} -->

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Extreme Ironing (Not to be confused with the sport of Extreme Ironing)

According to a Rowenta Inc. survey, 5% of Americans iron their socks. National averages for other "extreme" items include:

49% iron jeans (High score: Dallas, 60%)
37% iron t-shirts (High score: Miami, 46%)
31% iron curtains (High score: Boston/Pittsburgh, 45%)
23% iron pillow cases (High score: Dallas, 32%)
15% iron pajamas (High score: Pittsburgh, 22%)
15% iron sheets (High score: New York, 21%)
10% iron boxer shorts (High score: Miami, 21%)
1-4% accidentally iron parts of their hands**

*The information above was obtained from the Senior Journal. It is unclear what percentage of Americans iron their journals.

**This statistic was not found in the Senior Journal.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Farewell, Socks Clinton (1989-2009)


Bye bye, kitty. You're a true democat.

CNN article

The Open Socks Collection by Miranda

An answer to Jane Seymour's Open Hearts Collection for Kay Jewelers.

My mother used to say, “Always keep one hole in your sock. It’s the only way to get your foot in.” That’s my inspiration behind my Open Socks Collection at the Sock Drawer Blog. I worked with myself, because as the number one sock drawing blog in America, I’ve drawn more socks together than, well, just about anyone. My wish is that my Open Socks design becomes a universal symbol of hope and feet--because if your sock is open, your foot will always find its way in.


Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Places we look for socks, but seldom find socks.

1. Cat hands
2. Down a well
3. Radio
4. Under or in carpet
5. Inaugural ball cheese trays
6. Pockets
7. What Cheer, Iowa
8. Glove box
9. Telephone wires
10. Library card catalog -- including letters A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,T,U,V,W,X,Y, and Z
11. Fire
12. Michael Phelps

Thursday, February 12, 2009

And the Winner Is...


After carefully reviewing all submissions, I'd like to congratulate Matt S. of London for winning the 2009 Gold Toe Award.

The winning entry:
What's between a sock and a hard place?
The toe of a shoe . . . at the instant its owner kicks a rock.
- Matt S.


Other noteworthy entries:
According to poker rules, what beats a pair of socks?
Two pairs.

- Matt S.

Who is considered the greatest writer for the sock-puppet stage?
William Socks-peare.

- Matt S.

Other than soccer, what's a sock's favorite sport?
Football.
- Matt S.

Do socks like scandals?
As long as it's the 1918 Black Sox scandal. Otherwise they like to play fair.
No, I said, "Do socks like sandals?"
As long as they're the 1918 Black Sox-model sandal. Otherwise they
dislike being worn with sandals.
- Matt S.

Why don't squirrels wear socks?
They don't know any better.
- Matt S.

From the "If we can put a man on the moon . . ." department: If we can
make a salad spinner, why can't we make a sock spinner?
- Matt S.

Derek & Toby
- Erica W. (California)


Stay tuned for the 2010 Gold Toe Awards.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Feel my Sock

"Feel my sock," said my sister. I reached out my index finger as Molly held a pair of clean, cuffed gym socks for me to rub. They were nice. "Now try these," Molly continued as she pulled another pair from behind her back. I was not convinced at first, but soon the comparison made me realize the second pair felt more like course 60-grit sandpaper and the first pair just felt like soft sand. Molly threw both pairs onto her pile of socks on the rocking chair, which is now dubbed Sock Mountain. Our sister-in-law gave Molly the socks as a gift, so maybe she'll get to take Molly's sock test sometime (and tell Molly where she bought them). I just hope Molly doesn't get rid of her old socks. I bet they'd come in handy when building a pinewood derby car or picnic table.

Molly and I both visited my parents this weekend. Mom and Dad's farm is about 75 miles south of St. Louis, which makes for a perfect weekend retreat. Their house rests in the middle of a meadow of tall grass, and is heavily guarded by cows. The quietness and lack of connectivity (my cell phone doesn't work, and there isn't high-speed internet) assures for long days of eating Mom's wonderful cooking (today she made a fritatta, wild boar, and oatmeal cookies!!!), lounging, eating, eating, and chatting about important things like Molly's gym socks.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Bananacontamination


Some kids get a new lunch box every year. My mom didn't see the need for that (and I don't think overconsumption was even a word back then). She either painted the outside of our old boxes, or passed my brother's down to me, and mine down to my younger sister. One thing all of our lunch boxes had in common was the smell of bananas. It only took one banana, one day of bouncing around on metal surfaces and plastic thermoses before the smell was merged--forever. From that point on, every lunch was some sort of banana infusion: peanut butter and banana, pizza and banana, turkey and banana, bologna sandwich and actual banana and banana.

For years I've have a hard time putting bananas in any transporting unit without fear of bananacontamination. But today I found a banana holder that will not only keep the banana smells from bouncing around my purse or backpack, but also will keep it cozy and safe. Look out St. Louis, there's a new banana in tow.

Banana Holder

Different Perspectives

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Banana Pull


A friend introduced me to this banana-saving method. Although I haven't had a chance to try it on bananas, I have arranged everything in my office so that all its contents touch. Using the same logic, my work day should be much shorter.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Evolution: From Fish to Foot...and Hand

New Trends: A Gripping Conversation with Amanda

Amanda: What do you want to know?
Miranda: You were going to tell me something about grip socks.
Amanda: How much longer is this going to take?
Miranda: What are they called?
Amanda: I don't know. I just know they have like rubber grippers on the bottoms. So the main point of these socks is that they are soft, warm, and if you buy them at Body Works they have aloe in them.
Miranda: A bonus bottle of aloe, or is the aloe in them?
Amanda: In them.
Miranda: How does that work?
Amanda: I don't know. It probably doesn't, but Target doesn't offer that. I just know the grips don't slide when you walk.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

How to Polish Shoes with a Banana


Clean Green:How To Polish Shoes With A Banana

This video is a more practical follow-up to last year's How to Eat Bananas with Your Feet. I recommend this to anyone who likes bananas and has a bunch of scuffed-up shoes. Just peel, eat the fruit, remove stringy pieces from the peel, rub peel onto shoes, and buff with a towel. The natural oils and potassium (also found in other forms of shoe polish) work whether or not your shoes are yellow, black, brown or any other overripe colors. You'll have the best looking and best tasting shoes in town.

Banana Shoe Shine
Shoe Polish Facts
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World