25 June 2009
The days I have left here at home this summer are winding down. One of the things that always means to me, is remembering, even more than usual, to appreciate the little things. Like every time Kyle fills my coffee cup or pours me a glass of wine without me asking for it. And how much I’ll miss that while I’m away. And, it makes me do silly things, too, like spelling “I love you” with the fruit I serve to him for breakfast. Goofy, I know, but, what can I say?
The other thing that happens just before I go away, is that we try to squeeze in visits with as many friends as possible. For me, it really started back a couple of weeks ago, with the scrapbooking. And, in the coming days, we’ll get together with everyone we can. Today, it was lunch with Kathleen!
My photo today is of the sign I parked under at the Chili’s where we ended up having lunch. (Who knew the Fuddruckers at Irving Mall was gone?) It’s the sign for a maternity store called Motherhood—-I was amused that every available space between letters seemed to be well-used by the local pigeon population. Motherhood, indeed!
After lunch, Kyle went back to the office, and I let myself be convinced —ooooh, the arm-twisting! 
— to go shoe shopping with Kathleen! I was actually there in an advisory capacity <grin> since I love, love, love shoes and shoe shopping, and Kathleen has a brand new suit she needed to accessorize. It was wonderful to be able to use my skills to help a friend! <tee hee>
Our little excursion to the mall turned into a bit of an adventure over a missing purse . . . no, not mine. I can’t wander away from my piece of luggage without instantly missing the huge weight on my shoulder. But, Kathleen doesn’t regularly carry a purse, and well . . . we were distracted by shoes! We backtracked and hunted, and alerted authorities. It’s a scary thing, knowing your wallet and keys and cell phone are all in one place . . . lost. But, ultimately, disaster was averted due to the honesty and integrity of a Dillard’s sales associate named Laura. She found the purse and kept it safe until we returned to claim it. It’s a wonderful thing to know that there are still such wonderful, morally-upstanding people in the world. Thank you, Laura.
After saying goodbye to Kathleen in the very hot mall parking lot, I decided I was not interested in sitting in five o’clock traffic for an hour, so I stopped to join Kyle at Rob’s on my way home. I left him there to watch part of the pool tournament before he followed me home, and went home to get back to work.
Work. That’s the other thing that these last few days have in store for me.
~MB
Question MB. You seem to be a shoe authority and I’m shoe clueless. One of the reasons is that I’m incredible difficult to fit. For some odd reason, (I’m sure it amuses him) God decided that the ball of my foot should be rather wide and the heel rather narrow. Add to that the new development of a badly pinched nerve (I understand this will be a life long situation) which means I can’t wear heels above a certain height. Do you have suggestions? Just like any other red blooded woman, I want my feet to be sexy. So I hate the prospect of frump shoes. Where do I go? I bow to your wisdom and look forward to your response. *Hugs*
Lori: I’ll try to offer a few ideas, and all the while, please know that I am rather amused to suddenly feel like the Dear Abby of Shoes!! LOL
One of the best bits of advice I can give on shoes is that for maximum wearability and comfort—don’t skimp. When at all possible, buy leather shoes. Italian or Brazilian if possible. And, realize that that means spending more than you would at “Payless.” Now, that’s not to say that there aren’t some incredible deals to be found in the off-price stores (Ross, TJMaxx, Marshalls, Burlington etc.) or that you can’t find awesome sales at end of season, and at outlet stores. I have so rarely paid full price for shoes, I can’t remember doing so.
Of course, there are times when finding the perfect colour, or accent to an outfit will take priority over the leather thing. And, that’s okay, too. But, it is the leather shoes that are likely to be the most comfortable, and therefore become your favourites. Leather uppers will stretch and over time conform to your feet. Synthetic materials will never do that.
The best advice I can give regarding your narrow little heel, in comparison with the width of the ball of your foot, is that you should learn to love clogs and mules, ankle straps and slingbacks. There are clever little products you can buy to pad the inside, and therefore tighten the backs of your pumps and maryjanes, but if you’re like me, a slippy heel is so annoying, it’s best to just not push the issue. With backless shoes, and slingbacks, nothing has to “fit” around the back of your heel, and if it does, it’s completely adjustable (you can always punch another hole in a strap). My favourite company names to watch for in clogs and mules are Born and Naturalizer (a great brand in almost any style!), and almost anything that sounds Italian!
Clogs are the ultimate easy to wear shoe, and the really good ones are so comfy I can put them on in the morning, work a sixteen-hour day, and never once think about my feet all day! Mules are technically any backless shoe that your foot slips into and they come in every height imaginable, although they are usually closed-toe. Any with a bit of a heel are super cute. Slingbacks are classic, looking like a pump from the front, but with a strap rather than a heel cup in back. And ankle straps, usually connected by a “t-strap” are always sexy!
Specific to your pinched nerve issue— figure out what that maximum heel height is for you, and just say no to the higher stuff. It’s not worth the pain. There are some incredibly fun and sexy shoes with teeny little “kitten” heels that can really turn a head! Be on the lookout for those. The other way to achieve height (not that you need that!) or the fun-factor of a heel that *looks” higher than it is, is to go with at least a slight platform. Many modern styles put about a one inch platform under the ball of the foot, making the heel an inch higher as well, without changing the angle of your foot that much. Brilliant! I also find I deal with much less foot fatigue in a platform shoe. The bones and muscles in the foot don’t have to do much work when walking in them. . . the shoe doesn’t flex. But, likewise, it requires a bit of a learning curve to adjust to walking in them without looking and sounding like Frankenstein’s monster.
I’m not a big fan of buying a new shoe style online, although the more reputable sites do allow for returns and exchanges. Check that in advance, though! Online shopping is *great* when you already own one pair and you’re ready for more of the same. If you’ve kept your box (when the box was even an option), you have all the information you need to find the same shoe again. Otherwise, I am a big fan of the shopping process . . . trying shoes on and walking around at least a few paces in them, before deciding to purchase. I’ve already named some of my favourite shoe shopping spots, although the selection in those places is extremely limited and haphazard. For more selection, I like the Rack Room stores, or I head to a mall where I have multiple stores at my disposal. And, really satisfying shoe shopping happens for me at (good) outlet malls; my favourites are Prime Outlets. I can count on finding a Nine West store, a Naturalizer store, a Clarks store, an Easy Spirit store, and a Timberland store (for the more rugged footwear). And, that’s not the end of the list. My favourite Prime Outlet Mall in Wisconsin (right across the highway from the renfaire) also has an Under Armour store, a Liz Claiborne store, a Restoration Hardware store, and . . . a Chico’s!
The real trick in shoe shopping, I believe, is to never be desperate! As soon as you go on a “hunt” for something really specific, you will NOT find it! Instead, always be on the lookout . . . more gatherer-style, than hunter-style . . . and when you see something you like, grab it. Buy it, take it home. Shoes don’t “go bad!”
Shop for next summer’s white sandals in September. Next winter’s boots in February. And remember, if the shoe fits . . . buy it in every colour!
~MB
Thanks MB! I must say that I’m actually a desperate hunter when it comes to shopping. I suppose I should shop more often than twice a year. *sigh* And I’m the girl anomaly that has less than a dozen shoes. Many of those are for Faire. LOL
I will look for quality leather shoes. I will focus on strappy pumps or mules and practice with platforms. I will keep my eyes open for Naturalizer and Born. Do they have good business shoes?
Thank you again.