Umi Shoes: A Little Love for Little Feet {Review & $60 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

While I'm hesitant to say anything in hopes that I won't look out the window to yet another snowstorm, I think that springtime is finally, truly almost here in the Midwest. The ice and snow is melting, the sun has been shining, and the hint of flowers and green grass are beginning to appear.

As well as rejoicing in being able to pack away our snow pants, boots, hats and scarves, the kids and I are also extremely excited to reach into our closets and pull out the stylish footwear that our tootsies have been longing for.

Don't get me wrong, a great pair of boots is awesome, but they somehow don't bring the same satisfaction as super cute flats or sandals. Maybe it's just because my toes are dying for the sunshine!

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. Which is why we know that to consistently find a wide selection of fashionable and top-of-the-line styles for kids, we need to turn to none other than 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 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 simple, stylish sandals to celebrate spring and summer, Umi has boys' and girls' fashions to suit everyone's tastes.

Which works perfectly around here, as Big Sister E tends to lean more towards the sporty, comfortable designs, while Little Sister B opts for girly girl colors and embellishments. When the Belair and Halina A Big arrived, I had no doubt that they were going to be a big hit with both.

Beautifully constructed out of soft, man-made uppers with man-made and leather linings, I could instantly tell that the Belair were much more than another pair of flimsy, cheap sandals. The sturdy construction and the flexible sole give plenty of support, yet are just right for providing traction and, of course, comfort.

Not to mention that the yellow polka-dotted straps and magenta and lime fringed flowers are just the most cheery combination around. Is there a way to not smile when you see a pair of shoes this cute?

At the same time, I love that the Halina A Big combine a standard mary jane styling with the rugged, athletic feel of a sneaker. As they are available with two eye-catching prints — polka dot and metallic croc — on the sturdy canvas, the wearer has multiple ways to show off her style.

Big Sister E was especially drawn to the silver detailing throughout these shoes and immediately loved the grommet embellishments on the adjustable strap. Add that to the durable sole and rubber bottom and these can easily be worn with or without socks with jeans, shorts, pants, dresses, skirts and more.

Big Sister E was so thrilled with these, she began wearing them immediately — they were her shoes of choice for our recent spring break trip!

As I had used Umi's convenient size chart (I even printed off their downloadable measurement chart to be sure) and knew that their shoes are handcrafted to include room to grow and fit generously, I was pleased to see that these shoes are a tiny bit large on both girls (more so on Little Sister B).

That just means that they'll be able to wear them all throughout the summer and into the fall!

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 spring season, because...

One lucky person will win a $60 Umi gift certificate!

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A big thank you to Umi for providing two pairs of shoes for me to review as well as a $60 gift card 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.