Snowshoe Mountain, WV; Photo: Parween Mascari
21 Cute Animal Photos to Brighten Your Monday
Snowshoe Mountain, WV; Photo: Parween Mascari
Winter Boots
Apparently it's almost winter, and I've wanted to buy winter boots for a while now, but can't make a decision. I keep offering, but no one will buy me 20 different pairs of winter shoes to test out. So here are ones through research - the internet kind (customer reviews, website reviews); word of mouth; and friend recommendations - that kept popping up. For me, I'm looking for ones that are cute (not hideous, at least?) and have good traction. However, some people like to play in snow and stuff (what?), so I added ones highly recommended for warmth and water-resistance, too. Boots are in alphabetical order by brand. Happy trudging!
Columbia 'Minx Mid' Women's Winter Boot (photo)
These appealed to me because of a what-seems-to-be good combination of attractiveness and functionality. They're cute and "breathable, comfortable, and well-insulated". These are also titled "omni-heat", which Columbia says is "breathable material with little silver dots that reflect body heat". Other than the easily-fixed gripe that it runs small, this boot has a majority of positive reviews regarding its comfort, fit, warmth, and water-resistance. Wearers note the boot is lightweight, soft, and flexible. Other wearers have said that the traction is good, but not great. Overall, a good, stylish choice if you're looking for a boot that performs decently in all catagories.
LL Bean 'Wildcat Lace-Up' (photo)
This boot, to me, is not-so-hot looking (and the couple of other colors it comes in aren't much better), but it seems to really stand-up in every other category. In one of the few detailed, truly-tested, comprehensive boot reviews to be easily found online, the testers named it the second best boot (saying it was close to their first place choice, Columbia's 'Bugaboot', and $20 cheaper). The site liked the hiking boot style and wide toe which assure superior agility and warmth (blood should be able to flow to your toes, this keeps you warm, who knew?).
The North Face 'Greenland Zip II' Women's Boot (photo)
Friend: "I walked from work to my apartment - and then back - for two winter months in Morgantown. So, they're good. They're not so cute, but they definitely handle snow and they definitely have traction."
Pajar 'Grip Classic' (photo)
These seem to be higher on the looks and water-protection and low on comfort (and affordability). Reviews seemed mixed and I don't know anyone who personally has owned these. Positives are they come in a chic, pristine white color and sporty army green color (in addition to whatever color that is in the photo) and the narrow shaft makes it perhaps possible to fit them under pants (if that's your thing - but, wet jean hems are the worst!). Negatives are that some wearers found them not comfortable, not super-warm, and worst, "when you walked you heard a buckling sound" - not good. I found them in a beautiful pinkish/purple. . . but I still don't think the mixed reviews bode well.
Sorel 'Joan of Arctic' Waterproof Snow Boot (photo)
Sorority Big Sis who lives in Chicago: "They keep my feet really dry and warm. They are great. I wore them all last winter during the polar vortex."
Sorel 'Tivoli' in Herringbone (photo)
These are ones I'm leaning towards because they are high in the not-ugly factor and look easy to put on. Since they're more stylish, I was surprised to find out that by most accounts they fare well in the elements. A few reviews said they weren't the warmest and are not 100% water-resistant. Apparently Oprah likes these, so make of that what you will (she does live in Chicago and can afford anything; she probably never walks in snow).
Things I Thought I'd Know By Now
I turned 30 last week. I like to think I'm a pretty smart person, but there are a few things I definitely thought I'd have figured out by now. . .
Things I Thought I Would Know By Now
The amount of time any food should be microwaved for. I just set the time for what seems like too long, then take it out when I hear popping noises.
How to crochet, apparently. Every few years since I was 15, I say I want to learn how to crochet and go out and buy, like, $30 worth of yarn and needles. I don't know how to crochet and haven't gone through a trying-to-learn phase for a few years now, so perhaps I've come to terms with my limited craftiness. I mostly just liked picking out the yarns anyway.
How to take a compliment. I didn't grow up in a braggy family. If you tell me I look pretty, I'm probably gonna say, "thanks - it's makeup (or Spanx or deceptive lighting. . .)." This may not be empowering or conducive to high self-esteem, but I'm ok with that. I'd rather be the person who makes everyone laugh by saying "I may look decent now, but you should have seen me before . . " and launches into a story about streaky self-tanner or wonky false eyelashes than the graceful, put-together person who says "thank you" and smiles graciously (actually, that lady sounds nice; maybe I would like to be her one day).
How to care less about things, be less emotional. I think it's an important and attractive quality when people don't need validation from others. But, uhh, we are humans, on a planet, and we do need validation from others. Whenever people, both supportively or accusatorially, ask me or others, "why do you care what other people think anyway?" so many answers run through my head: I don't know, I just do; because I'm a person who lives in a society; because when I tripped I think my skirt came up and I need to know the exact number of people who were in that room so that when I replay the moment over and over again in my head for the rest of my life I will have set the scene accurately. . . So, I do wish I cared less what people thought of me, but when people say they don't care, it makes me wonder what they do care about. Interactions with others are what makes up life, so it's just common sense to be concerned with how others see you. I guess the ideal is to only be concerned with meaningful interactions and to know the people whose opinions you should care about are the people who care about you.
Things I'm Pretty Sure About
That girls and women unnecessarily add modifiers to declarative statements; this was originally titled "Things I Know."
Know how to do things for yourself. Or at least how to contact the right professional. I live in a state with windy roads, crappy roads, mountains, hollers, and spotty cell coverage, and haven't found a place yet AAA can't get to you, eventually. But if you chose the second route and do the contact-a-professional-thing instead of taking care of a problem entirely on your own, don't be offended at the tone of voice used by said professional as he is telling you, for example, "Ma'am, are you aware you're parked on a hill? Have you gotten gas recently?" when you call to have your car jumped because it "broke down."
Don't text and drive. I definitely don't think I'm better than anyone who does (because that would be almost everyone - almost everyone texts while they drive), I'm just not coordinated enough to do it - and we're all safer for that.
Be nice to people. Whether you know them or not. As quotes set to moody stock photography posted on social media tell me: everyone is fighting their own battle. And they are. You hear people say things like "everyone should be required by law to wait tables (or work retail, etc.) at some point in their life so they learn to tip well (or say please and thank-you or what have you)". Fortunately, I like to believe I was raised to know this; unfortunately, I dropped out of college several times and thus have years of experience in service industry jobs. There are some people for whom the customer service industry is a calling and they are great at it. I like helping people, but there are only so many Christmas seasons working a Macy's perfume counter an average person (and her olfactory system) can take. You shouldn't have to have once worked in every patience-testing service profession to know how to treat people. Just do that Golden Rule thing they teach you in kindergarten. Besides, there's a little secret service industry veterans and nice people are in on: if you show a little respect and courtesy to the people in those jobs, you'll find that a whole new world of free drinks, extra breadsticks, and seat upgrades may await.
Sometimes the battle is point shoes
I just realized there are two Tina Fey-related quotes on here, so I better round that out.
Here's to learning tons more stuff in the coming years - or at least how to heat up leftovers.
Cheers!
For my birthday, I asked my drinktress, Pumpkin, if she could invent a special Rachael drink. She told me to give her a list of alcohols, flavors, and mixers I like, and she'd go from there. This will either turn out gloriously with a new, amazing, original cocktail; with a toxic concoction of rum and Mr. Sketch markers; or she'll give up and buy me a six pack of MillerLite.
nomnom
I'm adding the condition that no component of the drink should be too expensive. For while I do, for example, prefer Patron to any other tequila, I'm nothing if not a woman of the people, and obviously my drink should reflect that.
Here's what I've got:
Booze: Rum; (cheap) Champagne; Peach Wine from Heston Farms; Vodka; the moonshine in my refrigerator (that was either from Owen or Pumpkin's neighbor. These are the problems that arise when multiple people keep moonshine in the trunk of their car*. Oh, West Virginia. . . ); Ramona Singer wine (just kidding); Skinny Girl Margarita (not kidding)
*Did I just invent Moonshine Charms?? Like those charms you put around wine glasses, only, you know, jar-sized.
Flavors: Apple; Pineapple; Altoids (she sort of refused to acknowledge that one); Rhubarb (I like rhubarb pie. . . and it's time vegetables got more share of the cocktail game); Tiramisu; Green Tea; Peach; Strawberry; Ice Cream Sandwich
Mixers: Ginger Ale; Sprite; Cranberry Juice
Suggestions?
My favorite wine glasses, made by a WVU alum - Wine Me?