Feeling European

Just as I was sitting down to conjure up my new blog post feeling hot, tired, hungry and frazzled after returning from a 3 hour shopping trip, my mom walks into my room holding a bag from The Shoe Department.

"You may not like these," she says with a hesitant smile, "but I thought they looked European." 

First of all, I should clarify that I have been searching tirelessly for the perfect pair of shoes to wear around the streets of London for weeks now. I knew I didn't want flats because they are notoriously blister-prone, and I knew I didn't want flip flops because they are hard to keep on and generally uncomfortable for walking. Not only that, but once flip flops get wet they tend to go kaput. (Anyone who has ever found themselves barefoot because that little thong between your toes on your flip flops snapped while you were sloshing through a puddle will understand what I mean by this.) I thought boots might be a good option, but I've been told by more than one person that they may be a little over-kill; it might not be Mississippi, but it still isn't THAT cold in London. Therefore, being cursed with the indecisive bug as I am, T minus 8 days away from leaving for the grand continent of Europe I still had not settled on a pair of shoes to tromp around in.  

But I loved the shoes my mom picked out as soon as I saw them. They are jellypop, gladiator style, metallic colored sandals and size 11-- THANK GOODNESS. Because let me just tell you, finding a pair of size 11 shoes on the shelf in a store is like finding a chocolate chip in a bowl of peas. It just doesn't happen. Right away I tried on the navy blue, chiffon skirt and floral scarf I had bought at Forever 21 last weekend with the new sandals and a white tucked-in shirt, accessorized it with a black belt, long white necklace, and my sister's black leather jacket (hey thanks for leaving behind a whole jackpot of clothes in your closet, Marie!) and modeled it for my parents, feeling awfully European of course. Perhaps I look like a complete and total American tourist, but at least I feel slightly more prepared to hit the streets of London.

During my own laborious shopping trip today, the one in which I returned from feeling hot, tired, hungry and frazzled, I bought some final odds and ends I will be taking with me to Europe:

Shampoo and conditioner? Check.

Body wash? Check.

Baby powder (for greasy hair)? Check.

Make-up? Check.

Alarm clock?? Double Check.

New, full bottle of Miss Dior "Cherie" perfume? Check :)

From the essentials to the not-so-essential-but-sure-is-nice-to-have, my preparations to go abroad for 40 days are finally coming together. It really does feel like this might actually be truly about to happen.

8 days. Bring it on. :)