Without prior knowledge, Facebook has deleted my "I Love Birkenstocks" page.  I will no longer be posting or sharing via Facebook, unless I can figure out a way to get help.  Anyone using my blog name, "I Love Birkenstocks" is not me.  My Instagram account is still active.

​I have intentionally not written a blog in months.  There are many reasons behind the silence.  Pandemic life has been very chaotic and stressful.  I have not bought a new pair of Birkenstocks since September 2020.  And frankly, I have not had anything nice to say, so I have decided not to say anything at all.
 
I initially created my blog to share my love about Birkenstocks sandals.  I felt like I needed to stay focused and only blog about all things Birks.  But, I recently realized three things.  First, Birkenstock is not listening to its long-time fans who are begging for more regular width Birks with their new releases.  Second, since Birkenstock just sold most of their stake to a private equity firm, I don’t have high hopes for what is on the horizon for regular width devotees.  Finally, I am the creator of this blog and I can write about anything I want.  Thus, since I have nothing nice to say about all the ridiculous narrow width Birkenstocks being released, I thought I would write about something that I do have nice things to say about…..Duckfeet.

​'DuckfeetUSA has a decent selection of shoes, boots, and sandals for people who require wide width shoes.  While I have not tried Duckfeet sandals or shoes, I have tried one style of their boots and I have completely fallen in love with the Arhus boot.  The Duckfeet Arhus are the most well-made and comfortable boots that this Birkenstock devotee has ever owned. 
 
Over the years, I have completely given up on Birkenstock shoes and boots because they never fit me right.  My regular size 38 were too small and the next size up, were too big.  I always ended up with blisters on my heels when I wore them.  EVERY.  SINGLE.  TIME.  And it really upset me because I wanted them to work…so bad.
 
I noticed that once Birkenstock encloses its regular width footbed, it immediately becomes narrow.  For me, going up a size causes two problems, it is still too narrow AND is way too long.  Believe me, I tried everything to make Birkenstock shoes and Birkenstock boots work and I finally gave up.  In fact, I have sold all the enclosed Birkenstock shoes and boots that I have ever owned. 
 
As one of Birkenstock's top fans, I was saddened by how much I disliked their shoes and boots.  Come Fall and Winter, this Birkenstock sandal lover reached for her Dr. Martens and Frye boots.  But, since the onset of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders were in full effect in California, my Docs and Frye boots seemed overly dressy for my work from home routine.  My Birkenstock Boston shearlings were great, until my kids stole them to wear during remote learning.  I found UGGs to be too floppy and completely unsupportive.  Wearing insoles with UGGs just doesn’t work for me either.  So, when another Birkenstock friend recommended that I try a pair of Duckfeet Arhus, I decided to give them a shot.

​The Arhus was exactly the type of boot that I was looking for in the mist of California pandemic living.  It was wide, well made, and warm.  Duckfeet Arhus are an investment type boot.  While I don’t live in snow country, I do live in the Bay Area where it is cold all the stinking time, except for a handful of days in October.  And during non-pandemic life, we do travel to Lake Tahoe for snow time fun with the kids.  For these reasons, I felt like I could justify the expense, only after Duckfeet dangled a 20% off coupon in my face on Black Friday.  (I don’t recall ever seeing a Birkenstock coupon on Black Friday or any other Holiday for that matter….just sayin’….)
 
Even with the Black Friday coupon from DuckfeetUSA, the boots were still pretty pricey.  Therefore, I sold off a few pair of gently loved Birkenstocks to pay for them.  I tried sizes 38 and 39 in the Arhus.  I seem to be in between sizes with this boot.  After consulting DuckfeetUSA customer service directly, I decided that due to the shearling, I had to size up for comfort.  Sizing up afforded me some space in the boot and I was able to insert a Birkenstock insole in the Arhus.  The Birkenstock blue insole worked beautifully in my boots because Duckfeet are made with a neutral footbed, meaning there is no arch support.  

With the neutral sole of the Duckfeet footbed, one can use any type of insole that they desire, or no insole at all.  I personally found that the Duckfeet Arhus paired well with the Birkenstock blue insoles and created the absolute perfect Fall/Winter boot for me.  I bought the Arhus in November 2020 and have worn them for THREE straight months.  EVERY!  SINGLE!  DAY!  And I have never, ever, ever worn the same pair of Birkenstocks for three months in a row.   
 
When I found a pair of Arhus “returns”, for a fraction of the cost of a brand new pair, I jumped at the chance to add another color to my rotation.  This time, I only had to sell one pair of Birkenstocks to pay for them.

​As Spring approaches, I know that I will be able to wear the Arhus for awhile longer since it will remain cold in the Bay Area.  However, eventually I need to pack away the shearling lined DuckFeet until next Fall.  Before doing so, I am thinking about selling off even more of my Birkenstocks to make room for a non-shearling lined pair of Duckfeet boots.  You know, something to get me through the chilly early days of Spring.....since I refuse to wear socks with my Birkenstocks.  At the moment, I am eyeing these Duckfeet Roskilde boots…..

You might be thinking that I am disloyal wearing a different brand other than Birkenstock.  And maybe even crazy for selling off some of my Birkenstock collection.  But, to be honest, I really only need a handful of my Birkenstocks to last me a lifetime.  For now, I am letting go of all my Birko-Flor and every single pair of narrow width Birkenstocks that I felt forced to purchase because the particular sandal was not released in a regular width.
 
Which Birkenstocks stay and which Birks go?  Well, that’s a topic for an entirely different blog post.  Just the fact that Gina Mama is selling off some of her Birkenstocks to pay for a different brand speaks volumes about the absolute comfort, craftsmanship, and the warmth of Duckfeet boots.  More importantly, it highlights my level of dissatisfaction with the Birkenstock brand…and I know I am not the only one who feels this way.  I highly recommend that you give Duckfeet a chance.  They are way easier to break in than Birkenstocks.  I promise!!

​I have intentionally not blogged in months.  The pandemic has changed everything and I have not found the time, nor had the motivation, to write about Birkenstocks.  To be honest, writing a blog about shoes, when millions of people are out of work and small businesses are suffering, feels completely insensitive.   So, I have offered only radio silence….until today.
 
Today’s blog will be short and sweet.  In fact, because it is Halloween, I am offering you a real treat.  I am going to share with you my top three favorite small businesses in the U.S.  What I ask from you in return, is to support your favorite small business and maybe check out mine. 
 
My top three favorite small businesses in the US are (in alphabetical order):

1. Birkenstock Attitudes
If you are not in El Paso, the best way to reach Paul or Mona at Birkenstock Attitudes is to send them a Direct Message (DM) via their Instagram page.   I have written about Birkenstock Attitudes and their stellar customer service in this blog.

2. Custom Made Birkenstocks
Call Michelangelo, (708) 453-4900, at Custom Made Birkenstocks, he can help you create a custom pair of Birkenstocks, repair your Birks, sell you a pair of Birkenstocks and do a million other amazing things.  I have written a number of blogs about Michelangelo’s handy work, this is my most recent post.

3. Harveys
I am reluctant to share this gem of a small business with you because I want to keep it my little secret.  Competition is fierce on a Harveys release day and so much fun when you score a new bag.  Harveys seatbelt bags last a lifetime and they are made in California.  I love these bags so much that I wrote a blog about this small business last year.  Check it out here.

​With many areas shutting down again, please reach out to a small business and help support them during these very uncertain times.

What are your top three favorite small businesses?  Send me a message, I would love to learn about places that I can help support.
 
Happy Halloween & Stay Safe.
 
And don’t forget to GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now the proud owner of my very first pair of CUSTOM MADE BIRKENSTOCKS!!  As you may recall, Michelangelo, at Custom Made Birkenstocks, has customized Birkenstocks for me in the past.  I wrote about that collaboration in the blog,  My First Pair of Custom Birkenstocks.  So, how is this most recent custom pair different than the Ferrari Red Arizonas that Michelangelo made me in 2019?   The Ferrari Red Arizonas were created with hand cut leather uppers and made with standard Birkenstock footbeds.  My new pair have CUSTOM footbeds, meaning that the footbeds were handcrafted to match the shape of my feet.   Whaaaaaaaaaat?  Custom footbeds????  Yup, you read that correct....custom footbeds!!  Custom footbeds are a real and they are frickin' awesome!!!!!!!!!

About two weeks before the pandemic had Californians sheltering in place, I had the good fortune of meeting Michelangelo for dinner in Novato, CA.  He was on a business trip to California to meet with the good folks at Birkenstock USA.   Michelangelo set aside some time on his trip to meet with me and it was during this encounter that we came up with the idea to make Gina Mama custom footbeds.    ​

In just a few short weeks, I had my very own pair of CUSTOM MADE BIRKENSTOCKS!!  The box arrived the day before my birthday.  I waited a day to open them and it was soooooo hard to wait.  But patience is a virtue.  Quarantined birthdays suck and the only thing that can make a lockdown birthday better is a brand new pair of Birkenstocks!  ​

TIP: Michelangelo can also repair and resole your Birkenstocks.  To learn about his services, read my other blogs (in no particular order):

Birkenstock Recrafts By Michelangelo
White Sole Birkenstocks
​Birkenstock Diva
My First Pair of Custom Birkenstocks
Giving Thanks  
Shearling Lined Birkenstocks: Part 2
Vintage Birkenstocks Recrafted
Magical Red Glitterlites

​Birkenstock have been making the world’s most comfortable shoes for centuries.  In recent years, they have upped their stakes in innovation and collaboration showcasing fashion-forward trends, designs and styles.  With so many new offerings appearing with each seasonal release, most Birkenstock lovers’ appetites are regularly sated.  But every now and then, if you hesitated on buying that one pair of Birkenstocks only to later discover that they’re gone and never to be made again, then you may understand the concept of Birkenstock regret.  Or perhaps you were out and about and saw a stranger wearing the most extraordinary Birks, but deep down in your gut you also knew that they were likely an exclusive or vintage and most definitely imaginary needle in a haystack that you shouldn’t even bother trying to search for—Birkenstock envy.
 
I’ve been following Gina Mama’s blog for years, and we formed a fast friendship over our mutual love and enthusiasm for all things Birkenstock.  One thing that has always impressed and inspired me is Gina Mama’s willingness to adapt her Birkenstocks to her tastes.  Be it stripping white soles to replace them with darker or funkier alternatives, or dying/painting leather straps to appease her need for a shade of red that Birkenstock didn’t release in a particular run.
 
Inspired by this bespoke Birkenstock behaviour, I decided to embark on a little experiment that would appease my sense of Birkenstock envy with regard to something I had occasionally seen over many years, but never had the opportunity to acquire myself—multi-coloured Mayaris, where each strap is its own separate colour.  Bold and loud foot fashion has always been a passion of mine, be it a quirky style, or a mismatched colour combination of the same shoes.  I should mention that there are a couple of two-tone combination Mayaris that have just launched at Birkenstock USA at the time of writing (Gina Mama never misses a new release--thank you for bringing it to my attention!) and whilst lovely, they are a touch too subtle and delicate for my audacious feet!

I’ve had the privilege of working with many great Birkenstock repairers and recrafters over the years who have helped me convert one-off discoveries of narrow-footbed beauties to my preferred regular width, but working with one man in particular had been on my wishlist for quite some time.  Michelangelo from Custom Made Birkenstocks is located in Chicago in the US, almost 15,000 kilometres from my hometown of Brisbane in Australia—but distance was no obstacle for my heart’s desires.  And Gina Mama has raved about Michelangelo’s services and creations for years, so he was the only man who I wanted to entrust with my special project.
 
I set aside three pairs of Mayaris from the “Electric Metallic” series, one in each colour released, and mocked up my ideas in Photoshop to convey my vision to Michelangelo.  Without hesitation he agreed to work with me!  Thrilled and excited, I hurriedly packed my lovelies and shipped them halfway around the world.  Michelangelo worked expertly and expediently to strip off the soles, disassemble the straps, reconfigure the colour combinations according to my specifications, attach new soles and ship them straight back to me.

​Just like that, I became the proud new owner of three new bespoke pairs of multi-coloured Mayaris.  They are among my absolute favourites from my personal collection!  I do often get asked about them by people in the street, and it delights me to own something so very unique.  International shipping obviously added to the cost associated with this project, and is something that definitely needs to be factored in should you ever wish to embark on a similar journey.  But I thoroughly recommend giving it a go as it gives me so much joy to look down and marvel at my bespoke beauties.

Should Birkenstock ever relaunch bright multi-coloured straps in their Mayari range, or any other model that takes your fancy—recent releases have actually included a couple of spirited colourful Zurich, Salina and Yao models—buy what you love when you see it, don’t wait!
 
Sandy
The Birkenstock Lady