Work Chic: Commute Shoes
I adore reading The Sartorialist, a blog featuring street fashion of (mostly) regular people in NYC, to get great ideas for style and fashion. Ok, who are we kidding, I mostly just look at the pictures. But the stories are usually short and well-worth the couple minutes it takes to read them if you have the time. I always wonder when I see the photos of the stylish women on The Sartorialist, “How on earth can someone really be walking around NYC in those sky-high heels?!” I’ve asked my friends who live in NYC and most say you just deal with the pain. But, I’m not a deal-with-the-pain-kind-of-girl. I suppose that’s why I don’t work in the fashion industry, though I did once have a fashion blog (one that I’m considering updating again!).
When I want to dress up without killing my feet, I turn to commute shoes.
Commute shoes are comfortable shoes you can wear getting from Point A to B (usually from my house to work). These shoes are not necessarily stylish, but take the brunt of my walking so I can wear the slightly less comfortable, but decidedly more attractive shoes once I reach my destination. For example, I used to park in a flat lot and have to walk 3 or 4 blocks just to get to my office. While I could have walked 3 or 4 blocks in heels, it just seemed more sensible to walk to my office in tennis shoes and put my heels on once I reached my desk.
Heels are fun to wear and look great. But, heels are not fun to wear when you’re carrying a couple heavy bags and huffing and puffing down the street because you’re late to work and trying to move quickly. Have you ever tried speed-walking in heels?
Instead, wear something more comfortable while you’re driving/walking and otherwise commuting. Once you reach your destination, throw those heels on, baby!
What types of shoes would make good commute shoes? Anything that you find comfortable to wear! Personally, I like to wear either some comfortable flats or tennis shoes.
As an added bonus…ever notice that scuff mark where your heel hits the mat in your car? If you use commute shoes, your heels will be saved from this terrible damage.
Eats
I made hubby and I carob oatmeal today! You pretty much just make regular oats, but stir in about 1 tsp or so of carob powder. It’s sooo good!
Carob oatmeal tastes so much like chocolate oatmeal and yet not. I loved it! It was a super easy way to switch up breakfast.
In the bowl: old fashioned oats, water, milk, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, carob powder, coconut flakes, organic peanut butter, agave.
Post-work, I went to a birthday dinner at Big Daddy’s to celebrate Michelle’s birthday. A couple of us ordered the Kill the Keg special – a holiday beer for only $1 with a cinnamon-sugar rimmed cup. I loved the sugar-rimmed cup idea…it was so festive and tasty.
Hubby and I split a salad…
…and a burger with fries.
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Hubby and I decided to finish decorating our tree tonight. Yes, I realize it’s been nearly a week since I first started decorating the tree. *sigh* I’ve been running around like a crazy person for the last week, staying up till 1 or 2 am trying to finish projects…things have been so busy! I guess that’s one of the downsides of trying to keep up with a 9-to-5 job, teaching Zumba, blogging, and keeping up with everything else. Or at least…attempting to. I may or may not have a pile of laundry in the dryer that has been there for 3 days now. 
Anywho, what tree decorating party would it be without cookies?!
I made chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I’m hoping to share the recipe soon! They’re pretty tasty – crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Mmm…
We also found a Christmas station on Pandora…
…and we even got Bailey into the spirit by putting on his “Bailey Claus” costume. He pretty much hates wearing this…you can tell by his face. lol
But he was a good sport about it.
Bailey watched patiently while hubby and I finished garnishing our Christmas tree.
Hubby and I enjoyed hot carob drinks with our oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
I’m telling ya…this carob stuff is gooood!
Addicting even. Maybe even more so than dough balls!
Also, thank you all for your tips on my first 5k! I’m really nervous, but mostly really excited! Please keep the tips coming if you have other ideas. Thanks!
What are your tree decorating traditions? Do you do it on a certain date? In a certain order? While enjoying certain foods or drinks? Tell me about your holiday decoration traditions.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a lovely evening. And yes, I agree, decorating means nothing without Christmas music and cookies.
Those cookies look so yummy! I live in Charlotte too, and I know the joy of Big Daddy’s. Now I have a sweet potato fry craving!
You should definitely update your fashion blog again, by the way.
I wish I had the time to update the other one. I miss my fashion blogging!
I really couldn’t stop staring at that last photo – it looks so holiday-ish! I used to be huge into carob but haven’t made anything with it in a long time. Maybe some Christmas cookies will get the honor!
Bailey is adorable as always! Everytime I see his photo, I just want to hug him!
I wear commuter shoes all the time (mostly boots, clogs or low shoes). I was born and raised in NYC but now live outside the city and I have never worn heels to work. It just wrecks your feet and gives you blisters and bunions. A lot of people I know keep a stash of “office shoes” under their desk.
Your recipes always make my mouth water! Isn’t Christmas the best season ever food-wise?? LOL
I love the idea of office shoes. A co-worker of mine used to do that. Did you see all the photos of Bailey from my Winter Wonderland post yet? http://thechiclife.com/2010/12/winter-wonderland-2010.html
good luck with the 5k! you can do it!!!
Congrats on the 5K!
As for commuter shoes, I use my fave TB flats every. single. day and then switch into the 4″ stilettos at the 9to5. Today, I’m wearing heeled boots so commuter shoes were not an option. Love the black flats with the chain detail – so chic!
I’m horrid – haven’t even had a chance to get the tree up yet
I started commuting (hour drive) in my sneakers…it started out I would bring my running shoes to work and I’d change to run (at lunch) and end up staying in them for the rest of the day.
it’s SO cold at work and I found I was much more comfortable and more productive so they stay on now.
I also have a neuroma in my left foot and it’s getting really hard to wear heels so I have my way stylish slacks and sneakers.
oops, but until they make it bearable to wear anything less than a parka the sneakers stay on. (and the gloves, scarf and jacket)
also, i just ran my first 5K last month. (I mean October)…just have FUN and don’t worry. I made myself sick over it all and in the end I had a blast.
good music and I had a peice of toast and coffee and it made my stomach turn a little while later.
can’t wait to hear how it went!
Congrats on running your first 5k!
Aw! That’s great Diana! For your first 5K just make sure you’ve ran that distance a couple of times before the big day and you’ll be great! Have a very light breakfast before and know that you’ll be great and we’re cheering for you.
I would have to do commute shoes. Heels kill me. Luckily, working from home means I can chill in flip flops and socks all day.
We always do all our decorations the Friday after Thanksgiving. I look forward to it every year.
That’s what I want to do – have a particular day every year that we do our decorations.
What’s better than Christmas decorating and cookie baking? Love it
I’ve never had carob before, but you’re making me want to try it out!
I love it! It’s totally worth trying at least once.
I am very interested in Carob, where did you get it? The carob oatmeal looks and sounds amazing! Thank you for staying up late, I really enjoy your blog.
I got my carob powder from a local health food store. Places like that or Earth fare or Whole Foods should have it. Or maybe you could get it online.
Thanks for reading Ali!
It’s nice to know my staying up late is not in vain. 
So true about the shoes! I keep a pair of heels @ my desk and (for winter) wear a pair of boots to work and back.
As for decorating I like to get it all done in one day if at all possible
Wow!!!! You’ve gotta start up the fashion blog again!! The oatmeal looks unreal!! Can’t wait to make it myself. Do you know where to purchase carob chips? Where do you get your carob powder?
Great blog today!!!!
Thanks Wendy! I got mine from a local health food store, but if yours doesn’t have it, try Earthfare, Whole Foods, or online.
I love Bailey’s outfit!
Carob is amazingly addicting. I love the chips in oatmeal!
Well,we do the same thing.I always wear heels when I am at work and the thing is I really hate the fact that I have to walk from the parking lot to the office which really hurts my feet.So what I do,I wear my comfortable Vans slip-on first when I am driving.And oh by the way,I just want to share this really cool shopping app called “Should I buy it?”, http://bit.ly/sibifm33 for fellow online shoppers which you can download at iTunes that allows you to get instant feedback from your Facebook friends on whether you should buy something or not (either for yourself or as a gift).I have tried it and it is really amazing..:D