Sunday School Lessons

I'm out of bed much earlier on a Sunday morning than I would like to be; especially considering the fantastical dreams I was having when a hungry cat pounced my head (who, by the way, is now sleeping peacefully on my legs). So I am up, not thrilled about it, eating breakfast, drinking chai and reading the news from the last few days where I was preoccupied with the runway...

Rueters reported that Eli Lilly did a survey recently (they make Cialis, a anti-impotence drug) of married men and women in Korea, France, Japan and the US. And the survey says... French men have the most satisfactory sex lives of the four countries. Full report to be released in time for Valentines Day--ahh, the romance. I wonder, do you think Eli Lilly and Pfizer will go the way of Necco and turn their pills into something like conversation hearts for the "holiday?" Just think of all the cute sayings that your little blue heart-shaped pill could say:
Pick me up
Into You
Jump Me
Wake Up
Yes, Again
Once More
Good 4 U?
Too Good
Yeah Baby
3-some

And then, my mind digresses into XXX from there... hmmm
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sorry, I required a moment.

Other news from Rueters this morning, and I had actually watched the video of this from the Today Show last week, Cruch (a chain gym), that launched the Cardio Striptease aerobics class has developed a stilettos workout to get women into "shape" for their heels. Apparently, it was started when a woman was complaining at the gym about having to get back into heel mode for the winter. Funny, I wear more heels in the summer, myself, but understand the senitment.

Summer tends to be a bit more laissez-faire for most, and women can get away with more flats because of the traditional break in fashion for the season--even in the workplace--and can wear sandals. I love sandals, as well, but most of mine come with a heel of at least 3 inches. While many women are getting their feet in shape for heels, I am assessing my pedicure stragety for the strappy sandal months.

But, I digress. I find it amazing, actually, that someone just thought of this idea to provide exercise options for women to be able to not only wear heels, but walk in them properly. That is the key, really. Not that you can put them on, but can you function in them. I've seen so many women lumbering down the sidewalk like they have bricks attached to their feet with razor blades... I feel for them. A few weeks ago, actually, I was tempted to illegally park my car, get out and explain to the woman I saw that it doesn't have to be this way. So, that said, here are Nikki's Rules for Wearing Anything with a Heel...

1. Shop smart. Just because you think it is cute and you can get it on doesn't mean you should buy it. This is a hard one, I know, especially when there is a sale, but trust me... no amount of savings will make those shoes easier to wear. Learn your feet, learn your shoes and apply the knowledge in the store. This is not an easy one to master, but it will be the most beneficial. If you need help, I'm there.

2. Don't go 16 hours out of the box. OK, so I'm evern really guilty of this one from time to time because it is exciting to get that new pair of shoes (or 4 new pairs of shoes) and you want to wear them out. Plan it logically. Some shoes, you can wear out of the box for 16 hours straight--you will know it instinctively based on experience... and just so you know, this does not mean tennis shoes--I, personally, cannot wear a new pair of tennis shoes for more than a few hours at a time--my feet are not conditioned to it and I blister. This goes back up to number one; know your feet. If you think, even slightly, that the shoes you just bought and are dying to wear will cause you pain after 2-3 hours, only wear them 2 hours. There is nothing wrong with wearing them around the house or for a quick errand to break them in. Once you have gotten them used to you, and you used to them--life will be good.

3. Realize not all shoes are 16 hour shoes; do not leave home without a shoe plan. Branching off of number 2. Not every pair of shoes you will buy will be able to make a 16 hour day. I have some stilettos that I can and have worn from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Those, my friends, are a rare and wonderful find. The others, have to be strategized. Day shoes, evening shoes, in case I break my leg rollerblading shoes... think about your day and your activities and wear accordingly. It is almost like I'm saying be senisble--and as much as I hate that word in relation to shoes, it is kind of appropropriate... It will not make sense to wear 4 inch boots if you are walking for cardio exercise at lunch; wear the boots, bring the walking shoes--plan ahead. It's not sensible, it's simple.

4. Do not think your ankles are your only weakness. There is a reason there is a class. Ankle stength while wearing heels is important, but it is not the only part of the equation. Wearing heels requires that your ankles, calves, quads and abs are in condition. Abs, you say? Yep. Think about how you walk. In fact, get up and walk across the room without shoes on and come back--I'll wait. Seemed fairly straight forward and non-thinking, right? Strap on a pair of heels and do the same. Did you walk differently? If you answered yes, you need the class. Here's what I mean... when you walk without shoes on, you do not tend to notice which muscles you are using, but try it again and pay really close attention. How is your posture between no shoes vs heels? How do your legs feel? How does your stomach feel? How is your balance? These are all things that a legs and abs workout provides. This class isn't genius, it's taking a legs, butt, abs workout and adding 15 minutes to the end to give women the confidence to wear heels AND giving them som direction on the way to walk in them--because they think EEEK; heels!

5. Shoes are meant to be worn. They may look really good in your closet, but they look better on your feet. It doesn't matter what you pay for a pair of shoes, whether it be $10 or $3500 (yes, there are shoes that cost that much and yes, I know where to get them), wear them--there is no such thing as shoes for special occassions--every day you wear them is a special occassion. My mother once told me that women foolishly pay more for their wedding dresses, which they wear only once than they do for the shoes to wear under it--but the shoes can be worn again and should cost more than the dress if you are smart.

And that, my friends, concludes this entry.