In preparation for my trip to Europe, I am on a mission to find a couple of pairs of comfy and cute walking shoes. I don’t want to walk around in typical sneakers (call me crazy, but I don’t like the way I look wearing regular gym shoes with jeans) and I am determined to find a pair of cute flats and a pair of sneakers that don’t scream “Nike!” or “Adidas!” as I’m walking down the street.
Attempt number one:
I bought this pair of charcoal Superga sneakers through RueLaLa (where else?) a week or so ago and received them in the mail today. I laced them up and decided to take them on a test walk with Ryan and Sadie after work today.
I actually left the tag on for the first half of our 40-minute walk. 
I spy a doggie paw!
I assured Ryan that the “tag on the shoes” look is totally rockin’ right now. Does anyone else remember when guys used to keep the tags on their baseball hats? I’m glad that was a short-lived phase.
About 20 minutes into our walk, I deemed the shoes acceptable for Europe! My feet felt comfortable and no blisters seemed likely to form (famous last words, I know).
Plus, the brand of the shoe is Italian so I’ll be totally legit! 
Just call me Signora Julie.
Our evening walk was fantastic because it was warm, but not sweatin’ hot. Plus we saw several different families of swans, each with cygnets. (Cygnet = baby swan. I definitely Googled that one.)
Sadie wanted in on the birdie action…
Go, go Gadget Neck! That one little bird has quite the reach!
Dinner
Once we arrived home from our walk, it was dinnertime.
Tonight’s dinner didn’t involve the oven or the stove. Hello, Mr. Microwave!
Microwave quesadillas were enjoyed by all!
I made the ‘dillas by spreading a layer of shredded cheese on top of a whole wheat tortilla. I then added a layer of black beans and another layer of cheese and microwaved everything for 80 seconds.
Once the cheese was melted, I added a thin layer of salsa, topped it with another whole wheat tortilla and microwaved the whole quesadilla for another 15 seconds.
I definitely prefer ‘dillas made on the grillas griddle, but this microwavable quesadilla was still pretty darn tasty.
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Cute shoes! I sometimes wear sneakers with jeans when necessary, but there is definitely no way to feel cute while sporting Nike’s and jeans 🙂
Cute shoes!!
Aww at the baby swans!! Definitely didn’t know that they were called cygnets!!
Your dinner looks tasty as always!! Have a good night!
I don’t like gym sneakers with jeans either. I pretend to look pumas with jeans but they tear up my ankles so bad. I need a good old pair of Keds
I like those! I used to wear pink Pumas in college so I wasn’t loud and proud wearing sneakers, but still super comfy!
Those shoes are tres Euro. Seriously, the fashionable people over there are all about their cute little sneakers. And Abercrombie….we had a French girl stay with us for a few weeks this summer and she just about died and went to heaven when we took her there!!
I LOVE
I really like the new shoes! Are they comfortable? I’m also on the look-out for cute shoes to wear with jeans. I tend to wear boots and skinny jeans, which works year-round in SF, but I might be moving soon to a bit of a warmer climate, and I don’t know what I’ll do! I don’t have a cute pair of shoes right now to wear with regular/slightly flared at the leg jeans. Sigh…such dilemmas we have. 😉 p.s. I’m such a Rue La La fiend…always waiting on *something* from them. 🙂
Whoa, for some reason my comment got submitted before i hardly wrote anything!! Annnyway…
I love that you wore your shoes for 40 mins with the tag on!!! That’s so funny!!!
And what cute little cygnet’s y’all saw there. I’m sure Sadie went crazy seeing the little bebes.
Oh, silly me. You already said they’re comfortable! Well then, I might have to get a pair of these! 🙂
Comfy walking shoes are so important when in Europe. The amount of walking you do will be absurd, but it will be so much fun. I am so jealous!
I also hate the way i look in regular sneakers with jeans!
I’ll admit – when I was backpacking in Europe this summer I had walking boot/shoes. SO not cute, but absolutely comfortable. We only had a backpack and we slept in hostels. Please don’t judge 😉
You should get a pair of Pumas! Everyone in Europe wears them and they are super comfortable and cute. they have so many pairs that don’t even look sneakerish and are more like flats!
ive also been on the hunt for walking shoes that dont look like running shoes. sounds easy but of course when you’re looking for a specific thing, you can never find it….
I don’t do gym shoes with jeans either. I don’t like the way it looks on me. Glad to know that me and my fashion guru are on the same page. 😉
Your dinner looks delicious! I love quick meals like that.
I like those shoes — and I think the leave-the-tags-on-stuff is still around, I see it every once in a while!
finding great shoes is important for an overseas trip. go you.
TOMS…most comfortable shoes ever!
I hate wearing tennis shoes with jeans too! Not crazy at all 😉 P.s. YES microwaved dinners sometimes are always a win!
TOMS!
cute and SO comfy. seriously.
You’re super smart. When I went to Europe, I wore flip flops the majority of the time. Not the brightest move, I can assure you. I thought my feet would never recover.
Two words: Converse Allstars. Always on trend here and in Europe so you don’t scream tourist (nothing worse than that). Also invest in a pair of Tod’s flats. So chic.
I agree on the Converse! I know someone below commented on them giving blisters but these are my go-to in black and brown and i find them super duper comfortable! I hate the “Working Girl” look of women going to work in work clothing and clompy sneakers and always find that these look cute…
(I would just note that they run really big.. they’re unisex.. i’m usually a size 8.5/9 in women’s so i’d generally need a 6.5 or 7 in mens and i think i ended up with a men’s 6… yay Piperlime and Zappos for free shipping..)
http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=4016&cid=4016&vid=1&pid=784062&scid=784062002
Cute shoes! Can’t wait to see Europe through the blog! I love seeing little baby geese and ducks. Spring has sprung!
Cute shoes!! Love the color and style!
Where do you get your adorable bright colored plates? I lust after ’em!
they were actually my grandma’s! they’re made by “fiesta.”
correction: made by homer laughlin china co. but they’re called “fiesta” dishes.
Fiesta dishes are one of my many loves! 🙂 I have quite the little collection started!
i agree with pumas — i had some for my trip to europe last summer and they were suuuuper comfy. nary a blister, and i didn’t wear them until we got there. and they can be pretty cute.
i think this is an excuse to buy those tory burch flats. they are comfy to me, though some people say they’re not.
I never wear sneakers unless I’m working out — I just don’t like the way they feel. Those looks pretty cute though!
its definitely important to half comfy shoes for your trip!
The best and comfiest shoes walking I have ever found are fitflops! Never any blisters or discomfort.
Sadie is adorable as always! 🙂
Those walking shoes are perfect. Comfortable yet stylish!
So refreshing to see that I’m not the only one that sometimes has to resort to dinner via microwave…although I know I do it far too often. Working late tonight so had to go with buying dinner. Wish I had prepared better!
mmm! a dilla sounds amazing!
I just finished LEFTOVER MEATLOAF! Leftover lovers! ahaha
Cute shoes! 🙂
Try Sperry’s.. they’re lightweight, comfortable, and very cute!!
Ryan and I were just looking at those last weekend!
I was going to say the same thing- I love Sperrys!
Right before I went to Europe two years ago, I purchased Keen walking shoes (http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss11/shoes/women/blvd/coronado/azure%20blue!gargoyle)…and they were AMAZING! I also got a pair of mary jane type Keen’s that I wore too. Those two pairs were the only shoes I took on the 18 day trip and I did fine. No blisters and were so comfy on the 12-14 hour days of walking!! They might be another option! 🙂
YUM – this looks awesome – I heart a quesadilla!
Aww the baby swans are so cute! I know what you mean about the running shoes + jeans look. Not good! I have a pair of ‘casual’ Adidas ones though, that are a bit more discrete than the usual kind – http://bit.ly/eD2Dk8. They’re super comfy and lightweight, not really what you’d want to work out in but good for walking around outside!
The shoes are definitely Europe friendly! If I remember correctly, everyone there had shoes that were like Keds. I can’t remember where you said you were going, but when I went to Italy, France, and England one summer, it was very hot and humid, and air conditioner is not one of Europe’s fortes. But humidity is something you are used to in Florida! 🙂 You have probably been warned, but watch all your belongings so closely!! A cross-body purse is a necessity!
Try Sanuk slip ons!!! My brother gave me a pair and I live in them. I have a two and a half year old and the Sanuks are great for chasing him around, but they still look cute with jeans.
I love my Sperry’s I have two cute pairs that I alternate and they are SO comfy! I really like the shoes you got though very cute:) So jealous you get to go to Europe!
Love the shoes! So I guess you decided against Grandma Toms – hehe! 🙂
Haha they’re a possibility if I can get over the whole grandma look thing!
Those baby swans are adorable, I’ve never seen one before (or an adult for that matter). Glad your new shoes got the thumbs up!
Cute shoes! Ticking off items on your Europe to-do list must be so exciting! London is home for me so I am super jealous of your trip!
Whatever you do do not get Converse! They are cute, but not good for walking, lots of blisters!
No socks?? My feet would get blisters without socks!
I was wearing “no show” socks.
Hi Julie!
I am a college freshman and have been reading your blog daily for about a month now–I love it! Thanks so much for all of your posts about food and exercise, especially about running! Your tips helped me to stay motivated and finally complete my first half marathon this past Sunday! Hope you have a good night!
P.S. those quesadillas look delish! I might have to attempt to imitate that at the dorm..
cute shoes!
I totally agree about the gym shoes/jeans thing, but lately i’ve been sort of tempted…weather where I live is wet and rainy and I don’t have rain boots so sneakers are the next best thing!
Still haven’t done it, though. haha
Those are very cute shoes! Hope they hold up for your trip. I ended up wearing my old running sneakers when I went to Paris and they were perfect for walking around. 🙂
I have those shoes! (The reddish/pink ones though). I bought them for my walks at work. They were great for about 2 days, then my feet really hurt in them. The sole is so flat and not-cushiony, and the toe box is so short it squishes my feet! They look so cute though 🙂
Haha I love how i just made a post on “walking” shoes, and it’s completely opposite to this. I agree, flat shoes are ideal for European touring! I usually get funky, yet comfy sandals because it’s so crazy hot in the summer, and I don’t want funky tan marks. Don’t forget to change it up! =D
I love your swan pictures.
I studied in Florence two years ago and Superga’s were EVERYWHERE. And by that I mean the Italians were wearing them, not American tourists. All the stores had them in their windows in about 20 different colors. You will fit right in!