Tieks and Why Every Teacher Needs at least 4 pairs!

I'm back!!!  Seriously, keeping everything together has been exhausting!  Thank goodness for fabulous shoes to keep me going.  FYI...This is NOT a curriculum rich post, so if that's what you're looking for, please check back in a week or so.  :))

Today I want to share more reasons why EVERY female teacher needs at least four pairs of Tieks.  I know you're thinking, "seriously?! four pairs?!".  Yes, I'm serious and I will tell you why!  Back in late March I had the opportunity to get my first pair after countless discussions with the mister and I was instantly smitten with my mustard yellow beauties.  The shoes are beautiful, functional, and down right comfortable for the long hours of standing on your feet.  You can read more about my first experiences with Tieks by clicking here.  In August, I was again able to work some magic with the mister to get a second pair of Tieks.  This time I chose leopard and again, fell instantly in love with them.  It was hard trying to balance which shoes to wear because both were so beautiful, comfortable, and different from anyone else I came in contact with.  It's always fun to occasionally have something other's don't, right?!

Leopard Tieks with a summer dress turns into a fall outfit with a cardigan and a scarf.

On Thursdays I'm comfy at school with just the basics.

I'm thinking this outfit would work with either pair of Tieks I have.

Now, fast forward to mid October where closed toe shoes are almost a necessity with cold mornings and mild afternoons.  Prior to owning a pair of Tieks, I always tried to find something comparable to wear to work that was a ballet style flat.  I actually had two different pairs of "tiekish" styled shoes I wore all of last fall/winter.  This fall I decided to get them out to add to the rotation because it's become challenging to design every outfit I own around mustard yellow and leopard.  I figured I needed to buckle down and wear my black and tan/camel flats until I could once again work some magic with the mister for another pair of Tieks.

"Tiekish" black flats from RackRoom

"Tiekish" tan/camel flats from Off Broadway

Well, my friends...I learned two specific things this week.  First, there is NO comparison to Tieks. You may think you're getting something like Tieks; however, you're not...no matter what you may be thinking.  I put on my "tiekish" shoes this week and was instantly saddened by how uncomfortable they actually are.  I had no idea how much support and comfort the Tieks provided until I tried on a pair of non-tieks!  The second thing I learned is I need a pair of chestnut and a pair of black Tieks to somewhat complete a basic collection of everyday shoes, but would love to splurge and get the teal, fuchsia, taupe, and navy; however, that is only WISHFUL thinking.  Unfortunately, like I mentioned in a previous post, my husband is losing his job next month (my birthday month); therefore, there are no new Tieks in my immediate future.  Currently, he hasn't secured his next racing gig, so money will most likely be tight this holiday season. We have our little nugget to ensure has a magical Christmas...meaning no new shoes for this momma!  When I came to this realization the other night in living room, my husband looked at me and asked why I didn't get "normal" colors the first time around?  Why did I have to choose yellow and leopard?  I quickly responded that Tieks has all kinds of fun prints and colors.  I needed to choose "fun" shoes since anyone and everyone has brown and black.  I also told him I thought my "tiekish" shoes would work, but I was WRONG friends!  There is no comparison!

So now, I'm up a creek "barefoot" until once again my hubs has a job and things settle out in our household.  I never would have thought we would be in this position, but I strongly believe our God is a loving God who will take care of our family.  I will continue to try to build outfits around yellow and leopard until once again I can purchase a pair of black Tieks.  My suggestion to each of you is to first purchase your basics (black and/or chestnut or brown).  Then purchase the fun!  You may think you don't need the basic colors, but you will quickly figure out you do need them.  Once you go "Tieks" there's no turning back!

Thanks for hanging with me!  I hope my advice will spare you the sadness I have of no longer having any basic colored shoes.  Technically, I can still wear what I have, but I will be back to the fatigued legs, blistered feet, and plantar fasciitis...no thanks!  I would rather be barefoot!  I will keep up with the challenge of creating clever outfits with two of my favorite "neutrals"!  :)))

Excited About Tieks!

Happy Sunday Night!

About a week ago I took the plunge and purchased something AWESOME for myself with some Christmas money!   A few days later I received the most beautiful package in the mail...Tieks!!! If you haven't heard of them, you should go now and look at the beautiful art in the form of shoes I've seen in quite some time.  Seriously, go now!  Unfortunately, it took me three years to decide to commit to purchasing such a pricey pair of ballet flats for myself.  They start at $175 and go up to $295. All I can say now is...why did I take so long?!  These shoes truly are the the most comfortable, versatile shoe I've ever purchased.  You can run errands around town, wear them in the classroom, use them as a change of shoe, or wear them to church.

The beauties

I chose the Mustard Yellow ones for my first pair of Tieks.  I decided yellow is a neutral and I've had no problem wearing them with EVERY. SINGLE. OUTFIT.  In fact, I wore them every day last week except Thursday when it was supposed to rain.  (I prefer to keep my real leather shoes out of the rain.)  I love the bold, fun prints Tieks offers as well as the subtle neutrals for when you're feeling a little less rowdy.  The biggest decision you will have to make is figuring out how to buy one of each of the fabulous flats!  Seriously!!  I'm already trying to budget for my next pair so the hubs isn't worked up with yet another purchase of shoes.  I'm actually beginning to think I'm the shoe lady! You know what I like about shoes?!  They ALWAYS fit regardless of how much weight I gain in the winter months or lose in the summer months.  Shoes are a constant, guaranteed fit.  

Like I said, it took me a while to decide to spend the money on a pair of Tieks, but super happy I FINALLY did! I've thought long and hard about why it took so long and decided that spending the money on Tieks is clearly a no brainer!  My dad always says, "spend money on your feet because your feet make your money"!  

Classroom teachers...we are ALWAYS on our feet!  There is nothing more frustrating than to have to "break in" a new pair of shoes, get the blisters, and wait for our skin to toughen up so the shoes we've purchased are FINALLY comfortable to wear for MOST of the school day.  Breaking News!!!  I NEVER had to go through the torturous process of breaking in my Tieks!  They fit wonderfully right out of the box.  I was shocked and stoked about being spared from the hazing practice of "breaking in" another pair of shoes!

Support for the long days at school

The shoes are handmade and take approximately three days to make a single pair.  They are made in the USA and are 100% real Italian leather.  They have additional support in the shoe to make them the perfect shoe for a classroom teacher.  I tested them out all of last week and felt great at the end of each day as well as in the following morning.  The shoes fit true to size and have a little stretch as you begin to wear them.   I wear a size 9 in my daily shoe and I couldn't be more happy with my size 9 mustard yellow beauties.  Tieks spares no detail and provides AMAZING customer service if for some reason you need to return a pair.  

I REALLY should be asking myself why I spend so much money on my running shoes that I only wear 4-5 hours a week total!  The only people who see my running shoes are my running friends while we are running.  I'm pretty sure they aren't paying attention to the shoes on my feet and are more focused on the run that is in front of us.  I also don't wear my running shoes anywhere except to run.  My running shoes cost as much or more than the Tieks, yet I don't get nearly the exposure and wear with them that you can with the mustard yellow beauties.  I mean, even my compression socks run $50-$65 a pair...for socks!!  Seriously?! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my running gear AND it's necessary, but it definitely puts the price of Tieks in perspective.  Tieks are an affordable pair of shoes if you budget correctly and slow down on the Target shoes purchases...just sayin'.

The long and short of it is...

1.  Tieks can be affordable...lay low on a few Target trips and you're covered!  

2.  You get what you pay for!

3.  You're worth it...how much of your own money do you spend on your classroom each year?!

4.  Feet make your money so take care of your feet!

5.  It's fun to have something every once in a while people around you don't...right?!  

Free 2-Day Shipping

Beautiful Packaging

The details...

A handwritten thank you note

They fold up for easy travel

Free accessory bag to travel your Tieks

I hope you will consider giving Tieks a try!  The worst thing that can happen to you is you're like me trying to figure out how to purchase one in every print and color!  Like I mentioned earlier, they have free shipping both ways in case you decide to return a pair...I'm pretty confident you won't though! ;) Thanks for hanging in there!  Here's to you and your future pair of Tieks! Until next time....