enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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I went hunting in my closet for a shoe today (the left white sandal if you are curious) and had to remove about half of the shoes to find it. Once they were half out, I figured, "Hey. Paul's not home, I might as well get out the rest and take a picture."

As I was pulling them out I realized that I beat my shoes. I don't just wear them like normal people, I wear them to walk in the rain. I wear them to stand up all day at my job. I wear them without socks. A few of them I used to wear to the 9-0.

With the exception of a few pretties (which happen to be new), my shoes are abuse victims.

Phase one of attack: Throw out the broken ones. The ones that are stretched out (those black flats with the silver jewels). The ones with holes in them (the gold ballet slipper looking ones). The ones where the heels have worn off the rubber square and it sounds like nails on a chalkboard when you walk (the brownish heels). TOSS 'EM. PLEASE BE RUTHLESS. (Except for the old pair of rainbows that got you through junior and senior year of college. That would be like giving away a child.)

Phase two: Replace what you need.

Phase three: Store shoes properly. A pile is not proper.

I am so excited.

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15 responses to “this needs to stop.”

  1. Creole Wisdom Avatar

    You’re way ahead of me.
    Although I am a major girly girl. I am not a shoe person. I own probably 10 pairs at the most, and only wear about 5. I am terrible about shoe shopping. I have no prob dropping $$ for clothes at anthro, but spend over $50 on a pair of shoes? Cannot bring myself to do it. So once a year or so I force myself to go to DSW and buy what I can. I still need to get better.
    I love your whole collection, though : )

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  2. Whatever Dee-Dee Wants Avatar

    I have such a hard time letting go of my shoes, even though I usually only wear about 5 of the 50 pairs. I like to store mine in clear Tupperware boxes. It really helps keep them in good shape.

    Like

  3. indigorchid Avatar

    Oh! Don’t throw out the heel-cases! Cobblers can do wonders, they’ll even replace the striped part of the heel if needed.
    But yeah, good project!
    By the way, I wear my shoes in the rain to. What else are they for?

    Like

  4. julie Avatar
    julie

    i second the re-heeling.
    also, graham just commented to me the other day, “baby, you THRASH your shoes.” it’s painfully obvious which shoes i love to wear because they look like a dog chewed on them. his shoes, in contrast, not only outnumber mine but look like they’ve been worn maybe once.
    i just don’t get it!

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  5. lindsaywillman Avatar

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those green loafers.

    Like

  6. man Avatar

    holy crap, i SO need to do that. my husband just told me LAST NIGHT even that my “shoe mountain” in the closet was getting out of control. i didn’t tell him that i just bought 5 new pairs of sandals on wednesday that are still in the bag.
    oops.

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  7. Nadia Avatar

    first the tomatoes and now this? I am getting concerned elise! (grin) ciao!

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  8. Katie Avatar

    I love the strappy silver ones – they are gorgeous 🙂

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  9. goshery Avatar

    I was once told that a person may look well put together, but the real test is what their shoes look like. Keep in mind that the person that told me this was a co-worker that had an honest-to-God shoe polish set up in his office. Every morning when he arrived at work he would polish his shoes.
    Don’t be him. Wear your shoes like you mean it. You can always buy more!

    Like

  10. abbiejsmith Avatar

    Oh, I should do this, even if its just to archive the shoes I wear and love now! Yea, for better storage! Do you have the container store?

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  11. Katy Avatar

    This area of my wardrobe needs similar attention … no wait, actually, my whole wardrobe is in need of some attention and soon!!
    Enjoy phase two! 🙂

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  12. Carrie Avatar

    I’m glad you picked a time when there were no males around.
    I think I need to print off your post and recite it as I do the same!

    Like

  13. renee Avatar
    renee

    funny you post about this… one of the things I would most like to do is photograph each pair of shoes and scrap the story that goes with them – the place I remember wearing them too, what event I bought them for… i think it would make a meaningful mini book – at least for me

    Like

  14. Heather Brittany Avatar
    Heather Brittany

    The container store has these AMAZING plastic drawers that I use for my shoes. http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=154&PRODID=59729
    Check them out… honestly, I swear by those things. They take up a ton of room, but keep your shoes sooo nice!

    Like

  15. Marina H. Avatar

    I’m doing this on my blog too. Good idea! I loved reading about your shoes, lol. No, seriously.

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