A few years (months?) ago, a rainy day would have been an excuse not to get my run in. Today, I reveled in it.

Heh. I’m such a dork. I own it!

It was cloudy but dry when I put my running duds on this morning. But by the time I stepped out the door, it was beginning to drizzle.

I started to have second thoughts and then I said to myself, What? You gonna melt? And I pushed START on my Jogger app and took off at a trot down the street in the mist.

The mist soon become a steady drizzle, but the air was cool and crisp — a welcome relief from the hot, humid weather I’ve been running in this week. There was a light breeze, Phil Phillips was crooning in my ear, and my legs felt weightless as I ran up the hill past the field of contentedly grazing cows. Clearly they didn’t mind the rain either.

The next thing I knew, I was smiling — not just any smile — but a full-on crazy grin. I’m sure the people driving past me on their way to work probably thought I was a lunatic, and not just for running in the rain.

I set out to run 3.5 miles and ended up running an even 4 because it felt so good. Yesterday, my legs felt heavy, the air was thick, and my run was a struggle start to finish. Today, I felt like I was flying.

You just never know till you get out there what kind of run it’s going to be, and often the days you are the most reluctant to start are the ones that feel the best.

So don’t let the rain stop you from getting your run in! (Or your walk or your bike ride or whatever it is you’ve committed to do.) There are definitely some tricks to making rainy day exercising more comfortable, though. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Tips for Running in the Rain

1) DO wear a baseball cap.

I don’t know why I spent so many years not wearing a cap to run. They make lightweight ones for summer running too. Now that I’ve discovered it, I don’t run without it. When it’s sunny, it helps shade my face. When I’m running in the summer, it keeps the bugs out of my hair (I know, ew!) And when it’s rainy, it keeps my head and face relatively dry. I hate the tickle of water droplets trickling down my head, under my hair. A cap is essential for running in the rain!

2) DO wear bright colors.

It’s always important to wear bright colors so cars can see you, but never more so than when it’s rainy and cloudy out. I set out today to wear a black top and black pants, and my husband stopped me and asked me to put on a brighter top so I did. I love the Heatgear line by Under Armour. As I was running, I noticed how gray everything was and I was glad I’d made the change. Also, don’t wear green as it blends into the trees.

3) Do NOT wear a white top.

No commentary necessary, ahem.

4) DO wear moisture-wicking clothing.

If it’s wet, there’s nothing worse than cotton sticking to you. I love moisture-wicking clothing for all my workouts, but it’s especially important in the rain to avoid chafing and irritation. I love Under Amour and Nike athletic wear, and the C9 by Champion line for Target is very affordable. (And don’t forget moisture-wicking socks!)

5) Enjoy it!

Even if you’re a girly-girl like me, make a CHOICE to enjoy the rain. It’s very freeing to go out in the rain and run with abandon. I highly recommend it!

What’s Beautiful

I’m currently taking part in the What’s Beautiful Campaign through FitFluential with Under Armour where we set an epic goal and then document the journey (there are some amazing prizes along the way, and 3 winners will be flown to Costa Rica to attend a four-day yoga and surf retreat). Anyone can do this, not just bloggers, so feel free to sign up! My goal is to run a half marathon in September.

I’ve also created a team for runners to hold each other accountable. Anyone can join, even though I prematurely named it PhillyFluential. If you run, join us!!

Y’all know how crazy I am about stripes right now. I have to actually work at NOT buying stripes for fear everything in my closet will be striped and then one day I’ll wake up, and I’ll be over the stripes, and I’ll have nothing to wear.

But for now. Stripes. YAY!

I know some people think they can’t wear stripes, but the whole “stripes make me look fat” is a fallacy. It’s as bad as the “black is slimming” fallacy. Flattering clothing is far more about fit and proportion than what color or print you’re wearing. Everyone can incorporate stripes into their wardrobe if they want to.

Personally, I love wearing stripes, and they won’t necessarily add 10 pounds if you follow a few basic rules of thumb. Typically, thinner stripes are more flattering than wider stripes, and if you’re concerned about the placement of horizontal stripes, go for a mixed stripe pattern or chevron stripes. Or, if you don’t want to wear stripes on your person, consider a striped handbag or shoes . . . or even bracelet!

Let me show you.

See how the horizontal stripes on this dress are subtle – the colors don’t have a high level of contrast, and they aren’t very wide. So this works.

This Club Stripe Shift Dress incorporates stripes in a few strategic locations that will not add unwanted pounds or create strange proportions. This also works.

I like how the placement of these stripes help create an hourglass shape. Very clever!

The chevron stripes on this dress create a slimming effect.

I have this striped sweater, and I love it. The key is to make sure it fits (you don’t want it too snug) and it works because the stripes are narrow enough so as not to create extra bulk.

A striped skirt can be fun too. Not too long ago I wrote a post on three ways to wear a striped skirt. Even though the stripes in this skirt are wide and evenly spaced, the pencil style is very figure flattering.

These striped shorts from Ann Taylor are darling. Wouldn’t they be perfect with a white top and red accessories for a Fourth of July gathering?

And if you’re really bold, try a striped pant. I love this chevron print ankle pant also at Ann Taylor.

Or may I suggest a striped accessory? A striped handbag is super fun, and if you tend to dress plainly, adding pattern to your accessories is a great way to spice up your look! Like this Michael Kors Marina Large Grab Bag. How CUTE is this!?

Or this Cherish Tote by Rebecca Minkoff.

And I’m loving the Can’t Stop Shopper Large Editor Tote by Nine West, just $47 plus 15% off at Macy’s this weekend!

Striped jewelry is fun too.

Then of course, there are striped shoes. Oh, the shoes . . .

Are you crazy for stripes? What’s your favorite way to wear them?

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Katja Presnel is someone I’ve long admired in the social media space. She and I both go way back; we’re pretty much dinosaurs in the blogosphere. But she’s always been someone with vision and a savvy business mind — definitely a leader in this space. She is someone I value for her advice and insight; she never steers me wrong.

Her blog, Skimbaco, is all about living in the moment and her goal is to inspire others to enjoy every day and live life to the fullest. It’s one of a kind, and now she’s charting new waters again with her new eBook, Instagram as your Guide to the World – How, What and Who to Search and Follow on Instagram to Help You Travel the World.

I love watching Katja’s Instagram feed because she posts the most amazing photos from her travels around the world, but I had no idea she was actually using Instagram as a tool to plan those travels. I asked her if I could ask her a few questions about her eBook and the inspiration behind it, and of course she obliged because she’s awesome like that. Here’s what she had to say.

JL: For those who don’t know you, tell me a bit about yourself and your brand.

KP: I’m Katja Presnal and I own SkimbacoLifestyle.com online magazine. My husband and I have been traveling and moving around Europe and USA together the past 16 years and we have 3 kids, all born in different countries. I started my first online business in 2004 so I could work from anywhere in the world, and Skimbaco was born a few years later. Skimbaco name comes from a Finnish word “skimba” for skis/skiing and “co” means Colorado and at the time living life to the fullest to us meant skiing in Colorado. Skimbaco’s mission is to inspire people to find their own “skimbaco” wherever in the world they are, and we bring inspiration and ideas how to do it and where to travel to get inspired.

JL: I absolutely adore Instagram. It’s my favorite social media platform. There’s just something about seeing people’s lives in photos that is super fun, and so much more intimate than just reading about them on Facebook and Twitter. Your “good morning” photos are among my very favorites. How did you get started doing that, and what was your inspiration?

KP: I love Instagram too! About a year ago I posted a few “good morning from Sweden” photos from a gorgeous sunrise on my backyard and went a few days that I didn’t post a good morning picture and people started asking why I haven’t posted one for a while. I hadn’t even realized that it was a “theme” and from that day forward I have been posting a good morning photo almost everyday, with a few missed days, like when we stayed in a ski lodge in Norway without wifi.

JL: Are your Instagram photos straight from your iPhone? Do you rely solely on the Instagram filters, or do you use any other apps to enhance them?

KP: I only post iPhone photos, and about half of my photos are with no filter and for the rest of them I use the brightening button or Mayfair or Amaro filters. When I first started I was using more filters and liked to play more with enchanting the photos, but the past year I have just wanted to show that our world is a beautiful place and you can find something beautiful anywhere – and share that with others just using your phone and not even photoshopping the pictures. I like to keep things simple.

JL: What inspired you to write this eBook?

KP: During the past year I have traveled in over 15 different countries on 3 continents, and Instagram has become my personal travel guide. As someone who has traveled for years I noticed that there is just something completely different about using Instagram as your travel guide versus using more traditional methods. I give real life examples in my book how my Instagram community helped us to plan a trip to Rome and how anyone can become a travel expert by using the tips I give in my book. The key really isn’t just the tool, it’s connecting with amazing people, and the supportive community I have on Instagram was really what inspired me to share my tips.

JL: I love how you’re creating a travel community on Instagram with your hashtag #IGTravelBook. What are some of the places you’ve discovered from other users that you wouldn’t have without Instagram?

KP: Thanks to Instagram-inspiration I’ve discovered several restaurants, smaller neighborhoods or landmarks for my past travels, for example I learned the artichokes were in season while we were in Rome and ate in a restaurant recommended on Instagram. A few trips I also want to do in the future are to see Southern Thailand and see the James Bond island. I also want to take the Bernina Express train over the Alps in Europe and visit Portofino in Italy after seeing the photos on Instagram.

JL: I’m not a big traveler, but I’d love to change that. I’ve always said that I don’t want to travel as a tourist, but I’d rather stay with friends and get to know the REAL locale. So I can totally relate to you when you said this: “We didn’t want to visit Rome as tourists. We wanted to live like locals. I put my own tips in this book to good use, and came across some great local people to follow in Rome, and saw so many pictures of the neighborhoods that we wanted to visit.”

KP: The thing is… When you connect with people from all over the world via Instagram, you will be connected with the local people no matter what your destination, and you will always get the experience like “your friend gave her best local tips.” My Instagram friends have already gotten to know me, and they can recommend places for me that they think I’d like. And even if you won’t actually STAY with the friends… you can always rent an apartment from sites like Airbnb.com and truly live like local. When you have the network of local people or Instagram friends who have visited the destination several times, you will feel like you can get the best experience of each place.

JL: See, that is amazing. Makes me want to start planning a trip right away!! Honestly, I had no idea you could do so much with Instagram — even though I love it and use it daily. You’ve definitely inspiring me to use Instagram in a whole new way. Thanks for sharing your eBook with me and for the link love.

KP: I just hope it inspires you to live life to the fullest – and share it with others too!!

Katja’s eBook, Instagram as your Guide to the World, is now available on Amazon.com for an introductory price of $4.99 for a limited time.

I saw this Pesto & Goat Cheese Pizza on In Sock Monkey Slippers and KNEW I had to make it ASAP. I even had homemade pesto in my freezer just waiting for such an occasion!

I called my husband and had him bring home the ingredients and made it that very night. It just so happened to be our first 80-degree day, and we enjoyed our dinner outside on the deck. Turns out, it’s the perfect summer pizza.

My kids like goat cheese, but I wasn’t sure how it would go over with the pesto and tomatoes and no sauce, but they all loved it and begged me to make it every week. I just might do that!

Here’s my version of the recipe along with instructions on making homemade pesto.

It’s that time of the week again! If you’re wondering what on earth I’m doing posting all these pictures of myself, I started joining Lindsay at The Pleated Poppy many moons ago, taking pictures of our outfits to hold us accountable to getting out of our pajamas every day. When you work from home, it’s not always easy to get motivated to get dressed, and this has been a huge encouragement to me. As time has gone on, I’ve continued this feature because so many people seem to find it helpful, and frankly, if I didn’t do this, I would probably wear the same three outfits over and over. It’s not easy for busy moms to keep it chic through the child bearing years when our weight is fluctuating and we’re tired and sick and run down. Then once the kids start to get older and we get our bodies back, many of us find ourselves in a style rut or just too busy to care. So this is my attempt to stay stylish and age appropriate after 40, and I hope that it’s an encouragement to other busy moms out there!

This week my big experiment was the “front tuck” — you’ve probably seen this in the retail catalogs. It seems to be how they’re showing most tops nowadays. I was at Nordstrom last week, trying on jean shorts and cropped jeans (that’s a post for another time!) and the sales associate was a cute, younger woman who had fun throwing new items at me to try on. At one point she gave me this coral blouse and told me to tuck it in just in the front. I only have a crappy iPhone photo, but here’s how she styled it.

No, I would not wear it with those shoes — they just happen to be the ones I had with me. ANY-WHO. I really like the idea — especially with a fuller top like this. It did nothing for me when it was untucked, and it was way too much shirt to tuck in all the way around, but front-tuck gave it a casual-cool vibe while also creating a flattering waistline. It also helps camouflage a bit of a tummy — BONUS! I didn’t end up buying the shirt because it was way out of my price range, but it did inspire me to try the front tuck with some of my other tops here at home.

For example, this slub dolman tee from the Gap was rather baggy when worn untucked as I’d typically wear it.

But when I tried the front tuck, look how much cuter it looks. The sales associate said that the front tuck can be worn with or without a belt, but I think I’d prefer a belt. I need to get one, though. Believe it or not, I don’t own a belt. (She was horrified too.)

I think I like the outfit better with the silver sandals and no necklace. The orange flats and the jewelry seem too fussy for this outfit. The earrings, though, I love. They were a gift from my friend Lisa at Studio Jewel. Aren’t they the cutest? I actually bought this top to go with the earrings, lol!! (I don’t have much blue in my wardrobe — except for all my jeans, of course!)

I’ve clearly been digging the white and denim lately. I wore this white top with blue jeans and orange flats to run around town on Saturday and then later in the day to hang out with friends. The top is from CAbi. I love that it is double-layered — much more forgiving than a thin white tee, and the shape of the neckline is super flattering.

(This time the orange flats work — the outfit is a bit more classic, plus it needs some color.)

This necklace is my absolute fave. I wear it whenever I get the chance.

Another day this week I wore this coral top with jeans. This top is an Old Navy purchase from last summer, and I have gotten more than my money’s worth out of it! It’s just so easy to wear, and I love the detailing at the neckline. Plus the elastic waist is very forgiving when you’ve had a few too many second helpings at the dinner table . . . ahem.

The embellished sandals are another old favorite, a splurge that I’m glad I went for a few years ago right before my first BlogHer Conference. They’re by Frye (as in the boots) and I love them.

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. I tried on a few variations before I got to this, so this would have made another good outfit evolution post except unfortunately I didn’t get photos of my various options. Anyway, I knew I wanted to wear red jeans with my denim jacket. At first I tried on a white tee, and it seemed too casual for church. So then I tried the outfit with a black ruffly top that I picked up at the CAbi Outlet last week, but that seemed too much like a date night for church. So I finally settled on this black tank. The black wedge pumps seemed like just the right finishing touch.

And for the first time this season, I carried my black and white striped handbag that was my 40th birthday present last year. I’ve been waiting anxiously for summer to arrive so I can carry it again.

I’ve been all about the Studio Jewel this week! This long mixed metal necklace (another one of my faves that I wear whenever it works with my outfit) is perfect with the denim jacket. I love how the copper pulls from the trim on the jacket. I also wore her rustic copper hoop earrings. The jean jacket is CAbi (another factory outlet purchase. I love having a CAbi Outlet nearby!!!)

Next up is an outfit I wore out to dinner with friends. This is the black ruffly top that I chose not to wear to church on Sunday with the red jeans, but I though it was perfect for a Girls’ Nite Out! You can read all about this outfit evolution on yesterdays’s post, What to Wear: GNO. (And now you know how crazy I really am!)

Finally, I broke out my Daisy Dukes yesterday when the temps soared up into the 80s. It was a really warm day, already in the high 70s by 10AM (I know this because I went out to run and almost suffocated) but I am trying not to cave and turn on the a/c. I actually love this weather. I threw on these cut-offs and tank top and happily worked away all day while the warm breeze wafted through my office window. HEAVEN!!!

I think a shorter shirt would look better with these shorts, but I didn’t take time to try on anything else since I was just hanging here at home. Next time maybe I’ll try them with that coral top shown above.

For more fashion-over-40 inspiration, check out all of my Daily Mom Style posts.

I’m linking up with:

I’ve been trying to conjure up ways to make my Daily Mom Style posts more interesting and helpful. People have said that I make it look easy, but honestly if y’all could crawl inside my head . . . fashion may be easy for some people, but certainly not me! In fact, I started blogging about fashion not because I felt like an authority, but because I figured I’d share what I was learning along the way and get some advice as I went along.

So I thought it would be fun to show the evolution of an outfit and how it comes together. I might do this once a week or . . . whenever I get the urge to obsess over a new outfit! Once I create an outfit I like, I’m good to go. I’ll wear it again and again; you may have noticed, I don’t mix and match that much. But sometimes getting there takes some effort. For example, this GNO (girls’ night out) look that I wore to go out to dinner with some girlfriends last night.

I picked up the top at the CAbi Outlet last week on a whim. I’m a sucker for a black top, and I don’t have anything like this. When I got around to getting dressed to go out to dinner last night, I knew I was going to wear this top. My big debate was whether to wear it with white jeans or dark jeans.

I was originally planning to wear it with white jeans, but when I put them on I felt like the proportion was off due to the top being so long. Soooo . . . I went back and put it on with dark jeans, and I switched from the black t-strap wedge sandals to leopard pumps. I really wanted to wear the leopard pumps, but something about that outfit seemed off so I decided to put it out to my Facebook Page and see what advice I got.

Usually when I do this, I get a lot of conflicting advice and end up more confused than when I started, but this time the consensus was about 99% in favor of the white jeans.

I went back and put on the white jeans, but I still wasn’t 100% in love with the outfit. That is when I spotted these yellow wedge platforms sitting in my closet.

I bought them last year and I’ve only worn them once on account of the fact that they’re so ridiculously high. I can only wear them when I don’t have to do a lot of walking. On a whim I threw them on (I’m glad my chiropractor doesn’t read this blog; he’d have my head!!) and I knew I’d figured out the missing piece to the outfit. For one thing, they seemed to solve the proportion issue, since they didn’t create such a stark contrast against the white jeans. Plus, they are more summery and playful, which worked with the ruffly top. So here’s the final look.

For accessories, I wore my Leaf Chandelier Earrings from Blue Nile and I double-wrapped this delicate necklace from Stella & Dot.

I had the pink bracelet on because I was going to carry my pink clutch, but I didn’t have time to switch bags so I ended up carrying my black and white striped tote. Pink and yellow are nice together though, so I guess it worked. I also was going to wear my blue jean jacket but it was so warm outside that I ditched it and just went as is.

I was probably overdressed for our dinner party, but I didn’t care. Sometimes you gotta go all out just because you can.

So now that I’ve let you in on my crazy, tell me if I should do more of these posts or not!

Memorial Day is just around the corner. This is honestly one of my favorite holidays — I love that it’s a relaxed, no pressure sort of holiday where you don’t have to think about buying presents or hiding treats or planning a festive outfit clothes. You just get an extra day to lay around, read, maybe take a hike, and of course EAT!!!

Not to lessen the importance of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made for our freedom; my grandfather is a WWII veteran, and we have a good friend who is currently deployed, so I definitely like to take time to reflect on the purpose of the holiday. But it’s also a nice way to kick off the summer — my favorite season of the year!

Food is usually the primary focus of my Memorial Day festivities, (who are we kidding, food is the primary focus of any festivity!!) so I thought I’d round up some delicious, easy recipes that are perfect for taking to a Memorial Day potluck (or for serving if you’re hosting in your own home.)

A few of these are mine, and the rest are from some of my favorite foodie bloggers. All photos are used with their permission.

10 EASY Memorial Day Potluck Dishes

1. Buffalo Chicken Dip {gluten free} – This is consistently one of my most highly trafficked posts (thank you, Pinterest!) and I can guarantee if you bring this dip to your next get-together, you’ll be the most popular girl in the room!

2. Pesto Pizza with Tomato and Goat Cheese :: In Sock Monkey Slippers

I came across this recipe on Merdith’s blog, and I could not WAIT to try it on my favorite gluten-free pizza shell. In fact, I called my husband at work and had him bring home the ingredients that night. It is so easy and absolutely delicious — even my kids loved it! It’s just as tasty served at room temp as when it’s fresh from the oven. Cut into narrow slices, this would make the perfect finger food for your next social gathering.

3. Sweet Chili Pulled Pork :: A Spicy Perspective

Pulled pork sandwiches are always great for serving a crowd; they’re one of our family favorites. Sommer’s recipe looks even better than my own (plus her photos are amazing, and she kindly agreed to let me borrow one!) If you’re gluten free, I recommend Udi’s Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns.

4. Steak & Potatoes Bites :: Savoring the Thyme

I’ve had a similar appetizer at a holiday party, but I’ve never made them myself. I love how simple and elegant they are.

5. Asian Vinaigrette Broccoli Slaw with Cranberries & Sunflower Seeds :: Savoring the Thyme

Doesn’t this look like a fabulous salad to serve at a summer gathering? So colorful and fresh. And I guarantee no one will bring anything like it.

6. Cream Cheese No Bake Cookies :: Sophistimom

I love the idea of a no-bake cooking for a summer gathering. So easy, and no need to heat up the kitchen!

7. Lime Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream Pie :: Party BluPrints

Are you ready for this? This Lime Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream Pie looks like the perfect dessert to kick off summer!

8. Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies — these are not gluten-free, but if you aren’t either, they are sure to be a hit! Best of all, you can mix them up in one pot, then toss ‘em in the oven and forgetaboutit — until the timer goes off, anyway!

And what Memorial Day potluck is complete without a refreshing cocktail??

9. Mojitos with Mint-Infused Simple Syrup – another one of my most popular posts over the years. These mojitos truly ARE the best. The secret is the mint-infused simple syrup.

Or is bourbon more your speed? My friend Kate promises this is the perfect summer drink, so I will have to believe her until I have a chance to try it for myself.

10. Bourbon Slush :: The Shopping Mama

Do you have any fun plans for Memorial Day? And more importantly, what are you making??

Tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM EST, we are having a Live Chat over at the Udi’s Gluten Free Community. We’ll be talking about Gluten-Free Summertime Entertaining and how to navigate those tricky potluck dinners. If you eat gluten free, I hope you’ll join us! We’re giving away 5 fabulous Udi’s prize packs, and these chats are always full of fun and helpful information.

For a few months, I’ve been using a new eye liner that I am absolutely in love with and I keep meaning to tell you about it!

I’ve never been great at applying liquid eyeliner, and it seems awfully harsh for everyday wear. But I’m not crazy about pencil eyeliners either; they never really seem to go on smoothly enough for me, so I usually end up layering over them with a dark eye shadow to smudge it up a bit and get it right into the lash line.

For a while, I used a tightline cake eyeliner by Laura Mercier that you had to apply with a brush, but it was high maintenance because you also had to purchase an activator used to wet the eyeliner, and then you had to clean the brush or it would get cakey. It was also expensive.

Then I received the entire Sonia Kashuk makeup collection at an event with Target, and I discovered her Dramatically Defining Long Wear Gel Liner. I already had a great smudge brush so I tried it out one day and I haven’t looked back.

This is so much easier to apply than the tightline cake eyeliner that required wetting it to apply, and it’s about 1/3 the price.

I like that you can control how thick it goes on, and that you can get it right into the lash line (which is key to applying eyeliner. You do NOT want to see eyelid between the liner and your lashes.) I can create a nice fine line or I can smudge it so that it’s more subtle, depending on the look I’m going for. And it stays on ALL. DAY. It doesn’t move. It also doesn’t ever rub off onto my brow bone, which tends to happen with pencil eyeliners. It comes in black or brown, but I’m hoping she will eventually create some more fun colors. I’d love to have it in plum.

If you don’t have a proper brush, Sonia Kashuk’s Essential Eye Kit is a great starter kit and includes a smudge brush like the one I mentioned above.

I’m getting ahead this week, posting on Sunday. GO ME!

MONDAY: Bacon & Mushroom Cream Sauce over Zucchini Pasta (I’m very excited that it’s soon going to be zucchini season again!)

TUESDAY: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole with a side salad

WEDNESDAY: Buffalo burgers on the grill using this Gourmet Burger recipe, baked beans, and Simple Sautéed Spinach

THURSDAY: Linguine with Shrimp Scampi with a side salad

FRIDAY: Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Collard Greens

SATURDAY: leftovers

What are you eating this week?

For more gluten free meal plans, see all my Meal Planning posts. And check out my Resources page for all my favorite kitchen tools and products.

My mom introduced me to Stuart Weitzman many years ago. Okay, not to Stuart, himself, but to his shoes. Which is the next best thing. She often bought his shoes for her professional business outfits and loved the fit and style, and I would drool and fawn over them but never had a reason to buy a pair for myself.

Then one day we were shopping together at the mall and happened to wander into the Stuart Weitzman store, where they were having an end-of-season clearance sale. While she shopped for work shoes, I tried on a few pair to pass time. I couldn’t believe how comfortable and easy to wear they were — even the 4-inch pumps. I fell in love with a pair of suede pumps and wore them around the store for about 30 minutes while she made her choices.

Then as she was checking out, I went to put them back on the shelf. They weren’t in my budget at the moment, so as I was tearfully bidding them farewell, my mom turned around and said, “Do you want those? I’ll treat.”

And that’s how I got my first pair of Stuart Weitzmans. That was several years ago, and they’re still my go-to winter black pump.

Gotta love moms!!!

Since that time, I have added two more pair of Stuarts to my shoe wardrobe. For Christmas, my mom treated me to a pair of red patent leather pumps, and then a few summers ago, I found a great deal on a pair of tobacco-colored wedge pumps at 6pm.com and ordered them. They’ve turned out to be one of the best wardrobe investments I’ve ever made. I wear them a ton all summer long. They’re quite versatile and incredibly comfortable for such a high-heeled shoe. I’m sure you’ll recognize these.

So you can imagine my excitement to find Stuart Weitzman at Shopcade. I told you about Shopcade a few weeks ago – a new personal shopping app that brings relevant deals directly to users based on what they want (think Pinterest with direct shopping and saving capability). I got sucked in, perusing their latest spring offerings. There are so many cute styles.

For example, these black patent wedges with cork sole are on my wish list.

And these neutral pumps are a classic. Every woman needs a pair of these.

Got a summer wedding or formal summer event coming up? These white strappy sandals are on sale for $118!!!

Ooooh but I think these sparkly wedges are at the top of my list.

It gets better! Shopcade has partnered with the iconic fashion brand to offer a chance to win a $200 gift card to get your feet moving in some of the hottest looks of the season! All you need to do is join Shopcade and enter to win. Good luck! The giveaway ends Monday, May 20th.