When I got an email asking me if I’d like to participate in an online book tour reviewing a new book by Birmingham’s own, Phyllis Norton Hoffman, and the subject is shoes, I was all over it! I mean, I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a lifelong shoe addiction. Guilty as charged. I actually did a post back in January titled Can you have too many shoes?? And I’ve concluded that no, no, you really can’t.
Here’s a little about Phyllis, from her online bio:
A leading figure in the publishing industry, Phyllis Norton Hoffman is majority owner and president of Hoffman Media, LLC.
A native of Hoover, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she began her career as a Certified Public Accountant with a nationally known firm before founding a special-interest publication company in 1983 that is now known as Hoffman Media, LLC.
Hoffman is recognized industry-wide as a savvy businesswoman and talented entrepreneur. She serves as the creative engine of the company, producing an ever-widening range of beautiful magazines including TeaTime, Southern Lady, Just CrossStitch, Sew Beautiful, and Taste of the South magazines. She is also a sought-after speaker across the country, a devoted wife and mother and a church and community leader.
Did you catch the magazines that her publishing company is responsible for: Southern Lady and also Cooking with Paula, which is not listed on that. I actually got to meet Phyllis last year at a women’s event our church was sponsoring and she was the speaker. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her and she even brought magazines for all of us, so I really loved her then. Magazines are my love language.
(In Style Home, Spring 2006, Mariah Carey’s closet…don’t we wish?!)
The tag line of the book is “Celebrating the footsteps of the Contemporary Woman”, and it really is true that as we grow and mature, so do our shoes. Phyllis tells many humorous and witty stories all throughout the book about her life growing up and how shoes played a major part in it. All done with wit, wisdom and a whole lotta fun thrown in. I sure do remember my first pair of grown up heels that I finally got to choose one Easter when I was around 12 or 13. Oh my, the excitement of looking for the perfect pair of 1” heels! You’d have thought we were shopping for gold. I think they were black patent with ribbon ties that came across the top of my foot and the heel was tiny, but oh yeah, it was a heel. Finally, I had arrived.
From Cinderella’s glass slipper, to Dorothy’s fancy red ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz, to fashion mavens Jackie O and Princess Di, Phyllis covers the gamut of shoes and finery and what a role all of that plays in each of our lives. Most of us as women feel good in a pair of good-looking shoes, no doubt about that. They can make you feel sexy. Or sassy. Or dowdy. They can certainly make or break an outfit, as well as even be cruel at times. My days of wearing a lot of high heels are probably past me for the most part, I just don’t do a lot of dressing up anymore, but I can remember feeling really cute and sassy in certain shoes that I’ve had over the years.
My closet is still full of them, even if the heel is back down to that 1” I started with when I was around 12. Phyllis shares many of her life struggles and how she got through them and even the shoes that walked her through those struggles. A witty and fun book to read (especially if you’re Southern and even if you’re not). She laments wearing white shoes before Memorial Day or after Labor Day (a cardinal sin, just listen to your mother), which is what most of us in the South have heard all our lives. The rules have relaxed a bit over the years, thankfully. I don’t even own a white pair of shoes anymore. I do remember very vividly the white go-go boots that were all the rage when I was in Jr. High School and that Phyllis fondly remembers in the book. I don’t remember having a pair, but I think my sister did. She was older and got to do things before I did, darn it.
Phyllis Norton Hoffman takes you on a journey examining these defining moments, sharing what she has learned when she was required to wear different shoes – from a mother and wife to entrepreneur and businesswoman to publishing powerhouse to doting grandmother – and provides advice for women on putting their best foot forward, no matter their role, circumstance, or stage of life.
So, if you get a chance to read this fun and fascinating book about women and our devotion to all things shoes, I’d definitely say do it! You’ll thoroughly enjoy tip-toeing through the pages with Phyllis, in whatever shoes you might choose for the day!
I love what cooking queen, Paula Deen, says on the cover, “Phyllis and I have taken many steps together. I take mine in flats!”
Amen, Paula! Flip-flops for me.
And for the really fun part! I am getting 3 copies of this book to give away to my readers, so all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite memory of shoes and what your favorites are. You know I love some shoes! Contest closes Friday evening at 6:00 PM Central time. I’ll pick a winner and announce it Saturday a.m.
Great review! This sounds like a book I'd enjoy. I love the manta: "Life is short. Buy the shoes." 😉
Here's my shoe story:
The first Christmas T and I were married, we were still poor college students. When a (very!) wealthy client of his invited us to a fancy Christmas cocktail party, I went crazy trying to find the perfect outfit.
I could not, for the life of me, find a cute pair of shoes to go with my outfit. Finally, in Macy's, I spotted a gorgeous pair of Nine West silver stiletto sandals with a black geometric design that buckled around my ankle. They had an adorable little rhinestone buckle over the toe.
The best part? They were on major sale, fit my budget, and they've dressed up many a fancy outfit since.
I was so happy to save the money on the shoes and have some extra for Christmas gifts. 🙂
Where to begin? Shall I sing the praises of my first pair of black patent pointy-toe flats purchased at Marshall Field's in Jackson, Michigan at the age of 18? Or fast-forward all the way to today where right now, on my blog, is a post of hot pink patent heels akin to the ones on the book cover? Or in between where I lament the passing of my favorites….I knew when I bought them that I should have gotten 2 identical pairs & held one back until the first pair wore out?!
I could go on all day……….
Another "lurker" here who just made contact w/the fabulous Rhoda – spending my lunch w/you every day now, girl!
Being the "Shoppin Junkie", I have too many shoes & shoe stories, but here are two:
Fav 80's shoes – Famolare wedge sandals with 3" wedges, Red/Blue/Yellow & White, I was doin' some serious stylin. (Too bad their styles now look like "granma shoes" – sad, sad, sad). I cried when the straps finally broke on those shoes.
Fav 90's Shoes – black & white 3" pumps, BUT they look like Keds tennies, with white leather lace-ups on the toe – everybody goes KRAZY when I wear those shoes and I feel super special as well as funky! They will fall apart before I get rid of'em.
Thanks, Rhoda – you're the best.
I love me some good shoes. I do think it is true that women love shoes because our shoe size does not change nearly as ofen as our waist size!
Stacey
[email protected]
Sounds like a great book! My fave shoes ever were a pair of red flats (why flats I don't know as I really need some extra height). I wore those shoes out and have never found another red pair that I've liked as much.
Janet
Well here it is…I couldn't decide between 2 pair which were my favorite so I will tell you the earliest!!!
My first favorite was actually my pair of boots I wore for drill team in High School. Every Friday night for football season I put on my boots and felt like a totally different person!!!! I love the way they fit! I even wore the exact same pair of socks with them….Red Christmas socks!! I still have those White leather boots in my attic with other high school memories!!!
My favorite pairs of shoes are the ones I find at a real bargain price – even when their not for me! I hate to pay full price for anything and I am a sucker for clearance shoes. But as a size 11 (or a 10W in some), it's sometimes hard to find cheap shoes that fit. So, my most recent find was a pair of Vera Wang sandals at Kohls that I bought my niece – originally $70, marked down 90% to $7 and I had another 20% off coupon. Score!
Hi Rhoda,
I remember when I got to wear nylons and heels to school for the first time. It was in the fifth grade. I got to wear a pair of beautiful, black, patten leather shoes with a two inch heel! They were gorgeous! However, no sooner do I get to school and take my seat… one of my classmates wants to borrow them and wear them for the whole day at school. I said "NO WAY!" Well, that classmate got mad at me and would not play with me at recess. OH WELL I said… ONE LESS FRIEND… but I am lookin' good!
Nancy from OHIO
[email protected]
I've never been a "shoe" kind of a girl – now purses are a different story! – but since have lapband surgery a year ago, I've been trying to dress up more. That requires me to were dressier shoes, more than my normal tennis shoes, flip flops and cowboy boots (which I love! :)). So I'm slowly coming around to the who shoe idea. 🙂
I used to have this beautiful pair of Cole Haans. They were like oxfords, but navy and white and had a small heel. They looked great with everything and I finally wore them out.
Now I am a fan of Crocs, but I won't wear them in public! So comfy, yet so ugly.
Phyllis and I grew up together, went to the same church, baptized the same Sunday. She began piano lessons shortly after I did, and I was so jealou of how well she played. She is a natural!
I am so proud of what she has accomplished and even though we don't see each other often, we seem to pick up where we left off. My mother told her what a big fan my daughter is of Paula Deen and Phyllis was kind enough to get her a personally autographed cookbook as a wedding gift. She is one of a kind, and I am so glad I knew here when.
Kathy
Great post. I love meeting authors, it gives me such a different perspective of the book I am about to read. Phyllis sounds lovely!! Southern authors, as well as all things southern have such charm and you feel instantly like best friends.
When I was younger and we went dancing, my shoes were about 3-4 inches and I could boogie till the sun came up. Now I find it hard to walk to the car in heels that are not nearly as high. Don't get me wrong, I still have tons of shoes, but, like Paula, I'm walking in flats.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win this delightful book!!
Enjoy your day!
Hugs xOxO, Nerina 🙂
ME, ME, ME PLEASE! I love shoes! I get a lot at Frenchies & yard sales. My favorites are my sensible, comfy brown Naot sandles with replaceable inserts. But I MUST wear hot shoes at least once a day! My faves there are a wonderful pr of 3" black suede pointy toe backless with cross-over straps — sooo wicked! And then I have my summery torquoise slip-on kitten heel, wedge with big flower. Or my med-heeled leg hugging copper-sheen boots. Ohhh! Don't make me choose!
(I'm gonna do a blog dedicated to shoes)
This takes me back to 1981, the first year that I no longer had to wear special orthopedic shoes designed to help create a non-existent arch. I was eight years old and finally allowed to forgo treatment and could pick out any pair I wanted. All summer, I was coveting a Dr. Scholls wooden clog. I chose a lovely white pair. I thought nothing sounded better than the click, click, click heal against our driveway. And right there, completely smitten with my archless foot, I was forever hooked on shoes!
Amy
amytdd at charter dot net
Favorite quote about shoes… Shoes are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
This books sounds like fun reading..My favorite shoe memory were my blak and white oxfords. But now flip-flops in every color. Rhoda….I love your blog…Pat H
Hi Rhoda!
When I was just a little gal I had polio….it meant wearing braces and ugly, ugly shoes. I was a prissy little thing….(didn't wear a pair of pants until I was eight!)….and wanted nothing more than a cute little pair of black buckle shoes…finally…….I got them! I was so excited…I can still remember being thrilled and I actually SLEPT with them right next to me on my pillow. Such a happy little girl.
Blessings,
Spencer
I love many kinds, fancy and casual, but they have to feel good too! If they hurt my feet, they end up in the back of the closet real fast!
Oh how I longed for, and finally got, the Bass Weejun penny loafers in High School. Everyone, absolutely everyone who was anyone wore them! I was never so happy as the day I finally saved up enough money to get a pair. And shined them every night!
Great contest.
Carolyn
[email protected]
Shoes and bags… I'm such a sucker for both. In fact we bought our 16 month old five pairs of shoes just yesterday. I was so excited she is finally walking and wanted to get her some fun new ones! As for my personal faves, I tend to err towards the go-to flip flops but I also love me a pair of sassy heels!
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway to your readers.