Thank you all so much for all of your wonderful comments! You made my day (or week? or month?). 🙂 I particularly appreciate the common thread in the comments on the toddler post – that we are all finding this “parenting thing” to be something of an ongoing guessing game. 😉 I feel a bit less like a dud as a mama knowing that I am not the only one who doesn’t just know what to do all the time. So, thank you! (Hopefully I will get back to most of you individually at some point, but if I’m honest I have to admit it will probably be a couple of weeks. Our next two weeks are going to get crazy.)
I have another question for my wonderful readers, in another area where I am totally clueless – shoes. I am not a shoe person. I envy men, who can easily have a pair of tennis shoes and a single pair of dress shoes and be not be unfashionable. I have no desire whatsoever to have twenty pairs of shoes. And I hate wearing uncomfortable shoes. (I’m just practical. Sometimes too practical.) As a result, I pretty much have no decent shoes. So here’s the question: where does one find stylish, but relatively basic (as in, not a pair of red stilettos that aren’t going to match more than one outfit) shoes that are decent quality but not over $100? (And I don’t do platforms or slides. I need something to hold the shoe on my foot and believe that platforms make natural walking impossible.) Surely someone makes non-plastic shoes in classic styles for under $100, right? Or does anyone have tips for finding shoes at yard sales/thrift stores? (I can do okay with clothes, but never seem to find any but the weirdest shoes.) And on another related, but irrelevant note, does anyone know how to pronounce “Naot,” as in “Naot shoes“? (I came across them while looking, and can’t figure out how to pronounce the name.)
Sorry, Hon. I’m so not a fashionista. I’m clueless. And frumpy.
Someone PLEASE turn me in to “What Not to Wear”!
ROTFL
Me, too!
I would look for Clarks or Born shoes at yard sales or thrift shop if you are looking for high quality well made shoes that support your feet.
Honestly your best bet is to go to a department store and try on shoes, find what fits you best, what you like, then watch for those specific styles and brands at the thrift shop.I have a lot of foot trouble due to rheumatoid arthritis and have learned what works for me out of experience and necessity. I buy 2 pairs a summer, usually for $20 or less and wear them all summer.
Okay, I’ll be back with more ideas- I am a shoe FREAK, but here’s my first idea- DSW- Do you have one in your area?? They are GREAT as they carry a lot of brands and you can find decent prices in their clearance section. Also Dillards- they do a HUGE clearance sale a few times a year and I’ve had luck there in the past. Finally, I **LOVE** Macy’s clearance shoes. There are also some websites I’d recommend- let me do some thinking on those and I’ll get back to you.
Also, to me, shoes are personal and I would feel weird buying them second hand… I find that if I look hard enough, I can get good deals on new shoes. That’s just me though.
BTW- Thanks for visiting my blog! 🙂
Okay, online sources for shoes- I joined Cashbaq (http://www.cashbaq.com/?refer=461475) and have gotten great deals emailed to me through them- I bought a pair of Deckers flip flops for about $12 shipped and LOVE them. I also bought a pair of Simple shoes for under $20 (regular $100+), again shipped. You can read details on my purchases here: http://suddenlystayathome.blogspot.com/2009/05/7-quick-takes-shopping-edition.html. They recently had sneakers clearanced out for less than $20. A lot of times they offer free shipping both ways, so if you don’t like them or they don’t fit, you’re not stuck.
I have also ordered from shoebuy.com through cashbaq. The deals are not as surprising, but they offer free shipping both ways all the time and they will give you an additional discount of you register on their site. We ordered shoes for my husband through them and it was great. Good luck and happy shopping.