CUTE SHOES...

Today I turn over my blog to my guest Delinda McCann. Talk about a kindred spirit....only another shoe person would understand. Happy Reading...

I grew up as a cute shoes person in a sensible shoes household. How did that happen? It was a cruel joke of fate. My parents were of the mistaken opinion that sensible shoes kept your feet warmer or dryer than cute shoes. Wrong. Sensible shoes still get wet and when they do, you cannot easily slip your feet free to rub against each other and get warmed up. Sensible shoes stay wet longer than cute little strappy things that dry out in no time. My parents refused to believe the basic physics involved in the question of whether big clunky shoes stay wet longer than little strappy cute shoes.

I did talk my parents into a few shoes that were not too bad. As a preschooler, I talked them into some cute little red shoes with a strap and buckle for Sunday school. I really wanted black Mary Janes, but I settled for the red strappy shoes and wore them every chance got. Sneaking out of the house in my cute shoes became a major strategy exercise for me as a very small child.

The shoe war raged without compromise until…um…oh…okay…now you will know that I am old. The shoe war raged without compromise until my parents and I agreed on a pair of white bucks. I even had a bunny bag so I could stop what I was doing and powder my shoes at the first sign of a scuff. I remember powdering my shoes in class instead of studying. I think my grades suffered while I powdered my shoes.

My first purchase when I arrived at college was a pair of cute shoes. I was finally free of my parent’s shoe tyranny. I went to the shoe store and bought the cutest pair of sandals you ever saw. From the sandals, I progressed to a pair of darling, plush lined, fur trimmed snow boots for winter.

All of my torment about sensible shoes is long in my past. I’ve had a long history of high heels, straps, buttons and darling laces. It was about four years ago that I learned that cute shoes are therapeutic. I had a small stroke. My physical therapist toldme to exercise by walking on my tip-toes. I asked about high heels. She said, “Yes! Wearing high heels would be very good for restoring my reflexes and balance.” For the first time in my life, I had a great excuse to buy more cute shoes. I got a pair of yellow strappy sandals with a three-inch heel. My new boots had a strong wedge heel. I have the cutest magenta heels that I bought for a wedding shower. Cute shoes are a valid quality of life issue. I credit my cute shoes for helping me regain full balance and strength after my stroke and for bringing a bit of joy into my life every time I look at my feet.

http://www.delindamccann.com

http://delindamccann.blogspot.com

Competition is fierce!

Last week I spoke about the 'unspoken' rule of issuing a challenge.

This week I can cheerfully inform you that the challenge was taken and MET by all of my neighbors.

As you recall it started with the neighbor, two doors down, putting out a red bow. This was a neighborhood that only had; at best; one or two houses decorating for Christmas. So I took the challenge and put up lights and bows and then once turned on; issued the "unspoken" challenge to the other neighbors and they have not disappointed.

The neighbor across the street put up garland and wreaths in every window and then the neighbor down the street put up candles in each window and then his neighbor put up bows and a door wreath.

Soon the whole neighborhood was in on the act and the final house; I call it the hold out house, put up their decorations in the past couple of days. I think she waited to see what everyone was doing and THEN decided on her decor. She has a hanging Santa in the tree and then snowflakes outside her front door and then, she has decorated her fence leading to the backyard with lights and I think I can even see a peeking of lights IN the backyard.

So, let's just say that the unspoken challenge has been met...but you never know what will happen next because Christmas is still 11 days away and I could just very well need to do a little more decorating.

Happy Holidays
B. Swangin Webster

Christmas Spirit?

Now that we have eaten ourselves into oblivion; are we in the Christmas spirit yet? I know I am. The way that I get ready is to put up Christmas decorations. This year it was a little different because I am not where I was last year. My residence has changed but I still got into the holiday spirit and what better way to do that then to start a friendly 'competition' amongst the neighbors to see if they will take the unspoken challenge.
Since I'm a writer, I know how to draw out a story by painting a picture that you want to reach out and touch. I did this with my new neighbors by sending the message: "Christmas is here, where are your lights?" Now I didn't go knocking on doors, I simply took my cue from the sad little neighbor two doors down who put up a sad little lonely red bow. However the message was clear, so I stepped up to the challenge. I then enlisted the help of two others and off to Home Depot we went. We picked up solar candy cane lights, potted red poinsettas and clips for the many lights that would be hung.
Then it was off to Micheal's Art/Craft store for the finishing touches of BIG red bows, WITH bells. See I saw the sad little bow as a challenge, and I think I met it; head on!
So after all was put on the house and the lights are twinkling; wouldn't you know that all of the neighbors were 'raking leaves' or so they wanted me to think. But by Sunday evening, three more houses had stepped up to the unspoken challenge of Christmas decorating. Now granted, they are NOT on my level. When I take on a challenge, I TAKE on a challenge. Ok, granted someone tried doing the lights on the deck railing...but honestly, that isn't even worth my time because I KNOW I could blow them out of the water with the bows, lights, and holiday table setting on the table.
Now the Christmas spirit to me doesn't mean shopping on Black Friday, although this year I did and had a ball at noon instead of midnight. Yes, there are still bargins at noon and I didn't have to stand in line outside to get them.
Being in the Christmas spirit means, bringing out the 'friendly competition" amongst neighbors and seeing who will reign supreme.
And the winner is....well if you want to know that, I'll post some pictures of my decorations next week and if you are up to it, submit yours too; I'll gladly hand over the crown, kicking and screaming of course, but I'll hand it over and then I'll go shopping again. After all, I'm up to the challenge that anyone puts out there.
So get ready, set, decorate!
Happy Holidays!