Moccasins and Bunions

I had a customer ask me the other day what shoe I would recommend for bunions. I'm not a doctor but probably the best shoe I would recommend is the Moosehide Moccasin.
See bunions are bony protrusions that usually occur on the side of big toe or the pinky toe. They are very painful and many time require surgery. You definitely do not want a hard leather or tennis shoe rubbing against them.
Moose moccasins are like a shoe that is already broken-in. I wear them to work when I'm not wearing my fisherman sandals. I like them because I can go sockless with them so they work with shorts. They are so incredibly soft and flexible that they would not irritate your bunions. I also like them because they can really take a beating. I slip in and out of my Moose Mocs like a flip-flop but I still look professional enough to deal with vendors and clients.
I say, when you have bunions look to the Moose.

What's Popular This Summer

By far the most popular shoe this summer....and last summer....and the summer before, is our fisherman sandal. It is my personal sandal of choice. I think it is the cushion insole that makes them so cool. Your feet don't hurt at the end of the day and you just spent the whole day working in your sandals. I know most of you don't have the option of working in sandals, but I do and these are the greatest.
As a teacher, I have been taking full advantage of this summer and doing a little relaxing in my fishing boat when I'm not working at the store. Of course with 5 children, its not really fishing. It is more like Baiting and Fixing poles more than anything. I love the fisherman sandals because when we stop somewhere in the boat I'm not wearing flip-flops. Also, my sandals have lasted for three years. They can really take a beating.

Summer Camp in Eagle River Wisconsin

It is that time of year when the camp kids get a day away from camp to hang out in Eagle River. Since we literally have hundreds of lakes in the area we have several camps. Many times the Eagle River visit coincides with Parents weekend, so many parents bring their children into the store looking for a souvenir from our area. Arrow Gift Shop is primarily a souvenir shop but most parents invest in a pair of Minnetonka Moccasins for their camper.
Moccasins are a sensible gift for their campers. First, they are a gift that their child will probably wear every day. Second, Minnetonkas are so durable that they literally seem to last forever. We have adults come in claiming they still own their moccasins from when they were kids. I guess that is one of the best features of Minnetonka Moccasins-they really take a beating. At our shop, if you have any problems with your moccasins we replace them. We have had customers bring them in after 3-4 months of continuous wearing complaining about a stitch that has broken and we just give them a new pair of shoes and send the old ones back.

Kate and I have sent our kids to Honey Rock which was an experience for them. Even if you are visiting Eagle River for a week or have a cabin up here your kids will still love to stay a few day at camp.

I have also spent some time at Camp Manitowish working with kids in Angel on my Shoulder program. This was a great experience for myself working with these kids.

Why Driving Moccasins?

What goes better with summer than cruising in your classic car? Of course some drivers like a little more horse-power than others and some maybe even interested in performance driving.
The driving moccasin was originally created for high performance racing in Europe and its style caught on world-wide. The nub bottom is designed to grip the clutch while the light weight and comfort of the shoe kept the drivers feet comfortable.
If you are a serious performance driver that of course you may want to choose a shoe a little more flame retardant, but for sheer style the Minnetonka Moccasin Moose driving mocc can't be beat.
To where socks or not to wear socks, that is the question. Here is what the guys at men.style.com have to say: "I always get cold feet when I am driving, even when I’m not on the autobahn, so I would favor socks with driving moccasins. Socklessness is a fashion, not a mandate. Wearing socks with moccasins might not look right if you are Bob Evans or Robert Goulet, but for mortals and non-Californians, I think it is quite fine, especially if the socks are of a sporty nature. And by that I mean jaunty and colorful, not logoed and tubular. The question is, is it acceptable to wear driving mocs when you are walking? I put them in the boat-shoe category. Boat shoes, that preppy cliche, should not be worn in areas where it is unlikely you have your boat parked."

Bring Back Toy Guns

Probably once a day at the store I hear a parent-usually mom-scornfully reproaching her child for asking for a toy gun. Yes, our store has toy guns. In fact, it is the Gander Mountain of toy guns. We have just about every style shape and size you can imagine. I find it amazing that a parent might think they are going to prevent their child from becoming a serial killer by not allowing their son or daughter to possess a toy gun.
We have many "Zero Tolerance" parents that Jonathan Turley talks about in his Washington Post Article "My Boys Like Shootouts. What's Wrong With That?" You can view Dr. Turley's article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301749.html.
10 years ago it was all could do not to scream every time a child walked into our gift shop and bypassed the guns and swords for our section of Beanie Babies. I certainly am glad that that little fad is over. The same America that complains about how obese our children have become is the one supplying our children with stuffed bears and video games. What happened to the days of endless chasing other kids around trying to shoot them with your pretend gun. It didn't even matter if we possessed a toy gun when we were kids, we still chased each other around spraying pretend bullets from the end our index finger.
I have 5 children. I am teaching them to hunt and how to appreciate wild game. I also have taught them that its ok to play with toy guns but it is never ok to touch daddies guns unless I'm standing right beside them. My children understand the difference. You would not believe how many children walk into our store and think the toy guns we sell are real. I find that disturbing. Shouldn't we all educate our children on how to differentiate between right and wrong rather than spend the few precious years we have with them censoring what is wrong.

Minnetonka Honey Prescott Thong Sandal

We are in the swing of summer and it is awesome up here in Eagle River. It is between 70 and 80 degrees everyday, the classic cars are cruising the strip, and the street dances are in full swing. What a great place to live! The lakes are full of boats and the fishing is still good. It is time to dress for summer. Here is our Prescott Thong Sandal - Minnetonka has done it again! They have taken their number one seller - the Silverthorn thong - and changed it up a little to add some new flare for 2008. Braided leather and a silver ornamentation make this sandal a sure hit for the summer! Great with a skirt, shorts or just hanging out at the beach.