You know by now that I’m always on a quest to find stylish and comfortable shoes. It’s bordering on an obsession but I can’t help it. Life is way too short to suffer through shoe-induced achy feet. Besides, you can’t put your best face—rather, foot—forward at work or a cocktail party if you’re silently enduring numb and pinched toes while teetering on 4-inch spikes.

Why the heck am I thinking about this topic yet again? Well, I just stared down a small crisis when the T-strap of my eight-year-old Pikolinos literally snapped off as I was running the gauntlet that is Whole Foods on a weekday evening. More distressing than hobbling through the store past posture-perfect, yoga-toned twenty-somethings loading up on kale was the prospect of tracking down a worthy replacement. The Pikolinos were my only pair of brown shoes that carried me through fall, winter and spring. Ack!

Fortunately, I was based in McLean one day last week and visited Comfort One Shoes at Tysons Galleria. I’ve had great luck with them before—and my latest adventure was, thankfully, just as productive:

My savior: Ara Randi pump in tan leather. They fit like a glove right out of the box (I don’t believe in breaking in shoes) except they were slightly too long. Added a pad in the cushioned footbed and voilà, problem solved.

The heel is 1.5 inches, and the sole has rubber traction.

Simple and versatile, they cost a relatively reasonable $145 (plus I got a 5% discount with a loyalty card). Right off the bat, I wore them for twelve hours straight without a hint of discomfort.

As a bonus, I also found a sweet pair of suede ballet flats. (I still love my Attilios from last spring but their light color makes them feel too summery in colder weather.)

Gray-beige feminine flats from Bailarina. (Have I mentioned how much I love greige?) Made in Spain.

Nubby rubber sole is a nod to driving moccasins.

Practically a steal at $125, these come in other colors like taupe, burgundy, black. Not that I’m tempted…

In general, I live by the 90/10 rule: the vast majority of the time, I wear shoes that I can run around in for hours. On rare occasions, though, I’ll knowingly slip on the pretty but painful stuff:

Gucci mules from fifteen years ago. Wouldn’t they look chic in Palm Springs with a Calypso St. Barth flowing dress? Hey, a girl can dream…

Here’s to keeping your feet happy!

Other comfort shoe brands you might like:

Anyi Lu: If the Shoe Fits: Part Three – And the Winner Is…

Attilio Giusti Leombruni: Attilio the One

Børn flip-flops: Børn to Run

For context, my first post about feet: Rex-N-Effect

“The more Patagonia remains the same, the more cool it becomes.”

So…I might have been inadvertently cooler than ever (ha ha), rockin’ my own Patagonia while traipsing across Montreal. I had bought their “Better Sweater Coat” specifically for the trip, and it was the best.

Chilling out in my Patagonia coat by day…

…and by night.

It’s a descendant of their old-school zippered fleece jacket but updated in a feminine silhouette for a non-rugged gal.

Here are its Practical Fashionista style points:

• The outside is knit like a sweater; the inside is lined with fleece.
• It’s lightweight and non-bulky (vs. a structured overcoat) which made it comfortable to wear on the plane. I could also easily fold it up into my carry-on bag.
• The pale gray color is neutral and goes with almost everything.
• The slim silhouette is flattering but fits over thin layers.
• Its set-in waistband adds shape.
• On my 5’2″ frame, the knee length is versatile—looks good with mini-skirts as well as jeans—and keeps my butt warm.
• Handy angled pockets.
• Machine washable.
• No pilling of the fabric (yet).
• Priced under $200.

What’s missing is a visible logo to broadcast its Patagonia-ness to the world. That’s fine by me, though, because I’ve never been one to wear labels on my sleeve.

My daily goal is 3,000 Fuel Points. On this day, I happened to torch it.

I wear it everyday, mixed in with costume jewelry as well as the real stuff.

In Vogue’s September issue, Chloe Malle writes about the Fuelband as fashion’s hottest accessory.

When I see others sporting one, there’s a tacit understanding that we’re part of the same fitness-tracking tribe.

Wearable tech also includes smart socks, sensor tattoos, heart rate rings. The list goes on.

And then, of course, there’s Google Glass. I wasn’t one of the early adopters  (a.k.a. Glass Explorers) who got a chance to plunk down $1,500 for the beta.

Rise of the Cyborgs? Google co-founder Sergey Brin. (Photo via cnet.com)

Similar to the way Alice’s Looking Glass transported her to a strange alternative world, what you see through Google Glass will be amazing—directions, news headlines, stock quotes to name a few of the endless possibilities in a new augmented reality. I’ll let everyone else get all frantic and huffy about the safety and privacy implications.

What’s really important is if Glass will become stylish enough for mainstream fashionistas like me. There are rumors that Google is partnering with Warby Parker to design hipper frames. And a recent New York Times article described how Google’s all-female Glass product team is working to make it a coveted accessory.

For now, I can’t help but still think of them like this:

From the classic ’80s movie “Sixteen Candles.”

Or this:

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Geordi LaForge.

And here’s how I imagine they feel on your face:

Cliff wearing some kind of x-ray vision contraption in “Sixteen Candles.”

I’m pretty sure the Googlers will succeed in delivering an elegant version for the mass market. However, there’s one big psychological barrier that makes me hesitate to jump on the bandwagon: my self-image is so closely tied to the black Versace frames I’ve been wearing since 2006. My previous eyeglasses were Prada that had a rose-colored metallic bar across the top and rimless lenses. (I scoured my files for a photo but, alas, couldn’t find one!) While working as a marketing manager at an architecture firm, a male colleague mentioned that my glasses were very “granny.” OMG!! Really?! I thought they were avant-garde! Was I offended? Slightly. But looking in the mirror one day, I had to agree. If only I could get some of the quirky cool associated with architects and designers to rub off on me.

Daniel Libeskind. In 2003, he won the competition to be the master plan architect for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. (Photo via daniel-libeskind.com)

Pritzker Prize winner Kazuyo Sejima of the Japanese firm SANAA. (Photo via vimeo.com)

Interior Design magazine editor-in-chief Cindy Allen. (Photo via interiordesign.net)

Inspired, I hightailed it to LensCrafters where I found the perfect replacement. More than just a product to correct near-sightedness, my new spectacles changed how I saw the world, and how the world saw me.

Bespectacled me in 2008. (Photograph by Jessica Marcotte.)

With my mom at her birthday dinner in July 2011.

With Andrew in June 2013.

Selfie in 2011. I did stray once. Wanting a change for New Year’s, I bought a light-colored pair of Burberrys. I still have them but they just weren’t the same.

On the few occasions when I wear contacts, do I appear measurably different?

Andrew took this photo of me in September 2007, about two months after we first met. (Not a hint of make-up either. Man, was I brave.)

A rare instance of attending a snazzy party.

Heading out for a run last year. (Notice the chunky Garmin Forerunner on my wrist. I hadn’t gotten a Fuelband yet.)

Certain accessories become a seamless part of you—whether it’s your signature red lipstick, humongous specs, or sleek pedometer. They form your personal brand and make a statement, strong or subtle. If Google Glass can enhance my vision while projecting my geek-chic best, they may be worth a closer look.

Going from a 600-person non-profit media organization to an unabashedly commercial enterprise sixty times larger has been exhilarating and slightly intimidating. With exactly four weeks under my belt, I’m slowly but surely getting up to speed and already feeling more grounded. I’m learning a gazillion new things from my smart, generous colleagues and taking it one day at a time. One. Day. At. A. Time.

Anyway, back to this blog! I’ve had ideas percolating in my head but no time to compose them into thoughtful themes. So here’s a super-sized post crammed with what I’m loving right now.

Investment Piece

I admittedly had a minor internal freak-out when told that my company practices “hoteling.” While management consulting firms like Accenture have been doing it for years, I had assumed in my new gig that I was going to have a designated cave workstation where I could put my personality and colorful mementos on display à la the aspirational office of Jenna Lyons. Not to worry, I quickly got used to this brave new world and no longer give it a second thought. Besides, hoteling was the perfect excuse reason to buy a new bag. Since I’m now schlepping all my stuff between home and office plus traveling a fair amount, neither a canvas tote nor a Longchamp fit the bill. I needed a lightweight bag with more structure, polish, durability—and compartments.

Behold the Brookline 15-inch laptop bag by Lo & Sons. Color: Espresso. Price: $198.

You can read a detailed description on the brand’s website and a stellar review on the Capitol Hill Style blog. Bottom line? The Brookline is stylish and functional which gets this Practical Fashionista’s enthusiastic endorsement. (Hint: You can find discounts and giveaways on Lo & Sons’ Facebook page.)

You Can Take It With You

In lieu of a physical bulletin board, I’ve been carrying around keepsakes in the pocket folder of my Moleskine notebook. (A type of security blanket? Perhaps.)

Wayne Thiebaud’s “Three Machines” reminds me to focus on delight.

Neon Accent

I recently treated myself to this J.Crew bracelet which was on sale for $30. It’s a way for me to embrace the neon trend without buying, say, a fluorescent pink tube dress. (Nobody needs to see that.)

Flower Power

Almost two weeks ago, a friend came over for brunch and brought me these lovely flowers.

I’ve been culling down the bouquet but it’s still looking pretty darn good. (Amazing longevity!)

Progress on our Patio

From the day we moved into our townhouse a year and a half ago, the small patio out back has been our biggest embarrassment—a sad victim of neglect and procrastination. I happily threw myself into decorating each room (e.g. basement, living room, office), but the prospect of working on the landscaping outside? No thanks, I’d rather scrub a toilet. However, during the hottest week last month, Andrew and I suddenly decided it was time to tackle the eyesore.

“Before”: a barren, bleak bed o’ mulch. Yuck.

“After”: we’re hardly green thumbs but managed to plant some perennials from Home Depot.

This unexpected spray of color recently popped up.

On the steps, we placed some low-maintenance kalanchoe.

Dying (and Reviving) on the Vine

Last month when the tangle of vines snaking up this trellis had withered and turned brown, I impulsively cut them all down. Healthy green tendrils soon appeared. Then, lo and behold, they bloomed!

Sometimes, you have to start fresh in order to achieve new growth. Hmm, sounds like good career advice too…

Well, the Upper East Side beckoned Andrew and me with its promise of prime real estate too—its famed Museum Mile!

So here’s a recap of our art binge on Day Two:

Ticket to Ride

We took the subway uptown. It was great—we never had to wait more than a few minutes for a train, and the cars were mightily air-conditioned. (DC metro, please take note!)

The Supermodel

While crossing Fifth Avenue to get to the Met, I spotted supermodel, Helena Christensen, hailing a cab. Wearing slingback heels and a slouchy knee-length navy dress with her black lace bra exposed in the back, she’s just as otherworldly-gorgeous in person as she was in the 1989 “Wicked Game” music video. (She’s 44 years old, people! Must be the Danish genes?) Andrew was brave enough to snap this quick photo as her taxi was pulling away:

She acknowledged that it was okay for Andrew to take her picture and then cracked a smile.

Whew! We had to take a moment to recover from the Helena sighting. It’s not everyday that a creature strides in front of you who looks like this:

Photo from Elle Spain, May 2013.

“PUNK: Chaos to Couture” at the Met

We arrived at the Met shortly after the doors opened at 9:30 am.

Banners lining Museum Mile.

After paying the suggested donation (skimping on art brings bad karma), we made a beeline to the exhibition “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” No photography was allowed in the galleries, and I didn’t want to test the surveillance skills of the security guards. Overall, although the New Yorker had written a scathing review, I thought it was a fun and frivolous spectacle—good summertime fare. I liked its focus “on the relationship between the punk concept of ‘do-it-yourself’ and the couture concept of ‘made-to-measure.’” And I loved the pieces by Comme des Garçons, Versace and Viktor & Rolf, among others:

Members of the press had been granted a sneak peak in early May and obviously were allowed to take photos. So here’s a shot via Women’s Wear Daily (wwd.com). From the left, looks by Yohji Yamamoto, Viktor & Rolf and Chanel.

No, it wasn’t a sweeping tour de force like the Alexander McQueen retrospective in 2011. Then again, I wasn’t expecting it to be.

A couple of sidenotes:

1) On our way to the Punk galleries, I walked passed the daughter of “Real Housewife of New York” Jill Zarin. (How did I recognize her? I may have watched an episode or ten—and lost a million brain cells in the process. Definitely not worth scrambling to get her photo.)

In case you’re wondering who I’m talking about: RHoNY Jill Zarin on the left, her daughter Ally Shapiro on the right. (photo via bravotv.com)

2) Andrew, as is his wont, struck up a conversation with a bubbly, petite twenty-something girl who turned out to be a writer for Elle Poland. She had moved to New York a year ago and works part-time at the Antiques Garage. All of the city’s vibrant energy was channeled through this one beaming, fresh-faced girl whose words tumbled out about everything from Polish model Anja Rubik to taking the BoltBus to DC. She was amazing!

The Petrie European Sculpture Court at the Met

We stopped for a respite in one of my favorite spaces in any museum anywhere:

Breathing room.

I like how the perspective in this shot looks really exaggerated. #NoFilter

Boys Will Be Boys

Andrew was entertained by the punk exhibit (especially since he had been to CBGB when he was a lot younger), but what he really wanted to see was armor, swords and guns. (This may or may not have induced some major eye-rolling on my part.)

What the hell is up with all the male fascination about this stuff?

Andrew Get Your Gun.

Upon exiting the Met, we threw our light-blue metal admission tags into the designated recycling box. Had I known that only six days later the Met was going to do away with them altogether, I would have saved them as keepsakes!

How the 0.001% Live

On our way to Sarabeth’s for lunch (where I had the most delicious seafood salad and Andrew was the only straight man in a sea of social x-rays), this gorgeous house on East 92nd Street was preening and begging me to take its photo:

Look at the lush tidiness. It reeks of Birkin bags and Damien Hirst paintings inside.

The Guggenheim

After lunch, we were off to the Guggenheim, mainly to see the James Turrell installation that I had been hearing and reading so much about.

View of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “temple of the spirit” on Fifth Avenue.

I won’t even attempt to describe the site-specific installation better than someone like the New York Times’ Roberta Smith. You just need to know these two things: 1) “the ravishing ‘Aten Reign’ [is] an immense, elliptical, nearly hallucinatory play of light and color that makes brilliant use of the museum’s famed rotunda and ocular skylight.” 2) you must go and experience it for yourself.

Artist Chuck Close has described Turrell as an “orchestrator of experience.” I love that quote, and it’s so true!

I snapped this photo looking towards the skylight before realizing that photography is forbidden. I was chided by the security guard and hung my head in Asian shame. (But hey, I got the shot, right?!)

 Maurice Sendak

The final stage of our art-filled day was perhaps the most rewarding and unexpected. I had read somewhere about a Maurice Sendak exhibit at an obscure little museum located not far from our hotel. Thank goodness we ventured there because it turned out to be an extraordinary collection of more than “two hundred never-before-seen Sendak originals…[including] rare studies, sketches, photographs, and ephemera, [plus] previously unpublished artwork from Where the Wild Things Are.” It was beyond delightful.

Meticulous drawings and warm memories.

Master of his craft.

Dinner at Tao

Our friend Rachel suggested nearby Tao as our dinner destination. It was a loud and fun atmosphere filled with tacky young women dressed to the nines in short spandex dresses accompanied by cologne-dipped, greasy older men. (Trust me, it wasn’t a brothel!) I ordered pad thai, Andrew ordered Singapore fried rice, and Rachel ordered sushi. And there wasn’t an ounce of Lycra or Drakkar Noir among us.

The dining room was one ginormous double-height space featuring this imposing statue.

Since match boxes are becoming increasingly rare at restaurants, I was pleased that Tao still offered them.

P.S. The Loot

Shockingly, I didn’t build in a lot of time during this NYC trip to do major shopping but still managed to pick up a few mementos. I think postcards make some of the best souvenirs—they’re inexpensive, lightweight and packable.

These two beauties are from the Museum of American Illustration.The one on the left is by Steven Stipelman. The one on the right is by Yuko Shimizu.

Punk rocks. I can’t wait to pin these up in my office.

At the Met, I also splurged on this t-shirt because it’s the only piece of clothing by Rodarte I’ll ever be able to afford. I plan on pairing it with my spiky necklace by Fallon. #PunkforLightweights

Mad for punk plaid.

Info:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art | 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) | New York, NY 10028 | 212.535.7710 | metmuseum.org

Sarabeth’s East | 1295 Madison Avenue (at 92nd Street) | New York, NY | 10128 | 212.410.7335 | sarabeth.com | Yelp review

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | 1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)| New York, NY  10128| 212.423.3500 | guggenheim.org

Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators | 128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues) | New York, NY 10065 | 212.838.2560 | societyillustrators.org

Tao Asian Bistro | 42 East 58th Street (between Park & Madison Avenues) | New York, NY | 10022 | 212.888.2288 | taorestaurant.com | Yelp review

Up next: No Sleep Till Brooklyn!

Previous post: Monday in Midtown

I searched “high,” trying on designer brands like Prada and Tod’s:

Tod’s Bow Trim Flat. Leather. Made in Italy. Color: Wisteria. Price: $425 (gulp). I loved these but they didn’t quite fit like a glove. The sporty details also limited their versatility.

I searched “medium,” like this Stuart Weitzman model:

Stuart Weitzman Poco Pump. Patent leather. Made in Spain. Color: Adobe Analine. Price: $298. These obviously weren’t flats but the kitten heel was low enough. Sadly, my feet balked at the pointy toes, and patent leather tends to be stiff and unforgiving.

And I searched “low,” as in these plain neutral slip-ons:

Corso Como Tawna Flat. Leather upper. Imported (a.k.a. Made in China). Color: Dark Nude. Price: on sale for $66 (reduced from $100). These were out on three strikes: 1) too narrow 2) the back came up too high 3) pointy toes.

At this point, did I fall into the depths of Practical Fashionista despair? Actually…no! Why? Because as luck would have it, I discovered the love of my podiatric life. His name? It’s a mouthful: Attilio Giusti Leombruni. AGL, for short. His shoes were bliss at first try. (By the way, if you think I have smooth little feet, think again! Mine, in fact, are wide and flat with callouses on both big toes and a bone protrusion near my inner left ankle.)

AGL Toe Cap Ballet Flat. Leather. Made in Italy. Color: Nude/Beige. Price: $298. Oh happy day.

Yes, I realize that $300 for a pair of shoes may strike some as extravagant but let me put on my Product Diva cap to convince you otherwise:

• They’re made of THE softest leather (dare I say richer than Corinthian).
• They don’t rub or irritate any part of my feet.
• They can be dressed up or dressed down.
• These are workhorse (as opposed to special occasion) shoes.
• There’s a slight heel for a little support.
• The nude color is just what I was looking for.
• The slim, silvery-bronze strap embellishment is minimal.

Worth. Every. Penny.

Admiring my AGL beauties.

The final test? I hoofed around in them (without sock liners) for ten hours–climbing stairways, running after the bus, scampering along several city blocks, the usual. At day’s end, my feet were completely unscathed: no heel pain, no cramped toes, no instep soreness, no abrasions anywhere. I’d say that’s walking the talk!

AGL shoes are available at Nordstrom. After buying your first pair, you automatically join The AGL Cult. I’m already eyeing more colors.

P.S. The three sisters behind the AGL brand were interviewed in February 2013 on fashionista.com: “The Attilio Giusti Leombruni woman…is creative chic…[H]er personal style…[is] desirable but never showy. In our opinion, shoes should never be too trendy or flashy, but always classic.” I couldn’t agree more.

Related posts you might like:

Rex-N-Effect

Børn to Run

If the Shoe Fits: Part One – Comfort Shoe Offenders

If the Shoe Fits: Part Two – Comfort Shoe Contenders

If the Shoe Fits: Part Three – And the Winner Is…

So when I was plotting what to wear to an upcoming event, I decided to root around my clothing cache for anything I might have unwittingly banished from memory. The outcome? I’m almost too embarrassed to show you. Almost. A trio of to-die-for purses…but I’ll let you be the judge.

Bally patent leather purse

My late father had bought this glossy purse for my mom more than 15 years ago. She then passed it along to me. My mom is the best.

Since rediscovering this bag in my collection, I no longer covet a Chanel quilted double-C bag, which absurdly makes me feel $2,000 richer.

The calfskin Italian leather is beyond buttery soft. And it has decent capacity for holding a slim wallet, keys, phone, lipstick, and Purell.

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti houndstooth wool and leather bag

I bought this handbag nineteen years ago during my junior year abroad in Paris. I got it at Galeries Lafayette and have amnesia about the price. It has handles. It has feet. It’s maroon and orange. And it still looks like new.

The original zipper pull broke a few years ago so I replaced it with a couple of brass charms I found at Anthropologie. (That’s about as D.I.Y. as I get.)

Jas M.B. perforated leather clutch

I found this roomy clutch on sale for 40% off at Barneys in San Francisco. It’s made in England, and I love its blue color and handy wrist strap.

The texture reminds me of the steering wheel of a European sports car. And the smell of the leather is divine. (Sorry, vegans!)

Wow, a triumvirate of versatile designer accessories hiding in plain sight! (Yes, I know, I deserve the biggest smack on the forehead.

Related posts about purses you might like:

• A hip but fake Chanel

• Me love you Longchamp

• Clutching the Club Monaco

• Kate Spade “baggy” perfection

Maybe I’ll be ready for a “fall face” in, like, November. Until then, I recently bought three new beauty products to prolong carefree summer vibes.

Making summer last

• Sephora by OPI nail polish in Chamomile-ion ($9.50): subtle peachy-gold goodness.
• Sea Salt Soap from cb2 ($6): the packaging had me at hello. Smells like a heavenly beach; it’s gonna be a godsend on the snowiest winter days.
• Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony ($16): a sheer Schiaparelli-worthy hot pink for the lips.

Can’t you just imagine a beauty editor proclaiming, “Summery make-up paired with the season’s prints and heavy brocades provides a fresh juxtaposition that feels very modern.” (Pretty good, huh?)

When it comes to running shoes, I’ve always longed to wear Nike. Duh. Unfortunately, since none of their stability models ever fit my overpronating feet just right, I was forced to choose function over form. So up until about a year ago, my go-to running shoes were the Brooks Adrenaline GTS. In 2006, I ran my first race, the Quantico Half-Marathon (the venue has since moved to Fredericksburg), in them. I also wore them for a bunch of ten-milers and my first full marathon in 2010. While they protected my tootsies, the Adrenalines weren’t exactly the most appealing eye candy:

Brooks Adrenaline GTS.

I admit that I had to swallow my fashionista pride every time I went out in them. They looked and felt like bulky contraptions. What was with all those diagonal lines criss-crossing the sides? Were they supposed to make them look cool and futuristic? Ugh! Instead, their design reminded me of the Transformers:

Optimus Prime.

Brooks then tweaked the Adrenaline model and added stitching to its sock liner which rubbed my foot so much that I developed a huge blood blister after thirty minutes. I had to ditch them and find something else–fast. My local running store fitted me with the Asics GT-2170:

Asics GT-2170 in storm/carbon/electric apple.

These felt more streamlined than the Brooks, and I liked the bright green accents.

The lateral part of the Asics.

The overall look-and-feel, though, was still a bit chunky and heavy—like this Kawasaki motorcycle:

Kawasaki 2012 Ninja® 1000 ABS Sport Motorcycle.

I mean, if I were forced to ride a two-wheeled motor vehicle, the Vespa would be more my speed. At any rate, I had to abandon the Asics after discovering that the toe box was a tad too narrow for my wide, flat feet. I soon developed a large, uncomfortable callous on the side of my big toe. (My two other beefs with the Asics: the shoelaces were ridiculously too short, and it was a monumental pain to get your foot in and out of the shoe.)

Well, as luck would have it, Nike recently launched their LunarGlide+ 4. It’s a lightweight shoe that offers stability. Could this be The One? Could my dream of wearing Nike running shoes finally be realized? I hightailed it over to that same running store and sat nervously as the salesgirl emerged from the stockroom with a bright orange shoebox. My Cinderella moment would have to be delayed, though. The store only had a size 8. But I tried them on anyway. They were springy and light with a glove-like fit, wide-enough toe box, and minimal seams. I went straight home, logged onto nike.com and ordered a size 8.5:

My LunarGlides.

Ah, hooray for simplicity:

Close-up of the white breathable fabric, lime-green Flywire, and green laces.

It reminds me of artist Lisa Rodden’s amazing paper creations:

Lisa Rodden, Urban Spring I, handcut paper and gouache.

In the end, my little dream did come true. And when anyone asks why I smile so much when running, I say, “It’s the shoes.”

Images via brooksrunning.com, wikipedia.org, kawasaki.com, and art2muse.com.au

I still wanted to acknowledge America’s birthday at least in a small way on this blog, so I decided to go with images of my favorite things right now that are red, white, and blue:

Wild Cherry Slurpee

I know it’s full of sugar and artificial everything, but it’s perfect after running–or walking around the block.

White Arm Candy (no, it’s not Andrew)

J.Crew stripe crystal stretch bracelet. Epoxy and Czech glass stones, resin, elastic and zinc. Dresses up any outfit, including sweatpants on a plane.

The Strangest, Strongest Blue*

Yves Klein, Éponge (SE180), 1957, resin with pigment on sponge. I saw this sculpture at SFMOMA and could not believe how intense the color was. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

Hope everyone has a blast today!

More July 4th-themed posts from around the blogosphere:

• Flag cakes: Serious Eats and smitten kitchen
• Patriotic design porn (a.k.a. top spots to celebrate the Fourth): Architizer
• Patriotic manicures: Pinterest via Racked
• All-American outfit: J.Crew
• Traditional American flags: Design*Sponge
• Flag iterations: Apartment Therapy

*Note on Dec. 13, 2012:  J.Crew used Yves Klein’s patented “International Klein Blue” as the inspiration for the background color of its Collection photo shoot.