me:
Sassy in the city: Shoulder comes out after 5pm!

Shoes $7.97, The Bay
Jean Skirt $11.50, Forever 21
Top $9.99, Smart Set
TOTAL $29.46


Rose:
Joe Fresh casual day look


Jeans $19.00, Joe Fresh
Top $10.00, Joe Fresh
Shoes: none
TOTAL $29.00


Aileen:
Lunch at the Golf Club


Jersey Halter Top $9.99, Jacob Cotton shorts $10.00, Jacob
Braided flip flops, $6.95, H&M
Total: $26.94


Jeanette:
“My flip flops don’t match my outfit, but they were only $2!”


Tank top $6.95, H&M
Skirt $12.95, H&M
Scarf $2.99, Black Market (not pictured)
Flip Flops: H&M $2
Total: $24.89


Sandra:
Sandy (at the) Beach


Straw hat $10, Ardene’s (added blue ribbon)
Striped top $4, CNE
Shorts $10, Garage
Sandals $5, H&M
Total: $29.00

After much deliberation… the judges came back with their descision. And the winner is….

….

…. Hilary!

Sandra wins honorable mention.

Total cost for 6 Fabulous & Frugal outfits: $166.98

Having a runway show in the middle of a workday: Priceless.

Thanks for the fun ladies!!!

Madonna songs you didn’t see on Glee

I thought Glee’s salute to Madonna  a few weeks back was pretty wonderful, especially Sue Sylvestor’s Vogue remake.  So for this week’s Throwback Thursday edition, here are some oldies but goodies you didn’t see on Glee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbLE3fZVh6w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaV12Q2Thcw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPzbbvQAzmQ

Sex and the City 2 – yay or nay?

I didn’t watch the series until after it went off the air.  I tried to watch an episode back when I was in university but didn’t see what the fuss was all about.    Four women having sex, big deal.   How groundbreaking is that?  I was already watching Girlfriends on the CW.

As I got older, I watched it again and soon became a fan and even got the DVD set to watch the series from the beginning.  I guess for me, I had to chalk up a few more life experiences to be able to relate to the show as well as leave behind all of the “discourse” I had to engage in for my Communications classes.   I was finally able to enjoy TV without the critical eye and let myself be taken away by the fantasy of fancy shoes, fancy parties and Carrie and Big and Aiden and Berger and the Russian…

With that being said, after seeing the first movie on opening weekend, I didn’t want to make the same mistake again.   It was like a STAR TREK convention but the space suits and Klingons were replaced with Manolos and cocktail dresses.  It was the ultimate girls night out and I wanted to puke.

Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging out with the girls but I refuse to go to the movies in my finest sequined dress and $800 shoes only to end up sitting on the floor in a long lineup while watching old episodes on a portable DVD player.  (I kid you not, I saw a group of girls doing this.)  I love my heels and dressing up and all that, but this was too much for me.

When the doors finally opened, there was a mad rush to get a decent seat.  One girl ran up the stairs and ended up losing a shoe in the process and screamed frantically, “My Manolos!”   I mean really?  Carrie Bradshaw would never lose a shoe going up some stairs.

Throughout the whole movie, I had to endure a roomful of women gasping, ooh-ing and aww-ing at every sweet/cute/endearing moment.  Especially at the end when Big and Carrie unite in the built-for-Carrie closet and they live happily ever after.   I will reiterate, I love the show (and the movie) but that was highly predictable but yet, the roomful of women let out one final “AWWWWW’  for love and all things warm and fuzzy.  I felt bad for the handful of men that had been dragged there by their significant others.

My friends want to go see #2 this weekend and I want to go with them because hey, I enjoy a girls night out but maybe I should try to talk them into going the week after?

Image src: justjared.buzznet.com, moviewallpapers.net

There’s something about Bieber

I don’t really get this whole Justin Bieber craze… maybe I’m too old?  I’m trying to remember what singers I really liked back in the day, enough to make me cry and faint… I’m coming up blank.  I really really really liked Boyz II Men.  So much that I wore out the tape (yes, I’m referring to a cassette tape) but when I went to their concert, I remember being extremely excited but I didn’t send any death threats to Brandy when her and Wanya were allegedly dating.  But I digress.  I love reading blogs because stupid things make me laugh.  Here’s a couple of my favorites from Celebuzz’s  “15 Bieber Movies We’d Like to See“:

See the full list at celebuzz.com