I just saved $85 on shoes!!

$85!!!!!!  Definitely doing the happy dance, singing "I love Rue La La.....yes I do....yes I do...."

As I've stated many times before, I consider Dansko shoes to be one of the best shoes on the market.  You can wear these all day long and NOT feel fatigue, these shoes almost force you to have good posture, which I think is what makes them so comfy.  Go to any hospital and you will see almost all medical personnel in Dansko shoes.  Until 2007, Dansko was the same company as Sanita, but they split. 

The interesting thing about these clogs is they defy anything you've ever been told.  These shoes SHOULD be loose on your heal to fit properly but you would be so surprised to actually spend a day in a pair of Dansko or Sanita clogs.  Your toes do not have to grip to hold on (you know what I mean, ladies!) - your feet can just relax and enjoy their day.   I will forever be indebted to the physical therapist who told me I HAD to go get a pair of Dansko clogs when I was diagnosed with all my nerve damage.  Changed my life, that therapist did!

So today, when I saw on Rue La La (an online boutique shopping experience) that the Sanita shoes and clogs were on deep discounts, I was excited.  I found a lovely pair of clogs for $49.90, regular priced $135.  THAT is a deal!

I do not have a brown pair, and always just wear my plain black clogs with everything.  These will be perfect - at a perfect price!  I have tried the Sanita brand on before and they were a little roomier than Dansko, so I ordered a size down.  If it doesn't work, I will easily return it for 100% money back.  Can't beat that!

The black pair of Dansko clogs I wear every day?  Purchased in 2005!!!!!!!!  These puppies last FOREVER.    So now I will own a black pair, one called "Confetti" which has pastel threads, my new black with purple swirl pair 

and then these brown ones (and a few Dansko sandals that I've also had forever and a day, except for one brand new pair I purchased for $21 a few months ago.  Regular price over $100.  Patience is a virtue.  The early bird gets the worm.  Yahoo!!!   Considering these are the ONLY shoes I can wear with my nerve damaged numb feet, I am thrilled.  You have no idea.  Paying $135 for shoes on MY budget/frugal ways isn't easily swallowed.  lol

I could not be happier with my shopping experiences with Rue La La - if you haven't checked it out, I recommend you do.  Every day brings 3-5 new brands of merchandise, from home decor, clothing, jewelry, kitchen items, makeup, .......even travel packages.  Most items are returnable and I've had an excellent experience with returns as well.  

Here is my referral link - joining is free.  You then get an email every day, showing you the available sales.  I mostly view these sales for inspiration but occasionally find a product I normally buy at incredible discounts.  (I've purchased skin care products, shoes, even lingerie that I normally pay full price for).

Rue La La

What are you waiting for??  Don't you want to call your hubby and tell him you just saved $85???  This particular sale ends in 1 day, 20 hours.  They also have today - Amrita Singh jewelry, Vera Wang Home products, men's Vilebrequin Saint Tropez clothing, Lake Austin Spa/Resort package, and Free People clothing, along with continuing sales from other days. 

Keeping It Real...

A recap for new visitors - I have chronic severe nerve pain and cannot bend, lift or twist for the rest of my life (my implanted spinal cord stimulator dictates I cannot lean too far lest I pull the wires out.).   This makes many things a challenge around the house.  Hubs is AMAZING but every now and then, he gets confused.  This was such a time.

So, every time I go in the main bathroom for the family, there is never toilet paper in the toilet paper thingy.  Do you have one?

Now, I GET it.  I really do.  I'm the only girl.  Guys don't give a hoot about these toilet paper things.  But, HELLO!!!  I cannot bend over to get the toilet paper out from under the cabinet, and I also cannot LEAN over from the toilet to reach under the cabinet.  So when I run out of toilet paper, I am STUCK.  (I have learned to look and notice BEFORE I get stuck in a compromising position, but still....)

So, last night, I used the last of the toilet paper and came out to ask hubs (or the boys) if the next person in the bathroom could please replace the toilet paper AND put toilet paper rolls in the toilet paper thingy.

Hubs stares at me.  And then says:

"Well, why?  You can't reach it."

HUH?  I had this look:

 

 

(I'm sure all husbands have seen a look like this, right?  lol)  And seriously, folks - he just called.  He never calls at this time.  His ears are burning!  lol

OK.  Back to HUH?  I said:

"What do you mean, I can't reach it?"

"Well, you can't."

Pause.  I am confused.  I am trying to think how his very literal engineer mind is working.  And I get it.  So I say,

"Sweety, I'm a GIRL.  I SIT on the toilet, which makes reaching the toilet paper thingy EASY."  (Is he forgetting I don't stand?)

Light bulb goes off in his head. 

"Oh, so that's why we have that thing (toilet paper thingy)?"

"Yes, dear.  I would have thought you would have noticed I was a girl by now."

Sweet smile.

Seriously?

So I got up this morning to find this:

Success!!!  

If this isn't funny or confuses you, please be thankful you can get your own toilet paper and haven't had to go around your house and put EVERYTHING you need at waist level or higher.  lol  

Clearly, I should have had a family meeting to explain WHY I purchased this toilet paper thingy.  And it wasn't to annoy them.   Why do guys just assume we are trying to annoy them?  lol

I wonder if the toilet paper thingy manufacturer realized this is used as a disability aid?  lol

Meanwhile, on goes my life with 3 very very concrete/literal thinking men.  And I can reach the toilet paper!  Woo Hoo!!!!

The Purple Swirl Felt Danskos are here!

On Christmas morning, I opened the correct box but the wrong shoes were inside - a bright pink felt swirl. While gorgeous, I just don't have enough pink clothing to justify keeping the $90 shoes (on sale).    The company was very sorry and overnighted me the correct shoes and they got here today.  I cannot tell you in words how much I love them.  I fear they will not leave my feet!! 

 Before you think I'm crazy, it is just that I am forced now to wear "safe" shoes and that doesn't always equal "cute" and forget "sexy".  Forget wearing shoes that elongate my legs.....  sigh.......I don't think I've ever mentioned on here that I was working at a high quality shoe store when hubs met me?  In fact, I flat out told him that if he had a problem with his wife buying quality shoes, then I wasn't his girl.  (My feet are very narrow and just don't fit most regular shoes, so no discount stores for me.)  He sheepishly admitted that back then, in 1986, he was spending $200+ bucks per pair of shoe for himself, so my $50 paled in comparison.  lol  

It isn't often that Dansko comes out with a shoe that I just love, rather than just being utilitarian.  If you have never tried Dansko, you must.  Work on your feet all day?  Check out the nurses shoes the next time you go the doc or hospital - most wear Danskos.

 When I wear them, I don't fall down.  And that's the goal, with my mostly numb feet.  I feel a huge sense of peace come over me when I have them on.   I consider these a must have for anyone suffering nerve damage - I'm so glad a health professional recommended I try these when my nerve damage first surfaced.  Otherwise, I would never have tried them.  So check them out:

These look blue but they are really black with purple swirl felt.

And guess what else?  In the first box came a free pair of Dansko socks.  I had never seen such a thing but put them aside.  A little while later, hubs came over and said, "Honey, let's try these on".  I had NO plans to do so, as messing with my feet is never fun.  What sensation they do have is exaggerated and painful.  However, he was super tender and careful and lo and behold......those socks were amazing!  I felt massaging on my feet!  

In the negotiations for the correct pair, the company through is yet a NEW pair of socks.  These run from $9.99 to $14.99 to higher.  Sorry, I just don't pay that for socks.  But ladies......these socks are simply something else.  I cannot explain it.  Here is the pair they sent me today:

Made out of Merino Wool, they are super soft and have support bands all around the arch and padding on the bottom of the sock.  The other pair are navy with red Dansko clogs all over it.  I won't be wearing these for fashion but for the comfort.  Now I'll be looking for Dansko socks on clearance.  Apparently, the sock line just came out in May, 2010.  

I am one happy Dansko customer.  Some day, I hope to get the purple patent clogs as well.  Apparently, my sister got my mom those - I can't wait to see them.  We don't wear the same size, so she doesn't have to worry about them disappearing.  lol    I'm still wearing my first black pair from 2005.  They last forever!

Anyone have an almost unhealthy affinity for all things purple?  lol

Keeping It Real

I should start a little theme on my blog with this title  - "Keeping it Real", for posts that show how I really live, the ins and outs of dealing with a disability to limits physical ability.    For today, I want to show you something my hubby found for me that I just love.  It was at Lowe's in the holiday section -

Lowe's Indoor Wireless Remote System

Here is the remote in use:

This is me, reclined as usual, how I spend my days unless I have to go somewhere.  Keeps the S1 nerves nice and calm and not flared.  (I suffer nerve damage - info Here and Here and Here.) So, from my seat, I can now turn on the lamp near me, the Christmas tree lights and the garland on the fireplace mantle.  After the holiday season, we can switch it to all the lamps in the living room, etc.  But without getting up or leaning and straining, I can now enjoy my living room options.  See my cute red slippers?  lol

For $19.98, he changed my life in a huge way.  Don't you love loving husbands who are always thinking of you?  I do.  I am very lucky in that regard.

A little "funny" - so today, I go to turn on my lamp.  I lean way over and turn the knob again and again, but no light.  Have Holt come out to help  me, he double checks everything is plugged in, unscrews the light bulb and replaces it, the the old one is not "loose inside".  So then he mentions some device under the table where everything is plugged in and I remember - the Remote!  Sure enough, I click it and the light comes on.  So just a little glitch - hubs got it all set up and forgot to tell me WHAT was on the remote.  lol  Or maybe he did but I was paying great attention.   I'll take the blame.  lol  :)

Do you know someone who is disabled or otherwise could use this?  Could be a great holiday gift idea!  Click the link under the photo from Lowe's to go to the product.

Have a glorious day!

Bathroom Workaround

I've mentioned before that I cannot bend, lift or twist.  Can you imagine that?  Think of the things you do every day that requires those movements?  Do you know anyone who can't or shouldn't bend/lift or twist?  I thought I'd show you how we make this work.  This idea works well anywhere, particularly bathrooms and kitchens. 

In our new bathroom, the counter tops are "normal" height, whereas the other house has "gentleman" height, for taller folks.  This creates a problem as even brushing my teeth causes a "leaning" situation that hurts my back.  The vanity is nice and large with tons of drawers, BUT I can't use them.  Bummer.

And something we really miss is the huge linen closet that we had behind the vanity at the other place. I kept much of my items in that closet, easily reachable.  So what to do?

We were shopping at S.am's the other day and saw this:

For only $14.99, we thought maybe we had solved the bathroom problem.  And we did!  It works great!  (Sadly, I can only find it online now for $29 - $35.  Check YOUR store and see if they still have it.)  Here is a link to the higher priced product:

You can actually buy 2 and stack them on each other if you have a taller space.

Kitchen Worx Stackable Basket

 

It is not the cutest thing ever, but it is WONDERFUL for my needs.  Always be ready to think outside the "box" - using a kitchen shelving system for toiletries.  Win!

P.S.  I'm not the only one who uses it!  lol