Gettin’ Buggy With It

No, the name of my blog page is not just a coincidence. I actually have an obsession with all things ladybug, or katybug, as known in my circle.

It started when I was a youngster. My grandfather always called me Katydid, and that caught on throughout my family. Not really sure how that transitioned to – or if there was even any connection – Katybug, but at some point during my school years my friends started calling me that. Most memorably, my friend Natalie in high school. That’s when I think *I* adopted it as my nickname.

Push forward a couple more years, and somehow someway ladybugs were crowned katybugs in our little group, and the rest is history. I started collecting, on a very limited basis, little katybug collectibles. It started so innocent. Now, years later, there is no part of my life without katybugs in it. Even my license plate says Katybug. Spelled differently to accommodate the state of TN, but Katybug all the same. So the next pair of shoes should come as no surprise.

Store: Shoe Carnival

Review: Kitten heel. Fit small, these are actually a full size larger than what I usually wear. Obviously being near-flat flip-flops, they’re super comfy. And given they have katybugs on them, I of COURSE love them dearly.

More katybugs. I have a new katybug dress that I need to let out just a smidge in the top before I can wear it, but it WILL be showcased here eventually. Perfection.

And the accessories. Even katybugs on the glasses.

One question I get ALL the time is “Why do you spell it Katybug and not Katiebug, since Katie is how you spell your name?” I have multiple answers for this, and I’m not sure which is the right one. But the two I use most often are “Maybe because I insisted people spell my name with a y when I was younger.” And “I guess my friends just thought ladybug and replaced the beginning of it with the beginning of my name.”

Either way, rest assured the Katybug collection will only continue to grow!



Shoes, Glorious Shoes! 8

Same mall, same store. That’s right. I warned you a lot of them would be this way!

I actually got this pair while my shoe beast was still in hibernation. We were just basically going in every store in the mall and looking around. I’m really kinda surprised I bought these, honestly. Only for the fact I have maybe 4 brown outfits in my closet. I typically don’t do brown, and don’t do gold jewelry. Silver jewelry, and my closet is FULL of black, hot pink, and red. I always tell myself I’m going to switch things up and start buying different colors, but never do. So for me to buy these must’ve been fate. You’ll understand once you see the outfit.

Brand: Carlos Santana Name: Roulette

Store: Off Broadway Shoes

Review: 4” heel. Fits large. To the point I went down a half size. But because of that, and the fact I don’t wear them but a couple times a year, the toe area fits TIGHT. I only wear them on days I’m pretty sure I won’t be doing a lot of walking, otherwise I’m going to come away with blisters.

See what I mean about worlds colliding in wonderful ways? I had already had this sweater for probably 5 or more years when I bought the shoes. Didn’t even think about the sweater when I bought them. And come on! I don’t think I could’ve found a better match if I tried!!

Also, I apparently just decided to pay attention to the fact you can change your pic size once you insert them. I have now gone back and corrected all blogs so the outfit is easier to see.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes! 7

This pair took some work. We were in Atlanta, in Discover Mills…

You’ll notice a lot of my stories revolve around this mall. In fact I believe one of my blogs already has. Maybe I should come up with a code word or shorthand for it: Same city, same mall.

…we had already been in Rack Room and another shoe store that I can’t think of the name right now. No finds. I was beginning to think the shoe gods had turned on me. Then we walked in Off Broadway. After walking two full aisles and not finding anything, I half-heartedly started down aisle three. Now if you’ve ever been in an Off Broadway Shoes, you know how massive these stores are compared to other shoe stores. So for me to make it through two whole aisles and not stop once to try anything on, or even just look at the price… crazy.

Aisle 3 brought me these gems. Well… sort of. I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as I saw them. Looked at the boxes below to see if they had my size and… of course not. So I put a “sticky note” on my phone with the name of the shoe so I could search it once we got back home. Cut to a month (and about 20 web searches) later, FINALLY someone put them on eBay in the size I was looking for. Of course I instantly purchased them, wasn’t about to let someone else get MY shoes.

Now, it should be noted that I am a very VERY impatient person when it comes to waiting on a package to be delivered to me. I want it the day after I order it. I’m nice enough to give them that long. But even with all of that said, these shoes took forever to get to me. 7 days was the final transit time, and they were shipped Priority Mail (supposedly a 2-3 day transit). They said out for delivery 4 days before they were actually delivered. This was not a shocker, I mean it IS the USPS we’re talking about and I am hands down the biggest USPS hater in the world, but still incredibly angering. I sent them an angry e-mail. I picture them reading it and laughing an evil villain laugh. They lost their “we give a shit” chip years and YEARS ago.

But I digress. I had my shoes and they were finally ready to be seen in all their glory!!!

Brand: Betsey Johnson Name: Dita

Store: eBay

Review: 6” heel. They’re actually about 5 ½” but they have so much attitude, I’m giving them the extra half inch. I had read several reviews online that Betsey Johnson shoes run a size small, so I purchased a half size bigger than I normally do. Figured half size was less risky than a full size. Boy am I glad I did. They definitely run small. It was work getting them on for the first time. But as the day went on (I tend to kick my shoes off under my desk when working on a project, so I can pull my feet up under me in my chair) it got easier and easier so I think I stretched them a bit. I think if I had gone up a full size, they would’ve ended up being loose after wearing them a few times.

The best part about these shoes are the heels. Again, attitude even when walking away. And I LOVE how shiny they are. Words and pictures don’t do it justice. You’d have to see in person. But you definitely see these shoes coming from a mile away.

The outfit was flirty, to play off of the shoes.

And the accessories. I love when worlds collide in the most delightful ways. I bought this ring online a month or so ago, for the katybug of course. It didn’t even occur to me at the time I had this bracelet that my grandmother bought me years ago. Perfect match, right? The only bummer is I have a red flower Y necklace that would have been the accessory trifecta, but I couldn’t find it that day. Come to think of it… I still haven’t.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes! 6

The story behind these shoes is simple. Right place, right time. We were out shopping for a new pair of dress shoes for the bf, and happened to find a pair at Rack Room. Well you know, they’re Buy One, Get One ½ Off every day… and nobody likes to see a deal go to waste. So, I did what any good girlfriend would do and sacrificed by picking out a pair of shoes for myself that we could get ½ off.

When I first posted a pic of these shoes online (by themselves, not on my feet), the response was very “eh”. They didn’t really do anything for anybody. I promised them all they’d understand once they saw them on. Lo and behold a few days later, I snapped a pic of them at work, and the response was a complete 180°. Let it be KNOWN: Katybug does not purchase shoes that are just “eh”. There has to be something special about them, or I’m not getting them. The only shoes in my closet that I am not 100% in love with are shoes that I’ve had for 10+ years and get worn maybe once a year, if even that.

Brand: Limelight Name: Yvette

Store: Rack Room Shoes

Review: 4” heel. Fits perfect to size, though they *are* difficult to get on and off. Very comfy but I will say, with all the criss-cross straps, if you do a lot of walking in them those start to dig in a bit by the end of the day. If you’re wearing them to a party or for a desk job NOT like mine (I walk almost all day long most days), you’re not going to have any complaints.

Edgy shoes ask for an edgy outfit. Well, as edgy as a business casual environment will allow for, anyway!

It’s hard to tell in the picture, but there is a zipper up the back of the heel. I love a shoe that has attitude even when walking away!