Well, I can't wait to meet you in Peoria on the 27th! What is your favorite color combination, in case I can produce some handspun for my favorite blogger?

I can't believe I was first. Where is everyone?

Mary -- I am so glad you're coming to the Peoria show. It's supposed to be a really amazing day, lots of excellent speakers and something like 350+ exhibitors. And I like all colors and you don't have to bring gifts, though I won't turn them down LOL.

Laurie,

I feel your pain with the knee-high zip up boots. I've tried just about every brand, style, etc. that they make. Much use of Zappos. Either they won't zip up at all, or they do so only by way of cutting off my circulation. JCrew.com carries extend-a-calf sizes that are actually perfect. I think you can only purchase them through the catalog or their website. These boots are pricey, but I bought a pair three years ago and they still look perfect.

Good luck!

I am so glad to hear you survived the rain! I was very concerned about you. Have to tell you I got the book Saturday at Barnes and Noble in VA! I am so excited to read it! Good luck with the packing light, it is not something I can do.

OMG, I totally hear you on the large calf issue. I own exactly two pairs of knee-high boots, and they each took me about two years to find.

As for packing light, I recommend choosing clothes that allow for a lot of mix-n-match.Bring socks or lace rather than sweaters to knit on the plane, and pick just two of your favorite pairs of very high heels (see again: mix-n-match). Then you can wear one and will only have to fit one pair of shoes in your bag. Oh, and most hotels have hair dryers and irons and (toothpaste and toothbrushes and razors, if needed).

Darn, thought I'd be first! So close... Laurie, try Zappos for the wide calf boots. Also The Avenue, which is www.avenue.com they've got some that are cute and not too expensive. *sigh* Sadly, my mighty calves are too much even for those. I'm hoping that weight loss will prove to my advantage, but then I remember that I have had redonkulously huge calves since I was a small child.

Really? You're trying to pack light? Dude. You carry a handbag that's bigger than most people's carry-ons. Right? I say look forward to the exercise you'll get from the luggage-hauling, and you're all good.

Well then, how about yarn thickness? Are you a bulky-yarn person, like with the Upcountry? And please, tell me at least what colors you don't like.

I am rallying my knitting posse for the Lifestyle show. I am so excited!!!!

Dr. B. ... aha. You see my problem. And you are a Doctor (I trust all screen names!) So you can see where this is a big issue for me, the one who carries her house in her handbag.

I'm thinking I will probably not end up packing light and maybe I should just put this on the list of things to worry about later.

The boots thing is an issue. i think that the creators of them should be made to tour the world looking at many, many calves.

My clothing size is in the single digits. Imagine my shock and dismay (and utter embarrassment seeing as how i was out with the hateful ex-MIL) when i tried on several pairs of boots only to have them all pinch the HELL out of my calves and only zip halfway up?!?!

The only ones that would go over my - apparently generously curvaceous - calves (that were not the vinyl-y stretch type) were called something like "thick stem" or something equally stupid and inane. Additionally, they practically puddled around my ankles, creating an elephant-like image of black leather. No good.

All that to say - stupid shoe makers. i do not have an answer except that i love Nine West. i found a pair there that was a decent compromise and fit over the calf (or is mine a full on cow???).

Happy Monday, dear.

Oh, and i recommend consulting Martha Stewart's web site and her video on packing for your light packing needs. Good luck!

Mary -- I love bulky yarn (knits faster!) and anything red-orange, LOL. But seriously, just seeing you there will be awesome! I'm hoping I don't choke on that one... it's not just a reading, it's a "talk." Yikes.

How about carrying your handbag and purchasing all clothing items (shoes, undies, pants,shirts) at destination. Then before leaving said destination you can donate it to charity (and maybe right it off? Contact your accountant). Also you could leave your bag at home and buy bag plus bag items at every destination.

sorry *right == write

i'm so excited. I'm thinking i may actually have to make the three hour cross-state trek to the MOA to hang out!!!

OK as another woman with the calves that are not built for boots, I am sooo going to try the JCrew suggestion! Thanks!

Wow. So.Much.Rain....

I just bought a pair of boots yesterday. Tahari, they have a bit of stretch, no zipper and look fabulous! It took a day short of forever to find them, but I have them now!

I braved the LA rain Friday night to pick up your book at B&N. It was so amazing I couldn't put it down even during the thunderstorm & downpour! Thanks for the laughs & tears, and for sharing your journey with us. Do you realize you're now officially in the Library of Congress? And your book received a great review in one of the knitting mags (sorry, can't remember which one).

As for the boot thing, can't help as I'm also calf-challenged and haven't bought any in decades. Hope your readers have some good suggestions!

Laurie, I listened to the podcast of your interview on Cast-on, and you did NOT sound like a "squeaky cracker" - - you did a wonderful job!

ALSO - - I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday, and picked up my copies of your book! YAY BARNES & NOBLE! Can't wait to start reading!

www.torrid.com. Very cute calf-high boots that are made to fit us luscious womanly types. :)

Also, I'm picking up your book tomorrow! Yay!

I was so excited about the rain that sitting and watching it out the window became my main activity on Saturday.

Also - - can't wait to see you in Peoria! Even though I'm not a knitter, I am a TOTAL cat-crazy person, so I guess I'll fit in . . .

Also, if you need help with PowerPoint or anything like that during your talk, I'm an Online Technician at my College, so I could probably lend a hand if needed - - just sayin' is all . . . :-)

Nikki -- I hope you do! The MOA event is going to be too fun. By then I hope to be better at this thing heh heh, I will hopefully be less sweaty and nervous. Or maybe not, but still ... Minneapolis! fun!

I have size six and a half feet, I'm five feet tall and I still can't wear leg boots! How is it I can wear kid shoes, have all pants except capris tailored to fit me, yet cannot fit in boots? I think the fashion industry is on crack- so don't take the boot thing personally.

Hey, Grumperina had some boot recommendations for ladies with shapely calves (as she, herself possesses). I am very much looking for such boots, having moved to Michigan (cold! snowy!) from New Jersey (cold! snowy!), from a job as a graduate school (hiking boots) to a real job (????). Would love to see a summary of boot suggestions. You could be the Manolo of the shapely-calved women!

Two comments for space-saving! (Happy travels and contratulations!!) The time of year you're traveling in poses the unique problem of six different kinds of climates from Indian Summer to full-on Winter. Good luck!

Invest in those Space-Saver travel bags that you just roll up instead of vacuum out and a decent travel-sized clothes steamer.

And, I know you already know this but it bears repeating, pack an extra bag to bring home all the goodies that you will collect from around the country!

Have a safe trip! Happy trails!!

You don't have freakishly large calves...they're just making ALL the boots wrong! I like the pack light and buy new stuff when you get there suggestion. Me, I just stuff clothes in around my knitting projects. I think I take longer to decide what yarn to bring then how many undies!

Liz...AHA! I may indeed need help. I'm doing a ppt for the first few minutes. And you don't have to be a knitter.

But for you and Mary -- Since ya'll are going to this event... it's a women's empowerment convention so the theme of my 45-minute "talk" is finding your own therapy (I'm going to be talking about writing as therapy and knitting, or any hobby, and how you can use what you've got to work through a thing.) Is that boring? I figure ya'll would tell me honestly!

Don't worry, Laurie. I also have gigantor calves. It is from years of playing soccer as a young-un and being from a naturally muscular family. You can find boots that fit over shapely calves, you just have to be patient and go shoe-shopping for half a day. I managed to find some boots that fit me and that's even with me being in Germany where everything is made for skinny-minnies.

I actually went to South Africa and Botswana for 10 days (from California) with a backpack. Not a hiking size backpack, either. Just a normal one. The ticket guy looked at me like I was nuts but I was happily able to live out of it for a 10 day safari. The trick is to be willing to have pictures that show you in 3 different places in the same outfit. *YOU* know you're clean - trust that everyone else will take it for granted and they do.

Me me! I have tree trunk calves too!

I imagine skinny-calved people designing these things, perhaps having a stray thought that some people would have calves too big to fit in them and just going "Why would such freaks even want to wear our fabulous boots when they could never look as good in them as we do?"

I am paranoid about the fashion nazis.

I was going to agree with Sneaksleep but then I read Dr. B's comment. I think we need to address the handbag issue before we can discuss packing light. I often check a bag when traveling because I expect to come back with more stuff than I had when leaving. Otherwise, I would definitely go for carry-on.

And I think everyone has some sort of issues with boots. Mine is that they kind of flap around my legs. The women in my family are cursed with tiny calves no matter the size of the rest of them.

Come to St. Louis! Peoria is just a bot too far away.

Oh, and packing light is overrated.

Pretend your house is on fire and you have three minutes, five at the most, to grab all the clothes without which you would be lost and get out (which means you have to be able to run and open the door while carrying them).

I totally lifted this from a Judith Krantz novel (see previous comment re: guilty cheesy pleasures, Judy, I love you, especially with Cheetos!), but I believe it does work. I actually learned when I traveled on business a lot; I figured out very fast what I actually needed on the road and what stayed in the garment bag. Just wait until the next leg of your tour, when you come to Boston.

(And when you do, I am totally taking you to the North End for mind-blowingly fabulous food and wine. The whole section of the city is gorgeous and friendly, with red-brick sidewalks. If you wear heels you will break an ankle.)

Oh, and now that the rain is over, it is supposed to be rather warm this week.

Regarding the boots, I have the exact opposite problem. My calves are pretty much non-existent (they're basically just skin and bone and it's embarrassing, really) so boots don't fit me at all. I don't get it. They make shoes narrow, medium and wide, why don't boots come in different sizes like that?

Miss Laurie, I can barely find ANKLE zip-ups that fit me, let alone knee highs. I could be the size of a sapling tree everywhere else and I would still have 100 year old oak stump calves. You are not alone!

I don't know of anyone - save one freakishly skinny girl in my office - who doesn't have knee boot problems. The aforementioned girl in my office actually complains because most of those boots wrinkle around her ankles and slide because they're too big. I think eddie bauer or lands end carried wider leg ones. But alas, they are not the cute fashionable kind. I'm just glad that ankle boots are in this year. I'm all over those - in grey suede!!!!

Tell more of this "packing light" phenomenon. Does it include warm clothes and cool clothes and extra underwear just in case and extra socks just in case and an extra shirt just in case and an extra closet just in case?

Ha! I have thick calves and fat knees! I gave up on tall boots a long time ago. Sad.

First on all, congratulations on your upcoming book tour!
On packing light, it is possible. I travel a lot and never take anything more than a carry-on. (the Philadelphia airport has one of the worst records for lost luggage.) So, a couple years ago, I doctored up a list I found on the internet and now I never pack without it. It's designed to work for a two-week trip and everything will fit in a carry-on suitcase (I swear. And I'm a clothes horse.) I tried to paste it, but it didn't work, so if you'd like me to send it to you, e-mail me.
Good luck!

Everyone's thinking about boots this week!

http://manolobig.com/2007/09/24/you-asked-for-it-boots/

It's all about the Duo Boots!

GOD, on the boots. I don't get it, either. And I feel like I'm pretty average sized and I don't think my calves are gigantic, but maybe they've always been overshadowed by my thighs? Because I swear to all that is holy it is damned near impossible to find a pair of boots that will zip up. Blah.

Also, are you coming to Philadelphia? Come to Philadelphia!

Hi there!
In Seattle we have that kind of rain most regularly...and soon you will be visiting us up here. Most likely though you will see the sun as it happens when people come to visit expecting rain.
Just finished a book last night and thought of you...it is called Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. And it is about her experience with writing and publishing. She has a whole chapter on how she feels about her publication date when her books come out. (And, like you!, she is funny too.)
I know your experience of having muscular calves. It is hard to find boots. I finally found a pair last year at Eddie Bauer and couldn't get over finding a pair that fit. The salespeople probably thought I was really quite crazy! I'm just expressive!
So glad you are having a great time getting ready for your book tour.

Best of luck on packing light.

As far as the boots go, my sister takes her boots to the cobbler and has him put in a zipper with more fabric on the sides - to let them out a litte. And her skinny calved friend has them taken in at the seam by the cobbler.

Makes the boots a little more pricey but they are just so fashionable!

About the spam thing - I don't know if it works on non-WordPress blogs, but I totally swear by Akismet. It traps spams by the thousands and you can either review them or just let them be deleted automatically, no muss no fuss no worries. In the time I've been running it Akismet has only made two mistakes (flagging two *real* comments as spam, as compared to some 10,000 *real* spams), and it learned from those once I corrected it. If they don't have a version that works for Movable Type, I bet somebody has something similar that does. (Now that I've been using it for a while I think it'd be worth switching to WordPress just for this feature! but that's just me....)

I was SO happy to hear you on Brenda Dayne's podcast. My two favorite knitters together at last!

Weekenders knitwear is great for traveling light. You roll the items, place in your suitcase, them shake them out before you hang in the hotel room closet. With two jackets, two tops, a pair of pants or two, and possibly a skirt, you could mix and match for the entire trip. And I'm not selling anything ...

As someone who traveled with you Ms. Laurie - packing light may not be possible. I mean, packing lighter is one thing. Packing light? I don't know about that...

Love you!

Whenever I go clothes shopping (or boots that will fit around my calf shopping) and I can't find my size I say...

I guess there's no love for the big girls.

:D

A big CONGRATULATIONS on your book tour!

I have a packing tip for you: Write down every single thing you put in your suitcase and carry on and also note how many days you are traveling. Then, when you get home, cross off anything that you didn't need or didn't wear, and add to the list anything you had to purchase because you forgot to pack it. Then you will have a good packing list for next time.

HAVE FUN!!!

Rain???We've had 200mm (8 inches) since last Friday,yes, in 10 days. Today we got 40mm(an inch and a half...) Will you please pass the sun this way??? Sun? The big yellow thing on the sky? Please??

don't be upset about the boots. or be upset if you want to be, I guess. I start to lose circulation south of the knee cap after an hour or so of wearing tall boots - and I don't even think my legs are that big! but, apparently, knee-high boots are only made for the really slender types. perhaps it's fashion's way of telling me "no, those do not look good on you." yet I wear them anyway, numb legs and all.

Laurie, if you read the phone book, we would love it. Giving us a self-helpy talk is going to be fantastic!

And I must say, I have never been interested in the Women's Lifestyle Show before this year, but they must rock if they booked you during your book signing tour!

Now to find some red-orange in the wool to spin...

Oh yes ... and did you know your book is on Amazon UK and Amazon FR, but they have to wait until January 2008 for their copies. You're internationally known!

I'm another one with the "curvy" calves. I get so irritated shopping for boots--would dearly love to get a pair of boots that I can zip up. Will now go to the JCrew website & look at theirs. :)

No hints on light packing here. Just spent the weekend in the midwest & checked a bag & had a stuffed carry-on. Traveling light is not for me!

Marit, I would trade -- you come here and I'll go to Norway :) mmmm... the cheese. Norway has excellent dairy products!

Faith. Yeah. Thanks, man. hehehehehe. And scarily enough, remember I had to FEDEX back a box of stuff from New York!! My suitcase was over the weight limit! And surprisingly enough I used every single thing I brought to NY. Including the hot rollers. Of course it was also so hot we had to change clothes three times a day because they were soaked through... eeeewww.

Good times.

Oh--UPS is delivering your book to me today!!! :)

Silly question, but I'm Canadian, so please forgive. Do you even need boots in California? Isn't winter merely a thing of lore there?

I suffer from large calf syndrome, too. I just stick with ankle boots and admire taller boots from a safe distance.

Yes Maam I too rock the calves of enormous preportion. Seriously I can not get a tall boot to fit me not even the strechy ones or the wide calf ones. Once they are over my redwood sized limbs they are so loose in the ankles I fall over, which by the by I can do on a half inch heel. Yes, I am that talented. Also I put a shout out on Ravelry for bars you can knit in in MN. I know you have many admireres(sp?) but if you want someone to pour wine down your throat after the MOA(that's Mall of America to out of towners) event email me 'cause I will be there.

I'll trade you my stick-thin, unsexy calves that can fit in any boots for your curvy, thicker ones. I can't afford cool boots, anyway!

Have a fantastic book tour/trip!

I have stumpy legs also, can't wear knee high boots...very frustrating...if on the rare occasion I want to look fashionable, I can't!!!

Congrats on the book and the book tour.

Breanna! You jest! It gets down to at least a shivering 62 degrees here in the winter!

Actually on Saturday I saw a woman wearing thigh-high suede boots and a cashmere cape walking through bloomies. And it was at least 68 that day ;)

Hi! Just wanted to say I got your book and I love it. Hehe my husband even browsed through and liked it. I soooo would love to know where us "normal" leg girls can get boots. I can never find a pair to fit my calves either. Sigh someday.

So remember stupid tapering Guess jeans? The ones that went all the way up to your rib cage and sometimes had those snazzy zippers at the ankles? Yeah, my calves would get pinched in those awful things. We don't speak about boots or knee-highed anything around here.

I survived 3.5 weeks in Italy (Sicily and the lower half of the boot) with a Rick Steves Rollie Carry on and a back pack. Go to www.ricksteves.com for help. They even have packing lists! You like lists!

Not sure what their shipping policies are, but:
http://www.duoboots.com/

Perhaps it merits a book tour here in the UK?

I like to think I have "small feet in proportion to the size of my calves" and not just "fat calves." I prefer to just wait until the lace up kind of boots come back in style.

Check with J.Crew on the book front. They have lots of styles with an "extended calf" option.

When I need to pack light, I try to do these things:
-Limit myself to no more than 2 pairs of shoes, including the ones I will wear while in transit. (I'm not a shoe addict by any means, but my shoe library is sizeable and choosing can be hard. On my first trip to Europe this year I bought two new pairs of shoes because I didn't own any that were both cute and suitable for sightseeing.)
-Bring 1 skirt and 1 pair of jeans/pants that will go with anything (if you need to dress like a grown up in pants that are not jeans, I suppose a total of 3 interchangeable bottoms is allowed.)
-forgo regular folding and make compact little rolls out of your t-shirts and other wrinkle-resistant clothing. Room for more!

When we went on our trip to Europe this June ("my first time! exciting! I must pack clothes that will not attract scornful glances from the French!") I brought only a 21" carry-on sized rolling suitcase. I followed all my rules above but neglected to pack enough appropriately warm clothing because I optimistically decided that Europe in early June would be "summer" and "warm." I had one thin long-sleeved shirt to pair with several t-shirts and tank tops and no socks that weren't invisible footie socks. As a result I was very chilly a lot of the time. So you know, bring warm socks or leggings and a light sweater and maybe a scarf too.

yeah, I also have thickish calves. (Too much gymnastics as a child. I know this sounds like a lame-o excuse, but tis true) Knee high boots are the enemy. But so dang cute. sigh.
Have you tried rolling your clothes up to make them smaller? Also those space bags things for travel work pretty well.

Laurie - roll your clothes! Fold them so they are in long rectangles (I.E. - fold pants in half and fold the sleeves of shirts in the fold in half) and roll them up in tight cylinders. They take up less space that way - I managed to get 10 days worth of clothes in the size luggage you can bring on a plane!

I also have the tree-trunk calves. The 70s sucked for me (the gauchos w/the knee boots just wouldn't work...even when I was a child).

Yeah, and boots. Man! I guess shoe makers figure that calves are in some kind of imaginary proportion to foot sizes. I have to go up a size to get something that will come even close to zipping over my calves. I've found that real leather boots will stretch a bit over time, so the leather boots I begged mom for Christmas last year that were a bit too tight are now perfectly not-too-snug,-not-too-loose at the top. My feet slide around in them, though. Can't win em all I guess.

Speaking as a woman who just a month ago made a week-long trip to France and Ireland with a carry-on, people, including the stupid hat that everyone told me I'd need for the wedding in Ireland and which I ended up SO not wearing... let's just say this topic consumed me this summer.

Packing light tips: get a small (19 -20 inch)carry-on with no extraneous pockets so you can easily stick it under your seat and avoid the whole "I am too an independent woman of the 21st century, but excuse me sir if you wouldn't mind sticking it up there for me" gig that short women everywhere struggle with. Just that suitcase and a big-ass purse. Roll all your clothes. Stick with one color pallete.

Hmmmm, what else? Oh! If you are bringing flats that happen to have a steel shank running down the middle, wear them and send them through the scanner separately, or you will be accused of packing knives in your carry-on.

There. Helpful, no?

On the 'huge freakin' calves' portion of your entry - No, you are so not alone. I could never find cute boots that fit, even in the dark ages when I was scrawny.

Have hope, though! Eddie Bauer has 'wide calf' knee high boots. I have not, personally, ordered them, because I am chicken and think if 'wide calf' wont' fit I will have to resort to surgery. But for you - perhaps they will work. Good luck.

Hi Laurie
I picked up your book on Sunday (last one left at B&N after I FINALLY found it in with the knitting books!!!) and finished it on Sunday! I've been reading your blog since almost the beginning (April 2005) and enjoyed your book. What I couldn't help but think about as I was reading the book was how cathartic the process must have been for you...to "re-live", in a sense, the dark days you went through following the divorce and then the amazing job you have done since then of putting your life back together, discovering who you really are and what you really want from life. I don't know how you could have written that book without feeling pretty damn proud of yourself - not just for the book (which you should be proud of) but for your life.

Oh, and I don't know how you could have written that book and had your parents read about you having had sex, sex, sexsexsex!!!! I'm blushing just thinking about my mom reading anything of the sort!!!!!!!!

in order to pack light you have to leave the hot rollers at home. sorry.

and only two pairs of shoes. you're allowed to bring your high-fashion heels and then you wear the other pair.

two pair of pants (black preferably) -- one you pack, one you wear.

tops and underwear -- enough for the time you'll be going unless you want to wash in dry in a hotel room.

and a light, water-resistant type jacket just in case. a trench if you will.

ooh. t-shirt for sleeping.

there. you're packed.

oh. beauty aids -- little bottles and what you don't have you can always buy or the hotel will give you for free.

you're done!

I loved your interview for Cast On!

Although I am a little upset that we won't be in Minnesota at the same time. I really wanted to go to a book signing but I'll be there at the beginning of October and it sounds like you'll be there at the end. I was going to ask my cousin to push his wedding back... but I was advised that probably wouldn't go over too well. Huh.

The above mentioned travel space-saver bags that roll instead of vacuum are awesome. I took a 9 day trip to Peru, part in sunny Lima at sea-level, part in chilly Cusco at 11,000 ft. Lots of clothes that squished quite admirably in those bags.

Use the shoes! Put your undies in tissue and stuff your shoes. Cell phone chargers and stuff fit in them too.

Don't take a steamer. Take a couple plastic tube hangers, one with clips if you have one. Hang your clothes on the shower rod, crank up the hot shower and close the door while you sip your coffee - or your wine the night before. Steaming without a steamer.

Hi Laurie

I came out of lurking to tell you to check out Clark's boots. I have a nice pair of tall black zip up boots that don't choke my poor calves to death. And btw, I think my calves are pretty normal, so I'm guessing yours are too.

While I find both the boots thing and the travelling light thing very interesting (I stick to ankle boots, I'm fed up with the anguish every time I have to boot-shop, I won't even discuss my luggage woes it's too pitiful) I am intrigued as a Londoner that you have never had a "fry-up".

The Great British Breakfast Fry Up is legend, and varies from region to region. Egg, bacon, sausage, mushroom, beans, tomato, black pudding and a fried slice (or combinations therof, with Brown Sauce or Tomato Sauce the accompanying condiment of choice) all washed down with a mug of tea, is guaranteed to either cause or cure many evils - fills you to bursting, clears a hangover and, I am reliably informed, is as good as an Indian curry for starting contractions if you're past your due date - provided you can get the meal down in the first place. Not for everyday for the average person, mind you, but it's the Staff of Life to the Great British Builder. It's how they acquire what is known as Builder's Bum!

Come to Britain and get one down you!

YES! I have always had the same problem with boots. Even when I was skinny in high school, my calves were too... um... muscular (!) to fit comfortably into boots. And now that I'm not skinny anymore... forget it.

I have no advice on overpacking, some times you need all that stuff, no advice for the boots with pencil legs either but I do know that if you survived being rained on then you are not a witch.

Do NOT get me started on those goddamned boots! If I weighed 80 lbs I STILL wouldn't be able to find a pair of boots that would fit over my sturdy peasant calves!

I am a size 8 (when I'm not 6 months pregnant) have been told I have nice legs and have the same issue finding nice boots. The fashion world is nuts.

So far the only boots I've found to fit my calves are from Target, Isaac Mizrahi, made of a stretchy micro-fiber fabric. Actually they are a bit big in the leg for me but at least I can get them on.

I'm all about the online shopping, and www.sihouettes.com has a link to all their boots (35 style options, and some colors!) on their home page. I haven't ordered from them (yet), but they seem to understand the calf thing.

I just listened to the podcast and I love your voice! Seriously, you have such a pretty voice.

Packing light -- well I used to travel for work every week via airplane, and always used a carry-on, (I don't trust the airlines to not lose my luggage), so I got pretty good at packing light. (And I'm definitely not tiny or skinny). What it came down to was relying on some wardrobe basics & staples to get me through the week. I was bringing business attire, so would bring clothes that all matched each other (neutrals, blues, grays, black, etc.), and always planned on wearing at least one of my jackets more than once that week, and possibly one of the skirts, as well. Mix & match so that you can repeat a few things and not have it be so obvious. And same with shoes, too. I'd bring two pairs -- a blue pair and a black pair, and they'd work all week. I also have a long black tank dress in that travel-friendly fabric (see: Magellans.com) that doesn't wrinkle, and that dress gets a LOT of use. Put a different jacket on it each time you wear it, and it's like a whole different outfit.

For boots for those of us with larger than average calves, you may have to order mail-order. I know that some of the "big girl" catalogs (Lane Bryant, Roamans, etc.) carry boots with extra-large calves.

i have the same problem w/the knee high boots... you are not alone, oh, southern one...

I have big calves too. Even when I'm skinny and in good shape, they're tough to find boots for, and when I'm overweight, it's awful. It's weird because when I look at myself, I don't think they look especially big. Like, I don't think when I walk down the street in a skirt, people are saying, "Good god, look at that girl's calves!". But anyway, yes, I have some tips. First, Zappos sometimes labels boots as being "wide calf":
http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/722679595/show_all/1/page/1/bar/1.html
My cutest pair are from there (they are made by Fitzwell) and they are totally stylish and I get tons of compliments. (I found that the circumfrence was actually much larger than stated and while I thought they might be tight, they were almost too big even for my giant calves) Second, there are some other internet retailers that carry wide calf boots if you do a search. Third, a decent cobbler can either stretch them or sometimes add an elastic dart, if they are just a little too tight.
Happy shopping.

Oh, you're so great! So good to hear what you sound like.

I don't know why they don't make various calf sizes. Boots should be like jeans, a foot size and a calf size. I bought some boots in Turkey and the salesperson told me the store had a machine that would strech the leather. It worked great, but I don't know if this machine exists in the US.

As for packing light, this summer when I went to Europe for 3 weeks, I took a small carry on suitcase and a laptop bag. But, it was summer so I took sandals, swimsuits, dresses, a camera and a credit card and that was it. I don't think it's possible to pack so light in the winter.

Packing light - THAT I am not so good at. However, I am here to tell you the secret to boots that fit you perfectly. You lovely lady with the slim ankles ( you really must learn to look at things on the bright side! ). I bought this lucious pair of boots and spent me some dough and they also would not fit my calves - then the lovely man selling them to me said - "OH, that's not a problem - we'll just use the stretcher for them!" (so if there's a tool for it - then we are definitely not alone) He measured my curvy calves and stretched the boots to fit perfectly. May I say - nothing has fit better - and boy are they HOT! (in the sexy way) So, get thee to a shoemaker (there must be one in LA) or try the John Fluevog store (where I got my boots - i don't know if they do this but it's worth a shot) - they may charge you a bit if you don't buy the boots there obviously- but it's like having a tailor make those clothes perfect and the best way to show off your lovely calves ( I get many compliments on mine in the boots!).

I'm so excited to finally have a useful piece of advice! I may jsut have to post. But feel free to share the news - we should all be happy with our shoes!

My God you're funny!!! Love your writing!

Just wanted to say 'bore da' from Wales ;)
That's about the extent of my Welsh apart from 'diolch yn fawr' which is thank-you very much - I'm nothing if not polite.

Am with you on the unfeasibly large calves thing, the rest of me is average BTW. I found a pair in Next. If you ever visit your podcasty pal you'll have to shop there and you can also have the Welsh version of the fried breakfast which sometimes includes cockles and laverbread (trust me, you really don't want to know).

Glad you didn't get washed away or are buried under the mud slide. That is just crazy.

I think you did great on Cast On! It was a charming interview.

On my last trip overseas (Germany and Italy in March) I brought a small roller case for everything. My game plan was to bring clothes that were neutral enough to go with each other so everything could be combined together. I also brought things that could be easily layered since I was traveling to 2 different climates.

Looking forward to your visit to MN in October.

COME TO CLEVELAND, AUNT PURL.

Or somewhere within driving distance. :)

Tell Molly "Thanks" for showing us all the knitted swiffer rags. In a matter of minutes after seeing hers I cast on and off my own (with four tabs to help it stay in place). God bless her.

I love the Ugg boot and I want a tall pair. However, I have a phobia of trying on a pair and finding they dont fit my "monster calves". It's a serious condition that the world of shoe people have yet to address.

Or you could just do what Maryse said, and you'd come out the same.

Just finished listening to the Pod Cast and I really enjoyed it. Thanks Brenda for featuring the sweet 'Sparkle Laurie'.

OK, it looks like you've gotten lots of hints on boots, but one of my calf-enhanced friends swears by this website: http://www.widewidths.com/

I've never ordered anything from them, so I have no personal testimonial, but it gives you something else to look at at least!

Good luck on tour!

I think they've moved boot manufacturing to countries that don't feed their calves. My calves are unchanged, I'm certain, and yet every pair feels uncomfortably snug. :0/

The storm of the century skipped us so the media spent three days freaking out over 'WHERE DID IT GO!?! WE REALLY NEED RAIN! DESPERATELY! LIKE YESTERDAY ALREADY!'

I hear you on the boots... and here I thought my calves were the sveltest part I had... I finally had luck at Cold Water Creek.

I have freakishly wide and short calves (no really, when I ordered custom riding boots they called me back because they were convinced the measurements had to be wrong and then ARGUED with me about it). You can have lovely boots, but it isn't just a walk in, choose, walk out thing. First - measure your calf at the widest spot, then check Zappos (both the "wide calf" boots and the regular boots), they list the circumference of their boots. If it is close, you can go to a good cobbler and an elastic dart put in the side, or in the case of pull-on boots, a zipper. Also, http://www.widewidths.com/ this website has a lot of wide boots, but charge for shipping - so check Zappos first.

Glad to hear you survived the deluge -- my aunt works at a preschool in OC and she said the toddlers freaked out. One of them ran around saying "my hair is wet! my hair is wet!" as if the world were coming to an end. Ah, I miss southern California...

Yo, I have humungous, ginormous calves. I call them "German potato farmer calves." I have some pretty sturdy peasants in my family tree.

If you ever find boots sized for a healthy, German peasant, please let us know...

Many boot companies make "wide calf" versions. I know--I've always had to purchase that version. You won't, of course find them at Payless. LL Bean used to carry such things--I haven't checked lately.

Laurie, I agree with Eileen - - "packing light" is HIGHLY overrated! I don't know how to pack light - - I need CHOICES, I tell ya - - don't want to decide TODAY what I might want to wear a week later!!

I'm looking forward to your talk! My "therapy" hobby is my antique booth. I can go up there and spend a couple of hours puttering, or looking through books to find pricing for my wares, and the tension just drains away.

And about needing help with your PowerPoint at the Peoria show? No problem - - consider me totally at your service! :-)

Laurie,

Get your boots at the Mall of America. We have lots of folks here have sturdy calves & we live in boots half the year...& no sales tax on them.

I found my lovely boots at www.silhouettes.com they list the circumference for each size. I was very happy with the purchase and the fit.

Packing Solution!!!! Eagle Creek brand makes these incredible containers to put in your suitcase that keep everything organized and pressed and . . . I cannot say enough. You can see some of them at www.containerstore.com in the travel section, although lots of people carry them. I swear by the envelopes as well as the mesh cubes. I spent two weeks on the road in Peru with one small suitcase. These container things really help keep it all together. If I hadn't had them, each night at a hotel would have been a disaster of stuff jumbled all over my suitcase. Okay, enough evangelizing. You get that I'm a mesh cube and envelope zealot.

P.S. I just listened to the podcast and you made me tear up a couple of times! Your success makes me so happy for you. May the proceeds from the book sales allow you to take a MONTH-long vacation! :-)

P.P.S. I'm up to Chapter 20 (I'm slow!) and still enjoying it! :-)

For BOOTS: you might try www.jessicalondon.com as I think they have some with extra wide shaft's. (Am I the only one that laughs at the word shaft?)

The podcast was my first audio interview and it happened at 6 a.m. (Brenda is on UK time) and so I was afraid I would make no sense at all.

It's weird being the one interviewed when you're used to asking the questions! I can say in all honesty this is my least favorite part of all this. I'm scared I'm going to make an ass of myself. I am way better at writing than talking. But Brenda was very kind and put me at ease.

This is awesome -- so many boot suggestions! And also, is it wrong of me to be so happy that others have this same issue?

my mom has the same boot problem... it makes her so mad!

Also, when you find the secret to light packing, can you let me know???

I don't think I've ever packed only a carry on... even for a weekend trip!

I like th have variety to dress on my mood.... not forced to wear the only thing I could fit in the suitcase, geez.

I prefer to think of my calves as "sturdy" rather than freakishly large or tree trunk like. The boots you are after will be found at the MOA - if you can't get it there (or IKEA across the street) it just doesn't exist.

Also - just a note - for your light airplane reading - make sure you avoid a book called Monkeewrench - it's a great book but has a murder take place at MOA and well...I think you get my point ;)

If you buy boots made of leather they can be stretched at the top of the boot by a shoe repair place. I've had friends do this and it seems to work.

My packing light 2 cents: Whenever I travel for work I choose one base color, usually black but sometimes navy. You can get by with one pair of shoes (worn, not packed). Ex: Wear black shoes and black dress pants and just rotate different tops every day. Take an extra pair of black pants so you can alternate. Boring but it all fits in a carryon - how this all came about is that I used to work for someone who absolutely would not allow me to check a bag when I traveled with him, so I learned fast how to make it work. These days its a different story with all the shampoo/liquid/gel restrictions...really its easier to check bags now...so load up and enjoy!

in re: finding boots to fit over calves.

Locate a good shoe repair shop and have the guy (I've never seen a female shoe repairperson although I'm sure they exist) insert a small triangular gusset in elastic to match the color of the boot, into the back seam. Works a treat and no one will notice it.

1) You're not alone. I've never been able to wear snug boots because of my jinormous calves AND my mile-high insteps. Oh how I loved the 80s and those snazzy ankle boots!

2) FYI, Amazon sent me an email that your book woudl be shipped this week. Then another saying not till 2 weeks. Forget that! Canceled the order and bought the only one my local Barnes & Noble had. Aaaah, relief!

Try asking at your shoe repair place whether they have a boot stretcher. Leather has a lot of give, so putting "tight around the calf" boots on a boot stretcher for a couple of hours will loosen the calf area up a lot. A friend of mine swore she could never wear boots because of her muscular calves, and was amazed by the difference that even half an hour on a boot stretcher made.

It is wrong that the shoe manufacturers call normal calves wide and skinny calves normal. Wrong, very wrong!!!!

I loved your voice and the interview with Brenda! It was a GREAT interview! Can't wait till your book arrives!

You are not alone...muscular calves rarely find knee-high boots which fit. Packing light(er) is possible with the right bag. Plus a large carry-on ;P

That was the topic of one of Manolo's Shoe Blog's posts today. Here's the link he mentioned.

http://manolobig.com/2007/09/24/you-asked-for-it-boots/

I too have curvalicious calves, but wear a size 6 shoe. There are wide calf boots, but they always start at size 7 or 8. We petite curvy gals need the kneehigh boots too!

Can't wait to listen to your podcast on the way home today.

oh, i have had this problem forever! Even when I lost a bunch of weight, I had to get the larger size calf boots from jcrew in order for them to fit. they don't fit me right now and i think they stopped making them. I hope people have good suggestions about cute boots, because i love me some kneehigh boots and the stretchy ones are tres icky - plus they make your ankles look weird.
i mostly want to strangle people who complain about their calves swimming in boots. so not fair!!!
my mom of course does not have this problem. she has lovely legs. so where'd I get mine?!?!

take your old clothes and throw them away as you go, especially the undies.

donald j. pliner stretchy boots - i swear.

take more than 1 pair of shoes because if you only have 1 pair and they break, you will be up that creek that smells bad.

I forgot about all the bleeping restrictions on liquids. Oy. I'm just going to pack a checked bag and be done with it. Um, well, be done with it ... plus a carry on of course. And my handbag. And hopefully a camel for transporting me and all my crazy luggage...

I have the boot/calf issue too. Even the boots I bought that were identified as "wide calf", they still do not zip up. Not even close. I can only hope that one day when I am skinny and fit, I will be able to wear my fabulous boots that I didn't have the heart to return. If you figure this problem out - let us know!!

Oh, I have the boot problem, too! I just found the perfect pair. Their Ecco (stay with me--they're beautiful, not orthopedic, though any picture on the internet does NOT do them justice) and the buckles on the outside actually loosen enough for me to get my calves in there just fine. I think the style name is Breda.

Though given your high heels comment, these may be way too low for you.

Okay everyone measure your calves and lets figure out what is the normal/average calf size....

My right calf measures 14" (and so did the left).

With you, boots - with me, underpants. They're just not LISTENING OUT THERE, LADY CLOTHING MAKERS! My daughter and I have both begged off work, see you in Minne-apples-is! Re: packing--remember, everyplace you go, the people haven't seen you before, You could *just about* wear the same thing every day, just maybe with a different scarf for jacket or wossname. I can tell you, *WE* won't know from what you're wearing anyway in our excitement at seeing you in the FACE! Also, whoever said to bring a bag for stuff you accumulate, good idea.........oh, and remember to read the little bottles in the hotel biffies! Stephanie used hand lotion on her hair or something. ((oops)) This is me, dancing from one foot to the other, counting down the days....

You have a wonderful voice! And so Texan - you really are from here!!! Your book is on its way from Amazon. I hope I have some of the good cabernet left by the time it gets here to sip while I read.

Okay, that sounded weird when I read it, of course you are really from Texas. I'm so sorry I won't be able to see you when you come to Houston, that's kind of on the opposite end of the state from me. But you will be fabulous everywhere you go.

Okay folks, please don't try and track me down to shoot me but I weigh WAY over 80lbs and I can't find a pair that come close to not fitting my calves. I've never thought of myself as having skinny calves until reading this post and everyone's comments. Instead of not being able to find shafts that fit, I can find plenty that I end up swimming in.

Why is it that the perfect fit of close but not cutting off circulation is unattainable for so many of us?

Just listened to the pod cast and you sound just like I expected you to--a little teensy bit of a CA accent and a whole lot of charming Southern--enjoyed hearing you, adds a new depth to reading your blog. Very well done! I do believe you are heading for world-wide fame, but your blog readers knew you and loved you first!

Laurie...

I'm awaiting your book this week from Amazon. Can't wait to see you in Nashville, TN!!

Okay, I guess I felt a bit guilty about the entire "woe is me and my tiny calves" comment. So I hunted this down for you. Happy bidding!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sandra-Knitting-Magazine-Sept-2006-Sweaters-Wraps_W0QQitemZ300154461804QQihZ020QQcategoryZ41241QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I, too, have the curse of the huge calves. Try Justin boots, they're the only kind that fit me halfway decently.

Just wanted to second the recommendation of Duo Boots (www.duoboots.co.uk) as they are brilliant, excellent customer service and they DO ship internationally according to the website FAQ! It says to e-mail for a quote so no idea how much that would be. Or come on a book tour to the UK, please!?

Best of luck with the boot hunt, but I thought I would just mention that I've been cruising fashion sites lately, and apparently, it's ANKLE high boots that will be the rage this fall. So if you really can't find the calf-high boots you covet, you could go with the short boots for now.

So about the boot question. Since leaving Ireland a gazillion years ago I too have never been able to buy boots. But 2 years ago, Nordstroms (a big cheer here!) had a very cool pair of boots with---get this----laces all the way up the back---concealing a large gusset for the calf challenged woman. I hauled them out of my closet to see who made them but of course there is no tag---nothing---except "made in Italy". But perhaps a bit of sleuthing might turn them up for you!

You need Duo Boots.

http://www.duoboots.com/

Order by calf size. Yes, they're excruciatingly expensive, but worth it because they're comfy and last forever.

Down side? You'll have to measure your tree trunk calves first :(

I gotta second Erica's suggestion for ECCO boots. My go-to black knee highs are Ecco's that I got for cheap from Sierra Trading Post. Comfortable, stylish, and appropriate for my "natural" calves (that's what the shoe department guy called them... to which I have to ask, if my ginormous calves are "natural", what do they call those that fit into these wee skinny boots.. "unnatural"?)

Complaining burns up hundreds and hundreds of calories. Absolutely...

POX on Spammers!

Just to add a recommendation for duo boots they do ship internationally, I moved to Canada last year and felt I had to order my third pair! They are so well made and comfy, my oldest pair are about 6 years old and still going strong! I actually have the opposite problem little skinny legs (my grandmother says she has seen better dangling from a nest) but I have recommended them to friends with more developed calves and they love them too.

No, it is not just you. It is an evil conspiracy. Cute knee-high boots are actually made to fit pre-pubescent boys. My calves are not thin, and I had never been able to buy any knee-high boots until I found some really hot Kenneth Cole Reaction ones last year at DSW on a work trip to Texas. I would have paid exhorbitant amounts of money for them, I was so ecstatic. I might have lost my senses and also bought like $800 worth of clothes just to go along with my new boots. It was a banner day. I know tons of women who seem to be perfectly normal sized who have the same problem. See? A conspiracy.

Hi Laurie,

Boots! Manolo for the Big Girl has a recent post about boots for wider calves:

http://manolobig.com/2007/09/24/you-asked-for-it-boots/

I've heard good things about Duo boots, but I don't have a pair, sadly.

Good luck! All girls should have a kick-ass pair of high boots.

Okay, so here's my tips for packing light:

Get a rollaboard and a companion bag. (Something like these: http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=searching&Nso=1&Ns=ORDER_COUNT&displayType=grid&itemsPerPage=24&Ntt=22&D=22&N=4001&order=ORDER_COUNT).

Make sure the main rollaboard will fit in an overhead compartment (which usually limits you to the 22" bags if traveling in the US and the 20" bags internationally -- more info here: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/prepare_fly/baggage/ and at the individual airline sites.)

Optional (but for sure really handy if you don't want your purse to be your companion bag): Make sure that your purse will fit in your companion bag with usable room left over to stow goodies for the flight.

Get Packing folders for clothes, and packing cubes for lingerie and socks. The ones I've used are: http://www.ebags.com/travel_accessories/packing_folders_cubes/category_search/index.cfm?Ne=100&N=4001+20014520&sourceid=MSNKZ21442&couponid=57983602&keyword=packing+cubes&keyword=Packing+Cubes You will not BELIEVE the difference they make. (Plus, it saves you from having TSA paw through your undies in front of everybody else -- ewww!) The two sided ones are great -- clean things on one side, dirty on the other. They also work really well for knitting projects -- which you can take on the plane, according to the TSA. (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#0)

Make sure everything will mix and match, including shoes.

Scarves are your friends. :)

Take at least two tops and two bottoms (in case of spills).

Take no more than two bottoms for the first week, and at only one bottom for each week past the second and subsequent week.

Take snacks in zip locks. More snacks than you think you will need. Something you don't like so well that you'll snarf down all of them before the plane leaves the tarmac, but something you'll be really glad to have in case the plane doesn't leave the tarmac for four hours after its scheduled departure or late at night in a hotel room. Trust me on this one.

This isn't a packing site: www.seatguru.com, but you really, really, really want to know about it. It has the seat configuration for every airplane model flown by domestic airlines, with reports from travelers on which are the good seats and which are the bad ones. A good seat versus a bad seat can be the difference between heaven and hell on a trip. (Okay, sometimes it's just the difference between purgatory and hell, but don't you still want the choice?)

This isn't a packing site either: www.flyertalk.com, but if you are going to be flying the same airline for most or much of this trip, you might as well know all the tips and tricks for taking advantage of those frequent flier miles. (On some airlines, a bunch of trips in a short amount of time can qualify you for elite status. You usually have to sign up in advance to try to qualify, but if you can qualify for elite status, you can say good-bye to long security lines in many airports...I'm just saying!)

Have a wonderful trip -- You're going to have a ton of fun, and we can't wait to see you in Seattle! :)

I hear you!! I loooove shoes and especially boots, but I noway nohow have the exact calf circumference which is apparently required to wear boots. Sigh.

Enormous calves? Check.

I got lucky with 1 pair of lace-up boots (hello, dominatrix!) which I have worn the crap out of for years, but I have never found another pair of knee-high boots that I could get up over my turkey drumsticks.

Le sigh.

I just listened to your interview with Brenda Dayne yesterday, and I thought you were completely charming! At first I was worried that you'd practiced yourself out of your Southern accent, but then I was delighted to hear it peek through here and there. It was a fantastic, though far too short, interview. Congratulations, girl!

Laurie:

Coming out of lurkdom here to say: Congratulations on your book and your upcoming tour...you deserve every last itty-bit of your success...enjoy it! Wish you could come meet us in St. Louis...hint, hint.

Loved hearing you on Cast On! In my head, as I've read your blog, I've always substituted my own drawl for your "voice", since we've traveled some of the same Southern roads (only I was traveling a few years before you): I was born in (West) Tennessee and lived there until I went to college in Mississippi; as an adult...lived in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee (again), North Carolina (twice), Georgia, Florida, and Missouri...did I leave one out?! (That doesn't count when we lived in Ohio, where no one could understand a word I said for 3 years...kept asking me to repeat every word with a long "i" vowel sound.) And no, there were no APBs out on us...that I know of...:) But, when I heard you speaking on the podcast, I realized I had done you an injustice...you sound so much better "in person!"

RE: packing light. The airlines have made "no more than 50 pounds per suitcase" my personal definition of light. If I can hoist the bag onto their scale and come in at 49.9, I consider I've "packed light!" And, remember, you will always, always have more stuff at the end of your trip than you started out with, so I pack this fabulous fold-up-into-its-own-pocket zippered nylon-tough bag that, when unfolded, can hold ALL of my yarn, etc. purchases...and counts as my second checked bag on the return flight. (Of course, you have to limit yourself to 50 pounds in it, too...bummer.) Yep, second bag...and FedEx...are my best friends!

Pretty,thick-legged girls?
I'm one!
Yes, the cobbler is your friend- lace-up boots he can put a gusset in, the others he can stretch. Or look at http://www.silhouettes.com- larger sizes in clothing, and wide calf boots for those of us who are "plus size" from the knee down. ;-)

Also- a word to the wise on packing light and lots of photo-ops:design the travel wardrobe to be black on the bottom and brown on top. Really. Black may be "So chic" but once us blonds are over 25, that black just SUCKS the life outta us!
And while it's tempting cat-hair fate, lay out all your clothes/shows/undies/accessories on a clean sheet on the bed to make sure you have something to go with everything (and everything goes with everything else!). The less shoes you can take, the better!
And never forget-- you're NOT going to the Gobi desert- you can BUY something if you need it!

i like what Karen said, only in my case, "i have thin calves relative to the size of my thighs"...

Laurie, you are The Author! You can pack whatever you want! As much or as many as you wish! It's All About You...YAY!!!!!

Just bring lots of dollar bills for bag-toter tips :)

Love ya!

A few years ago my fiance saw a hooter's girl who was wearing boots of unknown length with black leg warmers all the way up her thighs. Seems like an interesting way to mimic tall boots, if you're willing to wear leg warmers, and my fiance still talks about how hot it looked (still not enough to make me knit thigh-length leg warmers, though). But I dunno if we ought to take our fashion cues from hooter's girls.

Packing light! Sigh. Some day in the future I will have to move to Europe for a year with just one suitcase. I'm gonna die! Just pack stuff you can wear more than once--one pair of jeans rather than five, for example. If it's gonna be cold, I'll opt for a thin merino sweater over a thicker sweater out of acrylic or cotton. But I still never manage to do longer trips with fewer than four pairs of shoes, plus maybe shower shoes depending on the circumstances.

oh, btw, for light traveling - space saver travel bags. They roll all your stuff up small, so you look like you're travleing light, but you can really fit a lot of clothes in them. now if only someone would come up with a way to make more shoes fit in a bag!

Another couple of stores that work well with extended calves are Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft & Eddie Bauer. NOW, when you DO get these fabulous boots, put empty 1 liter bottles in each boot when you're not wearing them so that they don't get all floppy. Also makes them easier to store.

Hmm... I can't pack light either and I think packing for 2 or 3 days is so much harder than packing for a week or longer. Learn the art of folding and make sure your luggage has wheels. :)

Torrid.com has a line of boots made with extra wide calves for the voluptuous members of fashionable society such as my self. Lane Bryant and the Avenue also carry or have carried knee boots with extra wide calves. Even when I was a twig (6ft tall and sz 9 waist!) and people were throwing cheeseburgers at me I STILL couldn't wear knee high boots because my calves were too big. *shrugs* I guess I hadn't been raptured in the throes of starvation long enough for my calf muscles to atrophy sufficiently. Heh I'm not sarcastic... not at all..... and I'm not at ALL bitter towards the skinny chicken legged shoe designers.

With you on the boots. Also, it has nothing to do with being thick! Myself being a "thick" girl at times in my life (anywhere from size 6 to 14), I have NE.VER. In any size. Been able to wear a boot that didn't strangle off blood flow to my lower extremities. And I am pretty sure I don't carry all my weight in my calves. I am always amazed when I see people wearing boots that are LOOSE around their calves. Like they've stuck their feet in buckets and walked around in them all day. Are they double amputees with only metal rods in there or what?? That's my explanation.

I was so excited to hear you on Cast On! My favorite podcast and my favorite blog - rockin'.

On the calf thing...Yes! I thought I was the only one.

On the packing light...the key is reusable layers. Definitely. Another thing that helps to make clothes smaller are ziploc bags that you can squeeze most of the air out of and then seal. I know they make these ones that you suck all of the air out of with a vacuum cleaner and they get really tiny, but I imagine having to pack a vacuum cleaner so you can do that each morning of your trip would kind of defeat the purpose of the whole thing.

You are the highlight of my day. I haven't posted before, so it bears saying. =)

Cheers!

1) I feel you on the voice thing. I sound like a congested Muppet on recordings of all kinds. I find Muppets charming, but that's not the sexy, girl-of-the-world image I generally hope to portray.

2) I have big ol' linebacker calves. I bought a pair of Jessica Simpson (don't judge) knee-high stiletto heeled boots last fall and they're made of stretch leather, which isn't nearly as gross and synthetic as it sounds.

And they were cheaper than a lot of the shoes at Nordstrom.

BTW -- Nordstrom online gives calf measurements on all their boots, if that helps. I know it helped me.

OMG...so, now do I not only cry at your blog, I tear up at your interviews, e.g., the Cast-On interview. The part about you having your dad read the dedication, while on the phone with you, did me in. What a family - what hope and vision he has.

No help on the boots thing - I've got size 5.5 feets and NOT size 5.5 calves and those zippers edged with elastic under the leather 'gills' is not a cool look on my shortie legs.

space saver stuff is cool for squishing clothes in. Also, sometimes when I travel I ship things home ahead of me - or to a friend's house, then it is waiting safely and I'm not schlepping it all over. Have a ball on the speaking engagement.

Man, I'm the only one with the opposite problem? I've got such skinny calves, none of those boots ever fit. People have told me to build up the muscles in my calves, but fashion is really not going to motivate me to work out, and I'm not sure it would work anyway. Oh, and I'm 5'8", so I'm way out of proportion, with long legs and a petite-sized top half (except for the arms, sleeves are never long enough).

Anyone have a sense of who makes the smallest-calved boots? I ordered some from Zappos on the strength of the reviews complaining about calf-size and they still didn't fit right (and were that creepy, vinyl-y leather). I've got one pair of microfiber ones that I bought in Spain that are only a little loose, but I'd love a real leather pair.

I got an email from Amazon today-- they've shipped your book to me! I can't wait to meet you (and get my book signed!) in Peoria.

I heard my voice on tape for the first time when I was six. I thought I sounded so hideous I decided I would never speak out loud again. Of course that decision didn't work out so well, but it took me two or three decades to get used to the way I sounded.

Shaklee has awesome Earth fiendly cleaning products that work!! I can moisten a cloth w/ the pre-soak I make & use it to wipe down a gross shower (my hubbie uses bar soap)

PRE-SOAK
2 T Basic H(household)
2 T Basic I (industrial)
2 T basic L (laundry)
in a 2 cup container, fill to top w/ water

This takes out dried blood or anything! I have soaked set in stains in this-grease- & it works.

Shaklee.com

I can order for you.

Barb G.

Coming out of lurkdom to say the calves are considered a Welsh genetic trait in my family.
Everyone in my family, fat or thin, has enormous calves. When I visited Cardiff a few years ago, I saw a lot of ladies with calves like mine!

I loved your interview on Cast On! Two of my favorite internet personalities kvetching... what more could you ask for?

Beware the space saver travel bags! ;-)
I packed my suitcase full of them... then I couldn't pick up the suitcase -- oops!
They save space, but all that stuff still weighs the same. Darn 50lb limit.

Naturalizer makes wide-calf boots. I have two pair.

I also have always had trouble finding boots, so I finally left the Windy City of Chicago, where the snow is very deep and the wind, it is cooold and boots are NEEDED, and moved to, note this, LOS ANGELES = BOOTS NOT NEEDED.

Warm, you know and the snow is not deep. Although, I know, fashion and all that.

I'm with you on the big calves. Look for boots that lace up, but also have a zipper on the inner leg so it doesn't take five minutes to get them on and off. Here's the super-fantastic pair I have:
http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w%5B0%5D=attribute%3AWomens&w%5B1%5D=order%3Afresh&p=83&pp=10&colourID=670&view=detail

(the Fluevog mini sugar, in case the link doesn't work)

I can't even wear socks without getting a indent all the way around my ankles. I'm currently trying to find the motivation to modify a sock pattern for my legs.

Hmm...I have that problem with socks Sharon, and I have thin(ish) calves (in proportion to my thighs). Maybe it's all that elastic...they certainly don't fall down though. Or maybe it's the thick ankles.

BUT - I am totally going to go check out Duo's, and start saving my pennies.

Try Eddie Bauer...I just saw that they have wide calf boots. Also, I have the same problem...YOU ARE NOT ALONE, GIRLFRIEND!!

This first tour, you're going to overpack. And you're going to get sick of lugging your suitcase around. Then you'll figure out what you really need. The biggest mistake is to over-shoe. Yeah, you need your heels, and your comfy shoes, but you do NOT need 10 pairs of shoes for five days! Pack once, then look at everything and get rid of half of what's in your bag. You'll be fine!

And I'm with you on the calf thing.

i'm sure you got lots of tips ... so i hope i'm not repeating myself ... but, have you checked out boots by jcrew? i seem to remember them having "extended calf sizes" ....

Okay, does anyone in the fashion industry READ this blog??
It's a market researcher's house-cleaning, fashion-designing, boot-wearing, packing-lighter dream! Oh, and we want it all with SLEEVES and washable, dammit!
Catch a clue, stop nagging your size-0-models to stop eating all that lettuce and drop in here boys! Aunt Pearl'll make you RICH!

Laurie,
Did I miss something about a change in the pub date of your book? I pre-ordered months ago and got a message from Amazon the other day saying the book came in early and it's shipping now. Then, today, another message that they don't have the book until mid-October. Am I nuts or are they?

I haven't read all the comments, but you can get boots for wide calves at fat-lady stores. And you don't even have to be fat to shop there. And I just googled wide calf boots: a plethora of options! You go girl.

I have gigantic calves and really small feet (size 6.5--and my calves are actually mostly muscle so they're not going anywhere. Frickin strong legs), so I can never find boots that fit. I did have luck with one pair of boots from target, but one of the heels is a little crooked, so I kind of walk funny. Is that a fair trade off? Oh well.

Laurie, the spam is probably a result of your book coming out and people spamming you just because they can.

Spammers are the Innnernet's version of a cockroach...and just as difficult to get rid of completely.

Re boots....can you get Duo boots in the US? Late for work so no time to search....but obviously the boots problem is much more important than actually leaving the house on time! Or, a lovely shoe-shop assistant once gave me a great tip when I complained that no boots ever fit me. Obviously, you have to find boots that have some calf shaping to them in the first place. When you get the boot on, push down the top until you can do the zip all the way up. Then pull the top back up over your calf - hey presto! The boot is on. And no need to draw blood with a zip - v painful. The top will stretch over time so eventually you don't have to do the whole magic trick thing. Epic comment over....

I have baby doll ankles and calves (commonly called cankles), and spent months looking for boots that fit. Very frustrating.

A little tip for packing light, check the long range forecast for where you are going and pack with the weather in mind. Wear bulky items on the plane (jeans, boots, jacket) to save space.

Make sure your name, snail mail address, email address, landline, office and cell phone numbers are on a piece of paper INSIDE your suitcase as well as on the luggage tag. Tags can get ripped off :-)

Have a fantastic book tour, we'll miss you.

Duo of Bath are excellent. Keep an eye open for their end of season sale. I got a pair of suede piratey boots (now no longer stocked) for £50. I can't afford them full price, but I am *so*there* for cheapo.

We also have a shop over here called 'Evans' which does large calf boots (but they also assume you've got large ankles. I don't).

~x~

I can't wear high boots, either. I couldn't when I was 12 and I can't now at 43.

It is not a character flaw.

ya might want to zip an e-mail over to The Yarn Harlot. She should be a packing pro by now.

AMAZON SHIPPED THE BOOK!!!! Yea Amazon! :)

For packing, I use these things:
http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1795&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C252%2C335&iProductID=1795&sortBy=0

They call them compression bags. I call them Magic Ziplocs. With my luggage, I still look like I'm carrying a lot, but really its more than a lot.

I have the same problem with boots and it drives me nuts. Apparently you have to have freakishly thin calves to fit into cute knee high boots.

i know that torrid has wider fit boots at http://www.torrid.com also if your calves are even wider then the 17-19 inches that torrid claims to fit, then http://www.widewidths.com/ has boots to fit up to 21".

good luck on your book tour (i wish you were coming to michigan!) and never underestimate the powers of a pair of good black slacks in your packing escapades!

My fiance is Welsh. He had to educate me on the fry-up breakfast too...but let me tell you, once you've tried it...you'll use any special occassion as an excuse for a fry-up! :) The tomato part is my favorite. How one could possibly beat tomatoes fried in bacon and / or sausage grease, I honestly can not say!! ;)

Bought the book last night and loving it!

Totally pack light. Just Say No (to more than a few cute mix-and-matches.)

The best site for plus size boots is www.duoboots.com The company is from England, but their boots are FABULOUS!

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/nodePage.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302031779&SELECTION%3C%3Etheme=Default

Well darlin, after hearing that interview I just love you that much more. I know people tooting your horn, with whom you do not know, can be strange, so I won't do it to much. What I do want to say is that you are wonderful, and inspiring. I am so proud of you, and you deserve every moment of wonder and joy this world has to offer. You grabbed that bull by the horns, and now you get to ride. Yah Laurie!

I have always had large calves, even when I weighed 130 lbs in high school. I had a male friend who used to kid me that they weren't calves, they were cows. Nice.

It always bummed me out that I couldn't fit into knee-high boots. Then, about 3 years ago, I found out that Naturalizer makes boots in "wide calf" sizes, and happened upon a pair in TJ Maxx (mismarked at $20!). I immediately bought them, came home, and tried them on with a cute skirt. I looked in the mirror, and realized I looked like a pirate.

In all my excitement, I had forgotten that my very short legs would look ridiculous in knee-high boots. No wide-leg boot is going to make my stumpy legs look long and lean. Sigh.

The Book is arriving today--I can't wait. I saw that you were on the Movers and Shakers list on Amazon the other day--many congrats on your much-deserved success!

I have big enough calves to start a ranch.

Seriously, I had big, solid, meaty calves even when I was in a size 6 from the knees up. Calves like a soccer player. Bunchy musculature is blamed on my Irish genes. Solid little Celts, us.

Anyway -- and I am soooooo Southern, but -- western boots are the answer. I have one pair of well-worn cowgirl boots for actual equine experiences, one nice black tooled leather pair with nice stitchwork, and one unembellished, dark brown pair of roper boots that I could get by with in New York City if I walked fast enough. Just enough heel to look taller and nothing in the wide world is more comfortable. I also have a pair of Annie Oakley boots but I would not wear them to the big city. Also I wear them with nice pantsuits (the brown ropers) or jeans (other boots). Not with skirts, unless I have my Annie Oakleys on under a long, flowy skirt.

Buuuut, on to my main point -- my Capricorn self is the master blaster of light travel, but my husband is a Pisces, and y'all Water signs seem to need half your clothes, all of your underwear AND your high school yearbooks to go to the beach for a weekend! So I understand.

My tips are: unless your publisher is parking you at the No-Tell Motel, most hotels have supplemental stuff in the rooms, and if it's not in the rooms you just have to ask at the desk for razors, shampoo, soap, lotion, etc. I only bring my own toothbrush and toothpaste. There is no need to bring your own shampoo unless you have a really particular hair situation. I don't weat makeup except for a touch of powder and Burt's Bees lip color, but makeup wearers should keep their makeup to a bare minimum and remember that you will be in a different city with different people every day so you don't have to have different looks. Bring one color lipstick, and the absolute bare minimum of everything else.

Toiletries I travel with: toothbrush, toothpaste, one extra pair of disposable contact lenses, Burt's Bees lip color, powder compact, dental floss, nail file. clippers, one disposable razor, and a handful of Q-Tips. And Tampons on those days. I also carry a travel size pack of baby wipes for during-travel experiences and for shoe cleaning --baby wipes with moisturizer do a great job on shoes. And of course presciptions. All this fits in one big ziplock bag with no leakables for secuity to worry about.

The hotel will have shampoo, soap and lotion, and I use the lotion to shave with as well. If you run out of toothpaste you can buy it anywhere if the hotel doesn't have it.

Also, with clothing, remember again that new people will see you each day so you don't need a wide variety of clothes. Pack a few things that mix and match with each other, and one indispensable thing I own is a good black knit dress. Bring only a few accessories and very minimal jewelry.

Another tip I swear by is to travel with one good set of undies (you can rinse them out) but to bring either the panties part of worn out hose or your oldest, rattiest, bras and underwear, and throw them away when soiled. No laundry, and fresh smelling luggage. If you wear pantyhose bring only one extra pair in the same color, and rinse your worn pair out each night. If they run, cut off one leg and use the backup pair. If the backup pair runs, cut off one leg, then wear the remaining single-legged hose one over the other and you have a pair (learned that one from Mom). If THAT runs, you can buy another pair at any Walgreens (where there is a Border's there is a drugstore). AND you can save the panty part for disposable underwear.

Have fun and hope to see you!

Dez

You need DUO BOOTS. They are a British company, but they ship to the US. www.duoboots.com They specialize in large calves, and the boots are seriously the most comfortable things I have ever worn.

LOVED you on the podcast? Maybe you'll let us interview you, too!?

oops, no question mark after "podcast" please.

I am completely with you on the Overpackorama! I can't help it. Even when I force myself to only bring one outfit for each day I'm gone, I NEVER want to wear the designated outfit on a given day and that kills everything. Maybe your publisher will give you a sherpa?

AM currently reading the book and was thrilled to discover someone else says "ass over teakettle'. The book is wonderful and I predict a great future in writing for you.

I have very muscular calves and Silhouettes is the best place I've found for boots.

Someone may have mentioned this areadly but try Taryn Rose, she shoes are super cute, and comfy and don't pinch your feet.