These Boots Are Made For Walkin'...

Last weekend, I took a trip back east. After what felt like years of hot and dry California days, the fun started the minute I started packing.

I went through my closet, pulling out my fall and winter clothing to create outfits for the events. But when it came to shoes, it was a no-brainer to reach for both pairs of my boots. Which happen to be a pair of soft Uggs, and high heeled black leather.

I quickly realized how much I'd missed wearing my boots, how they "snazz up" my wardrobe.

So I thought I'd find a few pairs of boots that are popular this fall--especially with teens--and present them here. And ask our readers to vote: (colors notwithstanding) which of these pairs of boots would you grab if you had the chance?

The slouchy boots:



The strappy boots:



Or the suede boots:



I'll go first: while I like all three, I think I'd go strappy because I love a good heel. Who's next?

My Bag of Tricks

I am one of those gigantic handbag carriers. A line I often use is, "I need a purse big enough to comfortably carry a hardcover book."


Like the above picture? Not me (although feel free to confuse me with a sophisticated 20-something with fantastic hair) but the bag she is carrying is the stuff my dreams are made of.

Big.

While gone are my days of hauling around diapers and wipes, I think my wallet alone weighs two pounds. And then there's the make-up case and brush, the author signing kit (stickers, bookmarks, favorite pen), sunglasses, cell phone, notebook for all those wonderful book ideas I'm planning to have...and then, yeah, a book. Paperback, hardcover, sometimes even my Kindle.

On the rare occasion that I need to go somewhere with just a little evening bag, I'm stymied. I usually end up pulling the essentials from my wallet and going with the bare minimum...and feel anxious to get back home to my bag of tricks.

I'd love to hear from readers who go BIG, go small, go backpack, or merely pocket. What are your needs, what are your secrets? And what's the one item you can't do without?

Styles of My Teen Years...

I was thinking of the style of clothing I wore growing up. Oh man, my grade school days were embarrassing!

I remember pinning pants to form to my legs, spandex biker shorts, acid-wash jeans, and football team jackets. Lots of gel and rubber bracelets. LOL!

So let's just go straight to my high school days where it's still a little embarrassing, but not as bad as grade school. ;)

Here are a few items I found from a list on In The 90s...

-Doc Martens
They were boots and sandles that were very popular. They cost around $100 a pair, but almost every teen had a pair in the late 90's. (Oh yes! In fact, in the first novel I wrote, my heroine loved her Docs!)

-Flare Jeans
Similar to bell bottoms with less of a flare! (Sadly, I still like my flare, only now they call them wide leg. :))

-Overalls (coveralls)
Teens wore their overalls in two ways: They wore their overalls with a belt, and let the 'front flap' and 'back straps' hang straight down. The other way, was to only hook together one side of the overal straps, and leave the opposite side open.The popular over-all styles were: light blue; or gray stone-washed; overalls, with lots of zippers and metal buttons down the sides. (I loved the overalls. They were comfy and kick-back.)

-Back-Pack Purses
Exactly what the name describes; a miniture back-pack used as a purse. (I've had my share, and may still own one! At least they are made a lot more stylish these days. :))

-Spiral Perms
Long, spiraly curls ala Mariah Carey, were very popular in the early to mid 90s. (uh-huh, no comment.)

-White Hairband or Scrunchies
A narrow, elastic white hairband worn near the front of the hair by teenage girls and young women in the late 1990s. (Headband & scrunchie galore!)