Like my kids need any more spring in their step—they’re already bouncing off the walls, down the hallway and on the furniture. Fortunately by “spring” I mean Eleven Collection’s latest spring styles. How fitting that today’s review follows right on the heels (again, pun totally intended) of my See Kai Run review from Tuesday. Eleven Collection and See Kai Run are sister companies; fortunately these sisters have the same stylish taste in children’s shoes!

My first review of Eleven Collection was in November when George received his Luc boots. Those sleek black boots have officially made him the coolest kid at church, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his mom and think all my kids are super cool. Those boots are stylin’, sturdy, comfy and easy to get on and off. Plus their unisex style means our little Livi will get to follow in George’s footsteps in about two years. With Eleven Collection shoes you can bet your 529 plan they’ll last through two if not three kids and still look great. Here are the basics behind Eleven (from my previous post):

Eleven shoes feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for traction. With a cushioned insole and easy on-and-off Velcro or zipper closures, the shoes are just as child friendly as they are style friendly. Plus they are low maintenance (wish my kids were too) because the high-quality leather makes them naturally water resistant. You only need to use a mild detergent or leather cleaner to and damp rag to keep them looking their Sunday best.

George received the Joaquin from Eleven’s new spring line. The Joaquin is a simple yet classy brown leather sandal with a solid Velcro closure that’s sure to keep his feet in his shoes even when running at breakneck speed down a grassy hill. Plus the style is perfect for church, so he’ll still be the coolest three year old in his class. That’s all that really matters, right? He’s anxious to wear them but I have a feeling he won’t enjoy the feeling of snow between his toes. I’m thinking it should be at least 60 degrees outside before slipping on the Joaquins.

My other favorites from Eleven Collection’s latest styles are the Caper, Kasota and Laura—that pink and red Mary Jane is to die for! Similar to See Kai Run, the price tag on these shoes is a bit higher than what you might pay at a big box retailer but they will last a lot longer (multiple children for sure) and are a lot healthier for your little one’s feet. Check out their sale page where you can pick up a pair of Elevens for as little as $20. That kind of price puts a little spring in my step!—Emily

** Giveaway! Eleven Collection is giving away one pair of their super sweet shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit Eleven Collection’s website and leave a comment here telling us your favorite style. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 9, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

That phrase is from one of my favorite 80’s tunes (I shouldn’t have to tell you but it’s “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode…can you believe it’s a Wikipedia entry?!) and it runs through my head whenever I catch site of a pair of See Kai Run shoes (even the ones my kids have worn umpteen times).

No matter how many times we feature See Kai Run on the Daily Dish, I can’t get enough! Hopefully you’re not satiated either or we’ll have to stop reviewing their latest and greatest and simply-the-cutest styles and you’ll miss out on one of our favorite giveaways—and some fabulous shoes to boot (pun totally intended)!

Today’s featured shoe is from See Kai Run’s new Spring Collection, and it is to die for! The Jennae takes the peep-toe style and turns it into a shoe fit for your mini me! It comes complete with butter-soft sheepskin leather in a delicious raspberry color accented with cream piping and the sweetest little flower on the strap. Like other See Kai Run shoes it features a flexible sole, which makes it perfect for growing feet but can hold up to all those outdoor garden parties. Unfortunately, we live in Utah and you won’t find garden parties until mid June. Peep toe and snow don’t mix well!

In true See Kai Run style, the Jennae has a generous width with a wider toe box. This means even the chubbiest of feet can wear See Kai Run shoes. Honestly, we have not had a pair that hasn’t fit perfectly, and I’ve tried out many pairs and two sets of chunky feet! The shoes also have a breathable inner sole and lining, so no juicy feet even in warmer weather. (Maybe I should see about getting some custom-made SKR’s for myself!)

For some the price tag that comes with a pair of See Kai Run shoes is a bit high, but I’m telling you, they are more than worth it. These shoes last forever, and once your little one has grown out of them you can hand them down to the next—often in near perfect condition. And if you don’t have a “next,” See Kai Run shoes have great resale value. Plus right now See Kai Run has a few of their styles on sale in both their main collection and their newer Smaller line. Just try to control yourself when looking at the new Spring Collection. Like myself (and Depeche Mode), you won’t be able to get enough either!—Emily

** Giveaway! See Kai Run is giving away one pair of shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit the See Kai Run website and leave a comment telling us your favorite SKR style. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 7, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Sky S., the winner of the See Kai Run giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

This will be my third time featuring pediped on the Daily Dish. I just can’t get enough of these shoes! Our first review was April of 2007, and then we featured their new Flex line 10 months later in February of 2008. Here we are again, 10 months later, and I haven’t run out of good things to say. My kids are still loving their shoes and I am still one of their biggest fans.

This time I wanted to showcase what I call pediped’s party shoes. No, they don’t specifically have a party line, but they totally could. I was sent the original Naomi in silver for our little Livi. Though the Isabella is my most favorite of their dress shoes, the Naomi runs a close second (and goes with more outfits). Livi was too young to have an opinion about her red patent Isabellas but when she saaw the Naomis through the window of their gift box, she immediately went over, opened the box and took one out. If that weren’t cute enough she then turned to me and handed me the shoe so I could put it on her. Livi didn’t care that they were still a little too big. She was off and running (well, toddling…she is only 16 months) in her Naomis and protested much when she had to take them off for naptime. She might be their next biggest fan!

Looking at the Naomi and the Isabella, you can tell pediped shoes are big on style but did you know they are also big on comfort? pediped Footwear promotes quality foot health and development and the company has been awarded both the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance and recommended as a top footwear choice in the 2007 Consumer Reports Best Baby Products Guide.

So why is pediped a dream come true? Because they have partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to helping grant the wishes of terminally ill children. pediped is making dreams come true by offering a very rare promotion on its website. (Rare because this is only the second time the company has made such an offer.) From December 17th through the 31st, pediped is reducing the price of select footwear and will donate 50% of the sales from these shoes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This is the first time pediped has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and through its fundraising efforts the company has already raised over $87,000, enough to grant the wishes of 12 children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can view some of the granted wishes and keep up to date on pediped’s goal by visiting the Make-A-Wish page on their website.

This special online fundraising event is good only through the end of December. You can learn more about this fundraiser and view the select footwear at pediped.com.—Emily

A couple good things happened as a result of my attending MAGIC Kids back in the fall. One, I quickly discovered it was not the right tradeshow for us; and two, I met Nancy Coronado, Co-Founder of Eleven Collection. Before meeting Nancy I met the shoes and it was love at first sight. Then I met Nancy and found out Eleven Collection is a sister company of See Kai Run. (If you’ve been a longtime reader of the Daily Dish you know I am one of See Kai Run’s biggest fans.) That fact combined with Eleven’s super stylish designs made the whole trip worth it—I knew we had to feature Eleven on Boutique Cafe!

Eleven Collection is right in step with See Kai Run’s tradition of flexibility and great style, but Eleven is solely for older children from age 3 to 8 years. Eleven shoes feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for traction. With a cushioned insole and easy on-and-off Velcro or zipper closures, the shoes are just as child friendly as they are style friendly. Plus they are low maintenance (wish my kids were too) because the high-quality leather makes them naturally water resistant. You only need to use a mild detergent or leather cleaner to and damp rag to keep them looking their Sunday best.

My little George received the new Luc boot in black, and although I love the super soft leather and how easy it is for him to put on and take off the shoes (one less thing I have to do), my favorite thing about the Luc is that it’s gender neutral. You can’t find too many gender-neutral shoes that are also fashion friendly, and those of us with multiple kids and a mix of genders love having a shoe that can be passed down through the family. The minute George saw his new boots he had them on for a test drive around the house!

We also received the Sofia but because the shoe sizes start at a 9, our little Livi has a little while before she can wear them. I’m practically counting the days! I have a feeling she’ll want to eat, sleep and play in these super cute metallic Mary Janes, and I’ll be okay with that. At least she’ll be eating, sleeping and playing in super chic style. The color goes with everything, and like my favorite pair of shimmery heels they can be dressed up or down. The Sofia is a popular seller—like that’s a surprise! What little girl wouldn’t want to wear her own pair of magical golden shoes?

Comfortable, durable, stylish children’s shoes are hard to find, especially for those hard-on-their-shoes ages between 3 and 8 years. After checking out Eleven Collection’s line of chic, high-quality shoes, Eleven will become your new favorite number too!—Emily

Here on the Daily Dish I do have favorites. You’ll know them by the fact that they’ve been featured more than once, a few featured more than twice. See Kai Run is one of those favorites. I am one of their biggest fans (and a new fan of their sister company, eleven, but you’ll have to wait until December for their first-ever review on the Daily Dish).

See Kai Run is known for their chic styles, superb fit and most importantly for me, their durability. I have a pair of black boots George wore as a walker and they are in perfect condition for Livi to use. Unfortunately her feet are a lot chunkier than Geroge and she outgrew them before she could wear them! Right now I’m anxiously waiting for George’s feet to get big enough to fit into his new Kian boots. Well, I’m not anxiously waiting since that means he’s growing up, but they are really cool.

But today’s review is not about See Kai Run’s new fall styles, as cool as they are (check out the Melody—to die for!). Today’s review is about See Kai Run’s new Smaller line, soft-soled booties designed specifically for infants age 0 to 18 months. Smaller soft-soled booties are made from the same butter-soft sheepskin leather uppers as the original and combine a suede sole with non-slip rubber pads for extra protection and traction. That means these babies are perfect for crawling and cruising. A breathable leather lining and Velcro closures—and their Velcro actually sticks—make them easy to put on and take off and comfy to wear.

Livi received the Tine, a sweet little black ballet flat with white piping. They’re the perfect shoe, easily going from daytime to nighttime like my favorite pair of grownup ballet flats. I don’t break a sweat trying to put them on her chunky little feet and the softer sole has been perfect for her wobbly walking. Smaller booties are available in 15 new styles and are packaged in a snazzy metallic silver box with a see-through window; no gift wrapping necessary!

** Giveaway! See Kai Run is giving away a pair of shoes to two lucky Daily Dish readers! (We have one pair of Jakes, size 12-18m, and one pair of Monicas, size 6-9m.) Please leave a comment telling us your favorite new Smaller style; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: November 7, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Amy P. and Tricia H., the winners of our See Kai Run giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!