Thursday, November 19, 2009

It's shooeee time!


So, I’m cleaning my closet and I’m shocked at what I fine. Shoes, shoes and more shoes. And I don’t know where they came from. So I’ve decided there’s only one explanation: Shoes breed. That HAS to be it because I’ve ended up with more shoes and than I ever remember buying. Those little suckers have managed to multiply all by themselves.

Mind you, I provided them with protection so there is absolutely no excuse for all these unplanned births but, as I said, the proof is in my closet.

Okay. So that argument didn’t wash with my dh either.

I admit it. I LOVE shoes. I'm stupid over shoes, in fact. And it's not just because I'm always hoping that I've finally found the perfect, shoe - both comfort and style wise. The truth is, I sometimes buy them just because they are so cute, or so sophisticated or just so gorgeous. I mean – I work at home right? The dog isn’t impressed by my footwear. Neither are the cats. But oh … the smell of that new leather, the shine on those toes, the spike of that heel….

Ahem. I could go on and on … but then there’s the flip side.

Shoes hurt. Pretty shoes at any rate. At least they hurt my feet, which I admit, I ruined when I hiked the Grand Canyon. But still, more often than not if some amazing pair of shoes in a store window catches my eye, I’m drawn inside. I HAVE to try them on – 3 inch heels and pointed toes notwithstanding. And once I see myself in them, oh, well, it’s all over. I’m convinced that they are not only gorgeous and sexy and make a real fashion statement, but that they are comfortable. I’m in LOVE! I’m on some pheromone high that blocks pain.

Then I get them home. I proudly take them out of the box, admire them again, hug them to my breast and unable to resist, slip into them one more time --- and pain stabs through all five toes and shoots all the way to my ankle.

Whoops … I’ve done it again.

Now I have another pair of shoes that I may never wear … although I’ll want to in the worst possible way.

I have a whole box of shoes (and a few purses that I just HAD to have) in my trunk, ready to take to Goodwill. Someone will get some good out of them. Maybe someone as cute as this little penguin in his blue shoes :o0

Have I learned my lesson? Probably not. It’s a sickness. One I’m trying to recover from … until I see the next pair that just beg to be bought.

I’m also trying to break an addiction to Santa Claus. I have SO many Santas that I’ve run out of places to put them. But every year, someone comes out with something so cute and so hard to resist …. No. I’m drawing the line. No more Santas. No more Santas. Really, no more Santas.

What about you? Have you got a weakness for shoes or purses or Santas or anything else? Or have you found the perfect shoe that's both stylish and comfy and goes with anything? And if so, please tell me where I can get it.

34 comments:

Terry Odell said...

A short, wide foot doesn't leave many shoe options, so I've learned not to bother. Hate purses because I never swap out all the essentials; I tend to stick with one bag for months. But don't let me loose in a place like BB&B or Brookstone or Restoration Hardware.

KylieBrant said...

When I decorate for the holidays it looks like Christmas threw up all over my house, LOL. I have angels in the family room, Santas in the dining room, snowmen in the kitchen...it's a family joke about who is going to get left with all this stuff. And then there's the Christmas village. Every time a new piece arrives my husband starts a rant. And yes I have run out of space. But what if they come up with a real cool piece that I MUST have?

As for shoes...been there, done that, have the ruined feet to prove it!

Debra Dixon said...

I buy 2 pair of black, stacked slides a year.

Those are my go-to shoes because I wear so much black traveling and speaking. I need the height, too. (g)

But I have a closet of shoes for evening.

I wear sketchers for my knockaround shoes. And I have a couple pair of crocs.

Can't wear lovely flat sandals because they aggravate my plantar fasciitis (sp??) I can for short periods, like out to dinner, but no strolling in flat sandals for me.

I can wear tall high heels all day long and my feet are fine. Put on a flip flop and the fee start screaming.

Helen Brenna said...

Deb, that's amazing. I can wear heels for a bit and be fine. Anything more than a few hours and I pay for it.

I like shoes, but don't go crazy about them. Understand it, though. There are some gorgeous shoes out there!

Cindy Gerard said...

Terri - your feet sound like mine. But still it doesn't stop me. I don't know if I'll ever learn!

Cindy Gerard said...

Sounds like you and I need an Christmas intervention, Kylie!

Cindy Gerard said...

Deb - see I don't get how you can walk in heels. I would LOVE to know what that 'factor' is that makes it possible for women to be comfortable in heels. They literally kill me. i have found 2 pair - 1 1/2 in heels that I can tolerate for a little while but other than that, it's pure torture. I have a friend who can walk in heels all day
When I see a woman walking through an airport in 3 in spikes, I have to control the urge to trip her because I'm so jealous and because she look sooo good!

Cindy Gerard said...

Helen - I have a problem with purses too :o) Once I brought 7 purses to RWA nationals ... I know. that's just sick.

Unknown said...

thanx cindy. you made me laugh. i'm afraid i've developed a shoe thing too. the cute spikes...they're irresistible. but generally i end up carrying them more than wearing them. they're still cute dangling at the ends of my fingers tho, right?

Cindy Gerard said...

Lois - you'd look cute in a burlap bag so I'm saying, yes ... :o)

Playground Monitor said...

I have plantar fasciitis too and was in a cast for 6 weeks last summer for it. I'm with Deb in that I can't handle flip-flops anymore. Crocs are great because of the cushioning. I have a few pairs of Clarks leather clogs and they are soooooooooo comfy. And I got a pair of New Balance rough terrain running shoes (not because I run or run rough terrain but because they were on sale, are comfy and look cool with jeans) that I've worn a lot lately.

But I can't handle heels either because I had hallux rigidus (rigid big toe) and had surgery for it almost 2 years ago. Too many dressy shoes are cut right where my scar is and that causes a problem. I have two pairs of dressy black sandals I use in summer and some black sling-backs I use for winter. Not uber sophisticated but I can wear them and not be screaming in pain.

It sucks to have foot problems.

I don't really collect anything, especially now that I'm in a two bedroom apartment. Well... I do have this thing for romance novels. ::grin::

mslizalou said...

Don't know what happened to my first post...

I love shoes! They also seem to breed in my closet, even when they are in shoeboxes. I can't wear high heels, so must of mine are just for comfort. Right now, I'm living in my Merrells for work and my Uggs after work. I had foot surgery last year, so I have to be really careful about which shoes I buy. Right now my Merrells, Uggs, and running shoes are the only ones I can wear. I did get a really cute pair of gray fur-lined boots this past weekend. Much like all of my other Ugg boots, just in a new color.

Helen Brenna said...

Cindy, I don't even own 7 purses! lol

Cindy Gerard said...

Helen - come on a my house, my house a come on ... I'm gonna give you purses ...

Cindy Gerard said...

Liza - tell me about your Merrells. What are they and what do you like about them?

Cindy Gerard said...

Marilyn - been there done that with the plantar fasciitis years ago. Take heart. It will eventually go away - mine did and they told me it was one of the worst cases they'd ever seen. Don't miss it at all.

I've been putting off surgery for 2 years on a torn tendon in my toe. I so don't want them to cut me :o)

Michele Hauf said...

I do love me some high-heeled shoes with uber-pointy toes. No curved toes. Must be pointy! :-) I have a budget though, so Target is usually my shoe retailer of choice. Not exactly Christian Louboutin, which I can have dreams about.

My real shopping weakness? Sheets. I heart bed sheets, and will develop compulsions to go shopping for them.

Kathleen Eagle said...

I notice cute shoes on other people, and I admire them, but I have a closet full of shoes that I don't wear. Have to admit, some of them are really old. (I keep thinking I might wear them someday--when they come back in style.)

I was born with big feet. As a kid, I was self-conscious about them. I hate bowling because you rent shoes (You think I'm gonna BUY shoes for BOWLING?) with the size printed on the outside. At least, that's the way it was the last time I bowled. Yeah, it's been a while.

My feet aren't that big now. They haven't shrunk, but lots of people have finally caught up. Mostly I just want to be able to walk on my feet. (Clyde calls me Walks Fast Woman.) So what I do is, I get a really good pair of black heels for dress. They go with everything, right? And I wear my Born clogs or my Crocs flip-flops 360 days a year.

But I do admire a chic pair of spikes. From afar.

mslizalou said...

Merrells are pretty sporty shoes. They sell all sorts, but my favorites are the slip on ones. I have both black and brown and mine are fur lined(very lightly). Check out their website www(dot)merrell(dot)com to see all their shoes. They are really comfortable and have great support. I normally have to add inserts in most of my shoes, but don't have to with my Merrells or my Uggs.

Cindy Gerard said...

Michele - oh yeah on the pointy toes. But I recently bought a pair of round toes and they're growing one me. Why did I buy them - they were shoes :o0

Cindy Gerard said...

LOL Kathy. Walks fast woman knows her shoes, I'd say.
I live in crocks at home.
I saw some croc spectator pumps at an RWA conference a couple of years ago. cute, cute and you'd NEVER know they were crocks. I'd forgotten about that until now. I might have to check it out

Cindy Gerard said...

Thanks Liza. I WILL check it out!

Anonymous said...

I don't buy shoes or purses but I am addicted to buying pillows, blankets, and jammies. I love cozy things! Just bought 3 pairs of winter jammies yesterday- pink sock monkeys with matching slippers, red plaid, gray snowflakes. Sometimes I really love Target:)

Even the shoes I do buy must be comfortable. I've been wearing mary jane crocs, which are cute. Then I stick to my trusty Adidas sneaks. I do not own even one pair of dressy shoes and I don't think I have worn heels since my high school prom- back in the Stone Age. I didn't even wear dress shoes at my wedding- underneath my pretty princess wedding gown was a pair of black Sketcher skate shoes!

flip said...

I love shoes. I cannot pass up a shoe sale. I love shoes of all types, high heels, boots, sandals, and flipflops. Once I won a pair of flipflops. I loved them. they were beaded. I wanted another pair. I was shocked to see they retailed at $100.

Keri Ford said...

as I was reading this, my first thought was, "hm. Wonder what size she wears?" so yeah. I 'm a shoes a girl. I'm a shoe girl you'd be tripping at the airport.

I wear my 3 and 4" heels at conferences and get along just fine. A lot of people think you do a lot of walking, but really, it's equal parts walking and sitting. They do make for conversation starters, too!

Kathleen O said...

I LOVE SHOES AND PURSES TOO!!! I love to wear high heals, I mean when I could..now I can't wear more than a two inch heal.. damn... I went through the closet this spring an had to say goodbye to some shoes... but not the purses.. I have a pair of loafers I just don't want to get rid of and I am going to have the sole fixed because they are just soooooooooooo comfortable... I should have bought two pair when I bought them...

I also love to buy jammies, mostly night shirts.. I live in them... can't wait to get out of my street clothes and into them a night to curl up to read and watch TV... I have two drawers full of jammies..

Cindy Gerard said...

Anna - I'm so there with you on the warm snuggly pj's. So soft...

Flip - You go girl!!

Keri - I will make an exception for you if I see you in an airport. You're safe :o) But I'll still be jealous.

Cindy Gerard said...

Kathleen - I know. It's sad when first we have to say good bye to our two piece swim suits THEN to our high heel shoes.

My mom LOVED heels. As her health faded, she still clung to her fancy shoes. We finally had to go through her closets and remove anything with a heel because we were afraid she'd fall and break something. :o)
When we finally lost her, we had her dresses in a beautiful pink dress and I went out and bought her a pair of pink suede matching high heels. I knew she's want to go out in style :o)

Unknown said...

I LOVE shoes! I have dozens and dozens.

I like to wear shoes with heels or platforms because Surfer Guy is so much taller than me, but I spend most of my days in my running shoes. At conference, most of my high-heeled shoes hurt like heck, but I don't care.

That said, I bought this really, really cute pair of Anne Klein flats (with pointed toes though) that I'm wearing right now (book club night). They have saddle stiching and part of them are made of the calf's...what, skin? They are spotted and have the hair on them. I know, sounds weird, but tres cute.

Cindy Gerard said...

They do sound cutem but WHO is this Taylor who has run off with Christie's surfer guy???

Venus Vaughn said...

My addiction is to lingerie. It's one that I'm not even sure I want to break - but I moved last month, and my friend counted my bras because she could NOT believe how many were hanging in my bedroom. 50.

Yep. 50. All with matching panties. But I have extra panties too, probably double the amount of bras. The panties, however, didn't get inventoried.

Being broke helps break the addiction. But even broke folks have sudden flushes of money - and it's all I can not to pad my collection just a little bit more.

Martha Lawson said...

I used to love shoes!! But I've decided they just don't make shoes to fit my feet anymore!! Now I stick to slides, flip flops, and tennis shoes!!

btw, I thought only dirty clothes multiplied on their own!!

Cindy Gerard said...

Venus - 50? Hot damn! You are the woman!!

Martha - I hear you. Sometimes I think that's why I love them so - I can't really wear the ones i truly love :o(

Unknown said...

My weakness is to books! It is hereditary too! My mother and I can not go near a bookstore and come out with nothing. When I used to go to Barnes & Noble, they would offer me a basket and I would say no. I have to hold all the books in my arms to stop myself from buying more than I can carry! My family calls bookstores the dangerous place!