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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Stretching Shoes and Why Sometimes Pinterest is a Liar

Why is it that when I try on shoes in the store, they fit fine. I walk up and down the aisle, strutting my stuff, and they are PERFECT. Perfect, like "How did I ever walk without these shoes" perfect.

High on new-shoe-smell, a maximum of 20 minutes later, I return home with my prize.  Triumphantly, I put my new striped wedges on (with much pomp and circumstance), and instantly I realize ~ they KILL MY FEET! Not only do they hurt, my husband, looks at my feet and says to me "those shoes look painful honey".

WTH (and by WTH, I really mean WTeff, but don't tell my Mom I said eff.) 

So what is a girl to do?

Return them?

Nah, the sensible thing to do would be to search on Pinterest for a solution!

So, I search: 

"how-to stretch tight shoes", and
"feet too big, shoes too small", and
"grow shoes, shrink feet"

I browse various posts, and ultimately decide on the following (mostly based on the sheer confidence in the claim ~ Shoes will be at least one size larger!):
  1. To stretch leather or canvas shoes, fill a Ziploc baggie 1/3 full with water. 
  2. Insert baggie into the shoes.
  3. Place shoes in the freezer.
  4. Leave overnight.
  5. Take shoes out of freezer.
  6. Remove ice baggies. 
  7. Shoe will be stretched one full size (Yes!!!)
Okay, I'm game. After all, I live and breathe by Pinterest. It has never let me down.

So I follow the instructions (and even take pictures of my shoes in the freezer, cuz that's not weird).

Tick tock.

Tick tock. 


stretching shoes, pinterest, life hack






I pull them out of the freezer to defrost, and I'm almost as excited as if I was defrosting a tenderloin...

Finally, the moment of truth ~ I pull the ice out, and slip the new shoe on. They're cold. The cold feels good.

The.  Shoes.  Do.  Not.

And now I really do say "eff" for real, as I realize: Pinterest lied.

This Pinterest Promise of a DIY Shoe Stretching Solution didn't work for this Sore Footed Slightly Ticked Off Chic.

So, as I write this cautionary tale, sitting in my coral striped wedges, wearing ultra thick sports socks, I beg of you to remember: you can't believe everything you find on Pinterest.

*disclaimer - no shoes were harmed in this blog post. 

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25 comments:

  1. Lol! Super cute shoes! This is how I feel about the whole "Cutting wine bottles with twine and fire". Hasn't worked for me!!

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  2. Hiedi - I KNOW! Cutting wine bottles with twine and fire just seems like a huge accident waiting to happen! LOL! Thanks for stopping by, Julia

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  4. You are too funny! This IS very good to know though. Disappointing but good to know. Wish I had any wisdom to offer but I don't know of any ideas to stretch your pretty new shoes...Have a great weekend.

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  5. Rachel Kathy, I know ~ it is disappointing! I made my daughter wear them around all afternoon, hopefully that old tried-n-true method will work! LOL
    Julia

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  6. I've never stretched cloth shoes using this method only leather and you have to tilt them forward. Thanks for sharing this post with us at the #WWDParty - have a wonderful weekend.

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  7. Hi Antionette,
    Maybe it is because they're cloth! I did tip them, but no luck. Thank you for your party! Julia

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  8. Cute shoes! I've read that you can stretch shoes using a blow dryer... haven't tried it but it may be worth a shot. Good luck!

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  9. I LOVE this post! It's so funny...but I totally feel your pain...the Pinterest pain and shoe pain! Cute shoes!

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  10. DIY Homegirl, yes, I read that too! The heavy socks didn't work either! LOL, next: the hairdryer - I WILL wear these shoes! :)

    WoodsofBellTrees, Thank you! I love them, but they are painful! Julia

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  11. git wiid stretchy things at target... there is a big thing your turn to expand the wood part... and there are attachments for bunions or whatever so you can customize your stretch... those work pretty good if you are patient... i got two...

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    1. My mom always used those. Now they do work. I wish the freezer thing would work. It would be a lot cheaper.

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  12. Cracking me UP with the frozen shoes! Thanks for the tip though. :)

    ~ Ashley

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  13. Pam - I will do that! Heading out to shop today!

    Ashley, well if I don't laugh, I will cry! I should have just returned the darn things! LOL

    Julia

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  14. I've a had few pinterest fails too! I love your shoes but have no idea how to stretch canvas shoes apart from wearing them round the house with several pairs of thick socks. Would it help to wet them then wear them with all the layers till they dry (hopefully a little bigger) maybe that's when the hairdryer could come in. Good luck anyway!

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  15. Good idea. Who would have thought it!

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  16. Thank you Julia! Now that I've frozen them and clomped around in them, I can't return them, so I have to find something! LOL

    Julia

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  17. FACT!!!! I need to start wearing my wedding shoes around the house Immediately!

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  18. Good to know this is a Pinterest urban myth! Thanks for sharing at Monday Funday Link Party Julia!! Pinned!

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  19. Treana - yup, start wearing them now! Maybe with sweat socks! :)

    Heather - maybe it will work for leather - but it sure didn't with canvas! Boo!

    Julia

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  20. Haha! Funny post, but I'm sorry it's at your failed pinterest advice! Cute shoes, good luck stretching them. :)

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  21. I'm smiling as I read this, because I've had a few Pinterest fails myself. As in, no-melted caramel doesn't stay on melon-balled apple bites. Gah! Here's hoping your tube socks do a better job. Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!

    Alison
    Nancherrow

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  22. Thank you Lila! I'm so glad you stopped by - Sorry I wasn't able to give a good review!

    Alison, the apple bites sound awesome! LOL - too bad it doesn't work! Darn it!!!

    Julia

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  23. Hi Julia. Did you try the blow dryer? I bought new shoes today, one side fits awesome, the other does not! Help!

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  24. I used to work in a shoe store. We gladly stretched our customer's shoes overnight or however long they wanted. You might be able to bring them back or even to another store and tell them your woeful tale!

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Got thoughts and ideas for me? I would LOVE to hear from you! Julia