Review: Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip On

When I received an offer for the equine job I started yesterday, one of my first thoughts was "I need a new pair of barn boots!" In the past, I've always worn my tall riding boots around the barn; after all, I was almost always out there to ride. A pair of Wellies sufficed on days when I went out to feed or muck stalls. I knew most of my duties would be off-horse, so I started looking for a pair of boots I could wear to work. They needed to be comfortable, weatherproof, warm, and suitable for the occasional short stint on a disobedient animals.

I looked through a variety of brands and selected Sperry Top-Sider's Cormorant Rubber Slip On. I adore my other pair of Sperrys (the Bluefish boat shoe) and these came in the perfect color combination of brown/tattersall. I didn't want something too bright (like pink) but thought that the navy would look weird with jeans. (I have a thing against wearing navy with jeans.) Plus, they were on sale- always a bonus!

I wore them to work for the first time yesterday and was very pleased with them. I was initially concerned because they felt a bit tight (even though I ordered a half size up from my normal size), but the snugness dissipated after a bit  and they felt perfectly formed to my foot. My feet were kept nice and warm in yesterday's 20-degree weather, and snow and water didn't affect these boots at all. I had excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, from gravel to concrete to arena footing.  They looked great with jeans, and I wasn't self-conscious about wearing them into the grocery store on the way home. My only complaint is the laces- I untied one shoe's laces and couldn't get it tied properly again! The laces are coated in some kind of plastic, which makes them very slippery. The pair Sperry tied is perfectly fine and held all day, but the set of laces I adjusted came untied several times. It was very inconvenient, especially since I can't always stop leading a horse around to tie my boot! I managed to double-knot the laces (they were almost too short to do so) and don't plan on untying them ever again.

Overall, I feel like I got an excellent value and a stellar work boot. Stylish and functional, I'm certain these shoes will last me ages.

New Year, New Job!

Today was the first day of my new job with a therapeutic equine program right here in the Tulsa area! I am impossibly excited about it. Horses have always been my passion; I've been riding since I was a very small child (my mom took me on a trail ride when I was just 6 months old and I was given a pony to take riding lessons on at age 4) and have continued my equestrian activities through my life. I competed in three-day events on the weekends in high school and rode my on college's NCAA hunt seat team. Even when I moved to Kansas, I found a way to stay involved through playing polo. Now I've been hired on as an assistant for this program that teaches individuals with disabilities how to care for and ride horses!

I love everything about this job- my superiors are knowledgeable, the horses are wonderful, and the program participants are great. I'm most excited to start working with a Thoroughbred mare that needs to be sold. She's a talented hunter/jumper that really doesn't fit well with the program's needs, but would be fantastic for a competitive rider. Riding horses is my very favorite activity in the entire world, and now I'm getting paid to do it! What a fanastic day.

It's Snowing!

Snowy Tulsa!

It's a snowy day here in the Tulsa area! It's been snowing lightly all day long and picked up for a few hours this afternoon. Tonight, more snow is headed this way and the moisture on the roads is expected to freeze. Yikes! I am safe at work tonight, and my boss offered to let me stay in a room at the hotel if the conditions are bad. I just hope it's clear tomorrow morning- it's the first day of my new job!

Books

I've decided to add another goal to the 2011 list: read at least 10 books this year. I love reading, but I've read less and less as the years go on. I'm not sure why- I feel like I have plenty of free time, I still enjoy the act of reading books, and I find plenty of subjects appealing. I really believe I haven't read much lately because I have the internet. There's so much online to read and discover that sometimes, it's all I want to do! I still think I'd like to get back to reading literature, whether it's on the Nook app on my phone or an actual book.

I'm starting the year with a book I discovered at work. We have a giant pile of books that have been left here by guests, some intentionally, some accidentally. Most are cheesy romance novels or generic mysteries. I found a crazy looking book a few days ago and couldn't resist picking it up. It's The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison, and it's apparently some sort of fantasy classic.

How could I resist?

I generally like sci-fi/fantasy novels anyway, so I figured this book was as good a place as any to start. It's been slow going so far, though. The whole thing is written in Jacobean-style prose (think 'thee' and 'thou') and has been sort of a snooze-fest. Hopefully the action will pick up and I'll be able to get past the tone- I'd really like to finish it by the end of the month!

Things I Can't Live Without Lately

1. Vanilla lattes from a local coffee shop, Cappuccino Corner. Already good, now they're better because I was given a punch card! Yay rewards!
2. Liplicious lip gloss in Frozen Daiquiri. Shiny without being a weird color. Smells divine. Tastes like nothing, so I'm not constantly licking my lips.
3. Faux-diamond studs. Just the right amount of sparkle to make any outfit look fancy. And cheap enough that I won't be upset if I lose one.
4. iPod. I stopped using it in my Blazer because I didn't have a good wireless transmitter and there was no auxiliary input. Thanks to a well-timed Christmas gift from my uncle, I now have a very good transmitter to use in the Forester. Time to buy some new music!
5. Tote bag purchased years ago from Old Navy. I sort of forgot I had this. I bought it 4-5 years ago to carry my laptop to/from classes, then stopped using it after I graduated. It's a super cute bright blue and light tan canvas that's held up really well. It's once again toting a laptop; I carry my Chrome laptop (and Lilly planner and magazines and a paperback) to work with it. Perfect.

Maid of Honor

My best friend Amy got engaged over Christmas. I couldn't be happier for her or her fiancé Mikey; they've been together for years and are extremely good friends. (We were all roommates for a couple of years in college!) She asked me to be the maid of honor at her wedding and I was absolutely thrilled to agree! The only problem? What, exactly does a maid of honor do? I knew I'd be responsible for managing a ring and holding her bouquet, but is there anything else?


The answer is a resounding yes! Wedding website theknot.com has a list of expected duties and some advice. Highlights include: 

• Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It's the maid/matron of honor's (MOH) job to direct the other maids through their duties. Make sure everyone gets their bridesmaid dresses, go to dress fittings, and find the right jewelry. Also provide them with the 411 on all prewedding parties.
• Help shop for dresses (the bride's and the bridesmaids'). And the MOH pays for her own entire wedding outfit (including shoes).
• Offer to help the bride with prewedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing the wedding colors and nodding enthusiastically when she waxes poetic about wedding cake.
• Spread the news about where the bride and groom are registered.
• Help the bride change for her honeymoon and take charge of her gown after the ceremony. Arrange for storage in a safe place until she returns.
• Host or cohost a bridal shower for the bride.
• Attend all prewedding parties.
• Keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (or delegate a bridesmaid to handle this).
• Plan the bachelorette party with the bridesmaids.
• See to it that all bridesmaids get to the rehearsal; coordinate transportation and lodging, if necessary.
• Make sure that all bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done, get to the ceremony on time, and have the correct bouquets.
• Hold the groom's ring during the ceremony. Safest place to put it? On your thumb.
• Hold the bride's bouquet while the couple exchanges vows.
• Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man.
• Dance with the best man during the formal first-dance sequence and possibly be announced with him at the beginning of the party. Also dance with other groomsmen, the groom, and others.

Eek! Some of these are going to be tricky, given that I live in Oklahoma and Amy lives in Tennessee. Hopefully with text, email, online shopping, and Skype, I'll be able to help her almost as much as I could if I lived close by. 

I think I'm most excited about planning the bachelorette party; I'm already thinking about it! I think Tunica, Mississippi would be a great destination- it's close to Memphis, so any one flying in from out of town (of which there might be a few) would have a short drive, and it's a reasonable drive from where Amy lives. Amy and I have frequented the casinos in Tunica many times- they're fun, there's free drinks, and lots of food. We wouldn't have to worry about parking or a designated driver or entertainment. I can't wait to really get planning! 

Have you ever been a maid of honor? What did you do?

2011 Goals

After a very busy and exciting week, I am back to regular blogging. Hooray! Last week, I visited with my friend Kim and her husband Kevin; it was great to see them. Kim and I rode horses together years ago and have remained friends. They were in Tulsa for a wedding, and Johnny and I spent the evening watching the UT vs. UNC game. We had a fun time even though the Vols lost. The very next day it was off to Texas to pick up my new car- a 2010 Subaru Forester. I am sooo happy with it! Really, though, I am just happy to have a car and not have Johnny drive me everywhere. I start my new job at RSU next week, which is very exciting. I'll be working with Bit by Bit, their therapeutic riding program. Yay!

2011 has been a very good year so far (4 whole days in! haha!), and I have some goals in mind to keep it going strong.

1. Exercise at least 4 times per week. I haven't been very good about exercising regularly over the last couple of years. In college, I was kept busy by kickboxing and equestrian sports, but since graduating, I haven't done much of anything! I feel icky, and that's why I'm shooting for a much fitter 2010! I'm off to a good start- I've hit the gym and the trails every day this year so far. ;) 
2. Save $20 per paycheck. Saving money is something I'm not great at either. Instead of saving money from paychecks, I'm apt to splurge on clothes or beauty products or stationary. $20 per paycheck is a ridiculously small amount, but over the course of a year, it will add up to over $500! That's enough for a real shopping spree or a mini vacation somewhere fun. 
3. Blog 3 times a week or more. I like writing- even if no one is reading! Blogging forces me to sit down, think, and get creative. Plus, it's fun. :)
4. Do something fun in Tulsa at least once a month. I feel like I don't get out and visit my new city nearly often enough! This year, I want to see an event at the BOK center, catch a local sports team's game, visit a museum, or try some new restaurants. Once a month is reasonable, given our distance from the city and budget restraints. (Can't be doing something awesome every day!)
5. Send cards for friends' birthdays. I took the time to record every close friend's birthday in my planner; now it's time to put that to use! I know I'd love to receive a card over a text or Facebook post- I'm sure my friends would too. :)

What are your goals or resolutions for the year?