shoes for the masses! (or at least 4 me)

I had a good shopping experience when I bought my rain boots and sandals online from zappos. They both fit great, the rain boots resist the rain, and the sandals are comfy. But, while shipping was $10 flat rate, I paid $33 in duties. Ouch!

I need to find a Canadian source. Cause I'm mildly addicted to the selection available online. More choices in my size, as well as more styles in general. Did I add that I'm too lazy to go out shopping, especially further afield where there might be more selection?

I'd like a pair of slippers, because Fernando is making me wear slippers/sandals around the house, which I am Very Unhappy about. Trying to console myself with imaginary shopping.

Here's what I've found so far: (though none of these places have the great and v. useful customer reviews, re. sizing, comfort etc. OK for slippers, but I'm not sure I'd order regular shoes.)

[I think you allz should be real appreciative that I enjoy researching online products as a past time. If I was a shopping addict then I could start a review site! But I really don't shop enough, or at least not widely. Music and books.]




Quark: free over $50

- they carry comfort brands, including my fave Danskos, so that's worth knowing (since i already know which size I take)
- boring slippers, except these



Aldo: Standard shipping: $5 (3-6 business days)
- free shipping over $75
- but we're talking cheap cutesie shoes, not slippers, and not quality-don't-ruin-your-feet shoes
american apparel: $8- free over 75
- but they sell, like, 8 shoes


sears: starts at 4.95, and maybe free to your local Sears if not too remote
- I might get ballet slippers in the end. I like slip-ons, but they slips-offs when you put your feet up on the couch, and then they creep under the couch so I can't find them when I stand up!



softmoc: Free over 75, and on some items, but I can't find the shipping price otherwise.

- usual blah selection


browns: $5

- but no slippers, and the shoes are probably cheap


feetfirst: $5

- brand name shoes, but no slippers


shoe company: free after 75, otherwise 9.99
- some of these places have free shipping on in-store pickup, but there are a lot of chains that don't operate in Quebec because of the language laws.
- they have a big selection so I'm surprised -> no slippers


fluevog: best discovery of all!
Not that I can afford such shoes, cause this is the Real Deal when it comes to fashion shoes. (The customer reviews say they're comfortable, though.) These shoes totally rockit. So of course these folk are in Montreal--definitely our market. Much of their stuff is eco-friendly, and I would guess well made etc. ...I may need to own a pair one day.

Do go browse around. The shoes below are just a drop in the bucket of beautiousness. It's like a shoe candy shop!


I should mention that I haven't really explored my etsy options yet. If I decide to get ballet slippers, this might be the way to go -- something cute and creative, and I haven't experienced the same Duty Issues yet. Just don't remind Fernando that knitted or crocheted slippers may not keep me from getting slivers (he got a glass sliver embedded in his foot this week). Shhhh!

50 Questions

Q: What's your favorite school supply?

A: Hm, that's a hard one. In elementary school, it would have been smelly markers. My friend M. eventually owned the biggest set, and I had much envy.

In high school, it was the agenda. I would cut out a picture from a magazine to paste over the front, and maybe some pictures inside. I would then dig out favourite quotations and pepper them throughout. And buy coloured paper clips to divide and decorate it. It was very fun.

Fresh spiral notebooks are cool too, though. They bespeak of the endless possibilities (outside of schoolwork.)

And today at work we got in pencils shaped like drumsticks.

Now then--what your favourite school supply?

munchity munchy munch

[The Nom Nom Experiment: Eating without doing anything else at the same time, for one week.]

Today at work I sat eating the last of my herbed bread with a chai latté, and thought of all the work I could be getting done while eating. It was kind of stressful, cause I'd think of something I could do! Then remember I couldn't. Then think of something else! And couldn't. And they were all things that would need to be done eventually, so it was like this to do list kept piling up.

And then I didn't get time to eat the other half of my meal, so at closing time my stomach was gurgly. So I'm afraid I ate some dates & walnuts (my work-drawer snack) while doing closing procedures. But I did stop and put them away when I realized I'd had enough and might just keep eating them cause they're there.

It's hard, I tell you. Hard!

50 Questions: Penii & Beans

Q: What's your favorite Web site?

A: The Gallery of Regrettable Food. It's a site where a guy posts photos from horrid mostly-brand-name 50s cookbooks, with very funny captions. When my friend got hitched a few years ago, I was mostly excited because I finally had someone to whom I could gift the book version.





What's your favourite site??

munching munchy munch

Listening to:


So I didn't do any work while eating my lunch at work. Talked with husband while eating supper at home, but, like, I wasn't going to tell him: Shh! I'm eating!!

But I had an interesting moment a couple hours ago when I went to get a bit of herb loaf to snack on. I was cutting a piece, and thought: "Shit. If I cut too big a piece, I'll be bored as I sit around eating it." That was the moment where I was Seriously Tempted to cheat on my experiment. I wanted to eat my snack and watch something dammit!!

Instead, I just sat on the couch. Munch munch munch. Let my mind wander, as usual. Nom nom nom.

Munch munch munch

I listened to this song while writing the following post, and, it's so good. I thought it required sharing.



So. I've always wanted to MAKE myself try the experiment of not doing something else while eating. As a way of being more conscious of my food and when I'm full.

But the idea always *scared* me. I love combining food with other forms of entertainment. Getting something nice to eat, and pairing it with a good book or TV show... it's almost planned. "As soon as I'm done reading my emails, I will make a nice (faux)cheese sandwich and eat it while watching The Office."

At the same time, I know I'm a classic unconscious eater. And ever since being on my headache pill, my appetite has changed in some way. I get hungry when I shouldn't, logically, be hungry. And I used to be a little better at not indulging in something yummy-but-meh-nutrition, like potato chippies. Now, my brain has become Lost to All Reason.

I don't want to go off the headache pill, because I'd rather be fat with less headaches; but as of a couple months I've noticed my knees hurting me. So the fat thing has crossed some invisible line from "s'alright, I'm can survive at this weight" to "intrusive."

Anyway, yesterday for some reason I felt I could finally try the entertainment-free-eating. So I've to try for at least one week, right? An experiment should at least go one week.

I've given myself breakfast as a reprieve, because coming alive is already the biggest trial I face every day. And at work today I just forgot. I focused while eating my homemade bread cause it was crumbly, but I think I read emails while eating carrots.

Also, full disclosure, I have a map of the world placemat on the kitchen table.

It was funny just now, though, when I went to get some chippies. I poured out a reasonable portion of chippies, sat down on the couch, and then thought--hm. I have to turn off the tv. Ignore my computer. And just sit here and eat chips.

It was a novel experience. Snacks feel like they should go along with an activity. It wasn't as boring as I thought it'd be. I composed this entry in my head. And then thought about a conversation I had with my boss. Is that cheating? I can only do so much to prevent being entertained.

I fully anticipate not being able to make this an actual Real Habit. But experiments are at least educational. I once went a week without eating corn syrup and that was an eye-opener.

romance for Ferrrrnandoooo!

Little Fernando went to the emergency room today (nothing too alarming, don't worry) and knew he'd wait a long time, so he ran off with my little kobo. And now he's hooked on Frederica! He's so cute the Little Fernando.

Mind you, I've heard of other stories of men running off with their sister's/wives' Georgette Heyers. And Fernando once in awhile reads romance novels and super enjoys them.