I have too many shoes

This shoe of the week is from Aldo , perfect for the coming spring for wearing with my wide leg jeans or a floral tea dress if I can find one that suits me I'm really liking the trend for chunkier heels, far sturdier for the Blackpool streets; there's no chance of me falling over on the cobbles or getting my heel stuck in a grid!

Today, I was 'spotted on the street', well I suppose you could say spotted in the mirror! I've been meaning to do a post on the boots I own but just haven't got round to doing one yet.  So today, as I've started walking to work due to my car being very poorly. The need to get my dogs Jasper and Harvey to and from doggy-day care (my mum's but didn't it just for one second sound like I was Paris Hilton!) means I needed some boots that were made for walking. I usually buy a pair of boots every couple of years, I like to try and find a boot with some detailing that could resemble the vintage footwear like buckles or button detailing.  This pair were one of my last boot purchases bought from Barratts, for around £70, in December 2008 for my planned wedding and honeymoon in Vegas and San Francisco.  Funny story though, I thought I would save these boots for the holidays and choose to leave them in the box untouched until March when I'd be jettin...

True Blue baby I love you This week's shoe is courtesy of Topshop.  This shoe has that mix of 1940's glamour meeting this Spring/Summer's need for brights.  Suitable for a fashionista or a vintage lover, easily complementing that perfect dress or sexy skinny jeans.

Office knows that January can be a long month that many of us struggle with. To provide light at the end of the tunnel they are currently have an up to £50 off boots promotion, not to mention up to 75% sales to take a nosy through! Go on, what are you waiting for? The choices for my basket would be: Minky Linky Leopard at £39.00 I'm sure these would help me find my inner rock-chick! These boots would be a great alternative to my Uggs that I feel I've been living in for the past few months due to the not-so-Great British weather!

piri piri chicken with roasted veg and sticky rice Before I start writing my post I have to say that I am not a great photographer so my picture isn't as glossy or enticing as it would be if I was producing it for a food magazine.  Although I understand that to get that perfect shot the food would require treatment that would make it inedible! Now, I honestly thought that the best present I would have got for Christmas 2010 would have been a handbag or pair of shoes but no . . . it's a blender and I haven't even switched it on!  My husband who was already a good cook is fast becoming a culinary genius due to the joys of us now owning a blender. He's been busy making homemade sauces and we've so far enjoyed tastes from around the world from Jerk Chicken to piri-piri without having to leave the comfort of our own home.  From starting with recipes from the latest Jamie Oliver book, he's now started to create his own recipes! I have to say that his home...

This shoe sums up probably what a lot of people are thinking - how long till Spring? January is a long long month, dark when you go to work, dark when you come home from work.  I'm ready for some sunshine and daffodils to be sprouting! How are you enjoying January? Shoes from Schuh.

Technology is amazing these days, even the simplest thing can give great joy to people.  My older sister Kelly has now got a scanner and she's been busy scanning in some of our childhood pictures and its been great to share the memories. Here's Kelly and me (I'm in the on-trend stripes) with my dad sometime in the seventies. My dad - Jimmy Valentine (such a great name) - had the most gorgeous hair.  We've got some Italian roots in our family so he inherited some of those traits of an Italian man - great olive skin and hair.  He had a great sense of style and really walked to the beat of his own drum. When my nephew saw this picture he said that my dad looked like a rock star and I totally agree.

I realise that I can't go on posting about my new purchases in this current climate, while there are lots and lots of shoes out there that I would love to purchase, I really need to not buy and save, save, save! I'm forty later this year I want to mark that occasion with a big purchase, maybe a pair of fabulous shoes.  To do that I need to resist the urge to hit the high street and shop till I drop! But I still want keep posting about shoes and nominating shoes of the week and keeping with the main theme of my blog, So I'm also going to look at what shoes people are wearing today, I'm going to call the posts 'Spotted on the street'  I'm always out and about with my camera in my bag just in case I spot shoes that I like but I've been conscious about asking people about the shoes they are wearing.  So from now on, I'm going to be fearless and ask them for a photo and find out a little bit about the shoes they've chosen to wear. So here's my...

Friday is typically known as a 'dress down' day but I prefer it as the dress up denim day! The final day of the five day challenge and to be honest I think this is the one day where we both feel we can really go to town on our accessories.  I can't really explain it but it seems simpler to dress up a casual outfit than make a work outfit more glamorous. Chrissie's collection 'was don't save it for best'  Do you ever buy something and them save it for best, then never get a chance to wear it?  Why save for best, if you felt it was good enough to buy then wear it anytime you feel like it! vintage necklace inherited from an Aunt, so pretty suede shoes bought for a wedding only worn a couple of times clutch bag than can be easily held so you don't have to dance around it! My collection was 'its time to belt up'  Using a belt I bought nearly four years ago but never worn as a basis for my accessory choices Scarf from River Island, a...

So the fourth day of our challenge saw two completely opposite choices in accessories, one bright, one not so bright.  Chrissie's collection was 'Be seen in green' bag borrowed from her daughter, obviously inherited her great accessories gene! another lovely necklace from Chrissie's jewellery drawer vintage shoes in a fabulous condition My collection was 'its all about the shoes'   I kept my accessories neutral apart from my fabulous printed pumps Nica tan bag from Debenhams, its like the carpet bag from Mary Poppins as it could fit a kitchen sink in there! corsage, handmade and a birthday present from my talented friend Sylvia bangles from Wallis, ring vintage from Notting Hill bought in 1999 Sacha flat pumps from Dorothy Perkins worn with wide palazzo pants

Day three saw us halfway through the five day challenge.  What we are finding, is that the majority of our accessories are things we have had for a couple of years rather than recent purchases. So here are our challenge attempts.  Chrissie's collection was 'Pump up the purple'  Key to her accessories was her fabulous peep-toe shoe boots! the multi-strand necklace gave hints of purple and pinks bracelet and watching carrying on the theme  Now my collection was aimed at complementing a tweed trouser suit I wear for work.  So my collection was 'Everything begins with a g' All accessories were either green or gold was the main colour. Gorgeous green Tommy and Kate bag present from my friend H vintage-look brooch bought in St Ives in 2005 necklace from Wallis £3 sales bargain, gold cuff Matalan about three years ago  I actually look a bit creased in my last picture but I can promise that I kept my jacket on for the office this day! ...

So, Day Two of the challenge and we've decided to get our challenge bids a name/theme.  Apologies for lack of great lighting for the images.  Our office storeroom at lunchtime is not really equipped for photo shoots so will have to think of a better venue for our spring challenge (yes we are already thinking forward!) So, first Chrissie with her 'pretty in pink collection' metallics and blush colours adorning the wrists necklace giving a hit of pink bargain shoeboots from Tesco providing a bit of a blush nude bag completing the neutral tones. My collection was 'you can always bet on red'. Red accessories completing a monochrome shift dress from Monsoon bought about three years ago. Birkin inspired bag from Debenhams and six year old heels from Dorothy Perkins Red belt and beads from Monsoon (had about three years) Red rose earrings bought in San Fransisco 2009 What we've found about the challenge so far is that its adding on ...

Now this week's shoe is inspired by the second social event that I've been invited to this year - 1920's hen night, all ladies to dress like flapper girls.  I thought that these T-Bar platforms from ASOS would be perfect whether I'm doing the Charleston or attempting the Beyonce Single Ladies dance!  Now I'm off to dig out my pearls and feather headdress and start practicing my moves!

So it was the first day of our working week challenge,but before I report on our challenge attempts I thought I should provide a brief description of the participants: Chrissie, my work colleague - glamorous mum of two, does not look her age, can authentically 'rock' the biker chick style (motorbike included), shoes and bags are the top of her shopping lists every time. Clare, me, - married, no children just two Jack Russells, heading for forty and frantically reviewing my skin care regime, just found my first grey hair, desperately aiming for a classic, timeless capsule wardrobe, shoes everytime is at the top of my shopping list even if I'm shopping for groceries! Chrissie - something old/something new collection Now Chrissie accessorized in a mixture of recent sales purchases and items she's owned for a few years now.  Showing its never to late to re-vitalise that forgotten accessory you've had for years. Bag - present for Xmas 2010, Star by Julian MacDona...