Deal of the Day

I’m in Chicago celebrating the New Year, so this is a magic post queued before I left. Check out my After Christmas Sales post. Some deals still apply.

My Year in Shoes

I had a good year in shoes. Not so much for what shoes I bought, but what I did in them.

• I got a truly good pair of hiking boots (and paid just $100 using coupons) and used them to backpack around Michigan. I learned to spend more time breaking in hiking boots, too, since my initial foray in my new boots resulted in the loss of three toenails (it was fabulously gross).
• I got a pair of Chaco Sandals free from work and went on an amazing canoe trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada. It was the first big trip that my boyfriend and I took together and we didn’t kill each other. Not bad!
• I bought some truly cute kitten heel boots on a trip to Boston to visit my good friend from graduate school. We had the best time shopping, eating, and enjoying noontime margaritas.
• I wore a pair of really uncomfortable silver sandals for the wedding of a friend. I had picked them up cheap at H&M because they had to be an inch for the bridesmaid dress and they had to be silver. Oh goodness did they make my feet hurt. Luckily the bride supplied flip flops for the reception.
• I donned Le Chameau wellies to shovel snow for the first time in my life. I’d never shoveled snow before because I grew up in El Paso, TX and then when I first moved to Detroit, I lived in apartments where they do the shoveling for you. I live in a house now, and so now I shovel!

My Shoe Resolutions

• I’d like to wear slippers while I do more writing. I’ve set a goal for myself to finish a first draft of a book.
• I want to keep using my hiking boots and aim to go backpacking at least once a month once the weather warms.
• I might even upgrade my $2 flip-flops for a possible trip to Costa Rica this spring.
• I’m going to save and buy some truly cute and comfortable shoes for a Couch Surfing adventure in Italy. I’ll also be saving for a plane ticket!
• I also promise to take better care of my shoes. No more tossing them around.

What are your shoe resolutions?

Deal of the Day:

ShoeBuy.com: $20 off purchases of $50+ plus free shipping when you use ebillme.

How I Do It: My Shoe Secret

Twice a week, I bring the deals to you. You might be wondering how I find all of those coupon codes. The answer? Coupon sites. These little beauties find money-saving codes for you. There are always shoe deals to be found.. If you Google “coupon codes”, a whole host of sites will pop up, but here are my favorites:

• FatWallet.com: Perhaps the most comprehensive, FatWallet.com takes you directly to the deals. I find their information to be the most reliable. You will be asked to sign up, but you don’t have to give them any information to get to the deals.
• DealHack.com: I find a lot of random coupon codes here. Pay attention to expiration dates - I’ve found that some postings come a little late. The site takes a little practice to navigate, but I usually just search “shoes” and something pops up.
• Buxr.com: Again, another great site for email coupon codes. Some of the information is less reliable than I would like, but if the code doesn’t work just abandon shopping cart!
• PromotionalCodes.com: A handy resource for obscure coupon codes. I find this site especially useful for seasonal sales like those for Black Friday.
• WalletPop.com: More a blog than a coupon site, WalletPop tracks shopping trends. While I don’t always find a coupon, I find lots of great shopping tips. And when I do find a coupon, it’s always amazing.
• Consumerist.com: Not a coupon site, but a blog that puts the customer back at the center of business. Because of Consumerist, I now know how to get the most from my shopping.

I went shopping today, and oh my. The New York Times reported that after Christmas sales were attracting few takers, but here in Detroit, the sales have drawn what feels like half the town. I got to the mall around 5, which is usually not a terribly busy time, but all parking lots were closed, and I had to find a spot about a block from the mall. Inside, it was crowded, and I swear people were wrestling each other for the best bargains.

I also did a little shopping in one of the many downtown main streets, shopping areas that are usually never crowded, but I had to yank a $20 dollar cashmere sweater out of some woman’s hand (yes, I can be vicious when $20 cashmere is on the line).

Shoe-wise, I wasn’t too impressed. Boots are still around $150 at the cheapest. I found one or two pleather ones at $60, but I’m not going to spend any money on already cheap shoes. I think for winter shoes, you’ll have to wait until the spring heels start in. But for party shoes, the deals are amazing. I found a cute little pair of gold wedges to go with my New Year’s frock for $40.

Happy shopping!

Happy Holidays to all! My family had Christmas celebrations last night - we get together and eat corned beef sandwiches. We’re a pretty ungifty bunch and tend to pass along baked goods and small, inexpensive trinkets.

So since my secular celebration of Christmas is done, I’m busy planning after-Christmas shopping. Keep in mind that these are internet deals - shopping in store often garners better bargains. I live in Detroit, and with the economy so tenuous right now, no one is in a spending mood, so the higher end stores were already marking down an extra 30% before Christmas. I can only imagine what they’ll be offering tomorrow.

Here is what I’ve found so far:

• Macy’s: Extra 15% or 10% off with code XMASGIFT. Expires December 30, 2008.
• Banana Republic: Winter Sale - save up to 60%.
• Nordstrom: 40% off or more.
• Saks Fifth Avenue: 75% off designer sale. Ends December 27th, 2008. The coupon sites I frequent says that this is the best offer they’ve seen from Saks this year.
• Shoes.com: Save up to 50% plus take an extra $50 off when you spend $200 or more with code HOLIDAY50. Ends December 31, 2008.
• Cole Haan: Save up to 50% plus take an additional 30% off with code SALE30. Ends January 1, 2008.
• Neiman Marcus: Take 40% off select sale items.

Deal of the Day

REI: Extra 15% off sale and clearance items. Expires at midnight, December 24th. The perfect deal for keeping your toes toasty.

10 Snow Day Essentials

Winter storms got you shoveling snow? Are your feet constantly cold? Read my top 10 picks to keep your feet warm as Christmas ushers in a deep freeze.

1. Le Chameau Clan Chapka Rubber Boots ($200) - Natural rubber won’t break down while a faux-fur lining keeps the cold out.
2. Merrell   ($150) - Waterproof leather means you don’t have to switch boots once you get to work.
3. Moon Boots ($35) - Practical, cheap, and probably doable at a hipster bar.
4. Gaiters (from $30) - An inexpensive upgrade for your angle boots. Gators keep the shot from working its way down your ankles.
5. Hiking Boots (from $100) - For boots that work in the depths of winter and for summer fun on the trails, hiking boots provide sturdy support during winter activities. Look for ones with Gore Tex, a breathable, waterproof lining. Gore Tex boots are expensive, but well worth it.
6. LL Bean Boots ($159) - The classic snow shoveling boot can be cutely utilitarian with some skinny jeans tucked into the tops. Anyway, being warm is way more fashionalbe than suffering in prettier shoes.
7. Yak Trax ($15) - Essential! Yak Trax attach to just about any flat soled shoe and provide traction on ice. How well do they work? I can walk with a rather large and rambunctious dog on a street treterous with black ice and never be in danger of falling.
8. Smart Wool Socks ($15) - Warm. Wool. Enough said. Wear them with liners if wool makes you itchy.
9. Hot Foot Bath ($0 with a dish bin or your bath tub) - For when you get back inside. Because even countless layers of wool and waterproofing can’t stop your feet from being cold after 45 minutes of shoveling the driveway.
10. Hot Coco (Under $1 for homemade) - Add a dash of Irish Cream for a truly warm-your-toes drink.

Don’t forget the hat! I adore the Mad Bomber hat from LLBean - warm and soft. For gloves, I have some super thick mittens from REI and a pair of silk liners. Now shovel away. Or go sledding.

Deal of the Day

Shoes.com: Last day FREE ground delivery by Christmas plus take an extra 20% off the entire site with code CHEERS. Not sure of the expiration date, but that shipping deal is awesome.

Last Minute Shoe Gifts

Looking for a stocking stuffer for you or someone near and dear? Here are a few gifts to round off your tree (or Festivus pole!). Expedited shipping is probably required for any online orders, but most of these can be found at your local big box store, shoe store, or book store for those truly last minute shoppers.

• Shoe Shine Kit (from $20): From a basic polish and brush kit to a fancy collection presented in a wooden box, shoe shine kits are useful, inexpensive, and something most people don’t have. Most gift guides will put this under “Gifts for Men”, but I think a shoe-loving gal would appreciate a shoe shine kit, too.
• Shoe Bag (from $20): Shoe bags keep your fanciest duds scuff free.
• Shoe Clips (from $10): Shoe clips are back in thanks to Tory Burch flats and Mad Men. Etsy sellers have a wide variety, but I’ve seen them at just about any big department store.
• Robeez Baby Shoes (from $25): A bunch of my friends had babies this year. Why not give their little ones something adorable for their little toes?
• Shoe Charms (from $25): I found these on Etsy. My mom had a charm bracelet with these same shoes on them, and I think she would love this necklace.
• Shoe Books: Shoe Diva as a great post on Shoe-oriented coffee table books. With gorgeous photography, you can do a little dreaming about your next pair.