I would have then proceeded to tell you that the only reason people buy them is so they can match their "The North Face" jackets, eat Qdoba and live in Colorado Springs .... a rather harsh, unrealistic view I got of Chaco patrons my freshman year in one of the campus ministry groups.
Over time however, I talked to person after person who loved their shoes and oddly enough, didn't live in Colorado Springs. My stereotype was busted.
After going to New Zealand and picking up a love for hiking and the outdoors, I decided I needed to invest in some new shoes.
Reluctantly, I went down to the neighborhood JAX store where to my surprise, I fell in love with Chacos. Although it did take two sales associates to find me the right pair and help me adjust the straps to my feet, I found the Cinderella fit. But I still wasn't sold. Being that I am not one to spend a lot of money on clothes, I left the store empty handed. I really liked the way they molded to my feet, but I wasn't quite sold on their value.
Fortunately for me, my subconscious took over the decision making that weekend. After dreaming about them two days straight and being unable to shake them from my mine while I was awake, I returned to the store. While I cringed as I handed over the Benjamin to cove the cost, I was so excited to own them that I switched them out for my old shoes before jumping on my bike and heading home.
Almost a year later, I am still in love with these shoes!
Top 10 reasons I love my Chacos:
10. I spent too much money on them not to fall in love with them.
9. The soles have some mean traction on snow/ice/mud.
8. You can wash them by throwing them in the shower with you.
7. The one strap that runs throughout the entire shoe adjusts to custom fit abnormal feet.
6. Sweet tan lines... if I tanned
5. I can get away with wearing them as pseudo dress shoes.
4. They encourage messy behavior
3. They make me feel like an explorer while going about my everyday life.
2. 1 year later, they're still chugging along beautifully when most shoes don't last me 4 months.
1. I did the my first Half Marathon wearing these babies.
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| BEFORE.... |
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| BEFORE.... |
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| AFTER!! |
For me, Chacos are just another example of proving wrong my own preconceived notions with personal experience.
A month a go, I decided to go No 'Poo to test the idea that I had to use shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair clean. While I was rather skeptical when I first heard about it, I'm now a believer.
Here's what my hair looks like today, 30 days after I started No 'Poo without any styling at all.
I think it's a winner.
Here's to the bohemian life! Cheers!
