Tom’s shoes in brown paper packages are even better.  So are giveaways, but first the shoes.  I love Tom’s shoes.  They’re comfy, cute and have a great story.

It didn’t always feel that way.  Shocking, I know.  When they first came out, I thought they were insanely ugly.  No really, I did.  I didn’t know anything about them, so I judged them solely on looks.  What can I say, sometimes I’m a little too quick with my opinions.

Not sure what it was.  Maybe it was the shape, the fabric, or the fact that they reminded me of something hippies, grandmas, europeans, european hippies, european grandmas, or european hippy grandmas would wear?  Nothing against hippies, grandmas, europeans or any combination of the sort.  It was just the mental image I had in my mind.

So what changed?  I’m not a hippie, a grandma or european.  Stories can completely destroy my well built opinions.  Their story –  One for one completely destroyed the outer wall of my opinion.  For every pair of shoes you purchase, they give a pair of shoes to a child in need.  Children in need, shoes – what’s not to love?  Not to mention, I was just a tad inspired that someone so young could make an impact in this world just by making and giving away shoes.  I still wasn’t in love with the style, but the outer wall was already gone.  That’s when I discovered the kid’s shoes.  Great.  How I can defend my opinions against cute kid’s shoes?  I didn’t stand a chance.

As soon as I bought my daughter her first pair of Tom’s, my mental image shifted.  It wasn’t long before I had to get a pair for myself.  And now, they are most definitely one of my favorite things.

Oh and guess what?  Just because. I’m going to give away one pair of the Black Glitter Tom’s shoes the first week in May.

Wait?  What?  Post a comment on this site or Like this post on Facebook.  Yes, yes – winner selected at random and announced on May 9th.  No, no – this is not sponsored by Tom’s.  They have no idea who I am.  I was just thinking if I give a pair away, a kid somewhere get’s a pair.  Everyone wins.  And it means that I’m not hoarding Tom’s shoes for myself which is one of those Life Lesson thingies – something about excess not being good for you.