Let’s Never Speak Of Winter Again. Sandal Weather Has Finally Arrived #SoleStyle #Payless!

Chicago seems to not really have a spring.  Tulips and irises, which typically bloom in the early weeks of spring, stayed dormant this year as we completely skipped the temperatures between freezing and broiling.  Now that it’s 80 and humid outside, the moderate weather blooms are finally peeking out and it feels like summer but looks like spring.  Regardless, I’ll take it!

As a California girl at heart, I find sandal weather to be the best time of year.  Back home, it was always sandal weather, and while I embrace Chicago’s weather which affords me an opportunity to try out all kinds of footwear like rain boots which I never got to wear at home- sandal weather is hands down, the best weather.  

Whenever I can, I wear sandals.  They are a shoe that prevent swampy feet on long walks with Matilda, and are easy to kick off and put your toes in the sand at the beach.  Also, for a girl that loves doing at-home pedicures, it’s a great time to show off those nails which seem to be hiding inboots for far too long in those midwest winters!

Chicago relishes summer, the city literally seems to come alive.  Sidewalks are teeming with people- the parks are filled with little league teams and dogs giddy to be off their leashes to romp in the grass and chase after squirrels.  You can hear the jingling of the bells of merchants selling ice cream on bikes, and the laughter of tipsy people playing cornhole on their lawn (A.K.A. “beanbags” for those of us not from the midwest!).

Going for long walks with Matilda is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the warmer weather.  Being a rescue pug, Matilda is still really shy around people and other dogs, though she does warm up and snuggle with people, on the street she goes into guard dog mode- a problem I’m trying to address by getting her in close (but not scary close) proximity to her stress triggers and exposing her to them with positive reinforcement when she doesn’t panic.

I think that winter in Chicago is like childbirth.  Winter is horrible, painful and you don’t know how long you’ll be facing the discomfort of waiting for warmer days to arrive.  Then summer arrives, and it’s like seeing your baby for the first time…yes it was painful, but man, wasn’t it worth it?  Maybe it wasn’t so bad? You’re overcome with the warm fuzzies and you tell yourself, though you vowed to yourself that during the process, you’d “NEVER DO THAT AGAIN,” the pain seems to fade away and the happy chemicals set in.

If you’re not spending every available moment outside to soak in the sunshine and take in the neighborhood color, you’re missing out.  Getting a good walk in and swooning over the impressive gardens and landscaping of your neighbors en route to the local dog park is both frugal, fit and absolutely lovely.  When the weather is good, I schedule in at least a half hour a day to take Matilda out and scope out the neighborhood.

Eva Flip Flop  /  Dexflex Comfort Mid-Wedge Sandals  /  Tote  (all 3 under $50 total!)

That’s how summers in Chicago are so delightful, I tell myself that winter is far away and I don’t want to think about how much it sucked when I can show off a fun mani-pedi and tromp around the grass with my dog at the dog park in comfy thong sandals and shorts to get sun on my legs.

Payless Shoesource has some great items for summer. On my recent trip- they had some cute dressy sandals, but since I do so much walking in the summer, and the dog parks are messy, I opted for two really comfy, cute pairs.  These Dexflex Comfort sandals can be dressed up or down, and have a cushy memory foam and a slight wedge to make them great for long walks in a cute dress!  I also got a pair of beach-ready flip flops and a tote bag, all for under $50- so I have everything I need to hit the dog park, walk to the lakefront or just roam around the neighborhood, scoping out the local flora!

Welcome to sandal weather everybody, it’s going to be GLORIOUS!

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Payless via Rhythm One. The opinions and text are all mine.