Metallica

From top: Espadrille Sandals, $54.95, GAP; Gold Flatform, $60, ALDO; Silver Wedges, $70, ALDO

Worst. Cold. Ever. Is it just me or are colds getting worse? I'm talking 4 straight days of sinus torture with no relief. My mom has had a cold for 6 weeks. Is this the new normal? I try to keep things happy on this blog so let's talk shoes instead, shall we? Looking at these metallic sandals reminds me that sunnier days aren't far away and that pretty soon, the clouds will blow away, the haze that's taken up residence inside my head will move out, and we'll be strolling around in sandals once more. 

Sometimes a little shoe shopping is all you need. That, and Tylenol Cold. Yup, you need that, too.

SOLE MATES: Your Under-$100 Spring Shoe Guide

A pic from the Vince Camuto Spring '14 Campaign. Photo via Vince Camuto.

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

We are moving this weekend and if you haven't moved lately, let me remind you - don't. Just don't. The grass might look greener, but is slightly brighter grass worth the hours and hours of packing, back-breaking box-lifting and complete mid-life chaos? Simply pick up a pair of green-tinted glasses at Claire's (it's St. Patrick's Day on Monday so the timing couldn't be better) and promptly ban MLS from your web browser. It's too late for me - you still have time to save yourself. 

There is, however, a silver lining to this stormcloud of moving chaos; it's called inventory. After going through boxes, sifting through receipts and tearing apart my closet, I have confirmed the suspicions that my husband has had all along. I am, in fact, a shoe hoarder. Case in point:

You don't have to be a graphologist to see the frustration in my husband's handwriting on the moving boxes above. I believe the word 'sentimental' is actually in the shape of a furrowed eyebrow. I mean, sentimental shoes? Really? I do have all kinds of compelling justifications for that box - my kids' first baby shoes, my dad's old shoes, my first pair of pointe shoes, the heels I wore when my husband and I got married etc. etc. but of course, this is just one box of many including summer shoes, winter shoes, and 'vintage' shoes that I'm sure my daughter will love to wear one day. Oh, and then there are the boots - ski boots, winter boots, rain boots etc. etc. etc.  

It goes without saying that I am seriously smitten with shoes. But because we're moving, I have actually managed to give away a fair number of out-of-date, worn out kicks to (naturally) make way for some of spring's most covetable sandals, heels and ankle boots. And let me tell you, there are plenty to covet this spring.

Because it's always nice to buy anything for under $100 these days, I've focused this guide on all under-$100 shoes, perfect for wearing the very minute the snow melts...

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(Happy Friday! And please wish me luck with this shmove!)