Holidays

**A winner has been chosen**

I’ve come to realize that there are 3 kinds of people in this world, those who wear and love Keens, those who covet Keens in a way that Moses would greatly disapprove of, and those who’ve never heard of them.

So for those of you in category 3, here’s a rundown of why I love Keen to encourage you to join categories 1 or 2. If you still need convincing after reading this, visit their new website and I’m sure you’ll be hooked.

1. They’re environmentally and socially responsible. Much of their products are made from reused or recycled material. They use environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, give back to the community, and are working through a Fair Labor certification process. There are so many companies who have jumped on this bandwagon half-heartedly but I get the impression that Keen really means to make a difference in the industry and the world. Their company was founded on these principles 5 years ago and they keep taking their commitment to the next level.
2. They’re based in the Northwest so we’re neighbors and likely soon to be BFFs.
3. Their design is smart and their shoes are well-made, rugged and durable.
4. Handbags. You just have to look. Trust me.
5. Everything they make is gorgeous.

Now you’re asking yourself, “Why is Kathryn giving me a big fat advertisement for Keen?” Firstly because I like em so darn much and secondly because they want to give one of you a Christmas present. An awesome Christmas present, a present of which I am totally jealous in a hypocritical I-enabled-this-so-why-am-I-freaking-out-with-envy sort of way.

Head over to the site and look through everything. May I suggest the Ridgelines, Betty Boots, Palermo Boots or Palermo MJs?

How about a pair of classic Newports or Wear Around MJs?

And let’s face it. If it were me, I’d spend a good long time checking out their laptop bags and handbags. I’ve particularly got my eye on the Oswego and the Betty bag. The day packs are also delicious but I’d feel like I’d end up sharing them with my family and honestly, who wants that?

So yes. Go to the site. Pick out something you can’t live without and come back here and tell me what it is in the comments section of this post. Next Sunday night I will choose one random winner to rule them all who will receive a coupon code good for one free item of your choice from the Keen website. That’s right ladies and you 3 gentlemen. The winner gets to pick any one thing you want. Squeee! I’m so excited.

Here’s the bonus. If you post about the contest on your own site with a link back to this page, then come back here leaving a second comment with a link to your post, you’ll be entered twice.

But wait. There’s more. When the contest ends, I have a coupon code for everyone else to get free shipping on anything you order from the site.

So everyone wins. And the peasants rejoice. Now go. Window shop. Come back and report your findings.

Click to Read My Product Review Policy

Kathryn’s back is “out”. Not “out” as in “un-cool”; “out” as in “out of commission”. (I find her back very cool.) So she asked I post a little something to let you all know that she has not, in fact, passed away, but is merely immobilized for the time being.

Because staying on her back is crucial to her recovery, today was a unique Father’s day–I got to really be a dad, full-bore, the whole day. It was tiring, but I love my family and it was great to be able to run the whole show for them.

Thank you so much to those who have been aware of Kathryn’s sidelined state and have been so kind. Your encouraging words and especially your helpful hands (thanks for the dinners!) have really cheered us and helped us along.

One such friend, whom I will call Brandy, went so far as to take Laylee shopping to get a Father’s Day present for me. Laylee had decided (on her own) that I needed new “work shoes”. Not your everyday Father’s Day gift idea, for sure. I guess my current pair are starting to deteriorate a bit. So Kathryn sent her to get me a new pair like my old ones:

Instead, here is what she came home with:

Apparently, the trip to pick them out was quite fun, too; Brandy sent us an email afterwards to detail their exploits together, from which I quote:

“Laylee was so adorable today =) She made Roberto and I laugh the entire time! I’m going to try and remember the funny things she said and share them with you.

But first you should know that Laylee picked out the shoes for Dan all by herself-—she didn’t want to get him tennis shoes-—she wanted to get him ”˜work’ shoes. She was so cute-—very particular about which shoes he’d like. So, yeah — I hope you like them, or rather Dan likes them!

Laylee was very proud of herself. I pointed out many Skechers and Laylee would say ”˜those actually look like Bobsled shoes’ if the soles had bumps on them—-which most of the Skechers had. She said that about 3 pairs of Skechers. It was hilarious—-like when have you ever been shopping for Bobsled shoes before and how does she know what those would look like?!

She liked the fact that the shoes she chose would look good with “jeans… and even sweats”—-she’s so funny. I tried to steer her towards running shoes like you described or other Skechers that you had to tie up and had some design on them-—like two-toned or stripes, but she was set on black as he already had a brown pair of shoes. I had Laylee try on the shoes for comfort testing—-it was cute—-she tried on one pair and said they had ”˜bumps’ on the sides, so they wouldn’t work. She really thought the ones we ended up getting were comfy!

Laylee told us she made a Father’s Day card and said ”˜I wrote a Father’s Day card and put “To Dad” and other Father’s Day stuff’ =) It was funnier the way she said it because it sounded like ”˜To Dad’ was a Father’s Day saying or something.

Laylee said ”˜I am a good example in my family because I always have to remind my mom and dad to not say bad words’. Which after we laughed, I told Roberto it is probably words like ”˜hate (I hate peas) or stupid’ etc. But it sounds so funny coming from a child — as though you used swear words 😉 <ed.: We used to sometimes, in extreme situations, say “gosh”. I guess we still do, since Laylee has to remind us not too. 🙂 >

I told Laylee she could pick out Dan’s favorite candy bar — so we were looking at all the choices and she picks the Hershey Bar and says ”˜I’ve seen him eat one of these before, so it must be his favorite’. Ahhhhh, too funny.

Laylee told us she was going to keep Dan’s present a secret, so it’s like ”˜keeping the beans’ instead of ‘spilling the beans’–too clever! =)

We bought Laylee bubble gum and she said as she chewed some ”˜it makes me smile because it is so delicious.’ She then stated ”˜when people are sad, they should eat food because then it would make them smile and be happy’—-she has no idea that it’s called emotional eating-—LoL.

So, it was entertaining and enjoyable to spend time with Laylee-—she’s great Kathryn!”

Thanks for “keeping the beans”, Laylee. It was a great Father’s Day surprise. 🙂

P.S. I wore the shoes to church today, and they were comfy and looked great.

Because we like you and we think you work too hard, SeattleMomBlogs.com is offering another great giveaway. Go over and enter to win a 2 night stay at a cottage in Seabrook, 2.5 hours from Seattle. You know you want to grab your flip flops and head out there. Here’s your chance to do it for free!