March 25 - red mary janes

What:  size 8.5 dark red suede mary janes with brown strap
From:  Franco Sarto (6pm.com)
Purchased:  May 20, 2010
Cost:  $40

I think with these I've finally covered all 22 of the shoes I bought in 2010.  Whew.  I cyber-stalked these all last winter/spring and finally got them.  I thought I had paid slightly less than $35, but my bank records say $40, so that included shipping.  I really liked them, but just never had occasion to wear.  I like the red-brown combination, though typically I wear red/black. 

There was a sweater I liked a lot at Lands End and with a gift card from Christmas I was even able to buy that sweater this winter to match - cardigan over white dress shirt, jeans and these shoes. Perfect.  Thanks goodness for this current cold spell, huh?  (well, not really, but it does give me the opportunity to actually get this outfit/shoes worn this year (see many previous discussions of work from home pajamas), otherwise these shoes would just sit in their stack for yet another spring/summer!).   

I was at a DSW last summer and saw these in brown suede on the clearance racks, and I tell you if I had not just learned my contract position was not going to be renewed I would own those, too.  Both the purple Franco Sarto and these came a wide range of colors, and I had a hard time deciding which colors to get in which style.  I would have loved these in brown, and for the purple ones, I loved all the options - red, brown, and, grey but went with the cute purple.  Tough decisions! 

Bottom line:  Keeper!

February 19 - new boots

What: size 8W black suede wedge tall boots
From: Naturalizer (online)
Purchased: November 28, 2010
Cost: $80

My 22nd and final purchase of 2010! Love these. In the early fall, my friend Elaine sent me an e-mail asking about some boots on the Naturalizer site, and I spied these. I cyber-stalked them for a bit - all my tall black boots are in bad shape. Also, I doubt my friend Therese remembers this, but the first time I met her (we worked at sister organizations) she was wearing a pair of black wedge boots, and I've wanted a pair ever since. I was intrigued by these because they came in a wide shaft option. I have a confession to make. My right calf has always been larger than my left calf, but since having Elizabeth, the disparity has become even more pronounced. My right calf is now a full inch wider than my left. Which means, over the next few postings, I'm about to show you a whole series of fabulous boots that don't fit me. It is infuriating. I don't know if getting into shape will help or not, but I'm not willing to give up on my boot collection.

So, anyway, I needed new tall black boots. When at my inlaws for Thanksgiving, I was able to visit an actual Naturalizer store (not an outlet), and I found these in 7.5 W, in the regular width shaft. With a 20% off coupon, they were $80. And they mostly fit. Tight, but zippable. But tight enough that I felt I should check out the extended shaft opening. They were offering free shipping, and it hit me that since there are no stores in DC, there would be no tax. So I ordered 8W extended shaft from the website (they didn't have any 7.5s). And then I dithered for a couple of weeks, which is why they weren't worn in 2010. Ultimately, I kept the extended shaft - theoretically, I could possibly even wear them with jeans tucked in. In theory. These are great, though, it's nice to have them, and I've definitely enjoyed rocking the short skirt, tights, tall boots look.

Bottom line: keeper!

February 12 - fancy flats

What: size 8 silver ballet flats with silvery flower
From: Talbots
Purchased: spring '09
Cost: $32.50 (edited for accuracy)

Hmmm. You know what? I might have my dates all screwed up. The very first pair of ballet flats I bought from Talbots were these, and I wrote I bought them in spring 09. But, I wore those orange-y ones enough that when I saw these in Talbots I knew I had to have them. I just loved the flower-y thing. I held out til late winter sales and finally snagged them at $35 (and I had to call around and have them held for me at a store across town to get them). So does that mean I bought them in '10? Did I miss a purchase? No, I must have the wrong year on the orange ones. Not that it matters all that much, really. Now I'm going to have to go back through some receipts to see if I've been living a lie and actually bought 22 pairs, not 21 pairs, in '10!

I wore these in January, but was so totally unmotivated in posting. But, it really was a fashion faux pas. It was a cold day, and I put on black socks! Bad, bad, bad. I don't think you can wear socks with ballet flats? So does that mean you either freeze for fashion, or hold ballet flats for spring/summer/fall only?

edited to add: OK, so I have been living a lie - I bought these on February 15, 2010, which makes them the second pair of shoes I bought in 2010, for a grand total of 22 pairs. Great, now I have to go back and edit the 2010 recap.

Bottom line: keeper

December 8 - I love shoes that make me happy

What: size 8 purple suede mary janes with a 2.75 inch heel
From: Franco Sarto (purchased online from Amazon)
Purchased: March 10, 2010
Cost: $35.50

So, I just spent 15 minutes going back through my purchase histories to discover the exact date and cost of these shoes. These are one of the two pairs of Franco Sarto shoes I stalked all last winter before finally buying. Astute readers may remember that I gave up shopping for Lent, allowing myself two exceptions - those two pairs of shoes. I though I had made it through Lent without buying anything, but amazon records don't lie. Bought these right smack in the middle of Lent. But I had planned for the purchase, so I don't feel badly. Plus, look at them!

Imagine looking down and seeing cute purple peek out from your pants. Love. Call me shallow, but I don't care. It makes me happy.


I wore these with trouser jeans, a purple t, and an animal print sweater, pictured above. I actually do not wear much animal print as I am never quite sure I am wearing it right, so the animal print sweater was going out on a limb for me. I was stymied by what the animal print actually was, however. But luckily, E's stuffed animal collection clarified it for me: snow leopard! I think.

Bottom line: oh, totally a keeper. Love these. When I am stressed all I have to do is think of thee and I feel calmer. Seriously.

November 15 - my mother made me do it

What: size 8 grey croc ankle boots with 2.5 inch heel
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: November 10, 2010
Cost: $35

Folks, meet shoe purchase #20 for 2010. I seriously cannot believe I have purchased 20 pairs of shoes this year. And I can't believe I bought these, even though I love them. First, on November 10 I was feeling lousy with what was about to turn into a raging kidney infection. Plus, I was wearing crappy shoes. Add in I had just gotten a notice that the outlet store as having its seasonal sale with an extra 10% off, plus my mom had given me a gift card to Talbots and you have a perfect storm.

I tried these on on a whim. I am seriously craving a pair of grey shooties. I haven't been able to find any I really like and are affordable, though. So I slipped these on at the outlet and whaddya know, they felt super comfy, and looked sooo much more stylish with my dress pants than my blah easy spirit shoes. They were $78, 50% off, plus an extra 10% off, and I had a $25 gift card, which meant $10 out of pocket. After thinking about it for a while, I texted a couple of people. My friend TSM replied: was there ever any doubt you would get them? My sister, on the other hand, replied: I do not approve of this purchase. My sister, you see, knows I really, really want grey shooties. Ankle boots are not shooties. You wear them totally differently, and my sister knew I was subbing one desire for something I didn't deeply desire, thus leaving the deep desire unfulfilled.

Shooties are hot right now as a look with skirts and tights. Since they end at the ankle, you can wear a skirt. Ankle boots, on the other hand, end just below your calf, cutting off your leg visually at a thick point, so you cannot wear them with skirts. Only pants. I seriously debated for a long time in the store carrying these around. I knew I'd have to write about it here, you see. But, as you can see, they now belong to me. As TSM said, despite great internal (and external!) debate, there really wasn't much doubt.

Prior to my shoe challenge, I would have purchased these and then worn them all November and throughout the winter, pushing other shoes aside. And, since I am writing this in early December, but backdating to November, I can tell you that's exactly what I've done. I freaking love these boots. I was sick the weekend of the 12th, and still felt awful the 15th, but went to a job interview and wore these (with black pants, black shell, and green suit jacket with grey stitching). A man in the elevator complimented them! I only left the house 3 other times the rest of the next week, and wore these boots each time (with jeans). Love, love, love them. Excellent purchase. Super comfortable, looks great with professional or casual clothes. I'm going to have to discard more shoes so that I can wear these more often. Thanks Mom!

Bottom line: keeper!

But I still crave shooties.

November 3 - a brown thrift store find

What: size 8 brown and tan loafers, 2 inch heel, with bow
From: Naturalizer (bought at thrift store)
Purchased: October 2010
Cost: $17

And here's #18 for the year. I saw these earlier this fall at the thrift store that is one block from my house. This thrift store is in a totally Dangerous Location. Walking to Target? walk right past it. Headed to the Metro? Walk right past it. Library? walk by it, though it's on the other side of the street, exerting its magnetic pull. In short, it is too close to my house. TOO close. (Luckily, Elizabeth's school and the bus downtown - well, 2 of the 3 downtown bus options - are the opposite direction.)

Anyway, I liked these when I saw them, but the thrift store prices all shoes at $24. That's a great price if they're Kate Spade (an awesome pair of funky yellow green sandals that were unfortunately too big for me, sigh). But come on - my average price for completely brand new Naturalizer shoes is less than $18! There was no way I could buy used (slightly used, but definitely worn by some stranger used) Naturalizer shoes for over 20 bucks. But when they ran their $24=$17, now, that was a different story. These shoes are great. Love them. Perfect height. The thing I've been learning in reviewing my shoes is that a good mid-height heel will get a lot of wear. High heels, as much as I love them, just don't fit with my life right now. These would be getting a ton of wear if I wasn't trying to work my way through all my shoes.

I have a good friend in the neighborhood and we try to get to the thrift store every couple of weeks. My sister is coming by and I want to take her there. TSM, when are you going to come visit and go shopping with me?

Bottom line: keeper

November 1 - short black boots

What: size 8.5 short black boots with 1.5 inch heel, zipper up back
From: Etienne Aigner, bought at thrift store
Purchased: October 30, 2010
Cost: $17

#19 for the year. I'll get to 18 in a day or two, but these I could not pass up. I've wanted, for a number of years, a pair of low heel, more casual short black boots. There is a small clothing thrift store one block from my house that carries great brands. It started as more of a cast off clothing place at rock bottom prices, but over time, has morphed into a definite savvy thrift store business. I believe they are clearly buying lots (not lots as in number, but lots as in a pre-sorted box at auction kind of thing) of clothes from some sort of consolidator. It's just become too specialized in specific brands, quality, styles, and sizes. For example, the consolidator sorts through a bunch of donations, and sorts clothes by designer, size, and condition of clothes. This thrift store is buying sets of high quality Ann Taylor, LOFT, Banana, Gap, and J Crew as their bread and butter, with the sprinkle of Talbots, Lily Pulizter BCBG, Tahari, etc. I never once go in there without seeing something I own, or recognize from a line I know well. Most items are priced $7-$19. And then sometimes there's an occasional super high end brand, but it is priced accordingly (a Nannette Lepore dress for $75 last week, for example). They also frequently run specials (to clear out inventory, I presume - $7 item for $4, or $9 items for $7, etc).

A friend told me she had scored a pair of great boots here that looked like they had never been worn. So on a whim Halloween weekend I stopped in and saw they were still running their shoe special ($24 now $17), and had extended that to boots, and they had a lot of boots. And then I saw these and grabbed them. They look like they've never been worn. I wasn't 100% confident of the fit, but wasn't wearing great socks, so could not pass up Etienne Aigner low black boots for $17. But then I thought, you know, these aren't going to fit perfectly, which means I will keep looking for comfy low heel low black boots and will end up with two pairs.

So it was with some trepidation that I broke them out for first wearing on November 1. And guess what? They fit like a glove. Love. Perfect. Niche complete.

And then the next day I popped in a discount store (Syms) and guess what else? They had a ton of these exact boots for $40. Just further proof that my little neighborhood thrift store is anything but.

October 24 - I did a bad, bad thing

On October 5th, I did my September tally of shoes, and typed I had bought 16 pairs of shoes this year, more than many of my friend own in total. I was thinking about this, and reviewing my purchases, wondering what I might do differently. Were there any purchases I regret making?

I hate the rain boots, but that was a good purchase for that specific time.

I really did not need the gold strappy sandals, but they are cool and I don't regret buying them. They'll never go out of style.

I regret purchasing the ballet flats and flip flops when it turns out they were marked down the very next day - if I had bought at $25 and $12, I wouldn't have any regrets whatsoever (even if the flip flops are crippling me). The extra $23 spent bugs me, but not the shoes themselves.

I kind of regret the platinum wedges, since I really wanted gold sandals and I convinced myself they were gold when they really aren't.

I've worn, and thus written about, 14 of them, with still 2 to go (they are both suede, so waiting suitable weather and occasion - stay tuned, they are teed up for sometime in the next two weeks, I think).

So then I started wondering if there were any shoes I wish I had purchased. Any regrets for shoes eyed, but not bought? And only one popped to mind - the nude peep toe slingbacks.

And so, when I found myself in the Talbots outlet, presented with an opportunity, I must now confess my 17th purchase this year:
What: Size 8.5 nude lizard print peep toe slingbacks with 3.25 inch heel
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: October 2010
Cost: $16

Dude, they were $16! And I regretted not buying them! I could not pass them by. Even though 8.5 is a little big on these, but I can tighten the back. I likely won't have a chance to wear them in 2010, so had to confess my purchase here. If I want to stop purchasing (which I must clarify is not actually something I really want to stop doing, I mostly just feel slightly greedy and wasteful with so many pairs of shoes), I need to stay out of the stores.

Bottom line for these: a total keeper, have to think of ways to wear them next spring/summer

The real bottom line: I'm going to buy more than 20 pairs this year. I want a pair of tall black boots, and I am desperately craving a pair of gray booties, though I am really trying to talk myself out of them. It feels....excessive. That's what I feel when I think about my shoes. I love the vast majority of them, and am glad I own them, but my shoe collection feels excessive.

And, it's difficult to count with all my posts, but I do believe this is the 100th pair of shoes I've written about. Which means I have another 70 or so to go, but I have to say, I don't feel like I have 70 more shoes to be worn. I feel like there is 20, maybe 25, remaining, but what that really means is I am holding onto shoes I never wear and will likely never wear and I MUST get rid of them. I'm looking at you, (most of the) top shelf of my closet and rack in Elizabeth's room.

October 15 - the shoes that started it all

What: size 8 3-inch heeled almond toe croc-embossed pumps
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: late May 2010
Cost: $33

The shoes that started it all! These are the ones Rich noticed that caused him to sigh I had so many shoes I never wore, bought at the same time as the great bargain yellow flops. But I do not have any plain black leather pumps. I don't. These were a good buy. I wore them with a wrap dress to a job interview. Perfect.

Bottom line: Keeper

October 13 - new purple passes approval

What: size 8W brown/purple with buckles flat loafer
From: Lands End
Purchased: July 22, 2010
Cost: $9

Finally! A cool day so I could break out these shoes I bought way back in July! I could not pass these up at $9, so they were the 11th pair I bought this year.

Rich had an early morning meeting, so Andrew and I walked Elizabeth to school. We were running late, so I was hurrying them along the sidewalk when Andrew bent down and said, "Mommy?! Shoes. Shoes! Good!" Which caused Elizabeth to walk back to us and cast her critical eye on my feet, whereupon she said, "I've never seen those before Mommy, I like them!"

Starting 'em young, that's what I'm doing. They've got good taste.

Bottom line: keeper

And finally I'm caught up this month, so I have a few holes in the month of October but it's daily shoe blogging from here on out. Whew.

September 29 - new black sandals

What: size 8W black slide sandals with stitching trim
From: Naturalizer outlet
Purchased: September 24, 2010
Cost: $12!

When my parents and sister were here, we decided to hit the outlets, and I checked out the discount racks at Naturalizer. There wasn’t a lot (thank goodness), but I snagged these (yikes, that makes 16 this year alone!). And guess what? I filled a black sandal niche. So, getting rid of these. Love 80% off!

Bottom line: keeper

September 28 - not quite gold wedges

What: Size 8.5 3.25 inch platinum wedges
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: September 17, 2010
Cost: $24

I couldn’t resist them. I had a quick work trip to Virginia Beach September 16 and 17th, and while a group of us drove down from DC, the others took flights back to their respective cities leaving me to drive home alone. I stopped in Springfield to pick up a bunch of party supplies for Elizabeth’s birthday, so of course I also made my way to the Talbots outlet. These were on the 50% off rack, so I had to have them – my 15th this year. Except, all this time, I’ve been coveting based on the online picture, which is clearly gold. These were labeled platinum, and you know what? They are not gold. I had the perfect outfit picked out, slipped on these shoes, and thought, oh crap, these are really more silver than gold. Darn platinum. Still wore them, but don’t love them quite as much as I thought I would. Still need gold sandals! The search continues.

Bottom line: keeper

September 4 - bronze platforms

What: size 8.5 bronze platform wedge sandals - 3.75 inch heels, with 1 inch platform
From: LOFT
Purchased: May 1, 2010
Cost: $54

I love metallics! Have I mentioned that lately? Well, these shoes, bought in May, would have been the shoes I wore out this summer, if not for my bloggy challenge. Every dinner out, every casual nicely dressed outing, anytime I needed a pick me up these would have been the shoe of choice. Instead I wore them all the time in May, then not again until September! Yikes. Though I got to feature diversity in my shoe wardrobe, and now that I've relaxed my rules, I've worn them a bunch in September.

I read some style blogs, not that many, but my favorite is What I Wore. She's gorgeous, her photos are gorgeous, and I like her vintage-y style. In the spring she had an arrangement with LOFT, and began wearing these shoes. In May, I had an appointment to get my hair cut, but my stylist was running late and told me it would be a half hour before she got to me. No problem, I thought, I'll just duck into the LOFT next door. I thought I was just browsing, but they had 40% off the entire store. Suddenly it got interesting. I saw the right shoe on display and noticed it was an 8.5. Tried it on, and it was a good fit, so flagged down a store employee to ask for the match - only to hear they couldn't find it. I would never have tried on those shoes if not for What I Wore. Knowing how great they looked on, I stared at the shoe another few minutes, then went to the front desk and asked if they could look up if there were other stores in the area who had the shoe. Bingo - a store close by had it. So we called the store, and they were slammed with the 40% off sale, and the manager told me she'd hold the shoes for me and still give me the discount the next day (even though the sale was over that night). I love a meant-to-be-shoe-story.

I chatted some more with the woman at the register, and she told me they were having trouble meeting monthly sale numbers, so corporate had this special at the end of the sales month. It seemed to be working, I said, noting the crowds. LOFT did this at least one other time over the summer, which makes me wonder how well they are doing, but their troubles are the bargain hunter's joy.

These shoes were popular, and I'm glad I grabbed them (though I did see just a very few pairs on sale racks later in the spring), though I kind of wish I had worn them more this summer. They'll be great as long as the weather holds, so I will get more wear out of them. I think they'll work next year, too, at least I hope the cage/gladiator-type look is still in style. The platform makes these shoes the perfect height - 2.75 inches after substracting the 1 inch platform. Perfect. Super comfy. Love.

Bottom line: Is there even a question they are a total keeper?

September 3 - the black heels

What: black size 8 3.25 inch heeled strappy sandals
From: Tahari (Lord & Taylor)
Purchased: May 2010
Cost: $54

I believe these are the 5th pair I have purchased this year (though maybe they are the 4th or 6th or so). This year, I have been fascinated with "cage" shoes - those that seem to encase your whole foot in straps. All the rage. So when I saw these on the sale rack at L&T, I had to have them, although they were still pricey. I actually bought them at a higher price, but then they were marked lower the very next week so I got a price adjustment, thank goodness. I had been willing to spend the $70 or so, but it was really too much. Even $54 is too high. But these are cool shoes. I was happy to wear them out at my monthly mom's night out dinner, though we ate at a self serve pick your food up at the counter place (a nice one!) and I warned one of my friends I might need help picking up my food (there was a long flight of stairs involved). But I managed! The straps on these, aside from the very first strap across the toes, are black elastic. So relatively comfy. These are not quite as elaborate as many of the shoes out there, which are often platforms.

I don't know how long cage type shoes will be stylish, and I don't think I will get a ton of wear out of these. They certainly don't pass the professional test, unless maybe I was wearing wide leg trousers. Maybe. At two wearings, it's $26 per wear. I doubt I can get it down to single digits, but you never know, I do have 2 weddings to attend in the next few months so maybe they will get to come out of their box. Though one wedding is on a beach, so these might not be the best choice!

Bottom line: keeper

ps. I have to go back and revise my grey pointy shoes - a pricing error and a couple of better photos added. Also added a close up to my gold heels.

August 28 - gold heels

What: gold strappy sandals with a 3 1/4 inch heel
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: April 16, 2010
Cost: $20

My second pair of shoes in 2010. And, if not for this challenge, they'd probably still be unworn, so perhaps blogging shoes is a good thing.

Before my friend K. moved to Florida, we decided we needed to resurrect our Talbots outlet outings, which had gone by the wayside with children, work, and other priorities. So one last trip together and we had some good scores. At $20, these were impossible to resist, even if they aren't the most practical shoes in the world. I knew I had a big dressy work dinner in May, and last year I had worn my hot pink satin heels, so needed to wear something different this year. These were comfortable and cheap and I love metallics and I thought it was worth buying them in case they might go with whatever I ended up wearing to this fancy dinner. Well, ended up with a black dress and wearing new black heels, so these were in my shoe cupboard.

I'm going to admit they look a lot like another pair of gold shoes I bought from Talbots in the early 00s, which have never been worn. But those shoes are gold brocade, so totally different! I need to find an occasion to wear them. Hmm.

Anyway, wore these out to a party with jeans and a dressy top, and they worked great. They were a good buy. But they're never going to get a lot of wear, though over the next couple of years I'm sure I can get the per wear cost down to $2-4 or so. I need a more fabulous life to match my shoes.

Bottom line: keeper

eta: a close up picture. Love the material of these shoes. See the price tag? $39.99, plus they were 50% off. I guess it's sort of snakeskin, which is vastly different than the gold brocade heels I have (and have never once worn).

August 23 - first day of school needs pink shoes

What: Pink flower ballet flats, size 8
From: Talbots
Purchased: Aug 1, 2010
Cost: $40

Yes. I bought them. My 14th pair this year. I had been coveting them for a long time. Coveting! And I get paid monthly, and the first of the month I went out and bough them at $40, which is really too high (especially since I bought these, too). And, the very next day they were marked down to $25. Laurie asked a very good question, why not just go in for a price adjustment? Believe me, I am - or used to be - the queen of price adjustments or returns and repurchases. But now, stupid Talbots has instituted a final sale policy. Once they reach a certain point of markdown, items become final sale. This made me nervous they were running out (particularly of the flip flops), and I had seen no signs of these shoes at the outlets. So I bought them. And then they were marked down further, and I was stuck. Lesson learned. But - stupid Talbots is becoming super annoying with their policies. I pointed out several pairs of lovely shoes (gee, the month of my birthday, hmm) I would love at great prices, and then - they re-raised the prices! So these are now back to $50, and all the other shoes I pointed out recently are roughly twice as much as at their lowest price point. So see, they are trying to out-trick their savvy bargain hunting customers. They won this round. But overall I'm still pretty much ahead. I really should have held out on these - they still have a ton on the website in a rainbow of colors. I think I'm satisfied with pink.

Anyway, wanted something kicky and fun for the first day of school, even if I was just doing drop off and pick up. Still needed to dress to impress, even if that is verging on borderline crazy (I'm trying to impress the other k students? The other moms? The teachers? I don't know, and let's just not talk about it anymore). So these were fun. Even if they did - you guessed it - wear some blisters! (hey, a week of crocs and no foot is in any shape to be confined!)

I didn't realize until we were walking home that Elizabeth was also in her new pink Lands End shoes. Everyone needs a pop of fun color on the first day.

Bottom line: keeper!

August 6 - new ouchies

What: purple brown size 8 ballet flats with buckle
From: Talbots
Purchased: July 22, 2010
Cost: $24!

Wohoo - my 12th pair of shoes bought this year, extensively discussed here. I wore these on an outing Friday and I am sad to report the blister situation on the back on my heels was severe. I haven't worn closed heel shoes much this summer at all, and boy did I suffer.

In other news, I really think I have done something to my left foot. I tried the "just ignore it and it will go away" strategy which did not work. So now I'm trying the "wear tried and true shoes that have a tiny bit of a heel," and that isn't entirely working, either. I think it's related to wearing very flat flip flops, which is my new trend of 2010. (2008 was the heeled flip flops and 1.5 inch heel summer, 2009 was the espadrille summer, and so far this summer has been the flip flop summer. 2009 was also the first year in two decades that I started wearing shoes that were totally flat, and I've been doing it more and more often this year, so that might be an issue too).

I'm about to try the "walk it off with orthotics," so we'll see what happens then.

But in all seriousness, I need a break. I'm bored with photographing my shoes and writing self indulgently about them, not to mention totaling up how much I have spent, and my eyes are glazing over perusing websites of possible new shoes. It's August. We've been away one weekend but otherwise have not had a vacation. I still have summer shoes to wear (my really cool flower orange ones I wore to Ryan's wedding, not to even mention the new bronze platforms that because of this challenge I haven't worn since May), though a great deal of them are higher heels, and I just don't want to wear high heels right now. In short, I need a break.

But yet, I do still have over 100 pairs to go, and we are heading toward cooler weather. So my challenge remains, but I'm giving myself a break in August. If I wear 10-15 different pairs this month (as opposed to 30), I'll consider that a success. I've also got a couple of essays to pen, and to answer a question, I'd be more than happy to provide any guidance or suggestion! So stay tuned, ask away, just don't tune in every day.

Agust 4 - new flops

What: Size 8 light blue flip flops
From: Talbots
Purchased: Aug 1, 2010
Cost: $20

I simply spent too much time thinking about these cute flower shoes from Talbots, and could not resist them, even if $20 is really too much for flip flops. Sure enough, the very next day (Monday) they were marked down to $12 (original price: $49! are they insane?). Oh well. Pair #13 for the year, and they are super cute.

Bottom line: Keeper

July 28 - functional but pink

What: size 7.5 pink trekkers
From: Lands End
Purchased: last week!
Cost: $14.99

Daggone, that is a crappy picture. My 10th pair of shoes purchased this year, extensively documented here. Cute. Mostly comfy, though they started to wear a sore on my right heel. (even comfy shoes have to be broken in).

Bottom line: keeper!

July 10 - rainy days

What: Size 7 black polka dot rainboots
From: Target
Purchased: February 12, 2010
Cost: $25

The first pair of shoes I bought in 2010 - a necessary purchase. My hiking boots shredded - just fell apart - two years ago after many years of great wear. I really need another pair, but the need was never really pressing - until the DC area received an unholy amount of snow, first in December 09, then in February 10. With Andrew so small, I haven't needed to spend much time outside in snow, but February of this year meant I desperately needed something.

Why? Because in the city, people shovel walks. And the city plows. But that means there is a barrier of snow when you need to cross a street - shovelers generally do not shovel out to the plowed area, and plows don't come all the way to the sidewalks. So, to cross the street, you must clamber over a snow bank, piled high with both shoveled and plowed snow. All this foot traffic eventually wears walkways through the snow, but those paths are first slushy and then watery areas to navigate. It's horrible. The day we were finally able to leave the house, there was a 6 foot wide puddle to navigate by the Target. So then you have to go back to clambering over the snow banks, or clinging to the edge of the snow to avoid the water.

I took myself off to Target and up to the shoe department, where I found precisely two piars of boots left, and another woman in the aisle reaching for one of them. So I grabbed the last pair, saw they were 7s, and thought it was worth a shot. They kinda sorta fit, and given the need, I left Target wearing them, and then wore them for short periods of time over the rest of Snowmageddon.

Wore them on Saturday given the morning of rain. I hate these boots. They are not comfortable at all - too tight. Size 7s just aren't wide enough, though they fit in length. It's not like you wear rainboots for hours at a time, though, so until I can get a good pair of hiking/all weather boots, I'm stuck with them.

$25 is not much money. But if I get rid of these boots, I am essentially admitting I wasted $25, which I hate to do. I guess I did not waste the money as I did wear the boots to get out and around in the snow. But still, I can't get rid of them even though I hate them because my right foot fell asleep due to constriction! Must shop for new pair of sturdy, comfortable boots, until then, these will stick around.

Botom line: keeper, for now