Bad Day Turns Good...

I was having a horrible day at work...Many of us have had bad days but this one was exceptionally bad. I was running from meeting to meeting. The weather was nasty. It was cold and dreary and I had a million things to take care of at the office. I'm in a service business where I have to live by the ever so popular phrase "The customer is always right". The problem is that in my industry that is not always the case. Sometimes my clients have bad days too...and taking that frustration out on me is NOT what I would classify as "ok" or "acceptable behavior".

It was a terrible day...did I mention that? I just wanted to tell everyone to "@#$% off" and leave me alone. I wanted to pack up for the day, go home, sit in a very hot bath with lots of soapy bubbles, grab a bottle of red wine and box of chocolates and find the stupidest, most mindless, dumb reality show on TV and forget my own reality. But (don't worry mom) that isn't what I actually did...I ended up taking a longer lunch and bitched to my amazing sister/best friend about how horrible my day was and enjoyed spending time with my adorable niece and nephew who distracted me with a game of Super Mario on the Wii...Always a great stress reliever by the way...The combination of hanging out with kids and playing Wii is great therapy!

Anyway I ended up going back to the office, even though I REALLY didn't want to and finished out my day...

So what does all this have to do with shoes???? Well once the day was over and I was driving home, I kept going over it all again in my head. I was angry, annoyed, hurt pissed, annoyed again (because it was cold and rainy), and tired. Once I get home I notice a box in front of my door...Did I tell you all I found my Stuart Weitzmans that I'd been stalking FOREVER on SALE in MY SIZE??? Well I did and I ordered them and wasn't expecting them to get to my house before next week! So there on my front stoop was a box with a return label "Cincy Designer Shoes" They were early! I ran into the house, completely forgetting about my horrible day and ripped my shoes and socks off....and put them on...they must have been outside for hours b/c they were freezing! I hate my feet to be cold but this was a situation I was happy to deal with...freezing feet in my newest stalking success story!

They fit perfectly and were just as gorgeous as I remembered. I pranced in front of the mirror for a very long time admiring my beautiful shoes...although I did then notice that I desperately needed a pedicure. *Note to self, make an appointment pronto!

These particular shoes make me feel super sexy...I love the stretchy wrap on my ankles - I just think it is such a chic glam look! I was going to take a picture to post and show you all but my toes really look horrible and as gorgeous as these shoes are every designer shoe deserves a well groomed polished foot to grace its body of couture leather and straps...So I dance around my room, posing a million different foot model positions as if I was being photographed by my imaginary photographer (my reflexion in the mirror). My sweet dog cocking her head in confusion and excitement at the same time jumping at my legs thinking,

"Mommy Mommy are you really that happy to see me?! Oh I'm so happy you're home! I want to play and jump and fetch my raggedy chewed up toy...Wuppeee...you're so excited to see me!!!"

What my darling Jack Russel doesn't hear me say is "No sweet darling Coco as much as I adore you, today Mommy is super excited and happy b/c her designer shoes on sale, for over 60% off retail, came in the mail a few days early and I'm just admiring our loveliness in the mirror!"

It was incredible how quickly my mood switched from being so down to being so high. I've always told friends and loved ones that I'm super easy to please...A pair of designer shoes on my feet will always put a smile on my face! And these Stuart Weitzman's in their leather, stretchy fabric and suede sole did that for me on what was a horrible day turned fabulous!

Patience is a Virtue

Well fellow shoe lovers, I'm so happy to report that shoe stalking really works. But the major key is to have patience. Its not easy, especially when you know that there is such a strong bond between you and your new shoe love interest...but sometimes being patient pays off...

My newest shoe stalking experience occurred about a year ago. I am far from what one may deem as patient but I have my shoe buying rules that not only keep me grounded but also keep me from declaring bankruptcy! Anyway, I was once again strolling in Saks one afternoon, actually buying my Kiehls face cream (which is fantastic by the way and lasts forever-for all you ladies with dry skin it ROCKS!) Anyway, I was buying my cream, and the Kiehls station just so happens to be about 60 yards south of the shoe department...I noticed they had sale racks up and of course I had to walk by just to see what was on display.

My usually thing is to go to the 6.5/7 racks and see if anything catches my eye...I'll try on a few different pairs just b/c it makes me happy to put a designer shoe on my foot and see if I have the Cinderella experience...Sometimes i don't know if there is a true connection without that physical experience. So nothing really caught my eye which then brought me to look at the non-sale items...and there they were. A very simple, classy black heel, with the ever so fashionable ankle shrug that just sang to me...I was so excited that the display shoe was my size and quickly kicked off whatever I was wearing and put them on and immediately fell in love...

I walked up to the mirror and the salesman asked if I'd like to see the other shoe and I was like well I'm not really bu...oh what the hell sure! So I had both pairs on and rolled up my jeans so I could admire the full effect of the gems on my feet...I did my super model walk up and down the aisle in front of the mirror (OK so its not so much a super model strut b/c I would look like a complete idiot, its more like an Alyah, child like excitement dance/pose/lean from side to side/strut/I'm just seeing how comfortable they look walk)

Needless to say there were two other women in the store one in the Prada section which happened to be near the mirror and one that was still browsing the sale rack. Now people this is how I remember it: They stopped what they were doing and were drawn to me and my Stuart Weitzman genius creations. Both in unison were just awed at how lovely the shoes were and how great they looked on my feet. I, of course, already knew this but smiled at their flattery...then one lady asks the sales man if she can also try the shoes on in HER SIZE!!!! I looked at the sales man and said, you should give me a discount, I'm helping you sell these shoes :) He laughed - not knowing I was dead serious - and went to the back to get the lady her shoes...

Saddened by this discourse and the fact that these shoes were yet again beyond my budget, I reluctantly removed the jewels from my feet which felt like I was separating yin from yang (as Mr. Weitzman clearly had my feet in mind when he created this masterpiece) and put the shoes back on the rack. I vowed that I would stalk these heels until they went on sale! I promised them I'd be back for them b/c they now looked somber that we were not going to be together after all...Yes people, in my mind the shoe wants me just as bad as I want them! The salesman was surprised that I wasn't going to make the purchase after all and then I asked when the next sale would be...he smiled and said unlikely that those classic shoes would ever go on sale....I smiled and as I left whispered to myself "We'll see"....

About one year later, I tried to get these shoes out of my head but they remained a fond memory...Just recently I did a little search online to see where my lovers now were...And, there they were...just as beautiful as ever, but now even more beautiful and more attainable because they were actually on sale!!! AAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhh....victory is mine. I win....The shoes and I will soon be reunited after the longest stalking venture I have been on to date. We were destined to be together...I haven't gotten them yet, they should be arriving in about a week or so and I promise I will give you all an update as soon as I get those babies on my feet again! Fingers (and toes) crossed that all goes well in the delivery! To be continued...

Shoe Stalking

Hello, My name is Alyah, and I stalk shoes....

I've been a shoe stalker for years now. And I'm actually quite good at it. Here's how it works: Whenever I go into any department store I manage to find my way casually glancing in the shoe department. I have a keen sense of what I like and many times I will walk by and not take a second glance...However, there are times when there is that one pair that catches my eye from accross the room and I am compelled by a force stronger than any I've ever known to stop whatever I'm doing and walk -ahem- speed walk over to the beauty that beckons to me, "Alyah try me on" So I do. I do have rules however when it comes to shoe stalking: #1. I must absolutely love love love them. #2. I must be able to afford them b/c I don't believe in credit card debt, hence the "stalking" for when they go on sale #3. If they do go on sale but they don't happen to have my size then I must be resolved to the fact that me and my love interest were not destined to be together.

My first stalking experience happened in 2004. I was at Saks 5th Avenue shopping with my mom and sisters for something totally unrelated to shoes. As usual we casually walk by the shoe department and as we walk by I see the object of my eye and I'm compelled to stop in my tracks and walk over to the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen as if I was in a trance. Beautiful, black, patent leather, strappy 6 inch Manolo Blahnik heels that are To-Die-For. I felt so lucky that the shoe on display was my size and as I slipped my feet into the strappy delicately carved leather creation, I knew that we were meant to be together. The transformation from normal-Alyah to supermodel-Alyah began. So when the salesman came over to tell me how lovely they looked on my feet, I was thinking to myself, "Duh, of course they do! I'm a supermodel in these gems." But my excitement was shattered the moment I glanced at the price which was waaaaaaayyy beyond my budget. I reluctantly slipped them off and decided to make friends with the salesman to see when they were having their next sale. He was super nice and promised to call me when they had their big semi annual sale.

A few months pass and as time goes on I'm continuing to go to Saks just to make sure they're still there...I finally get the call I've been waiting for 4 months later...They're on sale AND....The shoes are in stock!!!! Immediately I go to Saks and find that they are out of my sizes (6.5 or 7) Just before the devastation sets in, the salesman (now my buddy) says the most wonderful thing a girl could hope to hear in this type of situation..."Let me see if we have them in stock at one of our other stores" Once again I'm overcome with hope and excitement...As he's searching the database I'm praying that there is a destiny for me and my beautiful Manolos...

A few minutes go by and my buddy turns to me and says "I guess you're meant to have them, we have them in one of our stores in Florida" I wanted to kiss him I couldn't believe it...Not only did they have my size, but the shoe was on sale for over 60% off the original price and I was going to get free shipping straight to my house!

Once the transaction was complete I had to wait 5-10 business days before I could slip my feet into what was then the most beautiful pair of shoes I had ever seen. The most beautiful pair and I was going to own them, the most beautiful pair and they were mine and I was going to be able to wear them all the time!!! I was on cloud nine.

The day they arrived, I'll never forget...I came home and there was the box outside my front door. I ran into the house, and ripped it open and wore the shoes around the house feeling like a princess...For a while I wasn't sure I wanted to wear them outside b/c the sole was perfect and suede and I didn't want them to get scuffed...I got over that pretty quickly!

That was my first stalking experience...My Manolos and I have been to many a wedding, many a night out on the town, and many dates and no matter how great or horrible the evening was, it always ended on the best note knowing I was going home in the most beautiful pair of shoes ever known to man... and they were mine!

Currently I'm stalking a new pair of shoes...check out my next entry to hear about the newest obsession...

My Eternal Love Affair...

The great thing about shoes is that no matter how much weight I gain or lose my foot size stays the same. I never have to worry about squeezing into an old pair of Manolo Blahniks if I skipped a work out with Jillian. I know that my Kate Spade's will always look as pretty even though I may be carrying a couple, ok 15 pounds, more than I did last year...It truly is a great feeling knowing that something in my wardrobe will forever be consistent in the fit.

But that's not the main reason why I happen to love shoes...I love shoes b/c it doesn't matter if I feel fat, or if I'm having a bad hair day or if I'm wearing a garbage bag as a dress...the minute I step into my patent leather Manolo Blahnik 6 inch heals with the suede sole and the shiny strap, I truly feel like a million bucks! Maybe not all women have that same rush or feeling but this blog is about my own personal love affair with shoes...

The problem is that this love affair of mine is not what some may call cheap or even affordable. Some men save up to buy a fancy sports car, some women save up to get that next shot of botox. I, my friends, save up for my next pair of Louboutins...Actually I'm currently saving up for a pair of Stuart Weitzmans but I'll get to that later.

I am an honest hard working American who like many have some unavoidable financial obligations (mortgage, utility bills, gas oh and the oh so essential- groceries) So my love affair with a new pair of shoes does not happen as often as I'd like. Its something I have to wait for. Much like many women may wait and day dream for their chance to meet George Clooney or Leo DiCaprio...I typically day dream about my next trip to Saks where I go directly to the shoe department slip into a sleek, shiny, designer heel, walk up and down the aisle in front of the mirror staring only down at my lovely feet looking oh so fabulous and feeling like the hottest model that ever walked the runways. Throw my flip flops into a Saks bag, walk up to the register drop my card without any worry that this purchase is costing me $625. And then proceed to walk out the store with the wind blowing in my hair and everyone stopping to turn and stare at my gorgeous new shoes. Ok, so I admit that I have this day dream frequently and sometimes I'm alone and sometimes DiCaprio happens to see me across the room runs over to make the acquaintance of this amazingly beautiful woman. Oh didn't I tell you that when I wear designer shoes its like wonder woman clicking her wrists together and she spins and transforms into a superhero...well for me when I wear designer shoes I magically spin and transform into a 5'8" skinny super model...

This blog, dear reader, is going to be dedicated to my journey to own my very first pair of Louboutins, buying my year long crush on these hot Stuart Weitzmans and confessing any new found desires that may happen along the way.

So sit back, strap on your favorite pair of heels and watch how I work my way into a fabulous new pair of To-Die-For designer shoes...I can't wait!