BrooklynShoeBabe's Wish List

Mama Needs A New Pair of Shoes
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: My Organized Choas: Must Have Shoes Review and Contest
Topic: Contests

MyOrganizedChoas is having an awesome contest, where you could win a pair of shoes from the online shoe store MustHaveShoes.com. According to this busy mom of twins plus a single, MustHaveShoes.com has "designed their online shopping to match asking your salesperson which [shoe] would would suit your own size or want in design." Hey, who doesn't want that kind of customized help on the internet? So hustle your little self over to MyOrganizedChoas and enter!

 

 

 

More Contests!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Konad Halloween Treat Contest at Painted Lady Fingers
Topic: Contests

There's nothing I love more than entering contests except for winning contests. lol. In order to increase my chances of winning a Konad set from Painted Lady Fingers' blog, I'm going to hip you to the contest as well.

Check it out:

OC Nail Art and Painted Lady Finger have partnered to give us the chance to win an assortment of Konad items perfect for Halloween festivities: Konad Sponge Nail Art Kit 2, Image Plate M13, and Princess Polish in gold black. (See pic):

Why don't you jump on over and enter! Good luck to you and (mostly) to me.

 

Contests, Contests, Contests
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Win Some MAC Makeup from Shades of U
Topic: Contests

Shades Of U is presenting a MAC Giveaway for The Shades Of U followers and subscribers!! This contest is open to everyone eighteen (18) years old and older worldwide. Below are pictures of the prizes in store for the winner (all items are brand-new, untested MAC products):

and

 

The names of the products that you can win are:

1. Blackware glimmerglass
2. Blackfire glimmerglass
3. Blingblack glimmerglass
4. Black Knight cremesheen lipstick
5. Blue Flame mineralize eyeshadow
6. Cinderfella mineralize eyeshadow
7. Wisteria eyeshadow trio (Dame Edna collection)
8. Kirsch mattene lipstick

 

Good luck to you and (mostly) me!

 

 

Stream of Consciousness
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: The Meeting by Me

I used to want to be a writer. I used to want to be a muckraker--an investigative journalist. I used to write. I used to be a fact checker; close to seeking the out the truth for the greater good. All of it never gelled for me. I'm not sad nor depressed about it. The desire to be writer just extinguished like a flame being deprieved air. Old friends and classmates ask me now if I'm still writing for it was that strong of a passion when I was 14, 15, 16, 20, 21. Things change. I'm embarrased to admit that I'm not into writing anymore, not like before. Every now and then, I write a little missive. Nothing worthy of sharing.

I had a poem published in a college journal back in 1995. I can't remember the journal nor the poem. I think both burned up in my apartment fire later that year. Five years later, I wrote porn. Erotica. Smut. Whatever you want to call it. It was pretty good. I still have it. Had some published in Playgirl. Proud moments for me. I even used my skills to write catalog entries for plus-size lingere. I was paid in corsets. lol. Then the depression came. Then the medicine. Kind of lost my desire to write. I refocused my energy--librarain, mom, cat owner.

Recently, I wrote a scene. I don't if you can call it a short story. It's something. It can stand on its own or be expanded. I decided to share it. I like it. Sometimes I can't stand myself. Sometimes I think that the joy can't be happening to me. That's the inspiration of this little thing I called "The Meeting."

--Kiki

 

The Meeting

September 15, 2009 ©

 

As soon as he saw her, his body began to crush in on itself. His lungs tightened, his ribcage began to shrink around his organs, and his heart began to beat faster to free itself. He wanted her. Had to have her. So paralyzed by his body’s implosion was he, that he could not hardly move to greet her. Using all of his strength, he tilted his head and gave a lopsided and closed-move grin. Her eyes widened then her mouth gaped for a second and then closed. She lowered her eyes to the floor, and the fear of rejection burned in his belly.

            Look back up, he thought. I’m smiling at you, beautiful.

 

She saw him. She saw the smile aimed in her direction, and the only thing she could do was look down. He wasn’t smiling at her, she concluded. They, all of the hes, never smile at her. They smile over her, behind her, beside her but never at her. She brought her glass to her lips and sipped slowly, purposefully trying not to look at him again to quickly and be met with an apologetic head nod. She picked her head up and glanced at him. He smiled a little broader this time.

            Is he really flirting with me? She asked and then looked over her shoulder just in case.

            I am, his eyes seemed to respond. She smiled back, and parted her lips a bit. Finally, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger. The seduction had begun.

            Hi. His throat was dry, but he had hoped it had sounded dashing and raspy not cracking like a prepubescent boy.

            Hi. She liked the way her voice sounded when she spoke. She had been told that it was full bodied and inviting like her figure. However, most men never got past the figure.

            I’m Simon. He extended his hand.

            Jo. She extended her hand and Simon took it. He gave it a hardy shake before bring it to his mouth. His lips were warm and moist as it grazed across Jo’s knuckles. She shivered, and already declared that she was his.

 

A Little Salt in Your Sugar
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: (500) Days of Summer
Topic: Movie Reviews

 

 

 

(500) Days of Summer is an irresistible and sweet movie directed by former music video director Marc Webb. It is common knowledge now that this anti-romantic comedy is actually based on a real woman. (She was the girlfriend the writer Scott Neustadter.) The movie starts with an intro that reads: “Any resemblance to people living or dead is purely coincidental. Especially you, Jenny Beckman... Bitch,” which puts a small damper on one’s enjoyment of the movie. It reminds me of how women are insulted when they turn down a man’s advances. Instead of accepting the refusal quietly, they call her “skank” or a “whore.” Some even worse insults include shouting that her vagina smells. It’s a false bravado, which everyone recognizes yet the stares and the tsk tsking are aimed at the woman as though she deserved the haranguing. Although the viewer already goes into (500) knowing it is about the unraveling of a relationship, which is the fault of both parties, we are immediately biased against the woman.

 

With that said, I did enjoy (500) Days of Summer much more than I should have since it does have a subtle disgust of women and our secret, mysterious ways that men always complain about.  But it is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of Tom, a charming and romantic emo twenty-something, which draws you into the movie and Tom’s pov. With the oversized projection of Gordon-Levitt’s face on the screen, you can’t help to fall into his inviting smile and playful eyes—he’s a nice guy who’s not a doormat. As you fall deeper in love with Tom, you wonder why the object of his affection ends up dumping him.

 

 

 

The casting is what really makes this movie. A too comedic of an actor or a too brooding of an actor would have alienated us from Tom’s pain and need for closure. Zooey Deschanel’s kooky prettiness lends an ethereal quality that fits perfectly Tom’s rhapsodizing and near worship of Summer. A more traditional beauty would have made Tom’s deep feelings for Summer seem shallow. The audience can understand somebody being head over heels in love with a curvy woman with come hither eyes like Eva Mendes, but such a fascination of a woman with such quirkiness allows the audience to accept that Tom loved her for more than what was on the outside.

 

(500) Days did have some faults. It was only 100 minutes long, but did seem to drag in some places. It lacks somewhat broad appeal for it’s cultural references are steeped somewhere between 1986 and 1991. Although this movie wasn’t written for women in mind, it was a little disappointing that Summer was such a 1-dimensional character.

 

Out of 5 stars, I give this movie 3 solid stars. (Also an extra half star for the cool soundtrack.)

Summer Touch Creamy Body Wash - True Blue Spa - Bath & Body Works

The Colors of the Rainbow on Your Nails
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

Moi had heard a lot about Zoya nail polish, especially when I was pregnant three years ago. Because it is free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor, it is reported to be safe to use while pregnant. I doubted anything that was so free would have staying power like Zoya claims. Well, Zoya proved me wrong. 

Recently, I was able to get three free bottles of Zoya nail polish because of an awesome coupon code. I was excited. The first color I tried was Jinx, which is copper-penny brown metallic nail polish. (Zoya's website describes it as a "Deep red bronze with golden metallic shimmer.") Jinx is also one of it's more opaque polishes. With just 2 strokes, I covered my entire big toe nail. Only habit made me add a second coat, but it was very light. I didn't use a traditional top coat, but a sheer coral-orange-glittery Zoya shade called Gabrielle. It gave my pedicure an extra dose of sheen.

The smell of the polish wasn't as strong as other polishes, and dried a little bit quicker. I was expecting the color to chip in three days. It didn't matter if i wore open-toed or close-toed, the color didn't chip or rub off. As a matter of fact, after nearly 3 weeks, I got sick of looking at the color. lol. I'm kind of lazy, so I usually wait until my pedicure starts to look bad before I begin again. 

In these tough economic times, you want to get your money's worth with all your products. At normally $7 a bottle, Zoya is worth every penny invested in it. 

Help Me Win!
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: The Fashionable Gal Is Having A Contest

The amazing people atTJX/Marshalls & Rocket XL are offering one lucky Fashionable Gal reader a $25 Gift Card to Marshalls to score some goodies of their own! This contest is open to US Residents only and will run until August 30, at midnight (EST Time). Good luck!

 Mandatory Entry: Visit the Marshalls website and use the store locator (top right corner) to find the closest Marshalls to you, then come back and comment with the location.

 

Extra Entries (1 entry each):

~If you’re a Marshalls shopper, tell me about a great shopping experience you’ve had there!

~Share an awesome bargain you’ve scored recently (or a fave that comes to mind).

~If you haven’t shopped at Marshalls before, tell me why!

 

~Follow me @fashionablegal on Twitter!

~Tweet, using the following text (can be done 2x daily for 2 extra entries!):

“RT: Win a $25 GC to Marshalls & shop the latest fashions for a fraction of the cost! @fashionablegal http://tinyurl.com/naq4aa Ends 8/30!”

~Subscribe to my newsletter!

~Blog about this giveaway & leave the link in your comments (3 extra entries)!

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Alrighty folks, you see the info. Now go ahead and enter the contest yourselves. If you don't win, at least you've discovered a great new blog. 

 

Won Over By Makeovers
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah
Topic: TV: The Soft Blue Glow

I love televised makeovers. I loved them when they had stylists remake audience members on the Ricki Lake and the Jenny Jones shows. So when the makeover became a whole genre of reality television, I was right there with the exception of Extreme Makeover. TLC has cornered the market on making folks over although I do get a kick out of Jay Manuel's celebrity look-alike makeover show on the Style Network (Style Her Famous). I'm very loyal to The Learning Channel and there's not a Friday night when I'm not watching What Not to Wear. I was also big fans of 10 Years Younger (with all their hosts); and Cover Shot. Now, TLC has added a new contender to the stable. It’s Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah.

 

Some may know Trinny and Susannah as the hosts of the original What Not to Wear, which they created in the United Kingdom. Over the years, they have created quite a styling empire with books and television appearances. Now they are taking a stab at their first American stateside series, where they travel from state to state in a trailer to help those trapped by bad fashion choices.

 

After just watching the first episode, I am convinced that this is now my favorite makeover show even above What Not to Wear with Clinton and Stacy. Trinny and Susannah may come off as intimidating, but they show us they are as real as you and I by the end of the show. They reveal their stretch marks, lumps, and bumps to those they are trying to help to prove that anyone can look great with the correct foundation garments, confidence and well-fitting clothes.

 

Along with fashion advice, Susannah and Trinny give a good dose of tough and body confidence-building lessons. There are no hidden cameras, there’s no one making fun of you, and there are no flights to major metropolises. Trinny and Susannah encourage the women to look at themselves in a new light, and to dress in a way that’s flattering at the stores in their area. 

 

The only thing that is slightly off-putting is that Trinny and Susannah are very touchy-grabby. In the premiere epi, they grab makeover contestant Jennifer’s bottom to show her how voluptuous and sexy it is. They also cup one of her breasts to demonstrate how poorly her bra is fitting. I’m sorry. I don’t want two strangers grabbing my bum on national TV no matter how great they think my ass is.

 

I will be setting the DVR for this show, though. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Is Breaking the 9th Commandment, Yet Again
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: More Shoes I love From Zappos
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

I have a dilemma. I am considering packing up this blog and focusing my interests elsewhere. Over the past couple of months, I have gotten involved with a website called We Heart This. At this site, I have started a mini-blog examining how society views fat people (and some issues of the feminist variety). I have also become a reviewer for WHT, where every month I will have one major post and a few comments.

Most of my free computer time is dedicated to WHT or updating my statuses daily on Facebook and on Twitter. I have not been posting here as often as I would like, and, although it is a hobby, I don't want to cause a diservice to my regular readers by being behind. On the other hand, this is the only outlet I have where I can post my movie, book, and TV reviews as well as give my thoughts on all the world's  "lighter" moments.

I haven't decided. Give me some feedback.

 In the meantime, I covet this Keds rainbow sneakers. (The color kind of reminds me of a pair of shoes my college buddy bought back in 1993 that were lime, pink, yellow, and maybe had a dash of peacock blue.) I don't know if I have anything in my wardrobe to match them except maybe some black on black ensembles.

 

Win A Free Pair of Shoes!
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Win Free Shoes from Savvy Mode
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

Savvy Mode is sponsoring a shoe giveaway. The lovely people at Paris Hilton Footwear will give away 4 pairs of stylish heels to Savvy Mode readers. Savvy Mode has picked 2 styles to give away, 2 pairs of Destiny (retail $93) and 2 pairs of Senorita (retail $93).

 

Simple rules to win a pair of Destiny:

1. Let me know what is your favorite Destiny color by visiting here and what will you wear with Destiny. The 2 winners will have a chance to pick the color of her choice. How exciting is this giveaway!
2. Earn an extra entry by following or subscribing to Savvy Mode.
3. Earn a 3rd entry by blogging or tweeting about this giveaway and let me know about it.

A simple rule to win a pair of Senorita:

1. Open to those who blog about this giveaway and let me know about it. This is my way of thanking those who take the time to share this giveaway with their readers. The 2 winners will be able to pick the color of her choice.

 

 

Every Step You Make, I'll Be Watching
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Tayrn Rose Shoes
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

If there was ever in my life when I seriously, seriously desired and considered parting with more than $100 for a pair of shoes, these patent leather wedges below by Tayrn Rose would be the pair to do it. I am incredibly frugal and cheap. The most expensive pair of shoes I own is a pair of black Timberland winter boots that I've had for nearly a decade. The second most expensive pair are a pair of black knee high Bandolino boots I got from DSW for $70. 

 

While on vacation in Florida, I visited one of the outlet malls. Normally, I don't get excited for trips to the outlet mall because 1. the stores rarely carry my size and 2. the prices are still too expensive for me. However, a trip to Saks Off 5th with my sister in law and mother in law proved to be a fruitful trip. I racked up on some pretty costume jewelry earrings that were marked way, way done. (They were marked $17.99 but had a red tag, and I was able to get it for an extra 50% off!) I was also able to try on, strut around in, skip, bounce, jump, prance, and sashay in a pair of 3" wedges without feeling off-balance, uncomfortable or in pain. As a matter of fact, I was so comfy in the shoes that I could have ran out the store with them on my feet.

 

But, I chose not to shoplift in the presence of my mother-in-law. lol.  On Zappos.com, these Taryn Rose wedges are on sale for $231. At Saks' outlet store, they were $242. I could not pony up that much money (or credit card) without extreme buyers' remorse or a huge fight with my husband. So, I'm a bit of mourning.However, I will bookmark these shoes and continue to look at them daily because I found something that I never thought I could find: high heels that I could walk, dance, and work in without pain. 

 

Fashion Extremes
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Marie Claire Hurt Me, Hurt Me!
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

I am a fashion moderate--stuck in the middle of several different styles. I am a mash up of looks. I'm neither a sex pot nor am I androgynous like Tilda Swinton. I prefer pants over dresses, and consider myself more Katherine Hepburn than Audrey Hepburn but I do have my girlie girl accotruments like lip gloss, dangly earrings and manicured toes. I am a New York City girl with a strong penchant for wearing black and other neutrals, but I do love my colors. For example, I rock a baby blue peacoat in the winter and a red fur Kangol newsboy cap in the fall. (I even have turquoise shoes and a pair of orange sandals!)

 

So, with all these fashion ingredients that make up my syle, I was utterly baffled and scared by the extreme and singular fashions featured in the August 2009 issue of Marie Claire magazine (U.S. version). (It was as terrifying and domineering as MC's fashion director Nina Garcia's television persona.) There was a fashion spread featuring all black and hardware laden shoes and purses. Another fashion story revealed a growing trend (I hope not) of studded accesories that makes Pinhead from the movie Hellraiser look downright cuddly. $700 leather gloves covered in safety pins? Round toe flats with pointy grommets? Really? Into S&M much? 

 

Check out the Iron Maiden pictorial on page 36; the frightening shoe hybrids on page 44; and the letters C (chains), G (grommets), M (metal heels) and Z (zippers) in the A to Z accessories story.

 

 

I am wondering why there's extremism in the August issue? Are these harsh accesories supposed to protect us from the harshness of the recession. Perhaps it is a backlash agsint the feminine yet classic fashions of first lady Mrs. O? Probably a little from all of the above. But no thank you MC. I'll stick to my tomboyish slacks, ultra fem blouses and bright colors.

Michael Jackson, RIP
Mood:  sad

Yesterday, we lost one of the world’s greatest musical entertainers. He was a beloved child performer who grew up to be a premiere pop artist.  Personal scandals and relationships aside, Michael Jackson was brilliant shining star. He entertained us and he enlightened us. He gave us songs to dance to and songs to weep to. Even when we made fun of his unique sense of style—the one glove and the white sparkly socks & black penny loafers, we (somewhat) secretly tried to emulate his style. (In middle school I wore white slouch socks and black penny loafers, and had a glossy photograph of Michael Jackson taped inside the back cover of my assignment notebook.)

 

To say I grew up with Michael Jackson’s music would be an understatement. There wasn’t a time in my life, from when I was an infant, that Michael Jackson’s music wasn’t in my life. My age 5, my brother and I used dance around singing  “ABC, it’s easy as 123….” I even vaguely remember my brother I creating a dance routine to one of the Jackson 5’s songs and performing it for our mom. We watched the Jacksons’ variety show as a family, and thought it superior than Cher & Sonny’s  or the Donnie & Marie’s shows. (Not to know those variety shows, because we liked them too.) How about the Jacksons’ cartoon? I’m pretty sure the Harlem Globetrotters guest appeared on it at least once. Lol.

 

Anything related to Michael Jackson was required viewing in my household. It was a night for family time around the TV. Michael Jackson brought us together. I remember when The Wiz premiered on television, my aunt, grandmother, brother and I gathered around the television set. We snickered at how old Diana Ross was too old to play innocent Dorothy but we loved MJ as the lovable & brainless scarecrow. The movie was heralded for it’s Technicolor New York sets but we had a black & white television. We had to imagine the rainbow colors. My aunt, in an attempt to provide color, draped a rainbow color scarf over the television!

We waited until 1 a.m. for the Thriller video premiere. Bad, Black & White,  and Remember the Time videos were also memorable moments in my home.

 

 

However, the most memorable television moment had to be Michael Jackson performing at the 25^th Anniversary Motown special. At that time, MJ was no longer on Motown and there had been rumors about whether or not he would even perform. (BUT HE HAS TOO!) When he came out with those smooth moves, tossing the hat into the audience, and singing “Billie Jean,” we were in awe. But when he started moonwalking, a dance move we had never seen before, we lost it! We started screaming, jumping up and dance, clapping and high-fiving. We called friends and family. “Yo, did you see Michael?” The next day at school, we couldn’t talk about anything else.  When’s the last time the whole of society had shared such one common television memory—same show, same time, same channel? Michael Jackson unified us. He seared himself into our collective consciousness with his talent.

 

From squeaky clean Motown tunes to rarely played funky foot stompers to discofied dance hits to touching ballads to cross over R&B and Pop music, Michael Jackson crossed genres, generations, races, nations, and socioeconomic status. He was born a little poor black boy in a town that is still basically poor to grow up to become our very own King of Pop. There will never another like him nor would I want there be another Michael. 

 

I love you Michael Jackson. Thank you. Despite what they said about you, I always believed that you were pure and good at heart.

 

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http://blog.allmusic.com/2009/6/26/in-tribute-michael-jackson/