To Teeter or Totter, What do you think?

I got new shoes for the wedding in 2 weeks time.
Remember the shoes I couldn't walk in last weekend at the hen do?

They are way higher than those pink ones.
They are even higher than the red ones, my favourite shoes.

New shoes?
That is easy to answer.
My justification is simply this.

I want to wear this lovely turquoise/ chocolate dress, last worn to Emily's wedding in October, where I wore dark brown suede court shoes.
I decided that as it is a "Summer" wedding in June (hahaha)- in theory at least -bearing in mind that I went out in boots and an umbrella in the rain to buy these shoes at the weekend.
The theory in my thought process was that the chocolate brown suede shoes would be too heavy and dark for a "summer" wedding. Pink shoes sadly wouldn't do, or the lovely favourite red shoes. What to do? My black sandals clashed horribly.... so new shoes it was to be.
They were fairly easy to find. Tried on 3 different pairs, quickly discarded because white patent looked tacky and the beige suede ones with the bow looked horrid. After a slight glance at some this season's ankle sandal /boots that I hurriedly dismissed, feeling that next season, this season's would be so out of season.
Then I saw these.

These are ridiculously high.

Gorgeous.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

I couldn't resist them.Is that bad?

I love them.
Really love them.
I now have 2 weeks to practise walking in them.
I have to walk in them and have THE wedding cake to take too.
I could make quite an entrance, as I teeter and totter in.
I can't walk in them, yet, of course.
Determination is a wonderful gift.
Clomp, clomp, clip, clop off I go.

A Bit Of A Hen Do - Part 2!

So the presents for the Bride to be arrived in one piece.
Phew!
We went out to eat here:

Eat as much as you like.
Buffet style.
Hummus, crispy duck pancakes, curry, mint mouse, cheesecake and sweets and fruit.
Delicious.
Yummy food.
Stuffed.
Too busy eating to get some pictures of the food.
Sorry.
The Bride to be(my niece):

loved it all.
A lovely Girls Night Out!
I wore my lovely posh shoes, of course.
I teetered and tottered, bravely, pretending I was "fine" and tried to keep up with everyone who had worn sensible shoes, convincing myself that I was walking eligantly and not going at a snails pace.
The Mother of the Bride to be(my sister in law) couldn't walk in her shoes either...
but they do look great don't they?

It was lovely spending time with my "ex-family", whom I love dearly and remain close to, perhaps surprisingly, despite being divorced for many many years.
It doesn't generally follow a break-up to maintain good friendships with the in-laws, sister-in laws etc, but this family has a special place in my heart and they would say I the same in theirs too, I think.
It is fun to break the rules, anyway isn't it.
We love to laugh and see people's faces when I am introduced as "the ex-sister in law". We wait for the cogs to turn in people's heads and then say "Oh," and still look perplexed.
We just giggle.
It really is a story of mourning into dancing.
Maybe I will tell you one day.

Our Thanksgiving meal

Yesterday, we, the groovy girlie cake chicks did the most fabulous Thanksgiving meal together :-) for some of our friends.
Tudur helped me decide which table cloth to use...

and I used the wreath I decorated with pine cones, orange slices and cinnamon sticks as my centrepieces, with a candle in the middle.

There were 11 of us in the end and everyone brought something!
We had time to share some things we have been thankful for each over this last year. It was good to reflect on things we are thankful for and also to hear more about each other's lives too.
We ate turkey, mashed potato, stuffing, sausages, fresh greens, honey glazed carrots,sweet potato casserole with oats and marshmallows on top, roast parsnips. We also had stuffed bread as a vegetarian option.
For the stuffed bread I sauteed red onion, garlic, carrot, celery, green pepper, mushrooms. I used fresh cranberries and chestnuts for a lovely Christmassy flavour. Season with salt and pepper and mixed herbs. Simply carve off one thin slice from one end of a small loaf of bread and scoop out the centre of the bread.(One of my friends actually ate all the centre of the loaf!) Stir in some grated cheese before adding to the centre of the loaf and then place the end slice back. You can you small cocktail sticks or kebab skewers and heat in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes.
We then ate pumpkin pie, apple pie and chocolate cupcakes. Yummy.
I also got to wear my red shoes too.
Delicious. Great food and great company with my fabulous friends.
Thank you friends for a wonderful evening.

Remember to be thankful for red shoes!

I am sitting here watching the movie: "the Wizard of Oz" as it celebrates it's birthday. Apparently the ruby shoes are valued at $3million. My red shoes cost considerably less, but they do hold a precious significance for me. I bought them at the beginning of the year, for a friend's birthday party I was attending. The Lord had been speaking to me at that time about how I saw myself, how others see me and most importantly how He sees me. He reminded me that I am beautiful on the inside and out to Him, which was a very precious thing for me to be reminded of. At the time, I had begun getting to know a guy who was full of words and promises, a bit like a rainbow it seemed and I thought I was beginning to travel along my own yellow brick road, full of hope and expectation. The guy quickly turned out to be a liar and a cheat and it all ended before it began, thankfully. However, the truth of how God saw me and continues to see me is still true. On my shopping trip for my shoes, I found my amazing and beautiful red shoes with the label:"gorgeous"at a very very affordable price! I laughed out loud when I found them. I just had to buy them. The bonus is, of course, that they say gorgeous in both feet too! What a fabulous reminder for me, when I wear them, that God says I am loved, accepted, special and unique. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He gives me hope with His promises in His own rainbows and leads me on my very own yellow brick road. An amazing adventure in itself!
So, if you watch the movie or the next time you see a rainbow or buy a pair of red shoes, think on these things. I do. I love my red shoes!