A few weeks ago I bought some Teva Montecito boots and I like them! I am a scardy cat when it comes to breaking in new shoes. I haaate it. I always go through a I Never Should Have Bought These What Was I Thinking phase. And the The Other Size Would Have Better phase. And the Why Didn't I See Those Similar Shoes From Another Company Before I Bought These phase. I went through all those with these boots but the other day I realized that they are the most comfortable shoes I own right now. I'm not aware of them when I'm wearing them. So, thank you to everybody who wrote to let me know that they love these as well, I'm glad you did.

To break these in I decided to wear them to the Alt Summit. I was being bold here, I wore them to the airport and risked regretting that half way down a hallway. They were wonderful though, and half way through a day of sessions I found myself returning to my hotel room to change out of my "comfy" shoes and back into the boots.

They have not given me blisters, everything gives me blisters, and I've been wearing them as much as I can to determine if they are worthy of packing into some luggage for a long trip. I was a bit worried that the toe area was going to be too small but trusted a review left at Zappos, and sure enough the area across the toes stretched to accommodate the room I needed. The recycled cork soles seem almost bouncy and easy on my feet when I'm walking, and whatever they make the interior soles of is soft enough that it hasn't bothered my picky feet. I usually require a certain amount of arch support but the moderate support here hasn't affected me at all. Compared to some other boots I tried on the these soles are nice and grippy. I've worn them in rain and they have shown no signs of being affected (they are waterproof). They keep my feet warm when I'm outdoors, but not too warm when I'm indoors.

There is an elastic cord that wraps around the back of the boot and attaches to a button on the other side. On the way around the boot they hold down the zipper pulls so they don't jingle when I walk. The cords also pass over this feature at the top that I like, there are two, um flaps? parts? that overlap and allow the top of the boot to open up a bit wider if needed and will avoid having a wider calf being hugged too tightly. I tried on two sizes, 7.5 and 8, and can tell you that the calf circumference of the size 8 was noticeably larger.

The things I don't quite love as much are the non-removable soles. I would like having the option to slip in my heat moldable Sole insoles. Despite the fact that the toe box stretched quite well these boots are still slim fitting and if you're used to wearing Keens and Danskos I suspect these would feel restrictive.

I also tried on some Lassen boots which where a bit sturdier, or stompier. The soles were a wee bit slippery but the construction felt strong, and they were comfortable enough that I wold have been happy with those. In the comment on this previous post CZL and Suswhit highly recommended trying out a pair of Merrell boots. The only Merrells I had found at that point were knee-high but I found the mid-height Merrell Tetra Launch boots at REI (link there is to Amazon, they are currently showing unavailable on REI's site but they were available in the store). They looked very nice, though I didn't stop to try them on, and I really liked the faux button detail. And note that in CZL's comment she says they are so waterproof she's walked through puddles and been fine. The styling on the Merrell's is a bit less crunchy than my Montecitos, the soles are black and the heel looks a bit higher, maybe (upon comparing specs the heel is comparable, if not shorter than!). They seem well worth a look if you're shopping for boots.

Here are some pictures of the Cortona Cafe on a happy Saturday morning spent knitting with friends. These were taken with the S90 set on automatic (as I have not read through the manual yet).

I love the menu wall.

They have a guitar you can use if you'd like.

On auto the pictures seem a bit dark to me. (And perhaps that means they are true to life whereas I'm used to seeing photos online being cheerily bright - ?) I'll just have to learn how to use the camera properly I suppose.

Please allow me to be dramatic for a moment. I just found out that the Petrie sofa from Crate & Barrel is no longer available (sort of) and I'm upset. It was perfect, soft fabric, just firm enough, deep enough. Scott and I sat in a lot of sofas and it was clearly the winner for us both. People, I love this sofa and we've been saving up to buy one for two years. Just last week we talked about finally getting to place the order for it. We were excited, a milestone! We would finally ditch our futon and sit on actual furniture like real adults! (We can pretend to be real adults.)

Today I was cutting through the store and decided to visit the couch (I do this a lot, I'm embarrassed to admit that) and found a "Limited Stock" sign hanging on it. I asked about this and was told that the company that makes the fabric (the nice, soft, not scratchy at all fabric) is no longer manufacturing it, I think they might be going out of business. So now the Petrie is only being sold in the natural and brown fabric, and only what they have left in stock (we only really wanted gray, with my clumsiness white would last about ten minutes in our house, oh look I just dropped pizza sauce on the futon* and I just don't get excited over brown). They are looking for a replacement fabric, so there is a faint glimmer of hope, but with my luck the replacement fabric will be something durable but scratchy. It looks like I'm stuck sitting on this futon (which I bought in 1998 (!!!) when I had my very first solo apartment in Cleveland, that's like two thousand internet years ago) until I find new couch love.

While I'm wallowing let me also mention how sad I was to discover that Teva is no longer making the Kena style flip flops. These had the squishy rubber flip flop sole but didn't have straps that went between the toes and were the answer to my prayers. I showed restraint in not buying dozens of pairs and now I wish I hadn't shown said restraint. I have one pair and I'll have to make sure I use them well. In the mean time EileenSideways on Twitter has encouraged me to try the Olowahu style. As a fellow nothing-between-the-toes person she says she can tolerate them. I trust you Eileen.

Ok, my pointless pity party is over.

* Not kidding about the pizza sauce. Ok, so maybe I should be eating in the dining room instead.

Yesterday I went to the camera store to hold both the Canon S90 and the equally-awesome Canon G11 in my hands. As people (thank you people!) reported when I last talked about this, the Canon S90 is far smaller. So we have a winner! I bought the S90. I was also enchanted by this boxy leather case for it, it's far quicker to get the camera out of it than a zippered case.

(Just after I took the shot above my poor little Nikon ran out of power and reported "Battery Exhausted". Aw, cute.)

I also bought the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens that is recommended over and over again for Canon DSLRs. I have yet to snap it on to my Canon XSi, but I'm hoping for a chance to do some side-by-side comparison photos soon.

(p.s. Glazers Camera here in Seattle is excellent. I admit I was a bit intimidated going in but everybody there was geekily enthusiastic and friendly. Also, should my camera ever need repairs they will give me a loaner! The old camera served us well as the cheap and bought at the last moment camera that we brought with us when we eloped, and will live a full new life as the camera that lives in Scott's gig bag to capture super fantastic backstage shenanigans. Many of you feel bad for this camera but do not, the new one is much better.)

Here is a second test of posting from my iPhone to this website by way
of Flickr. Cross your fingers that it works.

It worked! Thank you Flickr for allowing the fine tuning of how pictures appear on one's site.

This is the view at the top of the hill that we climbed after filching a cup of tea from a fake chuck wagon after an unexpectedly long hike at Sun Mountain Lodge. That snow capped mountain you see in the way off distance is a corner of the Cascades.

This is a test. You will not be graded on a curve., originally uploaded by not martha.

This is a test to see if I can post from iPhone to Flickr to
Wordpress. Her goes.

Yay it worked. Ok, this is a picture of a very special cup of tea. Scott and I were staying at Sun Mountain Lodge in the Methow Valley of Washington state and went for a short hike around the grounds. Or what we thought was a short hike. Turns out? The grounds are huge. And forested. Creepily forested. And we were there in October so Halloween was in the air. After walking far too long (like Hansel and Gretel!) we exited into a clearing. A clearing with picnic tables and a faux chuck wagon. Nobody was around but the wagon was stocked with coolers that held blissfully cold water and packets of tea. I'm pretty sure we weren't really supposed to take it, it was likely stocked just in case a lodge guest opted in for the twilight horse ride to the Cowboy Dinner, but I was so tired and thirsty. It turned out to be a good thing that I stole the tea because the next part of the hike was straight uphill. But uphill to a good view with a peek at the Cascades.

I think this owning boots thing is going to work out for me, which opens up a whole new world of wearing skirts. Oh the possibilities! Except, I cannot seem to find many that fit my needs. I need a-line, knee length, something colorful that will go with the many (many) black tops I already own. Looking around large stores, small boutiques, online shops and Etsy hasn't turned up much. Lots of great stuff, yes, but often it's too dark or too deconstructed or too ruffle-y (I like ruffles but I just can't pull them off). (Although this one from the Frock Shop is lovely. And oh I must go see this skirt in person.)

So, please, lead me to good skirts!

The skirt above is made by Erin MacLeod and was found at Crackerjack here in Seattle. I instantly knew it was perfect and nearly asked to wear it out of the store. I also saw Erin selling her skirts at Urban Craft Uprising last December. She makes brilliantly devised wrap around skirts that use hand set snaps all around the waistband. I'm keeping an eye on her (currently empty) Etsy shop.

I should mention that, clearly, I know I could have been wearing skirts all along so by way of explanation I will tell you that years of wearing a Catholic school uniform had me avoiding certain types of clothing. These include skirts, pleats of all kinds, Oxford shirts, Peter Pan collars, most shades of the color blue, sweater vests, saddle shoes and plaids of any sort. I feel like I'm finally ready to embrace these things again. Except for saddle shoes. And sweater vests. And navy blue. Or royal blue. Maybe I'm not ready after all.

Anyhow! Back to skirts. If you have suggestions on where I should be looking for them, I'd love to know. Thanks in advance.

update: I'm just going to kindly preempt any more suggestions that I learn to sew. I appreciate the encouragement, and please know that I do sew. Which means I also know how much work and time go into it (especially when one's technique focused perfectionist tendencies kick in, have you seen my epic sweater knitting projects?) and I would rather buy my clothes, at least for right now.

update #2: I take it back. Let it be known that in the week before I jetted away to Paris I did indeed sew myself three skirts. Four if you count the dorky interchangeable slip I made for them too. It was neither easy nor quick (seven pattern alterations, three botched attempts, five visits to fabric stores) but hey, I have three skirts I really love and one bulletproof a-line skirt pattern..

These almonds from Trader Joe's are my secret snack weapon. They come bundled into individual packages so you can throw a few in your bag on your way out. Then, when you realize you spent, oh, say, three more hours than you intended looking though the dresses at Nordstrom Rack you will have the fuel to keep you upright in the outrageously long line for the dressing room. They also help me from buying the nearest bag of chips when I'm dreading getting stuck in traffic on the way home. They also help me from being tempted to eat peanut butter out of the jar as a snack when I'm at home. They are awesome. Why did it take me so long to find them?

I though I would find them bland as they are unsalted, but I don't. Each packet is just over 200 calories.

While I'm talking about Trader Joe's I just want to mention that their frozen Chicken Serenada entree has become a regular backup meal in our fridge. Seriously, we buy them by the dozen. (Don't get confused and buy the Ensenada, it's not as good, trust me.) Each serves two and takes precisely long to heat in the oven as it takes to cook rice. I don't own a microwave, our kitchen is tiny, but they are also microwaveable.

AquaNotes Waterproof Shower Notepads | Incredible Things. All my best ideas are gone by the time I have dried my hair.

I'm short and I'm shaped weird and I can't find any damn blouses. HALP. | Ask MetaFilter.

Difference between $100 men's dress shoes and $500 men's dress shoes? | Ask MetaFilter.

I need some boots that will keep me warm and dry in extended periods of standing around outside, all night long on concrete. | Ask MetaFilter.

Can a tailor turn pleated pants into flat-front? | Ask MetaFilter.

I need something that really sucks for less than $150. | Ask MetaFilter. Recommendations for inexpensive vacuums that can handle pet hair.

I'm pulling images off my various picture taking devices. My current on the go camera isn't so great, so please consider these something more like picture notes:

Spiced hot chocolate from Sweet & Savory, sipped while chatting with Tea. I had also ordered a latte before remembering the hot chocolate so when we parted I was very! caffeinated!

(p.s. Her book The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis is coming out soon and the book tour kick off event is Feb. 8th at University Bookstore here in Seattle.)

This is a reversible black and red fabric I've been meaning to make something from. It's expensive though so until I have a solid idea I just go visit it at the fabric store.

I bought fancy carrots for dinner one night. I'm still very much in love with tossing them with olive oil then sprinkling with ginger, cumin and chili powder and roasting them. Never though I'd like eating roasted carrots so much.

Scott playing bass with Explone at The Crocodile!

Trophy cupcakes, both coconut themed. The one with swirled icing was a Samoa cupcake, yum.

Light fixture and new wine wall at Delancey. If you live in Seattle and have not eaten there yet I continue to encourage you to do so. Seriously great.

My long time favorite drink, The Jasmine: 1.5 oz gin, 3/4 oz lemon juice (about one half a lemon), 1/4 oz Cointreau, dash of Campari, shaken hard over ice. It's not sickly sweet (despite being pink) and tastes a bit like grapefruit juice.

I got a sneak peak of a book Kristen is in, Crafty Superstar, at a meeting of Grassroots. update: You can order an autographed copy (now with swag!) from Crafty Superstar.

Olive oil, taken during some rare sunlight.

Moss growing on top of the map structure on a hike at Cougar Mountain.

The water bottles at my local market always catch my eye. This poppy design in particular is one I stop to admire.

I very deeply hooded shirt at REI that I'd like to make a sweater version of.

Amy Karol (aka. Angry Chicken) came to town with her book Bend The Rules With Fabric and I got to see some of the items in the book in person. It was great to meet you in person Amy! I also got to meet The Black Apple and ask her all about appearing on the Martha Stewart show. I also got to meet Wise Craft and ask her all about her family's Komforte Chocolates business. (Ramen Noodle! Tortilla chip and lime! French toast! You love these already.)

Silver faux birch vases on clearance at Joanns that I wish I had bought.

The pictures above are horrible, and I apologize for what they are doing to your eyes, but I really wanted to capture this detail. The skirt here is at Gather in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle and I loved it except for the fact that it was wool and, to my sensitive skin, unbearably itchy. So I tried to quietly take pictures of the ribbon detail, which I intend to use on a skirt soon.

A leige waffle with bacon, brie and basil from Sweet Iron Waffles. I was ready to dislike this restaurant because their website looked suspiciously slick, but the waffles are delicious and they use lots of local ingredients, including Sheherd's Grain Flour, and use the same super-huge pearl sugar that I used when I made liege waffles. Eaten while having a sanity-restoring visit with Maggi.

Me trying out new clothes for our trip to Paris during a shopping trip to REI with Scott. We were out to track down the perfect jacket for him. He switched favorites mid way through which resulted in us visiting four stores in one marathon day, but coming home with the grail, I mean jacket. (It was on clearance and unavailable on the website and the madness took hold, we couldn't stop until we had the object in our hands.)

My lesson from the day? I need to re-learn how to get out of a car while wearing a skirt.