2012 March

Winters in Northern Ohio are in a word cold. If I wanted to use another word, I would probably use the word snowy.

In fact, most years, if you came to visit me anywhere from December to April I could guarantee you that you would see snow; I just wouldn’t be able to guarantee the color.

This year I was prepared.

I had the rock salt for the icy driveway.

I had the shovel right next to the door so that I could easily get to the garage to the recently tuned up snow blower.

I had not one, but three ice scrappers in each car.

All the vehicles had emergency kits and jumper cables.

People, I even had a brand new pair of super warm snow boots with lots of traction so that I could go tromping around in the snow with Barney.

And then this happened before it was technically spring.

For those of you unaware this is my Magnolia tree, in full bloom, at least two months before it is due to bloom in Northern Ohio.

This never happens & I will take full responsibility for flip flop weather in March.

You’re Welcome.

I love shoes.

But…..there is always a but, isn’t there.

I love shoes, but they need to be comfy, and moderately priced and they must come in a size 11. Nothing bothers me more than to go to a shoe store (or a booth handing out free shoes) for them to ask me if I size 10 would do.

Thankfully the team at the Famous Footwear booth didn’t disappoint when it came to having a size 11 (and plenty of them for all of my large footed friends) they delivered. They claimed that the Dr. Scholl’s Jamie sneaker was not only cute, it was super comfy. I admit I was skeptical.

I figured the last day of the Blissdom Conference I would sport the cute sneakers as long as my feet and back could handle it. In fact, I didn’t take everything I thought I would need for the day as a Community Leader and Staff Photographer because I was sure I would be back in my room as some point to change out my shoes and apologize to my feet.

I will be the first to admit, I was wrong. After wearing what would later be referenced to The Shoes on twitter, instagram and facebook for over 19 hours on Saturday; my only complaint was that because I didn’t wear socks my toes got a bit gross from rubbing on the inside of the shoe. I don’t mean gross as injured, just dirty and grey, from what I can only assume was from the suede interior or something.

At one point during the day I was running to get some equipment out of another part of the hotel and I saw Chris Mann walking to his lunch performance for Centrum #NutritionPossible (great performance and lunch by the way…thanks Centrum!) I commented on how it was cute that he was just wandering all over the hotel like regular people all by himself. He chuckled and smiled and pointed to The Shoes and said, “Cute Shoes!”

Lots of people complimented me on The Shoes and I told them to get to the Famous Footwear booth to get their pair as they didn’t disappoint.

On Sunday, I opted for a later flight so I could relax and wander and say goodbye to my friends at a leisurely pace. I started off by putting on my go to pair of comfy shoes and ended up taking them off and putting on The Shoes to wander around Opryland with.

#AdventuresofDrscholls was born. (Feel free to check it out on twitter & instagram)

The Shoes and I wandered around the hotel, we visited with friends, we walked to Cracker Barrel when they got hungry and in the middle of their Country Store we stopped to contemplate candy. I will admit that we caught a few stares and got many questions from curious bystanders. But the first question wasn’t “Why are you taking photos of your feet?” It was, “Where did you get those shoes?”

I made friends in the airport, on the airplane, I made a whole flight crew laugh as I sat down in the middle of a hallway to take a photo with The Shoes next to the Welcome sign in Cleveland. In fact, when I didn’t post photos of The Shoes I got inquiries as to why I was posting photos of other shoes.

And now a confession-I think I might love The Shoes more than my Sparkly Toms and if you know me you know how highly I think of The Shoes.

Disclosure-Famous Footwear provided me with The Shoes at the Blissdom Conference as part of their swag. All opinions expressed of The Shoes are mine and mine alone, well except for Chris Mann’s and I totally didn’t force him in any way to mention in passing how cute The Shoes are, he just knows awesomeness when he sees it. I am hoping that with the over sharing of The Shoes that Famous Footwear will pick me as one of their Famous Blog Ambassadors.