Don’t be such a Goody-Two Shoes

Ever wonder where that expression came from? Well, now at least maybe you have.  The expression actually came from a children’s story somewhat similar to the story of Cinderella. The story is called “The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes” and was published by Newbery in 1765 London.  The story follows a poor orphan named Margery Meanwell whose nickname is Goody Two-Shoes. She only has one shoe because she is so poor, and when a rich gentleman gives her a complete pair, she tells everyone she now has “two shoes.” And ‘goody’ is short for goodwife (an archaic equivalent to Mrs., nowadays), so because she was telling everyone she had 2 shoes, they called her goody two-shoes (it can’t get much more simple, huh? These townsfolk were apparently not familiar with originality). Because she is so virtuous (and this is a
children’s story), she eventually becomes a teacher and marries a rich widower. Gaining wealth proves that her virtuousness is rewarded, hurray!

Unfortunately, while it is possible that the story popularized the expression ‘goody two-shoes,’ the origin is actually unknown. It appears in a poem as early as 1670… so who knows.  The expression can also be shortened to ‘goody-goody’ (though I’m not sure that counts as shortening an expression) and this started appearing as early as 1896. And then again, ‘goody-goody’ may just be something that seems extra good, and not actually related to goody two-shoes.

I must comment that I find it exceptionally interesting in finding out where phases and expressions come from. They just don’t apply anymore, and I know as we continue into the future the younger generations won’t understand things like ‘be kind, rewind’ and ‘don’t touch that dial.’  Expressions that are this old just show how durable the language is and how you were saying this probably a long time ago and had no idea where it came from.  But now you do! You know, I’m starting to think that you are probably an expert in trivia games related to feet or shoes.  Because I provide you with all this essential
information.  But I’ll emphasize this again: should you ever come across something you want answered, feel free to post on Facebook. Otherwise, you’re leaving me to have full freedom on topics (which can get dangerous).

What is your body language saying?

In pharmacy school, we learn that dealing with a patient mostly has to do with their non-verbal communication. That means that it matters more what people are doing rather than what they are saying. So what are your feet saying about you? For people who understand your visual cues, they may be paying attention to what your body is saying rather than what is coming out of your mouth. I would say it is important for you to know exactly what your body is saying…

The first position was made famous by Marilyn Monroe.  You put your knees together and one foot is slightly off-balanced. It attracts men because it implies that you are “off-balanced” just by the sight of him. It makes your legs look longer and accentuates the curves of your body.  Another position of your feet is the traditional “flamingo” pose… this is where your one foot is off the ground behind you… and usually is matched with the hands being placed on a man’s shoulders.  While the truth of what this body position does is still relatively unknown, this body position is associated with urgency, indicating that things are going to get pretty hot relatively soon.

Ever itch your ankle when you haven’t been bitten by a bug? Rubbing your ankle with your other foot indicates feeling attracted to the man you are talking to… and a desire to be touched. Of course, it is also a great way to draw attention to how fabulous your legs look.  What about tapping your toe behind you? In a business setting, it can indicate irritation. However, if you are in a bar, it can indicate a completely different feeling: attraction (is it just me, or do all of them indicate attraction?).  If you are leaning forward while tapping your toe behind you, it suggests a ‘kiss me’ stance.

Locking your legs has two positions. If you cross your legs and then ‘lock’ your foot behind your other leg and your legs are underneath you, it indicates a defensive pose. It means you probably are reluctant or perhaps not interested in whoever you are talking to. If your legs are ‘locked’ and your legs are in front of you, it could mean that you wish you were
actually intertwined with the man that you are talking to currently.  Ever let your shoe dangle off of your foot while you are sitting? It indicates that you are relaxed, comfortable, and may even be willing to undress further. If you flex your toes, and the shoe is bouncing, this attracts more attention and furthers the image. If you have actually kicked off your shoe, it indicates a more advanced ‘willing to take your clothes off’ vibe. However, should you put your shoes back on during the conversation, it indicates a threatened vibe that you are no longer interested in removing your clothes.

And one last one: ever put your foot up on the bar/wall behind you?  It indicates that you are super confident and aggressive (in a good way)… basically, you are saying, “come get me hot boys!”  It can be especially effective if you are wearing a short skirt and by doing this position you show more thigh. This can be considered a positive signal to be approached, but only if the man is confident enough to do so.

So now that you know what your legs and feet are saying (though it seems to be heavy on the ‘I want to remove my clothes’ department… probably written by a guy if you ask me). But it is important to use all sorts of communication should you be in the market to meet a nice guy. Don’t forget, what is coming out of your mouth is not even half of what you are truly saying, if the person can read your visual clues.  Now you can definitely know exactly what you are saying, completely!

Shoe trends for the fall

Back to school shopping is possibly my favorite part of August (you can bet it’s not actually going back to school). While I dread going back to school each fall (tests, stress, little sleep), at least I know I can go shopping and buy some cute new clothes to wear when I actually go back. Even if you are lucky (or unlucky, I know some people wish they are going back
to school) to be in the ‘real world’ and working, that does not mean you don’t need to look fabulous in the fall. So what shoes are trending this fall? And what should you be on the lookout for? Well lucky for you, you have me to keep you up-to-date in the fashion world.

If you are looking for the fall color scheme, think darker fall colors (sorry, bright colors are out probably until the spring). Black, stone, metallic, beige, burgundy, dark blue, chocolate, deep violet, khaki and red take the top picks for the fall. Shoe fabrics you should be sticking with? Leather, patent and reptile skin… and suede and satin are also in. Lots of lace
and the occasional bit of fur are also super in for this year.  And as for your toes, both pointy and flat toed shoes are in, so you can wear either to remain in style. As for color combinations, patent leather combinations such as black and a shade of red or black and white are in for the fall and winter.

Wedges will remain in season for the fall and winter… and buckles have made a miraculous comeback. Buckles seem to be increasing in diversity, but they are in, so go crazy (but not too crazy)!  Chunky heels are also in (you’ll need the extra support when the ice and snow kick in for the winter). Of course, if it is not icy outside, stilettos are always in season (they just look too fabulous to not be). Kitten heels will also make a return (nothing like the sound of clicking heels while feeling like you’re wearing flats, I always think). Gladiator shoes (shoes with a lot of straps that form a ‘T’ shape) are some of the hottest shoes for the fall also.  Socks and shoes (in a fashionable, non-tourist way) are also in to keep your feet warm in the winter.  And with the return of colder weather, boots have returned! I love wearing boots, so this makes me  particularly happy.  Ankle boots also remain popular for this fall.

There you have it! Now you can remain fashionable for the fall!

What’s an ‘in-grown toenail’ and how do you treat or prevent it?

I love shoes of every shape, size, and color pretty much (I didn’t know if you could tell, seeing how often I blog about shoes). But while heels are bad for your legs and feet in one way, there’s another issue with many more shoes that has yet to be mentioned. While pointy toed shoes (or any shoes that tend to cram your toes together) almost always look cute, there can be a consequence to wearing them too often: in-grown toenails. Not exactly the most pleasant thing to talk about, but it is better to be preventative than have to deal with the final solution: removal of part of your toe nail. So how
can you stop this from happening, and are there home remedies that actually work?

In grown toenails are most common in women who wear shoes that cram their toes together, but can also be problematic to women who cut their toenails too short.  Basically, an ingrown toenail is a nail that has started growing and pressing into the soft skin tissue around it and most frequently happens to the big toe. To avoid getting an ingrown toenail, never clip your toenails in a rounded pattern—they should be cut straight across. Additionally, don’t cut your toenails super
short… instead leave the length a little bit longer than the protrusion of the skin on the tip of each toe. If you cut your nails too short repeatedly or round them, then your skin responds to this by building up extra skin and possibly even abscessing so that yellow fluid builds up underneath (which, needless to say, would not be that pleasant to look at). As the nail grows into the soft tissue, you can develop cracks in the skin and this could lead to an infection. I’ll mention again the benefits of getting a pedicure: not only is it super relaxing and they paint your nails better than you do, but they also know how to trim your toenails correctly which avoids this whole issue!

So if you catch this happening early on (or if you know you trimmed your nails too short) then there are some (not very pain free) options to try at home. You want to keep the tissue soft around your nail, so you should soak your feet for 20-30 minutes as many as 2-4 times a day. This should be done in warm water to keep the tissue soft, and help the nail continue on its natural growth path (and not through the softer tissue in the skin).  Also, it would be smart to use a topical antibiotic after you soak your feet to prevent any infection.  Not only are these methods good for treating an early stage ingrown toenail, but they can also be preventative. Ingrown toenails can be hereditary, but also occur from wearing tight shoes or the improper clipping mentioned earlier. While you are treating an ingrown toenail, you should keep away from the tight fitting shoes until you are sure it is completely better.

However, if the skin around the toenail begins to turn yellow, head straight to your doctor. He or she will be able to advise you and perhaps help lift your nail up so it will not grow into your tissue… or if it is severe enough you may need to undergo a surgical procedure to remove part of the nail. However, if you follow my advice, it should never need to come to
that. So don’t forget to consider your toes and toenails (and go get a pedicure, I recommend it)!

Taking a step back from shoes for a minute…

If you spent time reading about the founder of Kate Dabkey Shoes, you probably also read that we here at Kate Dabkey shoes have a main charity we support: the Les Turner Foundation, which promotes awareness to ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease). So I’m taking a break from talking about shoes for just one entry to talk about ALS, just to promote the awareness of this disease in whatever way possible.

ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and is a disease of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord (Central Nervous System, abbreviated CNS)… basically everything that controls voluntary movement is affected. The neurons of the CNS waste away and die, and as you might remember from basic biology, neurons cannot repair themselves or regenerate. You are born with a certain number of neurons, so when they die, that’s it. The main function of a neuron is to pass messages from your brain to the rest of your body. Say you decide to move your fingers, any action such as typing, your brain sends to the messages to your fingers to tell them which way to move to type each letter… and as typing fast attests to, these neurons that pass the messages from your brain to your fingers move at unbelievably fast speeds.  So if you lose neurons, they can no longer send messages from your brain to the rest of your body, causing your muscles to weaken, twitch, and eventually you will be unable to move your arms, legs or your body. Without the messages from your brain to move your body, your body cannot move on its own. The condition is progressive, which means that it
slowly will get worse and worse the longer you have it. Eventually, the muscles in your chest will stop working, and it would be impossible to breathe on your own.

Symptoms of ALS usually do not develop until after the age of 50, but have been reported in younger people. Routine moves such as swallowing, climbing stairs, or even getting out of a chair will become increasingly difficult.  However, ALS does not affect your senses (touch, taste, hearing, seeing, smelling) and only rarely affects bladder function, and the person is still mentally alert and can still reason and think. Basically, your brain function remains intact, but your body stops working (almost like an opposite to Alzheimer’s Disease, where your body works but your brain and memory begin to fade). Endurance and strength are also heavily affected.  Doctors will run all sorts of tests to see if you have ALS (including blood tests, breathing tests, genetic testing, nerve conduction studies, etc.).

Sadly, ALS is one of those diseases that no known cure exists for.  One main treatment for ALS is riluzole, which slows the progression of the disease (and thus extends the lifespan).  The only other treatment options are to control symptoms such as muscle spasticity (diazepam) or for people having trouble swallowing (trihexyphenidyl or amitriptyline). Physical
therapy, braces, or the use of a wheelchair should help people with ALS maximize muscle function to keep them as healthy as possible.  A nutritionist may be brought in because people diagnosed with ALS tend to lose a lot of weight (which is counter-productive).  Breathing devices also may be used.

To end on a slightly uplifting note: it seems researchers have identified the common cause of all forms of ALS.  At Northwestern University, researchers found that the cause of ALS is a malfunctioning protein recycling system in the
neurons of the brain and spinal cord.  So you have your DNA, which can be used to make specific proteins your body needs for various things throughout your body; then you have your proteins, which do the function they were created for, and then will eventually die. The proteins are recycled by the body to be re-used if possible, breaking them back down
into the original amino acids that the proteins were composed of. The research is indicating that one of these recycling systems isn’t working properly in the brain and spinal cord, meaning that the system isn’t as efficient as it should be. Lack of efficiency in the neuron world causes damage because neurons are unable to maintain and repair themselves.  What is so exciting about this you may ask? Finding a common cause for all ALS (random causes of ALS and hereditary) means that there is a target for drug therapy. If you can stop the cause of ALS, in theory, you should be able to prevent the development of ALS. And other neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia) could benefit from this as well… but further research is also needed (of course).

Plantar fasciitis—everything you need to know

Well I hope today you are wearing your thinking hats… because today it’s about a foot disease that I’ve mentioned several times throughout this blog. According to WebMD (which, for the record, is a legitimate health website, should you ever need it), plantar fasciitis is one of the most common problems related to your feet. When the plantar fascia (tissue on the bottom of your foot) becomes inflamed, you end up with plantar fasciitis.  Most common symptom is pain and stiffness at the bottom of the heel, where the muscle is located. The pain is usually the worst when you haven’t been walking on your feet for awhile (such as in the morning) or after climbing stairs or doing otherwise somewhat
strenuous activities. The pain can be dull or throbbing, coming on suddenly or lasting a long time.

Some risk factors for plantar fasciitis include having arch problems in your feet, obesity, running long distances frequently, having a tight Achilles tendon and wearing shoes with poor arch support. When you overstretch or overuse your plantar fascia, you are more likely to get plantar fasciitis. Common among athletes such as baseball players (for instance, Chicago White Sox Player, Carlos Quentin) but can also be common amongst men between the ages of 40-70.  By attempting to keep your Achilles tendon as flexible as possible, this can prevent plantar fasciitis—but as I’ve mentioned before, I wouldn’t rely on gimmicks or special shoes. Old-fashioned stretching and taking care of yourself is really the best way to prevent a whole host of conditions, especially related to your feet.

So how will you know you have plantar fasciitis? I would recommend going to a doctor to be sure. The doctor will probably look to see how tender your foot is, and will look to see if you have swelling or stiffness in your foot. He may even see if you have flat arches, which is a risk factor for getting plantar fasciitis. And the doctor will tell you to get some rest and stay off your foot for awhile and to take some over-the-counter pain killers (Tylenol or Advil)… and try out some stretching exercises.  You can also try applying ice or using a splint at night to help stretch the tissue so you can resume your normal activities. If none of the usual works, you may need surgery (which is a last resort type of treatment). Most patients usually completely recover 9 months later, but it can take up to 2 years (depending on the severity of your
condition, how well you’ve been resting, etc.).

So now you know why plantar fasciitis is mentioned so often: it occurs in a lot of people, and is particularly un-fun to deal with.  The lesson here is: keep stretching out your muscles (but not too much!) and hopefully you can prevent a lot of injuries down the road from now.  But don’t rely on toning shoes or Earth shoes, because you could be creating plantar fasciitis rather than preventing it.

More shoes with superpowers!

Awhile back, I talked about toning shoes and whether or not they were good for your feet. Along those general trends, (but taking place in the seventies instead of more recently) came Earth shoes: supposed to help your posture and align your body.  I don’t know what is with people and the popularity of buying shoes that do more than protect and cover your feet… I guess people want to feel like their shoes can multi-task and are therefore doing wonders for them while they are doing nothing. Anyway, Earth shoes have a “negative heel” which means that when you wear them, your heel is lower than your toes. This mimics standing on sand (another common theme) and forces you to stand with better posture.  I feel like pretty soon companies are just going to start telling their people to walk on sand everyday—apparently the health benefits are exceptionally plentiful. I never knew walking on sand was something that was desired for a shoe: both the toning shoes and these Earth shoes claim that owning a pair of their shoes is like walking on sand.

Invented by Anne Kalso, these shoes are said to be exceptionally comfortable, which is a good quality in a shoe. And they come in a variety of sizes and colors, both for men and women. The old, somewhat frumpy looking shoe (while I’m sure you could still find it somewhere) is not as prevalent: replaced by trendy sandals and cute shoes that still boast of the negative heel technology. Earth shoes are also vegan friendly (which is a hard accomplishment for shoes—most shoes are made with leather in the first place). And of course, Earth shoes have the APMA seal of acceptance for the health benefits of its footwear design.

But do they work?  Well, many doctors say no.  Patients with plantar fasciitis look into them because Earth shoes can help stretch the tightness in the Achilles tendon and gastrosoleus complex.  In reality, Earth shoes can cause increased strain on a tight tendon and can actually increase your symptoms.  Every person has a different measure of flexibility… and it’s better to obtain flexibility the old-fashioned way (stretching, weight bearing exercises) rather than wearing Earth shoes which can strain your feet. Doctors also say that the reason your heel is lower than your toes in a sand footprint is because the sand leaves an impression when you walk, and your heel hits first (and bears more weight initially). And a footprint in the sand does not indicate that it is the best way to walk.  And with the negative sole technology, Earth shoes could help you burn a couple extra calories because you are using extra muscles to do so (sounds a lot like toning shoes, right?).  But be careful (and re-read my entry on toning shoes) because this can do more damage than you  might think… and is it really worth it to burn a couple extra calories?

I know, I know, you are craving my opinion and advice: I’d say take a pass on Earth shoes. While they have a cool promise and some interesting ideas, I just don’t like the idea of walking in a not-normal way. It can be bad for your legs and feet, and the last thing you want is to have to deal with plantar fasciitis, which can be exceptionally painful. Just take an extra-long walk around the block, or spend an extra 10 minutes on a treadmill and you’ll probably do more good than using products like Earth shoes or toning shoes.

Flats: my arch-nemesis

While wearing heels all day is torturous, I can’t very well be walking around in athletic shoes or flip flops all day everyday (though that would be awesome!). Flats are important when I need to look nice but don’t want to wear the heels. However, I can never seem to get flats to look quite right. I am short, and flats make me feel like my legs look stumpy and doesn’t help my height problem (I’m not short… I’m vertically challenged) either. Also, I always seem to get blisters from flats, and have actually started preemptively putting tape or Band-Aids over the back of my feet before wearing them to
prevent blisters. In  my experience, flats are just as uncomfortable as heels, but in a different sort of way.  Wearing flats shouldn’t be this problematic (and the amount of people I see wearing them comfortably seems to be indicative
that it is just me). So how should I wear flats correctly? (If you have any tips, let me know, seriously!)

Buying the right flats is the first part of the puzzle: you should buy them in fashionable colors, fun materials and rich textures. Straps, buckles, bows, and gems add interest to any pair of flats (be careful about going overboard) and make your flats look fun and stylish. Remember, chic is more versatile than quirky, so remember how often you would be able to match with your bright orange flats before you purchase them. If you are worried about looking feminine in flats, there is a simple cure. By wearing a super-feminine top (flared sleeves, layered shirts) and it also helps to wear a skirt. This is a “ballerina” type look, which is definitely feminine. Speaking of wearing skirts, tired of looking short (yes!) when wearing flats? Wear a skirt with a hemline above the knee, which will increase the amount of leg visible, giving your legs a longer appearance.

Another tragedy about being short: having pants that are too long. Here’s a tip I picked up from “What Not to Wear,” when I wear heels, I have specific jeans that are longer, so they look nice; when I wear flats, I have jeans in ‘short’ variety, so that the back of my jeans don’t drag on the ground and get all torn up. Torn up jeans at the bottom not only wreck the jeans, but they become sloppy (I still have a pair that are all ripped up at the back bottom, and I can only really wear them on a super-casual day. But unless you are ultra-thin, I would advise wearing super tight skinny jeans and flats—it will probably call attention to parts of your body that you would rather not have noticed. Wear straight legged pants that are somewhat ‘skinny-jean-esque’ and then you should be okay… Or wear flared or wide-legged pants and pair it with a cute pair of pointy-toed flats.

So flats don’t need to be banned forever… and you shouldn’t feel forced to wear heels whenever you need to dress up. Flats can be just as acceptable as heels, and if you do it right, they can be significantly more comfortable! Maybe one day I’ll be able to wear flats that don’t hurt my feet…

What’s the end of your shoelace called, anyway?

It is called an ‘aglet.’ Which, if you ask me (though nobody ever does), it seems like a pretty silly name. ‘Aglet’ comes from Old French, which took it from the Latin “acus” which means needle. So an aglet is sort of like a needle for the end of your shoelace… But besides helping you on any future trivia or crossword puzzles you may encounter in your life, aglets have other purposes: keeping the end of your laces from fraying, the laces are easier to hold, and they make lacing up shoes
significantly easier. However, do not confuse aglet with ‘flugelbinder,’ because this is a fake word. If you have heard of it, then it is most likely from “Cocktail,” a 1988 movie where the people are talking about inventors who invent ordinary objects and make millions doing so.

And let’s say that on your favorite pair of shoelaces, your aglets have either broken, are partially broken, or missing. This can be devastating! Can you replace them? You bet! There are several different options to try, which are dependent on cost, tools available, and want for durability. Your first most basic options seem almost too simple: use some adhesive tape, use glue/nail polish, or using candle wax. These are cheap alternatives, but they probably won’t last that long (glue and nail polish hold up better than candle wax and tape). You can also use a match or lighter (make sure there is adult
supervision! Unless you are over 18 and generally safe around fire, of course) on synthetic laces, burning the ends to make them more like an aglet. And you can always buy a metal aglet to add to the end of your laces, or a heat shrink tubing to make into an aglet. Finally, you can always make little knots at the end of your laces, but this of course prevents re-lacing your shoes, so use this one with care. And the knots might make it (slightly) more difficult for you to tie your shoes.

Speaking of tying your shoes, did you know there are literally trillions of ways to do it? So maybe most of them end up in a knot rather than a bow, but even making a bow there are several ways to do it. And if you’re anything like me, your shoe laces seem to always be untied (and it drives me nuts). Why do they become untied? Most likely because  you (like me) are making an uneven bow, which means the laces are more likely to slip out of it. Perhaps I should spend some time learning how to re-tie my shoes… it could help in the long run. If you want to learn several ways to tie your shoes, I would recommend this page: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm. There are step-by-step instructions and they show the advantages and disadvantages to tying your shoes in different ways (more durability, faster, less wear on the laces, etc.). Additionally, if you are trying to make bows for any reason (including your shoes, wedding invitations, or any other time) and are saddened to find out your bows are crooked, then me and you have more in common. This is probably because you are making an un-balanced “granny knot.” Again, I will refer you to the above site so your bows may be as pretty as you want them to be.

And finally, have you ever seen someone with crazy laced up shoes? Or are you tired of the simple lacing pattern that is on every pair of shoes? Well there are a lot of different ways you can lace your shoes, and you should feel free to spread your creativity. This site: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingcomparison.htm compares how many ‘eyelets’ you have on your shoe and you can click on the lacing method to see how to do it in more detail.  So go ahead, and go crazy with your shoelaces!

 

 

 

Infant shoes… and their lack of purpose

This week we got new carpet in our living room (it was overdue).  So as I’m helping my mother move all the sacred glassware that looks pretty (and we’re not allowed to use) I also had to move four pairs of bronzed baby shoes: one for each of us kids. It got me thinking about baby shoes—I mean, let’s be honest, real infant shoes are being put on a baby’s foot who can’t even walk yet. As my intelligent readership, you already know that shoes were designed to protect our feet so we could walk over all sorts of terrain. If you aren’t walking, there’s no need to protect your feet. Why are infants wearing shoes, if not to walk? Why are there 8 million varieties of baby shoes, and why do they all cost so much? Mostly,
unfortunately, because there is a market for them.

This firstly goes back to culture. For thousands of years wearing shoes has been a status symbol: slaves usually had to go barefoot back in Ancient Egypt. Even in times like the Renaissance, shoes have been a symbol of how wealthy you are. Styles often originated from the royal family and the nobles all sought to emulate them… and peasants weren’t allowed to enjoy the crazy (and probably also severely uncomfortable) fashions that came and went in the past. So if you have a baby, while you may not be thinking about, “look how great it is that I can afford to have shoes on my baby and this shows my
wealth,” it is probably so engrained into our culture that shoes “complete” the outfit.  Also think about the million “no
shoes, no shirt, no service” signs you’ve seen over the years. Okay, they probably won’t hold it against you if your baby isn’t wearing shoes, but you don’t want to run that risk, do you? You might even feel like you would be a bad parent if you took your infant barefoot into a restaurant (though this is a little extreme, I think).

So shoes on infants is pretty much pointless other than for culture. And perhaps the need for the adorable dress you put your baby girl in to have the matching shoes as well.  There are people who say that infant shoes do protect a baby’s foot from getting smashed while crawling, so there could be an advantage there. And babies do need something on their feet to keep them warm (especially in the winter months).  So there are some minor advantages to having something on their foot. But there’s no explanation as to why there are so many varieties—other than people buy like crazy for infants,
so if there’s demand, then the manufacturers make the supply!

Once your baby starts to walk, many people may choose to bronze the shoes the baby accomplished walking in; which leads me back to the four sets of bronzed baby shoes we have in our living room.  My parents decided (I think) to bronze our shoes as a keepsake, remembering our first steps and how little our feet were.  The internet is littered with sites
that walk you through bronzing your baby’s shoes at home (with just some fee to pay for the kit) or you can take them to someone who will bronze them if you aren’t a do-it-yourselfer. Either way, it’s nice to have that keepsake that you know will last forever and ever once it’s bronzed… memories of your baby taking his or her first steps, permanent-style!