big feet...you know what that means

you don't? well, allow me to enlighten: it means being constantly annoyed because shoes are never available in your size, and if they are, they look like friggin' clown shoes!

I wear a size 10 (11 in some brands), and it's a mixed bag. sometimes it means great deals because most women wear a smaller size, so retailers have to get rid of the monster sizes somehow.

but most of the time, it means exactly what happened to me yesterday during a quick, impromptu trip to payless on my lunch break.

believe it or not, it's been a whole month or so since I've bought new shoes. figuring I deserve it, I walk into payless and I'm greeted by the store's holiday display – row after row of adorable, sweet, lovely pumps – in grey flannel (which I'm dying for, by the way), dark red patent leather, frilly black embellishments...oh, love. love and a half.

I proceed to find the aisle that sells my size, and of course, none of the holiday delights on display are available as boats. so sad. so, completely sad.

they had them in size 9. I tried to squeeze in, but there was no way. not even "I'd be totally uncomfortable but it'd be worth it." my foot wouldn't even fit halfway in. it was like trying on a 5-year-old's pair of pants.

alas, I ended up with a pair of size 10 heeled black boots that aren't half bad. they're an easy replacement for two pairs of black boots I already own that have seen their day and are headed to shoe afterlife: goodwill.

oh, and in case you were wondering, the grey flannel pumps I want look something like steve madden's caryssa pump: