The title of this post is all things cheesy but at least it’s informative.

Let’s talk shoes. Specific shoes.

WEDGE SNEAKERS

There, I said it out loud. I have been hemming and hawing over this trend for awhile now, and my emotions still range from OMG-hideous to full-on shoe lust. So here are my thoughts (warning: the following rambles will not be articulate, meaningful, nor life-changing…its basically just me running my mouth on something frivolous that has no real relevance juxtaposed with today’s societal issues. If you are looking for something with more depth, might I suggest heading right on over to The New York Times? Ok, then). 

When I think of wedge sneakers, a giant red alarm goes off in my head, and the words “trucker hat!” appear over and over. This is because when that trend arose awhile back, I remember thinking that I didn’t care which amazing celebrity ran around wearing a trucker hat, I still thought they look awful. It was a trend I just couldn’t get on board with, so I didn’t. And I am realllly glad I didn’t. 

I had been having some anxiety about sneaker wedges because I was holding out to see if this was a fast dying trend (like leg warmers, good god), or if some genius had perfected a bad-ass, comfortable, everyday shoe that could transform the jeans/sneaker combo into an effortlessly chic look with a side of punk. I’m starting to lean towards the latter. 

My criteria for wedge sneakers:

• Black (show less wear and tear, versatile with jeans/leggings)
• Preference for velcro straps vs. laces (chasing after Wells, don’t always have time to sit down and tie shoes)
• Texture (I was drawn to the pairs that mixed fabrics)

Here is what I came up with: 3 options that fall under Pricey, Cheaper, and Cheapest

Pricey: Ash Leather Wedge Sneaker in Black ($295)

Perfect if money was no object. Unfortunately? Money is an object. Also, while they seem like great quality with use of real leather, they still require that I have to sit down and lace them up to wear them. Not ideal for a mama-on-the-go.

Cheaper: Steve Madden ‘Hilight’ Wedge Sneaker in Black ($149.95)

 

Great use of contrasting textiles and I like all of the velcro straps. Still seems a tad pricey for a shoe that is not 100% suede. I also have a bit of suede-anxiety because living in the Midwest, shoes (specifically suede ones) get eaten alive by salt covered sidewalks and streets. 

Cheapest: Target - Xhilaration’s Kahsha Wedge Sneaker in Black ($34.99) 

 

This is the part where I start to feel like I’m taking crazy pills…because this shoe looks so freaking identical to the Steve Maddens, but they are still about $120 apart on price which just seems insane. *scratches head*

So what did I do?

I bought the Target sneaks. I was very hesitant to do so because of my whole ‘quality over quantity’ manifesto. So while the sneakers are here at my house, they are still in the box. I’m going to swing by Nordstroms to try on the Steve Maddens just to make sure I’m not compromising quality in this purchase. 

The good news? Every single one of these shoes has 5-star reviews across the board. People are raving about the look and the comfort which speaks volumes to a mama that is constantly striving for both (while I love everything fashion, I refuse to wear something that would prohibit me from playing around with my son). 

So stay tuned, an update is forthcoming.

In the mean time, check out Beyonce rocking her wedge sneaks like it ain’t no thang.  

(P.S. Baby Takes Manhattan, this post was inspired by YOU!)  

***UPDATE***
Tried on the Ash and the Steve Maddens today…both very nice, high quality shoes, but I’m not down with all the suede, and all the extra $$$. Target wedge sneaks all the way. ALL. THE. WAY. Couldn’t be happier.

I don’t even know how or why this is working but I FREAKING LOVE IT.

the low ponytail
the cut of the sleeve
banging bangles 
black & white
red lips
jumpsuit in a sea of gowns 

When I see looks like this I’m reminded that fashion, at it’s core, is so damn FUN.

Last night Fitz asked if we could go over some calendar stuff. Translation: get out our respective laptops and start plugging in weddings, events, travel, etc. 

We tackled today (Fitz’s very first day of grad school), and worked our way into November 2013. Eleven months down the road!

I began to feel a bit dizzy. Didn’t 2013 just begin? How is my life already charted and recorded for the entire year? With each event entered, my hands clicked away on the keyboard, and I felt more and more stifled. 

Suffice to say, this little activity proved to be a very sobering reality of what lies ahead.

There are about five separate occasions where Fitz will be gone for one full week, either due to business, travel, school, etc. Doing the whole single-parent thing for one week at a time is tough stuff (and yes, I realize there are people who do it 24/7; my situation is nothing to complain about, I’m not asking for sympathy). Due to his program being concentrated, every other weekend he has school. During the week he works a full time job which requires quite a bit of travel in the Spring. What we could not put in the calendar: allotted time for studying, researching, or writing papers…simply because it is too early to know how that portion will fit into our schedules and lives.

It’s funny because I was completely swept away by the excitement of all of this. And who wouldn’t be? Fitz worked so hard to get to this point; it’s been a life-long dream. I remember a conversation long ago that started with “I think I’m interested in going back to school.” That turned into “I’m going to stay at the office after work to take a GMAT practice exam.” For those unfamiliar a practice exam takes 4 hours to complete, which meant that I was usually asleep when he came home. Schools were visited, letters of recommendation were requested, and after a few ups and downs and a brief spell of disappointment, all of a sudden, we were celebrating big news:

a program that fit the need to be filled
a start date in January
hugs, kisses, and the clink of glasses filled with pinot noir

We cheered for this news because it was good news. It IS good news. 

This year will not be easy. There will be a lot of time where it is just me + Wells. This year will require extra effort and difficult sacrifices for Fitz and for me. But inside every bit of difficulty lies opportunity (one of my favorite Albert Einstein quotes that I’ve gone back to many times over in my life). I am facing this year, and all of its challenges, and I am determined to make it great. While I am NOT one for resolutions, I am one for dream-chasing. And last time I checked, no dream was fulfilled without hard work. 

Last night was the night for being a sissy and calling the wambulance.

But this is the year for kicking ass. 

 

Image via 

“I don’t want people to be complacent, but I also don’t want people to be discouraged,” he said. “We’re on the brink of an election, but more importantly, we’re on the brink of moving America in a direction where we’re going to be more just, more fair … The economy’s going to grow in a way that includes everybody, an America that’s respected around the world because we’re putting forward our best values and out best ideals.”
(RollingStone)

Just a regular Tuesday dinner.