March 21 - metallic loafers!

What:  size 8W silver loafers
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  March 19, 2011
Cost:  $21.25

OK, yes, I bought three pairs of shoes over the weekend.  There is no justification.  But you know what?  If I wasn't doing this shoe blog, I would have bought another pair - a very cool - and comfortable - pair of low heel peeptoes covered in gold sequins and glitter for $25.  Now, those were completely unjustifiable, and I knew it.  I liked them because they had a lower heel and were comfortable, and that's hard to find in a dress shoe.  But some on, where in the world would I wear them?  (dammit, I still want them, though - if they make it to the 80% off clearance you know they're mine!) 

But these!  I saw a bunch of mocs, ballet flats, and loafers on the clearance racks and then I noticed the tag on these were 8W = SCORE.  Wides are hard to find at the clearance center, so I grabbed them first thing and tried them - totally, perfectly comfortable.  Let's see, very comfy wide shoes (typically hard to find), metallic (my love of metallic is well documented), and silver/pewter/grey (my current favorite) for just over $20?  Um, yeah.

Ok, well, yes, technically I have these, which are functionally quite similar.  But! Silver/pewter ballet flats are great without socks, but you look like a dork wearing socks.  Silver/pewter loafers?  Socks, baby, plus a sturdier structure and heel put them in an ever-so-slightly different niche. 

Bottom line:  keeper! 

March 10 - another symptom of the overall problem: orange sneaks

What:  size 8 white slip on sneakers with orange trim
From:  LOFT
Purchased:  '05-'06 or thereabouts
Cost:  $20

Never been worn.  I know I was just complaining about my need for basic slip on sneakers, but these just aren't it.  First off, white sneakers - one wear and they are trashed.  Second, these aren't a great fit.  Third, I really need shoes with some support, not just a flat tread.

I really coveted these when I saw them at LOFT and desperately wanted them.  I thought they'd go with so much of my casual spring/summer wardrobe.  And now I have no idea why, other than I do like orange things for going to UVA games, though they really would not be that comfy to walk around, given their lack of support.   I guess they are cute in a preppy sort of way, so perhaps I can find a way to wear them this coming summer, and then I'll have to get rid of them.  Actually, you know what, I think that is what happened - I liked them a lot, they matched a lot of my summer wear that year, but I knew they would get trashed easily, so I never wore them so they'd never get dirty so I'd never have to get rid of them.  Huh.  I think everyone does that to some extent - save things for special use, but then the special use never comes along.

Bottom line:  keeper

Whew - so now I've covered all of the 31 shoes that were stored in my shoe wardrobe-y thing!   Crap!  It doesn't!  I was scanning the first photo in that link and I spied a pair I have not covered in the blog yet.  Guess what, they're BLUE and have never been worn.  I have a real problem with blue.  Hmm, they are spring-y shoes, maybe I will actually wear them one day next week, so it'll be a while before I catch up my posts to real time.  Actually I have the perfect pair of pants to wear with those blue shoes but they need to be hemmed.  Hmmm.

And you know what else?  These are the 167th pair of shoes I've shown you (157 at end of Feb + 10) - my original guessimate of how many shoes I own.   I think I have at least 15 more - hmm, more like at least 20 more (got to clean out the bottom of my closet, which is a jumble), which puts my end date as March 30, with my date with TSM set for April 8, will I make it?  Will I still have shoes left to cover?  Will I have to double up?  Crap, will I hit 200 pairs?!  Wow.  OK, this has been a very long, protracted 10 month blog series, but it has been useful.  For me at least! 

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

February 4 - old yellow

What: size 8 yellow sneakers
From: Ralph Lauren (some outlet store)
Purchased: early 00s
Cost: $20

Another pair off the rack in Elizabeth's room - I like the look of these shoes a lot, but haven't worn them in forever and the rubber has become stiff and started to crack. They were never that comfortable, so it's time to let go.

Bottom line: discard

December 18 - slippers

What: light blue size 8 velour slippers
From: charter club
Purchased: Christmas gift in 2005 or 06
Cost: gift!

Slippers count as shoes, right? Well, as often as I wear them. I have 2 pairs of cozy slippers, but I'm not sure where the older ones are right now. Shoved someplace deep in my closet, I suspect. I got these as a present a few years ago and didn't wear them since I had slippers I really liked. But I busted these out last winter.

We had a holiday open house on the 18th, and I had these on doing prep work and they were so comfy I just left them on for the party. But I disappointed a few of my shoe fans. So later I put on my party shoes, but they didn't last long before I went back to the slippers.

Bottom line: keeper

December 2 - so I keep these too, I guess

What: size 7 duck shoes
From: who knows
Purchased: ~1986
Cost: free to me

I've had these shoes since high school. My friends at college, especially Kdot, used to laugh at me when I wore them. Because my foot is wide, and these are size 7, Kdot would say these made my foot look absurdly small, while simultaneously making my foot appear as wide as it is long.

I continued to wear them anyway.

They've been in the closet in E's room for years. I've been convinced for years they were too small, but couldn't bear to part with them because they made me smile. (My tendency to imbue objects with memories disturbs me.) I think my mom has said she'll take them on a couple of occasions, but they've remained. December 2 was a nice day, after two crappy days, but I pulled these out, thinking they'd go in the discard pile and I could wear my grey boots. I did wear my grey boots, but surprisingly, wearing thin trouser socks, these things actually fit. Well, that settles that, then. There's no way I can get rid of shoes that make me smile if they actually still fit. Whether I'll wear them much remains to be seen. Actually I did wear them for years, and the bottom tread is really wearing, so they don't have much life left. But a lot of smiles.

Bottom line: I am pathetically weak and destined for a life of hoarding, or perhaps death by falling shoe stacks, but these stay

December 1 - cold and rainy needs bright red shoes

What: shiny red size 8 rain shoes
From: chillmark
Purchased: Hmmm. Can't remember. A while ago. Late 90s?
Cost: no idea. I do know I wouldn't have spent more than $20, so we'll go with that, though I bet it was cheaper

December 1 was a gray, rainy, pretty crappy day, so I pulled these out. I actually thought they no longer fit (so why do I keep shoes for years and years that don't fit and i never wear? Who knows?) but they turned out to be kinda comfy. I think my orthotics don't fit in them, so I stopped wearing them, but just for a short rainy jaunt they were perfectly fine to wear. Good to know, I'll keep them and maybe they'll get a ltitle bit of wear.

Bottom line: keeper

November 30 - I love my clodhoppers

What: size 8 wide, umm, I'm not even sure how to describe these. Loafers?
From: Naturalizer (outlet)
Purchased: October '03 - possibly '04, but I am fairly certain 03
Cost: $10

Oh these shoes make me laugh. My friend KG suggested we take advantage of a mid week day off and drive to Rehoboth for some shopping. I encouraged her to buy a gorgeous dress at Ann Taylor that she still wears. I got pink gloves at JNY, and I really think I got at least one other pair of shoes, but am not sure which ones now, so maybe I did not. I got a great jean skirt, and a cool cord skirt. It was a good shopping day.

You know what, it was 2004. I checked - I had Kanye West's The College Drop Out, and she had LL Cool J's The DEFinition, and we listened to both several times on the drive down and back. And The DEFinition wasn't released until August '04. OK, glad we cleared that up.

Anyway, near the end of the day we hit Naturalizer and I was going through the discount racks when I saw these and popped them on. KG immediately said, take those clodhoppers off! But I was smitten. Yes, they were ugly, but kind of in a vaguely cool-ish way, and best of all they were CHEAP. And I had nothing like them. KG was - and still is - appalled by them. She brings it up to this day. I completely concede they are not stylish, but my point was they had a niche and were a good buy.

And sure enough, on my maternity leave with E? I wore these shoes nearly every freaking day. The per wear cost of these is less than penny. The bottoms are also getting quite worn, though, the rubber tread wearing smooth, so they won't be so dependable for much longer. They've got some wear left, though.

I, um, actually haven't worn them in a while because, well, I can't believe I am admitting this, but they were once pooped on by Aggie. One night, suffering from intestinal distress, the poor dog went into our closet and pooped. We were not happy, but there were no lsating damage. I cleaned them off but somehow the magic was gone, so they've been under my dresser for a couple of years. But, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfy they are, and on a crappy day, they are great to wear with jeans and a sweatshirt.

So, 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.

October 8 - blue flats (sorta)

What: size 8 blue and white ballet flats with gold buckle
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: spring 09
Cost: $10

So this post is a wee bit of a lie. I got dressed (cuffed jeans, blue/white shirt) and taped up my heels, still hurting from Wednesday and put on these flats. Took the pic, and then took two steps out of my bedroom and decided it was just not going to happen. So while I had the best intentions, and am still counting these as worn, I ended up wearing blue flip flops instead. I just had too much walking to do and my heels were still too tender. And karma paid me back, because it turns out the blue flip flops, with that flower, are not so flexible and end up causing some twinges along the tops of my feet. So I ended up with pain anyway. At least this solves the mystery - I talked about pain in my foot on August 6th, two days after I first wore those blue flip flops. So now what to do about the super cute blue flip flops, but I'll deal with them next year, I think.

Anyway, these flats kind of verge on the too much category - too many colors, too bright/big buckle, too crazy a pattern. I think they'd have to be paired with a fairly neutral outfit. But there is still something appealing about them, so I will find something to wear with them. I bought these at the same time as these, my first flat purchases.

Bottom line: keeper

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 16 - (fake) Crocs!

What: orange fake crocs
From: LL Bean (the rehoboth outlet)
Purchased: ~04, possibly '05
Cost: $15

My orange fake crocs! Oh how ugly, and yet comfortable. You know how I once said the contrary to conventional wisdom, bargain shopping could put you ahead of a trend? These are a perfect example. Crocs first came out in 2002, mass produced in 2003. I found these at the LL Bean outlets in 2004, maybe 2005, and sure enough, they are darn comfortable. So I decided to grab them - I love a slip on casual shoe to keep by the door to pop outside. Loved them. Wore them all the time, on maternity leave and on weekends (with socks!) the first year of Elizabeth's life.

They are pretty close to actual Crocs. LL Bean actually had to redesign them the following season, and now no longer carries them. But this pair I got at the outlet put my right on trend. Then, the Croc backlash started right around 2007. Company stock price crashed - earnings were down - after all, if you make an indestructable shoe, who needs to buy more than one pair? Plus, they are really ugly. I mean really. I've come to my senses and only wear at appropriate times - gardening, popping outside to take out the trash, as slippers, at the pool, water park, or at the beach, as I did last week. Perfect uses for a utilitarian shoe. Crocs have come out with slightly more stylish, less bulky options, though I've never tried any.

On a side note, I love Crocs as kids shoes - super cute. I especially like the crocs with fleece lining, and buy them for E and A, though often off brand ones. For whatever reason, they stay well on kids feet, they clean easily, and let's face it, they are just comfy. Not allowed in most schools, but a perfect summer sandal or more substantial casual almost slipper-like shoe in the winter.

Bottom line: keeper. Infrequent, specific wear only!

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 4 - red

What: size 7.5 AA-width red tumbled leather mules
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: could not even guess beyond late 90s
Cost: not sure, but outlet purchase means they were around $20

As discussed, my feet have grown. Sigh. Kind of depressing, except I think this might actually help me cull some shoes. When I did a quick look through my shoes, I ran across several that were size 7.5 and just did not fit. Stay tuned, as they are going to be offered online before being donated. Anyway, I've long had a thing for red shoes, but my look through showed me several of the now too small shoes were red ones. And most of my red ones are heels or pumps or heeled loafers. I could actually use a couple of pairs of red sandals now that I'm thinking about it - filed away for future reference when I am checking out the clearance racks.

Anyway, on the 4th I picked these up and checked the size, 7.5. And sighed, thinking they would be too small. And the width - I have discovered at the Talbots Outlet that their shoe sizes are all over the place. I have at least two pairs of narrow shoes from the outlet, and my feet are wide. WIDE. Seriously wide. And yet, these still fit fine. Go figure.

Bottom line: keeper

June 23 - new (sorta) - and some updates

What: size 8.5 white/pink flip flops
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: ~1998
Cost: $6.50

So 23 days in and I struggle a bit with really casual shoes. We headed out to the baseball park on a 95 degree day and I needed something super easy and cool to wear. I rejected some shoes with heels and was a bit stymied, but then remembered these. I bought them a long time ago at the Talbots Outlet store, on a visit with my friend Kristen. They were marked $26 dollars, but 75% off. I only remembered they were super cheap (in my memory they were $8) - I've never worn them and the price tag was still on! They were a little big, and then I had my orthotic/back issue, so they've been living in a box for the past 12 years or so. I had been thinking about trying to sell them on Craig's List, but they were a great choice. I probably should have sold them, but the challenge had to be met!
--
UPDATES

- Pink sneakers: Here's the thing. People who keep things and people who get rid of things can never really understand each other. I simply cannot get rid of a perfectly good pair of shoes. It makes me slightly anxious (but what if I need them?) to think about discarding perfectly fine anything. And so, if I know you are a non-cluttered person and you say get rid of them with no analysis why, I am sorry to say I pretty much discount your opinion as you'd say that about any pair! I need reasons to get rid of them. TSM hit it - the heel overhang really is an issue. So, um, I will keep thinking about it. Though seriously? That pic from '07? I distinctly recall being dissatisfied with those shoes that day.

- strap sandals: I forgot to put a bottom line. Keeping. I wore them yesterday in the morning to walk to Target. Straps definitely tight in extreme heat, but sandals are cute. And all together now: Not that uncomfortable!

- overall: 23 days, 22 pairs of shoes, 1 definitely donated, 1 needs to be re-heeled, 1 undecided, 0 purchases, though 1 in consideration. And no worries about running out of options.

June 18 - slip ons

What: size 8 slip on tennis shoes
From: Ralph Lauren (bought at Syms)
Purchased: May '10
Cost: $15

So when I first started this shoe blogging, I thought I had purchased 6 pairs of shoes already this year. But then I remembered a 7th, and then I remembered an 8th. Well, guess what? Actually 9. And I'm fairly confident that's it, but I gave up shopping for Lent! Successfully! I did not purchase anything for 6 weeks, except for one small slip up early on of some leftover, super cheap valentine supplies stashed away for next year. Unlike TSM and her compact, this 6 week hiatus did not result in me re-evaluating my life. It was a good break, and I did save money. And since then, I have thought more about the want versus need before purchasing. Though lately I'm big on the wants.

But that means, in 5 months - say 21 weeks, minus 6 weeks for Lent - 15 weeks - I purchased 9 pairs of shoes. That does not seem possible. But yet I have the physical evidence right here. I did total up how much each cost, and even with 2 pairs purchased for $54 each, the grand total is $277, or $31 average cost. Not bad, really. I cyber-stalked two pairs of suede pumps (awesome purple! and very cool red!) that I am super excited about for fall (I stalked them all throughout Lent (and they were on my "lenten exception list" but never got cheap enough to pull the trigger), but waited til late April and then early May to get both for under $35). Bought the yellow flip flops and still unworn black pumps that inspired this whole thing on the same trip in late May. The rain boots in early February. The gold strappy sandals in late April, the bronze platforms in May, the black strappy sandals in early May. And these slip-ons in late May. Seriously, I cannot buy any more shoes this year. Because friends, I have not even sweated a bit in 18 days of choosing a different shoe. Not even had to think twice.

Anyway, these. I am perpetually on a slip-on tennis shoe quest. AK Anne Klein used to make an awesome one - I had them in red and pink and still have both pairs (of course) but they are in sad, sad shape. The red ones are only worn for painting and house projects. Nothing beats a pair of slip on sneaks by the front door, to, well, slip on and run outside, especially after dinner with the kids. But I have a hard time finding comfortable ones that don't result in hurting back (see orthotic issue). I bought a pair last year I had to give away to a nanny on our street because they resulted in incapacitating back pain. Yes, I could keep my athletic shoes with the orthotics by the door, but lacing up shoes ruins the whole slip on ease.

I had a work dinner in mid-May that required a new dress (ok, did not require, but it was originally going to be black tie, then got changed to formal business). We were in a shopping center with a Syms to pick up beer making supplies for Rich and I said, let me just run into that Syms to look at their dresses. Found a formal dress I sort of liked and bought it, but ended up not needing formal. When I went to return it, of course I wandered through the store, and found myself in the shoe department (actually looking for low-heeled black sandals!). And I found these marked down to $15. I debated for quite a while but finally decided to buy. They do not have quite enough support (which means I am still on my quest to replace those awesome AK Anne Klein sneaks) but they will more than do. Wore them to Elizabeth's end of school year preK picnic. Perfect.

Bottom line: Keeper, but the quest continues

June 16 - more flats

What: size 8 reddish patterned ballet flats with bow
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: spring ‘09
Cost: ~$20

I used to not wear flats at all – it’s a long story, but I am supposed to wear orthotics, which don’t fit in any shoes except ugly ones, so I rarely wear them. I discovered that if I wore a shoe with a bit of a heel, I didn’t need the orthotics to avoid back pains, which is why nearly every shoe I own has a heel, usually ~2 inches. Which, again, was fine for working in an office, but is a little overkill on the playground. And I also have wide feet, which also means the shoe sometimes has to be larger size to fit in width but then doesn’t fit in length. So I’d never found a flat that was even remotely comfortable, but I saw these in the Outlet and tried them on and they were actually comfortable in an 8. Really comfortable. But I think they were still too expensive, so I kept my eye on them at the outlet and by spring (they were from summer ’08), the cost had dropped into reasonable territory, so I grabbed them. And didn’t wear them for a few months, but started wearing them late summer last year and have nearly worn them out. They are not going to last much longer, but they’re a go-to shoe. I chaperoned Elizabeth’s school trip to the National Aquarium and they were perfect.

Bottom line: Keeper (and I’ve since bought other flats from Talbots, too, as they are sized well for me. Talbots flats are typically priced at $99. Ridiculous. I have three pairs now and the most I paid was $35. They had a cute pink pair with a flower this spring, so I am keeping my eyes open for discounts.).

June 3 - flat

What: flat yellow leather flip flops, size 8
From: Talbots (Outlet)
Purchased: last week (May 2010)
Cost: $6.25!

Today was 'May Day' (postponed from last week) at Elizabeth's school (also known as field day). (check out Awwwtrouble once I figure out why blogger hates me). The worst job at school fair? Sno-cone syrup dispenser. The second worse job? Sno-cone maker. Third worst is cotton candy. (this ranking may also be weather dependent - if you're running the sport games on the black top on a 90 degree day, you may be able to make a strong case for worse job). I spent two hours making sno-cones today, and my hand is still numb from the ice. Rich spent one hour and ruined a pair of shorts dispensing syrup on top of said sno-cones. Luckily, food was inside the building, because we would have had heat stroke otherwise. I knew I needed a dependable pair of shoes today - I have these in orange, purchased end of last summer for cheap. But, I was at the talbots outlet for the spring sale and saw these, 75% off the lowest price, plus an extra 10% off. Could not resist at that price. Cannot believe that anyone originally paid something like $60 for them full price. There is nothing to them. They are already scuffed along the front. But they are what they are - flip flops. Perfect for today.

Bottom line: keeper for years to come.

ps to Helen, who does not have a blog: if this random assortment of ramblings from a quite possibly nutcase like myself is actually inspiring you to declutter, I think you must have other inspiration, too.

pps. This reminds me that my sister is bemused by the blogging - or specifically the commenting. Everyone is so supportive and positive! My sister wants to comment: 'you are a nutcase' but thinks she will look mean compared to everyone else. My family is usually merciless. I can take it.