Silly boys, girls hunt too

It's the second morning of open season. The biggest hunting season of all- deer hunting with a gun. I know many of you ladies don't even know exactly where your husbands are right now..."Oh, he went somewhere with so-an-so." And some husbands will come back telling stories like "I didn't see anything" again, simply because they were in a stand but so tired that they had fallen asleep. And then there are the die hards. I just observed the sun rise over the treetops this am but my husband has already been gone for hours. He is a local. He normally will head out on his own for 1-2 days then it may be off with a hunting crew KT has put together. honestly, these are the days where I feel the need to wear blaze orange even in my own home. Shots seem to fire all around our house. I barely let the yellow lab finish her duties outside for fear she may be mistaken. And the road out in front which is lucky to see 3-5 cars all day sounds like a highway at 5 am. Yesterday we made sure we left in the early am and did not return until dusk.

Jordan climbed his first tree yesterday. He sat all afternoon with Todd. They saw a pheasant. And while they did that, Andrew and I tried on a completely different pair of shoes- rollar skates. Oh, the good ol' days. Natalie Smith, if you are still out there, I wonder if you can still skate??? The splits under the limbo bar...the wind jacket that fluttered as she zoomed by on those speed skates whose wheels glowed in the dark. Andrew is an expert on those skates. It's fun to watch him.

I finally found my boots! I mean, I got my kill. After searching everywhere, I think this is it. Can't wait for the party night! I am so thankful I have had such great help this year. Some new ideas have formed and certainly great, great raffle and auction items. I have suck great friends and family.

Speaking of friends, I can't wait to show you the hunting video Kathy, Kelly, and I made. We had an extremely successful hunt that day. All blood trails lead to a kill. I once again grew foot-size envy for those who wear 6-6.5. They even had a full length mirror in their aisle! Why didn't the size 9s? Come on! But that didn't stop me! As all hunters do, we displayed out kill on the rooftop of the car. The response we got from the crowd that gathered...priceless. As one fellow hunter screamed from the other side of the parking lot, "Is there a sale???" Now I know why the back of the truck bed is open (as if the deer is so big, it couldn't be closed)...but to be gawked at is really fun!

To another pair of friends who shared leftover meat... We have sent off elk meat, deer sausage, fish... At times we have gotten salmon, turkey pot pies, goose sausage. Well, my good friends Michelle and Jeanne were kind enough to deliver a shoe leftover. They had spotted them on a hunting expedition at DSW, thought of me immediately, and down it went. The next day, it was delivered to my doorstep. I will be sure to pay them back! Nice!

And to my surprise, a precious gift from a good friend Ann. She thought of our mission on a Fleet Farm hunting trip expedition. A beautiful Christmas ornament- "He hunts, therefore I shop."

To all good friends, Happy Hunting! On this thanksgiving week, I am so thankful to have all of you. I want to make sure that I have your emails. I am planning on sending out a finalized list of all of the raffle and auction items we have this year. So, if you have gotten my emails in the past, you are in. If you have not, please send me an email paula.carlton@aurora.org. Thanks.

This is the last official week the hunting season is open until the show off party to benefit Chix. Best wishes!
Paula

To the Core

OK, I agree. It seems that the bright colors and skinny jeans are certainly back in this season. Somehow in the 2000s, I have become very comfortable with the wide leg pant and nothing but black! And as I continue to shop for that perfect boot, I am discovering the ones I fall in love with are with 5 inch heels! So if the 80s are back, I want my 80s body back too!

I have another blog suggestion to do just that! Tiffany Larson is a personal trainer. She has inspired me to work not only my body but spirit and mind to the "core". While she currently can be seen teaching classes at the YMCA, she also does private training out of her home. Her blogging style certainly reflects her genuine soul. She is passionate about family, friends, and, of course, Pilates. Check it out at www.hometrainingllc.com .

Pilates serves so many purposes. It has reinforced my breath. I am more mindful of my posture. I feel at times, even without those 5 inch heels, I am taller. And if after a 10 hour day, my achilles feels like they have shrunk 2 inches because of wearing those heels, I can come home, plop down on the floor, and work on every small and large muscle my body has to support me.

Happy Hunting...and take care of yourself!
Paula

Hot Hunting Tips

Hello Hunting Girls-

The committee is geared up for the hunt. We are working hard and this will be an evening you will not want to miss.

Just received some great advice in the latest newsletter by Ms. Mary Sheehan Warren!

Take a look but be prepared to stay awhile! She has a number of fabulous thoughts and her writing style is very engaging.

Happy Hunting!

Kathy

Mary’s e-mail-

It’s in the Winter Newsletter at www.marysheehanwarren.com .

… easy-to-use, stress-free, money-saving FASHION advice for you !

Learn the trends for the season…the skinny on skinny jeans…great shopping tips…and where to get what!

Also learn about the new Virtual Consultation Service.

Happy Hunting!

An addiction

I got a text from Kelly this Monday stating Oprah was having a show on shoes, accessories, and handbags. For a moment, I thought my dream had come true. The one where Oprah calls me, tells me she heard about the shoe hunt and wants to hunt too! But how could that be as I was driving in my car on my way home...then my high hopes went to worry. Was Oprah hosting an intervention? Were these women to just give those items up? How could she? This could be disastorious. So I couldn't text back as I was driving, going to pick up Jordan for basketball and my Pilates class. By the time we were back in the car, I forgot to call Kelly back to ask her all about it.

As it is Wednesday, I have time to search what Oprah may have been teaching the world on Monday. The seasons best- shoes, handbags, accessories. I have gone on the website and got sucked in to all of the ideas. I am so happy they agree that this season seems to be all about boots. I really had that feeling last year but was too afraid to be one of the first to place the pant leg back in the boot but I have come out of the closet on that one already this year! I am happy I did that while in Chicago a short time ago as that certainly seemed to be the trend. And the Oprah site has a whole section on over the knee boots! Told you! But, I completely disagree with them on one thing- the over the knee with the heel...who cares if it is Pretty Woman-ish, go for it! She also had a boot that was priced at $2,500. And the quote was about the "think of it in 10, 20, 30 years..." Why were they not whispering in my ear when I had those Guccis on?!?

So, as a result of my inquiry, 2 other great sites for you to consider in your shopping adventures...www.purseblog.com. This seems so cute, fun, needed. A couple of chicks coming together to blog about purse finds, deals, sales. Neat! And www.ideeli.com- excuse me for not knowing about sites like this and I may regret signing up. I'll keep you informed how this one goes or please give me feedback if you have ever done the same!

This web searching can be addicting so I better stop before I end up in rehab. Addiction can be a bad thing. Is there a rehab for shoe addiction? Can you imagine? You would be there with like 20 other girls all walking around bare foot..some talking about how their addiction has caused plantar fasciitis, bunions, spurs...group trips to DSW just to test us...no use of cell phones or computers. I would break down. I would come home, the closet empty except for a pair of flip flops...it would start all over as I attempt to super glue heels on those flops...

But we'll save that for after the hunting season (now I sound like an addict..."just one more...")

Happy Hunting to all you addicts!
Paula