All about the shoes

When Jason and I first started dating a few years ago, he told me he loved a girl who wore tennis shoes (I call them sneakers. I’m from the north, but I digress). Now I like sneaks for the right occasion (okay, just for the gym if I am being honest), but we live in Florida, dude. I wear my flip-flops for everyday matters and even in the Florida rain. And of course, heels/wedges for a workday or an awesome night out.

A few months into us dating, Jason came out with me for my bestie’s birthday shindig in South Tampa for dinner and some bar hopping. I wanted to look my best because A) I was in a new relationship, wanting to look and feel good and B) Isn’t it fun to get dolled up for a night out with your "peeps"? A good looking pair of shoes can make me (and most girls I know) feel pretty, stylish and yes, even outgoing. The problem, of course is that a few hours into a night and my feet are dying. Unfortunately for everyone around me, I am a very vocal complainer person.

A few hours later and a couple drinks in, my feet were killing me. I’m not proud to admit this, but the shoes came off as soon as we exited The Dubliner on Azeele (our last stop of the night), and I proceeded to walk barefoot to the car. My boyfriend of just four months offered to carry me (I should have known then, that this guy was a keeper) the rest of the way. However, I assured him that no sir, I didn’t need any man to carry me! I was just fine walking barefoot like a fool through the streets...Shortly after that, I started to realize there was a time and a place for the "right" shoe. Especially considering my new and very laid back boyfriend didn’t appreciate fine footwear the way I did.

Tonight, the hubs and I are having a date night! It’s been forever since we have had a free Friday night to do whatever we wanted and it is beyond needed. I’m pretty stoked about it, actually. I’m not sure what all we are doing but since everything we like to do is closer to both our offices than home, we’re just going to meet up after work and go from there. So that means I had to prepare my "date outfit" this morning. I work in a pretty casual office where I can get away with flip flops on a Friday, but this morning I thought it would be fun to wear something nicer than "Casual Friday Attire" to mentally prepare for the night out with Jason. Looking through my closet, I found a few pairs of shoes that would work with the outfit today. My fave being a pair of wedge sandals. They are cute, have some height and are summery (also, a tad pinch-y around the toes). I love these shoes and I feel flirty in them. I debated on said shoes at work because by 5 o’clock, I will need want something more comfy on the feet. Not to mention, my husband may kill me if I complain about anything tonight. Decisions, decisions…

So just like marriage, I have decided to make a compromise. Wearing flip flops at the office, but changing into my beloved wedges tonight J

I will always love my shoes, however and thought I would leave you with some of my favorite quotes about the subject:

• Funny that a pair of really nice shoes makes us feel good in our heads — at the extreme opposite end of our bodies." -Levende Waters

• "Sometimes comfort doesn't matter. When a shoe is freakin' fabulous, it may be worth a subsequent day of misery. Soak in Epsom salts and take comfort in the fact that you're better than everyone else."-Clinton Kelly