Turns out Mr. Ed really was smart! He’s seen here picking out a well-loved pair of Birkenstock Mocha Suede Boston clogs. Genius, really. Wonder if he’s going with the Soft Footbed option or not?

What are you guys wearing these days? Made the transition to clogs yet yourself or is it still warm enough to don the sandals?

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Birkenstock fans make do. We’d like to think this is because they’re comfortable enough to wander to far off places knowing that their feet will weather whatever lay in front of them. This looks a bit like a homemade BBQ fashioned by two devout Birkenstock wearers taking a break from a long journey. Happy to be with you, friends.

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

We’re digging this outfit. The rolled-up pants look is in these days and we can’t think of a better compliment to the look than a pair of Birkenstock Arizona sandals. As we transition from Summer to Fall we’re predicting this look to be even more prevalent. What pair of Birkenstock footwear will you be wearing?

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Here we have a pair of Birkenstock Zurich sandals in their natural habitat. Poised, ready to head in any direction at a moment’s notice, and willing to keep your feet comfortable all along the way. Like the weekend, for example. Whatever you have planned, take us with you. And take pictures!

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

What a lovely soft photo of a great pair of Birkenstock Gizeh sandals. I know someone who’s looking ready for Halloween which happens to be right around the corner. Any of you guys out there have sweet Halloween plans that involve your favorite pair of Birkenstock footwear?

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Hello Birkenstock friends! We’re back after a quick trip to the East Coast. This is a shot of a pair of Gizeh sandals in Onyx we spotted in the sand at Atlantic Beach in North Carolina. Don’t they look right at home there? We’re sure the owner of these guys had a wonderful day enjoying the 90 degree heat and the warm Atlantic Ocean, we sure did. Although, remind me not to hit the sands in SANDals next time, the clogs became a little, well, clogged with sand. Lessons learned on vacation.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Just a few more days of the 365 project left, get your photos in now!

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Hey everyone!

A few weeks back we featured a heart-warming story from blogger, Carrie, at Stop Screaming I’m Driving about a very specific memory she had about a pair of Birkenstock footwear.

We then asked you lovely folk to send us your best story that somehow involved us here at Birkenstock. Or our footwear at least. We got many responses and today we’re delighted to share the winning post!Have a good read:

My name is Amy Forsythe. I am a 27 year old United Methodist Pastor. This is my Birkenstock story….

When I was in high school, I bought my first pair of Birkenstocks. I was seventeen. I found them at Ross for only thirty bucks. They were comfortable, and I wore them off and on throughout the years, but never consistently. This summer, everything changed. It was now ten years later, and I was celebrating birthday number twenty-seven. I was no longer an awkward teenager who hated high school, I was now a United Methodist Pastor. Times had changed. But alas, it came full circle whenever my parents presented me with a pair of light grey Birkenstock sandals for my birthday. This was the very last week in April. I tell you this, because as summer rapidly approached, I was rapidly losing my mind. I’d always experienced tremendous pain each time of the month, but this past year it had seriously increased. I suffered constantly from extreme pelvic and back pain. It was horrible. I was in my first year as Associate Pastor at my new church, and being sidelined by pain was the last thing that I needed. I was in constant “go-mode”…moving from one crisis to another as I tended to the large congregation I’d been called to serve. There was no time to be hurting, or to allow myself to experience pain. No pain killer or heating pad seemed to help enough. I was miserable. And as summer approached, I looked at my upcoming calendar and told myself, “You have GOT to find a way to endure somehow.” There was too much to accomplish in the summer alone. The first available doctor appointment was scheduled for July. So I knew I would not be able to find any relief until then. I was frustrated. Chronic pain is not a fun way to live your life. I became more and more angry and desperate to find relief from the pain. There was too much of life that I was determined not to miss out on. So the day after my birthday, I put my Birkenstocks on, instead of my usual flip flops. (I’ve always been a rather informal type of pastor!) I had to make it to see five different members in two different hospitals. I also had a meeting in the evening and a dinner to attend at church. On this particular morning, my back was SCREAMING out in pain. “I may as well break in my Birkenstocks,” I thought. “It couldn’t hurt worse than the pain I am already feeling everywhere else.” I gave it very little thought. But what I experienced changed my life. For the first time in months, I found relief. It was not a perfect release of all pain, but it did more for the wrap-around pain I felt than any of the painkillers I had been taking. Instead of adding to the pain, my Birkenstocks made me forget about my aching back. I felt lighter and more hopeful than I had in months. I actually got through all of the hospital visits without feeling like i wanted to crawl back into bed. I called my mom and instead of crying about how much I was in pain, I told her that I actually was experiencing amazing relief. From that moment on, I was a devoted follower. Wearing Birkenstocks allowed me to endure the summer. And not just endure it…I actually ENJOYED it too! I wore my Birkenstocks to church camp and Vacation Bible school. I wore my Birkenstocks on a family cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. I wore my Birkenstocks as I tended to the dying, prayed over them, sang hymns and read psalms. I wore my Birkenstocks to comfort families when their loved ones passed away. I wore my Birkenstocks to our Annual Conference even though most of the other clergy were in dress shoes. I wore my Birkenstocks to watch my best friend get ordained. I wore my Birkenstocks when I worshiped God. And of course, I wore my Birkenstocks whenever I preached! They even made an appearance in a sermon I gave on “Salvation.” (I was inspired because these sandals were truly my salvation this past summer!) Here is an excerpt of the part about Birkenstocks, as I describe how the way each person comes to know Jesus is unique:

“Now many of you know that I love flip flops more than any other shoe. But I also have to say that I have always loved my Birkenstocks as well. Birkenstocks are unique in that they actually mold to your feet. When you wear them, they gradually conform to the unique shape of your foot. No two pairs of Birkenstocks are alike. They fit your feet to provide what is comfortable for you. Just as God fits into our lives in what is comfortable for each of us. I think that we can learn a lot from Birkenstocks. In fact, I wore them today to as a reminder that the path each of us take to salvation will be unique.

Some of us will walk slowly, some of us will pace ourselves, and some of us will wait until the end before we sprint with all our might.

But we will all get there and Jesus will be there with His arms outstretched as we run through the red tape. Jesus will be the arms in which we collapse into and rest.”

My congregation loved it, and they loved it even more when I kept my Birkenstocks on to serve communion to them later in the service. Many people told me later that they had forgotten about these “shoes from the seventies” and that they were going to go out and get a pair! I told them I was happy to spread the news of Jesus and equally happy to share the gospel of Birkenstocks!

Fortunately, learning the “good news” about Birkenstocks was not the only thing I learned that summer. I also gained an understanding about what was going on with my body and causing so much pain. When my doctor appointment finally occurred, I wore my Birkenstocks in to the office, and came out with the news that they thought I was suffering from Endometriosis. I made plans to have a surgical procedure to find out for sure, and continued to wear my Birkenstocks to find relief from the pain. In August, I had my surgery, and they determined that yes, I had been suffering from Endometriosis. Thankfully, they were able to remove it all, and I am now on preventative medicine to relieve the pain. Having the surgery was not fun, but I feel like an entirely new person now. My pain is completely gone, and I feel like I have gained a new start in life. But no matter where this next chapter takes me, I can guarantee you I will be wearing my Birkenstocks! These shoes have changed my life and made it possible for me to find relief when I was hurting the most. I would never have made it through Summer 2010 without them. Even when I was hurting, my Birkenstocks gave me strength and healing. They made it possible to endure the path of pain…step by step. And every step brought me closer to healing, until the point when I was ready to run again….Look out, world!

Wow! Who’d have thought our winner would be a 27-year old pastor from Texas!? Amazing, and such a great story. Thank you Amy, we can’t wait to get you in the free pair you’ve won! And thank you to all of the other entrants, this was a delightful contest and one we might think about doing again sometime soon.

We’re still thinking up crafty ways to get you all involved and into new pairs of Birkenstock footwear. Pay attention to the blog, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more opportunities like this one.

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Don’t let Mom see you with your feet on the couch! Unless that’s your couch at which point, go right ahead. Speaking of having your feet up, I’ll be gone on vacation until Tuesday so the Birkenstock 365 will be taking a 3-day hiatus. We’d like to encourage you guys to use that time to get out there and snap some cute photos for us to feature when I get back. If you see a gentleman in a San Francisco Giants cap wearing some of these sweet Boston Mocha Suede clogs in North Carolina chances are it’s me. Come say hi!

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

This photo is what can generally be called a “study.” A close up of just a part of a larger thing. For instance, a close up of two straps from either a Birkenstock Arizona or a Birkenstock Milano. Hence the title. Two = straps. Close = close up study. For Comfort = comfort is kind of what we’re known for, folks.

The black and white is a nice touch to this photograph. We’ve got 33 days left of the Birkenstock 365 and we’re still taking suggestions for what to do with the final week/day! Leave us some comments! Share us on Facebook!

Tread Lightly,

Aaron

Happy Monday, everyone! Have a great weekend like we wished? Yes, great. Looks like this fellow is having a wonderful bike ride. Getting this shot must take a considerable amount of attention and planning, we’re very grateful. More grateful, however, about his choice of footwear. The Birkenstock Ramses sandal is a pretty sweet sandal to ride a bicycle in. What’s your favorite pair of Birkenstock footwear to bike ride in?

Tread Lightly,

Aaron