Good evening!!
We met Matt at the bakery for lunch today. He took the red eye home and went straight to work, so it was nice to be able to hang out with him there. {And those crab chips are the BEST!}
I had half a pimento cheese sandwich, some chips and a kombucha.
I came home to find this package on my doorstep –
I ended up ordering some Tieks. With such glowing reviews on my shoe post, I just HAD to try them out. (I also got some others to try from Zappos and will report back when they come!)
First impression: ehhh. I’m a solid size 8 and so I ordered an 8, but they are quite tight. After wearing them around the house for an hour I had red marks all over my feet. However, I did some Internet searching and many, many blog posts say they have to be broken in. I’m planning to keep wearing them around the house (they can be returned so long as they don’t touch the outside) and I’ll give them a week or so before making the call. I can see how if they were broken in they would be really comfortable, so I’m hoping that’s all it takes. The soles are my favorite part!
Also, LOVE the linen Silver Lake, but maybe I should have gone with a softer leather?
We spent the afternoon swimming – Matt met us for the last 30 minutes. Mazen has just gotten really comfortable in the puddle jumper and it has made swimming so much more fun!
Dinner tonight was made at the last minute since we came home from swimming close to 6pm. I cooked a few chicken sausages in a pan and then followed them with a bunch of spiraled squash I bought at Whole Foods. Our sauce was 4 pesto ice cubes and parmesan cheese.
I’m planning to have a raspberry crumble bar at a friend’s house tonight, so saving room!
Nadine says
I’ve heard that the fabric ones don’t really stretch. I’d send them back and try out a leather pair.
Jean says
I have the same tieks and they definitely run smaller than the leather ones. I should have returned them right away instead of thinking the would stretch a little bit like my other pair.
julie says
Totally agree Nadine! The soft leather is what makes the Tieks so comfy. Canvas isn’t going to be nearly as soft and won’t hold up as well. I have a few leather pairs that look almost new and I’ve worn them for years.
KathEats says
Thanks for the tips ladies!
Karen says
Personally, I can’t wear ballet flats as I need good arch support, but as a comfortable-shoe expert, I’ll pipe in and agree with the others; a good quality soft leather (as opposed to patent) will always be softer and flex with your foot better than will canvas.In my experience, those materials, esp. in the summertime and if worn for long periods of time, often cause skin irritation. I’d say if the shoe sole/arch system is comfortable for you, and the style suits your needs/preferences for a practical yet stylish walking shoe, then just opt for a leather upper (and possibly go up 1/2 size in length.)
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I can’t wait to hear the final verdict on the flats! I’m looking for some extra pairs to add to my summer wardrobe 🙂
Cath says
From my experience and by the looks of your photo, the Tieks look too small. Love mine though!
Cassie says
How cute! I love the zucchini sausage noodles idea!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Ohh that dinner looks amazing!
Heidi Kokborg says
I love your flats! 🙂
Alicia says
I love my Tieks because they fit my narrow feet so well. Those look a little tight on you. The Toms Ballet Flats are much wider, IMO. Life is too short for uncomfortable shoes!
Jenn says
Agree with the others. Your Tieks are too small. The leather ones are soft and stretch, those fabric ones do not.
Elizabeth Beil says
Is the kombucha homemade at the bakery? Great looking dinner! We had something similar with tomatoes and rice and chicken sausage!
KathEats says
It’s a local brand
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
yum that dinner looks good! we got to try some chicken sausages at the grocery store this weekend and they were all SO GOOD… definitely should get some for quick dinners! 🙂
Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy says
YUM! I need to make zoodles! I have a vegetti but haven’t used it yet.
Mazen is adorable! I wish my son liked the pool. He recently turned two and is not a fan.
Sara says
I would love some Tieks but I can’t stomach the cost at the moment! Maybe as a gift one day from someone who loves me a whole lot and has a lot of money, ha ha!
Elise says
Why not just exchange them for a bigger size instead of hoping you’ll break in the 8? It seems like you have wide feet, so you probably need to size up!
Emily @ Life on Food says
The dinner looks excellent. I didn’t know you could buy squash noodles like that at Whole Foods.
Meg says
Oops, Tieks can only be returned if they’re unworn. Obviously you have to wear them to try them on but you can’t wear them around for a while to break them in and then return them, even if you are just wearing them inside. I have a couple pairs of the leather Tieks and I love them so much! I’ve never gotten a blister or red mark from them and the soft leather is so beautiful 🙂
bonnie says
I am a huge Tieks fan — I have size 11W feet and NOTHING ever fits. Tieks, however, are a GLOVE. Soon comfy, so cute… I have 6 pairs (all leather). The patent ones are equally comfortable as the non-patent leathers to me, and are more durable. The soft leather ones scuff by the heel pretty easily.
I did have to size up to 12 — my first pair was an 11 and way too tight. 12s fit perfectly. I can even wear cushioning/arch support inside them on heavy walking days and it makes them completely comfortable for all-day wear.
And in terms of price.. I got my first pair way back when the company was smaller, so they had a great promotion and i got them for $100. All other pairs i’ve gotten at a 20% or 30% discount. Nowadays they don’t do sales as often. Personally I’d never get the fabric ones since i think they’re overpriced if it’s not leather. The leather ones are COMPLETELY made of leather (except for the blue rubber soles and a thin layer of fabric across the toes). To me, they were a worthwhile investment, as i wear them nearly every day.
I hope you give them another chance! You can just order the 9s and they’ll send them right over before you even return the 8s! Amazing customer service.
Susan says
I have read and heard that shoes should never have to be “broken in” – they are too expensive of a shoe to not have a good fit!! I’d send them back and you could always check with a podiatrist…
Christina says
I am a little behind on your blog posts so sorry for the late comment. A friend turned me on to Yosi Samra flats. I found a pair on a flash sale site for $40. They can be anywhere from $70-100. They are the most comfortable flats I have ever worn. Definitely need to size up if you normally wear 1/2 sizes. So if you are a 7.5 I would try an 8. I love mine and know other friends who also have yosi’s and are very pleased. Zappos usually has them in stock if you ever want to test out a pair.