The end is near, and so I face, the final curtain...

Gotta love a little Frank Sinatra quote for a post title right? In case you're blanking on the song, it's My Way.

Anyway, I'm back. Sadly, with this post is the end of my journey. Only about a month and a half. However, I may not have been completely honest with my journey. I have a pile of shoe boxes in my bedroom, right next to a bag of clothes that have been waiting to go to Goodwill/Salvation Army/Plato's Closet for months now. Stuff that's too big, I don't wear, or don't like. The shoes in the pile are ones that I haven't worn in a long time or that I just am not quite as big a fan of anymore as I used to be. I suppose I could let this go for another week or so and wear them all. Kind of "Last Hurrah" type thing... Anyway... here's what I've got from the last week of the challenge.
Last Friday, I went with orange flip flops, dark skinny jeans and this really cute orangey/peach t-shirt from NY&Co. Per usual, they were comfy and all that jazz. After work I met up with a good friend from high school and we got pedicures together and then went for dinner. It was really nice to hang out with her since we really don't get to see each other much. I hadn't ever had a pedicure around here, usually they were saved for special occasions. Visiting my cousin in Texas, for example. But, the place we went to was pretty sweet and the pedicures were fabulous!!
Saturday, it was pretty warm out so I went with jean shorts and a beige/gold tank top and my brown flip flops. Yes, this was the FINAL pair of Old Navy flip flops.
What do you think of the new nail polish, eh? Not quite as classy as the French tips that I normally go for, but we decided to be fun and sparkly.
That day I went to the mall with a friend to help her find a birthday gift for her girlfriend. We had a pretty fun time, but it took us a while to get to the mall since it rained like WHOA. The weather was so weird that day. One minute it was hot and humid and sunny, and the next, I looked outside and it was raining. On my way to pick her up I had to go about 40 on the highway because it was raining so hard I could barely see!
Sunday was much nicer. Still humid, but not quite as hot. One of our "couple" friends were in the area for a wedding and we made plans to meet up for lunch. We went to Zen in Northampton for sushi. It was DELICIOUS! Then we walked around NoHo for a while, they were having their sidewalk sale last weekend. That night, the boy and I just hung out at the apartment together. Relaxing and such. Also, pretty fun. It was also the day I debuted the other pair of sandals I bought at Target the other day.
I know I said before that I'm not really a big fan of T-strap sandals usually. But, my cousin had a pair similar to these and my sister also has these... yet another pair of shoes that she and I have in common. And, well, they're really cute. And they don't look ridiculous on me either, which is a big part of why I'd never really thought about getting T-strap sandals. Which, I guess is a little silly since my "wedding shoes" that I showed a few posts ago, are also T-straps. *shrug* Who knows. I guess my tastes are changing and I'm getting more adventurous! lol

Monday I had to rock these babies...
They've actually been sitting in the "get rid of" pile for a few months now. I bought them a few years ago and just never wore them that much. I LOOOOVE them, don't get me wrong. Pink. With POLKA DOTS!!! I mean, how could you go wrong? But, they squinch my toes really bad and I can't walk much with them. So, I am going to get rid of them, but this was their last hurrah! They are really cute though, don't you think????

A few years ago I was on a mission to find gold heels. I don't really remember why I NEEDED them so badly. But, I did. I was on my mission for a while when my mom and I were shopping one time and found a pair at Macy's.
If you look closely at the middle picture you can see that I've actually gotten a lot of wear out of these. The heel is all worn off and the bottoms are all scuffed to hell! But, they're adorable and I love them! I don't remember what I wore with these, but it's ok, I think the cuteness makes up for it. The only thing that is kind of a bummer about them is that they're actually a 6 1/2. Which, if you recall from any number of earlier posts, is a full size bigger than what I normally wear. In slingbacks and sandals like these I can usually get away with wearing a 6, but with closed-toe/closed-back heels I need a 5 1/2. So, these are a little big and I should probably let them go to shoe heaven and fine a new pair of gold heels, but I don't really wear them all that much anyway, so why not keep them around a little longer, right?

I mentioned previously about my boots, etc. and how I hadn't really thought this whole challenge completely through since I have a few pairs of boots that would be a bit warm for June/July. But, I couldn't just brush them to the side and say no. I had to wear them. Enter, the "clunky" shoes. When I was in high school and in college, I thought I was hot shit because I had these black platform shoes. I wore them out. They were like the only shoes I'd wear. But, when the laces broke and they started to fall apart I needed new ones. So, I found a pair at RAVE.
Yeah, I know. And, yes, they're pierced, too. Also, they're a size 7 because apparently when I tried them on in the store I convinced myself that the 7 fit and that they weren't too big. Plus, if I remember correctly, they didn't have a 6 or 6 1/2. These should probably go in the pile to go away, but I do like them, and they work in the fall/winter with a pair of jeans. They're more comfortable than boots because the heel and the platform aren't that far apart. But, they really are too big for me. I have to wear crazy thick socks if I wear these... it's just not the best idea.

Thursday, I went with my slouchy boots. Normally I prefer to wear these with my skinny jeans, tucked in. Yes, that's one trend that I like. I'd looked for slouchy boots for a while before finally finding these. Of course, they could probably double as pirate boots if that's what I decide on for a Halloween costume sometime. But, since I can only wear jeans on Fridays I went with dress pants, over the boots. Sadly, I didn't enjoy wearing them this time. I think because I prefer to show them off when I wear them, and partly because I was having a crappy day anyway and my feet were hott.


Friday, continued my crappy day from Thursday. And I also wore my Adidas sandals.

I've had them for forever. Since like 8th grade when I played softball. Because clearly, wearing socks with Adidas sandals is cool when you're also wearing your uniform because obviously you can't wear your cleats anywhere but the field. I really don't wear these ever anymore. Partly because they're so old, partly because you have to wear socks with them for probably a week before you can go without socks. The little knobby things, that are probably to help circulation and be comfy, HURT like a bitch! Maybe that contributed to my bad mood on Friday. My feet being on fire from hurting so bad. Yeah, look at them... dirty as all hell, and if you can't tell from the pic of just them... the knobby things under the big toe areas... have all come off! haha

Like I mentioned at the beginning, today was my final day. Not counting the pile of shoes that are headed to a new home. Originally I hadn't planned to include these because I felt that I really don't wear them enough, when I wear them, to include them. However, this morning I did something that I NEVER, in a million years, thought I would have done or even have ever wanted to do. I ran a 5K. Because I wanted to. Not because someone made me do it, or any other reason. Just because I wanted to and because I wanted to know I could. And you know what? I liked it. Yes, I liked it. I've always said that anyone who runs for fun is out of his or her mind! But, it was a pretty great feeling. Yeah, my calves are crazy tight right now and I keep stretching them out, but it's a good hurt. I'm really proud of myself. And my mom. She's the one who told me about it and we did it together. She came in about a minute or so ahead of me and she ran the WHOLE way. I walked a little bit, but ran most of it. So, I felt that because of this I had to include my gym sneakers, my running sneakers.
I like them. And they're really comfortable too. My feet don't hurt at all! When I've run a few times recently, wearing my other sneakers, I get home and there are spots on my feet that my sneakers rubbed on or hurt. But, these are incredibly comfortable. I do need to get new sneakers now. Since I use these primarily when I go to the gym and my other ones I've had for quite a while. Probably 5 or 6 years at this point.

So, here we are. At the end of this journey. I've really enjoyed it all. It's given me a challenge to come up with new outfits for each pair and to make sure I match. Here are a couple pictures of my closet. You've probably wondered at some point where I keep all these shoes when not wearing them...
This is the top shelf in my closet. I keep my heels in their boxes so they don't get ruined. And so that I can find both shoes when I need them. I'm also extremely organized so I like that they're all there and I know which pair is which. I don't know if you can really tell from the picture, but for the most part, they're arranged by the size of the box.
Here's my little shoe rack at the bottom of my closet. You can just barely see the leopard print fuzzy on my slippers. I didn't include my slippers since I only wear them around the house.

And here is the pile of stuff to get rid of...
Seven pairs in boxes, at least another 4 or 5 in the bag. Perhaps I'll wear these all next week...

Shoes-y Q

Crocs: Comfort over Style?

I realized, soon after posting about shoe styles I don't like/understand, that I missed one particular shoe style/brand that really bother me. CROCS.

Ok, yes, I get that they're undeniably comfortable. But, you look like a damn clown wearing them. And then they have these little button things that you stick in the holes? So you can look like a decorated clown? Also, they make your feet look really wide, which isn't really a good look.

I will concede that a friend of mine found little ballet flat shoes that are fuzzy on the inside that are actually adorable and I was shocked to find out they they were CROCS. BUT, that SINGLE style aside, they're hideous. If you didn't know they were CROCS, you probably couldn't tell. At least, I couldn't when she wore them for the first time. But all their other styles are awful. They have HEELS and WEDGES too. I just don't get it. I know that some Chefs wear CROCS (without the holes in them) because they're slip resistant on slippery kitchen floors and because you're on your feet alllll day long and they're comfortable, but most of them don't wear them outside of work. And the bright orange CROCS are the only thing I don't like about Mario Batali on Iron Chef: America. Can anyone explain this phenomenon with ugly shoes to me???

Part Two of my Return!

So, last night I brought you up to date to last Friday when my sister came down from Spencerport, NY (right next to Rochester). Saturday, she and my mom and my cousin and I went to Hampton Beach for the day. We LOVE the beach. I would go so far as to call my mom, my sister and I Beach Bums. Of course, I did make my little whoopsie on Saturday, I wore my grey flip flops a second time without realizing it! I wore my emerald green bathing suit with my grey overshirt and my grey flip flops. I should have checked out my pictures first and worn a pair that I hadn't worn yet, but I didn't and therefore doubled up. Oopsie! I won't post pictures of the grey ones a second time because I'm sure you're capable of going back a post and checking them out.

Sunday, I wore my black flip flops with my navy blue polo and blue plaid bermuda shorts. I love those shorts. They're so comfy and really cute too!
We had a cookout at my mom's house since my sister was home. Then we went to the Petersham Band concert and our good friend, Kaitlyn, came out. It was really nice to see her and catch up. We don't see each other much anymore so when we do get to hang out we have tons to talk about.

Since I'm getting to the end of my journey, I decided it was time to break out the boots, so on Monday I wore my ankle boots.

I had another pair just like these, but I'd had them for quite a while and the heels were getting really worn down and the black coating on them was wearing off and they were turning white plastic. So, I bought new ones. These are actually slightly higher than the others and the toe is a little more squared that the others, but they're basically the same. I love them. Of course, I love them a lot more in the fall/winter when it's not crazy hot and humid, but that's the price I have to pay for giving myself this challenge.

Tuesday, I wore my tall boots. I had looked into getting a new pair of them last fall/winter and found a pair that I realllllllllly liked, but couldn't find my size in the store, and with boots like these I didn't really want to buy them without trying them on. My feet are super tiny, but my calves are normal sized/a little bigger than most and so it can sometimes get difficult to find boots that fit both my feet and my calves. Apparently, if you want to wear tall boots you have to be emaciated so that your legs fit. I guess this year I'll have to get a new pair though, these are getting pretty beat up and scuffed, etc.

They are really cute though, and I've worn them a ton since I got them, but that was like 6 years ago. I think I was a freshman in college when I bought them.

Wednesday, I wore my sneakers. Saucony running shoes. I've had those for a while also, but don't really wear them much either because like I mentioned before, I think my feet look weird in running shoe sneakers. They are crazy comfortable though and when I go for a walk or a run outside I wear them and my feet don't hurt at all.
No, they're not real stylish with dress pants, but I am hidden away in an office behind a desk so noone can see me, plus I did have to walk over to the Post Office and the C.O.G. (Council on Government) where I had to drop off my health insurance forms and stuff for my job. So, for the walking it was nice to have on comfortable shoes and not heels.

Last night after I went to the gym (yeah, that's a new development) I stopped at Target on my way home and found these shoes on sale. Marked down to like $6.98 or something, but then I got home and saw my receipt and they were really only $3.00!!! Very welcome surprise, I must say!
Totally cute right!? I saw them and that they were in my size and was like wow those are ridonculously cute!! I knew they'd be comfortable because I already have a pair of the same shoes only in Black. I wore them back in the beginning of the challenge. But, I was right about these, they were comfortable to wear all day, I even had to walk back to the COG today and then to and from Weight Watchers with my mom and in and out of the pizza place we go to for dinner on Thursdays and then to and from my car because we got ice cream afterwards.

I will try to remember to post tomorrow, but who knows if that'll happen!

Shoes-y Q

A long awaited return... at least I hope so!

No, I haven't been abducted by aliens from another planet, and I didn't die... I just kept either forgetting to update or just being too tired when I thought of it that I didn't want to. Mostly because I knew that I'd have SO many pictures to post. I may just have to make this two or three posts!

The last time I updated with my own shoe pictures was on the 9th of July. Almost two full weeks ago! I mentioned that the following day the boy and I were hosting a barbecue. We did. It was a HUGE success and everyone had a very lovely time. We've got leftover buns and rolls for burgers and dogs like WHOA! And I had to make a meatloaf and a pan of meatballs with the leftover hamburg. The boy likes to buy copious amounts of food for guests. We had WAAAAY more food than we did guests. It also rained that day so I'm sure that's why some people weren't able to come. I started the day out wearing my galoshes. It was pouring when we got up and we had to go to the grocery store to get all of the provisions for the afternoon's festivites! When we got back, however, it had stopped raining and was quite warm and humid out so I changed into flip flops. That I stole from my sister. They're quite comfortable. I've had them for so long that they've molded to my feet. Not like Old Navy flip flops mold to your feet because they're getting worn out, but these are cushiony and comfy. Except for when they get wet. Then they're slippery and annoying.
But they're not too bad, I don't think.

The next day he went to a Magic: The Gathering Tournament thing and I stayed home and watched Desperate Housewives and hung out for a while. I also made meatloaf and meatballs. Both were delicious. That night I went to Trivia at Applebee's with my friend Darrell and wore my grey and white sundress and grey flip flops. Of course as I'm writing this and uploading all my pictures I am realizing that I have actually worn these shoes TWICE! *gasp* I know. I'm awful. I can't keep track of which shoes I've worn and which I haven't. Well. That's not true. I am very aware of what I've worn, and that I'm getting VERY close to the end of my shoes. Well, of the ones that are still in my closet and not in a pile waiting to go to Goodwill/Salvation Army/Plato's Closet or any other number of used clothing donation sites. But this was the first time I wore the grey ones.
They're some of my favorites of my Old Navy flip flops. I don't know why I like my grey ones so much more than say my black ones or my white ones, but I just love them. I had a pair last year and wore them ALLLLL the time and had to buy a new pair this year.

Monday, I was all set to be super adventurous and wear these black and white spike heels that a good friend of mine got for me at Goodwill. I've never worn them because I've never really had an event to wear them to. I got dressed. Took pictures. Put them on. And found that in about 3 seconds I knew that there was NO way I could wear them all day long. Even if I do just sit behind a desk. The strap cuts into my ankle and the white part that is over the top of my foot cuts into my foot there. And, all my pants are too short to wear with these and hide the fact that they're kind of... well... slutty. So, I figured I'd show them to you anyway, but admit defeat that I don't think I could wear them all day without coming home with bruises on my feet.
When I got them they had these GIANT satin bows on them and I just couldn't do it, but I did some investigation and found that the bows were easily removed with a few snips of my scissors. So, They're adorable as all get out, but there's no way I can wear them to work. I guess I just need to find somewhere fancy to wear them! :)
Once I decided not to wear these I thought I'd try a different pair of super fancy shoes. So, I pulled out my silver sparkly T-Strap shoes. My sister has the same pair. We seem to do that sometimes. Find cute shoes and then both of us end up with them. Of course, these were on purpose. We bought these for when our mom got re-married back in October. We were bridesmaids, and gave her away, and we decided to have matching shoes. I LOVE these shoes. I've dubbed them my "wedding" shoes. I've worn them in three weddings now. My friend, Julia's, in St. Maarten (sooo beautiful), my mom's and my cousin, Alisha's, back in June. Just before I started the blog. But, again, these are too fancy to wear to work. So, you'll just have to deal with the pictures of them.
I don't think you can tell from the picture, but the rhinestones on the front are starting to fall off/apart, and at my cousin's wedding, our dresses were full length and the hem kept getting caught and by the end of the night had completely fallen down.

I did finally decide on what to wear for Monday though, my "Ugly Mom Shoes" that I used to wear at the Hotel. They're comfortable and supportive so they were great for walking around and standing on my feet for 8+ hours a day 5 to 6 days a week. They're not totally hideous, but they're not overly attractive either. But, they were in my closet so they were included in the challenge.


That Tuesday I wore my flowered ballet flat sneakers. I got them at Target a couple years ago. If you look closely you can see that they are in fact a Kids size 4. I'm sure I've mentioned that I have exceptionally tiny feet, but yes, I can also wear children's shoes. I sometimes have to buy my sneakers in the little kids section or at Kids Foot Locker. Anyway, these are comfy and totally adorable and I love them. I've worn them quite a few times and they're actually a little dirty, so I should probably wash them or something.


Even though it's been so ungodly hot and humid recently, I do still have to wear my sneakers and boots, so on Wednesday of that week I wore my black Pumas. I had wanted these sneakers for probably 4 years before I finally found them. I think I ordered them online, Puma.com I think. I love them because they're more of a "dress" sneaker. I find that running shoes and sneakers like that make my feet look silly. At least in my opinion. So, I wanted sneakers that are a little more classy but are still sneakers. And these fit the bill perfectly.


Perhaps you have been waiting for these to make an appearance. Or perhaps you really couldn't care less. Either way, Thursday it was time for the fabulous Red patent leather heels that I have mentioned a few times in other posts.
These are the beautiful shoes that I decided I wanted and then began my search for. I don't even remember how long I'd been looking for a pair of red heels, but one night I went over to Target.com and there they were. Right on the first page I looked at. In all their beautiful red glory. I love these so much, they're probably one of my favorite pairs. I've worn them a number of times and always get tons of compliments on them.

Friday was another Casual Friday for me. My sister came into town for the weekend. I wore my light teal flip flops with a matching striped V-neck t-shirt and jeans. These are another of my favorite flip flops. I've worn these quite a bit as well. This light teal is my favorite color so it makes me really happy.


And that brings us to last Saturday when my mom, my sister, my cousin and I went to Hampton Beach for the day. I got burned, and it was the second time that I wore my grey flip flops. But, the details of the day and subsequent weekend and week will have to wait for tomorrow, as I am falling asleep on my keyboard.

Shoes-y Q