The Moccasin Blog

Summer Camp in Eagle River Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:23:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:57:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:59:00 +0000

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.

Fishing in Eagle River

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:12:00 +0000

We have had a dynamite year for fishing in Eagle River. The water level is finally high and everything seems to be biting a little bit later and a little bit longer. The smallies and panfish are moving on to their beds now as the weeds are starting to make their summer climb to the surface. Everyone I talk to seems to be catching fish. With gas and vacation prices so high I think more people are driving to fishing locations such as Eagle River rather than making the big trips to Canada. Believe me, people are catching big fish up here. Last week alone the Vilas News Review had a picture of a 50" musky caught last week.

It seems fitting that our most popular sandal is our "Fisherman" sandal. We sell twice as many of these sandals as any other sandal in our inventory. At $45.00 they are a bargain and I have yet to meet someone that hasn't had their Fishermans for two or more years. They can handle the daily wear and they just don't wear out.
The Fisherman has the classic look of summer with that super cushion insole that makes Minnetonkas so comfortable. The Open Toe Fisherman comes in a Ladies and Men's styles. The heal strap keeps the sandal on your foot for comfortable walking all day long. The adjustable velcro strap on the front of the foot is durable and heavy enough so that it doesn't curl up after daily use. This sandal works great for people that need a little more support in their insole.
Good Luck on the water this year fisherman. Don't be afraid to visit Eagle River's Chain of 28 lakes where the fishing is phenomenal this year. Not to mention the hundreds of other lakes in the area.

The Black Silverthorne Thong

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:23:00 +0000

A Quote from the catalogue. "Sandal Heart...Moccasin sole. This signature sandal captures the Minnetonka DNA through original silver ornamentation, fringe, beads and the comfortable Minnetonka Signature outsole."

We have had a lot of luck with this sandals. It has an outsole that ranges from a half-inch at the toe to a full 1.5 inches at the heal. Those of you that need a little extra height in your shoes don't have to sacrafice the thong look for a taller shoe.

The Silverthorne also transends that "Teen flip-flop" look with its metallic adornment and braiding. For me that means you can wear this thong with shorts during the day and then turn around and wear it again in the evening with a summer dress or skirt.

I think the most popular feature of this shoe is that it has an amazing cushion insole which is going to be a lot easier on your knees and feet if you plan on doing any kind of walking at all.

Square Dancing with Minnetonka Hats

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:22:00 +0000

This weekend we are planning our First Annual Square Dancing Party here in the Northwoods. Of course we will be wearing our Minnetonka Cowboy Hats. A group of five couples each invited 4 other couples. We hired a caller, rented a hall and Voila instant square dance party. This first year we are keeping it very simple but each couple will have a Cowboy Hat keychain for a party favor. Everyone is planning on coming dressed to the hilt. Cowboy boots, Shirts, Hats, and Dresses.

The First Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Arrow Gift) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:24:00 +0000

Everyone has a first blog. This is the Arrow Gift Shop's first blog. I hope you are interested in our moccasins at www.arrowgiftshop.com.