Author Archives: sarahvbowling

Tuesday Shoesday: Nudes

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I am loving the neon and brights trend for spring.  I love it so much that I almost forgot about my love for nudes.  Recently, I bought a bright color-blocked dress (the dress is pictured below) and was pondering the shoes to go with.  At first I was wondering about another bright, maybe a hot pink?  Too much.  It wasn’t until a noticed another item in my closet – a striped neon yellow and tan top – that I realized what I needed: nude.  A simple nude had completely slipped my mind!  Nudes are the perfect pairing the bright color trend.  They perfectly complement wild colors and even prints.

Lov-10ysu-002-1_thumb

Photo from ideeli.com
Dress by LOVE… ADY

I love these patent “bronzed clay” wedges from J.Crew.  They could be worn casual or dressed up and the wedge makes them totally wearable all day.

Photo from JCrew.com

For something that is a little closer to earth, try these patent flats in the same “bronzed clay”.

Photo from JCrew.com

Tune in next week for another edition of our Tuesday Shoesday!

xoxo

-s

Spring Break-I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow it

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Seattle –> Las Vegas –> San Diego –> Anaheim –> Seattle –> Bellingham

For my last spring break in college, I went on a whirlwind of adventures in different cities and came to several conclusions.

1.  Las Vegas IS sin city.  I would like to plan a trip there once a month.

Four of us girls got on a plane at 6:45 am to head to Sin City for a couple of nights.  When we arrived at the Las Vegas airport at 9:30 am, I was surprised to find slot machines.  I tried my luck, and lost the first of many dollars.

The first night we went to the Marquee, a nightclub that is three stories, each of which held a very different vibe.  Cabanas and tables cost $10,000 and a bottle of Grey Goose goes for a mere $3,000.  Needless to say, we made friends.

A peek at the Las Vegas strip at night

The next day we made our way to the Palms for the MTV Spring Break pool party!  Look for Courtney and I front row at the concert on MTV airing April 2nd!

MTV Spring Break at the Palms

The last night was filled with much of the same-confetti and bubbles falling from the ceiling, bottle service and sore feet.  We left the city the following afternoon wishing for just ONE (or two or three) more nights, but not after learning the meaning of casino war and roulette.  I wish I would have taken time to see a show or two, but I’ll make sure I fit that in for my no-doubt trip back soon.

2.  San Diego is full of beautiful people and scenery.  Children are scarce.  I would like to move there.

From Las Vegas, Courtney and I had a short plane ride to San Diego.  We stayed with a friend, Megan who we are forever grateful for.  We found out fast that life in San Diego pretty much is like being on spring break all the time.  There are lots of slushies, rooftop parties, interesting people from all over, places to artificially surf, good food, strong drinks, seals, caves and really great bars with secret doors!  I think it is better that I show you some of our experiences in San Diego rather than tell you…

The first of many slushies. Red Bull vodka

Slushie Bar

Poolside at a rooftop party!

We went down a long dark scary staircase to get to this great cave

Not too shabby for us Washington girls!

We got so close to these adorable creatures-seals

Gorgeous San Diego

Gas Lamp District

The hidden door at Syrah Wine Bar-Alice and Wonderland themed

At Syrah Wine Bar sipping on prosecco

3.  Disneyland is fun, but crowded.  I enjoy visiting, but not too often.

We saw more children in the lobby of our hotel than we had seen the previous six days in Las Vegas and San Diego.  Downtown Disney is the area full of shops and restaurants between the California Adventure and Disneyland parks where there was a free concert getting put on my some very talented U.S. Army soldiers.

Despite the weather forecast for rain the next day, the high clouds and warm air was promising…at first.  We dipped into an Aladdin show just as the rain began and by the time we got out it was pouring over California Adventure and Disneyland.  For a place that is supposed to be the “Happiest Place on Earth”, there was an awfully large amount of grumpy looking people in their Disneyland ponchos.  The rain didn’t get us Washington girls down though!  Courtney even opted for one of the adorable ponchos, I thought I could stick it out without.  I admit, I had to hunch up under her poncho a couple of times.  When our shoes had turned to swimming pools, we headed back to the hotel to blow dry our clothes and recharge.

We were able to snap this pic of us before we got too wet!

One of many shots from the Aladdin show

Grumpy people in ponchos

We weren't grumpy!

When we walked back to California Adventure for the “World of Color” show, described as a mixed water, light, fire and smoke show, again the weather looked promising.  After a quick stop at the Corn Dog Castle, we settled in to watch the show.  The pictures below don’t do justice on how cool it was.  Then the rain came, and the wind. Before we knew it, a combination of the rain and the water show was blasting us full force in the face.  That was enough for us, so we took off toward Space Mountain.  We rode Space Mountain and Star Tours before calling it a night and heading back to the hotel.

World of Color

Fire!

World of Color

World of Color

My favorite rides were:

  • Space Mountain
  • Soarin’ California
  • Tower of Terror

The next morning was almost surreal to head home.  We got into SeaTac and immediately headed for Bellingham with long faces wishing we could go back in time a week and start the whole thing over.

xoxo

-s

Super Bowl CrockPot Meatballs Day

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Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days.  Not because I love watching overpaid athletes ruin their bodies but because I love the commercials, beer and most importantly: the food.  This year, I opted out of my usual CrockPot pulled pork, and chose to make some homemade BBQ meatballs!  As usual, I was missing an ingredient here and there from the recipe, and measuring really isn’t my thing, so below is a rough guesstimate of what went in…

Meatballs

  • 2 pounds ground turkey
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cups ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
  • 1 clove minced garlic

Everything for meatballs combined!

Mix ingredients together well.  Create about 1 inch meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.

Meatballs in the oven!

BBQ Sauce

  • 1 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 can (small) tomato paste
  • A little more than 1/4 cup soy sauce (I used reduced-sodium)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (I used Frank’s)

Mix the sauce ingredients together and combine with cooked meatballs in CrockPot.  Cook on low for about 4 hours.

Enjoy! Good thing I captured this picture before they were all gone!

xoxo

-s

Shoe Years Resolution?: Kitten Heels

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If you’re anything like me, you have a tough time resisting a sky high heel.  I have become so familiar with lying through my teeth in response to, “Those shoes are so cute, but high!  Do they hurt your feet?”.  I always respond with something like, “Oh no, I could run a marathon in these!”  What I mean is- they hurt, badly.  I find excuses all night to sit down or find something to lean against and people may or may not be starting to wonder if they should cut me off from the wine.

Excuses aside, in 2012 I am resolving to give my aching soles a rest and put on some kitten heels.  My personal definition of a kitten heel is 3 inches max, single sole (no platform).  This Michael Kors pump would be a perfect start to my new PRACTICAL shoe collection.

Found for $195 at www.Nordstrom.com

Happy New Years everyone.  We are already 16 days into the new year, but it isn’t too late to think of a way to shape up your life in the upcoming year…even if it is just by starting with a pair of shoes.

-s

Slow Cookin’ is the Good-Oh Cookin’

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I love cooking, so when my sister bought me my first Crock-Pot last year for my birthday, I was ecstatic.  However, being a slow cooker newbie, I found myself constantly making pulled pork or sweet and sour meatballs.  These classics are of course delicious snacks that everybody loves but I knew there was more possibilities out there.  This year I was gifted a Crock-Pot recipe book that has more than 500 recipes in it!  I went Crock-Pot Crazy.  Lemon and herb chicken, warm Moroccan-style bean dip,  Italian-style pot roast, tarragon carrots in white wine, apple and granola breakfast cobbler and wake-up potato and sausage breakfast casserole, just to name a few.  I don’t usually consider myself a stew person, but some of these recipes look too good to over look, such as the chipotle chicken stew.  Did you know that you can even make cereal snack mix or bread in a Crock-Pot?  Well you can!  Pictures to come, I will keep you updated on the feats and failures of the slow cooker!

 

-s

Aren’t Neighbors the Best?

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Neighbors.  Sometimes they can be real rotten.  Maybe it’s the one that lets their dog do their business in your lawn and plays loud music into the wee hours of the night.  Maybe it’s the one that has managed to find every car that is broken and doesn’t run in the county to park in their lawn.  Or maybe it is just a grouchy neighbor that doesn’t seem very neighborly at all.  In my experience I have come across a few rotten neighbors, but even more truly outstanding ones.  It doesn’t take much.  Maybe an invite here and there to BBQs and Birthday Parties.  Maybe a quick stop by to say “Hi, how’s it going, we made some zucchini muffins and thought you might like some”.  Tonight I experienced something spectacular from a not-so-spectacular situation…

I was minding my own business, cutting a watermelon when a felt a quick pinch to my thumb and looked down to find my hand covered in blood.  In a panic (I don’t handle blood so well), I did the only thing I thought to do: Call Mom.  She proceeded to called our neighbor to come over and check on me.  Within seconds I heard a knock at the door.  Our generous neighbor sat with a blood soaked towel wrapped around my finger tightly while making casual and comforting small talk.  She even finished cutting up my watermelon and cleaned up the knife and cutting board.  After I pulled my rattled self together best I could, I said I could take it from here.  Although I admit, I was trying to act like an adult and the moment she walked out the door tears began to stream down my cheeks again.  The bleeding had slowed but certainly not stopped.  An hour later our neighbor was back over with a plate of cookies, fresh band aids, a smile and hug.  Each one of these things really covered the key basics I needed.

It wasn’t much, but in a time of panic, I was really appreciative the neighborly act.  It really is the littlest things that can be the most wonderful.

http://wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

-S

She Da Cheetah

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After reading my sister’s most recent post, I began to question my own intentions.  Everyone says, “Be yourself.”  which seems to be easy enough advice.  However, what about those of us who are unsure of who they are or where they are heading?  I find myself in the exact position, wondering how to act natural in this superficial world of ours.

There is only one thing I know for sure, and that is shoes.  I used to be the girl wearing every color of the rainbow plus some.  I like to be wild and vibrant, and anyone who “knows” me would agree.  If you’ve seen “What Not to Wear”, the television show, you know that every day real people struggle to let go of their over-the-top style in fear of losing themselves.  Its only natural to feel stripped of your identity.  I can’t help but think of the many animals that I have encountered that very much have a personality, and are sporting the same coat as their pack.  I, in turn, think of the neutral shoe.  It is completely wearable with every color, during every season.  Some of us might think of our favorite taupe boot, or favorite nude pump, or my personal favorite, the blush colored loafer.  What do we love so much about the natural colored souls?  Just like an animal in the wild, we are stripped of our intentional differences and we say “yeah, this is what color I am, so what?”  It is nakedness in its most pure form.

You may realized now that I am probably digging a bit further into this neutral shoe thing than what most people are actually thinking when they put them on.  Nevertheless, if you want to really embrace your wild woman, put aside your hot pink stilettos for a splash of the wild and take a dance with my friend, the cheetah.  It says, “I like to run free, I challenge you to tame me.”  Wild animals and humans are not so different, so trade in your Birthday Suit shoes for some Cheetah Suit shoes and watch the heads turn.

There are not many things I know for sure about myself, but I do know shoes.  As Hannah mentioned, life can throw you curve-balls, the only thing you can do is be on your toes (or the tips of your cheetah shoes).  All you can do is put yourself out there, it can be vulnerable and scary, but with a power shoe, I believe anything is possible.

See how Kim Kardashian pairs Cheetah shoes with this outfit that could have also easily worked great with a nude shoe?

Image from www.fashionistazlife.com

I for one just picked up these casual Sperry Top-Sider Brantpoints in Cheetah print and cannot WAIT to embrace my inner animal when I wear them!

Image from www.nordstrom.com

xoxo

-s

Red, White and Stripes

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There used to be only two options when it came to wearing stripes.  You could look fat or you could look thin, depending horizontal versus vertical direction.  Well, I say there is much more to stripe-wearing than that.  I think other people have noticed too because stripes are on everyone you see this summer.  So with the upcoming holiday that often features red, white, blue, stars and of course STRIPES, I challenge you to embrace the trend.

Dare to go against the grain with this oh-so flattering horizontal striped top.  Found at Nordstrom for $44.

Or try this maxi skirt (also so in right now) with a red top to complete your patriotic colors.  Also found at Nordstrom, for $58.

Any way you wear them this Fourth of July, you’ll be sure to be looking classic American.  Just the way you should celebrate the birth of our nation!

xoxo

-s

Pansies

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Pansy.  The word that has been on the tip of my tongue since spring hit.

Growing up with two walking plant encyclopedias (Thank you, Mom and Dad) is no joke, but you begin to have an exceptional appreciation for flowers of all kind.  When spring comes each year it seems that each has its own festival: Rhododendron Festival in Port Townsend, WA, Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley, WA and Daffodil Festival in Puyallup, WA.  These are the popular flowers (and festivals), but what about the ones most people can’t name instantly?

Spring came late this year in the Northwest, causing flowers to bloom later than usual.  As colors sprouted all around, I began to think of when our mom would take us each year to pick out a pansy plant of whatever color we wanted.  Pansies are a flower that returns each year, so it was always exciting to get to add to the collection from previous years.  Remembering this tradition this spring put a smile on my face and I hope these beautiful pictures put a smile on yours.

The last picture is one my mom sent me just today from outside her office!

Enjoy!

-S

Collaborative Collection

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Hannah and I have decided to give this blog a collaborative edge.  You can now find posts by both of us here at 1000 Wonderful Things!  She is my best friend and sister, so that is why I am attributing my first wonderful post to her!

-S