In my city with FitFlop.

cognac sneaks: Fitflop. c/o

Craig and I have joked a lot about my often impractical fashion choices of the past; like wearing a tulle skirt to church with toddlers, or a dress I had to literally strip down to nurse in when I had a newborn, or the time I walked around NYC in a pair of platform wedges and basically permanently injured my foot.  Not a smart decision.  I’d like to think that I’ve matured in my fashion choices… and while I do make more practical and comfortable choices, I never like to sacrifice my style.  Which is why, even walking 12 miles a day in Europe I didn’t pull out the tennis shoes… I love finding fashionable alternatives for situations that call for practical solutions.  Which is why I am so excited to share FitFlop with you today.

 FitFlop is a new discovery to me, and I am so excited about the brand because they have solved the whole “this situation calls for tennis shoes, but I still want to look stylish” dilemma.  Where have these shoes been every day of every busy woman’s life?  But seriously though.  You guys know how I feel about good comfortable footwear that you can actually walk and travel and live in.  I don’t care how cute a pair of shoes is, if I can’t do life in them, they aren’t for me.  And I don’t care how comfortable a pair of shoes is, if they don’t go with my outfit, they aren’t leaving the closet… You can see where this has gotten me into trouble in the past.

FitFlop has created a science and style based solution for women who want to look their best while also feeling their best.  Their shoes are designed to help you look and feel good all day everyday, and you guys, they really do work.  These shoes feel like a million bucks and even better, they are super stylish.

Fitflop has invited me to team up and take you on a little tour “in my city” and today introduce you to one of my favorite New England towns, Essex.

When we left the Pacific Northwest to move to New England a little over a year and a half ago, we were trading our cramped Seattle neighborhood and the vibrant Emerald city for a rural Saltbox farmhouse and charming New England towns.  While I often miss the energy of Seattle, I love where we are now.  We’ve got our own little slice of paradise out in the Connecticut countryside,  halfway between New York City and Boston.  And while I love hopping on a train for a day in either of those fantastic cities, on of my favorite things to do, is spend a day in one of the charming New England towns that are close to our farm.  My favorite by far, is Essex.

Essex is one of the oldest towns in our country and it’s packed full of history and charm.  The pretty little New England main street is dotted with white painted shops, gorgeous historic colonial houses, a river marina with a lovely yatchclub, little restaurants to grab a treat, coffee houses, antique shops and one of the oldest continuously operated Inns in America.

It’s a town made for exploring on foot and an easy place to spend a day walking around and exploring all the charm and history.  I walked all day in my FitFlop derby shoes and my feet felt amazing at the end.  They’re seriously it’s like wearing really lightweight super supportive slippers all day.

Here are a few more of my favorites from FitFlop.  (They have a whole line of boots, sneakers, loafers and sandals as well.)

*this post was created in partnership with FitFlop.