Shoes

I glanced at my feet yesterday, which was the first time I’d paid attention to them in ages, and two thoughts came to mind…

1. Yay! Sandal season is coming.
2. BOO! Sandal season in coming. (Note to self: buy a tube of exfoliating foot cream ASAP.)

Warm weather is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to free the feet, so, because I like to be prepared (and, also, because I don’t own any flat sandals that are comfortable), my number one sidekick/sous chef and I went to DSW yesterday.

Guess what? They have quite a few options for ladies who can’t wait to liberate their toes from the suffocating oppression of socks.

I went in specifically looking for options that aren’t sky-high heels, and I was blown away by all of the choices this season.

SO MANY FLATS!

Flat sandals with a platform base, in particular, are having a moment, and I’m here for it 100%. I love the idea of combining the comfort of flats with an extra couple inches of height.

First big trend: flat platform sandals with a cork base

This trend is a little like your traditional cork wedge heel, but with a flatter base. I noticed plenty of neutral colors (black, tan, white and beige) and single thick straps around the ankles, often with a Velcro closure.

I debated for a long time whether to take these Franco Sarto sandals home, because I liked the warmth of the darker tan color and the detailing on the base. They were pretty comfortable too, but I could feel the ankle strap ever-so-slightly rubbing against my skin…

While I love the white base, it’s going to be hard to keep clean.

I’m CRAZY picky when it comes to shoes now (one of the unexpected side effects of the pandemic!), and if a shoe is even just a touch “off” from the get-go, I know I’m not going to wear them.

So, even though I liked them in theory, I didn’t bring them home.

My Sous Chef also wasn’t a fan…

Second big trend: espadrille flat platform sandals

I saw a lot of these espadrille flats with a platform base too.

Some of the espadrilles also had the same white base I saw from the Franco Sarto pair I tried on. Again, love this in theory, but dang… I’m going to get those dirty in a hot second. Too hard to keep tidy. 🙁

When Crocs move you…

I’ve never in my life been a Crocs person, but I was kinda moved by these platforms. They look a little inexpensive when you see them just sitting there because of the material, but they look higher end on your feet.

I tried on the taupe and liked how they looked and felt, but I didn’t pull the trigger! Now I’m thinking about the black and beige pair because I could wear them with so many things, and they actually looked quite chic.

I’m still on the fence…

Anywho, I’m going to keep looking, and I’ll let you know if I find anything good!

Pet store visits

We’ve been going to Petco every day this week because Connor recently made a guinea pig friend.

Connor is a little obsessed with a tan and white female guinea pig currently residing there named “Peaches.” I keep telling Connor that one day we’re going to go in and Peaches will be gone, because she’ll have found her forever home… I think Connor is not-so-secretly hoping we’ll adopt her.

I would love to add Peaches to our family, but I’m afraid that Rosie would torture the poor thing! I would hate for Peaches to live her life in fear, ya know?

Does anyone have experience with guinea pigs cohabitating with cats? Can they live together?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

If you’re thinking about adding these Nike high-tops to a wish list, all I have to say is JUST DO IT! They’re super cute and so comfortable.

Incidentally…if you ask someone to get them for you, perhaps as a birthday gift, there’s a Filipino old wives’ tale I should tell you about. It says that if someone gives you a pair of shoes as a gift, you have to give them some money in return (even just a couple pennies will do); otherwise, badness ensues and the relationship suffers.

Of course, there’s also a Filipino old wives’ tale that says that if you fall asleep with wet hair, you’ll wake up blind… Yeah, that one caused me much anxiety as a child. 😬

So, I didn’t think much about the old wives’ tale regarding the shoe-money exchange until my college roommate gave me a pair of go-go boots as a gift. I loved them! — but I didn’t give her any money in return, and shortly thereafter our relationship grew tense. By the time she moved out at the end of the school year, we weren’t on good terms, and I blame the go-go boots!

All of this is to say that the moment I opened the box these Nike Air Jordan Zip Ups came in, which I got for my birthday from El Hub and Connor Claire, I immediately retrieved two quarters from my wallet and gave them to El Hub and Connor as a precautionary measure.

These shoes are so much cooler than I expected because they’re so comfortable! They’re so squishy inside… I feel like I’m walking on clouds, and because of the zipper, they’re easy to slip in and out of. The next time I go on a trip involving an airplane (whenever that may be), these will be my go-to sneaks.

The color is ah-mah-zing. Sometimes it’s a rich burgundy; other times a dark plummy purple. Now all I need is a nail polish to match!

One last item of note, although this applies to Nikes in general IMO, I suggest going a half size up, because I think Nikes run a little small. I usually wear a size 7 in most shoes, but I’m a 7.5 for sure in Nikes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!