Sandals, espadrilles & wedges Oh My

Oh summer, how I love thee. A time to slip on the floral dresses & white shorts. To smell like cocoa butter, rock an awesome Pedi and sport the peachy glosses of the season.

Rainbow colored heels should line your closet floor, because rainbow is so in this season. Picture shoes in every color of the spectrum: peach, orange, yellow, sapphire, purple, & turquoise!

Let’s not forget the Oh so trendy nude, pale taupe or beige shoe. These colors are summery sand perfect and shouldn’t be discouraged from your wardrobe; they truly will make the outfit even if you don’t expect it to be.

 I feel a euphoric high just thinking about it.

Now if you’re hitting the beach or anywhere that your sweet little heels might have to dig in the dirt, feel free to wear your flip flops. Whoever made the first colored flip flop was a genius.

But if your someone like me, and you don’t want your heels ruined but you absolutely refuse to be seen at a cute little back yard bbq in flats, than opt for the espadrille or wedge.

You get the height and cuteness you are looking for and your stilettos are still safe at home in their boxes. WARNING: You will find yourself amongst not only compliments for your cute shoes but also hating stares, tread carefully and don’t take anything too personal. Not everyone can be as fabulous as you are….

The 10 Commandments of shoes (sorry today is a bad day...I fully intend to shop)

A friend of mine bought me this little book called Wisdom for the Sole its by Denise Mosley...its a totally cute gift for shoe lovers. So Ahem..... shall we proceed. The 10 Commandments of shoes:

1. Thou shall not worship any other accessory

2. Thou shall not throw them in a pile on the closet floor

3. For 6 days you shall labor and on the 7th day you shall rest

4. Thou shall not mistake the name of the designer

5. Honor your heels & flats equally

6. Thou shall not pay full price....if you can get them for a bargain

7. Thou shall not totally sacrifice comfort for the sake of fashion

8. Nor shall you completely sacrifice fashion for the sake of comfort!

9. Thou shall not wear sandals without non chipped toe nail polish

10. Thou shall not covet thy girlfriend's shoes!

Reflecting sorry if this is too deep for a tuesday morning :)

With all this talk about dooms day and the end of the world this weekend I started to take a closer look at my life and evaluate things. Without wanting to get too deep on the subject I wondered to myself would I quickly be forgotten if my end was near? Have I contributed enough to this life? Have I done everything I said I was going to do?

I am not all about the shoes. Although if I was to meet an early death I am sure this would be the first image that would go through anyone’s head when they thought of me. I would hope that I would be remembered for a great many traits besides my love of pretty shoes.

I’ve always been a reader. I couldn’t tell you what my first book was for sure but I know I read at an early age and that was all it took to never stop. Amongst my many shoes on my book shelves, there are books. My current favorite is anything by Emily Giffin, and if I had to choose a particular book it would be Something Blue, in which case you would need to read something borrowed to understand the storyline.  I find myself relating to the main character Darcy. It’s about friendship, Love & forgiveness. I’ve read this book so much that it’s tattered… I need a new one.

I’ve also always been a writer. I mean, I AM a writer.  I have been saying the words “I’m going to write a book” since I was in the 2^nd grade and I wrote a short story for school. We got to bind and cover our books and dedicate to our families. You can’t imagine how I felt seeing my little Name on the cover. I say the same words to myself every year hoping to fulfill my dream that this year indeed will be the year that I write that book. I hope to be remembered for my many poems, blog posts and stories.

I am a sister, daughter & friend. I hope my siblings don’t just remember the childhood fights but remember the laughs we have had. Fun times.  Maybe my mom won’t remember each and every argument we have had over the years but will reflect on each time I said I loved her and how much I cried to look like her when I was little and somehow as each year passes I do start to and that makes me happy. I have many friendships, some old and some new, & some that have lasted through years and some that are instant, these are the friendships I cherish and I know they cherish them too.

I am a wife. I laugh with this man. Say the silliest things. Admit my deepest fears, value his opinion. Tell him when he is being an ass. Push him to his greatest potential, appreciate him when he helps without asking, I envy his talent and support it.

I am a mother. I honestly didn’t want children. I didn’t like kids and couldn’t see myself with any until I actually became a parent. Now they are my whole world. My three sons. They are the most fantastic artists I’ve ever seen and all three have been drawing since infancy. Of all my greatest accomplishments giving birth to these future artists should be at the top of the list. I expect great things from them. I helped create them, I nursed their potential. I babied, encouraged, taught, was strict, and was playful and loving to these handsome, breathtaking boys. I can’t imagine what they might remember of me if I was to go. My daughter is an altogether different being. I see much of myself in this sweet and timid being. I just watch her in wonder. If god had asked me to describe what my daughter should be, I couldn’t have drawn her more perfect. She is everything I have ever wanted to be. Knowing how much I love her maybe she would miss me the most

Last but not least, I am me. There are so many things about myself. The good and the Bad, I would want it all remembered. How I loved my red lipstick and even wore it to the gym. How I was empathetic and often cried when I couldn’t help someone. How I hated hugs because they made me feel vulnerable. How I loved anything vintage, believed I had been born in the wrong era.

 If it was my time to go, I know I haven’t done enough because I have so much more to do. I need others to see…I’m not just the shoes…I’m so much more

Heel Condoms- my official take

I’ve officially found my next splurge. Being a self professed shoe whore, this goes beyond all my instincts that pull my heart strings to my favorite shoe stores but I have to admit... I am deeply intrigued.

I love to accessorize. A cute belt, large earrings, a colorful clutch and most often than not, with a striking pair of shoes.

How appropriate that the shoe whore in me has been drawn completely to the concept of a “shoe condom”, and yes dolls, the name of the product is just that. A simple idea that is anything but simple. The design simply slips over the heel of your highest shoes and stays in place with a sweet little elastic strap. Not only does it protect (as the name suggests) but all of a sudden your best accessory has been accessorized!

I have to admit it totally takes the fun out of shoe shopping and heaven forbid what will my family buy for me on holidays….and my birthday? But the awesome appeal of been versatile with the animal prints, feathers and oversized bows more than make up for the shopping I might be doing less and less of. HA HA, Imagine me explaining to friends that  instead of shopping online for shoes, I was actually shopping online for condoms? As crass as it is to say, this is one “condom” that can actually be used over and over and on many different shoes.

I actually like the idea of making my worn outdated heels stylish and use worthy again. It also helps give the illusion of owning more shoes than you actually do and for me that is always a plus.

I am ordering my first pair today and with all the choices presented I may end up with more than a few pairs. I have some beige suede pumps that “someone’s” dog  happened to use as a chew toy last year. They have been sitting in their box, patiently waiting for me to bring them into a shoe repair shop. This might just save me a trip.

At $20 a pop, heel condoms are surely affordable and probably cost more than having the heel repaired but really where is the fun in that?

I am excited about what the future holds for me in my heel condoms, look forward to finding out if I will receive many compliments on them or if I will feel totally false and artificial…. And most of all I wonder if my shoe whoring days will be over?

I doubt it

Stayed tuned....I plan to post pictures of the ones I ordered as soon as the package arrives :)

New me...New Shoes

            I never thought the day would come when I would not only be wearing tennis shoes but I’d actually be eagerly shopping for them. As unbelievable as it sounds even to me, that is what I am doing. My brother in law: marshmallows and I joined a gym to kick off the New Year and get us Jersey shore ready for the summer time.

It seems, just like getting ready for a special night out, you have to actually have a “gym outfit” too and this includes gym shoes. In my head I pictured Carrie from Sex in the city jogging to catch a cab or meet the girls for drinks in her jimmy choos and marshmallows laughed when I said I’d wear my air force one stilettos. We agreed that we’d be just like Romy and Michelle; the best dressed in the gym.

All joking aside, I am serious about getting fit so I must be serious about buying shoes for the gym. Yet, who knew, how much thought actually would go into buying a pair of shoes that aren’t even flattering to look at. You have to consider heel support, arch, cushion and flexibility.

Consider if you are going to be doing activities like walking, or running. So many choices and it’s nothing like the usual ones I make when looking for shoes!

I tried to consider all the things I mentioned but I can’t lie, when I looked at all my choices, I went totally went off of cuteness and grabbed the first pair I saw. They were cute, black and white to match my black and white yoga pants and tank and surprisingly comfy when I hopped around in them at home. I didn’t read any words on the side of the box other than the words Danskin, I was just thrilled that it had been easier than I thought.

Just like high school, you should never make any of your choices based on looks. Cute doesn’t always mean better. I found this out after my first day at the gym. Marshmallows and I live less than 5 minutes from our gym so I only had the short walk from my doorstep to the car and from the car to the inside of the gym. I’ll admit they felt funny to walk in but I figured it was because I was so used to wearing heels my poor feet weren’t sure what to do.

Hot shot that I am, I hit the tread mill at a steep incline and tried my hand at jogging. After 15 minutes of sweating away in my new shoes, I tried to get a swig of water from my bottle and nearly killed myself as I stumbled to the left. I almost became one of those funniest home videos you all laugh about at home. I could just picture my misfortune all over Youtube in less than ten minutes with a couple of thousand views.

Marshmallows couldn’t even suppress his laughing as I looked at him with an “OHMIGOD!”expression. I glanced to the right and the other gym goers were either so into their workout they don’t pay attention or were just really polite and wanted to save me some humiliation. I’m going to go with being polite. But the damage was done. I walked out of there red faced and it wasn't from any workout.

I declared I hated my new shoes! It was there, that  marshmallows informed me “well no wonder you almost fell, those are like shape ups, you aren’t supposed to wear them to work out in, just to walk”

Great……

Birthday Shoes

If I could get away with wearing anything my little heart desired, trust me I would. I’m a bit more cautious lately, although I've always made my own style as I went along. Just recently I celebrated a birthday. I struggled for the perfect outfit to wear.

Let’s be clear first, I am all for the short satin dress. I find it to be a necessity for a special event but I wasn't feeling right about wearing a hot pink sweetheart dress I had purchased months ago & characteristically, never worn.

I couldn’t tell you exactly why I felt so odd about wearing it except there was something about turning 32 that made me feel maybe being head to toe in hot pink isn't the look I should be going for...

I am still young in the grand scheme of things but let's face it I am no spring chicken.  I thought I could toughen up the pink sweetness of my dress with a leather corset belt that I got from torrid. It seemed to do the trick. I had also planned to wear my matching satin hot pink peep toe heels, as they too had been sitting in a box in the closet; unused. Yet, I put the box back as another shoe box caught my eye.

Weeks earlier, I had stumbled onto an online boutique called urbanog.com and was instantly hooked. I couldn't help but fill my online cart up with about 5 different pairs but as always the 30 something in me always seems to want to weigh what I wanted against what I needed. I pouted a little but concluded I didn't really need any new shoes (I had fifty pair already) but the site wasn't forgotten. I even went on FB and typed a clever little post stating I had found the holy grail of shoe stores and told everyone to check it.

A friend of mine did just that. Toughchick instantly emailed me asking me had I noticed the site was offering FREE SHIPPING on any order of $50 or more. I hadn't but I am such a sucker for free shipping, it's like spotting the words shoe sale across a crowded mall. Toughchick thought it would be a good idea to combine our choices to meet the $50 target. I thought why sure..... needs -vs- wants of course.

It was then that I came across some closed toe round pumps. They were a simple black and 5 inches high, but that wasn't what caught my eye.

It was the stud detail that covered the toe and heel sections. To an untrained eye it would appear as if nothing were in the middle section of the shoe because the material was of a clear plastic.

But yes it was the studs that got me, the studs said I am 32 and although I am no longer in my twenties and shouldn't be out here partying like I'm still in them, I was one bad ass bitch and wasn't going to be messed with.

This is exactly the way I feel as I am embarking on the second year in my thirties. I am now and will always be a rock star.....the studs say it all.

Introduction- Let me bare my sole

I have always been a firm believer in the fact that the perfect pair of shoes can fix any outfit. Through the years, my shoes have always seen me through the best and worst of  times. No matter what was going on in my sometimes crazy life, you can never say I had on ugly shoes.

Yes that is somewhat shallow but its real. It's how I think. I'm just hardwired to believe that your shoes play a part in your appearance. I notice when others have on really nice shoes (and even when they don't), so why shouldn't I believe that others take notice of mine? I even have a sort of shoe protecal that I follow:

1.  I never dress my shoes around my outfit, but instead dress my outfit around my shoes.

&

2. No matter how much my feet ached and my calves hurt from dancing all night, I remained a lady and refused to take them off until I was home.  

Oh and number three..... I might have to try this to see if it's true but its something I've heard my older Aunts say

3. Never wear a satin dress and patent leather shoes

My shoes have been dependable. No matter how much weight I’ve gained, my shoes have remained steadfast & always a prefect fit.  One of the best friends I’ve had on the days I found myself staring at a seemingly empty closet and seeing nothing to wear.

I like to be surrounded by beauty and what is more beautiful than a gorgeously arched, platform pump?I like to glance up from reading before bed and see all my investments displayed nicely around me.I get how I must sound....superficial....but let me prove to you that I am deep person. I'm not just my shoes although they are like an armor of sorts in the fact that I feel complete when I am in them. 

Through my shoes, I am expressing myself, how I wanted to be perceived in any given moment. From my prom shoes that my father seemed to find outrageous. HA HA,  I couldn't wait say I had the same pair of shoes I saw on Carmen Electra in a magazine, to my wedding shoes, which I vowed would be a simple classic Mary Jane. At Prom I wanted to be sexy and outrageous, on my wedding day I wanted to be simply beautiful, tasteful, and I have to admit the shoes said it all.

            To me, with the right pair of shoes, you can never go wrong. Styles and color schemes change yet they still do what they are meant to do every time you slip them on. They change how your legs look, they change how you feel wearing them. In a perfect world, your only worry in life should be…….which pair should I wear today?