new year's resolutions

A new year means new resolutions.  I always have the best of intentions when January comes around, but gosh, isn't it hard to be the amazing, Insta-version of yourself every single day?  Sigh.  In an attempt not to overcommit this new year, I'm hoping to start small by returning to my long forgotten but much loved blog.  She's Come Unheeled started as a fashion blog but has changed countless times since, as my life has changed.  This year, I'm hoping my precious Unheeled can be less of a to-do list item and more of a guilty pleasure for me, a creative outlet, for body, mind, and spirit.

So, to start the new year off right, I thought why not accomplish one of the Pin-spirations I've been meaning to get around to basically forever.  I even bought the few supplies I needed...in September.  So hello (!) to a new year, a newer me, and a new home for the amazing succulent plant that even a black thumb like me has kept alive--for like three years.  May wonders never cease.

I found this sweet idea on Pinterest, of course: a how-to guide for planting kitchen succulents in the most adorable containers, like tea cups, vintage tins, or any other Anthopologie-esque containers your aesthetic little heart desires.  I actually already own a pair of the yellow floral teacups featured in this post so my first inclination was to use one.  Then I thought, how will I have a proper English tea  for two without my proper teacups?  Because even though I don't have a lot of proper grown-up time to sip tea, it's important to dream.  But I digress.

My little succulent, as it turns out, is too big for a teacup anyway.  I instead used one of my favorite mugs, a simple yet serene light blue ceramic one.  The project took a total of five minutes to complete, yet already my kitchen aesthetic has improved--and perhaps only in a tiny way, but improvement is improvement, n'est-ce pas?  I even added a few little seashells that we collected during our trip to the Outer Banks last summer.

Cheers to a greener kitchen and a happier body, mind, spirit--and perhaps even to-do list--in this beautiful new year.  xo

au revoir twenty-something

Once upon a time...

Today is major, as I say goodbye to my 20s and prepare to join the ranks of a new decade.  I have been having issues about this milestone.  When I was little and played with Barbies, I would make Barbie's mom 30; it seemed old, very adult-like and serious.  So I was shocked when it came upon me so quickly.  I thought I would own my own home by now, or at least my own Chanel handbag!  But...

I like to think that what I lack in status symbols, I make up for in other ways.  While there is actually a lot that I don't remember about the last decade of my life, I have experienced the utmost in triumphs and tragedies--but have so much to be grateful for today.   Namely I am thankful to be standing on the brink of a new age bracket with outstanding friends and an amazing family by my side, all of whom have made my birthday month ridiculously special so far--and it's not even my birthday yet!

I have had this week off work, which may be one of the very best ways to celebrate any birthday.  So today, while Harper did a half-day at school, I took the opportunity to run some errands AND treat myself to the obligatory mani/pedi so that I could feel truly ready to be a grown-up tomorrow.  While my tootsies were being polished and pampered, I caught up on the September issue of Glamour, which must have been fate since one of the featured articles was Olivia Wilde's "Advice for Turning 30."  

Unlike my husband, Olivia Wilde has never exactly been on my radar, but it turns out the girl can write!  As a fellow almost-30-year-old, she calls our impending milestone the "Cut the Bullsh-t and Go Be Awesome stage," which is definitely something I can get down with. I mean, please, I'm already awesome! Of her list of dos and don'ts for thirty-somethings out there, here are my three favorites--which made me laugh so I had to include them in their entirety rather than paraphrasing (I might be awesome, but I'm not exactly what you would call funny):

DON'T freak out about all the brilliant people who accomplished more than you by 30.
Yes, Einstein had discovered the theory of relativity by your age, and Emily Brontë had written Wutheringfu*#ing Heights, but honestly, what you achieve is far less important than what kind of human being you are. What do you want people to say at your funeral: "Olivia may have cured HIV, but she ran over my cat and drove away laughing"? No, thanks! I'd rather be a good person who makes people happy than a dick who wins a Nobel by 32.

DO reap the benefits of your accumulated wisdom.

You're 30: You know stuff now. Your twenties were for "ducking up," as my auto-correct would say, and learning from those mistakes. (For instance, never again will I convince myself that sleep is for sissies and go straight from a party to the airport. You will not "sleep on the plane"; you'll vomit in the security line. Go to bed.) Now you get to live with that knowledge under your belt. Also, make it a nice belt. You're 30. Stop dressing like a hobo.

And DON'T be bogged down by your past.

Saturn has now orbited the sun once since you've been alive; make this next go-round whatever you want it to be. Consider your baggage (bad boyfriends, job setbacks, body issues) lost by the airline of life, leaving you empty-handed at your new destination with only one choice: Go shopping.

That's it. Now go—be awesome.

The reality is that 30 is upon me, whether I'm "ready" for it or not. So what choice do I have but to boldly go where everyone 30+ has gone before?

I may not have discovered the theory of relativity or even invented Post-Its, but I feel like I'm doing okay nonetheless and have left some room for growth too... I have become a little bit more domestic (thank you, Pinterest!); learned how to say no when I'm feeling stretched too thin; embraced flats; have started my own little family with my amazing and ridiculously tall husband; refuse to paint my own toes but can totally handle a DIY mani; stopped apologizing for my taste in bad tween TV; love where I work; have some seriously fabulous friends; and feel anchored by my faith.  I told you I was already awesome!  So 30 years old?  Maybe I can handle this after all.

• To read Olivia Wilde's "Advice for Turning 30" in its entirety, click here--and enjoy!

• Harper and I were photographed by the talented Miss Emma Taylor in Fall 2012; check out her blog here!

summer update part 2

Last month, after an embarrassing update, I promised I would have at least three more items crossed off my summer bucket list at the beginning of August.  Since we are now forging into the middle of the month, I felt like I should make good on my promise.  Here's where I stand...

My husband (on the left), making me the perfect s'more.

I am obsessed with s'mores right now.  In fact, did you know that this past Saturday was National S'mores Day?  I actually didn't discover that fun fact until Sunday, but at least my obsession is a timely one.  I've had the chance to enjoy s'mores on several occasions in the last month.  The best was definitely the traditional version, enjoyed around an outdoor fire with family and friends at my mom's house in Western MA.  With Harper on my lap, my obliging husband was the one who actually made my s'mores (yes, I ate two), and he has basically perfected the art.  Thanks to the life-changing powers of Pinterest, I have also learned about and successfully recreated a version of s'mores that doesn't require a camp fire.  Behold, the s'mores bite; I know that s'mores sans fire sounds blasphemous, but these are pretty darn close to the real thing.  If you don't believe me, just try them:

Yet another reason I love Pinterest: s'mores bites

Ingredients:
-6 graham cracker sheets
-6 large marshmallows
-12 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Directions:
-Break graham cracker sheets in half.
-Cut each marshmallow in half.
-Heat oven to Low Broil.
-Align graham crackers in the center of a cookie sheet about 1/2″ apart from each other.
-Top each graham cracker with a marshmallow with the cut/sticky side down.
-Place marshmallow-topped graham crackers under broiler.  Don't walk away!  Watch them, as they will toast quickly, allow to toast until marshmallows are golden.
-Once golden, immediately remove from oven, and place 1 Hershey's Kiss in the center of each toasted marshmallow and gently press down.  
Yum.

It is indeed possible I have been eating so many s'mores in a desperate attempt to ignore the fact that I'm turning 30 this month.  I've been trying to adjust my attitude though, since the truth of the matter is that aging is a gift that not everyone is able to enjoy.  I haven't actively been planning the party of the century or anything, but I feel like my "perfect 30th birthday" is totally within reach, with my birth month off to a fabulous start.  On Saturday, my lovely sister treated me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, followed by window shopping, and then an indulgent spa facial.  It feels a little symbolic that I've shed a layer of skin (okay not really--but exfoliation counts) to greet a new decade.  Regardless, sister spa time was a truly incredible birthday gift--and my skin feels amazing.  Also amazing was the watermelon mint cooler I had at lunch, which I am now inspired to recreate at home.

Watermelon Cooler at The Cottage in Wellesley, MA

In fact, home creations just might be the theme of this month.  I have been wanting to redo our bedroom for a while now.  The décor just isn't working for us; it is dark and, despite our best design attempts when we moved in three years ago, just misses the mark.  At the top of my "must have" list is space-saving storage, and to that end, I have been coveting an amazing storage bed from Pottery Barn that is simply not within our budget.  So my handyman husband found the plans online and began construction this weekend; I am nervous but excited to see how it will turn out.  I have given him a pretty tight deadline of two weeks so only time will tell!  Also part of the bedroom redo is a new color scheme palette.  Right now, blue is our central color, but we're trying to move in a softer direction--perhaps a light grey, maybe accented by a pale aqua...  We have nothing set in stone yet, as the bed is taking precedence, but I am looking forward to the finished product.

So here's the official report:

Reread The Great Gatsby (my favorite summer book) 

• Hoping to accomplish this while I'm off work next week...

Finally complete Harper's baby book (she is going on 2, after all)

• Planning to finally order prints tonight!

Make s'mores around an outdoor fire

• Done--and yum!

Redo my bedroom décor

• A work in progress!

Explore a New England beach I haven't been to before

• On the calendar for this weekend with some of my besties--another early birthday celebration!

Finally have a picnic with my amazing cousin before she moves 

• Hopefully this week?

Go for long summer walks (a favorite pastime)

• A walk is not the same thing as walks so clearly I'm still working on this one...  Fortunately for me, the temperatures have been lovely this month so far--so let's leave it at "to be continued."

Do more yoga

• Haven't been back to class yet...  Le sigh.

Eat fiddleheads while they're in season

•  Impossible (poor time management)

Plan my perfect 30th birthday in the absence of Chanel (tick tock!)

• A work in progress...

I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm feeling much, much better about my progress this time around.  Things weren't looking good for me for a moment there, but I'm grateful that I actually put my summer goals in writing so that I can truly hold myself accountable.  Thankfully now it's all happening!  Stay tuned for the final report...

 

Daddy's Day

Today is Father's Day.  Probably like many of you out there who have lost your father, this day is a bittersweet one for me.  On the bitter side, of course, is that I am reminded of how much I miss my beloved Daddy.  But there's more sweet than bitter; I love the opportunity to remember my amazing daddy and, what's more, to celebrate my husband, who is an incredible father.  In honor of two of my favorites, here are some of ways our family is celebrating today:

Cool cards, like this one that we sent to Dallin's dad earlier this week.  I know we live in the age of Skype and Snapchat, but one thing I learned from my father was how to write a real letter.  And nothing beats the perfect card, especially when it is indeed for one very cool pop.

Card by Hearts Grow Fonder
Available on Etsy

"From mail room to board room," as my dad would always say.  Here is the tie that my little H made for her Daddy at church today.  Very chic.  She has also been modeling it for him this afternoon.  I'm not sure who it looks better on.

Old photos.  A daddy/daughter nap, circa 1983, loving every minute of an afternoon snuggle.  My Daddy was a man of few words; he didn't say much unless he really had something to say, so I learned to appreciate moments of silence shared in complete comfort.  Like when we drove across country together to bring my old Volvo out to LA when I was in college; we listened to a LOT of CDs and shared time together I will always treasure.

New photos.  I love that Harper is Daddy's girl; after all, it takes one to know one.  Here is Harper, with Dallin, after a visit to the doctor's and in desperate need of some Daddy love.  It's cool, I totally get it.

Red velvet whoopie pies: my attempt at making Dallin a Father's Day treat.  I say attempt because there are a few things that I learned in the process...  As it turns out, I should read directions before starting a baking project to make sure I have all the ingredients and tools necessary.  For instance, one needs a whoopie pie pan when making whoopie pies.  In the absence of said whoopie pie pan, a muffin tin will work--but maybe not quite as well.  Fortunately, Instagram (what one of my besties calls "the beer goggles of life") makes everything look prettier.  Here's to hoping they taste good too!

Found notes, like this one from my Daddy.  He wrote this to me after he was diagnosed with lung cancer and was going through chemo and radiation.  Despite the physical toll this process was taking on his body, he found the time to sketch out designs with me--cupcakes, ice cream cones, candy...  All the sweet things that inspired my lolly.brand line.  I am grateful to fathers like mine, who inspire their children to dream.  There are so many ways that he lives on.

On Facebook today, there were countless pictures fathers, as well as status updates paying tribute.  I have to admit, it made me a little sad, wistful perhaps, I wasn't celebrating with my own father.  But a while ago, I decided that I would do my best to celebrate my father's life, rather than to mourn his passing.  This day, I have done just that, showing gratitude to the fathers in my life and appreciation for the examples that they are to their children.  I am blessed to know some seriously amazing guys.  And speaking of which, Dallin enjoyed his red velvet whoopie pie, and Harper did too.  Like father, like daughter...  And so it goes.

Cozying Up

For those of you living under a rock (or not in the great state of Massachusetts), today's Boston weather forecast is for a blizzard that will go down in history.  On the modest side, Boston will see 18 inches of snow...  Worst case scenario is two feet or more, with hurricane winds.  The snow started falling around 10:00 this morning, and all the milk was gone when Dallin, Harper, and I went to the supermarket for a few last minute groceries (including milk).  But perhaps the worst evidence of snowstorm mania was when we went to the neighborhood bakery for donuts, and they were GONE--as in, no donuts whatsoever.   Despite the sad lack of maple frosted donuts in my life, I'm actually enjoying this cozy day indoors with hot chocolate (we managed to find a gallon of organic whole milk hiding amongst the soy milk--sweet relief!), and my sweet little pre-toddler tearing things up.  Cozy clothes are, of course, a necessity for this type of situation, which has got me thinking...  

I've been considering my off-duty wardrobe a lot lately.  As I explained to my husband just the other day, when it comes to the workplace, I have pencil skirts and cute flats in spades, but I am at a total loss when it comes time for lounging at home or even running a quick errand.  Maybe it is anxiety over my impending 30th, or perhaps I'm just bored, but lately I have been wondering if I'm getting too old for college hoodies, tall Uggs, and shapeless sweats?  Don't get me wrong, these are things that I love, but I feel like it might be nice to add some more grown-up coziness into the mix.

So, here are some of the things I would like to cozy up in today as we watch the snow fall outside:

Dreamy Cotton Pant
in stripe vintage champagne, $49.50
by J. Crew

Along with brown hair and green eyes, I have inherited a love of patterns from my mother.  And when it comes to lounge wear, I feel a pattern is far more interesting than your standard grey. I'm especially partial to stripes.  At my former job, a coworker once made fun of me for wearing horizontal stripes; I was pregnant at the time, and I think he meant to suggest that stripes weren't exactly flattering (not that I'm holding a grudge).  Personally, I find stripes lengthening, and I especially like to the Parisian vibe of this "vintage champagne" stripe.  As an added bonus for tall girls like me, J. Crew's Dreamy Cotton Pant is also available in a tall inseam: yay for 35 inches!

Levanoa Encase Tee
in heather grey, $66.50 by Theory

  
I know, it seems a little ridiculous to suggest Theory when it comes to tee-shirts, but I fell in love with Theory tees after scooping up a few at the Theory outlet in Vermont a couple of years ago...and I've never looked back.  The ultra soft feel and figure-flattering fit are unparalleled.  I don't have this particular tee, but I'd like to.  The longer fit and ruched sides do wonders for a silhouette.  I like the heather grey too since, if you're coughing up this much cash for a basic tee (this is the sale price), you should be able to wear it with everything.

Modern Relaxed Velour Hoodie
in Tell Tale, $108 by Juicy Couture

I was so excited to see that Juicy has reinvented their classic track hoodie with a boxier cut and oversized hood.  Finally, a hood that might actually fit on my head!  I mean, do these teeny tiny hoods actually fit someone out there?  They make me feel like a freak of nature.  I also love the broken-in look of this slightly-lighter-than-navy blue. Cozy cozy that works all year round?  Yes, please!

Ansley Slipper in chestnut, $99.95
by UGG Australia

I love my classic tall Uggs, but lately I've been coveting these slippers.  There is something more understated about the moccasin look, but they still pack all that amazing shearling coziness.  I hope you don't take my earlier statement to mean that I'm abandoning the tall style; rather, I'm actually wearing them as I type these very words, but a girl needs options.  And preferably shearling-lined options at that.  

Mathilde Knit Hat in cream, $49.95
from Anthropologie

Okay, I feel warm and cozy just looking at this hat.  There's something about this creamy ivory color that always makes me think of winter in a dreamy and nostalgic sort of way.  The oversized pompom and extra long ties that are youthful, fun, and apres-ski chic all in one.  Yes, I do wear hats inside.  Never sunglasses though (that is one of my number one pet peeves--and a fashion faux pas to boot).

Thigh Hi Loveland Legwarmer in navy, $38
by Free People

I know what you're thinking--legwarmers are so eighties--but I would argue that, when worn just right, they can be comfy, cozy, and even a bit fashionable.  What makes this pair special is that they are graphically bold, but the red, navy, and grey color scheme is actually pretty versatile.  Worn with leggings or my favorite Lulu Wonder Unders and the aforementioned classic tall Uggs, I'm thinking they might just help me get through a blizzard.

And speaking of blizzards, our governor just declared a state of emergency, stating that no cars should be on the road after 4:00, or drivers run the risk--in addition to being careless and putting themselves and any passengers in danger--of a hefty fine.  Looks like things are getting serious around here.  And apparently, so is my off-duty wardrobe.  Bundle up and stay safe, fashionista friends!  

Cooking For Three

This weekend, my mom gave me a cookbook that she selected with my little family of three in mind, Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual.  The concept behind this book is that kids can cook with an "adult helper."  Obviously, my nearly nine-month babe is still a little young to be a sous chef, but it's definitely fun to plan ahead.  So I was scanning the pages yesterday when it dawned on me: these are recipes that I can cook!

Sad?  Maybe.  But definitely true.  The whimsical illustrations that accompany recipes like "Buried Treasure Muffins" and "Alphabetter Soup" make it clear that these recipes are for kids, but the simple directions (and even the illustrations!) make this cookbook a handy guide for those whose culinary skills might be...lacking, shall we say?  While I have two binders full of recipes that I've clipped from Martha Stewart Living and other magazines, I could probably count the number of times I have actually made said recipes on one hand. Don't get me wrong, I totally want to make my Martha recipes, but my skills--and frankly my spare time--just aren't there yet.  

Someday I will make those fancy, sophisticated culinary creations, but in the meantime, I can hone my skills with more basic recipes like this:

Put-Back Potatoes

Ingredients-
potatoes (as many as you like)
milk: 2 tbsp. for each potato
grated cheddar cheese: 3 tbsp. for each potato
salt and pepper: pinch of each

Directions-
1. Bake your potato
2. Take the potato out of the oven when it's all done, wait a little bit for it to cool, then cut it in half and scoop the potato out into a bowl.  Keep one of the skins (you're going to need it).
3. Save 1/3 of the cheese to sprinkle on top of the potato before it goes in the oven.  Mix the rest of of the cheese, the milk, and the salt and pepper with the potato.  If you like butter, add a pat per potato now.  Use the masher or mixer while the potato is still a little warm.
4. Put your potato-and-cheese mixture back into the potato skins you saved.  Put it in a baking pan, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top of it, and put back into the oven for 20 minus at 350 degrees.
5. It's done when it starts to melt!

Yum.

There are also recipes for play dough, giant soap bubbles, and face paint, but I think I'll save those for Harper.