walking shoes

After much scurrying around, it became pretty obvious that we couldn't do anything remotely helpful to the process of moving to Finland in Edmonton, so we had to take an impromptu trip to Ottawa. We were there for a night and a day, and dummy here forgot the memory card for her camera, so I don't have many pictures of the trip. You're not missing much, though, as most of it was spent at the Finnish embassy or in taxis or in the House of Commons where pictures are not allowed anyway. (We super lucked out as it was in session that day and we had the opportunity to see the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition go at it over the most recent Canadian scandal. I won't bore you with details, but it was really exciting to be right there!)

Anyway, the Ottawa trip was pretty much the last straw for me. As someone who's always relied on thrift store shoes (I know. I should probably stay away from thrift shoes as I stay away from thrift underwear), I found myself pretty much out of shoe choices when deciding what to wear. Since the trip was so short, I had to pack ultra-light (and by that I mean, no suitcase) so my choices were made based on whether I wanted to lug a heavy bag across my shoulder all day or not. That meant I could only take one pair of shoes and they had to be on my feet. (Imagine how annoyed I was to find I was lugging around my big camera for absolutely no reason!)

Quite obviously, this was the second trip where I've been laid up with blisters, sore ankles and toes, and a limp exactly one hour after walking in shoes that were only meant to skip across a store for 20 minutes and then come off. Actually, I really couldn't have chosen the worst pair for this particular trip, either, as that pair is almost not even acceptable for skipping across a store for 20 minutes. Did they go with the clothes I'd be wearing the whole time? Sure! But they are practically like walking barefooted (little pebbles were my worst nightmare).

So that's it for me. I'll forego the shoes that work with everything, that are super cheap (the ones I wore to Ottawa still have the price tag on them -- $3.99), that are even super cute in support of comfort and all-day walkability. Nothing ruins a trip more than when your feet are aching and you still have to push yourself to walk another 2-3 hours. And nothing's worse than returning home and having to hobble around the house in loose socks, soft slippers, keeping your legs elevated for a day or more. So after what I would call an extensive search online (because I had to read through a multitude of comments), these are the brands and shoes that stood out the most to me.

{1} Clark's Wave.Trek: This shoe is first on my list since it's garnered the most positive reviews and the most mentions wherever I read about walking shoes. The Wave.Trek is designed with a rocker sole that conserves energy, absorbs shock, and cushions the joints which is probably perfect for walking over cobblestoned streets (of which I've been encountering a lot). I also like that it's waterproof as we found ourselves in cold, drizzly weather in Ottawa and literally had no where to go (unless we wanted to eat lunch again). The negative reviews center mainly on fit so I would definitely want to try these on and walk about the store a bit. My own negative is that I don't like how they look from the side (I don't like how the sole looks) and I wish there were more colour choices, but when I think about that, then walk to get a glass of water right now, I think, "Stop being so damned fussy!"

{2} New Balance 980 and New Balance 895 V2: The New Balance brand came up an awful lot in every comment section I read through, though I'm not yet decided on which type I like best. I love that the 980 is leather (I always seem to have a problem with my toe working its way through a fabric upper and leather is a really nice option in winter climates), and I like that the rubber is really subdued (meaning it doesn't have all the knobs and cleats and bumps sport shoes are all designed with) which makes it a little more of a stylish option. The few reviews I found on it were all positive, I just wish there were more reviews. The 895, however, has a lot of great reviews plus it's lightweight with a heel pillow and REVlite cushioning. It's also got more interesting colour options. I think I'd like to try them both on for a side-by-side comparison, though it might be smart to have two pairs in your suitcase to switch out during a trip. I find my feet get less tired if I change up my shoes every once in a while. And if the 980s are a little heavier, the 895s could go in the carry-on and the 980s could be your plane shoes (you don't have to remove your shoes through security anymore, thank god).

{3}  Merrell's Ascend Glove: Boasting that it's cushioned, lightweight, and durable makes this shoe sound perfect for travel. Not to mention the many times I came across the Merrell brand name during my searches. Breathable, washable, and good for long runs and treks over tough terrain, plus it looks like a fashionable sporty sneaker and comes in some pretty kicky colours (I'm starting to realize that if you're going to go with sporty sneaker, you might as well choose out-of-the-box colours so it looks like you were going more fashion than comfort the whole time, right?).

{4} Rockport TruWalkZero Pod Lace-up: These are lightweight, mimic the natural motion of walking, and have shock absorption that reduces foot and leg fatigue. As with the others, I chose them because the name kept coming up and I also liked the look of them. The sole itself looks tough and durable (read: thick) and the fact that it doesn't completely overwhelm the style makes all the difference. The colour choices are pretty nice, too. I think they would even look ok with a longer skirt, I mean, if you had to.

And I'm not the only one obsessed with sneakers right now! Check out this post by Miss Moss to find some kicky sneaks. What I like out of her choices are the Asics X Liberty London printed pair -- So sweet! And I surprised myself because I actually really dig the Nike Air Max bright yellow and beige pair. When I see them on someone, they look more like kicky loafers than chunky running shoes. What's really interesting is that the New Balance 980s show up on her list, too. They might be rising to the top of my pile!

Also, after walking on the extremely slippery streets of my neighbourhood (ONE snowfall. ONE. And I can't even walk out there), I've narrowed down on some winter walking shoes. I'm liking the Teva Forge Pro Winter Mid Insulated waterproof hiking boot and the Merrell Arctic Fox. Finland's a winter country as well, so I'll definitely need a good boot there, too (though we've talked to someone who lived in Finland and is now living in Edmonton, and she pretty much laughed her face off about how poorly Edmonton handles winter snow. I guess what we consider winter snow removal is almost a joke compared to what happens over there -- i.e. we're crap at it -- no surprise there.)

friday fixations: jewelry edition

I absolutely adore what's going on in these shops, so I picked out some stuff that would blow my skirt up for Valentine's day:

{1} Boo boo and factory is filled with so many necklaces, earrings, and bracelets it was really hard picking a favourite. All of the fringes, patterns, and neons really had me drooling. I think I like this necklace the most, though. The triple chain is unique and makes it look like you're wearing one of those cute peter pan collars.

{2} Nomilk today has a great selection of lovely poppy geometric polymer clay rings and brooches. I love having a brooch to pin on my coats so I was especially drawn to those pieces as I think I need some more modern styles to add to my collection.

{3} I'm a fan of the A Merry Mishap blog, so I'm sure I had heard about the A Merry Mishap shop, but it definitely blipped off my radar until recently. I particularly like these gold dipped rose geo earrings. They have an understated Valentine-y feel, don't they?

{4} I've had my eye on this 'you and me' pendant from Yellow Owl Workshop for a while (or find it here with a discount!). It's just such a sweet little statement (and the packaging is pretty rad, too). Je t'aime is a close second.

{5} I do really tend to gravitate towards most things hammered or with natural stones, so it's no wonder Shop Clementine caught my eye. I love the simplicity of these earrings and they kind of represent eternity to me in a classy subtle way.

friday fixations: kristen wiig halloween costumes

We never do Halloween. I mean, sure, we hand out candy occasionally when we feel like it (and frankly, if we still have enough of what we bought for the kids and haven't eaten it all ourselves), but we never go to Halloween parties or bother to dress up (I don't really like dressing up. I'm too aware of how fake I'm being, and I suppose that's the point, but I don't like it. It's makes me feel super uncomfortable). Anyway, every year, I still like to look at Halloween costumes and admire all the creativity and work that goes into them!

These costume ideas just happen to be my favourite costume ideas that I would actually do if I had to. You know, cuz there were those three times in my past where I found myself suddenly having to dress up, so it's good to have ideas in your brain at all Octobers (and yeah, they just happen to all be Kristen Wiig characters. I like her a lot, okay?)

{garth and kat} Cuz Idle Husband and I would do this so well. We're always making up songs. Not quite this terribly, but we're still so funny and random that it could work. Plus matching sweater vests and turtle necks!!

{the target lady} I'm always drawn to costumes that are super easy and aren't really costume-y (plus I can't help but yell to myself, "approved!" every time I swipe the credit card). Idle Husband doesn't like dressing up either, so I think he'd be on board with this one cuz he could dress as the disgruntled customer which would just be his every day clothes (he's always a disgruntled customer).

{gilly} Have I ever mentioned how my secret wish is to have an afro? NO? Well, guess what? It is! At least being Gilly would give me the opportunity to act on that wish even if just for a night. (Idle Husband = annoyed teacher?)

{dooneese} This is (little) hands down my favourite costume idea. I've been thinking about it for.ev.er. It's probably the most difficult to do, but I already have (much of) the forehead (there's a reason I have bangs) so the rest should kind of fall into place. (Idle Husband would obviously dress as the announcer and carry bubbles around with him so I could pop them with my doll hands all night, right?)

friday fixation: mom style

find the details here

Mom's been putting together the most amazing outfits lately, I just want to raid her closet! She's been picking up a lot of ankle-length tiered skirts -- broomstick skirts or hippie skirts? -- and pairing them with a simple t-shirt. The whole outfit looks so effortlessly put together which is perfect for the summer. Now. If only we could BOTH find a great military inspired jacket (this one's okay... but not quite what I wanted!).

friday fixations: joan

This is something a little different as I don't usually talk about fashion but with St. Patrick's day looming, I have had zip ideas for the day. Actually, no, I had one idea but some other blog "stole" it from me, so I had to move on (I'm sure her's are better than mine would have been. I can make a lot of things but I've always had difficulty with those).

I've also been struggling to put together friday fixations lately because I'm not really fixated on much at the moment other than a few projects around the house and Joan from Mad Men. Is that weird? I think my fixation on her is two-fold. First, I'm really anxious for the return of the show (I curse myself for finishing all of the seasons on Netflix this early); and second, every time I go for a walk, I think about her and her amazing posture. Shoulders back, head up, chest out -- I love how she's so confident and doesn't apologize for anything.

This is just a collection of things that would work in my life that are inspired by Joan. Along with a St. Patrick's day outfit (that's not screaming St. Patrick's day) because you can't really talk about Joan without talking about her amazing fashion sense.

Peach bow blouse, green pencil skirt, and yellow flats: I love that Joan always wears form fitting dresses and skirts. I love that she's not ashamed of her features and chooses to show them off instead of hiding them. This is a similar look that I think I can get away with as someone who doesn't wear dresses often enough and has only been in heels once in their life.

Black studs, golden pen necklace, four-leaf clover pin, and flower ring: If you've seen the show, it's pretty hard not to notice Joan's pen necklace. She wears it all the time at the office. She's also sometimes seen in a fancy brooch (I love that they're pinned closer to the shoulder), so I thought it'd be nice to include the clover pin for St. Patty's. The ladies all wear clip-on earrings (to make it easier to answer the phone), but I chose some simple black studs instead. The ring is kind of a wink at the episode where Joan makes a Hawaiian themed brunch for two.

Sofa, umbrella, take-out containers, and starburst mirror: As you know, I'm trying to find a sofa right now and I think that grey sofa is such a lovely modern one with a hint of a vintage vibe. The umbrella plays off of both Joan's love of take-out and the colour of her apartment (pink pink walls!). She also has a large ornate mirror and I thought the sunburst mirror was a nice modern play off of that.

One of my all-time favourite Mad Men scenes is when Joan plays "C'est Magnifique" on her accordion. It's a really sad and powerful scene, but the song makes it really beautiful, too. It's been in my head all week long. View it here. Would you believe that I actually have an accordion somewhere, too? A pink one. Wherever did that go?

See where to purchase any of this stuff over on Polyvore (probably my new favourite site).

although...embarrassing myself is a small price to pay for a whole new (free) wardrobe

I just realized something. I'm in the most terrible clothing rut. Ever. Possibly of my whole life. To say I don't suddenly feel like I've been left behind in a decade would be a lie, because I feel like I've been strutting around in the same shlumpy clothes that I was wearing in high school.

Ok, maybe not the same exact clothes as high school (though, my pajama wardrobe would say differently), but the same style. The same ideas. The same thing.

I've really started to realize that the way I've been viewing certain articles of clothing is wrong.

Like my ridiculous rule that my jeans have to cover at least 90% of my shoe. They have to look a certain way when I look down. I can't describe how, they just have to look right.

Or how I can't seem to shake the sneaker habit. I know, I know. They're great because I walk. A lot. But there are lots of good looking shoes out there that are perfectly good to walk in, and I'm not wearing them. Why? Because I think my toes look stupid? Earth to me, they don't look stupid. It's all an illusion. An elaborate illusion I set up for myself back in 1999/2000 when I thought I was dressing pretty swell.

So there. I've confessed. I feel like I'm still living in 10 years-ago-style.

Something needs to change and I want to start with my jeans.

Do you know that feeling you get when you get a new haircut? Or maybe you wear glasses and after trying on half the store, you find the perfect new pair and suddenly, you feel like you need to get a whole new wardrobe or, yes, even a new hair style, to match? Do you know that feeling? I want to get that feeling with jeans. I want to find a pair that's so 2010 and updated that everything else will fall into place.

Shirts will naturally get updated; shoes will become easier to shop for; heck, I might even get myself a new pair of glasses and a new haircut.

That's where I want to go, but getting there is going to be difficult.

You see, I hate shopping for jeans. Well, pants in general. They're just never right. When they looked at women's bodies, they looked at everyones' but mine. Or at least that's how it feels.

So I think for all my life, I've just been okay with the jeans I've been wearing. There might have been one aspect of each of them that I liked, but the rest was either ill fitting or just wrong in some small way. I think I've been only just getting by in this department.

Now I'm at the point where I feel like the jeans I currently wear are so terrible, so ill-fitting, so out of date that I can't even believe I'm still going out in public in them. So it seems like an obvious place to start, and I think that instead of just settling for a pair that does a halfway job, I'm going to invest the time and try on as many pairs of jeans as I possibly can. I don't care what the label says or my stupid rules on what I think they should look like even before they go on. I'm just going to try them all and hope I find a winner.

For example, previously I thought I couldn't wear a skinny, legging-type jean or one that tapers a little at the ankle. Do you know why? It's because I have this 1999 view of what a tapering, skinny legged jean is and that's not how they are now.

I had to return something to Walmart on Monday, so for fun, I searched anything they might have had labeled as a skinny jean or a jegging (that term really gags me) and tried it on. Surprise! I actually really liked how my legs looked in the skinny jean (the jegging, not so much). If the waist had fit better, I probably would have bought them.

So now I really know that my preconceptions of how things were and how they are now are completely wrong. I guess you just get used to seeing yourself a certain way for so long that it can be really hard to switch gears and keep modern. I'm starting to have a whole new understanding and appreciation for some of the more deeply style-rutted people on What Not To Wear. I've always sat there, watching that show, and I thought, How can they not see how completely out of date they are? Yeah. I get it now. I feel their pain. At least it didn't take embarrassing myself on tv to figure it out.

So I'll just be busy reinventing myself, now, one pair of jeans at a time.

happy kitty bunny pony

I love this book

sweatshirts

I know it's technically summer (or it's getting there anyway), but I'm seriously lusting after old-school sweatshirts. I think it all started when mom brought me one she found at Superstore on clearance.

It turned out to be the best. Sweatshirt. Ever. If I could wear it every day, I totally would. We like to call it summer around here, but let's face it. It's still kinda chilly in the mornings and evenings. This is perfect for that. Just throw it on over a t-shirt and you're done. Super casual, but still cool, you know? It's not a coat! Not yet a woman! (That Britney Spears song just popped into my head! Shoot me now.) (I'm also kinda loving the idea of fancy socks with fancy sandals, but that's something I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to try -- outside of the house, that is).

Illustrated People

Urban Outfitters

Little Ocean Annie

J. Crew