Melanie (who by the way is tiny…go figure) is sweet, funny, real, and OH MY GOODNESS does she knows how to tell a story. Reading her blog has been a bright spot in my day for the last 5 years.
In short, I am a fan.
Soon after I started Pinterest Told Me To, I got a wild hair and decided to e-mail Melanie one evening with a link to my blog thinking that she might enjoy it.
And y’all.
She e-mailed me back.
I’d like to tell you that I was pleased with this development, but truth be told, I FREAKED THE FREAK OUT.
And not only did she e-mail me back, but she told her readers about my blog……
and here’s the best part….
SHE STARTED READING IT HERSELF.
Like, she started actually reading Pinterest Told Me To.
I know.
I can’t even.
She was in town a couple of years ago for a Dot Mom conference that she was emceeing with Sophie, and Shay and I got a chance to meet Melanie briefly (along with Sophie and Kelly)!
Since then, I’ve shared some e-mails and texts with Melanie and we’ve become friends.
At one point we were even texting back and forth about our kids’s diarrhea bugs that they both had.
So, we came a long way in a short time: from me FREAKING THE FREAK OUT that she e-mailed me…..to texting back and forth about diarrhea.
That’s a lot of ground to cover. 😉
And this is neither here nor there, but EVERY SINGLE TIME I write the word diarrhea, I have to google it to find out how it’s spelled. WHY IS IT SO HARD? AND WHY AM I FREQUENTLY WRITING IT?
Anyway, I know that y’all have heard me talking about it for over a month now, but Melanie’s 3rd book officially released last week.
It’s about friendship, and IT’S AWESOME.
And if you haven’t bought one yet, go ahead and buy it for you and all your friends.
You can do so HERE.
She had a book signing scheduled in Dallas last week, so I OF COURSE made plans to go!
This was the picture I texted Shay before leaving.
I present to you, outfit pictures in seriously bad lighting.
Outfit Sources:
spring leopard tassel shell HERE / Marisa ankle pants HERE (on sale!)/ MUST HAVE denim jacket HERE (BIG NEWS! There’s a new PLUS SIZE version HERE.) /
blue and green agate pendant HERE / blingy hoops HERE / wedges sold out 🙁
I was walking up to Barnes and Noble just as Melanie arrived with Gulley (her BFF that is all over the book), and my new friends Jen, Jamie, and Maddie (you’ll see pics of them and learn who they are in a minute).
Everybody was just happy to be there and supporting Melanie!
And when we went up the escalator, there were THRONGS of people waiting to meet her!
(Technically I don’t know how many people are in a throng…but trust me, there were lots.)
How many you ask?
You want a rough estimate?
Well, just know that she signed books from 7:30-10:00.
SHE SIGNED BOOKS for 2 1/2 straight hours.
And I don’t even think she went potty.
#nobody’smoreprofessionalthansheis
So we got up the escalator, and they sat her at this little table in front of everybody while the Barnes and Noble people explained how things were going to go.
And know this. The Barnes and Noble people mean business at their book signings.
After we were all schooled on how things were going to go by the crack staff at Barners and Noble, Melanie got up, did a little intro (she said some sweet things about her friends and I definitely teared up), and then she read Chapter 12 to all of us
And I tell you what, nobody was cuter than her.
After the reading, she asked for questions.
The first question right out of the box was “How does Gulley feel about all of these stories about her being in the book?”
Well, since Gulley was there, Melanie turned to Gulley for her to answer the question herself.
And Y’ALL.
WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, Gulley said, wait for it….
“There’s nobody’s mouth I would trust my name coming out of more than hers.“
THAT WAS A PRECIOUS ANSWER!
#gulleyforpresident
#oratleastforspeechwriter
but I’ll tell you what this book does…it makes me love them even more.
Because girlfriends are so very important.
My life is better and sweeter AND WAY FUNNIER because of them. (I should write a book that only has screen shots of our group texts. I promise you that you would want to read it.)
I spent the next 2 1/2 hours chatting it up with other ladies who were there.
Some of the girls that were there for Melanie also read this blog, so it was awesome getting to meet and connect with them. I also really enjoyed getting to know Melanie’s friends more because they are a HOOT.
Jenn (the cute one in the orange top below) is a Speech Therapist that works in Frisco. She contacted me last year to see if I would come talk to a group of ladies that work with her. So, I did that at the beginning of this year, and Jen and I became fast friends! 🙂 Jenn is awesome. And funny. And she’s totally going to figure out a way to get us into a Bachelor -The Women Tell All taping.
#nopressurejenn
#makeithappen
I first met Jamie (blue shirt), Jenn’s sister, when she came to our little get together back at the beginning of the school year. Purely fyi: I no longer call her Jamie, I call her “Cowboy”, but that’s a story for another day. 🙂
Jamie came to hear me talk, even though she had no idea about the blog or me at the time, she’s just a good sport like that. Anyway, Jamie and Melanie are friends from college.
Maddie (in the coral shirt on the end) is Jen’s daughter and Jamie’s niece.
You got that everybody?
Oh, and that’s Jen in white on the end. Jen is Melanie’s friend who she talks about in the book that was recently diagnosed with cancer. Again. (Which she is facing with amazing friends and family by her side and a FIERCE faith in God.)
Jen showed me her boobs within 5 seconds of me meeting her. Which I have to say, is a very endearing quality. Nice to meet you. Look at my girls. I dig it.
Melanie calls it Jen’s new “party trick” because apparently they are changing because of her inflammatory breast cancer and she feels she needs people to see the changes.
We bonded over boobs.
sidenote: My friend Jeni is so jealous right now.
Again, another story for another day.
😉
And for some reason I had the idea in my head that Gulley was kind of a quiet gal.
WELL I WAS WRONG.
She’s an absolute ball to be around, and I’m not sure if anybody has ever called her a “quiet gal”. 😉
Melanie’s friend Hite showed us how to use this app where you act like you are on the phone, and you can scan the room (all the while acting like you are on the phone) and take pictures or videos of others!
So that’s me and Cowboy while Hite was demonstrating SneakyPic.
This should be where you stop and warn your children about SneakyPic and about HOW EVERYTHING THEY DO WILL END UP ON THE INTERNETS SOME DAY.
And make sure you say “internets”. The “s” on the end is very important.
After the last person’s book was signed and Melanie was officially diagnosed with carpal tunnel (not really), we headed to dinner.
At 10:00 p.m.
Because we are rock stars.
Cowboy and I shared a Croque Monsieur that changed my life, and I just sat around and soaked in all of the shenanigans of their group of friends.
Because I’ll tell you this.
Nobody’s cuter OR FUNNIER than they are.
Just act like “funnier” is a word.
All right, that’s all I’ve got for the book signing recap.
I got home at 12:30 a.m..
On a school night.
And 5:30 came extremely early the next morning, even though I didn’t drink even a sip of alcohol.
Which is really their loss.
Because I’m a BLAST when I’m tipsy.
It’s a proven fact.
Maybe I’ll write a book called Nobody’s Funnier Than I am After a Couple of Vodka Cranberries.
Sounds like a best seller to me.
😉
AND NOW, SHOES!
I tried on several pair at the mall last week, and there were several that I liked A LOT.
The Michael kors Wedges HERE were probably my favorite.
I bought a pair of Lucky brown wedges a couple of months ago, and I loved the look of them, but they were just too dang tall for me. These are tall, but not at all too tall.
And they are just a great basic wedge that would look cute with just about anything you could imagine. I mean, COME ON. This is a great pair of wedges.
Find the BP wedges in the next picture HERE.
Here’s the thing about these wedges…even though they are different…they are about the closest thing I’ve ever seen to the MUST HAVE putty patent wedges of 2012.
DEAR CALLISTO,
BRING THE PATENT PUTTY WEDGES BACK.
WE BEG YOU.
xoxo,
Pinterest Told Me To
These have a cork look instead of patent. YES. That’s very different.
But every thing else is very similar.
The straps, the overall cut of the shoe, the heel height.
And although I only walked around in them in the store, they did seem to be QUITE comfortable.
Now, they haven’t passed the ALL DAY AT THE ZOO test like the must have wedges of yesteryear….but they might…they just haven’t been tested.
If I didn’t still have my Callisto’s, I would get these.
Click HERE.
They come in these 3 colors, and I love them all.
And at $69.95, they don’t break the bank.
Click HERE for all wedges under $100.
I think THESE are another great option!
If you are in the market for a heeled sandal (more than a wedge), you might be interested in the franco sarto’s found HERE.
They are a great cognac color and are also very comfortable.
And if you are looking for a super fun, super casual, super comfy slip on wedge….
then look no further than HERE.
These would be great if you want something nicer than a flip flop, but not as dressy or tall as most wedges out there. They are a nice middle ground.
One of the readers that I met at Melanie’s signing (she was SO cute, but I can’t remember her name) asked me about Birkenstocks.
Here’s the honest truth.
I just can’t get into them.
They are actually totally cool and very accepted now (you can see them all over Hollywood), but I just can’t get on the Birk train.
Here are some that I tried on.
Click HERE for the floral Birks pictured below. Click HERE for all Birks.
If you are wanting to try the trend, but not wanting to spend them money, you might want to try this snakeskin pair HERE from Joe Fresh. MUCH cheaper, and I think cuter too.
(I’m working on an entire post for Joe Fresh that I am SUPER excited about, so stay tuned for that!)
If you can’t wait and want to go ahead and check their stuff out (think J Crew-ish with a smaller price tag!), make sure you use the code PTMT20 for 20% OFF everything (excluding sale).
And you might remember these from Monday’s post.
You can find the Seychelle blingy thong sandals HERE
See you back here on Friday girls!
I have some ideas to share with you for Mother’s Day gift for both you and the moms in your life!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
p.s.
A reader posted this on the PTMT facebook wall last night:
Pinterest Told Me To needing your advice/help!! Do you have any favorite strapless bras?? Needing one for the summer time that doesn’t make me feel miserable but also gives me a little lift! love love love your blog!
– Ashley
ASHLEY! I bought a strapless bra for the first time in probably 5 years last week because I’m going to a wedding in June, and the dress requires a strapless. I paid a lot for it,. but OH MY IS IT WONDERFUL. It has removable straps (which I love)…so you can wear it normally with two straps, you can criss cross it, you can make it halter, or you can make it strapless (of course!).
It has 87 5 STAR reviews!
Thanks for the question Ashley! I’ve been meaning to mention it in a post, but just hadn’t gotten around to it!
*** CLICK HERE FOR THE BRA ***
And here’s an endorsement for you. Yesterday I was throwing clothes on to take Carter to school, and I couldn’t find a bra to throw on.
I saw my new strapless, and I thought I would just throw it on to run him to school.
Well…I totally forgot I was wearing a strapless bra until I took it off last night!
NOW THAT’S A GOOD STRAPLESS BRA.
Charming Lucy says
Ahh thank you . I just added everything in this post to my shopping cart( : I will have to hide from my husband for weeks – and we work together, so it may be difficult;) Love this blog of yours! Susan
Erika Slaughter says
Your book signing recap was on point!! But after the mentioning of that strapless bra, it's all I can think about it. I think I need it!!!
MorganizewithMe says
Great recap – loved hearing the details. I'm a huge fan of Melanie!!! Also going to check out that strapless bra.
kimm atwood says
I am ordering the book! Can't wait to read it
Mix and Match Mama says
What a fun, fun, fun night!! Everyone needs to read Melanie's new book. I really just can't rave about it enough. She is an amazing writer!!
Big Mama says
We missed you, Shay!!
karate nurse says
For Mother's Day, I ordered all three of her books for each of my Mom's and MIL's (my husband and I each have a Mom and a Step-Mom). And a little plug for my friend, along with the books, they are each getting a pair of adorable leather ear rings from http://www.nickelandsuede.com/ . I made sure to order the books plenty early so I can read them before gifting them!
Michele @ The Joyful Home says
What a fun night! So sad I missed- that BN is right around the corner from me 🙂 love the cork wedges and can't wait to see what you're putting together for Joe Fresh!
Cait Bahena says
Loved the recap! I am finally ordering the Dolce Vita wedges!!! But for the life of me I can't find when you first blogged about them and don't remember how you said they fit!! True to size?
Sheaffer says
Hi Cait! Some say true to size, some say to go up a 1/2 size. Sorry I'm not more help!!!! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Rebecca Jo says
It's like the cool kids right there 🙂 So neat that you all have become such good friends.
Johnna says
I am an Ambassador for Noonday Collection, which has an incredible mission, so I LOVE seeing Melanie wear our Velocity necklace! ❤️
Courtney {Alkeks Abroad} says
I would really appreciate if you wrote your book, I would even pre-order it!
Carol Swindall says
That picture from dot mom reminded me how that is the way I came to your blog. I was a reader of Sophie's blog and her recap from dot mom that year led me to you. At the time I lived in Florida (with no Nordstrom), but now I am in Flower Mound and won't confess to how many time a week I "run by" Nordstorm:)
kmknowles says
I e-mailed you this week about a wedge at Target that gives the Callisto wedge a run for its money. I am telling you they are FABULOUS!! They are the Mossimo Julie Wedge. Check them out!
Heather says
Those BP wedgies are going into my cart, like now! Have you ever tried out Tieks? I am THISCLOSE to biting the bullet on the leopard print pair but would really like a trustworthy opinion of comfort and fir first 🙂
Sheaffer says
I have tried the Tieks! In fact, I blogged about them a couple of weeks ago! I have 2 pairs: a burlap looking one (that I honestly don't love), and a pair of ballet pink ones that I DO LOVE! I rarely blog about them because they are so expensive, but I do love mine. And I know lots of women SWEAR by their Tieks! If you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me at pinteresttoldmeto@yahoo.com
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
Narci says
Melanie's book really is wonderful!! Such a good read! What a fun night you had at the book signing! Love!
Melissa Hill says
I have never heard of Joe Fresh but went to website to order those cute snake skin shoes but the code you gave to use for discount doesn't work 🙁
They have super cute stuff though! (and dirt cheap!!)
Sheaffer says
Hi Melissa! Oh no! I've e-mailed somebody and they are working on it now!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
Sarah says
I am currently wearing the Callisto putty wedges 🙂 So comfy, my go to shoe! I'm going to be sad when they wear out and I have to replace with something else.
Sherry says
Hi Sheaffer! I'm the Birkenstocks girl you met at Melanie's book signing! So fun to read your recap- it was such a fun night and It was great to meet you! I finally broke down and wore my Birks to the store for the first time yesterday. But then I changed to my TB flip flops before I went to pick up my kid from school! #babysteps 🙂
Sheaffer says
Hi Sherry!!! #babysteps made me lol!! 🙂
Kristen says
I loved reading your recap! You made us all feel like we were almost there with you! What a fun experience! Big Mama was one of the first blogs I discovered also.
Queen In Between says
My callisto wedges broke the 2nd time I wore them this spring and I have been carrying them around in my car hoping to see if they can be repaired! I can't get into birks either..and while at Target recently I showed a knockoff pair to my 9 year old and told her they were coming back in style and she said NOT her style.
Addy says
I just ordered: the BP faceted stone stud pink earrings, Wacoal strapless bra, Reef Mallory flip flops, Madewell slub pocket vneck tee in black, some sale Zella shorts, and some Clarks wedge sandals I found after reading this…. I am tall so am always hunting for wedge sandals that arent's 3"+. I want the Seychelle blingy thong sandals so badly, hope my size comes back in! Nordstrom thanks you, my wardrobe thanks you, my wallet does not. 🙂 Thanks, lady!
Tiffany @ The Queen B Life says
Well, I just added another book to my reading list! I feel like the timing of your post is a sign, I have a draft post for my little blog singing the praises of YOU and YOUR BLOG, and have hesitated to send to you and get your PTMT buy-in on it. I'm a huge fan and finding your blog truly changed my shopping habits and closet for the better . . .but don't want to come off like creepy, super fan, ya know? I guess I'll send it and see what happens 🙂
Sheaffer says
Of course Tiffany! Send me an e-mail! 🙂
Alisha Wilson says
Hi Sheaffer,
I have been looking for a green top like the one Melanie has in the pictures above. It's so cute. Do you have any idea where she got it? Thanks! Love your blog.
Kelly says
I was just about to leave the same comment 🙂 Please help us Shaeffer! 🙂
Sheaffer says
Hey Alisha and Kelly! She said she got it from Zara!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
Ashley Farish says
Shaeffer,
I bought the strapless bra the night you told me about it- and I squealed with excitement when I got my Nordstrom email today that it is no longer back ordered but in the mail being shipped! Can't wait to be pain free and lifted when I wear my strapless this summer! Thanks for always being so real on your blog, making me LOL, and helping me shop smart and look cute all at the same time!
Gulley says
It was so fun to meet you and spend time with you! You are so sweet about my answer…talk about nerves! See you soon! XOXO
janiam says
Just saw those cute floral birks online this morning. I love them!
Daniella Elyse says
I have a similar shirt to the one you paired with red pants, and I never thought to pair my own with coloured pants! What a great idea!