New Silver Sparkly TOMS Shoes - What Do You Think?

Lately I've taken quite a liking to Instagram, an application on your smart phone where you can take pictures and post them. Then you can interact with others! It's so much fun - it's like Twitter and Facebook combined. If you're not on Instagram you should definitely join and if you do come and find me, I'm oceandreams4u. I've been having fun posting pics of my latest fashion finds, which of course includes shoes. ;)

So a few days ago I got my first pair of TOMS. I really like them, they're really sparkly and stylish. Plus, as you know, I love that TOMS will match my shoe purchase for a pair of shoes that will be given to a child in need.

 {via my Instagram}

I showed my new TOMS to my family and they think they are hideous looking. They love the idea behind TOMS, but they don't like the sparkles on the shoes. So now I'm coming to you asking you what you think. Are the sparkles too much? Should I have gotten a more basis pair?

I thought it would be fun having a sparkly pair of TOMS and a girl can never go wrong with sparkles, or so I thought. Then I showed it to my mom and she didn't like them. My brother and my dad had an even stronger reaction. Oops, that's not good.

I'm considering taking them back and getting a different pair, but I think I'll wear my pair of silver sparkly shoes proudly. After all, I'm a glam girl and I like my glam shoes. ;)

What do you think of my silver sparkly TOMS?

New Logo!

Hey all -- We've got a new logo!  We've launched it on our website and we'll be including it on the blog header and in our banners soon.  Tell us what you think!

Scuff Marks

I went to wear a pair of my favorite heels and when I grabbed them I noticed several scuff marks on them I hadn't seen before.  In a rush, I tried to think of my quick tips for scuff mark removal and only a couple came to mind.  Here is what I had:

1. Baking soda - make a paste of baking soda and water and use a soft toothbrush to apply it to the shoe.  Buff it away lightly and those black or grey scuff marks should come off quickly.
2. Magic Eraser - these inventions really are magic!  I use the store brand ones, but you can use the brand name just as easily.  Either way, these white pads remove scuff marks, dirt, pen and almost anything off of most shoes and surfaces.  
3. Nail polish remover - use with caution - but a little amount of non-acetone remover on a q-tip can work well on some shoes.  Just be sure to test it on a small area of the shoe where it can't be seen first ( in case it doesn't react well with the material).

So those were the ones I thought of  ( I used the magic eraser - I keep one under the sink) -but I know there are others.

How do you get rid of scuff marks on your shoes? 

TOMS One Day Without Shoes

Tuesday April 10th, 2012 is this years annual "One Day Without Shoes" day! 

Every year, in an effort to raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life TOMS challenges people to take off their shoes...for the day, for an hour, or even for a minute...just take ‘em off, and when people ask why, tell them.

Millions of children live without shoes. Many are exposed to injury and disease each day, and are not allowed to go to school without shoes.

Last year, people went without shoes at over 1,000 events in over 25 countries around the globe.

There are events going on all over; join one or start one. Register at OneDayWithoutShoes.com to get updates.

On April 10, 2012, go without shoes so kids don’t have to!

Current Shoe Lust

I've been lusting after shoes. Not just any shoes. These shoes:

These beauties are ASICS. They're designed for ultimate speed and comfort. Recently I've been running (as long as my tendonitis doesn't act up), and when I realized I needed a new pair of running shoes, I hopped online and saw these. I love them. They're bright, bold, and colorful. They would be amazing running shoes. I think I would wear them when I'm out walking about too.

So what do you think? Are you lusting after these shoes too or are they too bright and colorful for you?

Find these amazing running shoes on the ASICS website: GEL-Noosa Tri 7

Affordable and Fabulous Wedding Shoes

The Glamorous High Heel

For the bride that wants to make a glamorous statement with their shoes, the high heel is a perfect choice. Grace by Bellissima Bridal Shoes offers a wonderful selection of high heel shoes at affordable prices. Many of their styles are under $60. Their collections are usually found in small bridal boutiques and online. White by Vera Wang will provide the bride with a more couture look in high heel fashion at a reasonable price. This collection is offered online and carried in David's Bridal stores, and styles will range in price from $50-$90.

The Ballet Flat

For the bride that wants comfort from her shoes on her wedding day, she may want to opt for the ballet flat. These shoes are a very soft bodied shoe with no heel. A bridal line of these shoes can be found in most bridal boutiques. One popular brand is the Footsy Roll, they're so soft they can be rolled into a ball and retail for only $24.95. Many brides also opt for this style as a reception shoe, providing some relief to their feet after wearing heels to the ceremony.

Flip-Flops

Perfect for the beach wedding, flip-flops provide the bride with both comfort and affordability. Most boutique bridal shops and chain bridal shops will carry a selection of flip-flops suitable for the wedding day. Again, many brides will also use the flip-flop as a reception shoe for both themselves and their bridesmaids.

Dyeables

Dyeables are a perfect choice for the bride that wants to add a splash of color to their attire or make their shoes reflect their "something blue". One of the most popular brands of dyeable shoes is Coloriffics, they offer a variety of styles suitable for both brides and bridesmaids. This collection is found primarily in boutique bridal shops, however they can also be found online. Coloriffics can range in price from $49 to $99. Many bridal boutiques will also do the actual dying of the shoe as well or they will recommend a shoe repair store that specializes in color matching.

Painted Wedding Shoes

One of the latest trends in wedding shoes is handpainted shoes. These shoes are custom made for each bride and can include various artwork that coordinated with the wedding theme. They may also contain the wedding date, location, or names of the bride and groom. While many would expect these shoes to be quite expensive, there are several sites on the internet that will offer these at more affordable prices. Painted wedding shoes can start at $69.

Comfort, style, and affordability are considerations for any bride. Many use their wedding shoes to reflect something about their personality, others use them as their "something blue", and others use them for a splash of color in their otherwise white ensemble. No matter what your taste or style is, there are many varieties of wedding shoe to choose from.

Alison Greene is a freelance writer and blogs for debtmanagement.org.uk where you can get help getting out from under debt through a debt management plan.