Merry Christmas

There are a few things that I associate with Christmas…..well, there are more than a few things. However, I’m only going to name a few things. First of all, I absolutely love Christmas in ways I’m not totally able to describe. My mom has always made this holiday such a big deal in our house that I get excited and usually can hardly wait for winter to start (hence the fact that it’s my favorite season). This is a picture of Bing Crosby, who in my mind is synonymous with Christmas. I have to admit I’m not that big a fan of White Christmas because of the black face scenes in the movie, I just can’t place that movie in my Christmas vault. However, if you watched it this year on AMC they’ve totally cut that scene out of the movie….. Here are a few things that solidify Christmas for me….

One of my favorite actresses, Barbra Stanwyck in Christmas in Connecticut. I actually will watch this movie anytime of year, but it has special significance around the holidays.

This movie has been a childhood favorite of mine every since I saw it for the first time back in 1992. It fueled my love for Christmas and began my obsession with New York. I wanted to buy everything I saw in this movie and nearly did. I have two Talkboys, both in working condition.

Of course cookies are good any time of year…..But when you’re snowed in, still in your pajamas, waiting for the roads to be plowed or in MI the city to open back up, there’s just nothing like fresh-baked, Pillsbury, chocolate chip cookies, with a glass of milk and one of the above mentioned movies. Ahhh….. good times.

And if you haven’t figured it out by now, snow is needed for Christmas to feel like Christmas, or at least cold. I’ll never be one of those people who can spend Christmas in Hawaii or Florida. I will need to come back north to some real cold and snow for Christmas to be done right.

Must Have Fall/Winter Item: Boots

One of the items needed during the winter season, that cannot be denied or ignored, is boots. Although I live a state where it’s winter longer than any other season and the season is, to many people’s surprise, my favorite, boots are an item I didn’t warm up to for quite sometime. In retrospect I see that my feet were often unnecessarily cold due to my stubbornness to take boots seriously as a winter wardrobe necessity. After I finally accepted that winter = boots I was more inclined to boots that really didn’t serve a purpose outside of style (I don’t know why this was such a difficult subject for me), much like the D&G’s above. I have had a new pair of knee-high boots, with at least a  4 in. heel, usually black , nearly every year since sometime in high school. I of course have had different styles and variations, but it was and has remained my must have item.

While these boots are clearly one my favorite fall/winter items, what really bothers me is the fact that they aren’t enough diverse styles of them. Where are the innovative designs and colors? I have been looking for a navy blue pair for an eternity. I found a pair one year for a ridiculous price and now that I can’t find any at all I wish I had just bought them. Sad thing is, if they had been Jordan’s I probably would’ve.

There are also riding boots, which I didn’t really pay much attention to when I first discovered boots. I now own a pair and these look great with fitted jeans and casual pants….

yet, they can also be dressed up if  need be.

These are not just for women of course, men can rock them just as well.

Then there the real, meant to keep your feet warm and dry in below 30 degree weather, winter boots. I have not owned many pairs of these for the reasons mentioned earlier in this post and this year I’m looking for the perfect combination of style, quality practicality, and durability. Finding this in a pair of boots is no easy task, but I will not rest until this mission is accomplished…….Well maybe I will rest, but I am going to find a pair.

I have come across every style and variation of the infamous UGG boot. I’ve seen boots in which their price and quality ranges from both economically conscious to splurge worthy and luxurious. While I admit there have been some styles that have managed to leverage themselves, as having somewhat of a unique spin on the oh-so-common design, I still cannot bring myself to actually dish out the cash for a boot that has been done to death.

I was definitely trying to lean in the direction of the design style of the Ronnie Fieg designed, Polo Ralph Lauren Ranger; A.K.A. “cookie boots”. This boot gives just enough style, class and prep to, what could’ve been, a bulky and awkward concept, creating the perfect combination. The trouble is the same as it always is, they don’t come in my size. I also considered the boots in the post after seeing them on the Street Etiquette blog.

Since what I really want  seems to be impossible for me to find, these Timberland: Asphalt Trail Earthkeepers Chukka, have shown themselves to be a great alternative and for a much better price since I wear kids sizes. I also love the dark brown burnished color, giving them the rugged appearance of broken in and polished leather. I might change the strings to something a little more stand out though.