Got shoes?

Just out of curiosity -- what are your favorite types of shoes? I have some friends who are really into shoes. I mean, they live for shoes. As for me, I've always hated shoes. It's not that I don't like wearing shoes. It's just that I had problem feet as a kid with really painful bunions. Shoes and I didn't get along. When Birkenstocks came out, I didn't necessarily like how they looked, but they were probably the best thing I could have done for my feet. Dr. Scholl's sandals became all the rage when I was either in junior high or high school. Those were supposed to be good for your feet too. However, in order for them to stay on when you walked, you had to grip your toes a certain way. With my messed up feet, that was hard. I remember buying a pair of imported clogs when I was in junior high. Those were popular too. I loved them, but man, they hurt my stupid feet so bad! Since then, I've had surgery on both feet, so it's not as bad as it used to be. But still -- shoes aren't my thing. Shoe shopping with me is not a fun experience.

However ... boots are another story. I love boots and wear them year round. It doesn't matter what type they are -- cowboy, hiking, snow, whatever. I know people who hate UGGs with a passion, but they're still very popular where I live. And when you have trouble feet like mine, they're a blessing. This time of year I wear snow boots more than anything. It's too snowy or muddy for much else, and the snow boots keep you from slipping. It cracks me up to see women trying to tiptoe through slushy parking lots in high heels. I understand people have to dress professionally for work, but it's still not worth taking the chance of slipping. You'd think they'd wear sturdy shoes until they got to their office. But no, I see them prancing around in the muck, and then getting upset that their shoes are messed up. I'm one of those moms who sees a puddle in the parking lot, and providing the kids and I have proper footwear, I drag them over so we can stomp in it.

I remember a time when I was little and my family went up to the snow one day. We lived in the Ojai Valley and when it was cold enough, there would be snow in the local mountains. My mom didn't pay much attention to helping me get ready, so I did the best I could. I found a pair of my rubber rainboots. Remember the kind you slipped on that fastened with the elastic around a little button? That's all I had. It didn't snow in Ojai, so it wasn't like we were stocked up with snow gear as kids. I put those on and we went up to the mountains. I didn't even have socks. After a few minutes of running around in the snow (very exciting to a kid who rarely saw it), my boot got stuck in a snow drift. I started screaming because I couldn't get it out. When my mom pulled on me, my boot stayed put, but my foot came right out. There I was, barefoot in the snow. I spent the rest of the trip sitting in the car with the heater blasting on my feet. Not exactly a fun snow day for me.

So, in the winter I wear snow boots pretty much non-stop. In the spring and summer, it's either flip-flops, tennis shoes, hiking boots, or my water shoes that I wear in the kayak. I have some high heels, but I don't wear them hardly. I do have a lot of UGGs and some UGG-like boots that I wear when the ground isn't too mucky. But my biggest love are cowboy boots. I have a bunch of those. The ones pictured above are my favorites. However, mine are starting to look a little grubby now after so much wear. I love these because the blue matches denim so well. Elvis might have sang about Blue Suede Shoes, but you'd probably find me wearing my Blue Suede Boots. I have green ones just like these (though the decoration is different), if that tells you how obsessed I am. They're made by Justin. I also love Ariats. I love pointy toe ones, which are probably the worst for my feet.

So, how about you -- what's your favorite type of shoe?