Time, please, slow down. Let me have one more minute to see the three pair of eyes. ONe more minute to cuddle with little warm bundle. One more minute to wash dirty , dirty little feet. One more minute to kiss the wounds of the world exploration. One more minute to read a bed time story. One more minute to rock a wiggler to sleep. One more minute to listen to warm fast breathing. One more minute to kiss soft little cheeks and spiky little noses. One more minute to hear once more three little voices , speaking at once on three different subjects.

Time, please, freeze. Even if only for a minute. It is so worth it.

Did you know?

That the 30 day re-awakening is going in full bloom on my other site of heaven? It's spring. It's time. Day 2. You will be surprised. Enjoy!

Dancing your way home

As promised. Let me introduce one of the most famous point shoe makers, Mr Jacob BLOCH.

Bloch's philosophy of listening to dancers is still as strong today as it was when Jacob Bloch made his first pair of pointe shoes in 1932. Bloch arrived from Europe in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression and began making shoes by hand in the workshop where he lived.

Bloch loved watching ballet and visited many dancestudios. At one such studio, he noticed a young dancer who was having trouble staying on pointe. Bloch promised he would make her a better pair of shoes, and so he did. After that, Bloch?s reputation for making good dance shoes spread rapidly.

At Bloch, the respect the company has for its clients' art is infinite. Contributing to a dancer's artistry, in even the slightest way is the ultimate Bloch goal. Admittedly jealous of their clients' artistic ability, Bloch is proud to contribute confidence and beautythrough the best dance footwear in the world.

Surprised? I was when I stumbled over the whole section of BLOCH shoes at Century 21. It appears that Mr. Bloch STILL listens to the dancers. These are the most comfortable shoes I've EVER owned. When wearing them, I feel that I have my ballet flats on. As a matter of fact, I can teach no problem in them. They allow for all the flexibility and movement, plus just the right amount of support. I love them. And the look is very flattering on the feet.

I never thought I would be able to wear flat, or , rather WANT to walk in them. But with these babies around I don't have to walk - I can just dance my way wherever I go.

PS: New York revealed quite a few "never thought I would"s for me. Come back tomorrow to read what they are.

seeing the world from 4 inches lower

I was born in 4 inch heels. And actually, that is kind of true. My arches are so high, that since I remember myself, I had to have some sort of support, or it was rather uncomfortable and painful.** As I grew and gravitated towards the higher heel, little by little the flat shoe completely disappeared from my wardrobe. The only "flats" I owned were the ballet flats. Until recently.

LIving in NYC and seeing day by day, by day all the stunning beauties wearing beautiful flats ( and looking comfortable), got the better of me. I wanted to give it a try, at which I miserably failed last summer. I embraced my 4 heeled life back again, reasoning that there are plenty just as stunning beauties in heels, and I really DON'T have to wear flats. But the secret jealousy got locked in my heart. I am a perfectionist. So I nourished it for a hear, and last month determinedly decided to achieve the "flat"wear life style, even if temporarily.

I did not know that one needed to LEARN to walk in flats. Don't get me wrong - it's nothing like "learning the heels" stuff. I COULD walk around the apartment, but on the street... After about 5 minutes I was dying. Every little muscle in my legs were screaming and cursing at me. After all, they all comfortably existed for n+ years, until I decided to change that. I was so sore, it was no funny at all. Besides, I HATED the way EVERYTHING was all of a sudden bigger, taller, and I felt rather vulnerable.

And then... after about 5-6 days... the torture ended and I fell in love with my new outlook. There are some pluses that I never experienced before : like actually FEELING small ( being a dancer and surrounded by 90 lbs skinnies is not really helpful in every day life), FEELING the ground when I walk. I don't use padding in my point shoes, because I need to feel the floor. But I always walked in shoes that were at least 3 inches above the ground. The lightness of the step ( AFTER I learned how to walk ), and , of COURSE, the possibilities and versatility of STYLE. I love the many, many looks one can achieve with flats, and I have discovered, to my pleasant surprise, some really well designed and supportive flats. While I am by no means rejecting my 4''s, I am definitely enjoying the possibility ( and beauty ) of the world from 4 inches lower.

I love all the shoes , but these ones are my absolute favorites! Come back tomorrow, and I will tell you who makes them and why I love them. I promise, you will be pleasantly surprised!

** I was not born with such high arches. At some point when I was a very small child, there was a thought of possibility of flat feet. My wonderful and caring mother did all she could - from massage to physical therapy , to ensure that my feel had arches. They sure do. Which made my life as a dancer simply beautiful.