the realm of skinny jeans, and the boot saga ends...for now

last night i did it.  i bought some skinny jeans (my teenage daughter rolls her eyes a little, i think.  it's HER territory after all!).  wow, how did i go so long without them?  they're so comfortable and look so good with my new black boots.  the boot saga is over.  but i'll back up--a bunch of years ago (7 I think) i picked up an awesome pair of (vinyl) black heeled boots, i don't even remember where, for probably around $30.  i loved them.  they fit like a dream, looked awesome, had a square toe and chunky heel, and were 'clicky' when i walked.  i love clicky's.

then this year the vinyl started splitting and peelin around the zipper.  i've still worn them, it's pretty hidden under my regular boot cut jeans, but i started looking for replacement boots.

i was in for a long haul.  i couldn't find any like THAT.  i wanted leather, but would be ok with vinyl, i just wanted something like those.  i searched stores.  i searched online.  i searched ebay.  i ended up buying THREE pairs of boots on ebay that i thought would work.  none did (and now i have three pairs to re-sell).  i bought a pair of as-close-as-i-can-come-to-what-i-want boots at DSW....BUT no clicky heels.  that bugged me.

then i searched zappos again and found these.  I got them yesterday and pretty much love them.  they're as close as i'm gonna get to my old boots.  if the heel was a little chunkier and they had zippers (i didn't realize they were stretch pull-ons) i'd be ecstatic.  but i'm at least very, very happy!  so then i was thinking--skinny jeans!  why have i never?  took the daughter to old navy and found some clearanced for 8.99 each.  we each got 2 pairs.  sweet!

writing

Although not in the January print issue, the Parenting 101 features I wrote for Indy's Child and Cincinnati Parent are online (same article, but different quotes for each market). This is my official debut for another writing venue and I look forward to other writing opportunities for 2011.

I have a couple of blog posts from december to blog about, coming soon.  I have some writing deadlines that I should do first!

Just Delicate Needles

Just Delicate Needles

It's so delicate, the light.

And there's so little of it. The dark

is huge.

Just delicate needles, the light,

in an endless night.

And it has such a long way to go

through such desolate space.

So let's be gentle with it.

Cherish it.

So it will come again in the morning.

We hope.

--by Rolf Jacobsen

Translated by Robert Hedin

Happy Winter Solstice!  Tonight will find me drinking Swedish Glogg and singing carols and reading books like The Longest Night to the children.  I'm not really sure how that will go, with the glogg and all, but we'll see.  We are VERY excited.  We'll also be decorating a Solstice Tree outside with bagels dipped in peanut butter and birdseed, and exchanging homemade presents.  And then the children will crash, and the moms will too.  I just love my homebirthin' hippie friends that I can share these things with.  Makes me VERY happy.  We get so damn giddy about it.  And there is snow on the ground, making it even more special. 

Oh, and in case I remember to look back next December, let this be a reminder to maybe get the Christmas Tree sooner than six days before Christmas? 

vintage krista and 'i'm just a dork with a camera'

So i picked up a handful of vintage photos of me when I was down in the basement supposed to be getting out christmas decorations.  it's high time these surface on the 'net, isn't it?!  Lily wears the nightgown that I have on in the photo just above.  Wild.

I just got back from a 3 mile run.  It's 23, 15 windchill.  I felt like cursing the whole way, i'm sure i muttered several curse words, but in the end i'm always glad i went.  very grateful for my little ipod that helps get me through it.

so, this is me, pre-run.  no idea why i took these.

One of the most beautiful songs ever

I recently found out about this song, Snow on the Sahara, by Anggun.  I heard the french version first, then when I searched youtube to see who Anggun is, I saw the english version.  What's amazing is, even though Anggun is huge in Europe, this song came out in 1998.  I could have had this song in my life for 12 years now, and i've only just heard it.

Every time I have a new song obsession, I think, wow!  I've heard it all now.  how can it get any better than this?  And yet it does.  We'll never come to the end of great and inspiring and gorgeous music.  Wow.

Snow on the Sahara lyrics
Only tell me that you still want me here
When you wander off out there
To those hills of dust and hard winds that blow
In that dry white ocean alone
Lost out in the desert
You are lost out in the desert
But to stand with you in a ring of fire
I'll forget the days gone by
I'll protect your body and guard your soul
From mirages in your sight
Lost out in the desert

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track
I'll be the moon that shines on your path
The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above
For snow to fall on the Sahara
If that's the only place where you can leave your doubts
I'll hold you up and be your way out
And if we burn away,
I'll pray the skies above for snow to fall on the Sahara

Just a wish and I will cover your shoulders
With veils of silk and gold
When the shadows come and darken your heart
Leaving you with regrets so cold
Lost out in the desert

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track
I'll be the moon that shines on your path
The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above
For snow to fall on the Sahara
If that's the only place where you can leave your doubts
I'll hold you up and be your way out
And if we burn away,
I'll pray the skies above for snow to fall on the Sahara