The shoe game, Round 2.

So, I couldn't find any burgundy shoes and then I discovered some potential design-your-own shoes. Then, I abruptly left you all with some boxes from Zappos containing shoes in two sizes to test before ordering. So, what do you think I did next? I tried on the shoes of course.

I had ordered size 8 in a fuschia color secretly hoping it would be more red and less pink than the picture online showed so I could really just pull off those ones and not order the custom pair. Then, I ordered the 7 1/2 in powder because once I realized officially that none of the standard colors would work, I couldn't care less what color I ordered them in.

The shoes were lovely. Such a great height, the satin was so elegant, and the bow was a perfect touch of cute. I loved them. Unfortunately, upon trying them on, I realized perhaps they don't love me so much. The problem? The size 8 was too big and the 7 1/2 was too small. Call me Goldilocks, but why can't they have a size 7 3/4? Honestly, is it too much to ask for shoes that fit "just right"? Anyway, I photographed the fits - have a look:


The fuschia size 8s - aren't they pretty? They look pretty good from above, right? Wrong. Notice how loose the left ankle strap is and the extra space in the right toe.


And from the side, too - look how well they suit my (lack of an) arch. These shoes were sure to provide some great support. My feet don't look bunched into the shoe at all, and all is well...


... until you see how much space is left in the back. Dun dun dun. They slipped all around when I walked and rubbed my heels. In fact, the strap around the ankle was too big, too, and the looseness rubbed rather painfully as well.


Size 7 1/2 in powder looked pretty good from above, too, but look at the toe cleavage showing by my left pinky toe - perhaps that's a symptom of how squished my toes were in there. The powder color fully convinced me that I wanted colored shoes - doesn't the light color look ridiculous with my pale skin?


See how my foot seems to kinda bulge out in this one? That bottom section of the shoe just isn't big enough to fully squish my toesies into. These were very tight and my pinky toe was pretty sqashed and kinda fell asleep after awhile, but walking in these was much easier - my heel didn't slide and the strap fit tightly.

So, tell me, what's a Goldilocks to do when there is not third option? Is it better to wear a shoe that is too big or too small? I really think that this is the shoe for me - the style is so very me, the height is great when standing next to David, and the color will work nicely - but, I just don't know about the fit. I think my best option would be to order the smaller size and try to stretch out the toe area prior to the wedding. What do you think? Which size would be less ridiculous? Am I crazy to order these at all? Will my shoe search ever end?


* all photos by me.

The shoe game.

When we left off, I was bemoaning the lack of burgundy shoes in the world. I was getting desperate.


source.
Reader Stacey Marie suggested these beautiful Badgley Mischkas and I was thrilled. They're not peep toes, but they're absolutely drool-worthy. Unfortunately, after reading some reviews about them being crazy uncomfortable, I went to Macy's to try them on, and sure enough, most. uncomfortable. shoe. ever. Sadly, the heel is so high with no platform to balance it out that I felt like I would fall forward the whole time. Also, my feet started hurting almost instantly. No bueno. Back to square one. Tear.


source.
Enter Nina Shoes and their design-your-own shoe option. While this option is pricey and kinda risky (twice as much just to pick a different color for the same shoe!? Oh, and there are absolutely NO RETURNS!? AHH!), the Electra (above) was one of the DYO options, and their wine color was almost a perfect good enough match with our bridesmaid dresses. Looks like I've found a shoe.

However, since I had absolutely no idea what size I might want or if the shoe even fit me right, I decided I needed to order the standard Electra shoes in various sizes before I jumped in and designed my own. So, I went back to Zappos.


personal photo.
Side note: I feel kinda guilty for using Zappos like this. I've purchased three pairs of shoes from them now with the immediate and full intent on returning them for free while they're upgrading me to super next-day shipping and being overly awesome. If any shoes you are considering buying are on Zappos, get them from there - help support them and maybe I'll feel less guilty. Thanks!

Anyway, I ordered the shoes in a 7 1/2 and an 8. Did either of them fit? Would I be able to design my shoes and be done with it? Stay tuned while my ridiculous shoe saga continues.

Did you have a hard time finding shoes?

Gettin' down to Busy-ness.

So, I know my posts this week were a little lacking - if not missing all together. Wanna know why? I am currently busier than I have ever been in my life. Yeah, I know, wedding planning is a pretty stressful time with a lot to do, but I'm so busy with other things that I haven't even really gotten that much wedding planning done!

This past week I did the following:

Saturday: jeweler stop to talk about rings and bra / mother of the bride dress shopping with my momma. evening - late night set-up for our church with a new location - home around 11.
Sunday: church, long process of breaking down church set-up, lunch, pre-marital counseling and ceremony talk with officiant, home for leftovers around 7.
Monday: work from 9-6 - I have to leave the house by 7:45 am and don't get home until after 7 pm. Home to craft some fabric flowers for bouts.
Tuesday: same as Monday with some work on pre-marital counseling questionnaire.
Wednesday: work from 9-6, small group bible study from 7-9:30, home well after 10.
Thursday: work from 9-5, event planning class from 6-9, home after 10.
Friday: work from 9-6, grab a few an hour or so with David, dinner with some friends - home after 11.

As you can see, I live pretty far from everything I do, so going out for anything becomes an all day event, and I generally get home pretty late.

This coming week and the next I have all of the above, plus a weddingbee meet-up (yay!), a haircut, makeup shopping, and clothes inventory for engagement pics, more meeting with the officiant, and interview for an internship, engagement photos, our dating anniversary, and more.

Tired yet? I sure am.

I really want to share some of the recent things I've accomplished and what's currently in the works. So, motivate me. Tell me what of the things I've done above or mentioned working on in the past that you want to hear about. I'll be sure to post that and more for the next week.

Have you had a time where everything you do gets busier all at once? How did you handle it?

Flying Buttercream.

Check this out! My best friend growing up has started a cake business. Look at some of the beauties she's made:








Source - Flying Buttercream Cakes and Pastries
Ah man, don't you wanna just eat that cupcake right off the screen? Yum.

If you're in the Columbus, Ohio area, you should check her out!

Lovely.

Once Wed.
Oh, how I wish our wedding party could look like this. I am very happy with our Bridesmaid dresses, but I really wish I had been able to gather wonderful vintage dresses like the ones above.

My main reason for posting this picture, however, is to show how great it looks for the groomsmen to wear vests in lieu of a suit jacket. In a perfect world, I would have David's groomsmen don vests and pants to compliment David's suit. However, one of the groomsmen already owns a grey suit which he will be wearing (without a vest), and since we're making the guys buy suits, it would be silly to expect them to buy the suit with no jacket. And if they bought the jacket, the vest would be an extra expense. Sigh. At least we can get lots of pictures of David in his vested goodness.

How often does a picture from someone else's wedding make you wish you were doing something differently than planned?