The Search for the Perfect Ankle Boot...

With fall quickly approaching, I was on the hunt for the perfect ankle boot. Now, last season I had purchased a couple pairs and hated them! I didn’t have anything against them personally, I mean they were SO cute and in style! But I absolutely hated the way they made my bottom half look. You see, the bottom portion of my legs are the size of toothpicks while the top portion is a little thicker (this is where I carry most of my weight). So when I wore ankle boots I felt like Danny DeVito as the Penguin in Batman. I needed an ankle boot that was thicker/wider around the ankle so that it would even out my proportions and I also wanted a boot that wasn’t your average, run of the mill.

I searched tirelessly for weeks but couldn’t find any that jumped out at me until I came across a listing for these “Gypsy Boots” on Etsy. These boots were literally the raddest looking things I had ever seen! They were belted, laced, feathered, some even had bullet casings on them…I knew I had found THE boot! I began searching through “Crooked Halo Designs” and noticed that you could have the shop owner make a custom pair of Gypsy Boots according to your style/design specifications. I was down like Charlie Brown!

I immediately began messaging Hanna, the shop owner, about purchasing a custom pair and how exactly to go about it. I liked a few pairs of boots already listed for sale in her shop but I wanted some that reflected my own unique style. However, I was really unsure what to even call my style. I feel like I’m all over the place most of the time and pretty much just like what I like! So this is the description I sent to Hanna regarding the style I was looking for…

 

“My style is more along the lines of vintage Indian maybe? Haha! I love old lace, a lot of tribal, Native American themed fabric, with a really feminine girly look. I would like either a light or dark brown boot. The older & scruffier, the better!”

 

If I was her, I probably would have rolled my eyes. To me, this style didn’t even make sense and was all over the place! But, she thought it was great and let me know she would get started on looking for the pair of perfect boots!

 

2 days later I received a couple pairs of boots that Hanna thought I might like and asked me to take a look…

 

It was love at first sight! It only took me a split second to decide on which pair I wanted!

 

After selecting my boots, Hanna let me know she would start gathering up accessories for them and get back to me with more updates! 2 weeks later I got the message I had been waiting for…I had 4 mock-up designs to choose from.

 

I had the options to pull elements I liked from each of them, pick one of them or none of them. Once I let her know what I liked and didn’t like from each of the styles, she went to work and began styling them out.

 

 

About 45 minutes later she sent me pics. of my boots from all angles so that I could make 100% sure everything was how I wanted it before everything got super-duper-never-coming-off stuck on!

 

After giving her the green flag to finish them up, my listing was ready the next day and I got to feast my eyes upon the finished product! They were PERFECT!!

 

 

 

This was such a fun and exciting experience working with Hanna at Crooked Halo Designs! She is very professional and has such an amazing talent to be able to make these perfect little booties out of the lousy style description I gave her! If you’re the adventurous type like me, I HIGHLY recommend working with her personally and designing your own perfect pair to fit your own unique style! The entire process takes around 3-4 weeks, a $75 deposit is required up front and when your boots are finished you are required to pay the remainder of the total price.  

 

Feel free to check out Hanna’s shop on Etsy, Crooked Halo Designs and click on the ‘Booties’ section to browse through all of her fabulously unique designs!

 

xoxo, karabears 

 

 

5 Days of Lovin- Day 5

Tomorrow is Valentine's day (day 5)!

Valentine's used to be the one holiday that I absolutely hated, mostly to do with the fact that I was perpetually single.  And maybe cuz clearly it's a holiday made up by Hallmark.  BUT on one fateful Valentine's day 9 years ago, my best friend and I decided to forget about all the cliche things we should be doing on Valentines day and spent it with each other, at a dive bar, in Venice beach.  This wasn't ANY dive bar, it was the dive bar we had been going to on a regular basis where everyone knew our name, nobody would be on a date there and we could just go on about our business like any other day.  I am pretty sure the last thing either of us were looking for was to meet someone.  Well long story short, we spotted a "foreigner"  in "Uggs" which confused us, who happened to be talking to the bass player from Beck who happened to be hitting on us, who was supposed to play darts with us, when he didnt want to play darts with us,  I asked such "foreigner" if he wanted to play darts, he said no, I thought "WHATEVER".  My BFF and I played darts, had the best time in each others company being our dorky selves, low and behold "foriegner in Uggs" ends up coming up to us to play darts.....the rest is history.  I met my (British) husband, at a dive bar in Venice Beach, on Valentines day!  It was the best day of my life because it led to my wedding day and everything that has evolved since the day we met.  In addition, having my BFF (since I was 5!) there the day we met is pretty awesome too.  I also dragged her on our first few dates, did I mention she is a really amazing friend? :)

While most of you all have some sort of something planned out for your Valentine's day, I think tomorrow is about whatever makes you both the most happy.  Do something together that doesn't involve societal pressures about doing something so extravagant or romantic.  Order take-out, watch a movie, go to your favorite hole in the wall restaurant, go to a dive bar- whatever it is- do something you both enjoy and forget about all the social media posts that are going to flood your feed about how amazing their significant others are.

If you are single- go out with your friends!  If all your friends are taken, go to a bar by yourself!  If you aren't comfortable with that, do whatever makes you happy.  If that is ordering a pizza and watching Bridget Jones Diary- do it!  Don't check Social Media and concentrate on yourself.  You are LOVED!  We love you!  You are AMAZING!  And you will find THE ONE some day, trust me!   Every day is a new day, a new opportunity, and new chance to meet the person of your dreams.  DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!

I hope you all have had an amazing week and hope to hear about anyone who has tried any of our ideas.  They aren't perfect, maybe not realistic, just fun ideas to treat your loved one or yourself!

xoxo,
Kaitlin

5 Days of Lovin- Day 4

Has anyone tried out any of the ideas yet?  Let us know! :)

Day 4 (to implement on Thursday)- Breakfast in bed!

This doesn't to be anything crazy or a full on breakfast.  Does he/ she love coffee?  Surprise them with their favorite coffee/ latte before they go to work.  Do they love donuts?  Pick those up before they wake up.  This is the best way to start of both of your day- paying it forward- going the extra mile to help start their day off right.

If you are single- Leave early to pick up your favorite latte or treat!  Or better yet, try out that early morning yoga session you have been thinking about.  Working out or meditating is THE best way to start your day, if you haven't tried it out yet, tomorrow is your day!

XOXOX

5 Days of Lovin- Day 3

Good Morning Loves!

Has anyone tried out any of the ideas yet?  Let us know!

Day 3 (to implement on Wednesday) is simple- Cocktails and Bubble Baths!  Need we say more?

When your honey arrives home from work (or at the end of the night, after putting kids to sleep), have his/ her favorite cocktail ready to go.  While he/ she takes a few deep breaths and enjoys the best cocktail ever that you just made, get the bath ready to go.  You know how the rest of the story goes- even if he/ she hates baths, sometimes you just got to go with the flow.  It really is the perfect combo!

If you are single- basically do all of the above but for yourself!  This week is about treating yourself and appreciating who you are and what you have accomplished on your own.  

XOXO

5 Days of Lovin- Day 2

Hi Beauties! 

If you're late to the party, refer to our post on Sunday about how all this fun will work!

Hopefully you successfully completed Day 1, if not- no problemo!   These are all fun ideas to implement, think about, try out later or just plain ole read about.

Day 2 (to implement on Tuesday) is all about relaxation...aka a Massage! While YOU are really the one that deserves the massage, we all know that what goes around comes around and all this lovin will come back to you ten fold.

This doesnt have to be anything crazy or orchestrated, simply create a decent, quiet environment, grab whatever oil you have laying around (olive oil, coconut oil, etc) and surprise your honey with a massage!  Again, is this totally out of the blue, random and cheesy?  YES that is the whole point.  Just do it!

If you are single- splurge and treat yourself to a massage.  You deserve it.  You can most likely find a Groupon, coupon or some sort of deal on the Tuesday before Valentine's day to treat yourself to a massage.

Why is this the best idea ever?  Because sometimes we just need to slow down, concentrate on each other (or ourselves) and get out of our every day routine.  THAT is what this week is all about.  :)

XOXO

5 Days of Lovin: 5 Easy, Cheap, Fun ways to treat your Honey this Valentine's Day!

Hola Muchachas!

Valentine's day is right around the corner and we are bringing you over the top, cheesy, ridiculous ways to treat your significant other AND yourself-whether you are single or taken

Here how it works:

• Every day, starting today, we are going to post an idea to implement the following day.
• The whole point is that you treat yourself or your partner to a little fun for the next 5 days leading up to Valentine's Day.
• Why?  Cuz it's way more fun than buying a present and your honey will be so confused and amused by your cheesyness!

Day 1- Monday

If you are in a relationship:

1. Write a love letter to your lover.  Everyone loves a love letter!  In your letter, give him a heads up that every day leading up to Valentine's Day will be a surprise treat!
2. Leave the love letter in his/ her car along with your song/ wedding song ready to play on their stereo when they turn the car on (burn a CD and leave it in the stereo if you have to). 
3. Put your love letter in an envelope and on the outside of the envelope tell him/ her to turn the car on before they read it- that way the song will begin as they read your letter. ;)

Is this ridiculous and over the top- YES!  But it's Valentine's week and a perfect excuse to be extra cheesy.

If you are single:

1. On Monday morning, along with your favorite cup of joe or tea or whatever floats your boat, write down atleast 5 reasons why you're awesome and why one day you will make someone really happy!
2. On your way to work or wherever you may be going that day- make sure to blast your favorite song.  There is nothing better than a dance party in the car!  Music fees the soul :)

Stay tuned for our next idea tomorrow!  

XOXOX