I just discovered the best solution for when your cute flats leave you limping. Today, on my walk from the subway to the office, I managed to dig a hole in my heel from the cute, never-worn, hand-me-down Ferragamos my grandmother just sent me. While I tried to suck it up, there was no way I could make it through the day when my newly-formed blister was on fire, even while just standing at the copier.

Back at my desk, which just happens to have a stockpile of bags, boxes in all sizes, tissue, bubble wrap, you name it, I came up with the handy solution of slipping a slice of bubble wrap into the back rounded heel of my shoe. It worked perfectly… Better than a band-aid!

Aside from the occasional pop!pop! coming from my right foot, you cannot even see that I have the bubble wrap in my shoes and I cannot even feel the blister. A solution come true.

My grandmother is in the process of moving out of her old house into a smaller cottage in a nice retirement community. As my mom has been helping her move, she keeps unearthing piles and piles of very nice (and expensive) shoes. Seems like she had more of a problem than Carrie in the footwear department.

However, a lot of these shoes no longer fit my grandmother – she had foot surgery a few years back that increased her feet by a full size. Since I share her pre-surgery shoe size, I have been the lucky recipient of this treasure trove of shoes. In flats alone, she must have ten pairs of Salvatore Ferragamos – in every shade imaginable. Including pink! You cannot even imagine how delighted I am.

Here’s a sampler of the shoe stash, starting off with three shades of the Ferragamo, followed by a very classic (and classy) brown pump – very professional looking – and finally, my favorite pair. The last pair of heels have so many colors in them, they almost evoke the look of some of the more recent peacock-themed items.

Carrie Bradshaw may be the resident queen of Manolos but my grandmother was – and now I am – the queen of Ferragamos.