Cheer used to be a huge part of my everyday life. I had practice every single day and competitions every single weekend. There is a lot that goes into cheer: tumbling, stunting, facials, uniforms and very importantly, the shoes. Although it may not seem extremely important to an outsider, one of the biggest questions asked by cheerleaders is “What is the best cheerleading shoe?”. You can’t answer this easily because honestly, each shoe provides something different and there are several things to look into when going through this deciding process. You must look at:

1. The price

Find a shoe you can afford. Cheer shoes can be very pricey.

2. The comfort

In this sport, an uncomfortable shoe will not work out. You need a shoe with cushioning for hard landings in tumbling, flexibility for all the jumping, stunting and constant moving around, and a lightweight material so nothing is weighing you down when you are trying to get up off the ground. Keep in mind that they will need to be broke into, so they might not just be instantly comfortable right off the bat!

3. The fit/size

This is necessary to look into when looking at any shoe in general, but specifically for this sport a proper fit is needed for comfort but also safety.

4. The special features

You should look at the special features that the shoe includes. Some shoes have things like grooves to have a better grip when stunting, some shoes have straps instead of laces so you don’t need to worry about an untied shoe. These are all good things to look into so you know exactly what you are purchasing. 

5. The style

Obviously you want to look good and like the way your shoes appear, but this should be the last thing determining your decision because the other things are overall more important. 

When I did cheer for several years, these are the shoes that I wore. They were amazing quality and held up for years, never ripping or breaking at all throughout the many practices and competitions that I wore them to. They are more on the expensive end of cheer shoes, but the quality of them makes it worth it. Click on the photo to be taken to these exact shoes and purchase the same ones.

Here is a pair of cheer shoes that my sister wore for cheer. As you can see, hers did not hold up throughout the years. They were expensive, lightweight and breathable, but they ripped and broke while she was doing the same exact work that I was doing. I think seeing the comparison of the outcome of these two shoes shows why it is important to look more into the shoes before purchasing them and maybe also reading the reviews given on them as well. 

I know cheer isn’t everyone’s thing, but I hope I could answer some questions for the cheerleaders that ARE out there! There are so many options when purchasing cheer shoes, you just need to find the right ones for you. 

Doc Martens: Quite possibly the most aesthetically pleasing shoe there is. Maybe another word to describe them would be iconic. These shoes have been around for decades and are now hitting their all time peak popularity because the world simply cannot get enough of them. Doc martens make a very bold statement with their chunky, big style. I personally did not own a pair of these boots until recently, but as soon as I did they skyrocketed to a top spot on the list of my favorite pairs of shoes and here is why : 

• First off, they are so cute. Not going to lie, I get at least one compliment every single time that I wear them, and that is always a plus. 
• Next, they are comfortable. If you can’t tell from my blog already, I am all about being comfortable and lucky for me, these shoes definitely give me that comfortability I look for.
• They are extremely durable. I have done so much in these shoes and they have held up looking exactly like the day I bought them. I honestly don’t think much of anything could ruin or damage these shoes. 
• They give you a little extra height. If you are short like me, this counts as a positive for this shoe. The thick heel gives you some height while also not being obnoxiously tall. 
• They are waterproof. This is a big one for me. I struggle to find rain boots that are fashionable and because of these boots, I don’t need to anymore. I have stepped directly in a puddle in these shoes and absolutely no water got inside them. This also made them perfect for the days walking through snow because my feet stayed completely dry, and warm. 
• Lastly, they are so versatile. This is a big perk of these shoes. Although they are boots, you can wear them in the summertime and still look completely fashionable which shows that they’re not only limited to one season or time. They can honestly be worn with nearly anything, a dressed up outfit or comfy, and not many shoes have the ability to do that. Also, they are in mens and womens sizes and look great on both so absolutely anybody could get great use out of these shoes which is really important. 

Here are a couple photos of times that I wore my Doc Martens :

In this photo I paired my doc martens with a dressier outfit for dinner with my friends.

In this photo I paired my doc martens with a chill, lazy outfit for the blackout themed basketball game.

From these two photos you can see that you can really go either way, dressy or casual, when you are putting an outfit together with these shoes. 

Here is a close up photo of my pair. I have the version with the fur on the inside because I got mine for Christmas and wore them for the winter time, but they have endless options with and without this feature. 

If you are looking for a shoe with nearly no flaws, go buy a pair of Doc martens. I will make it even easier for you and leave a link down below to the Doc marten website 😉 These shoes are on the rise in the fashion world and you should definitely hop on the trend. 

https://www.drmartens.com/us/en/

In my opinion, it gets really tricky to find a pair of shoes to wear in the summertime with a cute dress or even just a dressed up outfit. Your options are either comfortable or cute, but never can you find something that includes both of these things because in most cases, if the shoe is cute, it will not also be comfortable. Lucky for you, and me, I think I have found the solution to this problem: Platform sandals! I think these shoes are the way to go because : 

1. They are fashionable

These shoes have come back and became one of the biggest fashion trends in the past few years because they can be worn paired with countless outfits and look perfect with every single one.

2. They are comfortable

Although they are tall, the flatness of these shoes makes them extremely comfortable even after a long night. Unlike other high shoes, like stilettos, you don’t need to worry about balancing on a point or standing on your toes all night because in these your weight is evenly distributed throughout the entire foot. 

3. They come in all colors and patterns

It’s a good idea to find a pair of these shoes in several colors because I promise you will get a lot of use of them! A simple tan pair will go with any and every outfit, and then a fun patterned heel could go with a more fun outfit. These possibilities give you endless ways to pair these shoes and spice them up your outfits a little more.

4. They are affordable

Although name brands do sell these shoes, like Steve Madden for example, you can also find extremely cheap versions of this shoe for the exact same quality. This makes them affordable for a very wide range of people. 

Below are some examples of times I have worn the platform sandals that I own! 

In this photo I am wearing my tan platform sandals on our Mexico vacation from last summer. I wore these shoes to dinner, a show, and then dessert, and my feet were still not in any pain by the end of the night! The version of these shoes that I have are not name brand, in fact I got them for only $22. 

In this photo you can see my sister, my mom and me all wearing our platform sandals! I hope this is a little proof of how popular they are and also some examples of how they can be paired so easily and effortlessly. 

In this photo my sister and I are wearing our platform sandals for a family dinner. I’m not sure if you’ve caught on yet or not, but we wore them nearly every day of summer. We definitely have got a ton of use out of these shoes.  

Here are my sisters, my moms and my shoes a little closer up so you can tell what they look like and also see a few different styles of these shoes. 

I hope your next family dinner, summer adventure, or date night is a little more comfortable now that you know about platform sandals. I will leave some links below to some pairs of these shoes just in case you need some recommendations. I guarantee your summer 2020  outfits will be the best they’ve ever been! 

Here is a name brand pair: https://www.stevemadden.com/products/kimmie-black

Here is just a random pair (equally as good) : https://www.limelush.com/latte-brown-espadrille-platform-sandals-with-ankle-strap/

Activities that include a lot of walking might be some of the most fun activities, but the foot pain and uncomfortability might just ruin the whole day for you. Long days at fun amusement parks, exploring a beautiful city on vacation, or even just walking around a college campus could be hard things to enjoy if the right shoes are not worn. Trust me ladies, I know it would be ideal to look super cute in your absolute favorite shoes, but what would NOT be ideal is to be limping around all day when you are trying to enjoy your time because let’s be honest, no one is happy when their feet are hurting. I personally have been to Disney World quite a few times, gone on many college visits in the past several months and walked through many gorgeous cities, which makes me believe that I might have some of the best ideas of stylish, but most importantly, comfortable, shoes to wear for these days. 

1. Adidas Cloudfoam Pure Shoes

Everyone knows adidas and the name of this show speaks for itself in terms of comfort. This shoe is amazing for many reasons: they literally do feel like you are walking on clouds, even after hours of wearing them, they are available in many color options, it is a slip-on style so it stays securely in place all day while also being breathable, and lastly, they are cute! These shoes can be paired with many outfits and although the price might be a little on the high end because of the name brand, they are totally worth it! 

2. Vans Old Skool style

These shoes can be a little bit more dressed up than the last ones, but still provide maximum comfort. The canvas style gives off a very versatile, relaxed vibe which makes them very stylish shoes and also very durable, another key thing to look for in walking shoes. These shoes are again available in numerous colors and also patterns which makes them appealing to many different people and genders as well. Vans are extremely affordable, especially for the quality and last a very long time.

3. Chacos Sandals

Chacos are sandals that some like and some don’t. I personally love them and they are absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. This sandal has a very squishy cushion bottom that your feet mold to when you wear them. On this squishy cushion are little grips so that your foot doesn’t slide around, because let’s be honest, that is one of the most annoying things about summer sandals. Another perfect thing about these sandals is the straps that go around the back and top that keep your foot in place and are also adjustable so they can be fitted completely to your foot. With all these being said, I think it is safe to say Chaco sandals are a very good option for walking around when also needing to give your feet a little bit of air. Last thing I would mention about Chacos is that the color options are so bright and so much fun. I would 100% recommend these. 

I hope your activities are nothing but fun now that you know a few of these little recommendations from me. It is possible to still look cute while also being comfortable and I hope you learned a little more about that today.

I don’t know about you, but one of my least favorite things ever is a long day full of traveling. Whether you are walking all around a big airport or driving hours in a car, it is no fun. Something that I have found makes these days just a little easier, and comfier, is the right pair of shoes. If you’re anything like me, while you are scurrying through security in an airport or even hurrying out of your car at a rest stop, you might find yourself overwhelmed with stress as everyone is waiting on you to get your shoes on. This stress can be completely avoided with the right shoe choice, while staying fashionable and comfortable as well. Below are some shoes that I have found very convenient for these long, dreaded travel days. 

In the winter, this is definitely my go-to travel shoe. These shoes are comfortable of course, but also very convenient in the way that they can be taken on and off so quickly. This becomes very helpful when you are in an airport and need to quickly slip your shoes off to get through security and back on to get to your gate. In the situation that you are on a road trip and not an airplane, the same reasons that these are convenient apply. You can be comfortably sitting in your car with your shoes off one minute and the very next be ready to get up and get out. 

These shoes are very versatile as they can actually be worn for traveling in both cold and warm weather. In the summertime, I will wear my birkenstocks to the airport, or on a road trip, and just like the mocassins, they are very easy to slip on and off. In the winter, I will do the same thing but wear socks with them. These shoes are very comfortable and won’t cause blistering, or any added stress to your traveling. 

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These shoes can be worn in both summer and winter as well. They are easy to take on and off because of the fact that they do not have any laces or ties, and they are comfortable for long periods of time. They pair with almost every outfit, especially comfy outfits, so this is a great choice for a long day. 

I’m not sure if you noticed, but the common theme between all these shoes is that they can easily be taken on and off while also being comfortable. These are the two biggest things to look for when looking for the best travel shoes. Having the right shoes can eliminate uncomfortability, time, and stress. I hope you have an awesome vacation, and the traveling is not too bad! 😉 

When it comes to creating your perfect Winter Formal look, the dress is only half of the equation – you also have to consider shoes. With Winter Formal approaching so fast, I felt it was a perfect time to discuss this topic today. Whether you’re looking for sky-high heels or flats, you have endless options, and although this may be a great thing, it can also be very hard to narrow your options down. Today I will be pointing out some things to look for when looking for your shoes in order to have the most comfortability throughout your night! 

Tip #1 : The Thicker the Heel, the Better

Over the years, from experience, my biggest piece of advice would be to find a pair of heels that has a block heel rather than a pointy, stiletto, heel. A block heel will provide much more comfort and support and will also be much easier to balance on when compared to the pointy heel because of the way it allows an even distribution of your weight. You do not want to wear a pair of shoes that is giving you foot cramps after only pictures! Find something that is both cute and comfortable. 

Tip #2 : Find Shoes That Have an Ankle Strap!

A tightened ankle strap on high heels can help with keeping the foot in the shoe, in place and may also help overall wobbliness in the heel. This is recommended in heels because they are generally a difficult shoe for the majority of people to walk in. A shoe without this addition may have problems such as the heel slipping out, or the foot sliding around the shoe, which would be two very aggravating problems. 

Tip #3 : Buy an insole for the inside of the shoe

Because of the high arch of heels, some people end up with foot pain or foot cramping. By adding a rubber or gel insole to the inside of your heels, you can take the pressure off of your foot, getting rid of this problem. Another plus of insoles is that they prevent blisters by helping keeping the foot in one place. These are very affordable and can be found on amazon at the link below. 

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Comfort-Massaging-Insoles/dp/B01M9GSSJW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=gel+insoles+dr+scholls&qid=1581284170&s=apparel&sr=8-1

I hope these tips allow you to have a fun and comfortable night! Heels can be very tricky, but if you know some of the tips and tricks they can be a little less of a pain, literally.

If the phrase “classic” or “old school” were to come to your mind in relation to a pair of shoes, you might think of the Checkered Vans, or at least the very popular Vans Shoe Brand. 

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This thought doesn’t come to your head for no reason at all as these shoes became instantly popular when they were released in 1977 and have continued to be a huge fashion statement since then. Contrary to some beliefs, you don’t need to be balancing atop a skateboard, BMX bike riding or doing anything crazy to rock these sneakers either. These shoes are definitely something outside of the basic tennis shoes you see today due to the fun, checkered pattern and slip on style. Not only is this style fun and different but it is also super easy to literally “slip on” when you are in a hurry and on the go and will provide a comfortable all day wear. Although the checkered pattern may come across as difficult to match with outfits, they actually will go with almost anything and are such a great way to add a little fun to your outfits. 

Below are some examples of ways that I style my checkered vans: 

In this photo I am wearing my checkered vans with a big comfy sweatshirt and leggings. This is probably the most common way I wear them because they’re so easy to just throw on in the mornings with all my comfy outfits and the best part is they even make it look like I put a little effort into my outfit!! They can make a simple, boring, lazy day outfit look a little more fun. 

This second photo is another way I like to pair my vans that I think not everyone knows about, or maybe not everyone is bold enough for. I think many people would not have the first thought of pairing a patterned shoe with a patterned shirt because of the fear of the patterns clashing but this look works surprisingly well with the checkered vans. 

Obviously I could think of endless outfits to pair these shoes with, but the last one I am showing today is a bit more dressy compared to the first two. When heading to dinner with my family or friends, I will wear an outfit like this one: a sweater, jeans and my checkered vans. The sweater is a simple, solid color and so the vans are a perfect statement piece to the outfit. 

From reading this, I think it’s clear that I get a lot of use out of my checkered vans. These shoes are available for purchase at tons of stores and are very affordable as well. Below is a link to Checkered slip-on Vans on the Vans website. I think you should definitely click that link and get yourself a pair 😉

https://www.vans.com/shop/checkerboard-slip-on-black-off-white-check

The pictures above are a couple outfits, comfy and fancy, that I would wear my Air Force 1’s with. I show these to show you examples of how you could style the shoes any way. I hope this gives you more ideas and inspiration on how to style your own Air Force 1’s, or even inspires you to purchase them!

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
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The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

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• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
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• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

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