Feel Good Shopping

She said “It’s cuffing season.”
I heard “it’s scuffing season”. My brain translated it to boot shopping. You don’t scuff sandals. Time to transition to more rugged footwear. But I’m always thinking of new shoes. The shoe obsessed will appreciate that. The frisson of pleasure as my foot eases into a brand new shoe. First the toes inch their way along the footbed sending a tingle of anticipation. In a moment my foot is all the way in, I pause before the next move. I stand, my weight shifting as the leather relaxes and receives the unique contours of my foot. Now comes the first tentative steps, am I thrown off balance completely? Sometimes it’s a good thing as I discover a new rhythm to my gait, but if it’s too extreme I know this love affair will only last a season. Is there an unwelcome pinch or friction? I’ve learned to pay attention when things rub the wrong way (in all things), the smallest friction with consistency becomes a mighty conflagration. But when the fit is easy with shoe and foot moving in tandem like practiced dance partners, the thrill is complete. The feet strut, the hips roll, the spine lengthens and arches while shoulders sway subtly with the lift of the chest. I stop and pause at the full length mirror. If necessary pants are hiked above knees to appreciate the line of the leg and ankle, there’s always a twinge of heartbreak when the fit is fine but the silhouette is hideous. It took me more than half a lifetime to accept the loving caress of a brutish looking Birkenstock. Meanwhile there was a period when I fell in love with something at every Sigerson Morrison sale and ended up with more than a couple items that couldn’t last a night out. We’d start out the evening like a handsome couple turning heads, but once the friction started we’d hobble home in a quiet bitter rage and not speak for months.

I miss live shopping adventures. I miss a lot of activities that have been replaced by the virtual. With Black Friday and the holiday season looming on the horizon I’m dreading the online shopping cart. I miss the tactile experience of shopping; feeling the weight of an object or the quality of the fabric. There is no joy for me in the Amazon experience. It’s perfunctory and transactional.
While Jeff Bezos is making $150,000 a minute I’d like to spread some retail love . Beyond the thrill of a new acquisition I find joy in supporting a local brand. Participating in the growth of my community and seeing my neighborhood thrive brings joy. I can’t lament the dearth of quality made artisan objects if I don’t do my part and support them. Hand made leather goods, knit scarves, locally poured candles and artisanal chocolates are all within a local delivery radius. I’m lucky. But even if I have to resort to the internet, Etsy is a digital wonderland.

There are four Fridays before Christmas I am challenging friends and family to black out Amazon for their holiday shopping. This is my first batch of Black out Amazon Friday favorites:

I am in love with the mission of Elegantees They are focused on fighting human trafficking and committed to ethically sourced materials. Their workers are paid a fair wage and most have overcome being trafficked.

I’m a natural beauty junkie. How can I not fall for the heirloom Brazilian botanicals at Teadora? Good for me and the rainforest! Of course some things will never come out of my rotation, like the small batch luxurious nourishing face cream by Andrea Oliviera at Ayurveda Rituals. For anyone who is lucky enough to be in Toronto, the gift of one of her services is a transcendent experience. My other local favorite in Ontario for Ayurvedic products and information (check out their blog) is Rasa Ayurveda. As a wholly Canadian company their participation in Black Friday sales is begrudging. Canadian Thanksgiving was a month ago! While they do offer some discounts the focus is on using that Friday’s sales to make charitable donations.

I might not talk about it as often as I used to but chocolate is my happy place. It’s also one of the most popular gifts for those you know well and those you don’t. Quality is everything, but more importantly

I might not talk about it as often as I used to but chocolate is my happy place. It’s also one of the most popular gifts for those you know well and those you don’t. Quality is key, but more important is ethics. Soul chocolates covers all the bases. My stomach is literally growling. I am so excited to shop, whether in person or on their site. It’s a good feeling. Now I need some chocolate. I’ll be back soon with more recommendations.