Over the Knee Flats, UG(lie)S and How to Create Your Own Happiness

WHAT:
Bonjour Dames! What I’m about to say may shock you: I HATE UGS. Yes, I know they’re “so comfy.” Yes, I know all the celebs where them. Yes, I know they have a cult following. But c’mon, girls! They’re DAMN ugly. Their name defines the reaction they elicit when I see their lumpy potato-like form in the streets: “Ugh!” That being said, I am on a mission to eliminate them from the face of the earth by pushing another comfy, stylish alternative to womankind: the over the knee flat boot.

So much sleeker. So much sexier. Still comfy, and far more versatile. And if you’re too much of a prude to rock the Julia Roberts thigh-high hooker boots, this is your perfect, demure alternative. Don’t fight it, girls! Keep those UGS in the house and get on board! I’ll–I mean you’ll be glad you did!

WHERE:

HOW:
I absolutely love this look with a pair of leggings or supper skinny jeans. The closer the fit to your skin, the better. Because they are flats, these boots are great for day or night. Throw them on with anything from vintage tee to a work button-up to a sexy sweater dress at night. They’re so comfy and versatile, you won’t want to take them off.

EASY-LIVING TIP:
Interested in finding out how to create your own happiness? In chapter five of The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale, Peale emphasizes that anyone who desires it, wills it, learns and applies the right formula can posses unwavering happiness. So what’s this secret formula? Read on and find out.

1. Make a mental list of happy thoughts and pass them through your mind several times a day. Begin your day with a happy statement. If a negative thought creeps in, immediately eject it from your mind and replace it with a happy one. We are what we think we are.

2. Be kind to others. It is true that happiness is contagious, so take a moment each day to share a compliment or make a simple, kind gesture. When the benefactor smiles his or her thanks, you will, too.

3. Surround yourself with positive, happy people. We all have that friend who is constantly in crisis. Constantly unhappy. Well you know the old adage that misery loves company. If you can’t avoid people like this altogether, at least make a conscious decision not to absorb or reflect their unhappiness.

4. Smile. The simple action of forcing a big smile when you’re feeling down will change your mood. Your mind often follows your actions so give this a try.

5. Make a list of the things you are grateful for in your life and refer to it often. We get caught up in a whirlwind of stress and responsibilities and forget how fortunate we are to have even the simplest things, like family or our health.

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Bad Black Booties, Shoe Envy and Relishing Being Wrong

WHAT:
Woe is me, chicas! It’s a bit nipply outside, and I fear that fall has officially arrived! Time to put up those strappy summer stilettos and stock up on autumn essentials: that means coats, jackets, blazers, cardigans, hats, scarves, and of course–my favorite–beautiful boots! Now, if you’ve ever stepped onto a subway car and heard a cat-like hiss–heard claws popping out–heard a gasp of disbelief–then you know that nothing incites more envy or admiration than a bad ass pair of boots. Ankle, knee-high, thigh-high, flats, heels! OOOOH! I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about them! To begin, I bring you this season’s most essential staple: the black ankle bootie.

I’ve selected booties with a little more personality than most, from ruffles, to suede, to metal details, but a classic ankle silhouette works just as well. Just stay away from pointed (Wicked Witch of the West!) or round (Farmer!) toes and go for almond shape to keep it sexy and up-to-date.

WHERE:

HOW:
Oh my. So many ways to wear this shoe! Jeans, tights, dresses–you name it! Pair them with a leather jacket for a rocker look, or throw on some colored tights for ’80s appeal. You can dress them up or down, wear them day or night. This is your most versatile purchase of the fall.

EASY-LIVING TIP:
I don’t know about you, but I just love being wrong. That’s right–you read correctly. I love to be proven wrong. Why? Because each time I am, I learn something new. Each time that I can admit it, I know that I have taken a step in deconstructing that terrible, defeating enemy, the human ego. So why, then, is it so damn hard for most people to admit when they’re wrong? It’s all in the way we enter a conversation and the mind-set that we have.

It is my opinion that there are two basic types of people in the world (simplified, yes, but just bear with me). The first always approaches an argument or debate with one goal in mind: winning. He is hell-bent on changing his contester’s opinion to match his own. He does not listen, he just hears. He is constantly formulating his next defense instead of trying to understand his opponent’s complete thought, from beginning to end.

Next, there is the type of person who enters a debate with the mind-set that the true victory is in learning something new. Stretching his mental horizons. This person is patient and attentive to others’ points. She acknowledges brilliance and asks questions instead of constantly offering rebuttals. She doesn’t cut others down, because she knows that ideas, just like reality itself, are subjective–they are rarely right or wrong. This person knows that the end goal is not to change someone’s mind, but to grow from the dialogue itself.

Next time you find yourself inching towards a debate, I encourage you to take a step back and adjust your mind-set. Put your ego aside and hope to be proven wrong. Ask those questions and watch your opponent soften and reciprocate with a more open mind as well. Put this attitude into practice and your knowledge of the world and of yourself will expand exponentially.

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