Review

Review: Waterproof Birkenstock Arizona EVA Sandals

August 10, 2022 by jessica Leave a Comment

I’m going to preface this by saying that I love that Birkenstocks became the “It” sandals a few years back and are still going strong. I resisted at first, but caved soon after seeing women in Brussels that year navigating the cobblestone streets in their Birks — and looking chic in them. I bought the single-strap Madrid style in black and they’re hands-down the most often worn sandal in my wardrobe followed closely by the big-buckle style I bought a couple of years ago. Thanks to quality craftsmanship and comfort, the brand has staying power — and that’s unlikely to cease any time soon with their recent designer collaborations.

This year, I realized that I needed a shoe to wear in our yard that could easily be rinsed off. We have a mulberry tree that drops berries all over and I was tired of my regular shoes getting stained on the bottom. While I have a dedicated pair of beat-up sneakers to wear when gardening, oftentimes I’d rather just slip on a pair of slides to head out for light yardwork or to put produce waste in the compost bin. Birkenstock’s waterproof slides fit the bill perfectly.

Let’s be clear: these aren’t pretty. I also have no intention of wearing them with an actual outfit, save for the beach or pool. It might be the “Lake Green” color I opted for, which gives borderline Miss Frizzle vibes with its chunky, colored plastic. I think the white pair would look better, which is the pair I originally wanted, but didn’t think the light color would hold up with our mulberry situation.

Aesthetics aside, I love these for their practicality. “EVA” stands for ethylene vinyl acetate: a lightweight, elastic material. It feels like a sturdy foam, or what I assume Crocs are made out of. (I’ve mercifully never worn Crocs.) The molded footbed is incredibly supportive, while the thick, cushioned sole is comfortable to walk on. They’re comfortable right out of the box with no break-in period necessary and no blisters in sight.

Of course, the biggest selling point is that they’re waterproof. They have the standard-issue deep treads that all Birkenstocks have for traction, so I imagine these will be great for a boat or a rockier shoreline. If you prefer the pool, I have no doubt they’ll offer better support than a slippery flip-flop. (I realize this focus on practicality is aging me, but c’mon, who wants to do that awkward shuffle in wet flip-flops?) This also means that you can simply wipe them down when they get dirty, which makes them a wonderful option for the garden.

Long story short, they’re great. Definitely worth $50 and I think I’ll be getting years of use out of them. You can find them here.

Sizing notes: The sizing is the same as other Birkenstock sandals. I go down a size, so while my American size is 7, I wear Birks in a 37 (the EU equivalent of 6/6.5).

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Dress Your Tech With a Custom Case

December 22, 2016 by jessica 3 Comments

The approaching new year brings on a sense of rebirth and renewal — and that’s most evident in the irresistible urge we have to take stock in our lives and, of course, our wardrobes. In addition to sifting through your clothing and accessories, and ditching things that no longer feel like you (or at least the “you” 2017 will bring), I’d also suggest giving your tech a face lift with a custom case from Casetify.

Creating a custom case is easy. All you need to do is select your phone model, the layout of your design, and choose from your photo library. You can either connect to Instagram, Facebook, or upload images from your computer. It will arrive seven to 10 days later with free standard shipping. I chose the single-panel design to show off one of my favorite photos from Brussels. I love that the washed-out sky created a white background for the phone case. And in the spirit of the new year, it’s a constant reminder to prioritize travel and finally book a 2017 adventure.

Casetify custom iPhone case (c/o) | Banana Republic sweater (sold out; also love this and this)

Introducing The Fifth Watches

October 6, 2016 by jessica 5 Comments

There are few accessories that that are elegant enough to withstand the test of time: diamond stud earrings, signet rings, and sleek timepieces. No matter how great an Apple Watch may seem, donning a classic watch is breathes effortless sophistication. It’s why I’m absolutely smitten with the brand The 5TH, a watch company that releases its collection for just five days on the fifth of each month.

There are only three watch designs by The 5TH, but each comes in a variety of metal finishes and band colors. Each has a sleek, minimal design with a shallow face that hugs closely to your wrist eliminating bulk. Better yet, they come in at an affordable price point ranging from $95 to $150. I selected the New York Classic style in the SoHo colorway when The 5TH approached me with the opportunity to try one of their watches. The New York Classic styles comes with two leather watch bands that are easily interchangeable. In fact, as you’ll see below, you don’t even need a tool to swap the straps. You’ll just need to push down on the pin holding it in place.

This month’s batch of luxury timepieces so was released yesterday and many of the styles sell out fast. If you need more time to mull over your purchase, sign up for The 5TH’s list to be granted access to the pre-sale the morning of the fifth before access is open to the public next month.

Plus, you can save 10% with code BEDKNOBS!

Thank you to The 5TH for sponsoring this post!

A monthly chocolate delivery? Yes, please!

August 3, 2016 by jessica 2 Comments

If there’s one way to a girl’s heart, it’s through the sweetest subscription box yet: Chococurb. As you may suspect, Chococurb is a monthly chocolate delivery featuring a selection of gourmet chocolates from around the world. You can choose from a full-size box with five to seven treats for $35 per month, a mini box with three selections for $20, or the nano box with sample-size pieces for just $10. As with most subscription boxes, you’ll save money by signing up for multiple months at once.

I was delighted to get my chocolate fix with Chococurb’s nano box in July. The box arrived inside a small Styrofoam cooler with an ice pack to protect the chocolate from the summer heat. (Sidebar: I’m not terribly keen on Styrofoam for environmental reasons, but Madison does have a recycling program for the product and, if we’re being honest, chocolate is a hard product to mail without an insulation.) Nestled inside were four small samples of different brands of chocolate and one full bar. Selections change each month and while this box was comprised of all milk chocolate pieces, they varied in flavors and places of origin. There was a chocolate-covered cake batter candy from Seattle, one infused with coffee from the Bay Area, and yet another with ginger from Belgium (an especially fun surprise given that I had purchased Dolfin chocolate when I was in Brussels a couple of years ago). My favorite was a decadent bar of milk chocolate with a hint of vanilla from Madagascar.

I’ve been a hard one to impress when it comes to subscription boxes, but I’m totally on board with Chococurb. It’s a great way to try different high-quality chocolate brands at a relatively low investment of $10 per month. Heck, you would probably spend that much on two venti drinks from Starbucks in a month, and I promise that chocolate is more satisfying! And if you’re craving more, visit their blog for all things chocolate.

Save 10% off orders through Sept. 4, 2016 with code BEDKNOBS.

Popsugar Must Have Box Review :: June 2016

July 1, 2016 by jessica 2 Comments

Subscription boxes are typically hit or miss. Most hold up on their end of the deal to provide items above and beyond the price paid for the box, but some fall short on offering items that you’ll actually want to use. So, when POPSUGAR offered to send a June Must Have Box over, I jumped at the chance to evaluate the goodies first-hand. First things first, the practical information: the monthly box comes in at $39.95 and promises a value of over $100 in full-size products. It’s not a bad deal if you love getting surprises in the mail, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by the variety of products in the June box:

Hat Attack Neutral Diamonds-Printed Sarong ($58): I love the neutral print on this lightweight sarong. It pairs perfectly with my favorite beach items.
Sisters of Los Angeles “Cheers” Gold Bottle Opener ($12): You all know I’m a huge beer geek and this is perfect for me, even though we already have far too many bottle openers!
Wild and Wolf Ridley’s Games Room “Who Am I?” Quiz ($12.95): This is a “guess who” game where you read off the clues to see if others can figure out who you’re referring to. At first blush, they seem to be mostly actors, actresses, and singers, so I don’t think I’ll fare well!
NCLA Born on the 4th Nail Lacquer (16): This color was created exclusively for POPSUGAR. It’s a red, silver, and blue confetti that’s just itching to be layered over my white manicure for the holiday weekend.
Knock Knock Are You Ready (For Your Close-Up?) Compact ($10): This little compact is awfully durable. I’m going to toss it in my beach bag for seaside touch-ups.
Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes ($9): These wipes can neutralize underarm odor for hours with an aluminum-free formula. I haven’t used them yet, but it’s another item worth keeping in the beach bag.
Pressels Sriracha ($1.29): Eh. I like spicy items, but this fell short. They’re pretty bland.

Would I order a box for myself in the future? Probably. I loved how the items worked seamlessly together and created an experience perfect for a game night on the patio. I’m also thrilled to have the exclusive nail color in my collection and I’ve already used the sarong as a pool cover-up. Curious about the July box? Get it here and use code Use coupon code MUSTHAVE5 to save $5 off your first box. Still unsure? They typically spill the beans on the most valuable item before the the end of the sign-up period, so keep your eye on their Instagram.

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Thanks to POPSUGAR for partnering on this post!