7 Must Have Summer Sandals

by ajohnson | Aug 24, 2020 | Blog, Style

Cue the song “The Heat is On” when June hits in Arizona! Summer comfort, especially on your feet is so important from June until about mid November as the temps are incredibly warm! If you don’t have a selection to rotate through, you could see your sandals breaking down very quickly from the hot concrete. Now, that’s not to say some of the summer sandals I have listed as my staples haven’t been here for a few years, because they have.

I’m simply saying it’s important to have a few in your rotation you can wear and rotate out. Because it’s way too warm usually to wear sneakers (even though I suffer sometimes and do wear them) and summer is about a good sandal, am I right?! However, if you are looking for some advice on some of my favorite sneaker brands, and what I recommend, check out this blog post here.

7 Must Have Summer Sandals

This post is very much catered to must have summer sandals for women, but I could also do another post if you wanted one for little girls. I will be honest though, getting my girls to wear a different shoe than the EXACT pair they love, is a bit tough. Even though they have a closet full of them 🙁 I digress.

I need to let you know, like always, this post contains affiliate links, and by shopping the links I provide, I may receive an additional commission from you purchasing, at no additional cost to you, so thank you <3!

Here are my 7 must have summer sandals in no particular order:

• Slides
• Block Heel Sandals
• Multi Strap Sandals
• Strappy Wedges
• Gely Sandals that are dressy slides
• Leather Sandals
• Strappy Sandals with High Heel

Let’s break each one down

Slides

When I was talking about having a sandal for more than one year, I was talking about my favorite slides from Reef. I’ve had these babies about 2 and a half years now, and I wear them at some point every day. These gold and neutral colored slides can be worn casually or even dressed up. For me, because I have such large calves that don’t seem to be going anywhere fast, I need some skin showing in my shoe to help bring some attention away from my calves. These slides are the perfect summer sandal slides because they are perfect for lounging around the house, the pool, running errands, or slight housework. I’ve even did a bit of demo work on our garage with them on! They are super durable and have a cushioned foot bed that makes them super comfy and so easy to walk in.

Reef makes many different kinds of sandals and all sizes and for Men, Women, and kids. My exact shoe is on sale right now for $36 if you are a size 5! Good news, they make them in MANY different colors, so check them out here. You won’t be disappointed in these guys!

I have found so many pairs of slides from Target that are super easy to wear, and work well with so many outfits. If you go to Target or their website at any time of day or season, they typically always have a good slide you can buy! Here’s one of my most worn pair, ironically, these are also gold.

Block Heel Sandals

Sam Edelman shoes have had a place in my closet even before I moved to Arizona in 2013, so the quality and brand do not disappoint! Whenever I see a shoe with the little SE logo on the outside, either in public on someone else, or in the store, I KNOW it’s a good shoe! And that includes ALL types of shoes, sandals, booties, wedges, heels, tall boots, etc. They all are made to last, made to fit well, and are comfortable! It’s not often you can say that about an entire line and brand and it ring true! It’s also the reason you will find another one of my recommended shoes on this list is from Sam Edelman!

Ok, so the summer block heel sandals are a new one for me. I usually can’t wear a block heel because of my big calves, like we talked about previously. The block on a regular shoe heel covers too much skin for me and adds too much weight and makes the calves look even bigger than they already are. These block heel sandals are different because they are open in the back, have some strappyness to them, and even have a bit of detailing that draws the attention away from the calves. Because they have a bit of heel, it lifts my calves and lets the muscles stand out more, further accentuating the leg.

Now, if you don’t have thick calves like me, block heels are probably your best friends!

The wider base to stand on makes it so much better and easier to keep your balance. Luckily for us big calf gals, these sandals fit the bill and work for us too! And the touch of cork around the heel and sole of these sandals add quite a nice touch!

I have recently found these cute strappy block heel sandals from Ted Baker that absolutely fit the bill for dressing up a jean or an office look even more! They are a peach color and give the perfect nude color with a square toe that’s sure to be a trend for a long time.

These babies are currently on sale for the Nordstrom sale, linked here, and they will be full price again after the sale is over.

Multi Strap Sandal

I’m all about the openness of a multi strap sandal, especially one that has different colors and patterns on them! These cuties take the idea of mixing black and brown and throw it right out the window! Because no one needs that rule in their life anymore. I found these cuties at Evereve here, but I’m sure you can probably find them wherever you would shop for sandals.

These have a touch of lift in them, giving the illusion of a longer leg, without causing you to fall and break your neck. They can be dressed up or down, and even mixed with a different pattern while still looking great. The thin straps give enough skin to make them still work for those of us needing as much skin showing as possible to help slim the legs. If you haven’t checked out the Dolce Vita brand, I urge you to go now! They have more than sandals, and you can check out my sneaker post here to see some of my favorite sneakers!

Strappy Wedges

I started noticing wedges a few years ago, and have loved them ever since, especially strappy ones! I love these because they give you extra support and lift when walking. And if you are walking through the grass, or a softer surface your heel won’t sink down like a smaller heeled shoe does. I love a wedge because they can be dressy or casual, and worn with all kinds of outfits from shorts and a tee to a maxi dress. I love to pack these specific cork and cognac summer sandal wedge that I got from Target a few years ago because they are a perfect go to when you need something casual or dressy. No need to burden your suitcase or bag with extra weight if you can take one pair of shoes and cover all your bases!

Gely Sandals that are dressy slides

Another classic shoe that can either be dressed up or made more casual, these gely slides are an affordable dupe for a very expensive Valentino. I also have a pair of lighter pink Ted Bakers that are more subtle and don’t have the studs, but are equally as good. Now, don’t get me wrong, I spare no pennies for my shoes, but I’d rather have a more affordable version and have SEVERAL of them! These gely shoes came from Amazon, and come in several different colors. I love them so much because my little girls both have a black pair and we can twin easily.

These shoes are super for vacation or wearing for errands. I don’t recommend them for going to get a pedicure though! They become VERY slippery when the lotion gets on your feet and sometimes slip off! I love that they are so affordable and you can’t tell the difference in an actual Valentino and these! link to similar ones that I have.

Here is a different, more structured option for the Gely Sandals, and I found a very similar pair still available. That’s linked here.

Leather Sandals

I couldn’t mention summer sandals being comfortable without including leather sandals, could I? I mean, leather summer sandals are as much a staple in my closet in summer as they are in spring and fall, especially when you are dealing with the heat of the Arizona sun! While I feel most of these other sandals are good for casual as well as dressy, there’s something about a classic leather sandal that says put together and dressy to me. I mentioned Sam Edelman a bit ago, and when I say I have a Sam Edelman in every shoe style, I’m not kidding! I fell in love with their classic leather sandal slides a few years ago because they go with everything, literally.

These are this season’s update. They always have the best styles and colors, and you can never go wrong with them! Usually, you can find them on sale too, which we all know is a big deal with me! The other thing I absolutely love about these sandals – they last for a few years, minimum! I think I had a pair a few years ago that I wore almost daily in the summer, and they still held up for 2 solid years! And don’t get me started on their gladiators — Like THE BEST around!

Strappy Sandals with High Heel

Typically, you always need a strappy sandal with a high heel for summer, for weddings, girls night out, clubbing, etc. except this year. This year, we need them to get dressed to have dinner on our patio, zoom weddings, and virtual girls nights. But hey, we still need summer heel sandals even if we aren’t leaving the house – just yet! I’m loving the square toe trend mixed with a little ombre like these I got from JustFab Online.

If a summer sandal with a high heel isn’t your thing, then maybe these strappy kitten heels will do the trick. I love how they come in so many different colors and are super affordable to have more than one summer sandal low heel in your closet.

Final Thoughts

Sandals are a staple item for summer, and having a variety to fit different outfits and situations is a must. If you are looking for a capsule wardrobe, maybe grabbing a few of these styles that can cross over to multiple outfits and looks is the best idea. If you need some inspiration for your summer closet essentials, check out my blog post on that here. It’s sure to give you some ideas and things to ponder for keeping your closet up to date and easy!

Tell me what your favorite summer sandal is in the comments, I’d love to know what y’all find to be the most important!

N Sale thoughts after week 1 and $1000 Gift Card

by ajohnson | Aug 10, 2020 | Blog, Style

The biggest sale of the year has been open for a week now, to different access levels. When I tried to shop on Friday and Saturday, a ton of things were already sold out. Or not available to do a store pickup. So, I shipped the items that were only available online, and picked up the rest. When I did an in store pick up, I browsed around the store to see what things said Sold Out online and found them in store.

If there’s something you absolutely love, you can add it to your wish list. And when you can shop, try to put it in your cart to check out. If you live close enough to do an in store pick up, I highly suggest that. Because it is much easier and they can even bring the items out to you very quickly and socially distant.

N Sale thoughts after week 1 and $1000 Gift Card

Before I get much further, here is the information to enter into the $1000 Gift Card gifting.

I have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give YOU a chance to win:
a $1,00 Nordstrom Gift Cards to shop the Anniversary sale!

Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada only and runs until 8/17. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that that’s out of the way, I wanted to share a few things I’ve picked up, and so far am loving!

I have been sticking to my wishlist and not buying more than I need or different things just because. Especially this year. It’s important to be really intentional with where money and energy is going, at least for me. I tend to have an addictive personality. So I enjoy shopping to shop or when I’m emotional or overwhelmed. HELLO 2020 🙁

As things start to come in more, I will be updating this post. As well as maybe a hit and miss list.

The first thing I was determined to find was this Leith dress. And so much so that I completely forgot I added it to my pick up order, and bought the last size in store. But I’d say its true to size. It’s a bodycon dress, and comes in black and white. This one shows sold out online. But you may be able to find a size or two in your local store.

Next, I found 2 pairs of leggings. One I added to my cart and they cancelled. And the other I forgot to add to my cart. The water color pair, or even tie dye if you will, was cancelled but I found a bigger size in store. I grabbed them. I also grabbed the zebra stripe looking pair in store because they had my normal size of a Medium. The white Sweaty Betty top was in my pick up order, and I ordered a Medium as it was slightly cropped.

The Large, which I grabbed to try of the tie dye/watercolor leggings have to go back. They are really baggy in the crotch area, and won’t stay up now and later when I continue to drop fat and add more muscle.

The zebra stripe pair are absolutely perfect fitting, and so soft! Zella is one of my favorite activewear brands because they fit me so well!

The next things I picked up were beauty.

I always see so many influencers working with Tula Skincare and I kind of brushed them off. When I saw them on the Nordstrom Sale, I figured now was the perfect time to give them a try. And you also get a few free Tula gifts when you grab this little kit.

**Little tip I learned when I was shopping in store:

The beauty department oftentimes will mark their products as sold out if it’s been selling like crazy. They do this to “catch up” with the orders already placed, and for the people shopping in store. This is a case where you could come back the next day and add to your cart, or if you are already headed in for a pick up like me, take a look. The location I went to had so many in stock and they were still unboxing a ton of product so I imagine things that “sold out” may actually come back.**

I will tell you, some of my Instagram followers requested more skincare from me, so I thought this would be a good place to start!

I used the cleanser and I’m a big person on smells, so for me, I don’t love the smell that it gives. But I ran out of my other cleanser I was using, so it’s perfect timing to actually try it more than a day. I will keep you posted on that, but first thoughts are the smell isn’t for me.

Now, the toner, I’m really liking! Maybe it’s because I used it right after the cleanser and it neutralized the smell? I added a bit to the tips of my index and middle finger and spread it all around my face. It seemed to do the job and allow me a purified base to apply the rest of my products. **The toner was one of the little gifts received with the purchase of the kit.**

More to come on this one!

The last thing I picked up was the 3 pack of the full sized Kopari natural deodorant. I’ve been using Native and making my own natural deodorant for a long time, and actually got the Kopari set in last year’s Nordstrom Sale and loved it. I alternate between the Native and the Kopari and it works well for me in the scorching heat of Arizona!

This kit had 2 of the ones I’ve already tried and love – the coconut oil – and has a new one – CBD infused. Now, I haven’t really hopped on the CBD trend yet, I use Copaiba which I have done more research on, but I’m curious to see how this one works. This will be a follow up as well!

These are all the things for now, but I’ve got a few more that are supposed to be delivered this week, so hopefully, it will turn into the hit and misses because I then can give you the feedback I want instead of this is good, or this isn’t, etc. Stay tuned!