What the Kids Wore // Treads School Shoes

We were sent two pairs of Treads Shoes for the purpose of this review

Back to school is looming and we are preparing the final pieces of school uniform ready for September 1st.  Everything looks a bit big still as I seem to inevitably buy with some growing space, and all the polo shirts are so bright they seem to reflect the sun.  We all know that will last approximately one wear before they are stained by dinners, pens or something completely unidentifiable!  This year we are trying out Treads shoes for the older two and the plan is that they make it through a whole school year.

Treads come with a 12 month indestructible guarantee which means they are build to withstand typical playground behaviour and the way children sit and act in school as well as on the football fields.  Obviously most children wait until just after you have bought them new shoes to have a growth spurt, and Treads come in dual sizing with a removable insole so they last that little bit longer too! For both boys I chose their current size and the shoes can not only grow with them into the next, but the sizing is generous too so I really do hope they will last all year!

Dylan chose laces this year, something we haven't tackled yet but at 9 years old he is definitely ready to learn!  He went for the Tokyo which have plenty of rubber to protect his toes and I think they look a little more grown up whilst still being playful.  Archie went for London which is a classic, comfy, velcro style.  The shoes are available for both girls and boys from sizes  junior 11 to adult 11.

The real test of these shoes will be in a few months time though, so I plan to do a little update at 3,6,9 and 12 months to show how the shoes are faring! For now they look shiny and clean and I was keen to pop them back in the box to preserve that as long as I can! Both of these boys start back on the 1st of September ready for the new term though so it is time to get labelling!

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Back to School with Deichmann Shoes

Book bag

PE kit

Water bottle

Lunch box

Pencil case

Pencils

Shirts

Trousers

Jumpers

Coat

Shoes

I think I am pretty much ready, which is so unlike me but every year the list seems to get longer and more expensive and I start thinking about it earlier.  Dylan is off to Junior School in September which means a whole new uniform and extra things that he didn’t need before, like packed lunch box and a water bottle as he is no longer entitled to the free school meals.  Thankfully Deichmann came to the rescue when it comes to school shoes.

They offered to send us a pair of shoes each for the boys and there was such a huge collection to choose from that it was easy to find the perfect pair for each of them.  I went for something a bit smarter for Dylan and I think they look so grown up! Archie still needs a lot of rubber protection at the front as he has a tendency to make everything look scruffy within seconds so I went for some that look perfect for active children and I am hoping they stand up to his rigorous testing once September arrives!

Deichmann have an offer on at the moment where you can buy one pair of kids shoes or trainers and get another half price which can really help to cut the cost for bigger families, especially when many of their school shoes are already under £20 a pair!

How ready are you feeling for September? It feels good to have all the basics sorted although if anyone wants to come and do the labelling . . . .

**Collaborative post**

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What the Kids Wore - Goretex Shoes

Our Summer Bucket List was long and I never imagined we would get so far through it.  There are still so many things I want to do before they go back to school and some that I doubt we will be able to fit in, but we have had so many adventures that I will be sending them back to school and nursery content with the amazing summer we shared.

One of the things I was really keen to try with the boys was fruit picking.  I have never taken them, which doesn't make much sense considering how much they adore fruit of every kind.  We packed a picnic and plenty of water last week and met a group of friends to spend the morning at a PYO farm.  We happened to choose a ridiculously hot day which meant it was actually pretty quiet and we had the strawberry fields to ourselves.

We collected a few plums, apples and redcurrants but really it was all about the strawberries.  I don't know whether more were consumed there or brought home, but we got home to discover that Archie had tried every single strawberry in his punnet to check it was juicy first.

The boys were recently sent some Goretex trainers and they were ideal on this hot day as they are so breathable.  The fact they are waterproof meant we were prepared for all weather and they kept the boys feet protected when they found hay bales and wooden crates to climb on and over after our picnic.  

We are loving our free range summer, the exploring, discovering nature, running and climbing, playing with friends, staying up late and getting dirty.  The boys are having so many adventures and their shoes are keeping up with them well!  Cora spent the morning cuddled up in the sling which made both of us rather warm and rather glad to find a bit of shade to cool down in for a picnic lunch.

We had such a wonderful time fruit picking that I am hoping we can make it back there before the end of the season to fill up the fruit bowl again.  We are definitely going to be picking our own pumpkins and I am sure their Goretex shoes will be needed to keep them dry by then!

What else have you got planned for the final days of summer?

Disclosure: We are Goretex Ambassadors this year so we have been asked to share our big day adventures.  

All words and pictures are my own.

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Shoes for Adventures

Archie is a toddler who needs to move.  He is not content walking along the pavement, he needs to explore, find stones, sticks, alleys and mischief.  His selective hearing means that when you mention he doesn't have his wellies on he still jumps in every puddle and a little bit of mud is not getting in the way of fun!

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Joe Browns Review and Giveaway

I don't very often get to shop for myself, and I have a tendency to head straight to the childrenswear department in any store, so I was happy to say yes when Joe Browns offered me the chance to choose something for myself.  I initially went for a lovely summer dress but unfortunately I found the sizing quite big and couldn't get a dress that fitted.  I had no problems choosing something else and went for a lovely blue tunic top and some sandals.

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Skeanie Shoes Review

A babies foot is a very precious thing.  They are a very different shape to an adults and ever so soft.  They need to be cared for in the best possible way, and studies have shown that walking barefoot is the best thing for their development.

Of course this is not always practical.  Dylan is starting to try and pull himself up, and loves standing holding onto my hands.  It won't be long until he is off and when we are outside I need to protect his little feet.  Skeanie baby shoes are leather with a suede sole, meaning they allow your child to walk naturally, as if they were barefoot whilst protecting them at the same time.

The Australian brand have an eco-approach to making shoes and use only off-cuts of leather.  They are designed to protect and nurture little feet.  Their infant range is for

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Win a pair of Little Dish shoes!

The  Barnados Big Toddle, held on 23rd May  is the biggest fundraising event for under 5s.  This year will see hundreds of thousands of children toddle in a superhero themed sponsored walk.  The event is being sponsored by the lovely people at Little Dish, who are responsible for bringing you handy, healthy microwaveable meals for little people.

Little Dish are running a fab promotion, selling special packs of their chicken and butternut squash pie with a pair of toddling shoes for only £5!!!  This offer will be available in Sainsbury's from the 23rd May 2012 so make sure you  head down there to pick up yours!  I have five pairs of these funky toddler shoes to give away right here, just by following the instructions below.  They come in 3 sizes, 4/5, 6/7 or 8/9 and even come complete with a little mabel badge so make sure you let me know which size you would like if you win.

Sceptical as I was about microwavable children's meals, I was amazed at how little junk and how much goodness were actually in them,  The amount of salt is around 0.14 g per serving!  The meals look and taste amazing and are perfect as the next step in our weaning process.  Both Dylan and myself thoroughly enjoy them, and they are ever so handy when you don't have the time or energy to cook a fresh meal.

To find out more about the big toddle and how you can get involved, click here

To win your very own pair of Toddling Shoes just use the rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Little Dish offered me the chance to give you lucky readers this giveaway and sent me some lovely little dish goodies to try ourselves.  

  

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Day 18 - All Grown Up

Babies are only small for a very short time, and sometimes my little man looks ready to run off to the park with his friends, or ride his bike round the garden even though at 6 months he can't even crawl.  Today we took what I consider to be a major step towards growing up, and put Dylan in some shoes.


 To some this may not be a big deal, but I have always thought that babies do not need shoes until they can walk.  Their feet do not touch the ground!  Booties suffice to keep their little tootsies warm, and as much as I love to dress him up, his comfort is my top priority.


We had been bought a pair of shoes for him a while back, and now that he is getting to the stage where he may outgrow them, we put them on.  They are soft soled, done up with Velcro up the back, furry inner shoes, and he did not seem particularly bothered that they were on his feet, but complete with a more grown-up than usual outfit, my baby looked like a toddler ( being the size of your average 11 month old didn't help)

My little man!

I don't know what age it becomes inappropriate to dress a child in just a sleep suit all day but I fear Dylan is nearing that age.  He usually wears 'proper' clothes, but we like denim to be soft and lined, and tops to do up under the nappy with poppers.  I like my baby to look like a baby, and more importantly to be happy and comfortable.


Children grow up too fast without our help, so shoes are going to remain for special occasions only until he is toddling.

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