She’s Just Not That Into Shoes.

Been thinking about this for a long while now, and decided that the end of the year is as good a time for change as any.

I’m shutting this blog down. I’ll leave the archives up, but will no longer be posting here. Comments on past posts have all been closed.

If you’re interested in following me in a non-shoe-related context, some of you already know that you can find me at Jane Ray 1940. Over there, I’ll probably be babbling on about ukuleles and western swing and just being a geeky ex-scenester fangirl who misses the 1980s far too much. Or I may not be babbling on at all; we’ll see where it goes. I’ll remain on Flickr too – note that I’m no longer using my nom de shoes; I’m now janeray1940.

Thank you all for reading! And an extra-special big thank you to all of the shoe companies (and one sock company!) who have sent me products to review. It’s been fun.

Wishing everybody a happy, healthy new year!

Christmas greetings from the beach!

But allow us one toy this holiday season.

The plucky, four-stringed ukulele has become an unlikely feel-good purchase in these hard times. Billionaire Warren Buffett extols the “miracles of the ukulele” and can be seen playing the electric uke on YouTube (he taught Bill Gates how to play). Ukulele sales are up across the country. They are cheap (you can buy one for around $30) and relatively easy to master. Even in the hands of amateurs, the ukulele insists on producing a happy sound.

If you’re on Robbie Blinkoff’s street in Rodgers Forge on certain evenings, you might hear the sound of a ukulele playing  “Ode to Joy.” Toddlers, accompanied by their parents, have been known to waddle toward the siren call of the uke. Before the hometown crowd, Blinkoff plays with equal parts passion and splendid mediocrity. This is his reprieve from the fear and anxiety of a year spent worrying about money. People don’t want to feel that way anymore, he says. He’s prepared to add to his five documented stages of the grounded consumer.

“The sixth stage is joy, “ Blinkoff says. “You have to be open to experiencing joy and understand it takes work and time—and faith, as well.”

First, a confession: I missed a couple days. And in addition to my inability to commit, I’m also a horrible mathematician, because somehow I ended up with only 29 photos in a month of 30 days. Whatever again.

The point, for me, was to evaluate the 30-odd pairs of shoes in my closet. Because – this may sound shocking, I know – I’ve had this idea for a while that one really only needs ten good pairs of shoes to be well-shod for just about any occasion. As I live in a 288-square-foot apartment, I thought some downsizing made sense.

So I was ruthless. Each day I set out to wear a different pair of shoes. If they rubbed, pinched, squeaked, or otherwise irritated in any way at all, they went into the eBay box. Some went on eBay right away, others I decided to ponder a bit longer.

The end result? I now own 12 pairs of shoes and three pairs of boots. Not quite the ten I was aiming for, but close, darned close. I’ve managed to offload over half of the shoes that were gathering dust in my closet – no small accomplishment for someone with my history!

Here are the Top Ten shoes that got to stay:

• KEEN Sienna Mary Janes
• Dansko Professional Cabrio Clogs
• Dansko Marcelle Cabrio Clogs
• Terra Plana Odette Flats
• PF Flyers Center Lo Sneaker
• Camper Birdie Mary Janes
• Cydwoq Win Oxfords
• KEEN Emily Mary Janes
• Gentle Souls Gabby Ballet Flats
• Camper Spiral Helix Boots

There were a few duplicates rounding out my collection (hey, I need two colors of those Marcelles!) and variations (Dansko, Sanita, Sanita, Dansko) but you get the idea. Getting dressed is now easier because I only own *perfect* shoes now, I am no longer in danger of being buried under an avalanche of footwear, and I’ve made a few bucks back on eBay – WIN all around. Now, if only I could do the same with my books. Or my Pyrex collection.

Baby steps…

You can even buy a pic of my dearly departed old Schwinn Collegiate!

Happy holiday shopping!

Can anybody recommend a shoe that looks like Chuck Taylors but is actually *comfortable*?

Save for a suggestion to check out Simple – which no longer appears to be making the wide, toe-capped shoes they used to offer – I’ve got nothin’. But I did get a few replies from others who wanted to know the same thing, so I know that I’m not alone in my quest.

A few years ago, Converse made a wide version of Chucks. I missed my chance with those, which are no longer made.

Keen makes the Coronado and the Ventura, which are close, but just not quite right. The Coronado isn’t really much more comfortable than Chucks themselves, and the Ventura in “black” is really more of a dark grey or navy.

I can’t believe that with all of those choices, not a single one of them is comfortable! Before Converse shifted their manufacturing to China, I absolutely lived in Chucks. Even then, I heard others complain about how Chucks weren’t comfortable, but for me, they were. Not anymore.

Anyway, I’m trying to streamline my shoe collection down to the bare minimum. Meaning, maybe 10 pairs of less. This would mean that one pair should be comfortable sneakers. Sounds logical, right? Except I’m coming up with nothing. Nothing!!

If you have a recommendation for a comfortable sneaker – meaning, say, one I could walk a mile or so in without complaining – by all means, bring it on. Otherwise? I’m going to track down some of the elusive red sparkly “party Converse” on eBay.

Because uncomfortable shoes are probably a little better if they’re red and sparkly!

~ ~ ~

ETA: we may have a winner. The PF Flyers Center Lo!

Well. Now you know. I’m sure you’re wondering how the Sanita version compares to the well-known Dansko version. I can tell you about that.

My old reliable black cabrio Dansko Marcelles have seen better days. When I learned about The Original Clog Outlet, I was excited to see that for under three digits it was possible to replace them with the Sanita version.

Much has been said, here and elsewhere, about the differences (or lack thereof) between Dansko and Sanita. I’m told the heel is chunkier on the post-Sanita-made Danskos, offering more stability, but I can’t say I’ve really noticed. The Sanita styles seem to me a bit roomier in the toe box than Danskos – a plus for those of us with wide feet – but for me, this does not affect the sizing. I’m a 36 in Dansko, I’m a 36 in Sanita.

There’s a little more discussion over here about the differences in fit between Sanita and Dansko. Some people can tell the difference; others cannot. European Walking Store, sister shop to the Clog Outlet, explains:

For the last 17 years, all Dansko Professional clogs and all Dansko Stapled Clogs have been manufactured by Sanita in Europe. The relationship between Dansko and Sanita ended in August 2007. Shortly after that time, Sanita began distributing the same products directly in the US under their own name.

If you have a pair of Dansko stapled clogs purchased before 2008, look at the bottom of the sole and you will see patent 0060240 engraved into the sole. This indicates that your clogs were made by Sanita according to their patented construction. If you have a pair of really old Dansko clogs, you may even see Sanita stamped on the bottom as well as the patent number mentioned above.

If the patent number is missing, then you have a new Dansko product that was introduced in 2008. The new Dansko clogs are made by various manufacturers around the world based on a re-design of the original Sanita clog. According to Dansko’s printed catalog information, they have introduced structural innovations to enhance the performance of these clogs; improved lateral stability, better shock absorption, more secure heel strike and improved aesthetics. Visually, the clogs look very similar, however the new Dansko is wider across the heel and has a curved up sole in the back of the heel.

On the other hand, Sanita has been delivering the same product (as was previously distributed by Dansko), made by the same materials, by the same artisans, in the same Sanita owned factory.

So in summary, if you want to purchase the same clog that was sold in the US under the Dansko brand (pre-2008), then you would need to switch to buying the Sanita brand.

Both stores, European Walking Store and The Clog Outlet, have an excellent selection, with fantastic and cheerful customer service. At the Outlet, stock changes rapidly, so keep checking back for your size if you can’t find it the first time around.

This is a five-star shoe from a five-star retailer. My experiences with both the Clog Outlet and with European Walking Store have been great – I’d highly recommend that anybody looking for new Marcelles or Professionals check the Clog Outlet first to see if they have your size and style. Because new shoes are fun, but new shoes for a great price are even more fun!

It’s time for a change. I’m finding that the platform that I’m using is too limiting – monetization is frowned upon, customization is only available for an extra charge (and monetization is still frowned upon even then).

If I’m going to keep this up, I need to get something out of it that I’m not getting via Flickr, Facebook or other social media. I’d like to either brush up on my coding skills or make a little extra cash – or better yet, both!

So, I think I might move, either to another host that comes with more freedom, or (eek!) to hosting my own.

Fellow blogistas – what would you do? What do you do?

No costumes, parties, blah blah blah to speak of here, but I do plan to roast some pumpkin seeds, and to attempt to make sugar-free, wheat-free, dairy-free pumpkin pancakes.  Oh, and maybe some meatloaf, since I’ve been craving some ever since I read Not Martha’s meat hand post.