August 21 | 12 – 4pm at Viva Chocolato

Registration event at Viva Chocolato in The Domain

September 5 | 5 – 7pm at The Dell Diamond

Registration event at the Dell Diamond

September 7 | 6 – 8pm Chez Zee

Tiara Tuesday with Austin Woman Magazine & Komen

September 16 | 6 – 9pm at The Belmont (Patio)

Join us for a Stiletto Stampede for the Cure Happy Hour at The Belmont

September 23 | 6:30 – 8:30pm at Aloft in The Domain

Fashionably Austin Fashion Networking Happy Hour!

October 7 | 6:30 – 8:30pm at Nyle Maxwell SuperCenter

High Heel Happy Hour featuring high heel fitness guru Christine Tusa and breast cancer education outreach.

October 9 | 8 – 10 am at Town Lake

Registration event at Town Lake

IdealHeel™ & Nyle Maxwell SuperCenter and the Original Nyle Maxwell in Taylor present the 2nd annual Stiletto Stampede for the Cure™, Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Hill Country Galleria.

The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is a high heel dash (100 yards) with a mission to encourage young women and men to know and understand the risks of breast cancer and empower them to prevent the disease by utilizing early detection and screening methods, overall Breast Self-Awareness and education.

Registration is now open!

Register today for the following heats and encourage friends, family and colleagues to do the same!  Come solo or make a team, either way 100% of your registration goes directly to Komen Austin!

Survivor Stampede Heat (Honoring all Cancer Survivors-Walk or Run!)
Stiletto Stampede Heat (The Original High Heel Dash)
Stroller Stampede Heat (Family Dash – Moms & Dads in Heels)
Pooch Scooch Heat (Dress Up Your Pooch and Scooch!)

We look forward to seeing you October 16, 2010 at the Hill Country Galleria!

A while back, The New York Times featured a list of creative ways to use cucumbers for everyday problems.  If you are like me and interested in organic, home and beauty remedies, you will definitely have a new appreciation for the ol’cucumber.  It’s not just for puffy eyes anymore!

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Materials & Cleaning

LEATHER is a natural product and benefits from regular cleaning, polishing to retain the supple quality of the material and frequent applications of water resistant protection.

SUEDE and NUBUCK are types of leather finishes. Nubuck is made by buffing the top side of leather and Suede is made by buffing the under side of leather. The unique texture of these materials calls for special types of shoe care products.

MATERIALS such as canvas, nylon, silk, satin, linen, straw and other fibers make a strong, modern fashion statement. Shoes in this category are a mixture of natural and man-made materials. Protection and cleaning are key to their care.

OUTDOOR footwear is usually tanned with extra oils to provide maximum protection against the elements. These oils come to the surface and disappear with wear, so shoe care needs to maintain this good moisture while repelling the elements.

SPORT footwear is made of a wide variety and combination of materials such as leather, suede, fabric and nylon. The shoecare products associated with this category reflect high performance demands.

Cleaning/Maintenance Products

Tana products are great for various uses on several shoe materials.  Their products range from brushes to wipes to sprays and scrubs and everything between.  They are priced a bit higher than others, however, their performance justifies the extra coin.

Another great line of products is Kiwi – been around forever, and the go-to brand for cobblers and mainstream retailers.

Another part of shoe maintenance is how you store your shoes when you are not wearing them.  Men’s dress shoes should be kept on cedar shoe trees. You can find these just about anywhere, and I recommend the Allen Edmonds and Rochester brands. Women’s shoe storage is quite different.  Depending on the size of your closet, different methods should be used, however, there are a few you must avoid if you are storing anything other than ballet flats!!

Any hanging pocket storage device is a “no-no,” especially if you are storing heels and boots.  This method will ruin the shape of your shoes and sometimes cause scuffs on soft leathers. Plus, the weight of this contraption when full of shoes is sure to cause a headache every time you open the door to your closet, so just avoid if you can.

Another storage faux pas is stacking shoes on top of one and other like the picture below. Again, this method will ruin the shape of your shoes, scuff them unnecessarily and probably send you to the ER at some point for a broken bone.

There are several storage tips I do recommend.  One is boxes, if you have the room.  Store your shoes in the box they came in, or buy a new clear box so you can see the shoe inside.  When I shop for shoes, I always keep the tissue and any other plastic shaping devices in the box for storage.  Even if I am shopping at a discount store (like DSW or something), I always ask for a box with a lid for the pair (more likely pairs) I am buying.  Usually, they always accommodate this request, even if the box does not match the shoe brand etc…  Just make sure it’s the right size!

Another great storage option, if you have room is to stand your heels up on shelves.  Again, keep any tissue or shaping device to keep the shape when standing–especially boots!  Don’t let your boots slack like the pic below, or again, they will lose their shape or worse, a crease will appear on soft leather! Always use boot shapers (they also have ones you can hang) if you keep your boots standing and not laying flat in a box.

Now, a few footcare tips…

Comfort: Let’s face it, many shoes we wear are not comfortable, and many of us sacrifice comfort when it comes to fashion, so listed are a few products that make our (men and women) shoes, much more comfortable to walk in.  Kushyfoot (comfort socks for men and women), Superfeet (insoles for men and women, some designed specifically for high heels, which I wear!) Foot Petals (fashionable cushions, gels, anti-slip pads…for men and women).

Smelly Tootsies: Not a nice subject to talk about, but it’s true, some men and women have stinky, often sweaty feet.  Smell can also ruin shoes, and drop your friend count, so listen up!  Two must-have products are: Odor-Eaters Foot & Sneaker Spray Powder (it’s cheap, destroys odor on contact, prevents odor and sprays on CLEAR, which is absolutely necessary, plus you can get it at your local drug store).  Next must-have item is Foot Petals Sweaty Pedi Spray (however, a cheaper and great alternative is using your antiperspirant deodorant on your feet before putting on your shoes).

High Heel Obstacles: High heel obstacles are everywhere – whether it’s a cobblestone street outside of your favorite bar or restaurant, a grass lawn which you must traverse for an upcoming outdoor wedding, a patio you fear wedging yourself into at a friend’s house, or simply a cracked sidewalk you try to avoid every single day while commuting to the office! IdealHeel enables you to cross all of these surfaces with ease and confidence, while protecting your pumps from gouges, scuffs, stains, tears or sinking!  It’s an absolute must for women who wear high heel shoes!

I will end on that note for fear of turning this blog entry into a novel.  More at some point. Hope the tips were helpful.

Side Note: IdealHeel also keeps the heel of a shoe 100% clean, and prevents sinking in grass and other natural surfaces. So instead of worry about cleaning the heel of your shoe with various products, prevent the stains, dirt and muck, and simply wear IdealHeels on your heels when you go outside!

The night was full of fabulous food, great people, fabulous music by Slow Car Crash and of course mouth-watering shots John Paul’s very own luxury brand Patron tequila.  But, I have to say that the highlight of the night was when Eloise was given a pair of IdealHeels and then made her way over to me to personally rave about the product!  I was in pure shock, and felt like I was in a dream! Below are a few pictures from the evening!

I love the next two picture because both were taken right after Eloise’s stylist slipped a pair of IdealHeels on her shoes!  I love how JP is pointing to the product!

Sex and the City 2 Fashion Show & Cocktail Party

IdealHeel™ will be attending and displaying at the Sex and the City 2 Fashion Show & Cocktail Party at Speakeasy, Thursday, May 27, 2010, 7 – 10 PM.

For additional information, please email info@idealHeel.com

The Austin Wine and Music Festival

IdealHeel™ will be attending and displaying at the Austin Wine and Music Festival May 29 – 31 at the Domain in Austin, Texas. Our booth (#18) will be located directly accross the SFC Bistro!

For additional information, please email info@idealHeel.com

Chicago Shoe Expo

IdealHeel™ will be attending the Chicago Shoe Expo at the Embassy Suites (State Street) in downtown Chicago June 34 – June 25, 2010.

For Appointments please email info@idealHeel.com

The Atlanta Shoe Market

IdealHeel™ will be attending the Atlanta Shoe Market at the Cobb Galleria August 13 – August 15, 2010.

For Appointments please email info@idealHeel.com

IdealHeel™ Presents: The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure™

Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Hill Country Galleria

The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is a high heel dash with a mission to encourage young women and men to know and understand the risks of breast cancer and empower them to prevent the disease by utilizing overall Breast Self-Awareness through early detection, screening methods and education. Proceeds from the race go to the Austin Affiliate of Susan G Komen for the Cure™ to provide much needed services to breast cancer patients in the Greater Austin community.

Visit www.StilettoStampede4theCure.com for latest updates.

The above picture is from a Danish street festival called Festuge.  Apparently, their streets are 100% cobblestone and obviously problematic for the high heeled lady not wearing a pair of IdealHeels.

A friend visiting Ventura Beach in California sent me the following picture.  He was on vacation with his family and stumbled across this sign warning women about wearing high heels on the pier. It looks like surrounding retailers would make a killing selling IdealHeels!

Two of my dear friends flew through Seoul, South Korea on their way to Bali for their honeymoon. They snapped this awesome pic in the Seoul airport! It warns women to be careful when wearing heels on the escalators! Perhaps we need an IdealHeel kiosk in the Seoul airport!

Anyway, thought these were hilarious, and a great photo essay supporting the global need for IdealHeels!

Now, you would think my main concern would be aphids (harmful insects that destroy plants), finding recipes for all our loot or upkeep in the garden, however, I am finding my biggest challenge to be what to wear while gardening!  When I first started, I wanted to look like those women you see in “those” (Martha Stewart, Town & Country, Better Homes & Gardens) magazine and catalogs,–pastel shirts, khakis, knee high boots, bonnet-hat and a basket of fresh veggies and not a lick of dirt on their pants! Truth be told, I look like hell when I am done gardening and am officially leaning towards a comfort and performance driven “gardening style.”

I have found that an old pair of loose jeans are the best pant selection for gardening.  They are tough and keep you fairly bite free and clean. Make sure they are not low rise–veggies enjoy sun, not a full or half moon, and keep in mind you are constantly bending over and squatting. I like long sleeved shirts in the garden for two reasons-protection from insects and scratchy plants and protection against the sun! The Central Texas heat is intense so I also wear a hat–always.  Most of the time, I wear  a large-rimmed baseball cap, however, I am leaning towards buying a more safari-style hat with neck protection–something I would not have been caught dead in before I started gardening!

Now to the most important part–shoes.

For the spring, I chose the Chippewa Snakeproof 17″ tall boot.  Now, I use these in the spring and summer for gardening because of rattle snakes. They are quite prolific in Central Texas and scare me to death!  In fact, a girlfriend of mine was bitten while shopping for plants at a plant nursery, so I know I’m not just being a scaredy cat!

Side Note:  Wear sunscreen while gardening!  I always use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 70! It stays put (doesn’t run in the eyes), never feels greasy, smells nice and is fairly inexpensive.

All this to say that my “gardening style” is pretty casual, yet effective.  I will let my fabulous veggies make all of the beauty statements for me this spring and summer!

Upon doing some research, I discovered several interesting things!  First of all, I had no idea this was such an “office issue,” and women have been asked to wear different shoes to work as a result.  I also found that “lower bunk” apartment dwellers in large cities have been known to complain to management about this exact issue–not just another “noisy upstairs neighbor” complaint, but a “noisy upstairs high heeled neighbor” complaint (LOL).  I also heard from a scientist who works in a lab who complains that she has “no idea why her colleague continues to wear those noise-makers to work when she has to cover them up with blue booties every day.” What a shame.

The truth is, as much as we LOVE our high heel shoes, they do sometimes cause more work for others, and add expenses that could otherwise be avoided.  For example, many city lofts and apartment buildings refuse to use hardwoods in their layouts for fear of these noise issues, which they claim are intensified by the fashion conscious.  They also fear the floor damage (dings and divots) for which high heels are often to blame.  Editing suites across the globe are constantly trying to “edit out” or “muffle” the sound of high heels on various surfaces for film, TV and commercial studios.  These practices are time consuming and expensive.

So, for those of you who have been chastised, ridiculed or simply screamed at by neighbor, colleague, director or random person in the hall for making too much noise with your sexy stilettos, here are a few tips to help you tone down the click and the clack.

1) Make sure that your heel “end cap” is in good shape.  If the end cap is too worn down, a nail will be exposed and the noise you make when walking is intensified a great deal.  In fact, an exposed nail is quite dangerous too–it’s slick and it can cause very serious damage to the surfaces on which you walk (hardwood floors especially!).

2) If you are wearing a sling-back shoe and the strap has come off your heel, the “sling-shot of a heel” you are wearing can make quite the smacking sound!  Make sure your strap is securely around your heel, so you have more control of the shoe (and you don’t end up looking like the sloppy, lazy girl!).

3) Walk slower.  The slower you walk, the less force you put on the heel, therefore the less sound you will make.

4) Heels on stairs can be VERY loud, especially if you are walking down the staircase.  Try to use the handrail to take some pressure off your feet.  Lessening the pressure you exert on your heel will lessen the sound you make.

5) And finally, there is a great product you can wear that can muffle the sound of high heels on any surface. They are great for office buildings, sound studios (indoors and outdoors), apartment/condo buildings and certainly on any outdoor surface. IdealHeel muffles the sound of the heel, and improves the overall high heel wearing experience for you AND whomever happens to be near you, or living/working below you.

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