Wordless Wednesday



Christian Louboutin Crystal-Encrusted Suede Pump - $3,095





And the winner is.....

Veata!!!

Veata



and...Lucille!

Lucille

Yes, I ended up ordering 2 pairs of shoes this month. But I really had no choice - the votes were tied. Counting blog comments and tweets, both Veata and Lucille received 9 votes. I couldn't just pick one so I went with both!  I'm guessing I should have my new beauties any day now and I can't wait to see if they live up to their online beauty.

Good thing I ordered them last week, because 2 new votes came in for Lucille over the weekend :)

ShoeDazzle - October

ShoeDazzle is nothing new, but just in case you've never heard about it here's some info: you take a quick survey about your style, ShoeDazzle sends you their picks for you (usually this is 5 pairs of shoes, handbags, and jewelry sets), then you select what you'd like to order, request alternates or choose to skip the month. I also really like their new feature that shows you the shoes that almost made it into your top 5!

I've ordered a handful of things from ShoeDazzle, but not in the past few months.  This months I actually like several pairs of shoes!

Here are my top 5 picks!

Lucille

Sparkling silver glitter and fabric rosettes combine romance and glamour.

A mirrored heel and peep-toe lend notes of retro disco style to Lucille—surprise yourself and wear this glittering pump with a grey or Glen plaid jacket over a simple belted LBD. Glam it up with long earrings and necklaces to take the look out at night.

Manitee

Glossy black patent leather flirts as a polished pump.

Catch a matinee in these spotlight-worthy heels. Matinee’s classic yet alluring good looks beckon to be paired with a deep green dress or skinny tuxedo pants and a smart blazer.



Veata (also available in eggplant)

 Richly-hued faux crocodile lends a classic platform a note of luxury.

Saturated color and faux croc-embossing make a classic pump new again. Veata pops when paired with silky blouses and a mini or some skinnys. Pile on the gold necklaces and jewel-toned earrings to dress her up.

Marisol

Exotic faux snakeskin in a classic olive hue gives a classic platform pump refined edge.

Marisol’s reptilian pattern spans from covered heel to toe, and will add a touch of sass to your office attire. A short taupe skirt and ivory blouse will echo her color scheme nicely; bold gold jewelry will add the finishing touch.

Rhett

Sassy studs decorate the ankle strap of this velvety purple faux suede platform.

Rhett is royally regal in purple, with a substantial platform and heel. Mirror her plum shade with a colorful scarf over some lace and satin apparel, and echo her gold studs with a touch of rocker jewelry.


Since I like so many, I've decided to let you guys pick my next pair of shoes! Leave me a comment letting me know which you like best and the one that gets the most votes will be ordered!

Thoughts on Boston

Let me start off by saying this - I will never be a Boston Qualifier. It's just not going to happen for me. If I ever get the chance to race Heartbreak Hill it will be because I have worked my ass off to raise money for a charity that is dear to me AND trained to run 26.2 miles.



Credit



Yesterday, for the first time in history, The Boston Marathon sold out less than 8 hours after registration opened.  This quick sell-out was expected and has caused quite the stir amongst runners.  I can only imagine the frustration of working your ass off to train to run a BQ (Boston Qualifying time) and not being able to register for Boston because the race sold out quickly.  I get the frustration, I really do but let's be honest, everyone in the running world knew a quick sell-out was a very real possibility.

There will be approximately 26,000 people lining up to run this prestigious race next April. About 1,350 of them will be charity runners.  These 1,350 spots are not the reason Boston filled quickly.

Boston filled quickly because marathoning is becoming increasingly popular.  More runners running marathons means more runners will run a BQ time and more BQ times mean more runners will be attempting to register for Boston. I also think part of the problem is that Boston organizers have been predicting a sell-out for sometime now. Sending emails about an expected quick sell-out creates a frenzy once registration opens.  This happens with a lot of races, not just Boston.  The 2010 Mountain Desert Island Marathon took place just the past Sunday and the 2011 race is already a near sell-out. 

What I've noticed since the sell-out of Boston is a lot of elitist attitudes coming out of the woodwork and that's what has really upset me.  I've seen a lot of people bashing charity runners and I've also seen a lot of people being pretty negative to those whom they feel don't have tough enough BQ times.  This really bothers me.  In my opinion, elitist attitudes have no place in running.



I'm a slow runner who has completed two marathons. Does that make me less worthy of running the same race as someone who happens to run a 3:20 marathon? I would argue the answer to that question is no. We are all runners - fast, slow, and somewhere in between - and I think we all deserve the respect of others.

I'm sure a lot of you have seen these Pearl Izumi ads and maybe you've poked around on Run Like An Animal.  These ads embody everything I hate about elitist runners.  Those that have been running for years and years are no better than that woman who is running to fit into her wedding dress.  My slow marathon times do not mean that I've haven't trained hard to be able to put one foot in front of another for 26.2 miles.  I have put countless hours into my training - the fact that the finish line clock starts with a different number than some when I finish shouldn't diminish my finish or my value as a runner.

There is a place in the running world for all runners, and like it or not, charity runners are here to stay. I've personally raised over $7,000 in less than a year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and St. Jude's through my hard work and the generosity of those around me.  Remember those 1,350 charity runners that will get to run Boston? In 2010 they raised over one MILLION dollars for their respective charities.  So instead of saying they don't belong in Boston, let's all pony up and help them surpass their fundraising goals!

And those elusive BAA jackets you see around expos? You can bet your ass I'll be wearing one around town if I ever get the honor of running Boston via a charity entry!

Working Girl

To celebrate the fact that I was able to squeeze my still-blistered feet into heels today for the first time since the Chicago Marathon, I thought I'd feature a great office apprporaite pump.

Ashlee Pump, in Burgandy

From Heels.com: This classic and chic little number is a must for every girl’s closet. Restricted brings us the fabulous Ashlee pump in a glossy burgandy patent leather with a simple rounded toe and 3 ¾ inch stacked stiletto heel. It doesn’t get any more timeless than this.
I think these would be great with both black and brown slacks or skirts - but I think I would love them paired with gray or winter white!

The Ashlee Pump is available in several different colors: brown, fuschia, navy, cream, and black.  Ashlee is a bargin at full price, but as an added bonus, Heels.com has them on sale for $38.49!

Chicago Marathon - Part 2 (The Race)

Once we left the hotel, we made our way to the open corral. Being at the starting line was surreal. I’ve never seen so many runners all in one place it was pretty amazing. Shortly after 7:30 we were moving towards the start line.  I think we finally crossed about 24-25 minutes after the gun went off.



I was still having fun!



For the first few miles I felt great. I was enjoying running through downtown and was pulling energy from the crowds. I heard someone say my name and was so happy that it was @BonnieGartley!! I can’t believe she found me in that see of people. At that point I was thinking that I might actually hit the goal time(s) I set for myself.  Somewhere in between miles 7-10 all of that changed.

By mile 10 I was feeling pretty awful. I knew my splits were off and that I was really slowing down. That’s a pretty shitty feeling when you know you still have 16+ miles to go. Then I started getting dizzy. I took a GU and ate a few Sport Beans. I’m pretty sure I was dehydrated. I looked at my phone and saw text messages from friends and family. Those messages were enough to pull me through for a little bit. Somewhere in those miles @MaddyHubba also found me on the course – and I was so happy to see her!

I remember texting Lauren (@LiloRuns) that I was miserable and that I was afraid of a DNF…I think this happened about mile 13. Jenna (@TinyJenna) was texting me, too, and I think I may have told Jenna the same thing. I pulled off the course at the next aid station, thinking that I was done, but right as I walked up to a volunteer a song that means the world to me (J.Simpson’s Remember That) came on my iPhone. Yeah, yeah, yeah…laugh all you want about the fact that a Jessica Simpson song kept me going, but it reminds me of what it was like to live in an abusive marriage, and more importantly it helps me remember the strength it took to leave. I asked the volunteer/RN for some aspirin/Tylenol/whatever they could give me and hopped right back on the course.

fake smile

Things got a little better for a few miles. I was able to fake a smile and wave for the course photographers. I remember sending a tweet that if I could smile and wave I could keep going, but my feet were killing me. I could feel the blisters on my toes, heels, and balls of my feet forming. Blisters are something I always deal with on long runs, but not like this. I’ve never felt pain like this. Then I realized that my shoes and socks were soaking wet thanks to the spray stations, open fire hydrants, and people with their hoses. Fabulous.

@PunkRockRunner (Ron) must have heard I was struggling because I started getting texts from him somewhere around mile 18 or 19. He kept pushing me. I had a feeling that he and Jenna were texting each other (this was later confirmed J). Lauren was texting me too. These three people were awesome, constantly telling me that they believed in me.

Sums up how I felt about the day

I later found out Lauren and Ron were updating the rest of Twitter about my day. Every time I looked at my phone I had a new text and the couple of times I checked Twitter I was moved to tears when I read everyone’s messages. I want to say it was about mile 22, or maybe it was even later, my phone rang and it was Ron. I’m pretty sure I was crying through most of the call and to be honest, I don’t really remember what we talked about, but I do know he told me that he believed in me and that he knew I would finish this race.  All I specifically remember is feeling more love in those last few miles than I’ve ever felt before.

Maddy & I - DONE

The end of the race was a total blur. I remember seeing the photographers in the finish chute but I couldn’t force a smile. I was spent and completely deflated.  I left everything I had out on the course.  A few moments before I crossed the finish line I noticed that MaddyHubba was right in front of me.

After finishing I didn’t stop for a beer, or ice, or anything else. I grabbed a bottle of water, two bottles of Gatorade and headed right back to the Hilton.

I’m not going to tell you my time. I’m sure a lot of you already know and if you don’t and want to look it up go for it. I’m over feeling sorry for myself.  To say Sunday wasn’t my day is a gross understatement. I’m not really sure what went wrong other than I found out first-hand just how mentally tough you have to be to be a runner. I let my mind play games with me and my mind almost won.

I also feel like I need to mention a couple of things that are indirectly related to this race.

I got some slack from people about texting and tweeting during a marathon. I get that it’s probably something that most people don’t agree with, however without Twitter, I am certain I would not have finished this race. The love and support I got from everyone on Sunday was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I didn’t want to let you all down.  I knew that I had a ton of people virtually cheering me on from all over the country, I didn’t want to have to come back and tell everyone that I’d given up so I kept moving forward. This race belongs to everyone who supported me along the way – I could not have done this alone.

Back in March a friend and I made plans to stay together for this race. I was very much looking forward to spending the weekend together and getting to meet even more of my Twitter friends.  Mid-September I received an email rescinding the offer to share a room because this person didn’t feel like I take running seriously enough. To say this left me in a bind kind of understates the situation. I couldn’t find a room anywhere near downtown that wasn’t extremely pricey and I was considering not making the trip. That’s when Lee and Isis stepped up and let me share their room – that’s what a friendship is and I think that’s the true spirit of a runner.  Runners all need to lift each other up, not demean one another. I felt the love of more runners than I could have ever imagined on Sunday and it meant the world to this non-serious runner. I can’t wait to have the chance to cheer you all on during your next race or tough training run. You all embody the spirit of a true runner.

Chicago Marathon Part 1 (pre-race)

I arrived in Chicago bright and early Friday morning, not by choice, but because the flights that left St. Louis at more reasonable times were all full by the time I booked my ticket. I immediately headed to the Hilton to drop off my stuff and hook up with Lee and Isis of @Running Couple.  We hung out for a bit and then headed to Jamba Juice to meet @TinyJenna and Tall Boy.  We all grabbed a yummy smoothie and then we were off to the expo.

We breezed through the registration line of the expo and got our packets in record time. Then we grabbed out shirts and started walking around the expo.  Eventually Lee and Isis headed to the Athlete’s Honey Milk booth to help out while Jenna, Tall Boy and I kept exploring the various booths.  I think this is the first time in my 30 years on this planet that I’ve walked around a huge room full of stuff available to buy without spending a dollar. I’ve got to be honest here, I was pretty disappointed in the expo and if I wasn’t enjoying hanging out with Jenna I would have scooted out of there pretty quickly. Seems like I’m in the minority thought, most of my friends thought it was a good expo. Wonder if this means I’m finally to the point of being over expos???

Friday evening we headed to the Pre-CM10 tweetup. There we met a ton of awesome twitter peeps…some that I’d been chatting with for over a year and some that were new to me.  After dinner, a few drinks and lots of laughs I was ready to call it a night.

I had originally planned to head back to the expo on Saturday, but after being less than impressed with it, I changed my mind and skipped that.  Instead I had a nice relaxing morning drinking coffee while laying in bed. Eventually I wondered down to the hotel lobby to meet up with @RunnrGrl, @BeMadThen (and her dad, Ben), @RunnerGrrl96 and her hubby Jason.  To say that we laughed our asses off would be an understatement.  I was borderline concerned that we were going to get ourselves kick out of the hotel! It was seriously the best coffee date ever. 

As our coffee date was winding down, Lee & Isis were on their way back from the expo. Mel, Jason, Isis, Lee and I left the hotel to find some lunch. I can’t remember the name of the place we ended up at, but it was just ok. The company was much better than the food J After lunch we split up and headed back to our respective hotels for some relaxation.

Instead of naps, we ended up having a mini-party in our room. RunnrGrl and Lisa ended up joining us. We all cuddled, laughed, cuddled some more, and then laughed a whole lot more. I’ve never had so much fun laying around in my jammies with 2 other ladies in my bed and a married couple in the bed next to me, haha!

Lee, Isis, and I went out for a nice early dinner Saturday night. I had a nice Caprice salad and a very light linguine in a red sauce – my idea of a perfect pre-race meal.  We got back to the hotel and got everything ready for race day. We all laid our clothes and called it an early night.

I was able to fall asleep very easily, but woke up about midnight and spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. I finally drifted back to sleep and then the 5am alarm went off. Normally a 5am wake up call the morning of a race means chaos will ensue, not this time. Since the Hilton was right at the start/finish lines we didn’t need to leave our room until 7. Lee, Isis and I all took our time eating breakfast, drinking coffee, showering, and getting ready. I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed the morning of a big race!

Next up....the Race

And I'm off...

By the time this post pops up in your Google Reader, I'll be boarding a flight to Chicago.  This isn't a trip that will be full of hitting the city's hot spots, or traipsing up and down Michigan Avenue looking for some great additions to my closet. Instead I'll be running 26.2 miles through the Windy City with 44,999 of my friends.  I figured it was only fitting for me to show y'all what shoes I'll be wearing on my feet for marathon #2.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 11

Notice these aren't pretty. They don't match my cute pink running skirt I'll be sporting. Oh wait, they're not even women's shoes. That's right Dear Reader, my feet are so large that I've had to resort to wearing men's running shoes. I tried the Nimbus 11's in pretty pink, but they only work for shorter runs, same goes for the 2150s, and the Pearl Izumis I tried. 

My feet may hate me and force me to wear non-pink boy shoes, but I love my feet enough to wear what they need. After all, they do have to carry me around for 26.2 miles on Sunday!

The Shoes My Dreams Are Made Of

These shoes are nothing new to anyone how pays any attention to shoes...but this is my blog and I love them so deal :)

I've been drooling over these shoes since I saw Sex and the City - but at $945 I certainly won't be adding them to my collection anytime soon.

Manolo Blahnik Hangisi



Something Blue



So for now I have to be content with looking at pictures of the Hangisi and dreaming that one day they'll show up in my closet!

Paris Does...Shoes?

It may come as a surprise to some of you that Paris Hilton doesn't just make sex tapes and flash her vagina to innocent bystanders as she gets out of her towncars.  She actually has a pretty damn cute line of shoes! While browsing shoes.com I came across the Senorita .  I think these black d'orsay pumps are perfect for a night on the town, they would also work great for a day at the office.  I'm also digging the blue and pink options.





Paris Hilton Women's Senorita



Just look at that pink sole!



Such a pretty silhouette!



These shoes range between $95-$97 depending on the color you pick.  I was able to find a 15% off coupon code on retailmenot; just enter FALL2010 at checkout. You'll also get free shipping!

Got a Case of the Monday Blues?

If so, these babies should perk you right up!

Steve Madden Darriana in Midnight Blue

Sorry - these are from Zappos, so no coupons, but they are on sale and Zappos always offers free shipping.

Two Toning It

 Jessica Simpson Coffi

If you follow me on twitter, you've probably already seen me profess my love for these babies.  I ran across them on Nordstrom's site earlier this week. Ok, let's be clear, I love the black and gray version. I'm totally not sold on these in a solid color.  I think what I love are the different textures - the black elastic and the gray suede are so different but play well together. 

Silly Nordies doesn't let you borrow the pics on their website so I had to dig around a little bit to find a picture I could use.  This turned out to be a good thing my friends...I found out that Nordstroms actually has the best price on the Coffi boot, $99. I found them as high as $139 on one website!!! And as an added bonus, I was able to find a code for free shipping on any shoe order from Nordstroms, just enter the code SHOES at checkout.