Bonanno's or barefoot!

I'll Take Manhattan ...

2009-07-01T08:58:00.005-05:00

Bonanno's are a hop, skip and a jump away ...

We are very excited to announce Arthur & Co. boutique in the heart of Manhattan has added "Stephen Bonanno Sandals" to their beautiful collection of handbags and accessories.

Fabulous!

Arthur & Co.

828 Lexington Ave @ 63rd Street

212-355-3469

Happy Birthday Domenick!

2009-06-25T08:43:00.010-05:00

Today is my husband's 52 birthday (Happy Birthday Bayba), tomorrow mine, my niece Tatiana's is the 27th, my father in-law's July 6 and yesterday was our Kelly's (first employee). So we're getting together for a Birthday BBQ Bash July 5th!

My in-laws flew in yesterday from Jersey to celebrate, which means 3 weeks of fabulous meals, lots of laughs, great stories and late night card games.

Happy Birthday to all June/July Cancer Babies

In a land far, far, far, far away

2009-06-24T09:47:00.007-05:00

Thinking Bonanno's worldwide! Check out this e-mail I got ...

Hello,
"I am currently in Iraq and am looking to get a new pair of Bonannos. Do you have an image of what the Zoe look like on? I can't be there to try them on and want to order a pair for when i get home in a few weeks."
Thanks~ Sandra

Where in the World are Your Bonanno's?

2009-06-24T09:29:00.003-05:00

Crossing the famed Abbey Road at Abbey Road Studios in St. John's Wood, London, England...
xo, Assunta

Where in the World are Your Bonanno's?

2009-06-22T10:48:00.001-05:00

Just yesterday afternoon, Mark and I dropped my daughter off at Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL!

Ginnie

Where in the World are Your Bonanno's?

2009-06-22T10:32:00.002-05:00

Hi Vivian!
How are you? I don't know about my Mother and Sister but I haven't been in the shop in awhile. Hope all's well. ...I've attached a few pictures of my friend's cat who was loving to cozy up next to a pair of my sandals. I thought that they were too cute to not forward onto you all over there.

Cheers!Erica

Where in the World are Your Bonanno's?

2009-06-22T10:25:00.004-05:00

Hey Vivian,
Love your blog, not to mention your sandals…thought I would share with you a couple of pictures (one somewhat fuzzy) from our very casual wedding last summer. I had ordered a pair with my new monogram but they didn’t arrive in time, so I went into the closet and pulled these out – they were just perfect!
Thanks for making such a fun shoe!
Best, Susan
The Muddy Dog
themuddydog.blogspot.com/

Being One with Nature ... is for the Birds

2009-06-22T08:56:00.009-05:00

When Domenick and I lived in Hawthorne Heights New Jersey, we had a farmhouse on 1.5 acres of wooded land. We had deer passing thru daily and the most beautiful birds of all shapes and colors come to feed. It was amazing.

Five years ago we moved to sunny South Florida (where I grew up) and built a small home on what they call a zero lot line in a gated community surrounded by a golf course and preserves. We still wanted a little privacy so we picked a lot with the preserves backing our back yard.

Aaaah, undisturbed nature at it's best. ... Slap me now!

Since then, I have had 2 black snakes flaunting themselves in a small tree 8 feet from my front door, a possum trapped in my fenced in back yard, green frogs slapped against our glass doors nightly, a baby black snake swimming in our pool, a gator down the street in a pond and while I was trimming our palms a small banded snake hidden among the leaves making it's escape, just inches from my face. You think that would be enough to send us packing ...

just this past Saturday, Domenick and I were lounging poolside when I looked to my right, and freaked out! I jumped out of my chair and yelled for Rippy our Scottish Terrier to get inside ... As we approached to get a closer look, there, in our back yard, on our paver's, close to the pool, (where I stand every day watering my plants), was an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake! It was approx 4 to 5 feet long, very thick and making his way from my neighbors yard thru ours, back into the preserves.

I'm getting too old for this much excitement.

Priced to sell. An adorable little house, w/pool and a preserve in their backyard. It's Nature at it's best.

Saving the Brick and Mortars our Nation is built on

2009-06-18T12:29:00.007-05:00

With Mom & Pop shops closing all around us, one of our downtown shop owners, concerned, handed me a 4" x 8" piece of paper with the message below and said he was leaving it on his counter as a friendly reminder to his customers ... It hit home. I found it interesting and wanted to share it with you.

Three.
Think about which three independently owned businesses you'd miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your dollars are what keeps those businesses around.

Fifty.
If just half the employed US population spent $50.00 each month in independently owned business their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue, which goes back into the economy.

One.
The number of people it takes to start the trend ... you!

So, I started thinking of my three favs, which I must admit, I find myself too busy to visit on a regular basis ... I'm making a promise to myself today to change that. Even if it's a little something that I purchase each time, I want to send the message that I'd miss them if they were gone.

1) E & J Cigars
6582 S Kanner Hwy Stuart, FL 34997

2) Puppuccino Pet Boutique (My favorite just recently closed her doors and went on-line.)

3) Peggys Natural Foods
5839 SE Federal Hwy Stuart, FL 34997

I'm also going to seek out other independently owned shops that I've noticed along the way, but have never taken the time to check out.

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-05-29T08:27:00.003-05:00

Hi Vivian,
My Bonanno's are in the Tuscan countryside resting on the balcony of our hotel. I took two other pairs and we traveled all over Florence, the Tuscan countryside and Rome. Very comfortable shoes given that we walked an average of 6-7 miles per day!.
Thanks for such fun, cute shoes.
Lisa

AND THE BLOGGER WINNER IS ...

2009-05-27T08:15:00.004-05:00

Sorry it took so long to announce the winner for a pair of Stephen Bonanno Monogram Sandals.

In my newsletter I asked if my blogger friends were interested, to post our Sunfest Sale on their sites and I would enter them into a raffle to win a pair of Monogram sandals.
You did and the winner is ... Ronda from Stella's Mom blog

My passion is dogs, and cooking anything and everything. I would have been a chef if it weren't for the long hours, weekends, and holidays they have to work. My other passion is being with my family and friends whenever possible. I love spending summers and any other time I can at our summer home on the eastern shore in Maryland.

http://stellasmom-ronda.blogspot.com/

Congrats!
Ronda, e-mail me with your info and we can place your order.

Thanks again to everyone to played along.

Vivian

TINY DANCER

2009-05-22T21:48:00.005-05:00

An itsy bitsy, teeny tiny, ... sandal

Marcelino, one of our cobblers, made this adorable tiny sandal to hang from my Bonanno Tote.
Love the high heel!

Sigh.

2009-05-22T21:26:00.007-05:00

Blogging is a blast ...
... but it drives me crazy that I can't seem to get my images and captions to place neatly and orderly on the page. When I publish and view, I always seem to have soooo much white space, or air between them, and there's no telling where my captions will end up.
i.e. "Fun in the Sun" and "Bullies VS Bonanno's"

It's frustrating!
Thank you for listening ... :)

We've got new boxes!

2009-05-22T21:10:00.010-05:00

I'm excited ... we have a new logo with our monogram in the middle (see top of box), the signature phrase on each side, our family story on the bottom, signed from the designer and a friendly reminder to send in those pictures of you in your Bonanno's for the "Where in the World ..." on our blog.

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-05-15T19:10:00.004-05:00

Hi Aunt Viv,
While you were busy with customers I took this pic for your blog.
It says it all ...
Sunfest
W. Palm Beach 2009

Jamie
Strawberry Blonde

FUN IN THE SUN

2009-05-15T18:09:00.016-05:00

Five days of sandal madness at the Sunfest Festival, held every year in W. Palm Beach.
Stephen Bonanno was named the Official Sandal of Sunfest 2009, and our tent was in front of ER Bradley's Saloon this year. The weather was beautiful, music was loud, the Art was fabulous and a great time was had by all ...

Domo and Steve setting up the tent

This is what it looks like before the crowds ...

The first day

Let's get this party started!

A very serious bead collector.

Bonanno fans wanting a pic with the designer.

Joey and his buddy ... also big fans.

Inside the Tent

Bullies VS Bonanno's

2009-05-15T17:51:00.010-05:00

Hi Vivian,
Miss Blanche (red & white) and Arrgyle (white) seem to have uncovered a truth ...

that not just ladies love Bonanno's, but bullies too!!

The score remains Bullies-0, Bonanno's-2
Ali

Where in the World are your Bonanno's!

2009-05-15T17:49:00.002-05:00

Here we are-
Me and my Bonannos travel with me to the Island of Tortola in the BVI
No Better Place on Earth!--
Maria
Maria K.

Where in the World are your Bonanno's!

2009-05-15T17:46:00.003-05:00

Vivian,
I ordered these cuties last year and can say these are my most FAVORITE shoes!!!
I wore these shoes while on my trip last week to Jekyll Island and St. Simon's Island.
I was completely amazed at how many times I was stopped because of my shoes.
Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks,
Maggi
Mossgreenmagsterpie.blogspot.com

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-04-26T21:51:00.002-05:00

Hi Vivian:
My Bonanno sandals went with me today to get my mammogram in Aiken, SC. A good reminder - every woman needs to get one!

Bitsy
Aiken SC

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-04-22T18:01:00.003-05:00

Taipei, Republic of China

Hi Vivian,

How are you? Nihao (Hello in Chinese) from Taipei.

Here is a shot with my Bonanno's at Taipei 101 buliding.

Sharon

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-04-19T21:25:00.005-05:00

Hi,

love the sandals, love the web site, love the Stuart Store!

Here's a picture of a "Leave Nothing but Footprints" sign in Flagler Beach, FL this past Easter weekend, with my Bonanno's of course!

Julie

Palm City, FL

Where in the World are your Bonanno's?

2009-04-19T21:04:00.007-05:00

Lani forgot to mention where she is ... but I have a feeling it's in South Florida.

My girls learned how to walk in their sandals even when they were two sizes too big! Even tho they do not make the kids sandals for infants this did not stop my girls! It is tradition to share where your Bonanno's have been and the girls LOVE seeing themselves on the blog. So when they saw pictures of everyone sharing their Bonanno's they had to do the same.

-- Lani

It's all about Closet Space

2009-04-19T20:09:00.014-05:00

Chatting with my customers about their Bonanno sandals, conversation often comes back to "closet space". There's never enough.

1) How big

2) How organized is it?

3) Are sandals and handbags boxed and labeled?

4) Are boxes tossed and sandals and handbags spread out on the floor?

5) What are their tricks to keeping their personal closet space looking, well, ... organized.

I'm hoping you'll find it fun to share your personal space . There's no judgement and it doesn't matter if it's a total disaster or Imelda(ish) with too many shoes to count. It's all about the closet space.

___________________________________________

So, my disclaimer is that this is the closet inside a 500 sq ft apt. Thankfully, I am quite the logistics expert, as my husband likes to say. And the answers to the questions are as follows:

1 - How big? The word "big" won't even fit thru our front door!
2 - How organized? Within and inch of it's life!
3 - Are sandals and handbags boxed and labeled? They will be once i have a closet that you don't have to make like Gumby to get into!
4 - Are boxes tossed and shoes/handbags spread on the floor? Quelle horreuer!
5 - What are my tricks to keeping my closet organized? A severe case of OCD!
Best, Alice
aka Allie in G'town
http://summerisaverb.blogspot.com/-- Collars up!

Thank you Alice for sharing your personal space with us ...

First of all, I love, love, love the Bonanno pic.!!!
I am also very impressed with how organized, and how much you can fit into a small space. I am taking notes!
I also find it really cool that you decorate the inside of her closet with art. I've never considered it.
I'm going to borrow your basket idea. I have so many small things I toss here and there ... now I can collect them into a few organized baskets.
-- Vivian

It's all about "feet" in this family

2009-04-05T11:58:00.013-05:00

My Niece Jamie is following in her Uncle's footsteps. Shoes!

She started her company "Strawberry Blonde Shoes" and spends her spare moments, making contacts, researching, sketching and constructing proto-types for her uncle Stevie to examine. When she first told me she wanted to design shoes I thought, cool! ... and left it at that ... until she e-mailed me her sketches.
We were all blown away by her attention to detail and refreshing ideas.

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to show off her sketches, but I can tell you this, they are not flat sandals. She has come up with 4 beautiful high heel designs that would make Manolo Blahnik stand up and take notice.

She went to her first shoe show in January with her uncle and realized she has a lot of learning, growing and exploring to do if she's going to make an impact in this business.

I've encouraged her to start her own blog http://strawberryblondeshoes.blogspot.com/search?q= sharing her shoe adventures. I hope you'll pop in now and then to follow what she's up to and maybe even share a comment or two.