January 28th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

I don’t think I’m alone here, but I do think most people are afraid to admit it.  I hate being a houseguest.  I don’t mean crashing on my friend’s couch with my shoes on, slipping out early, and leaving an endearing thank you note scribbled on an old receipt.  I mean spending three days and two nights in the guestroom with towels specifically for me and my belongings confined to a leather weekend bag.

As much as they insist you may come and go as you please, you are still at your hosts’ mercy.  They’re aware that you just want to watch TV alone.  They’re keeping track of when you use the bathroom and how long it takes, especially when you get up at 3am to pee.  And then there’s their most egregious offense: they are in change of the thermostat.

The reason this offense takes the cake is because no matter how nice and hospitable they are, leaving mints on your pillow or serving gluten-free pasta just for you, there’s no possible way you could be comfortable if you’re too hot or too cold.

In terms of the hot, the best you can do, short of stripping down to your underwear and panting dramatically while splayed across the couch, is make underhanded comments:

“Do you mind if I help myself to some ice water?  For some reason I feel flushed and a bit faint.”

“Excuse me for a second while I go get some Tylenol.  I think I’m running a fever.  Want to feel how hot I am?”

“Woo!  I think I just had a hot flash.  Is 23 too young for uh…oh, never mind.”

With the cold, you can make the comments more tactfully:

“Oo, is that a working fireplace?  I love a working fireplace.  That’s such a beautiful fireplace!”

“Do you mind if I wrap myself in this decorative throw?”

“I brought this hot cocoa as a hostess gift!   Shall I make it for you?”

The cold has one very useful advantage.  You can always add a layer.  I visited a very cold house recently, a house where the family took their shoes off at the door.  I learned a life lesson that weekend.  If you’re visiting someone’s home for a winter weekend, BRING CUTE SLIPPERS.  They would have made all the difference.

The Slippers: (left to right) Mocs Fringe Slipper, $79; Relknit Monkey Slipper, $29; Mocs Suede Slipper, $69

Blog Reader Exclusive: Use code ‘SLIP’ for 20% off all slippers.

January 26th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Meryll was the shy twin, short and chubby enough that her mom watched her snack intake.  She just loved trail-mix with a little too much fervor.  She liked to play with magic cards, and read Time Magazine, and look for tiny elves in bushes and under stones in the back yard.

Lucy was the outgoing twin.  She wore the same pigtails, but they hung so nicely, just a little nicer.  She could eat all the trail mix she wanted, not that she even liked it that much, because she was always dancing.  She took some time to play house with the neighborhood girls.  Meryll had the time, but not the invitation and that was a shame.  And why would she want to play with Lucy anyway, for Lucy was god awful mean.  Meryll could not understand why the neighborhood girls wanted to play house with Lucy anyway, for she lacked imagination.  Nothing happened when Lucy played house.  Feed the baby, put it to bed, smoke a crayon cigarette, wake the baby, and so on and so on and so on.

One day Lucy had to go to dance class and mom had to go to the doctor.  Meryll, she said, you’ll have to watch Lucy’s class.  There’s no one to take care of you and no one to play with you.  And Meryll nearly died of dread for fear of having to take a dance class herself.  I’m not a mover or a shaker, she told her mother.  And no one thinks you are, dear, her mother promptly replied.  And then they went, off to Fancy Feet Dance School, Meryll fighting the urge to jump out of the moving station wagon all the way.

Fancy Feet Dance School was just as Meryll could have suspected, bright white walls and hot pink everywhere, dazzling gold trophies, shiny wood floors.  Everyone up and greeted Lucy as she arrived.  She seemed to be their golden child.  What a change from home, Meryll thought and rolled her eyes.  No one noticed.  You’re to sit on this bench and watch, Lucy pointed and Meryll sat.  Class started, and the girls began to dance, and Meryll pulled out a Time Magazine and baggie full of trail mix.  You there, the teacher called out and Meryll looked up to observe the commotion.  Yes you, on the bench, it’s not a watching class.  Meryll’s chest tightened. I don’t dance, she said, surprised she’d found her voice so quick.  Well ya do now, said the teacher.  It’s a new routine and you’ll learn it with us. And she bent to fasten her tap shoe. But I really don’t dance, Meryll called back.  Well ya will or you’ll leave, now get up here.

Well, Meryll had no choice and she knew she was doomed, but no alternative was available.  She stood and brushed the peanuts from her lap. Not there! Come on over here and follow the steps with me, the teacher pointed out a spot and Meryll followed.  The routine started and something happened.  The music was so lively, the steps so uplifting. Meryll couldn’t help but dance.  She couldn’t help but dance extremely well. Flap ball change, wings, a double time step!  By the end of the hour, she couldn’t help being the best student in the class.

And that’s how it’s done ladies. The teacher held her hand out to Meryll.  I’d like you to join my national team.  Your smile’s adorable, your pigtails are just a little out of place, and you got some quality.  You’re my golden child.  Meryll shook teacher’s hand and promised to return next week, and she knew she really would.  Lucy pouted , and Meryll knew she probably had to fight the urge to jump out of the moving station wagon all the way.  Now she was only the silver child.

The Dance by All Black, $59

January 25th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Celebs:  They’re the closest thing we’ve got to royalty in this country, so of course we’re obsessed.  Obviously we want to know who they’re dating, where they’re eating, and most importantly what they’re wearing.  And then we want to know where we can get what they’re wearing because we want to wear it too.  It feels a lot like stealing your big sister’s clothes because they’re way cooler than yours just because she owns them.  You’ll have to figure out the clothes for yourself, but I’ll tell you right now, all of the shoes are available at Barefoot Tess!

Angelina Jolie

The Delman ‘Mona’

Ashley Tisdale

The J. Shoes ‘Meadow’

Kristen Stewart

The Superga ‘Torino’

Lindsey Lohan

The J. Shoes ‘Bridal’

Miley Cyrus

The Manitobah ‘Buffalo Dancer’

January 20th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

January 19th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Your chance to win the shoes your heart burns for!

You know when you see a shoe on the Barefoot Tess site and you think, “I’m in love with it! I can’t live without it! I want to marry it!” Well, we know that feeling. And all we want if for you to share it.

The Contest: Pick your most beloved shoe on the site and write to us about how much you love it and why you can’t live without it–write stories, write sonnets, write whatever you’d like! Funny quotes will be Tweeted periodically (follow us: Barefoot_Tess).

The Instructions: E-mail this answer to contest@barefoottess.com with the subject V-Day Giveaway. In the body of the e-mail, include your name, shoes size, and home town/state (international entries just include country.)

The Prize: The top five answers will be posted on Blogging Barefoot on V-Day eve. The writer of the best answer (we love sappy and we really love funny) wins the shoes she’s absolutely in love with. Come V-Day, we will announce this lucky-in-love winner on Blogging Barefoot, Facebook and Twitter. And of course,we will e-mail her as well. A cupid (dressed in a UPS uniform) will arrive at her doorstep to deliver these shoes of her dreams free of charge. Now that’s the stuff of fairy tales!

We wish you happy writing and the best of luck!

January 15th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

They’re pretty, they’re famous, and we love (copying) their looks!

Michelle Obama

The BFT ‘Spice’

Blake Lively

The All Black ‘Stud’

Taylor Swift

The Corso Como ‘Rachel II’

Joanna Garcia

The Bernardo ‘Manhattan’

Nicky Hilton

Bernardo ‘Ballet Flat’

And you can find them all on BFT!

Have a favorite celeb you’d like me to report on?  Let me know!

January 13th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

On my ‘About Me’ page I offer to dispense fashion and particularly footwear advice to anyone who e-mails me.  Now, I typed this feeling really excited about the prospect of spreading my own fashion knowledge, but knowing full well that no one was going to ask me a damn thing. Well, guess what!  After months of nothing, Annie D. finally spoke up.  She wrote,

“Dear Laura,

A bunch of my friends have been wearing Frye boots and I like them, but the big sizes are mens’ and way too wide.  Plus, I borrowed my sisters and despite the fact that they’re already broken in, they gave me a huge blister.  Frye is too expensive to get a blister from.  Do you know of any cute boots, like Frye that are cheaper? FYI, I’m a narrow 12, so that complicates the matter.  I want WOMEN’S shoes!

I’m sad,

Annie D.”

Woo, I’m practically the footwear version of Dear Abby!

Dear Sad Annie D.,

I have the perfect solution for you.  Check out J. Shoes from Barefoot Tess.  They have the same great utilitarian feel as Frye’s, but they also have feminine touches, like pretty ribbon laces.  BFT actually offers them below the suggested retail value, so check ‘em out! They come in women’s sizes exclusively at Barefoot Tess.

Forget about Dear Abby.  Watch me turn into Oprah!

P.S. Annie D.,

Since you’re the first girl to write to me for advice, I am going to send you a pair of J. Shoes ‘Bridles’ in your size and the color of your choosing!

Anyone else have fashion/footwear questions?  Post them to the blog or e-mail me and I will publish and answer them! Don’t forget: comment of the week wins 50 bucks and your questions count as comments.

January 12th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

At a certain point, winter loses its novelty.  I think some years, it’s waited until Valentine’s Day (everyone’s favorite Greeting Card holiday, after Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and Secretary’s Day.)  This year though, my patience for the cold has worn thin early.  I hate leaving my house and it’s always too dark out.  That’s it.  I’m self-diagnosing myself with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder.)  I don’t even need WebMD for this one– I’ve got it, guys.

Now that I’ve fallen ill, I have to figure out a way to beat it.  The best way would be to go on a tropical vacation, but I can’t afford that. The second best way would be to start planning my warm-weather look so when it comes I’ll be ready.  I’m starting with the beach look, just in case someone surprises me with a tropical vacation. (Mom, are you reading this?)

Dreaming of Vacay (In Times of SAD)

The shoes: Costa Blanca ‘Grace’ Wedge, $49

January 8th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Two shoes really hit their stride this year: the over-the-knee boot and the bootie.  Of course they had been around before last fall, but not with the same ubiquity they’ve enjoyed over the past few months.  There’s been a lot of speculation as to whether or not they’re here to stay.

The Over-the-Knee

The Bernardo ‘Blondie’

The Bootie

The All Black ‘Japanese Bootie’

I think both of these are great because they fold over (2 styles in 1 shoe!)  As for the longevity of the trends, the styles are flattering and high-end designers are making updates for next fall, which means everyone else will follow in suit.  I know you’ll get another season out of these and if I had to guess, I say even more than that.  Plus we’re in the throws of shoe-sale season, so go ahead and buy them now!

What do you think? Over-the-Knees and Booties: Are they here to stay? I invite you to weigh in!

January 5th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

I sprained my ankle in Zara yesterday.  I was strolling, minding my own business, hoping to spot a pair of gloves, (which they did not have–thanks for nothing Zara) when I spotted a stunning black coat. At that very moment, a very enthusiastic lady spotted the pair of beautiful boots on display under the coat. Additionally, it’s safe to say that both of ours interests were further piqued by the big red sale sign above the rack.  I turned gracefully to my right, to touch the coat while the lady must have gotten nervous that I would snatch up her boots.  She ran at full speed, knocking me down, and allowing a bead of her sweat to fall onto my eyebrow.  She fell over me, landed directly on my ankle, and before she could apologize, she reached for the boots.  Once they were safely in her hand, she realized what had happened.  I couldn’t blame her–she had been a victim of Sale Tunnel Vision.  It happens to the best of us.

“I’m so sorry!” she panted. “I’m so embaressed!”

“That’s OK,” I nodded and rubbed my ankle as she rolled off of it.

“It’s just that these are beautiful and I can never find my…”  A sales girl passed. “SCUSE ME!” the lady had forgotten about me already.  The sales girl, probably thinking the lady was calling for  my assistance, scooted over to us and began helping me up.  She couldn’t even make sure I was OK before the lady asked, “Do you have these in a size 12?”

At this point, I was standing and had worked up the nerve to take my first step on the injured ankle.  The sales girl looked at the size 12 lady blankly nodding no, I took the step, fell to the ground and in excruciating pain, looked back up and said, “You’ll have to go to Barefoot Tess for that.”  I then produced my card, the size 12 lady herself lifted me up with extraordinary strength, and we embraced.  It felt something like “Pay It Forward” and I know she will do just that.

The blog comment contest is officially back up, so tell me your shopping horror stories for a chance to win $50 this week.

And follow me on Twitter! Barefoot_Tess