Tuesday, June 30, 2009

An Experiment in Awesome:

Jasmine of An Experiment in Poverty is one of my favourite bloggers. I think she's great and I'm so excited that she's joining in the Gypsying! Thanks Jasmine! -Laura

summers in southern california start late. it's our penance for having brilliant weather for the rest of the year.

some might say that the beginning of summer is the fourth of july, but i don't think summer starts until the orange county fair begins.

every year, i go right before the sun sets.

every year, i eat way too much greasy food (have YOU ever tried australian battered potatoes with nacho cheese and ranch?? 'cause they're delicious.).

every year, i spend way too much money on sketchy rides that were delivered to the fairgrounds in boxes.

every year, i laugh at the poor fools who have willingly submitted themselves to the power of the hypnotist.

and every year, i have the most amazing time.

there's something for everyone at the fair. it gives everyone the chance to remember what it feels like to be a child. and isn't that what summer's all about? trying to capture the essence of childhood summers long gone, but never forgotten.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Moms can be spontaneous, too.

I know I can't just jump in my car and drive until I run out of gas anymore.

But I can do unplanned things any time I please. Like painting my feet. 

Keep your spontaneity by advancing your creativity!!!

Happy blogging, you all!


More of my gypsy thoughts here.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

meet Megan Marie of the gypsy team

Photobucket
Watch for my posts on Mondays! Looking forward to connecting with you, gypsies!

My personal blog here.

Friday, June 26, 2009

It's laundry daaaay doo doo dooooo

Have a great weekend Gypsies.
I have some wonderful plans for mine :)

Be back Monday.

PS. Changes are coming to The Gypsy Feet.
Get ready!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Legeeeeend!

Who loves Oregon?

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The End of the Line (Almost)




These shoes have seen better days. The soles are worn, the leather is creased, the left one squeaks when it's wet, they smell pretty bad.

These are my work shoes and their time is nearly up. I've been working for Royal Mail for almost a year, and almost a year after I started, I'll be quitting. In September, I'll go back to uni to study for a Master's degree and so I'll have no time for a job! It's been a short year, in many ways, but difficult. I've had a love-hate relationship with this job. Sometimes it's torturous, sometimes it's heavenly. But shortly it will be over.

Thanks, work boots, for all your support!

Perfect Day



I thought you might like another pic from Will and my travels around the world (you have used my foot pics of Hawaii earlier!)

Will and I travelled to Japan in May this year and while we were up the top of Mt Fuji he asked me to Marry him! It was so exciting!! I took this pic of him and I standing on "our spot" where he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife :) Of course I said YES!! What a perfect day!

From Charlotte

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Her cupcakes bring all the who to the where?

My eyes get such a feast when I visit Conversations With A Cupcake. My eyes love it but my thighs get so confused. I drool and I giggle. Cheeky little cupcakes and a sassy, quirky baker-lady. What's not to love, really?


Tick.Tock.
Tick.Tock.
Tick. Tock.
Ding.
The day begins.
Here I go again
trying to find the
perfect balance
between
1 dapper husband
18 soiled loads of laundry
52 afterschool activities
1,000 inspired visions
3 square meals
4 cluttered bedrooms
101 sightseeing locations
15 scout badges
3 nearly completed book proposals
28,987 unorganized photos
And only one lifetime
to get it all done.
So, I grab onto the pendulum
Hold on
Hang in there
Enjoy the ride
Hoping
everything I do
(and don't do)
will even out
as my minutes turn
to days
and years
and memories.
Tick.Tock.
Tick.Tock.
Tick.Tock.
Wheeeee!
Brooke, thanks for taking time and Gypsying over here. We think you're the cat's whiskers. -Laura

Monday, June 22, 2009

Life, love and stuff she likes...

Hello, I'm submitting this foot pic because it makes me miss home. (and i think it's pretty.) My husband, baby and I took a trip to see my folks in Indiana last summer. Few realize how dope Lake Michigan is and that there are miles miles of beautiful beaches. (including said husband.) We took this pic on a beautiful August day as we looked at the Chicago skyline in the distance. I also love his farmer tan and stringy leg hair.

Sincerely,


Kera is embarking on one enormous adventure right now. Check out her blog to hear all about it.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy BirthWeek Jasmine!

This post is inspired by this post and dedicated to Jasi Love.
One summer day a couple of years ago I got a phone call from my friend Kirsten.
"Hey, do you want to go toe-fishing?"
"Um yes... what does that mean?"
"You know fishing like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn."
"No, not really."
"You do know! We tie fishing line around our toes and lie back on the dock and catch fish."
"Um. Ok."

We didn't have fishing line so we used wool.
We didn't have fish hooks so we used paperclips.
We didn't have bait so we used Ritz Crackers.

We didn't catch anything but we did laugh and laugh and the people watching us laughed too.
If we did by some miracle catch something I don't know what we would have done with it.

I don't even like fish.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Want S'more Love.

My Gypsy feet currently have me five thousand miles from home.

I came for my best friend's wedding, and stayed because happily my boy love is here too.

He assissted in making me my first smore, and after being filled with chocolate and marshamallows, which didn't happen until well after we had lit the fire in the rain with borrowed wood and matches and paper from a neighbouring campfire.

We also got in lots of cuddle time next to the fire.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Get your button here!


You've been featured on The Gypsy Feet and want to tell the world?

Here's a button just for you!

Copy and paste the code from the little box into an html/java script box on the side of your blog and proudly remind the world you are an official Gypsy!

Want to take it one step further? Find your perma link from the site and place it between the "" where the Gypsy Feet address is in the code to direct your fans straight to your adventure!






Got questions? Need help, leave a comment :)

The tale of The Friendship Shoes.


These shoes were meant to be the start of something specific. At least in my mind. They were bought together at the time The Gypsy Feet was born. I had visions of shared adventures and sisterhood being tied together by twin shoes (instead of Friendship bracelets) - or quadruplet shoes? It didn't quite work out that way. The shoes did motivate me to chase adventure instead of sitting about being glum due to a back injury that kept me from working and getting homesick but I was following adventure with another partner.

It was then a new pair of Friendship Shoes was adopted into the first months of The Gypsy Feet's life. Those ginormous man shoes. The shoes added a new side to him. When we first met socks and sandals were not an uncommon sight. Now he's mister flip flops, sideburns and adventure orientated...
Even though things changed pretty quickly and The Gypsy Feet didn't follow the life plan I set out for it. It's grown into something I'm proud of. It's a part of me. It motivates me to do things and to share and encourage others to be a part of life adventures. Whether or not they accept the challenge is up to them. I'm finding fulfillment in my surroundings even though I sit at the same chair every day.

I'm sitting in the same place but I'm going somewhere different.

Have an adventure this weekend. Share it with us: wandering_shoes@live.com Get involved!

Change is coming to The Gypsy Feet. I can feel it.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Top 10: Snack Foods you could eat your weight in

I'm a super snacker. I love snack food. It's a recent thing, I think.

1. Crackers. I love crackers. I have to put some in a baggie at the start of the day to ration my intake. The day I discovered Goldfish crackers was a glorious one.

2. Cheese. The perfect companion of crackers. For snacking I have to say String Cheese.

3. Popcorn. Never used to be such a fan but I love flavoured popcorn... cheese flavoured funnily enough. White Cheddar ORRRR Salt and Vinegar. YUM! Husband is also a flavoured popcorn fiend.

4. Crisps AKA Chips. I like plain salty crisps. With dip... with my mum's cream cheese and onion dip. Happy memory: sharing a bowl of said dip with my older brother late one night over Christmas. Pringles are maybe my fave Crisp.

5. Muddy Buddies. Really, who doesn't love those?

6. Ice Poles AKA Otter Pops. Lime and Orange are my favourite. Blue Raspberry is too but I'm never bothered about giving it up for someone else as long as there's a lime or orange one for me.

7. Soft Pretzels. Love! It's such a treat when we go to the mall and husband buys me a hot buttery/salty soft pretzel. I love them a lot.

8. Chocolate covered Raisins.

9... I can't think of any more. Tell me yours...

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The apple of my cyber eye...


This picture was taken the very day I decided to create my Gypsy Feet baby.
It was taken this time last summer when I was addicted to Rocky Mountain Carmel Apples.
Yump.
Such a yummy treat.
The fact it's an apple covered in layers of carmel and chocolate and snickers and marshmallows and happiness almost makes it feel like a healthy snack... almost...

PS. We were nominated for Most Inspiring Blog on Blog Luxe! Go vote. Use the buttons on the top right hand side :)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Summer Lovin'

My mum is a tanorexic. I've never been one for sweating but over the last couple of years I've become addicted to sunshine. Washingtonians mislead me. It rains. Yes. But the sun shines a lot and hard in the summer!

I love the look of my skin when it has a little rosey glow. A little pink on my face makes me so gleeful.

Feeling sunshine like this and being addicted to it like my mum is, is quite new to me and I luuuuuurv it!

Monday, June 15, 2009

I believe!

oh, my Jesus sandals. Where to begin?
From the start of course! The first moment I slipped the ropes over my toes, life felt adventurous.
That was the moment when I knew my passion; I had to be on my feet wandering the world.
An Arizona oasis, Wyoming's mountains, Hawaiian Volcanoes, Utah's Red Rock, California beaches, Mexican jungles....
Nothing can hold me and my sandals back, we are out to see Earth together, one step at a time.
Next stop, the Oregon coast!
Kylee B,
Utah, U.S.A

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Favourite things about summer:

That toasty little bit of sunshine that makes it's way in through the blinds.
Love that.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Wedding Wishes.

We met when were both in our early teens. We lived in opposite ends of the city, and there was no way we would have met if it wasn't for pure, divine interverntion.

There are some people in life you are meant to meet. Some of them stay for a while then leave, some of them come and go quicker than the post man. Others are for life.

I remember seeing a tv advert that said out of all the people you will meet and befriend in your life, there is an average of six people that you will keep with you forever.

I definitely know that she is one.

And I definitely know that we talk about getting married, and growing old, and being aunts to each other's children, and taking holidays together, and living next door to one another before we're 70 and developing dementia together and going to the same old persons' home together and talking only about and reliving the days when we were 15.

Age caught us. Life changes. Progression starts. And although we might start walking different paths, our paths will still be close together.






My best friend's Wedding. 22nd May 2009. Salt Lake City, Temple Square.


P.S. yes... I'm back in utah again... for that wedding and with my love. Oh yes. AND... I caught the bouquette. Granted, I was the only girl on the street, and she threw it to me... but the wishes and the tradition came with it. Oh yes.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Top 10: Nostalgia


When I go to bed at night the window usually open. I like to be cool during the night and I guess it's also habit. I love me some fresh air! (even if it does make husband snore.)

Anyway, when I snuggle down there's always at some point (1.) A train going by in the distance. When I hear the soft toot-toot of the horn (I don't think trains have horns, you kwim though?) I get this twist in my stomach. It's familiarity and maybe also yearning. Comfort but a pang of aching. To me that's what nostalgia tends to feel like. It's happy and sad. The sound of a train on a summer night is so familiar to me being an ocean apart from the original memories make it so strange. - That's where this post is coming from.

2. Music: a huge source of nostalgia! Memories get attached so quickly to music. Happy and sad. This morning I made the "mistake" of watching this and now I have the song stuck in my head but also the memory of a dear friend doing the whole dance routine in a swim suit and tights whilst I laughed my head off. I love that!

3. Sweetpeas = my mum. Just thinking about sweetpeas takes me back to my parents tiny back garden. I can see her clipping some of the pastel coloured flowers and making a little posey to wear to church.

4. Air: I know, this one is weird. But you know when you've been far from home for a while and you get back and the air is different? It smells and feels like 'home'? I hope someone understands this because last time we were in Scotland my oldest brother thought I'd gone mental for talking about gobbling up as much air as I could. There's seriously nothing like filling your lungs and your belly with air from home. When we come back to Seattle I can feel it too.

5. The first snow of winter. That means Christmas is soon who doesn't feel nostalgic around Christmas? Traditions. That's what it's all about! The musky smell of the Christmas tree when it first comes out the box. The music, the decorations, the treats. The good cheer.

6. Wearing a new outfit for the first time. It doesn't happen very often for me now that I have a whole brand new outfit but when it does it makes me think of weddings, baptisms, first day of school, Easter...

7. Husband's aftershave. When he wears the same aftershave he wore when we first met I'm 18 again. I remember the sensory overload during that first kiss, holding hands for the first time, that last breath in as he'd let go of me to leave for the night. Yum.

8. When something random catches your eye: In Urban Outfitters a couple of weeks ago I spotted some shoes and had that tingle run up my spine. Husband looked at them and said "they are so you and these ones are totally Emma." I was like "Yes, those are totally Emma!" The style of shoe, the pattern, everything was Emma and there I was in the middle of Urbn happy to be remembering Emma and sad that she's so far away but SO happy to have that memory.

9. Dreams: The other night I had a dream about a friend who's parent's are friends with mine. It was so weird. Even though I'm a good few years older than him in this dream we were doing weird things you only do in dreams ie. drawing on all the walls in the bathroom with soap. But when I woke up I was hoping it had been real. It wasn't but I was still happy he'd snuck into my dream. It was happy like old times.

10. Random things: We were watching Sabrina The Teenage Witch last week and it was the episode where Sabrina moves to Paris with her dad. He magics Britney Spears over and she's singing and stuff and at the end Sabrina and her are talking and dancing. Sabrina does this crazy dance move. And right then I remembered watching that same episode with my little sister, Beki and her doing that dance move at youth dances and stuff. It always cracked me up and I could never do it without falling over. Happy times that I'd totally forgotten about!

What makes you nostalgic? How do you describe nostalgia? Is it that same happy and sad thing?

Got a list? Share it.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

PC: The Shoe Parade!

Me getting excited over something simple is nothing new. But this time I'm SUPER excited over something SUPER simple! Here's the drill:

Take a picture of you wearing your most favorite shoes. If your fave shoes are no longer with us - may they rest in peace - find a picture of them! Find a picture and embellish it, don't just pinch a picture from a website and send it to us. Personalise it.

Stick the picture in our album on the facebook event page and tell us why they're your favorite shoes ie. comfort, adventures, memories, sass OR/AND post your picture on your blog and leave the perma link to it on our facebook wall. Whilst you're at it why not retweet and spread the word? I want to see sooooo many shoes! I know you do too!

Do you have a ton of fave shoes? Are your pics on Flickr? That's cool. Leave us the link to that too.

It's pretty much a free for all! Leave us a comment here with a link to know you've joined in.


For more coherant instructions read the facebook event info. I'm just too excited!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Tip Toe'ing Through Mississippi:


Dear Gypsy Feet friends,
I found your blog a few days ago and I felt inspired to tell you my story. I'm a 30 something California girl who followed the love of her life (my husband) to grad school in Mississippi. I
documented my journey with footwear. Shoes make any adventure better in my world. As we are about to leave the South and move back West, I'm reflecting on my days in Mississippi and these photo's mean so much to me. I hope you enjoy them.
Thank you for your inspirational blog. It's the little things.
love and hugs,
Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Kat. Your pictures are all awesome and inspiring - and quite sassy :) - Laura

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Girlfriends


"Our toes travel far & wide, but we like them side by side."
-Dianalin

So many different personalities right there! Thanks for sharing ;)

Friday, June 5, 2009

Little treasures on the ground...

Next time we'll take some crayons and paper to do wax rubbings. I love summer!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Say hello to my little friend... no seriously, say 'hi'.

I know Kirsten through my sister in law. I don't know when I first met her or when she became one of my favourites.

10 Reasons why K-Diddy is my fave:
1. She is hilarious! 
2. She eats honey roast peanuts on her salad and now I do too and love it.
3. She's hyperactive in the best way.
4. She is adventurous.
5. She's punctual - very important to me.
6. She's completely non-touchy but gives the best hugs. I treasure the one she gave me.
7. She has trademark phrases she uses with trademark pitch and tone and hand gestures.
8. She has a vast vocabulary.
9. She loves Queen almost as much as I do.
10. She's like the sister I never had... or fought with or shared a bed with.


Do you have someone you instantly clicked with? 

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

How much is that doggie eating my underwear?

Growing up we never had pets. Well, we had fish but they never lasted long - thanks gran. My older sister did have a white rabbit called Nosey but we don't really walk about that. And then when I was about 13 I was allowed to get a guinea pig. That's when I learned that I'm scared of most animals and can't for the life of me pick one up without being scared of being bitten or peed on or breaking all it's bones with my human hands - accidently of course.

I'm grateful that we never had a dog or a cat or a horse or a bird or anything else we begged for - except a unicorn, I'd really have/would still love a unicorn. Husband's family have a small dog. This is why I'm grateful we never had one. I no longer think 'What if my parents weren't so mean...' or 'My childhood would have been so much happier if I...' A dog does not mean happiness to me. This (hu)man's best friend needs to be able to speak words and not start yelping when it can't find it's way out a pillowcase.

Chances are we'll end up with a small dog some day because husband is such an animal person(and I sort of, kind of want a puggle) but until he can take better care of himself we're not getting one. I have enough to worry about like my sun tan and what colour to dye my hair next without having to guard my underwear and rubbish bin from a wee yappy dug! - I sound like my mum now.

Did you have a pet growing up? Do you have pets now? Are they pests? Do you love them? Convert me...

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

"Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up. These are the best days of our lives."

I often get glum at the thought of being an adult. I'm shocked everytime I realise I'm not 17 anymore. The truth is I'm just not done with silliness. I think it was Megan who was telling me about her dilema in that sense too and how in the good book it says not to cling to childish things but go on your way and grow up. (That was you, right Meg?) We were talking about how hard that was. We also worked out that it didn't nessessarily mean 'stop having fun' or 'no more rolling in the mud/dressing up like superheroes!'... well, it might mean that last one a little BUT it doesn't mean 'Stop having fun!' It means to every thing there's a time and a season - also in the good book ;) Be silly but not all the time. Be sensible when you're meant to be.

I did my second 2 Silly Girls shoot of the summer this past week and was feeling a little glum not to have Megan there - leaving our university town, with a husband means I'm for sure not 17 anymore. The pictures turned out great though and everyone had fun. Basically the whole 2 Silly Girls mission was accomplished. I need to do more of these. 

I think everyone loves being silly. When it rains I can't be the only person over the age of 7 who wants to be outside in my swim suit splashing in puddles, right?

Is there something silly you always want to do but brush it off because you're an adult now?
Are you still silly? How? Got a Top Ten list of silliness? Share it!

My top 10 list of favorite silly moments/things to do:
1. Dress up.
2. Play hide and seek.
3. Say "cheeeeeese!" when I'm getting my picture taken.
4. Use too much bubbles in the bath.
6. Stick things to husband's back and see how long it takes for him to realise.
7. Wear glitter. A lot.
8. Sit on my mum's lap.
9. Make screeching sounds as we go around a corner in the car really fast.
10. Remembering silliness and laughing over and over and over about it.

Mostly, being silly means that someone else is being silly too which is my overall fave.

Monday, June 1, 2009

"Then great hope remains honestly..."

'The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land.'  
~G.K. Chesterton
My sis took this picture of us while we were kissing in the rodeo grounds.  HA!  When I posted it on my blog, the huz commented:
 
"look, she still curls my toes when we kiss. I love you, crazy".

-
Alison



1. I love this picture & the story.
2. I love that you sent us a quote to go with it!
3. I adore your blog.
4. Your cuteness might actually be illegal. 
5. His reply to your picture reminded me of this song.
-Laura