Girl In Training

Here is the deal. I am not very good at being a girl. I have to work at it. I take advise from my girlfriends & ask lots of questions. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I am a tomboy at heart. I grew up on a farm with two brothers for pete's sake, so who was I going to learn how to be a girl from? I have a picture of me during the summer when I was 11 at my older brother's birthday party, without any shirt, just wearing shorts and as brown as all the other boys. I did learn how to throw a mean punch, burp really loud, finger whistle, drive tractor, race around on a motor cycle... just not a lot of really girly-girl things.

Without a sister for guidance, what do you expect?

Thankfully, I have a lot of girlfriends who are professional girly-girls. They consistently go to a salon; they know how to fix hair and deal with unique hair issues; they go in for pedicures and manicures; they wear jewelry and accessorize every outfit; they read Style & People magazine and know all the latest and greatest; they know how to do fancy make-up...

One really big thing my girlfriends are into are shoes. I mean shoes for every occasion and outfit! And many have different shoes choices for the same outfit {GASP}. I can honestly say I am just not that into shoes. My shoe collection used to consist of 5 choices... black heels, black flats, sandals, brown loafers and cream heels. I think my husband had more shoes than me for the first 10 years of our marriage. My girlfriends were always talking about shoes, shopping for shoes, wearing different shoes. I felt like I was missing out. Gradually, I began expanding my shoe choices. I am no Imelda Marcos, but I do have have a 12-pair shoe-rack in my closet that is full!

In planning last week for my girls only weekend in Las Vegas, I wanted to get a pair of new shoes, just so I could feel girly-girl and at least look like I belonged with my girlfriends. So, I tried on some shoes at Herbergers 2 days before I left on the trip. I found the cutest pair of 4 inch peep-toed-heels that I REALLY, REALLY liked. Only problem, they didn't have any small enough for me. Rats!!! The Herbergers' sales person tried to find the right size at any stores within 60 miles with no luck. The more impossible it became, the more determined I was to get those shoes. I even called the Herberger's store directly in Baxter, MN because my sister-in-law was going to be driving through there the next day... no luck.

So I turned to Google... and what do you know. I found an on-line store called Endless.com which had free overnight shipping and free returns. AND I found the exact same shoe that I wanted for my trip to Vegas.
So, I took a chance and placed the order. At 9:00 AM the next morning, UPS delivered the package.
I was nervous... I was doubting myself... I didn't need these shoes... was this a mistake?
I comforted myself with the knowledge that I could return them at no extra charge.
Madden girl... they even sound girly, don't they? Pink inner soles... definitely girly-girl. But how would they feel?
Oh - goodness, they make me feel so tall! They feel wonderful. These shoes are completely frivolous, but I feel good wearing them! Although I am still a girl in training... I have come so VERY, VERY far! A huge thank you to my girlfriends. The next thing you know, I'll be buying purses for every season or outfit. You never know....