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. 

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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