Again!

Leopard + Target Clearance = I am buying.

First it was the $8 leopard booties.

Now it is the $11 leopard flats.

For being a shoe snob that I fully know I am, I cannot get enough of the Starbucks priced leopard print I keep coming across while roaming the shoe aisles at Target.

These little beauties came home with me today.

For, I repeat, $11.

They are not available online but the website will do a search for you here.

In related news.

I continuously hear that department stores, catalogs, merchandising and internet advertising entice women to spend.

I believe this crazy conspiracy theory is being paid for by Target.

Notice how you never hear about shopping habits at Target?

They're good.

Of all the places I shop (and I will admit, there are a lot), there is no place that I will so easily hand over hundreds of dollars without thinking twice about what is in my cart.  

Handing over the same amount at Bloomingdale's or Nordstrom I would ponder the purchase to ensure I was making the right decision.

At Target, I simply walk up to the register and say "TAKE IT ALL!  I DON'T CARE!  I WALKED IN FOR DIAPERS AND AM LEAVING WITH DIAPERS, A VASE, FAKE FLOWERS, TOWELS, A PAIR OF CHILDREN'S PAJAMAS, SOCKS AND AN $11 PAIR OF LEOPARD PRINT FLATS!"

I think we are all in deep.

Outside

I have heard for some time from my mom that I needed to read Kisses from Katie, a story of Katie Davis, a young girl who moved to Uganda when she was 18 years old and has since adopted 13 children (by only 22 mind you) and has done more to a community than I could ever imagine someone doing, let alone, a young girl.  I finally read it and could not put it down.  It was an inspirational book and I highly recommend reading it.  Beyond being amazed by this young girl for not only what she does and her incredible faith in God, it also got me thinking.  I could do more.  We could do more.  As a family, we NEED to do more.

My children, hubby and I have been very fortunate in our lives.  Challenges that we have faced have been minimal to the struggles of others.  In fact, my children do not know what struggling means.  They need to understand this.  They need to have compassion for others.  They need to want to give back.

My New Years resolution this year is to begin exposing my children to the world outside of their comfort zone and begin to truly teach them how to give back and care for others.  It has to go beyond the simply gifts we bring to the church at Christmas time.  It needs to be year round.

I have started with having each of them sponsor one child for a year through Amazima Ministries, the non-profit Katie created to help sponsor children in Uganda so they can attend school, receive 3 meals a day, have school supplies and a uniform, receive basic medical care, and teach them about God.  It almost makes me sick to think how little this costs for an entire year vs. what we spend in a month at the grocery store.  I am so excited for them to receive a packet from the three children we have sponsored and begin to learn about the world around them.

This is only the start though.  I want to do more with them but understand with how young they are, there are limitations.  I am already planning on donating food, making care packages for the troops, delivering baked goods to a senior home but I need more ideas!  I would absolutely love any ideas you may have to continue our giving and teaching throughout the year.  Any suggestions?    

What I Wore

Back to reality!

After two weeks of Christmas vacation the three kiddos are back to school today and the reality of schedules, homework and practices have returned.  I loved having them home so much and am already looking forward to Spring Break.  The hubby and I had a wonderful time wine tasting this past weekend and it was the perfect way to call an end to this holiday season that I am so sad to see go.

Today I am busy getting back into the swing of things but wanted to remind everyone that I periodically post looks on Facebook in case you happened to be interested.  Here are a few of the recent ones.  With all the traveling we have been doing this break, I have spent most of my time in comfy clothes but have at least tried to look put together.  You can find the rest of my looks here on Facebook or on Instagram (@jugglinginheels).

ROAD TRIP!
Sweater: Vince Blanket Sweater
Tank: Slendid
Leggings: Club Monaco
Boots: Frye Boots
Handbag: Marc Jacobs

Running Errands #1
Sweater: Velvet
Jacket: Rubbish (similar)
Jeans: Rock and Republic
Shoes: Superga

Running Errands #2
Tunic: C. Wonder (similar)
Jacket: Vintage
Vest: Rachel Zoe (similar)
Jeans: Gap

Jumping on a Plane
Sweater: T by Alexander Wang (now on sale!)
Jeans: Marc Allison Jeans
Shoes: Superga
Jacket: Andrew Mark (similar)

I hope you all have a great Monday!

Friday

via

Today marks the last day of Christmas break for the kids and the last weekend before returning to "reality".  In order to rejuvenate (and perhaps sleep past 7am), the hubby and I are heading out of town this afternoon to spend the weekend wine tasting with friends.  I am SO looking forward to this time with him as it seems our time to actually communicate with each other continues to decline as the children become more and more involved.  After three trips with the kids in the second half of the year, we are ready for a little quiet/alone time.  

Any fun plans for you this weekend?

Tournament of Roses

This New Years Day marked our third trip up to Pasadena to watch the Rose Parade from the roof top of our friend's building (check out last year).  Even though this is our third time, the parade never seems to lose its magic and the children have such a great time watching the floats pass by.  This year's theme was "Oh the Places You'll Go", my favorite Dr. Seuss book of all time and it was fun to see each float bring the theme to life.  The CarsLand float was the biggest hit, which was amazing, but would you expect anything different from Disney?  One exciting part is that this year the Stealth Bomber did the fly over later in the parade (in the past it has been at the beginning and we usually miss it) and it was incredible watching it fly literally right over our head.  Such a cool moment.  

I really cannot imagine kicking off the New Year any better.

Thank you again Smalls for inviting us!

Stripes and Sequins

I am definitely the girl who hates to wear something a little too much in fear that it is going to show up on Instagram or Facebook and look like I never change my clothes.  Especially when the days are perhaps a little too close together.  It is vain and stupid but I still think about it (some of you do too I bet.  It is a girl thing!).

Strangely though, I completely went against this belief this past week and wore the J.Crew Sequin Stripe Tee THREE TIMES.  Yes, three times in one week.  That is how much I liked it.  Originally I had picked it up for Christmas Eve with a red pencil skirt I had also been eyeing for a bit.

Then I needed something for our family photos in San Francisco and thought it would look cute under a leather jacket and skinny jeans.  Finally, it was New Years Eve.  What better than sequins on New Years Eve?!  This time I paired it with wide leg jeans and a moto jacket for our family get together.  The wearing has gotten out of control and I will now be taking a bit of a break from the cute little thing.  Anyone else get addicted to an item of clothing?

I am sharing all this because I just noticed that it is now on sale and half the price!  Stripes, sequins and a sale?  I would be mean not to share. 

2013

I am beginning 2013 with my 501st post.  That is crazy town to me.  Not only because I have been able to write 500 posts but that you have actually read them.  Crazy.

We spent the last week of 2013 in the Bay Area visiting the Hubby's family and spending a few nights with just the 5 of us in San Francisco.  Going into San Francisco over the holidays has become a tradition for us and I look forward to it each year.  This time around we made a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay and the chaos that is Pier 39, went shopping on Market St, tried to ice skate in Union Square (the wait was just too long), made our annual drive over the Golden Gate, had dinner with my Bestie and her hubby and took family photos with Savvy in San Francisco, a.k.a Melissa, who I met through this wonderful world of blogging and was finally about to meet in real life!  As always we had an amazing time and I am ready to say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013.  

   Happy New Year!!!