Checking Our List #27: Umi Children's Shoes {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, M!}

Recently I went digging into the depths of my closet looking for a particular pair of shoes. No, I told my husband, I don't want to wear a different pair, it needs to be that pair and that pair only.

Could I have worn others instead of putting myself through the hassle? Sure. But there's something about a great pair of shoes that can just complete an outfit or make your feet feel deliciously comfortable that those are the ones that your tootsies want and nothing less will do.

The same goes for children's shoes and the fact that although there are a million pairs out there, having ones that are well-made and designed just for growing feet can make a huge difference. And where to find a wide selection of fashionable and top-of-the-line styles for kids? None other than the consistently popular and celebrity-loved Umi.

Founded in 2004, Umi doesn't just care about little feet, they care about the earth as well. While making sure that every shoe they produce is safe, durable and meets strict guidelines for child-safe materials, they also only use non-toxic drum-dyed leathers and other environmentally-friendly components. During manufacturing they even use a waste disposal system safe for the planet and then complete the process by protecting and sending your shoes in recycled packaging.

Is there anything else that they can do? Well, how about the fact that their quality, comfortable and stylish footwear is simply adorable? Whether you are shopping for the rugged, outdoor look, something with glitz and glamour to dress up in or stylish boots to keep away the cold, Umi has boys' and girls' fashions to suit everyone's tastes.

Big Sister E has a pair of tennis shoes that she loves, so I was really looking forward to a neutral pair in a classic style to help balance out her wardrobe. When the Taffeta in Chocolate arrived, I had no doubt that there were going to do the job perfectly.

Beautifully constructed out of soft, muted-metallic chocolate leather, I could instantly tell that these were much more than another pair of flimsy, cheap shoes. The sturdy construction and the flexible sole give plenty of support, yet are just right for providing traction and, of course, comfort.

Big Sister E couldn't wait to try them on to see for herself:

I love that although the Taffeta is a standard mary jane style, the subtle sheen of the leather and the added detailing of the embroidered abstract floral design gives them a little something more. These can easily be worn with a dress or skirt as well as jeans or pants and be a great match. Or, when the weather begins to get warm again, I am sure that Big Sister E will pull these on without socks and have a great pair of flats with her shorts.

As I had used Umi's convenient size conversion chart and knew that their shoes are handcrafted to include room to grow and fit generously, this pair is a tiny bit large on Big Sister E, just how I had hoped. Although, when she does eventually outgrow them, I have no doubt that they will still have more than enough life in them for Little Sister B to grow right in.

With sky-high standards for quality and a mission to please parents and be good to the earth, Umi shoes are a great purchase for expectant parents, babies, toddlers and all the way through big kids. Designed with children's feet in mind, there are new styles added every season that can keep your little one fashionable for years to come.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to include this great footwear in their child's wardrobe this holiday season, because...

One lucky person will win a pair of Umi shoes! ARV $61+!

To enter to win: Visit Umi and tell me the name of your favorite shoes.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a pair of stylish Umi shoes over there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you sign up to receive Umi's e-newsletter (found on the bottom of their homepage), follow them on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 27: WIN a pair of Umi children's shoes (ARV $61) for style & comfort! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/gzCirV #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Umi. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 23rd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Umi for providing Taffeta Chocolate shoes for me to review as well as the shoes of choice (depending on availability) for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.