Thursday, October 4, 2012

Feet.

I have strange feet.

When I was born, my feet weren’t quite right. They turned inward. Left uncorrected, I would likely have had problems the rest of my life with them.

But shortly after I was born, there were specialty shoes put on my feet, connected by a brace. This brace would be part of my life for some time, but it was worth it.

My feet, for the most part, straightened out. I grew older, I grew up and I walked like everyone else – well, I walked.


I wore corrective shoes for years. I’d have to go get fitted every once in a while at a special shoe store on University in the old Park Plaza Mall. Sometimes they were white, sometimes brown, ALWAYS clunky. I used to envy other kids I saw running around in sneakers.

Oh, sometimes I didn’t wear them… like to church or for some social functions. It always felt so good to wear “normal” shoes. But then I’d be back in them, and they’d be ouchy for a bit.

I did grow older, and my feet did get better, and I did better too. I eventually got to the point where I didn’t need the corrective shoes any more. Still, I was limited. I never did well as a young’un in heels, and sandals would twist on my feet. I wore flip-flops all summer. And when I was in junior high and high top sneakers came back into style, I was in heaven – because they really supported my weak ankles and kept my feet in line.

I got older. I grew up. I lived in high-tops as long as I could find them – which was about into the mid-Aughts. I lusted after knee high boots – which didn’t come in the fat calf sizes I would like. For the most part.

And then, I could. I put on a pair of fancypants platform boots in the fall of 2007 and wore them everywhere. They were as much a part of my tie dyed persona as the jeans and the colorful shirts and the hats. I towered over the average joe, adding a few inches to my already 5’9” height. I felt so empowered…

And then the dang boots wore out. Seriously. By March 2008 they’d popped stitches and were all but falling apart. I tried another pair. They were done by June. And then I was pregnant and scared to death of wearing any heeled boots at all!

I had Hunter. I started traveling again. I found that outside of the food stories, I was getting out in the backwoods a lot. I was climbing up rocks and traversing fields and whatnot. I was crawling off the side of Scenic Highway Seven looking for a shot. Scooting out onto the edge of Beaver Lake for a better look at Monte Ne. Crawling into a boat and trout fishing and then climbing back on the bank. Fancy boots just weren’t going to cut it.

So when Country Outfitters made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, I took it. I dug through page after page after page of cute boots on their website… and while they were all cute, and they were all functional, nothing really caught my eye. I needed something that was strong and durable, yet a little feminine, too.

That’s when I found these. They’re Twisted X boots… which, considering me, is fitting, right? A tannish green and steel toed, these Twisted X Lite Cowboy work boots with red flowers were the sort of thing I’d been looking for. They were just cute enough I could get away with wearing them to social functions… yet hearty enough I wouldn’t feel bad climbing out of a river in.

I picked mine up at the Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged Conference, this year held at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View. There were other cool bloggers there, and when we were given the chance to pick up our new boots, I recognized mine right away. They were different from the rest. While everyone else was fawning over sleek, chic pointy-toed affairs, I was clamboring into these big fellows and feeling like I could take on the world.

Thing is, my feet have come a long way. They’ve also carried me a long way as well, all over and under and around Arkansas and through so many other states as well. I know in these boots I won’t have to worry about having my toes broken if I drop something or my photographer accidentally steps on them. I also know they’re going to last a heck of a long time.

So, where am I going with all of this? You could have some boots of your own, too. Doesn’t have to be something strong and heavy like what I have with the fabulous Twisted X boots, either. There are so many Country Outfitter boots to choose from.
Country Outfitter is giving you a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to go shopping on them! So here’s what I want you to do.

1. Click here & submit your email address to Country Outfitter (you may receive occasional emails from them).

2. Leave a comment here on the blog letting me know you submitted your email to Country Outfitter.

3. While you’re at it, tell me something about your feet. Where have they taken you?

A random winner will be selected in one week (Thursday, October 11, 2012) after 10 p.m. CDT.

Good luck, and keep walking.

32 comments:

  1. I entered! My feet...well, really my ankles...are terrible. Ok, the feet too. I've been looking for boots forever that are comfortable and fit my fluffy calves. In the winter, I live in a pair of ankle high boots from LL Bean that are so comfy I'd wear them with a bathing suit - if I'd ever wear a bathing suit!

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  2. I entered! My feet are getting ready to take me down to the Ozark, MO square, where there's a little spot called Ben's Place that makes pie in a mason jar. Have you had mason jar pie yet?

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  3. I've always loved my feet. They're narrow, and pretty, and tend to have polish on the nails. I belong to the "my calves are too big for these boots" club, too, so most of my boots have been just past ankle high. I've worn so many types of shoes: sky high heels, ballerina flats, combat boots, lots of flip-flops, and of course, sneakers. The most recent type of shoes I've worn a lot are made of leather and attached to wheels. I've been skating with the Central Arkansas Roller Derby, and I love it.

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  4. I've been across the Chain of Rocks Bridge at St Louis with my feet, as well as parts of old Route 66. Being flat footed, my feet roll inwards so I have to wear heavy duty insoles to force my feet the other way.
    Because of this, I burn through a cheap pair of "Wally World" shoes in about a year's time. I used to buy Mason Shoes, but they are too expensive and don't last as long as they used to since they outsourced manufacturing to China.

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  5. I entered. My feet have been all over the US and overseas with an AF husband. He is finally retired and we are back in our home state of AR!

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  6. I had those clunky brown shoes too when I was a kid. I never remember until someone mentions they had them too. Don't you hate it when a pair of shoes or boots wears out you just love? The next ones you got are cool too with the red flowers. I submitted my email on the Country Outfitter site. I like the boots they have pictured in the background - LOL.

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  7. Our daughter Vanessa was born with dislocated hips. She wore a brace between her legs for a year. Annette, the wife of my youth (and still with me), sewed little covers for the brace that looked like feminine coveralls.
    She really got irritated with folks who would come up to us and tell us we shouldn't have so many diapers on that baby (the brace under coveralls sort of looked like a kid with 10 diapers on.)
    As for me, I have "flat" feet and have suffered increasing foot pain all my life. I worked in industry and the last 10 years or so I fought it with arch supports, in soles, pads and wearing three different pairs of steel toe boots. Those efforts could stave off the pain for 4 to 6 hours but working a 12 hour day could be misery.
    I'm retired now and wear SAS shoes and sandals. My feet usually don't hurt anymore since I'm not on them 12 hours a day. But I do miss the work.
    As for "eateries" we grew up in The Chatterbox Cafe in Magnolia. My life has been a futile effort to find someone who could cook as good as my dad and Mrs. Mary Bee or Mrs. Cara May or to find service like we had.
    The Texas Roadhouse in Texarkana comes closest. But there are few places this day that don't use frozen food and microwaves.
    Both things that would have been Alien to my dad.

    James F. McClellan
    "Old Poop"
    Editor/Publisher "Bug's Bleat"
    http://bugsbleat.blogspot.com/
    NREMT-I, KC5HII, CSP
    > ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
    God's Bar of Soap - I John 1:9
    > ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

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  8. I entered. My feet have taken me down many paths...through many timelines...from Indiana to Michigan, and from Michigan to Arkansas..and back again...and then to the mountains of Eastern Oregon...from the middle ages through the pioneer times and to school in my daily life. They took a break for a while and my wheels carried me forward then but with physical therapy they now travel on and although I have bone spurs and other issues the pain only serves to remind how glad I am to be back on my own two feet.

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  9. Oh wow, Kat, I haven't been so enamored with boots since I was scootin' in the 90s!
    My feet have taken me through 28 of our United States; up Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia and Glacier National Park in Montana. I've been through the Green Mountains of Vermont and the equally beautiful red earth of Sedona, Arizona. I haven't been everywhere, man, but like Johnny Cash, I grew up in Northeast Arkansas and am proud to call it my home! Thanks for asking, and thanks for a great giveaway!

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  10. Entered and now I can tell a huge chunk of my day will be spent browsing their gorgeous boots. My feet have been awfully forgiving of the way I mistreated them when I was in my 20's, I promised them they'll never be crammed into high heels again! Now that 60 is just around the corner I give them the respect they deserve and I spend most of my time letting my feet take me around the beautiful country in Missouri and Arkansas.

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  11. I entered. Not usually an entering kind of person, but will to share about feet. Started out with good feet. Blessed with good feet. My feet have been kept around here in Arkansas, mainly. It has been work that hasn't been too nice to my feet, but they took me from patient to patient to patient. Doing so for many years as a nurse contributed to being more flat footed than anything, and a real bad fracture from years ago with metal in it swells up twice the size it should be. I sit at a desk now, most of the day, and clients come to me, with their journeys. And they have been on some wild trips. But having moved from nursing shoes to an office, I can say I know how you felt back in those younger days when others around you could wear the "cute" shoes. I try to venture sometimes out to those, including boots, but it is hard to find the just the right fit. Glad you got your boots! Adorable!

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  12. I entered. My feet love when I have my toenails painted bright and sparkly colors that not everyone can see, but we know they are there and that makes it just fine. They have supported me through the six states I've lived in, the birth of my daughter, the death of my father, through my 20's, 30's and now my 40's. I am thankful for all they have gotten me through.

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  13. I couldn't resist signing up for a chance to win this. My feet have taken me walking, running, hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing, boating, roller skating and touring all over the US and Europe, although most of that was in my younger years. Now it's all about finding good support and comfort just to get through the day. BTW great job on the blog and pie reports - love 'em!

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  14. I entered. My feet are really wide and I'm still disappointed that those ballernia flats don't work for me. Boots it is!

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  15. I entered. My feet.....they are small size 5, but they have taken me all over the country. Some of my best times are when I am walking. Would love to win a pair of boots.

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  17. Entered my email!
    Crossing my fingers!

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  18. I entered. My feet have taken me from home to a new town with my hubby to motherhood to learning to garden and many more places. Hoping to win some boots because I could use a pair now I am more outdoors.

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  19. I entered! My feet have taken me many places, but my favorite place is Home. I wanted to share with you that I believe my daughter was born with the same foot problem as you. It's called Metatarsus Adductus and her left foot turned in. She too had to wear corrective shoes and the bar. Also, like you, she longed to wear shoes like all the other children. It used to make me so sad for her. But, the good news is, she is now 27 years old and all is well with her. She was even a cheerleader in middle and high school. Thanks for sharing your story with us. lebl9077@bellsouth.net

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  20. I entered my email. My feet are big and wide. It is so hard to find shoes but my feet have taken me many places!!!
    glendonsattler@hotmail.com

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  21. i entered! my feet have taken me to 13 years of dancing, and hopefully many many more years if pointe shoes don't kill them.:)

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  22. I entered! And my feet- have taken me on countless adventures all over the world to places I've wanted to see. But yours, have taken you to places I want to eat.
    http://freneticfitness.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/these-boots-are-made-for-walkin/

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  23. I entered! My feet have taken me all around Arkansas and as far as Ireland.

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  24. I entered! I have teeny, tiny pinkie toenails. It's genetic.

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  25. kudos!

    &

    congrats on your new pie book!

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  26. I love boots. I have the country styled ones, the velvet ones and biking boots. Expanded my breathing boots via the easy living brand.

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  27. You're not the first one I've heard who got a condition on feet. I also have a friend who's having difficulty in controlling her legs good thing is, she's working now and her office is considerate enough to buy a personalize chair that will make it a lot easier for her to move around and work in their office.

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  28. My friend's baby has an intoeing feet. I told her that she should buy corrective footwear for her baby. But I have read somewhere that intoeing or flatfoot is common in children and it usually gets better as they get older.

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  29. I remember incurring bone spurs in my right foot due to calcium deposits. It was painful to walk prior to the operation and it was even more painful to walk post operation.

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  30. I need to buy myself some boots, and I love all the ones you chose! Definitely loving. best boots for women

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  31. One of the most popular boots in the country is Twisted X Boots. The company's boots are known for their comfortable fit, authentic look, and tough construction.I find this website for Western Work Best Boots.If you want you can visit this site.

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Be kind.