I am a big Jambu shoes fan. I have reviewed them numerous times over the years. In addition to loving them for the quality and style I also love that they have many vegan and planet friendly options. I buy up athletic shoes like they are going out of style and performance motivates my purchases not so much eco friendliness. So when it comes to fashionable shoes for non-athletic outings I like to buy ones that are kinder to the planet and to animals. This is why I look for flip flops made from recycled materials or boots made with vegan materials.

This past month I have been rocking a shoe from Jambu that reminds me of a boot. In fact I think they kinda look like boots when you see them peeking out from under a pair of jeans. This particular style is called Gourmet and the color is coffee.

It is a very pretty utilitarian vegan shoe with feminine flair and details. Easy on and off thanks to the built in elastic (good news for my wide feet). The upper of the shoe is beautifully embossed and it has a terra traction outsole. The outsole is also partially recycled!

• Stretch fabric upper throughout the topline for easy-on fit

• Memory Foam Footbed conforms to the unique contours of your feet for all day wearability

• Eco-friendly All Terra Traction outsoles provide superior grip and durability

• Faux-fur lining for added comfort and warmth

If you just like cute shoes then we have a winner on our hands. But if you also like to make sure no animal friends lost their lives to make your footwear than this is even better.

They are very comfy to wear and they keep your feet toasty warm on chilly fall days. I like how they “dress up” casual outfits and jeans too. Perfect for date night, parent teachers conferences, or for a walk in the park to watch the leaves change. They are utilitarian and yet very pretty.

Just wanted to share these lovely organic, and eco friendly bags, totes, purses, and satchels from Amy Butler. They are absolutely gorgeous and planet friendly to boot! Enjoy!

Late last year I wrote about Earthing – what it is and why it is so important so learn about and implement in our daily lives. The post is rather long winded but essentially it is about reconnecting to the earth…physically. It makes the case that we are actually meant to be in close contact with the earth and that our health suffers when we don’t have that contact. We all know that kids who do not have the close contact and “touch” of their parents suffer physically and mentally. It is well documented. Well, we also need to connect with and touch our Mother Earth. The earth’s energy helps to regulate our own bodily energy. Our sleep patterns, our hormones, our health… all of it, is tied to this flow and regulation of energy. Without it, we are a flickering light bulb.

Once we decide we need to get get touchy feely with the soil we may decide to allot for ourselves some barefoot time outside each and day and I highly recommend that. Yet we probably still spend way too much time wearing insulated shoes that remove that electrical connection and that is where earthing shoes come in.

They are shoes and sandals that are actually made of conductive materials (allowing for electrical flow) and they even have copper discs embedded in the soles. So even though you are technically wearing shoes you you still have access to the earth’s energy and natural electrical current. Earth Runners is one such company making them. I got a pair several weeks back. They are minimalist and custom made to fit your foot so you get a perfect fit every time. I admit that they took a bit of getting used to. They are definitely the most “hippie” looking shoes I have owned since Birkenstocks and they are worn differently than flip flops so my feet had to get used to wearing them.

I love that I am earthing while I am wearing them though, provided I am on real ground and I don’t have to worry about dirty feet or cutting myself on glass/rocks, etc. It makes earthing in public spaces possible so I am increasing the amount of time I am “grounded”. Does it actually DO anything? I believe so. Years of computer work and a sedentary lifestyle has taken a toll on my lower back and when I get those familiar twinges of pain I know that I only need to go sit outside with my feet on the grass or take a  walk on the dirt tails of  my local park  (in my earthing shoes) and the back pain goes away. No pills, just grass and dirt. Well, that and regular exercise. I love that new shoe brands allow me to extend the amount of time I can spend “earthing”.

Other earthing shoes on the market include Pluggz which come in flip flop styles and also dressy flats and Groundels flip flops.

I am a hard core thrifter and second hand shopper. Just about all of our clothing, for all five of us, (minus socks and underwear) comes from second hand stores or consignment shops locally. The exception to this is that the husband and I will often get a limited amount of fitness clothing and gear new, since it is so hard to find used, in good condition. I have yet to see a pair of Fila Skeletoes or Five Fingers at a thrift store ya know?

Depending on what I need I choose the shop that will be most likely to meet my needs. When it is summer play clothes season I go for the cheapest place.  Consignment shops are good for back to school. When I need dressier clothing for business events, I go to the better areas of town where the cast offs will also likely be nicer and pricier if I had to buy brand new. I recently found a gorgeous black suede evening gown that will be perfect for a party and I got it for $5.

I consider myself to be a pretty savvy second hand shopper but up until last month I never tried any online consignment shops. I am familiar with them of course, the smaller online shops and also the biggie that is eBay but shipping prices tend to keep me shopping locally. thredUP is one such place that I have heard of often over the past year but never tried until recently. They sent me a $20 credit (+ free shipping) via email and invited me to give it a try. I had nothing to loose and $20 worth of free clothing to gain so I jumped all over their offer. The box at the top of this post is what arrived at my door and super fast too.

I decided that I wanted to get some summer shorts for my 8 year daughter and was curious to see how much that $20 credit would buy. I was pleasantly surprised! I think my grand total was only pennies away from $20 even and that got me four pairs of nice shorts, a nice summer top, and a tee shirt. That comes to about $3.33 per piece. That is slightly more than what I would pay at my cheapest local thrift store but the quality is better. Some of the items were brand name, like Skechers. $3.33 rivals local consignment shops and shopping online was a whole lot easier.

Benefits:

• You’ll find GAP, Gymboree, Mini Boden, Ralph Lauren and much more at up to 75% off retail prices.
• thredUP clothing is hand-selected by quality assurance specialists, packaged with care and sent right to your door. That means you’ll lighten your family’s carbon-footprint and save money – all without leaving the house.
• And the best part? When your little one outgrows her clothes, thredUP wants ’em back! Order a thredUP bag, fill it with quality outgrown items, put it on your doorstep, and earn 20%-40% of each item’s resale value. It’s a revolving door for kids clothing – out with the outgrown, and in with the like-new!

Thrift store fashion… fun, functional, and cheap.

The shipping is free if you spend $40 or more at thredUP too. I know I can easily spend more than $40 on back to school clothing so online consignment shopping is likely to occur more often in the future.

I have two good thredUP deals to mention. Use code TU10 to recive 10% off your first order.

Are you ready to try online clothing consignment shopping or are you an old pro?

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you will know that I kinda love shoes. Back in my pre-children days I was all about Doc Martens and I had a Pepto Bismol pink pair and a white pair with lace and glitter. For many years after having kids I was all about easy flip-flops and sandals. These days I still have lots of love for flip-flops but I would also add to that just about any minimalist athletic shoe and barefoot shoes. After wearing winter boots for many months you just have to break out and wear some pretty shoes come spring and summer right?

Above is my line-up for the warm weather months. As you can see, I like color!

First pair up is Jambu’s Capetown sandals in olive. I love Jambu and usually review a pair every season. They are almost always earth friendly and/or vegan. These shoes are leather but they do have a recycled rubber sole and toe cap.

They are a flip-flop style sandal in a yummy color that is perfect for spring and summer. The leather straps crisscross with floral print satin straps so I think they are dressy enough to wear with nice summer dresses. As can be expected with all Jambu shoes they are high quality and very lovely. These will be my go-to shoes when I need dressier sandals.

Where to Buy: Amazon or OnlineShoes

Next up is another old favorite… Okabashi! These flip flops are made from recycled materials and they are completely recyclable after they are spent, if you return them to the Okabashi factory in Georgia. Their facility is virtually zero waste.. next to no scrap, and last year they used 100,000 pounds of scrap material in their shoes.

These are quite simply some of the highest quality flip-flops I have ever come across and the fact that they are eco friendly is just the icing on top of the cake. They are also very affordable. No $50 flip-flops here. The prices are right around $15-$18.

Where to Buy: Amazon

Okay, next up is a barefoot or minimalist shoe called the Vivobarefoot. This shoe is good for any outdoor activity and you can wear it in the water. I plant to wade in creeks and waterways as we hike and explore this summer. These will also be excellent shoes to wear to the waterpark.

The shoes are vegan friendly with a plastic outer shell. The inside is really just a cloth sock that can be worn or removed depending on the activity. For dry hiking you might want to wear the socks. If you plan to wade in the water you may want to remove them or you can wear them and toss in the wash later.

Where to Buy: Amazon and OnlineShoes

Last pair up is a thrift store find. I didn’t actually NEED another pair of flip-flops but Eddie Bauer flip-flops in a groovy orange color were impossible to pass up. Plus I like getting $40-$50 shoes for $2!

What will you be wearing this spring/summer?