The Abstract Life

10 Tips & Tricks for Wearing Summer Shoes (+ Keep Feet Healthy)

July 12, 2016

It's summer, and you want to wear your new FANTASTIC open toed shoes and celebrate the warm weather-but 10 minutes into the garden party your shoes are starting to feel less fantastic and more fatal. Your options are to take them off and walk around like barefoot barbarian or to hobble around begging the goddess of shoes to kill you and end the misery. No bueno.

I have gotten so many blisters from stupid shoes in my life (especially in repeat spots) that I'm surprised parts of my feet haven't turned to leather. Horrible as that would be-part of me is going, "Actually, that would solve all my problems. Either they wouldn't get blisters anymore from shoes in those spots OR these extremities turn into hobbit feet and I can do away with all shoes forever!!!" MWHAHAHAHAA.

Ahem.

To avoid hobbit syndrome and/or wishing death I've put together a collection of tips and tricks for being able to wear your fantastic shoes AND still keep your tender feet happy and healthy.

1. Don't Buy Bad Shoes: First step to preventing issues is to not buy crap shoes. If they're especially strappy or have pieces that will rub against your skin try to get leather or natural material shoes. Manufactured materials wear faster and can leave your feet exposed to raw materials that rub and irritate the skin. Bonus Tip: For heels look at how close the heel is to sole. The closer it is the more uncomfortable and harder to walk it will be.
2. REALLY Try On Shoes: Shoes that feel comfy for those 30 seconds you look at them in the store mirror may not actually feel all that great when you get home and have to wear them for longer than it took for you to take out your credit card. Walk around in them at the store for a while. Stand in them in one spot. Do they hurt? Do they slip? Do the balls of your feet feel bad after standing in place (think of all those cocktail hours where you want to listen to whatever Sarah is saying, but all you can think of is how badly you want to sit because standing sucks in heels)? Really try them on in the store and get a feel for their comfort and contour to your feet.
3. There is No Such Thing As Breaking Shoes In (sort of): For the most part, shoes that you have to "break in" means they don't fit you. Exceptions would be leather or other goods that actaully do need to soften and weather a bit to form a shape. Those shoes will take on the shape/groves of your feet (but this can be a case by case scenerio). Also, keep in mind that if you are shopping earlier in the day your feet won't be as swollen as they will be at night. READ: So if they are snug earlier in the day when you're shopping and you think you can "break them in" then you will be miserable wearing them for evenings or all day occasions. Think about if the shoes have the room and give for when your feet swell. Because swell they will! Time of day, standing around, summer heat, eating salty foods, or drinking are all contributing factors to your feet's size throughout the day.
4. Corn Cushions for Toes: This is perfect for both preventative and post blister care. If you have a particular area that you know that one pair always gives you blisters (my baby toe is often the target) put a self sticking corn cushion where the blister would potentially pop up. If you already have a blister it can be too painful to wear certain shoes with just a band-aid. The cushions give some relief if you put it directly over the blister and cover it with a band-aid to double secure it. Find ones like the Dr. Scholl's seen here.
5. Use Pretty Much Any/All Dr. Scholl's Blister/Foot Care: I get a lot of blisters or just skin rubbed completely raw on the back of my foot where my Achille's heel is (ironic, I know). Using Dr. Scholl's Blister Treatment or moleskin over areas that get a lot of friction helps SOO MUCH. You can also put the moleskin directly onto the shoes and cut them to size for reusable relief. Cannot. Stress. How. Great. Find these and others like them here

6. Fight the Foul: If your shoes start to smell (not surprising considering how much we sweat during the summer) put dry tea bags inside them overnight or even over the weekend. It absorbs the odor and can even leave your shoes smelling fresh. Other suggestions are to use baby/talcum powder or foot powder. Using powders also helps with keeping your feet dry the next time you wear the shoes and absorbs future sweat/odors.
7. No More Slip and Slide: Summer party slip and slide? SURE! As long as it isn't referring to your shoes. Lightly score the bottom of your shoes with a knife or scissors or use sandpaper or your concrete sidewalk to roughen up the soles and create friction. If you are in a real time crunch you can also spray hairspray on the bottoms for a little extra "stick."
8. Keep Your Adidas Poppin'! I seem to be my messiest or most prone to scuff my footwear when I am wearing white or pastels shoes. I keep my Adidas Originals white (and looking like they are owned by some responsible adult other than me) with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Sponge (found here). Water + the sponge is usually enough. If I need an extra "boost" to get a stain out I add a little (starting with 1/4-1/2 tsp) OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover (found here). Voila!
9. Pedicures: For your feet's health get or give yourself regular pedicures. Too long toenails can turn into ingrown nails and make it impossible to comfortably wear any shoes. If they get too ingrown the only solution could be surgical removal. No thanks.
10. Pamper: Open skin on your feet is especially vulnerable to infections with blisters/cuts/cracks. If you have any open wounds on your feet be sure to cover them with Neosporin and band-aids when you leave the house. Also be sure to gently wash your feet/wounds when you come home at night to remove any bacteria. Exfoliating and moisturizing feet not only makes your feet look 100Xs better in your sandals but it helps prevent blisters and cracked heels. Make your job easier by putting lotion on your feet before bed with socks on. You'll wake up with softer skin ready to exfoliate.

Do you have any tips and tricks for shoes or feet? I'd love to hear them!

Current Crush: Blush

July 11, 2016

Swap Party

July 06, 2016

First off, I'd like to state that I'm very behind in my blogging and I apologize for those of you who have helped me and are wondering when they'll see things posted. Life has been crazy!

I've been throwing a party or shin-dig of some kind each month this year and recently I hosted a swap party for charity. What is a swap party, you ask? Well, before you think it has something to do with putting your keys in a bowl and going home with someone new let me clarify! You are going home with something new, just not a person (or so I hope). A swap party is like a recycling party where you get to update your wardrobe or home goods without buying a thing. You ask your guests to bring items they no longer want but could become someone else’s treasure.

Hosting a Swap Party:

1. Why?

It's green, fun, free, and a great excuse to go all Konmari on your home. If you choose to donate to charity, like I did, this is a great way to benefit the community and make sure someone else in need can have these items.

2. When Should You Host?

I find it's best to host a swap either in the spring or fall. People tend to go through their homes and wardrobes for a spring cleaning as it is. It's also easier for people to see what they don't need/want at the turn of seasons.

3. Whom Do You Invite?

If you have a big group of girlfriends with similar tastes or sizes, great! All the easier. If you have friends with varying tastes and sizes DON'T WORRY! I do too and my guests were able to find things to take home just fine.

4. Invites

Explain what a swap party is, give guidance, and clearly set expectations (see my two part invitation above). I gave my guests a month's notice to ensure they had time to go through their homes and find things to bring or donate.

5. Setting Expectations

Rarely have I hosted or gone to a swap where I got 100% privacy when trying things on. Advise your girlfriends to wear undergarments they're comfortable being seen in-or even to wear something that is easy to get in and out of when trying things on. As for time allotment, I'd suggest 2.5-3 hours. That gives you time to set out belongings, mingle, nibble, try things on, and swap. If you have those friends that tend to always show up "fashionably late" text them separately and ask them to please come on time as having everyone there at the same time is imperative.

6. Items

Ask your guests to bring clean, gently used items (suggest anywhere from 5-10 items). Give suggestions of what is okay to swap. If you all have children you could also include a children's category of clothes or toys. Here are some ideas:

Clothes
Accessories (jewelry, shoes, scarves, purses, hats, bags, belts, sunglasses, gloves, etc)
Make Up (if it's in really nice condition or new)
Board Games
Books/Cookbooks
Decor/Home Goods
Plants/Gardening Tools/Pots
Holiday Decor
Craft Supplies
Art
Kitchen Supplies (Dishes, flatware, glasses, pitchers, teapots, blenders, etc)
Bedding/Linens

7. Prep

Go through your closet and home the week or two before your party and sort through your swap items. Gather your supplies of extra hangers, boxes, things to make signs with, etc (decorations optional). Clean house thoroughly the week of. Scope out ways to turn your home into a store with designated areas to display things by category.

8. Food

If you want to make it easier on yourself (these are not low maintenance parties to throw) then ask if your guests would be willing to each bring a finger food. This allows for guests to mingle and look at the "merchandise" while snacking

9. Setting Up Shop

Turning your home into a temporary store takes some planning. I suggest turning different rooms or areas into spaces for certain categories. For instance, I turned my living room into an "accessories store" covering side tables and sideboards with purses, jewelry, etc while my bathroom was designated for dresses, shoes along the hall, and the bedroom housed the rest of the clothes and home goods.

Put dresses and coats on hangers on a rack or an empty coat closet or shower curtain rod to hang. Neatly fold shirts and pants and lay them out on the bed so everything can be seen and easily accessed. Try to avoid organizing clothes in a way that hides them from view like boxes. Those are more appropriate for books. Think like a boutique shop-you want things to be easy to see, touch, and try on.

Use signs to label where to find or put things (tops, bottoms, coats, shoes, accessories, home goods, etc). I set out my goods ahead of time to help lead the guests to do the same.

When your girlfriends arrive give them a quick tour and explain to them where to put what.

Appoint an area for guests to put their belongings they aren't intending to trade (their shoes, coats, purses, etc) to prevent any awkward encounters of guests trying to take things not meant to swap.

10. All About the Details

I decorated my place for the party and hung a "swap backdrop" for people to take pictures in front of with their new duds on. This is purely optional and if you don't have time, don't stress. I think it's just a nice touch.

I've created goodie bags in the past for my swaps. My favorite one I ever put together was a tote bag with the book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever," by Marie Kondo and little to-go boxes for them to take home leftovers. Everything in the goodie bag was designed for them to help them stay organized, declutter, and help take their new items home.

11. Establish Your Rules

Have guests mingle while looking at the goods. I told mine they were welcome to try things on and figure out what they'd like to have on their "shopping lists" when the swapping begins. I strongly encourage my friends to take a chance with the goods there. This is the opportunity to try a style you always wanted to but didn't have the guts to purchase. As for setting up your rules, you can research the multiple swapping systems but I find a number and taking turns system is quickest and most efficient (see here):

Put numbers in a hat and have each guest pick one to determine the order
Guests can pick three items per turn to keep the swap moving
After a certain max number of items you'd like to set for the swap (we chose 6-9) all the leftovers can be bagged for donation.*

12. Donating the Leftovers

I selected Salvation Army and Dress for Success as my recipients for donations. I suggest doing research on whom you'd like to use for your charitable donations. Some are more generous with the donations they receive and make sure it really benefits those in need-rather than merely providing jobs as a service.

*NOTE: I asked for help for those that could stay to sort the professional looking clothing from casual so it was easier to donate to Dress for Success verses Salvation Army.

In short, hosting a swap isn't for everyone. There is a lot of planning and work involved. Turning your house upside down can be a challenge that not everyone is meant to face. I think this last swap might be the last I will do for a couple years-considering the time required for pre and post party.

However, I will say that it was very satisfying to be able to do something fun for a wonderful cause. AND I lucked out by getting a pretty great curling wand that I had been wanting for ages but just couldn't justify buying.

Have you ever been to a swap party? Was it fun for you and worth going through your closet? If you ever hosted a swap I'd love to hear your tips or commiserate with you about the challenges. Above all, just remember to SWAP TILL YOU DROP!