Shoes

I know I've got your attention now! Shoes! I have to admit a certain weakness for shoes. And yet, I can't stand to wear uncomfortable shoes, heels, or even particularly "fun" shoes. I tend to buy really inexpensive shoes and wear the hell out of them before tossing them because there are holes and such. In the fall and winter, I wear loafers. In the spring and summer, I wear flip flops. Year round, I wear ballet flats. I am 5'8"-ish. Sometimes 5'9"-ish on a good posture day. In my shoe past, I've struggled with baaaad toes. Ingrown toenails, infections. It got bad back when I was in a community theatre production of "Secret Garden" and had to wear these pointy toed, heeled boots for several hours every night. Ingrown issues that lasted for years with all kinds of nasty infection problems. Eventually got a podiatrist who took care of it once and for all. And I swore off any kind of uncomfortable footwear for the rest of my life. Or at least minimizing discomfort to really small doses.

I wear ballet flats- a lot. In fact, I wear ballet flats to work almost every day. I only recently expanded to a moc type flat that I bought on clearance at Target for $5. On weekends, I have a pair of Lands End walking shoes that are, again, ballet style and slip on and off easily. I wear flip flops- have about 3 pair. And I have a pair of mary jane style Crocs. Scoff if you will but those are some handy shoes to have around.

So you get the idea, right? Liz + shoes = comfortable. Only equation that works.

I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon trip to Target with a friend this past weekend. While we chatted, we had a blast in the clearance shoe section.

How can large, clompy, hot pink sandals with rhinestone turtles be on clearance for 75% off? I mean- how did these not sell out the minute they hit the shelf?

Or maybe you've got a boating excursion planned and just can't bear the thought of not having stylish, themed shoes to go along with the trip? Maybe these rope-y sandals are more what you are looking for? Perfect for rock climbing, I bet!

Then I found some insanely high heels. I have no clue just how high these suckers were. 4" maybe? But I just HAD to try them on just to see if I could stand up in them.

And they turned me into an Amazon Woman from the Moon. I towered over my friend like a... well, a tower. I could barely walk!

And another pair in a similar style. Huge high heels, thick sole. I got a shot in the mirror to get a better idea of how they looked.

I have to admit... as much as I love my sensible, cute, comfortable, homey shoes... these insanely high heeled, completely impractical shoes were kind of tempting.

Reasons for buying them? They make my feet look cute and my legs look hawt!

The reasons for NOT buying them? The reasons were many, actually. Feeling like I was a giant was part of it. Barely being able to walk in them was part of it. The pain in my feet and legs after wearing them for 2.7 seconds was part of it.

It was fun to play in them. It was fun to pretend to be an Amazonian Moon Creature. It was fun to pretend I was Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

But in the end... comfort is queen!