Let's Talk About... Winter Boots

Happy Snowpocalypse, friends! If you are not on the east coast, you are missing lots of fun sledding, having snowball fights, and making snowmen and snow angels. And, lucky for you and sadly for me, the opportunity to spend at least the next week wading through giant slush puddles on every corner. Charming.

So I thought I would take this as an opportunity to talk about some different types of snow boots. Somehow, over the years, I have accumulated three types. There are obviously many others out there, but for those of you who have not made the plunge yet, these are three different genres that might help get you started. Also, even though it just snowed for the first time, snow boots are actually on sale everywhere right now because it's the end of the fashion season, so if you've been waiting to buy, now is your moment!

Option #1: The Semi-Work Appropriate Hardcore Snow Boot

These snow boots, by Pajar, are pretty intense. I bought them three years ago in the middle of a series of storms and they have served me super well since then. They both zip up and lace up, and both closures are sealed completely so no snow and slush can get in. They're also lined with fleece, so they're super warm. They're from Canada, and it does seem that they know what they're doing in terms of winter up there.
Pluses: Mine are leather and wool (red, white and black plaid!), so I could wear them to work and therefore did not need a change of shoes. They have great tread. They're not too heavy. They go more than halfway up the calf, so they can stand up to even the grossest of huge slush puddles.
Minuses: They are a bit of a production to get on and off because of the zipper/ laces combo. Also, they didn't come in half sizes and so I was forced to choose between slightly too tight or really too big. I went with the small choice, which is usually fine but occasionally uncomfortable. Luckily they're warm enough that I can wear them with tights but no socks.
Where to find them: I've actually never seen others like mine, but Pajar has a lot of other good options in a similar, if not wool plaid, style. I have seen them on sale at DSW, Marshall's, Fox's and my local shoe store.

Option #2: The Rain Boot

I've had these Coronado rain boots, by Keen's, for five years now, which is a very impressive stretch. Before, I used to buy cheap ones, but they would split and then leak every few months. These have held up amazingly. They're also roomy enough for my slightly wider-than-average calves.
Pluses: They're obviously waterproof, so there's no need to fear puddles. They also have decent tread. They have a thin fleece lining which means they don't rub uncomfortable, and an actual arch support, which is very rare in rain boots. They're versatile because they work for both rain and snow.They are also very easy to get on and off, which means that they're ideal if I only have to walk 10ish blocks and then take them off before I go into someone's apartment.
Minuses: These are meant for rain, not snow. That means they're not the warmest. Even with thick socks, I wouldn't wear them to go out for a long period of time. Also, like most rain boots, they're heavy. Not great for all day wear.
Where to find them: They seem to be out of stock everywhere at the moment :( But they come back around, so if you're committed, keep googling and I'm sure they'll be back soon.

Option #3: The Shearling and Wool Boot

These Emus are the one pair of boots I did not wear yesterday, hence the lack of a parallel picture. Mostly because of the height-- I was worry about meltage getting into my shoes. I learned my lesson the hard way about shearling boots with my Uggs a number of years ago, when they got totally soaked in slush. Uggs are not waterproof, people! But Emus are. I was skeptical before I ordered these because of my Ugg experience, but reviews swore by them and a local shoe store had a display with them sitting in a tank of water, so I went for it. And it worked!
Pluses: They're super comfortable! By far the most lightweight of the bunch. They also pass as normal looking even more so than the Pajars. The tongue is stitched in, so they don't leak through the front. I also got them on major sale from Zulily.
Minuses: They're not so tall, so they cause slush puddle anxiety.
Where to find them: Here from Amazon and here from Online Shoes (although both are MUCH pricier than what I paid. You can also search Zulily to see if any are left in stock.)

Enjoy and stay warm! And here are some pictures of general cuteness from our snow adventures (first time sledding for the new east coasters), because this is my blog and I can do what I want :)

Summer Bucket List: Outside Music, AKA Philharmonic in the Park

When I was a kid, my mom used to take us to concerts at Lincoln Center on Saturday afternoons. They were called the Young People's Concerts (although my sister Sarah resolutely insisted on called them the Dumb People's Concerts) and they were meant to introduce kids to classical music at young age so that they would grow up with an appreciation for it.

Sorry you can't see the whole skirt, but it was a crazy mob scene and there was nowhere else for me to move in order to get a fuller picts. You get the idea-- it's a maxi skirt, the print goes down to the ground. 

It's hard to say whether the concerts did their job or not, but I certainly find that there are days when I prefer classical music, so I guess they were at least somewhat successful. In honor of my appreciation of such things, and in my desire to keep on keeping on with the summer bucket list, I joined my parents for Philharmonic in the park on Wednesday night.

See, crazy mob scene.

Philharmonic in the Park is an old New York tradition, and this year, in honor of its 50th anniversary, they're doing five concerts (one in each of the boroughs other than Staten Island, and two in Manhattan. Sorry Staten Island.) They tend to play old favorites that the crowd will recognize, and people bring picnics and it's great fun all around. Unfortunately, this year, it rained on and off, so they ended up cutting a lot of the set, including Gershwin, which is one of my favorites, and Appalachian Spring, which is my dad's all time favorite. So it was sort of a bust for the music, although the suite from West Side Story was great. And it's nice to just sit outside and listen to music. Even when you end up looking like this:

Yup, that's my dad. He finally appears on the blog!
In honor of Father's Day. 

And at the end-- fireworks!

 When dressing for something like Philharmonic in the Park, it's important to remember that it gets colder at night. It was already a little cool out on Wednesday, so I made sure to dress in layers, including a jacket and a scarf. I also went with a maxi skirt, which kept my legs covered and warm, and also is (in my opinion) more comfortable for things like ground sitting than jeans, because it's less constricting. Sorry there's not a better picture of the skirt, but you can see the whole thing here. The summer fun continues!

What I'm wearing: Papermoon maxi skirt via Stitch Fix (similar here), Tahari 3/4 sleeve shirt (similar here), GAP Factory jean jacket (similar here), Naot sandals

Summer Bucket List: Walking in the Rain

The weather here this year has been crazy. We had a week of psycho heat and humidity, followed by a week where I should have been wearing tights, but instead chose to freeze because it was June and after a certain point, enough is enough.

Unlike some others, I actually don't mind being outside in the rain. In the movies, rain is usually used to either show that something sad is happening, or that there is a giant romantic gesture coming. However, remember how when we were kids, rain was just FUN? Jumping in puddles, getting super, wet, etc. It's time to bring that back.

Last Sunday, it was raining, so I decided to knock another item off the summer bucket list and go for a walk. If I'm wearing the right shoes (in this case, my Chacos) and I don't have my laptop, I find being in the rain pretty enjoyable. I should have worn a hat to protect my glasses, but getting wet isn't so bad if you know you're headed home after.

This time, Mother Nature said, Ok Rachel, challenge accepted. When I set out, it was raining lightly, but not hard enough for me to put up an umbrella. And then the skies opened up. It was not raining, so much as there was a giant showerhead in the sky dumping down buckets and buckets of water. I hung out under an underpass for a while, but then decided to set out anyway. And you know what? I was super wet, but it was sort of fun!

The best shoes for rain

I think the random gentlemen who took my picture thought I was sort of nuts, but it's all good. And in case you don't believe me that it was pouring, take a look at these shots:

Does this not look like some sort of ghost ship? Creepy!

Today is shaping up to be a beautiful day, so it's time to stop blogging and go outside. Have a great Sunday, friends!

What I'm wearing: Lucky Brand top, Downeast Basics cami, Old Navy cropped khakis, Chaco sandals, Goody head wrap, and one super hardcore umbrella.

Sprinter

Hi everyone, I'm back! Sorry for the absence. I know you all missed me terribly. You can blame these people for being too much fun and keeping me away from my computer.

Passover is finally over, and we will return to our regularly scheduled programming. This picture is actually from Thursday, before the holiday restrictions set in again. As you can see, I am dressed as if it is January. Hence the name of this post, Sprinter. No, that does not mean I have suddenly become a super fast runner. Instead, it means that despite being April, it has basically felt like February. Cold, rainy, windy, yuck. Today was much better, so here's hoping that it will hold.

Sorry that I look sort of drugged in this photo.
I assure you it is nothing other than spent-all-day-alone-with-a-two-year-old-itis.

There are a few downsides to this weather. First, WHY AM I STILL WEARING BOOTS AND TIGHTS? Also, I stubbornly refuse to wear my winter coat, so it means I'm cold all the time. And finally, wind + moisture is not kind to my curly hair. Add a two year old who sees me as a jungle gym to the mix, and forget about it.

Look at the fun detail on my glasses!

This hairdo is my rainy day go-to. It didn't look amazing by 5:00, but you get the idea. If you know how to french braid, it is actually pretty easy. Just make a deep side part, section off some hair in the front, and braid down, only adding hair from the side that is closer to your face. Pull the rest of your hair back in a bun and we are finished. People always think it looks so fancy, but I mostly like it because it keeps those inevitable front frizzies out of my face.

I actually have many things to say about this outfit, including about colored denim and wearing stripes. But pizza is calling me name, so it will have to wait. See you back here soon! (I promise.)

What's your cold and rainy day go-to?

What I'm wearing: Gap Factory cardigan (similar here), Gap long sleeved t-shirt, Boden red jean skirt (similar here), Old Navy scarf (similar here), Hue tights, Born boots