Awesome Product

I love high heel shoes. It's not because I need the added height, I'm always shocked when I see a "very tall" woman in a store and as I come closer realize we're the same height. So I feel slightly self conscious at how tall I must seem in heels, but from my perspective it's only a few inches difference from my normal height and doesn't seem like that big a deal. I just love the way they look, and how dainty my ankles and feet seem. Yes, I recognize I have a problem compulsively liking things that make me feel dainty in any way. I know being dainty isn't necessary for being feminine, and I probably would hate it if I really were dainty, but logic and compulsion don't really go together, now do they?

But that's not really why I'm writing today. Heels need to be broken in so they're comfortable, yet it's hard to wear them enough to break them in until they are. And my stupid pinky toe that broke and healed wrong isn't helping. Oh, don't worry about me, I broke it in college tripping over this jerk RA who refused to get up from laying across the hallway. He got his in the end, though - his hall duct tape mummified him and left him in the lounge. Anyway, the toe was really bothering me after wearing my newest heels and my new toe awareness made all my shoes disturbingly painful to wear. I was disheartened to think I wouldn't be able to wear any of my pretty shoes again, and that if I tried I'd damage my feet. Then I found the awesome product that is driving this post:It's an old fashioned Shoe Stretcher, but made especially for high heels. You apply a stretching spray to the inside of the shoe (I think it's just rubbing alcohol truthfully) and stick the stretcher in. Then turn the handle to start stretching the shoe and leave overnight. Natural leather shoes stretch very quickly, but synthetics or shoes with a lot of stitching take multiple treatments. But it's totally worth it. Because I can once again wear my new green patent leather heels :)

Who skinned a giraffe?

I've been looking for a new purse for a while. My whole life my purses have been functional rather than accessories. Small-medium cloth bags with lots of pockets. I wanted something different this time and I had my eyes peeled for one in green, purple, or red, maybe that shiny leather that's popular now. Totally new territory for me, and I wasn't liking what I saw. Then I went shopping at lunch one day with a friend from work at a cool consignment shop nearby. I'm able to talk myself out of almost any purchase if I'm alone, but if someone is with me I find it harder to say no. I think that's part of the reason I asked her if she wanted to come with me. I found one I liked, even stuck my current purse into it to see how it handled the weight, carried it all over the store, then hung it back up. Thankfully my friend was patient and encouraging, and waited while I talked myself back into buying it. Yes, it's ridiculous. Different in every way from my normal bags. No convenient pockets, far bigger and heavier than others, yet I can't help grinning every time I put it on. So far it's working out great, and the added room allows me to easily hold everything I want to carry with me.

Of course it led to a very interesting conversation over dinner the night I brought it home about fashion, and what disconnect happens in women's brains that make them buy an item like this. I didn't have an answer at first, I just knew I liked it. We had a fun time trying to tease apart the reasons behind it, and weird fashion trends in general, and finally came up with a succinct undeniable answer - it's made to catch the eye. And it certainly does.