Wrapping Up a Year and a New Beginning

I have been on a recent cleaning and purging binge and it seemed very important for some reason at the end of the year to do this. Funny as I spoke with others they too said that they were feeling the same way. Now two things to note in this. I of course overloaded myself with the tasks that I wanted completed by tonight. Then a close friend said that she was allowing herself through the weekend to complete her tasks because there was too much to do. She said her new year starts Monday. Ta Da what a great idea!! So that is mine too; relieve the pressure a little!! Then as I was cleaning my living room I decided that I needed a reward for all of the hard work, and for me what better reward than new shoes!! So I began thinking through my inventory and I have a couple in mind, perhaps the Selina's or the Kent's!! I already have a similar pair to the Kent's but I love them so much!! So here is to all of you who have been feeling the same as I clean and purge away, and cut yourself a little slack, and then reward yourself with new shoes!!!

Christmas

OK, this blog for once does not relate to shoes!! It does relate though to the spirit of giving which is part of the basis for my founding Footprints.

In speaking with many friends and associates around this holiday time we have all said that this is a rather different holiday for us. Many of us do not seem to be doing as much this year for a lot of reasons, for me it was a conscious choice to say "I am overloaded and have pushed and gone too far, I need to go a little easier on myself." So as I too scaled back on some of the usual for this time of year it gave me time to reflect and even though there may not be as many material things this year; I realized in that pause that other things were occurring.

You see I got two extraordinary gifts that were really beyond measure for me. The first was from a dear friend who gave me the gift of hope. The second was from my wonderful sister, who gave me the gift of understanding. When I sat and thought about these two gifts I realized that they were more precious than anything that could come wrapped in a package, even shoes.

After those experiences I realized that I needed to look for those kinds of gifts and to see where they were occurring in everyday life. So while nothing could be as monumental to me as the two of those, I noticed kindness, giving, joy, love, and time. Just a different way of looking at our lives this year.

Wishing you all the best for the kind of holiday that you dream of having.

Boots and Real Women

I must say I get spoiled by the usually nice weather in California, there is a change of seasons though and with it comes some pretty strong rains. Oh well...I have to say that I am not much of a boot person, I think it must have to do with growing up in Canada and HAVING to wear boots so many months of the year. So when this time of the year arrives I am wearing our Footprints boots. Everyone who sells or wears our shoes knows how carefully I select our lines to be fashionable and comfortable, and that brings me to the subject of this blog. Why are most boots not made for "real" women. Now I am fairly petite and I struggle with the fact that boots just do not want to fit either in the calves or ankles. I try on so many trying to find the right ones for our line that are for made for real women!! Have any of your experienced this before?? Leave a note and let me know!!

Thanksgiving Thanks

There are so many things to be thankful for with Footprints. Of course as the owner of a shoe company I could sit and think of all of the pretty shoes, (they are great!!) and of course I and many of our customers enjoy wearing them. Those are wonderful moments to think of and quite pleasing; however the real joy in the company is from the amazing group of women that are part of the team. That is where the deepest joy arises. I have had the opportunity to get to know women that I may otherwise not have known and shared in their lives; genuine friendships have been developed and they have often touched my heart in ways that even they sometimes have not known. So this Thanksgiving that is what I find myself most grateful for with Footprints; are the lovely women I have met over the years!! Here is to many more women coming into each of our lives and touches us through our business of shoes.
Happy Thanksgiving to You ALL

My Aunt and the reason for flats

All of us have those people in our lives that we feel lucky to know. For me one of those people is my Aunt Marcie. The personality of this amazing woman is so vibrant and alive, really hard to put into words, at age eighty, (which is hard to believe) she is as fun loving, warm and animated as I have always remembered her to be.

Recently I took a short visit to see her and my cousins. As always it was a wonderful time. With my Aunt anything can be fun. One day my Aunt and cousins and I went grocery shopping, now you are wondering what does this have to do with shoes?? Here it is -- I of course was in my heels and my aunt and cousins wearing more logical shoes for the task at hand. So there we were at the end of our shopping trip walking down a ramp with my Aunt maneuvering the shopping cart and suddenly she starts running with the cart and sailing down that ramp!! In that moment as I watched this lovely woman playing and having so much fun with something so simple, I thought "that is a great reason to wear flats" This is coming from the high heel wearer of all time!! So to all of our flat wearing customers I understand now perfectly your choice of shoes!!

Shoes and Egg Nog Lattes

Hello Ladies;
OK, this was a day maker!! Normally my absolute favourite Starbucks drink the eggnog latte comes out the week of Thanksgiving, but I walked in to my Starbucks and I saw the Christmas cups. I thought I would ask if the eggnog had arrived. Well, Noah told me that it had and he made me the BEST eggnog latte. Did I ever enjoy every drop!! Now what does this have to do with shoes?? Well, the eggnog latte is my favourite drink, and then I thought what are my favourite shoes? When I wear them they make my day? Hmmm that is a tough one, I adore my 8009-18's, my Sophia's are a new precious addition, my Diva's are well worn...I think that I am going to have to get back to you on which shoes are my "eggnog latte" of shoes. But let me know which shoes are your favourites? Write in and let us know!!

Oprah's Shoe Intervention

Hello Ladies;
Did you see Oprah's show yesterday?? She did her first ever shoe intervention!! Many of the ladies had on shoes that simply could have been more attractive for them, and of course Oprah's guests changed that and clothed them in beautiful shoes!!

I kept smiling and thinking, they have not attended one of our shoe parties!! She had a section on the show about "what every woman needs" just like on our website!!

So if you recorded the show and haven't watched yet, do it!! It was well worth seeing. Footprints wants every woman to feel beautiful wearing shoes that are comfortable, pretty and just right for her!!

Plans, Good Friends and Where My Shoes Have Taken Me...

So much has been going on with us, as you can see from our new website!! Now that most of that is done, back to our blogging!!

I thought it was very appropriate to start the new blog with this entry. The last post was about my father's tree in Canada and that is just where my shoes took me recently. Let me begin to explain...

Right at the tail end of getting our new website up I got an e-mail from Martin's wife,Martin is one of my childhood friends, (I was six when we all met), and my best friend Lorelei. Well Martin was having a milestone birthday and Giselle his wife was giving him a surprise party. Lor and Giselle both thought how great it would be if all four of us that grew up together could be there for that occasion. We all live in different areas, Lor about 250 miles away and David about 30 miles and me, well California. I recognized that even though we have connected individually that the four of us had not all been together in seventeen years. I debated for a while and thought of the craziness of doing this, but the thought of seeing my dear friends and getting the joy of surprising Martin was just too much and it won over my more serious side.

Of course I am always thinking about shoes, so I thought "well I can do a blog about how Canadian styles differ from American" Yes, that was plan for shoes while in Windsor. So while waiting to connect with Lor and her (wonderful) husband Jason, I went off to Devonshire Mall. The place where I had spent many happy times as a teenager. I was so surprised to see the changes in it, I could not recognize it from what it had been. I checked out a few shoe stores and while they had great styles they were pretty much the same as what we have here, OK, maybe a little larger selection of boots, still the same though.

So there went my blog topic. Back to the drawing board. And then it just kind of naturally occurred. I realized as I was wearing my wonderful 8009-18's how they were allowing me to walk on places that I had been so many times before, and I was filled with gratitude for that simple pleasure. I thought as I sat at Starbucks, yes me and my Starbucks habit, how lucky I was to be in the land where I had grown up.

That was not the best part though. The best parts started once I connected with Lor. We met up at her sister Ivy's house and I of course stood on my tiptoes still in my 8009-18's Lor is so tall and I am "petite." They took me in to see Ivy, a woman that I have known almost my whole life. I saw her Mother in her, and it made my heart full. From there Lorelei, Jason and I went to church together and then off to get ready for Martin's party.

So of course I had my outfit planned out around my shoes!! I was wearing my Agape/Kent's and as we all know they are fabulous. So there I am in great shoes on my way to see David, and Martin and Giselle.

Now this is one of the funny parts, I live in my heels, rarely do they come off. Upon arriving at Martin and Giselle's home they had beautiful hard wood floors so at the door all of our shoes came off. Now I did notice that most of the closet was filled with tennis shoes, which were much more appropriate for the rather chilly early October weather than my choice of bare legs, but I have lived in California for a long time now. So off came my heels. I still think though that my shoes took me there.

Took me to the home of dear friends to surprise one of them. And surprise we did. Giselle has tried before to surprise Martin and he is just too smart for that. She was really good this time.
While everyone was hiding in the living room, she had the three of us go and hide in their bedroom and turn on the TV so that the house would look dark when he pulled up. He really thought upon arriving home that she didn't do anything. Their other guests greeted him first with a giant yelling of "SURPRISE." And then the three of us filed out from the bedroom, Lor first, David second, and me hiding behind the rather tall and broad David. When each of us appeared the screams were pretty loud. From Martin's heartfelt reaction I think he felt so good that all of his friends were there together.

SO at the beginning of the year I wondered where my shoes would take me. Yes, they took me to a place, more than that though they took me to see dear friends that I love and cherish deeply, and that was really the important part.

My plans changed from a blog about styles, I was hoping for rather witty inspiration, they changed but they got better. Better than I ever thought they could be.

So I invite you to write notes about where your shoes have taken YOU? How your plans may have changed and yet, gotten better.

Ben and the Maple Tree

This is a very special blog for me. This is the week of my birthday and I thought that I would take this week to honor the memory of my dear Father, Ben. Often times since my father has passed away, over sixteen years ago, I have found ways to honor his memory on both his birthday and mine. This one seems very special because the Internet can reach a wide audience and I am hoping that others are as strongly inspired by the spirit of my father's life as I have been.

This is a story of a tree, and how it signifies what I feel and now take into our business Footprints International.

My Father owned his own contracting company in Windsor, Ontario where I grew up. He built mostly single-family homes and some apartment buildings. I remember him building a lovely home on California Street, (I know there is an irony thee). It actually turned out to be my favorite home that we ever lived in. At age six years old in that home I met my best friend, Lorelei and two other dear friends Martin and David. The four of us were inseparable for years.

Back to the tree though. Three was a sidewalk and then a green boulevard area close to the street and in the green are was this little maple tree that was in the way of the sewer lines going in. So out came the tree from the ground. Maybe some people would have just tossed the tree thinking that having it hug the metal rod to hold it up, it was just too small and fragile and wouldn't make it. Not my father though. You see my father had a spirit about him that made him uncommon in my eyes and the eyes of many others. He believed that little tree could be transplanted and would still grow and thrive. So back in the ground it went after being uprooted and disturbed.

I remember people literally laughing at him at the thought that the little tree would survive. It was so fragile, and still was strung to that metal rod for support. Eventually though the tree no longer needed the rod, it was fledgling but on its own. Winters are hard in Canada and the little maple tree withstood its share of winds and snow. I watched that tree grow over all of the years of my life and I smiled because now no one could tell my Father thought that the tree was not going to make it. The last time I visited my old neighborhood was several years ago, to visit one of my friends' mothers. And the tree is now very large and stately. That same little tree is the size of the tree that was across the street at Lorelei's house; even in those early years that I was there, Lorelei's maple was a very full, large mature tree.

Now what does this have to do with shoes? A lot. There were many people when I began our business that did not believe that it could be done. I was told a lot of negative things about starting my own business, and often got the "Who do you think you are?" attitude.

Well, I am my father's daughter. I am the one who believed that giving shoe parties could turn into something much more. I believed that it would become a company where women could own their own business', have fun at the same time, help to contribute to their households and build upon their own lives. The company has now grown past the place where the metal rod has been removed. We are growing just like that tree. Some of my initial dreams have come true since the beginning. Will we have winters and snow, oh yes, we have, and we will have more I am sure. Yet, I always hold that vision of the tree in my mind as we all keep forging ahead.

It is my greatest hope that this story is inspirational to many, whatever your dream may be. I wish that any of you reading this hold on to the spirit of my father who would not let anyone tell him at so many points in his life that something could not be done. It CAN be done; through hard work, perseverance, and faith.

So here; this week is to Ben, who tried, created, worked, and believed. It is my deepest prayer that both him and his spirit be an inspiration to many.

Shoes, Girlfriends, and the Month of Denise...

This story goes back a ways, but it has always meant so much to me that I wanted to share it.

First, I musth share with you my dear friend, Denise. I fist met my Denise probably 7 or 8 years ago. And since that time our friendship has grown and deepened tremendously, I consider her among my closest friends.

Denise is an extremely busy woman; she is a wife, and mother of two adult twin girls. She also is involved in care-giving for her elderly mother. Professsionally, she is a gifted freelance writer whose clients include large corporations for whom she writes monthly newsletters. She also has such a heart for giving and is involved in numerous charitable organizations and projects. So es she has a very busy life, never too busy though to be there for her friends.

We all have friends that are there for us through thick and thin. I am sure many of you have those friends that when you were beginning your own business and called on your friends to do parties, or to give you the moral support that they could, there they were for you. Friends like that, step up to the plate to support, and be there for you. And that is what Denise did and continues to do to this day.

Well, back in 2005, while I was still testing the idea of Footprints International and doing my first parties, Denise told me that even though she could not attend all of the parties, she would buy a pair of shoes each time that I held a party. It was her way of supporting me and saying that she believed in my idea and me. I was unbelievably touched by her kind and giving spirit. I told her though-- "What if I do a ton of parties?" She laughed and said she would be there for me. Since that time many of our Representatives joined the company and I let her off the hook for buying shoes. But her support continued. She has helped me in numerous professional writing assignments and has always been there for me. She is a gem.

Denise's birthday is March 31st, and she always celebrates the entire month as "the month of Denise." It is a time when this very busy woman cares for herself a little extra. So this week's blog is dedicated to her, for the wise, compassionate, warm, and caring woman that she is, and to all who are lucky enough to know her.

I hope that all of you reading this are fortunate enough to have your own Denise in your life.

Shoes Gifts- AKA Jacque and the Purple Box

I was recently thinking about all of the wonderful shoe gifts that I have received over the years. There are so many; they fill my office and other parts of my home.  Some come with me in my car, some I carry with me at all times, others I wear.

When I thought of all of the gifts though,  I realized that it was not the magnificence of some of them, but the giver behind them that really held the most significance for me. That brings me to the story of the purple box, and how it really exemplifies for me a large part of what our company is all about.

Now you are asking what does a purple box have to do with shoes??? Well, the purple box that I am alluding to contained a mountain of shoe gifts from one of my long time Representatives, Jacque. She always gives such care, attention, and detail to everything that she does with a party from the display to the delivery of shoes.

Jacque, one year, gave me these amazing gifts of all kinds relating to our business. She put them in the most beautiful purple box, which is one of our two theme colors (the other one is pink). Since that time, I have filled the purple box with special notes that I have received from Representatives, and stories about how they found us and came to be part of FPI. The purple box and its contents are on my list of my most treasured possessions.

The purple box is about more than the gift itself it is a gift of the heart. That is how we all feel about our company. It is more than the shoes (Though they are fabulous!!!). It is about the care that each Representative takes in putting together a stunning display, as I heard Joey did this weekend. Or the care and attention that Jacque takes in decorating delivery bags, or how Andrea, our Graphic Designer, constantly gives of herself. The purple box and all of the other shoe gifts that I have received over the years is about the spirit of giving, and that is really what FPI is all about.

Spring Shoes

I always find spring to be such an exciting time!!! It always signifies to me new beginnings. I remember as a child growing up in Windsor, Ontario Canada that it meant the melting of the snow and new buds on trees. So now even though I have lived in California for many years, I still think of it that same way.

I remember always getting a new Spring coat, and of course lighter colored shoes, and not the boots that had to be worn. Then the shoes taken out of the carrying bag to be transferred into, simply the shoes were worn, GLORIOUS!!!

Which brings me to the BEGINNING of our new spring line, how fabulous to start this new season with pretty shoes that we can wear all the time.

I am including a few of my favorites right here for you to view... A new beginning to see where our shoes will carry us!!!

When Things are Meant to be... Deborah and the Red Shoe

Before I begin this story let me mention a wonderful book that I have read and given copies to multiple people. It is called "When God Winks" by Squire Rushnell; the book discusses how coincidences in your life are like God winking at you. Well, let me share a huge "God wink" with all of you.

I remember the night that I met Deborah, a wonderful Representative for Footprints in the Phoenix area of Arizona. We were introduced by her recruiter Ronda, (an amazing woman in her own right), at a dinner meeting. Deborah was debating joining our company and on a trip to the Phoenix area, I had a chance to meet with her. From almost the very first moment there seemed to be a special connection between the two of us. She knew leaving the restaurant that evening that somehow she was supposed to be a part of Footprints International.

My wonderful friendship with Deborah has grown and deepened over the years that she has been with the company; and I have always continued to feel that odd but very special connection.

Well, last year Deborah as many of us was facing a lot of challenges in her life; having a family and being a dear and supportuve friend to many who needed her. She began wondering if Footprints was still going to continue to be a part of her life.

Friends who know Deborah have given her "red shoe" gifts over the years, and one day Deborah (who has a deep Christian faith), found herself in a store praying powerfully asking God for guidance and a sign. She said, "Lord if you just give me one more red shoe, I will know what I am supposed to do." So she continued to walk through the store, searching for that red shoe, and it did not appear. For weeks Deborah continued to struggle with her decisions while continuing to pray for the sign.

Then she came to Orange, CA (where I live) to visit her mother. Deborah and I have always come to cherish those visits over the years, and really look forward to them. So, yes, at my favorite Starbucks, there we sat catching up. She shared all of her struggling with me, and I didn't know what to say. Many of the women, whom I have met through our wonderful company, have come to mean so much to me, and the thought of losing that part of our relationship upset me, but I knew that Deborah had to make the right choices for herself.

Deborah has just finished sharing the "red shoe" story with me. It was a little chilly in my favorite Starbucks; so she went out to grab a sweater from her car. When she came back in, she set her keys down, and on them was a red shoe keychain. Well I probably turned white at that moment as I was digging in my purse and saying, "Deborah you are not going to believe this!!!" I pulled out the exact same red shoe keychain as she had. I am sure at that moment both of us probably had tears filling our eyes. Deborah knew in that moment that she had gotten her sign that she had asked for and it was from the owner of Footprints International. In addition to that, the gift that I had brought to Deborah that day was her own copy of "When God Winks."

So we both knew in that moment that for whatever reason Deborah was surely made to be a part of this!!!

So my question to you is, has there ever been a time in your life when you were pursuing a dream and something happened that made you know that you were going in the right direction???

Post a comment and let us know!!!

Where will my shoes take me?

At the beginning of the year, I always think where will I be going and doing this year? This time I phrased it a little different; I thought, "Where are my shoes going to take me?" Of course all of my shoes are courtesy of Footprints International!!! Even barely into the year my shoes have already taken me wonderful places. Starbucks, being one of my favorite places to go for my planning or where I met up with Andrea, my Graphic Designer to exchange Christmas presents. We both came in loaded with bags, talking and catching up, and had the joy of giving each other our gifts that made us think of the other.

My shoes have also taken me to meet with Ashley, my new PR intern; a play called "Working" where one of my beautiful nieces Leean, sang a solo, and to church with Greg and Juliette and my other niece, Ashley. They have taken me to the homes of friends, and to Las Vegas where I met one of my new Representatives, Cheryl and her mother. While in Las Vegas, I also had the opportunity to catch up with a friend, Jackie Jones, who hosts multiple radio shows including Small Biz American. So many places and so early in the year!

I have to say most of the shoes that have taken me to these places are from Footprints heel line; I am definitely a high heel girl. I know though that Nancy's more reasonably heeled Tino's have taken her dancing and I know that the patients in the doctor's office where Joey works have tracked her down from the other side of the room to exclaim over her cute flats (72077's) shoes!!!

Our shoes have gone all over the world. They have walked down the Eiffel Tower, they have been to Italy and I remember having to rush a shipment because one of our customers had to take her new pair to Australia. I know that this weekend a pair of our shoes are on their way to the Bahamas in the suitcase of a new friend Katie, where she will be wearing them at the wedding of her stepdaughter.

So my question to all of you is, where have your shoes taken you so far?

Where will your shoes take you this year?

As women, our shoes are like dear friends holding so many memories. Where will you and "your friends" be going this year?