These Boots

Several months ago, I received an email from OnlineShoes.com asking if I'd be willing to participate in a shoe styling contest. They would send me an awesome pair of boots for free, and in exchange I would take some photos of myself - or a chosen model - wearing the boots and post them on a specific date as part of a contest with three other bloggers. People would then vote for their favorite stylist and the winner would receive more free shoes and a cool handbag and some other stuff.

Everything seemed fine at the time - I liked the look of the boots they'd be gifting me, and even though I wasn't crazy about "styling" them, I thought the challenge would be good for me.

{with deer tracks}

 

So, I got the boots in the mail and I could not get them on my feet. Ugh...a little embarrassing. They were my size, but I just couldn't wiggle my foot into them. So I contacted OnlineShoes.com with my regrets and apologies saying that I would not be able to participate in their contest, and asking them how to go about returning the boots they'd sent me. I received a very pleasant email back from one of their representatives saying they were sorry that the boots didn't work for me, but to feel free to keep them and gift them to someone else. {BTW, this is not the first time I've received excellent customer service from OnlineShoes.com.}

I took the boots to work to see if a co-worker wanted them. She slipped them on and even though they were too big, it was fun to see them on her feet. They looked so cute on Lin - made me want them even more! haha. And then she had some suggestions for getting the boots to slip onto my feet. She suggested a plastic bag, slipped over my foot in order to get the boots on, and that I should wear them around the house for a while to break them in.

Well, I ended up trying a thin nylon stocking, and I got the boot on by actually standing up and baring all my weight on that foot. Boom - I was in. And hey, that was a nice fitting boot once I got it on!

By the time I figured out how to wiggle my foot into this boot, the contest was over. But I did want to give a shout out to OnlineShoes.com for their generosity and fantastic customer service.

Plus, I've worn these boots a few times now, and I have to say that these are the most comfortable boots I own! I still have to wear a little thinner sock to get them on, but they are the best fitting boots I own right now.

On New Year's Eve, Doug and I took a little road trip up past Roosevelt Lake to ride the quad for a while and enjoy a picnic lunch near a canyon we love. Man, I loved hiking in these boots! Makes me want to go on another hike {or camping!!!} real soon!

And as for "styling" the boots, well, I probably wouldn't have won any contest, but I really do appreciate OnlineShoes.com's generosity. These boots are really cool.

Thanks for the free boots, OnlineShoes.com!

And thanks for the mountain, Doug.

♥