When the Cheshire emerges...

A long time coming, although to say anyone was hanging out for this could be a stretch.

My final shoes of the week for 2012:

The black pump was alright although it had purple diamantes on it. Then there's a mother-daughter combo, a Christmas boot (there were three of them to choose from if you can believe), another fluffy heel (there was one earlier) anad points. Always lots of points.

Shoe of the month for November: the black pump above. With shoes representing San Fransisco and a cow, that wasn't too difficult.
Shoe of the month for December: I don't particularly like any of these (I know that was the point of this whole exercise, but still)... I'll pick the Christmas boot for the festive spirit.

Shoe of the year.

Well, we're at that point. There's been everything from satanic footwear to that of the formal kind. There were summer wedges and a few days' homage to The Wizard of Oz. But my favourite?

I actually found it hard to pick just one in the end... but I did.

Second runner-up:


First runner-up:


And the winner:


Do you agree? Tell me what you think!

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- Once you become detached from things, they don't own you any longer.
- Re-examine the sentence: "Just do your best.". I would substitute it with, "Just do.".
Why?

Little did I know I'd be getting my country on and going on a road trip yesterday (to the Warrumbungles, but that's a story for a later time), but something struck me when I saw this on my fridge back on Wednesday.

One of the more random Shoe of the Week choices I think, this is a shoe purely for the farming/animal enthusiast. One would hope it is not real cowhide or PETA activists would surely have something to say. I would too - but not for that...

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So who's seen the Downton Abbey preview for Season 3 on Seven?

I feel like fistpumping every time I see it... Whoever thought of putting a montage to David Guetta is a champ. DA in da cluuuub (OK that's really lame but what else can you say, it's so random).

It's been done so well, not least because of what looks like excellent content. I can't wait until the end of January (no doubt it'll premiere after the Australian Open) - but I will; looking for this was hard enough not to read any potential spoilers.

Here you go :D

This week my calendar offered a few doozies, so a pretty steady week. This was the worst of them though, a homage to a city that I've never been to but sounds amazing.

My calendar actually served up something really interesting this week: a theme.

This shoe is pretty disgusting overall, but imagine my surprise over the next few days with these beauties. I give you my joint Shoe of the Week winners!


Ideally the witch shoes would not have the peeptoe, but I'm seriously impressed by both of these. While I was excited about the Shoe of the Week two weeks ago, these two get joint Shoe of the Month to beat them and other competition including tuxedo shoes.

The shoe below takes it out though. I feel as if it's a shoe that's come straight out of Spiceworld: The Movie. Remember that scene where they're at a boot camp girls? I can't believe I remember that...

Shoe of the Week double whammy for you tonight. Getting closer to the end, meaning I'll never have to subject myself to these again. Honestly, I wait for that day.

I know we all want to support breast cancer research, but really? The square toe and toe separater are just horrible, it could have been a slight possibility if you cut off the front part. But still, this is a bit distasteful.


I purely picked this for the web. If I was Mary Jane Watson I'd totally wear this shoe. Because I'd be in love with Spiderman. Oh hang on, I already am...

Plenty on my mind today considering I really haven't done all that much with my day off. I still have to do the housework and perhaps cook dinner too. Lazy times. Though I will say that I'm extremely disappointed with today's development in the Kurt Tippett saga, but nothing else - I said what I needed to say.

I postponed my Shoe of the Week because of that post so here we go:

I needed a fan today, it was 32 degrees here. But not on a boot. Possibly OK for a trip in Asia somewhere.

Shoe of the Month is also due. I had this one two weeks ago, and I actually still really like it. To the calendar makers, well done.


Now it's review time.


Rating: 3.5/5

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THE FIRST we heard of the Mills family was four years ago in Pierre Morel’s film when daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) was taken in Paris to be sold as a prostitute. Her father, former CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), is forced to get back into action to save his own daughter within a 96-hour timeframe.

*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 6/10/2012

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*Published in the Mailbox Shopper (Dubbo) from Wednesday 3/10/2012

MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEW? See what I thought of Touch of Evil.

And last week went so well.

I've gone on a driveabout this last week to land myself back in Adelaide (you will read about that in the coming days should you choose to accept that challenge), but I still thought it was worth a sneak peek at what my calendar had to offer at this fine time of the year.

That title was me trying to link my main part of this post to the shoe of the week.

Anyhoo, I did something on the weekend that I've always felt I should do, something I needed to learn - especially for my big road trip home that starts tomorrow.

I learned how to change a tyre. How exciting!

In line with the theme of Mental, being tonight's opening film of the first Inland NSW Film Festival (first premiere in a while, excited!) and the basis of my interview with P.J. Hogan, my shoe of the week choice was inspired by the crazy woman that is Shaz.

Toni Collette could totally pull these off right? I'm thinking as one of the egos in United States of Tara. Gosh, really though, who wears backless boots?...

Shoe of the month was another Collette inspiration. And possibly chosen after the influence of perusing items in Newtown's many burlesque shops (they make me think of pole dancing more than anything else though).

I took a sneak peek at the shoes for the week before I left... and I must say, I did appreciate the beading on the side of this shoe.

It's a little bit bling-bling but actually OK.

***

On a different note, there are two big birthdays today. Thinking of my mum and cousin Maree, can't believe it's just about spring!

I had a cracker of a day yesterday.

First I was invited to watch a clip from my colleague, who is a cat video lover and hilarious. I give you:

Now, I didn't know the theme before watching this as I've never seen the show, but I was captivated by this. And then even until the end of today, more than 24 hours later, the tune was still being sung around the office. I've felt like I've been in a video game with how it sounds just quietly.

***

I thought that was pretty awesome. But THEN I was distracted at work and on Facebook for a minute. My newsfeed offered me this, via South Australia + Adelaide Memes:

A few things to tackle on this wonderful Friday. Wonderful because I feel inspired since the Olympics, getting back into routine and looking ahead to the future. The only thing to dampen my spirits was the realisation I'll miss Soundwave's most awesome lineup ever in its short history because my $1 Jetstar flight goes to Brisbane as their show comes to an end. And then Sydney's is the next day. Epic. Fail.

Plenty has happened this week, some of which you'll be reading about in the coming days. For now, a few tidbits.

***

It's back.

I wanted to write about it only once all the housemates had gone in, so here we are. It's been a few days now, and for the first part all the girls were screaming over the top of one another which annoyed me to no end. While that's somewhat settled down, I'm not sure if I've really warmed to anyone yet.


I do like that for the resident "wog" (this year of Greek-Lebanese origin), George seems really chilled compared to previous loudmouths that haven't lasted long. I've always thought I could represent Greek Australians well (and maybe I will next year after this year's failed attempt), but I think this guy will go a long way.


Ray's first impression did not go down so well with me at all, but I think he's starting to redeem himself. Waiting on what Charne's going to do, I think these days I'd be like her and observe a bit rather than jump right in to be heard. That's surprising coming out of my mouth.

Still weirded out that it's on Channel Nine, keep switching to Ten anticipating it's on there. Glad it's been kept relatively similar so far, although I'm interested to see how people will react knowing George is the millionaire. I can't pick who the genius is. Either way, I'm going to stick it out, I'm so glad it's come back.

***

To more TV-related babble now, and I just wanted to pay my respects to Ridge Forrester.


The Sydney Morning Herald's best article for the week gave a beautiful eulogy to the B&B great. Even as an irregular watcher, I admire, respect and acknowledge that no-one could do the longing stares or forgive a whore better than he could. Vale.

***

And to my shoe of the week, which of course usually takes precedence on Fridays - and they spelt the title wrong. It's hard to comprehend where anyone would ever wear these. Although it makes me want to eat mangoes in the sun.


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Plus I got a surprise package from my mum as I got home tonight, major win. I was excited so took a photo... as I do. You can view the goodies here.

Shoe of the Week is a day early again, but all will return to normal next week and this series will return to Friday nights.

I was reminded by the works of Antoni Gaudi and even Charles Rennie Mackintosh seen during my travels on first sight of this shoe, but a moment later I realised they wouldn't make a shoe like this. They would've made shoes so much better. I'm just wondering if the heel would feel funny... unbalanced...

I couldn't really pick a shoe of the month, but these two stuck out for me amongst the other weekly picks.

"Flamingos are no longer just for the front lawn." LOL. But really, these are so trampy hooker anyone in their right mind would not wear them for any other purpose.

The bottom wedges are not my style at all but it was what had been written here also that got me, especially having visited home. Where my monstrous wedges all are. Wedges here do not make this city girl feel right at home while in the country - they're alien to the majority of people walking down the street. Oh fail.

I don't think I ever revealed my black boots in any of my previous Friday blogs! Pardon the additional items, I was excited that Diva had a massive sale and I rarely buy jewellery these days so I did well that day. And pardon the lateness of this entry once again, long day at work to end the week. And I was back at work already today!

Anyway, these boots were held for me as the shoe store's latest stock came in after I'd been on a citywide search and not really found anything else I liked. Yes, the ones I'd found on that day with the massive distraction of snowboarding pants. And you know what store they're from? Williams the Shoemen. Not exactly where I'd have gone in Adelaide but they had the best range in Dubbo for what I was looking for, which surprised me a bit.

Since wearing them I've come to appreciate the ease with which they match my outfits more and more. You can chuck these on with anything! And I got them for $42 during their 40 per cent off sale. Win.

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Shoe of the week time:

I went shopping down Newcastle's Hunter Street Mall during my weekend escape to the coast. And among some great finds I bought shoes!

This photo's not great with the lighting, they're actually a rather bright dark purple colour. $30 down from $110 at the Wanted clearance outlet. Not an 'I need' purchase, but I thought they could come in handy and I rarely spend a lot on fancy flats.

***

Shoe of the week now, and I couldn't resist this beauty.


So my calendar is confirming its worst kept secret: it is American. And patriotic they are. Would any decent American WEAR these ghastly things? The 'Ms. Independence' also found themselves in the same pool for the week as a heel inspired by pink flamingos (no, not the film, the actual creatures).

I really want to give the designers of these things a good kick in the pants.

*I have two photos entered in the current Qatar Reflections competition. Please show your support for me by voting for either photo! Short backstory and links here.

I'm off on a weekend road trip to the coast so I'm hoping to score some mid-winter shoe bargains somewhere... here's hoping. Meanwhile, Shoe of the week and the month for June goes to these.

*I have two photos entered in the current Qatar Reflections competition. Please show your support for me by voting for either photo! Short backstory and links here.

I'm going to tell you a story that I find hilarious because it's about one of those blonde moments you have that are more ridiculous than your average slips.

I went to drive to soccer training last Wednesday night, and going out to the back where my car usually sits, I discovered it wasn't there.

I was dumbfounded.

What was more confusing was that none of the three cars were under the carport as they normally are so my brain was going into meltdown thinking there'd been a mass exodus by way of theft. But then I saw my neighbour's ute parked right on the space by the clothes line, and then my other neighbours happened to pull up in the driveway just as I thought to myself "OK, so maybe someone moved them all out for work out here or something". No-one else has a key to my car. Doiiiing.

Tense seconds pass as I ask my neighbour twice "Where is my car?" He's looking at me with a blank expression, jaw slightly open, and my brain's still mush.

Then I remember.

Instead of the regular walk to work the day before I'd decided to drive. And that's where my car had been for the last 36 hours or so.

Ohhhhhhh my gawwd. That's why I don't drive. I FORGET that I do and still walk home. And what was worse on realising that was that I looked like a fool with my dark blue Bruce Lee kung-fu shoes paired with my orange socks and shorts and I was NOT prepared to walk down the main street looking as I did. Luckily my neighbour offered to take me to my car and I got to training on time. Laughing my head off at the whole situation.

Damn shoes could've made me run late if they couldn't take me, I would've had to change.

***

And on that segue I'm giving you a terribly late Shoe of the Week. It's not the worst of them all, but it reminded me of Snow White, which was interesting because Snow White and the Huntsman was my review of the week.

*I have two photos entered in the current Qatar Reflections competition. Please show your support for me by voting for either photo! Short backstory and links here.