My First Manolos!

[iSlingback]

I never thought I'd ever get a pair of designer shoes but some really great things have happened in the month or two since I was here. Let me preface this by saying in 2001 I sold my car to save my home which was going into foreclosure due to my layoff and then my husbands. A lot of what people are going through now, I was going through in 2001 and it was hell. So while I feel a great deal of empathy and understand I cannot feel guilty about enjoying the good times. For three years I fought to hold onto my home and was in and out of court and lay awake countless night just crying. People have no idea how fast things can go when you lose your job. The irony is, now I work with people going through this. So I appreciate the good..I just had to say that.

SO when days like this come along..I am truly happy. My husband is in IT Sales. He left his last company a major computer company last month and had his best quarter at that company and joined another company. He made a sizable bonus and asked me what I wanted. Of course I said..Shoes. I wanted a pair of Louboutins..but when I saw these online they were so me..I went with the Leopard Manolo D' Orsays. They arrived from Neiman Marcus today. (I don't believe in purchasing a designer shoe off Ebay..no authentication.)

Well..here they are..:

and when they first arrived
new in box
and on my feet another shot
and

[dsds]

Wow... they simply look great.

[ewyk]

how much did you pay for them?

[Shomore]

iSlingback, I was touched by your story and I'm so happy that you were able to purchase those lovely and beautiful shoes! your life is a testament that one should never give up, what goes down must come up.

[galligator]

It's great that you were able to work to better times. When my husband was part of larger work layoff in 2002 (IT downturn out of country) things were tight for awhile. We had a 2 year old and a newborn. He was able to find a jog within 2 weeks paying 50% of his prior salary. My sister switched to accept auto repair in liu of daycare payments at this time. Luckily my husband's name finally came up for Federal employment within 3 months of his layoff, so we escaped with dinged credit (Which did make a mortgage broker an essential step in our new state when building our next home). Shortly after his hiring my father passed away. Now, we have 3 great kids, a rural home on small acreage & a decent beginning on retirement savings. I have a shoe closet with few high end designers but lots of loved styles. Shoe are one of the few things that I actuallu 'do' just for myself. So, anyway, while we are doing well, I try to make sure to at least have some charity involvement, I am always looking for ways for toys & clothes to be usefully donated. There are a lot of people that just need a little bit of extra support for a short time to turn a bad stretch around - now that my youngest is getting older, I am hoping to get them aware of volunteering as well. Life is a lot of work sometimes. I guess what I am saying is that a lot of us have been through some version of tough times. Don't feel guilty for the occasional splurge. You know, if you are not behind on your bills & can afford the occasional treat, that should be okay. Some people spend their income on dining out, classes, , hobbies, heck even little statues of frogs - this is just your (and ours) hobby.

Enjoy 'em.