A Few of My Favorite (Summer) Things: Crocs

I LOVE Crocs! Especially in the summer. What's not to love about a shoe that can get wet, but dries nearly instantly? Who doesn't want a shoe that can stomp through the sand and the mud and climb rocks on the beach, but then be rinsed off in the sink and ready to go for a playdate later in the afternoon? Why wouldn't you want a shoe that is so easy to put on that even a toddler can do it? We tried other shoes this summer. I spent way too much on some cute Keen sandals, but Nadia's have gone almost completely unworn because she insists on wearing her Crocs nearly every day. This is her second summer with the same pair of black mary janes, and they have held up as well as any other shoe she's ever worn. She gets to take them on and off at the playground as much as she wants, and I don't have to sit down and help her get them back on. For the beach, they are perfect. Yes, they do have a tendency to fill up with sand if you wade in too far, but because they are so crazy easy to take on and off, it's simple to just let the water rinse the sand right out.
Here are Nadia's mary jane Crocs at the pier at Juanita beach. They are a little dusty from the sand and the playground, but otherwise in great shape, even after a second summer's worth of wear. We're going to have to make room for the new Littlest Pet Shop Jibbitz that I just ordered for her the other day. Sh-h-h. She doesn't know about them yet. They're going to blow her mind!

We went almost all summer without buying Isaac a pair, and it was a huge mistake. His Keen sandals have been great because they can get wet at the beach, but even after a trip through the laundry, they make his little feet smell. It's pretty gross, actually. I considered water socks for the beach instead, but then remembered how ricidulously difficult they are to get on, especially when they are wet. We finally got him a pair of Crocs and our whole lives changed! (OK, maybe somewhat dramatic, but you get the point!) I've yet to find a kid's shoes that matches the durability, versatility and ease of use of a pair of Crocs. Just this afternoon, Nadia was lamenting the fact that someday she was going to be older and her Crocs wouldn't fit her anymore - I'm not making this up. I assured her that as soon as she outgrows her current pair that we will buy her a new pair. Of course, she asked if next time she could get a pair with more pink!

And here they are in action at the awesome beach at Carkeek Park. Most of our "crab-hunting" was done on the rocky beach which meant going barefoot was not an option. Nadia's Crocs really are perfect for beach combing.

I know that summer is almost over, but Crocs now makes shoes for all seasons. You can check out their new fall styles now. Nadia had a pair of the berry Nadia boots last winter, and I personally LOVE the new Mackenzie. There's even room for the precious Jibbitz that my Nadia insists on decorating her shoes with, too! Crocs are the only pair of kid's shoes that I can personally vouch for their comfort. I have a pair of mary janes, too, and while they aren't the shoes that I wear out to dinner, I do wear them to the park and beach. The other night I walked all the way around Greenlake in them and barely noticed I wasn't wearing my regular walking shoes. Nadia struggled a little bit as a younger toddler when she tried to run in them, but now you can't tell a difference. I mean, I probably wouldn't suggest she try out for the track team in them, but as a three-year old, she's not really running foot races for blue ribbons yet.

Crocs online is having a buy-one-get-one free sale right now with free shipping! I suggest stocking up for next summer! I'm on my way to do just that right now! If you'd rather, you can always find great deals on Crocs at our affiliate Amazon.com, too!