Thursday, March 17, 2011

Flip flop hooray

I was born and mostly raised in the South. Between Atlanta and Houston, I took my first steps and played hide and seek in a humid, sticky heat that lasted mostly year-round. Then I moved to Connecticut, then Philadelphia. I was no longer afforded the luxury of outdoor swimming pools in February or sleeveless dresses in November. However, what I missed the most was warm-weather footwear. I was known to rock my translucent jelly sandals until multiple inches of snow fell. To this day I wonder why I go to college above the Mason-Dixon line or anywhere that is not San Diego. Things haven't changed much, however, and I've established a protocol for dressing for the weather. You can either:
   a) Try to predict and adjust for the weather. A few days ago I wore a huge Gortex windbreaker because my smartphone stupidly told me it would rain. It didn't. Which is why the other choice is...
   b) Ignore it completely.

I often choose choice B. March 1st. I stepped out in flip flops. My toes were not happy with me and threatened secession from my metatarsals. Whatever, March is the beginning of flip flop season and I'm supporting it. Which brings me to the point of my positivity blog post. There are few things better than slipping on a pair of flip flops, especially when it's actually warm enough to wear them outside. Flip flops mean so many things:

Photo credit goes here!
  • Amazing weather: It is proven fact that good weather means good mood. Wearing flip flops just lets your feet in on the good vibes outside. 
  • Changing seasons: Happy days are here again! With every flip and every flop, you're putting behind you the gloomy days of salted sidewalks and air so cold your esophagus hurts when you breathe. It can only get warmer from here.*
  • Comfort: Whenever I see Rainbow Sandals in a store, I have a compulsive urge to purchase yet another pair. Yet I always come back to the pair I've had since eighth grade because the leather has worn down in all the right places. They look nothing like they did when I bought them, but they're lovingly distressed.
  • Convenience: Say goodbye to that pesky, physically exhausting task of pulling on boots or tying laces! Flip flops literally slide on your feet as you walk towards them. Besides saving your precious energy for more important things, most flip flops tend to go with anything, from gym shorts to a sun dress. A slightly fancier pair even went with my graduation gown, to the dismay of several nuns and my mother.
  • Reminiscence: Everything good happens in the summer, and for that reason my flip flops have been beneath me for some of the best moments of my life. From tailgating countless Dave Matthews Band concerts to endless hours on the beach to senior week to my first day of college, my trusty Rainbows have been there for me and I always recall how awesome life is when I slap around in them.
Currently, it's sixty degrees and sunny where I am. It'll probably get much chillier as night falls but honestly I don't care. Flip flops on. So I urge everyone to break out your own pair, maybe get a pedicure if you need it, and rock your flops! Celebrate with this classic, because I'm think Naughty by Nature got the lyrics wrong. Flip Flop Hooray, Hoooooh Heyyyy Hoooohh.

* Global warming political statement

5 comments:

  1. =) i definitely agree. i pulled out my flip flops on sunday and they're staying out no matter the weather!

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  2. I have a rule: I don't wear flip flops before May or after August. I find it annoying when people flip and flop all over the place, so I can only handle it so much from myself. But you are right, they do go with anything (:

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  3. My rainbows were so old that the strap shriveled and snapped off last summer. I miss the broken down leather, and I'm still getting used to my new ones. Although I have an unhealthy obsession with boots, I also love my flip flops. Not only do I love them for their comfort and versatility, but I also love that they're associated with my favorite time of year: summer. I'm so happy right now just thinking about it (48 days).

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  4. I love my flip flops and have been wearing mine pretty much all weekend long! At home it's normally not flip flop winter until the end of April, so it's awesome to just wear them to class! :)

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  5. I'm just waiting for the weather to give me a reason to wear flip-flops right now!

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