Crunch

I went out on a brief walk today, wearing a pair of slightly old flip flops. When I came back. the soles were completely embedded with stones and bits of grit. Just imagine if i had walked into somebody's house wearing those shoes!

Integrative Mom: Mahalo For Removing Your Shoes

Integrative Mom: Mahalo For Removing Your Shoes

'So this morning when he asked me “why do we take our shoes off when we go inside our house, but other people don’t take theirs off when they go inside their houses?” instead of giving him all of the reasons we do, I responded with, I guess because we’re part-Hawaiian.

To which he quickly replied, “but I’m not part-Hawaiian, I’m part New York!”

Yes, yes you are. Even more reason to leave your shoes at the door.

The truth is, we never wore shoes in our house growing up because my Hawaiian-Chinese mother never wore shoes in her house growing up. So it is simply a habit I’ve done all my life. Now, in retrospect, I am so thankful it is one that has stuck for many reasons.

I didn’t want to go into excruciating detail with my son about everything that he could possibly track inside our home if he wore his shoes inside, but I will do it here.'

Clarity Zone Magazine: Please Remove Your Shoes

Clarity Zone Magazine: Please Remove Your Shoes

'Now if you don’t give a hoot about pollutants, let me make an appeal to you on behalf of your floors, which can be permanently damaged by your precious Louboutins. Shoes can not only mark your delicate floors but also bring in dirt and small rocks which can easily gouge them. And on brand new wood floors, this is just sacrilegious!

Along with the potential damage come dirty floors. Or even worse, just imagine your plush white carpet speckled with stains of the nasty kind. Ewww! By simply removing your shoes, you can keep your floors and carpets looking clean longer…and use your Swiffer stash a lot less!

In case the expression cleanliness is next to godliness has no place in your lexicon, then just imagine living below someone who wears her, or his if you live in the City of Angels, heels on a wood floor. Doesn’t it make you cringe when you’re trying to catch some extra Zs in the morning, but the loud high heel clicks just won’t oblige? I think we can all agree that no one wants to be on the receiving end of a high heel’s wrath, so kindly leave the click clackers at the door'

Malaysian Meanders: Please Remove Your Shoes

Malaysian Meanders: Please Remove Your Shoes

"Ummm... Do you mind taking off your shoes?"

'Growing up in Houston, Texas, those words always seemed strange and awkward coming out of my mouth. My parents' house is strictly No Shoes Allowed, and as a child, this always seemed to set us apart. Sure, my aunts and uncles had the same rule. My parents' Filipino friends did, too. Grown-up parties with my folks were always marked by a huge pile of shoes at the door. But none of my friends ever made this request. I only realized this custom extended way beyond my family's circle of influence when I first entered the home of my Taiwanese friend in high school. She was surprised that I didn't automatically remove my shoes. "You're Chinese," she said, "you should know to take them off."

After I was married and had my own home, I instigated the No Shoes rule, too. When we visited Hawaii, I considered buying a plaque that said, "Please remove your shoes. It's the Hawaiian way." Except that a) I'm not Hawaiian; and b) I don't live in Hawaii. So, I couldn't figure out how I would justify that reasoning.

By the time I became a mother, non-Asians seemed to be jumping on the No Shoes bandwagon. Baby playgroup discussions covered concerns with thimerosal in vaccinations and phthalates in plastics. Leaving our shoes at the door was a way to keep environmental toxins out of the home. And of course, it's de rigueur for the kiddos to go shoeless at almost any indoor playscape.'

Tales of a Garlic and Onion Lover- Mix-up Monday: House Shoes

Tales of a Garlic and Onion Lover- Mix-up Monday: House Shoes

'When you go to a house in Germany the odds are you will be asked to take off your shoes. Additionally, you may be given house shoes (slippers) to wear while you are visiting.'

Triel Baenre

A picture of Triel Baenre, Matron Mother and ruler of Menzoberranzan in the Forgotten Realms novels. In a scene in Siege of Darkness, Triel Baenre asks Jarlaxle to remove his shoes before stepping on her carpet.

I commissioned the excellent Joseph Guiterrez to draw this.

Triel Baenre was created by R.A. Salvatore. Forgotten Realms is the property of Wizards of the Coast.

Organised Home- Challenge Day 11: Stop Dirt at the Door

Organised Home- Challenge Day 11: Stop Dirt at the Door

'While entrance mats can remove much of the soil from the bottom of shoes, a considerable amount of dirt still clings to footwear worn outside.

A "no shoes" policy keeps that soil contained near the front door, instead of inviting it in to curl up on carpets and furniture.'

Property Inspection

A lady from the lettings agency came to inspect the apartment I rent today. It was the first time I had been present when an inspection was carried out.

The lady removed her shoes without being asked. She had visited before, so she would have seen my 'Please Take Off Your Shoes' doormat.



She was a nice lady, though I hope she gives a good report on how I am looking after the place.

Another Colleague

Another drug worker I work with told me she has a no-shoes rule in her house. She asks people to take their shoes off when they come in.

She told me she once that she visited the home of a client. Although it was not a terribly clean house, she offered to remove her boots as the weather was bad, an offer that was declined.

Something is Done: Formal/Informal Parties and Take Your Shoes Off!

Something is Done: Formal/Informal Parties and Take Your Shoes Off!

"I don’t throw parties where people come in dress shoes and stilettos. In fact, if you come over, I would like you to remove your shoes, so make sure you wear cute socks and get a pedicure. Unless you have a foot odor problem or fungus, of course. Then you’re allowed to keep them on.

BabyG WILL lick the hardwood floors, no matter how many times I tell her no. She’s 8 months old, so that might be part of the reason."

MindBodyGreen: Why Your Home Should Be a Shoe-free Zone

MindBodyGreen: Why Your Home Should Be a Shoe-free Zone

"Establishing a “no shoe” policy in your home is good for your health. In one easy step, you can reduce your risk of injury, infection, and exposure to harmful chemicals. Kick those shoes off at the door!"

Surviving In Sweden: Take Off Your Shoes!

Surviving In Sweden: Take Off Your Shoes!

"I don’t usually write about little things about Sweden mostly because I have been here for so long that I don’t notice them anymore. But one of the first things everyone always comments about upon visiting Swedes -- if you are from the US anyway-- is that everyone takes off their shoes when they come inside.

It is considered rather rude to enter someone’s house with your shoes on."

Great Comment

We don't value our floors over friends, as some one will say.
We value our homes, our lifestyles, and we want to share that with others.

I found this on a comment thread on Apartment Therapy.

Probablyrachel: Please Take Off Your Shoes

Probablyrachel: Please Take Off Your Shoes

"There are two types of households (okay there are probably more but humor me please): Shoes-on and shoes-off.

The K-Couple has a shoes-off home. To some this is completely normal, to others it’s strange. I sometimes feel like a criminal for stopping people at the door when they visit and asking for them to remove their shoes. I feel that having a shoes-off home requires explanation sometimes for understanding. The fact that “it’s my house and I say so” doesn’t fly with many."

I love Martha Stewart

I really do. Not only is she an attractive mature woman who has aged well, she is a shining model of those qualities that make America great.

Like so many of those American success stories, Martha Stewart was the child of immigrant parents, in her case, from Poland. She was born under the maiden name of Kostrya.

Martha's massive empire was built on the back of her own personal skills. She was great at sewing, decorating and organizing birthday parties. She used those skills to market her products and to inspire countless women.

She was practically unknown in the UK until her financial scandal in 2003. Her five-month prison sentence is one of the things she is probably most famous for. Yet she served her time with dignity and strength, a massive contrast with Paris Hilton's whining and crying.

A lot of people thought that Martha would sink after her time in the clink, yet it made her stronger and she rose again and made her company and her image profitable again.

Not only is she a truly inspirational figure, but she is also a big advocate of removing shoes at the door and asking guests and visitors to remove theirs. Most of her websites seem to offer that advice and I'm not sure it's a coincidence that the generally Martha Stewart owned Good Housekeeping Magazine in the UK is generally pro-shoes-off.

The USA needs more women like Martha Stewart. The UK does too.

Decor Tiles Blog: Cleaning Limestone Tiles

Decor Tiles Blog: Cleaning Limestone Tiles

Do you have limescale tileson your floor? Here is some advice about cleaning them. This article recommends having a shoes-off rule, as grit on shoes can cause permanent damage to tiling.

All types of floor are vulnerable to shoe traffic- not just carpets!

Shihyenshoes: House slippers and the culture of taking shoes off indoors

Shihyenshoes: House slippers and the culture of taking shoes off indoors

'Taking shoes off indoors is not uncommon. It is the culture in Japan, Korea and all across South East Asia. You know a culture is serious about removing shoes indoors when there’s a special area in a house or building just for taking shoes off. In Japan, it is called ‘genkan’ (玄関) while in South Korea this area is called ‘hyeon gwan’ (현관) It’s a small area just inside the front door where people take their shoes off before entering the house or building. There may also be a shoe box or rack in this area to put shoes in. In Japan, this box is called ‘geta bako’ (下駄箱) which literally translates as geta-box, because in the past it was the traditional Japanese geta that would have been placed inside the box.

Even now, I feel a kind of psychological barrier at the front door of any house, and if I wear my shoes inside a house, I have to mentally make myself cross that barrier. When my friends from other cultures put their feet up on their bed or other furniture while wearing outdoor shoes, I cringe internally. And picture them stepping on dog poo or something and then smearing it on the bedspread or sofa!'

A Yacht Party at Venice Film Festival

Some photos of celebrity guests at a shoeless yacht party hosted by Livia Firth.

Toxoplasma in the News

The Independent- Beware of the cat: Britain's hidden toxoplasma problem


This newspaper headline points out the massive risks of infection from Toxoplasma, a parasite carried by cats. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable and infection can result in congenital birth deformities, blindness, dementia and even death.

This parasite can infect soil through cat excrement. Taking your shoes off before you enter your home and asking visitors to do the same can therefore help to reduce the risk of infection.

French Student Arrived

My mother teaches English as a foreign language. Throughout the summer she has had students staying with her.

While I was there this weekend, a French student arrived. When she came in, she asked if she should remove her shoes. My mother explained that she would need to remove her shoes before going upstairs, where there was light carpet, but she could wear them downstairs where there is wood flooring.

So my mother is currently in the 'no shoes upstairs' camp.

Olympic Swimming

I have not been an avid watcher of the Olympics (I don't own a television anyway), but I saw some of it in a pub.

One thing that surprised me was that the swimmers came onto the poolside wearing tracksuits and sneakers. There were also a lot of sports officials on the poolside wearing shoes.

At every swimming pool I have been to, you are required to take off your shoes and socks and use the footbath before entering the poolside. I imagine the reason the swimmers come dressed and shod onto the poolside is because they need to keep warm. But do the sports officials and attendants not need to use a footbath?