Posts Tagged ‘
shoes ’
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
Is your little one outgrowing her shoes so quickly that you now have a pile of sneakers she no longer wants or needs? Instead of throwing them away, consider donating them to the “Big Hearts, Little Shoes” initiative instead. This shoe drive is a joint effort between The Little Gym, a chain of learning and physical development centers for kids, and Soles4Souls, the world’s largest provider of shoes to families in need. Outgrown shoes can be dropped off at Little Gym locations, even if your child does not attend classes there. And don’t worry if the shoes are worn out from lots of playtime, because Soles4Souls will still find a use for them by recycling the materials. This way, you clear off some extra space on the family shoe rack and children in need benefit from your donation. Plus, your kids will learn about charity and helping others. It’s a win-win. Find your nearest drop-off location and start spreading the love now.
Photo courtesy of The Little Gym.
Monday, June 6th, 2011
As a health editor, I feel conflicted about wearing flip flops. I know they’re bad for me—I’ve heard podiatrists say that they can be as harmful as 4″ heels—but when the warm weather arrives, I can’t resist. Surely you can relate.
But now maybe I don’t have to resist. I’m wearing a new-to-me brand, called Okabashi, and they are so comfortable. First of all, even in the midst of our little heatwave here in NYC, they haven’t caused any new-shoe or heat-induced blisters. Second, they offer good arch support, unlike the other kinds I wear. Third, they grip my feet so that I don’t almost walk out of them with every step, and they grip the ground so that I don’t fall on my butt like I did in the lobby of my office building one night a few weeks ago.
Hoping they weren’t too good to be true, I checked with Hal Goolman, D.P.M., a podiatrist at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, New Hampshire. He liked what he saw, particularly the fact that the shoe has a deep heel cup and good arch support. He points out that you generally want to avoid flip flops if you’ve certain foot conditions, like plantar fasciitis, which leads to heel pain. But if you’re determined to wear them, try a model with a bit of a raised heel because that takes some of the tension off the plantar fascia.
Other reasons I’m flipping over these flops: They’re easy to clean (you can even throw ‘em in the dishwasher), they’re made in the U.S., and they’re inexpensive. The pair I’m sporting are $15.
Okabashi boasts having sold more than 30 million pairs. Anyone else out there a convert?
Friday, February 11th, 2011
Now that snowstorms across the U.S. are slowing down, it’s time to stop shoveling the snow and move onto something more fun: playing in it!
We just found Stonz Wear booties, which slip on over your little one’s shoes for playtime in the snow or to keep her dry and warm on those blustery winter days. We love them because they’re adjustable, so they’ll fit from the time your child is an infant until he’s a toddler. They come in a number of cute designs, for about $40 per pair. Our favorite part? They’re machine-washable, so they’ll look like new even after three winters of wear.
Get them at the Stonz Wear web site. If you have an older toddler, you can check out their larger styles here.
Monday, November 30th, 2009
We love shopping for shoes but know how hard it can be when buying kicks for toddlers, which is why we think TinySoles is great!
It was founded by three moms who were frustrated finding kids footwear near their homes and online. They test every pair of shoes on their own kids, and if they aren’t satisfied with the product, you won’t see it for sale on their site.
The store is easy to navigate and features boots, sandals and dress shoes for babies to kids’ size 13. TinySoles offers free shipping on orders over $20 and daily deals. My favorite part is the simple return policy: if your little one (or you) is not happy with the footwear, you just ship the unworn shoes back within 45 days for a full refund or exchange.
For our shoe-buying tips, check out “My First Shoes” on page 172 of our October issue.
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
Does it get any cuter than teeny tiny shoes? Here are a couple pairs that are sure to make all the other little piggies at the playground jealous.
These Stride Rite sandals are just so yummy…
and Vincent prewalker slip-ons are about as happy as it gets.
But that’s not all…we’ve got an entire page dedicated to our fav summer kicks in our June issue- on stands soon!
