Shoes! Glorious Shoes!

I'm not a huge fan of shopping. As my friend Gina will attest, I am a "mission shopper." I almost never shop "just to shop"--I always have a specific goal. I've actually amazed the ladies at Nordstrom with how quickly I can get in and out and find what I'm looking for. This tactic obviously didn't apply when I was looking for a wedding dress, as those of you who read that rather lengthy post already know. I was afraid I would have a similar, very drawn out experience when it came to shopping for shoes for my gown. But oh! Not so!
There I was, out at the mall to do some mission shopping for an iPod (I have convinced myself that I haven't been meeting my goals of going to the gym regularly because I don't have an iPod to workout with). I always park at Nordstrom because, although I will never admit to browsing, I do like to glance at the shoes as I walk to my car. So I was passing through Nordstrom on the way to the car, iPod in hand, pumped that I would now be going to the gym everyday, and there they were--the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen. The rest of the shoe department disappeared in that moment. Gone were the Kate Spade espadrilles I had been eyeing. The Carmen Marc Valvo pumps that normally would have made me swoon were suddenly taking second chair. The freakish salesman with the inappropriate blue hair and goth lipstick (I know! At Nordstrom?!) could no longer pull my gaze. Perched high atop a Stuart Weitzman display were the most beautiful set of slingbacks I have ever set eyes on. It was like they were made for my gown, with their ivory mesh, silver embroidery and hand-sewn beads. I think I could hear angels singing as I approached them. (Turns out I was hearing the excited utterances of the saleslady who was about to get a commission off of these shoes.) I tried them on, and they were so amazingly comfortable- great for a long night of dancing the Hora. Usually I let my purchases linger in my head a while before I buy, but I knew I had to have these shoes so I bought them right there. Because of my haste, I'm now recognized as an easy target in the Nordstrom shoe department. I collected two business cards from sales associates, not including the one who actually sold me the shoes. That one is now "on watch" for me for "other styles I might like." Read: "This chica drops cash faster than Dick Cheney at a gunshow, and I'll give her a reason to spend."
And no, the iPod had no apparent effect on my gym habits.