Used, hand-me-downs, second-hand, previously owned, vintage and/or recycled. Whatever you want to call it, you weren’t the first owner. Bonus, you didn’t pay full price. Not new, can be very deceptive. My first pair of Louboutins (and only—so far ;o) I purchased in a consignment store. Technically used, second-hand, previously owned… But they had never been worn. Score! I procured them for a third of the price. Sadly, I didn’t get the fancy box, however I was spared the enormous price tag. I will survive somehow. The wife of a billionaire who lives in Las Vegas happens to fancy fabulous footwear, and just so happens to wear my size. Sin City has now become even more dangerous. Selling unwanted goods second-hand instead of discarding them obviously benefits the seller, you get a little cash on the back end. Yes I know my Louboutins previous owner is a billionaire’s wife–but billions or no billions I can hear her husband “Did you really need another pair of shoes?” Some things are universal, bucko bucks or not. This way she gets a bit of petty cash. And I can acquire ridiculously expensive shoes at a slightly less ridiculous price. Win win! Hand- me-downs generally refer to used items, also previously owned but most of the time are gifted to you from a person cleaning out their closet. Anyone from a large family is very familiar with this concept. I have been the giver and the recipient of this exchange on many occasions. However when I ‘place’ a pair of my shoes in a new home I call it shoe adoption. My shoes are my babies and I need them to go to a good home. I also have had the good fortune of being on the receiving end of ‘new to me’ shoes. Generally they are not of the CFM glitz caliber I like but quite serviceable for the day-to-day deeds. And vintage is just fancy verbiage for used and old. But what constitutes vintage is up for debate. So the next time I travel to Vegas, it really will be because “ baby needs a new pair of shoes.” Laura
“One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure”
Oh Christmas Tree
I love Christmas trees! However, I am conflicted. To chop down a glorious 6-7 year old noble fir for the greedy gratification of adornment for of a few weeks seems wasteful, indulgent and overall not very ‘green’. I know artificial trees can be equally as beautiful but I love the smell of a fresh evergreen. As a child I would lay next to our Christmas tree for hours and watch the lights twinkle and dance across the ceiling, the smell of the pine with the sound and warmth of a fire in the fireplace, did I mention we didn’t have a TV? This was a favorite place to daydream. We did burn our tree, so at least it served a second purpose and not just discarded to the curb. Which always seems like a gruel ending after an exalted few weeks. And if you have never burned a Christmas tree, they make fabulous kindling. FYI wrapping paper is also fun to burn, it blazes into magnificent colors, but most likely horrible for the environment.
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree traditions, as we now know them. Hence the hideous holiday carol “O Tannenbaum”, German for Christmas tree. If this song is a favorite of yours, I apologize. I have always found it repetitious with a rather dressing melody.
Somewhere in the 16th century is when devout European Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. It is believed that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, was the first to add lighted candles to a tree. (That seems safe. Sarcasm.) Inspired while walking home one winter evening, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens.
Early Americans found Christmas trees peculiar. Even as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. Squashing the heathen traditions of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated that sacred event were in some places in America enforced by law. Can you imagine criminal charges for having a Christmas tree? Things have changed a lot in America!
However in 1846, popular British royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, (think Kate and William in People Magazine) were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects and what was done at court immediately became fashionable, not only in Britain, but also with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. Voila, the Christmas tree had arrived.
Europeans generally use small trees about four feet in height, while Americans like Christmas trees that reach the ceiling. We have always liked things bigger in America.
Electricity brought about Christmas lights~ early 1900s. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.
This ‘holiday’ tree is by no means traditional, it will not infuse the room with the scent of pine, but I would happily display it in my home Mr. Louboutin if you would like to supply the raw materials.
Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel all that and more—peace on earth and good will towards men… falalalalalalalala….
Laura
