i wanna grow old with you...

though it's after Labor Day, today calls for white as i celebrate my 9th wedding anniversary!  i've always said that other than maybe eating a little more of the fantastic food at the reception, i wouldn't have changed a thing about our wedding day.  the man (oh, and what a great one he is)...the flowers...the wine...the dancing...the ocean air...the wonderful people...it really couldn't have been any better.  that is, of course, until i stumbled upon these beauties.  just looking at them takes me back to the hotel room where i was getting ready for the big day.  slipping these on under my silk and crystal dress would've been the icing on the...well, wedding cake ;-).  how wonderfully elegant they would've been popping out of the bottom of my dress as i walked down the aisle....and how striking and fun they would've been as i literally kicked up my heels at the reception.  i can't get over the beauty of them.  one can't help but feel dreamy when looking at these shoes.  whether you're a bride to be or just looking for a stunning pair of heels to wear with that killer dress you'll be rockin' this fall, these Badgley Mischka Fidels may be your missing piece...  p.s. Zappos also had them in both black and red...holla!

Time

so...i've been thinking about this post for quite some time now. i've known all along which piece i wanted to be the first i showcased, but have been waiting for some kind of inspiration on how to get started. afterall, it's been quite some time since i last put my writing skills to good use. it came to me a few days ago as i waited in my father's hospital room. last year he was diagnosed with colon cancer--stage 3, possible stage 4. since then he's been through radiation, two rounds of chemo, and just recently had surgery to remove the tumor. his recovery has taken longer than expected and it's been so difficult hearing about, and watching, his pains and struggles.

during this last visit, i decided to go down to the cafeteria to get some lunch. it seemed like a good time since he needed a little rest. when i returned an hour later (after eating, checking in with the babysitter, arranging for more sitters, checking email, facebooking, thinking about blogging...) he was gone. i looked around the halls, since i knew he'd been walking them periodically to get exercise, but he was nowhere to be found. i finally asked the nurses at the nursing station if they knew where he was and, thankfully, he'd been taken down by the staff to have another procedure. for a minute there, though, my heart sank when i saw the empty hospital bed. what if he really was "gone?" i was so worried about everything else i needed to get done and didn't even think about kissing him goodbye and telling him i loved him...even if i was just going down for lunch.

while i waited for him to get back, i checked my watch periodically...and by periodically i mean every other minute. when he finally came back (over an hour later) and got settled in, i checked my watch one more time...TIME...

i've known that my Michael Kors Women's Resin-Horn Chronograph Watch was THE piece that i love and so wanted it to be The Missing Piece...'s first feature. what i didn't realize, however, was that i should be promoting the importance of time. i know that there are moments that go by each day that i should stop and be thankful for or at least recognize...but too often i let my everyday duties take over and get in the way. i know that i take time for granted and, as i found out during that lonely hour in the empty hospital room, i need to appreciate the time i DO have and take advantage of living the (mostly...ha) healthy life that i lead. it's sad that we need these scary circumstances to remind us of what we have...and what we should be doing...like giving heartfelt goodbyes, even when you'll just be gone for an hour...or letting the dirty dishes sit awhile longer so you can play in the sprinklers with your kids...or turning off the tv one night to have some time to catch up with your spouse...or, maybe, putting an end to the procrastination and start working to make a dream become reality...

so here goes...my first "piece." it is absolutely beautiful (cliche, maybe...but so true)...even more beautiful in person. trust me! it draws complements everywhere i go. if you're looking for something unique with a little classic chic flair, here it is! it can be worn with both silver and gold jewelery. it can be dressed up with a cuff on the other wrist, or dressed down with a white boyfriend pocket tee, cutoff jean skirt and a ton of bangles. it just works! michael kors has other styles made with this same material that are just as nice. this just happens to be the style that i fell in love with. i've tried it on different friends with different skin tones and it worked on everyone!!! i can't say enough about this watch. you will LOVE it! just like MAC's plum and spice lip liners, i believe one of the michael kors watches with this resin-horn material is everyone's missing piece :))).

--theres

let's do this already...

i'm working on my first "official" post and i'm trying to figure out how to include pictures and links...looking forward to being blog savvy SOON!!! at this point, it looks like MY missing piece is some blog knowledge ;).

--theres

Are We Up and Running...err...Styling?

Is this working? Testing...testing...