J’Adore: My ‘HISS’ Collection.

I recently realized that I own quite a few snakeskin print shoes. Yes! Coincidence, right? Well, the python print Mizrahi pumps were the first ever shoes I owned in snakeskin print so they have quite a few mileage on them although shoes with a leather outer sole last quite long. They still look good as new and I rarely clean them. Whenever I wear these, someone always asks if they really are python skin and whether I feel bad for the snake that got killed just for me to wear it on shoes. Hmmm… aren’t I lucky that PETA is no where near in Africa?
The gladiator sandals were the next addition to the collection. I’ve had these for four years I think. I remember how me and my sister were the first to own gladiator sandals amongst everyone we knew and when the trend caught on, we are still the ones to own them in snakeskin. Aside from the scuffed up laces, these look as good as new too which makes me think they’re going to last longer than expected.

The Aldo pumps joined the fray last year and they are my go to pumps when I am filled with indecision over what shoes to wear with an outfit. I guess it has to do with the black and white print of the skin. There’s a friend of my mother’s who was over excited to share with me the news that she had gotten a snakeskin print purse exactly like my Aldo pumps for Christmas. I was naturally amused and happy for her. Her telling me this made me think I should look getting a matching purse for my shoes. Ha!….that is SO like old fashioned and for older women!

Then my latest are the the ones with ribbons on top which I got from my aunt last week after her recent trip abroad. My mother didn’t think it wise to own two pairs of the same print (the Mizrahi python print ones) but I was unconcerned. These are lighter and the design is quite different. They have a ribbon and a square toe unlike the round toed ones.

The snakeskin print is currently on trend and it is a neutral, that is it goes on anything and everything. The thing with animal print is not to over do it with a head to toe look.

Rekindled Old friendships

The people that love me unreasonably and unconditionally make me marvel and at the same time wonder what it is that I did or do to evoke such a wealth and depth of feeling toward me. 
I won‘t say that I am a really bad person because I‘m not, well half of me isn‘t anyway, but such feelings make one question life and be thankful at the same time.
I rekindled a friendship I had no business of breaking in the first place but due to misplaced loyalty, I had to. On the day I actually sat down and thought of all my friends and the new friendships I had made, I couldn't help but think of this one that I‘d let go of because of circumstances.  This particular person was and still is good to me. 
I remembered how good it was between us and the good things that she had done for me.  With all this going through my mind, I decided to let loyalty be damned and reach out.
You‘d expect someone you haven‘t talked to in almost a year to have a bit of an attitude or be at least a bit wary towards you, no? Surprisingly, this person was more receptive and warm. And in that moment, she reminded me of why we became friends in the first place and why I missed how  it had been between us. And she made me be thankful to God for having people like her in the world.
Everything fell into place and it was like we'd never taken a break from the friendship. Friendships like these remind me that there is or are a few good things in this world and they should be appreciated for what they are.
I‘m a firm believer in ‘the less friends one has, the better‘ but if you have someone who really loves you unreasonably and unconditionally in your corner, don‘t let them go out of some misguided sense of loyalty to another person. Let them sort their issues out without your involvement because you will be the one left holding the short end of the stick. Friendships like these should be treasured for what they are.
To all the old and new friends: you make me who I am.

Quotes

• “Taste cannot be taught” – Rivals

• “Peace of mind is the most fabulous accessory.” – Rivals

• “Everything you experience and learn in life makes you who you are.” – Natalie Massenet

• “You accept the love that you think you deserve.” – Perks Of Being A Wallflower

• “Don’t underestimate the allure of darkness, even the purest of hearts are drawn to it.” – Klaus (TVD)

• “It is not the strong who survive. It is those who survive who are called strong.” – Sword And Flower

• “Old money is quiet money.” – Paradise

• “Some people feel love in their hearts. Some of us feel it all the way into our souls. We’re the ones who can’t forget.” – Paradise

• “Even when the bad is staring a woman in the face, she wants to believe her man is good.” – Sandra Brown

• “Most messes can be cleaned up with the right broom.” – Diana Palmer

• “Love has never recognized age.” – Diana Palmer

• “A woman is instinctively afraid of a man she thinks can conquer her.” – Diana Palmer

• “There’s always a grain of truth in every lie.” – Diana Palmer

• “Hatred is a sin not paid with death.” – Woman Of Sacrifice

• “Hard times teach hard lessons but they stay with us.”

• “Life is boring without a little spice.”

• “People change and forget to tell each other.” – Lillian Hellman

• “Everyone always brings their past to a party, whether they intend to or not.”

• “As nervous as a whore in church.” – Sandra Brown

• “Legends are lessons, they ring with truth.” – Brave

• “Our fate lives within us. You  only have to be brave enough to see it.” – Brave

• “If you’re gonna be bad, be bad with a purpose.” – Damon Salvatore (TVD)

• “It’s not what we’re used to that attracts us.”

• “You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you.” – Stefan Salvatore (TVD)

*Paradise is a novel by Judith McNaught that I am currently reading all over again. First time I read it, I was in my teens and now that I am in my 20s, I can appreciate it more than I did before. She’s one of my Favorite authors.