I was invited along with a lot of other bloggers to the etnies hub for a tour of their Sole Technology Institute and to learn about the launch of the latest addition to the etnies brand… Grow with Me toddler shoes!
It was fun.
Wanna read about it?
No. (you’re thinking)
You’ll get to see how Hot Hubby dressed our children like vagabonds AND how Eli was kind of a pill with the super nice owner AND how Cora was dripping green boogers on everything AND how I always seem to look like an idiot AND a picture of me in Jr High AND Eli’s year of wearing etnies AND some cool other stuff about the shoes.
See I told you you’d want to read on!
###
Hot Hubby took a family day off work, so he had the kiddos while I headed on over to the etnies Corporate office aka Sole Technology Institute (Which happens to be right across the street from my Joann Fabrics… I may or may not have taken a detour there to get stuff for this).
Then the bloggers got to chat and pretty much snoop around the office. Who doesn’t love a good snoop!?! My favorite thing was a huge company timeline display. See the online version here.
We walked on over to the Sole Technology Institute.
It’s a Biomechanics Skate Lab.
They do all sorts of durability tests for the shoes. The ollie machine below simulates an ollie over 2,000 times to see if the shoe will last. After a new shoe is tested in the lab they give them to local skaters for a street test. etnies has a great blog, check it out here. 
After our lesson we got to ask questions. I asked about the baby shoes but mostly I just wanted to tell them how much I like the Velcro kids shoes (those things are the best!).
Per the suggestion of my friend Marcy, I carry a few Eli’s Lids around for gifts…
During the Q & A the owner and passion behind etnies, Pierre Andre Seinzeruges, mentioned that he has a 14 month old son. So, I thought I would give him some Lids. Of course, I felt like a total idiot. It went way better than the Ralphie May incident. In fact, he seemed to like them. (Dear Pierre, If you steal my idea for practical/stylish Lids for infants that fit for up to 4 years I may or may not egg your building. Warmly, KN)
On our walk back to the office for lunch I heard someone screaming “Mommy”… it was MY someone. Hot Hubby had picked Eli up from preschool and cruised over to to see if I was done.
You read that right folks “biomechanics!” The one and only biomechanics lab out there.
Yes.
Really.
The ONLY one.
They brought in a skater kid who jumped down some huge stairs in a funny suit, landed on a special impact mat, while being recorded at all angles by computer cameras. All the information they compile gets… um… computed? Then someone smart makes better shoes.
They brought in a skater kid who jumped down some huge stairs in a funny suit, landed on a special impact mat, while being recorded at all angles by computer cameras. All the information they compile gets… um… computed? Then someone smart makes better shoes.
(Those are totally the technical terms… ha!)
See for yourself…
They do all sorts of durability tests for the shoes. The ollie machine below simulates an ollie over 2,000 times to see if the shoe will last. After a new shoe is tested in the lab they give them to local skaters for a street test. etnies has a great blog, check it out here. 
After our lesson we got to ask questions. I asked about the baby shoes but mostly I just wanted to tell them how much I like the Velcro kids shoes (those things are the best!).Per the suggestion of my friend Marcy, I carry a few Eli’s Lids around for gifts…
During the Q & A the owner and passion behind etnies, Pierre Andre Seinzeruges, mentioned that he has a 14 month old son. So, I thought I would give him some Lids. Of course, I felt like a total idiot. It went way better than the Ralphie May incident. In fact, he seemed to like them. (Dear Pierre, If you steal my idea for practical/stylish Lids for infants that fit for up to 4 years I may or may not egg your building. Warmly, KN)
On our walk back to the office for lunch I heard someone screaming “Mommy”… it was MY someone. Hot Hubby had picked Eli up from preschool and cruised over to to see if I was done. I was, and they let the whole fam-damily stay for lunch.Hot Hubby is good at a lot of things… dressing the children ISN’T one of them. Eli’s shirt was just a tad too small with holes in it. Cora had an orange bow, green dress and pale pink crocs on… so much for them being instantly asked to be etnies models… ha!
Lunch was AWESOME! Catered by a local favorite Jay’s Catering! And the cupcakes from Frosted Cupcakery were to-die-for!! (Dear Frosted Folks, I know a great cupcake gal, Kristen, from Meringue Bake Shop. You should be her friend. Kisses, KN)
Hot Hubby did get one thing right when dressing Eli. He remembered to put on his etnies… probably because they are one of Eli’s only pair of shoes. They were hand-me-downs from our good friends. Don’t tell the etnies folks, but Eli has been wearing those same shoes for over a year.
Lunch was AWESOME! Catered by a local favorite Jay’s Catering! And the cupcakes from Frosted Cupcakery were to-die-for!! (Dear Frosted Folks, I know a great cupcake gal, Kristen, from Meringue Bake Shop. You should be her friend. Kisses, KN)
Hot Hubby did get one thing right when dressing Eli. He remembered to put on his etnies… probably because they are one of Eli’s only pair of shoes. They were hand-me-downs from our good friends. Don’t tell the etnies folks, but Eli has been wearing those same shoes for over a year.What you don’t believe me!?!?!
See for yourself! This picture was taken October 9th, 2008 on a family walk…
Because that picture of Cora is horrible, I must show proof of her cuteness as a baby…
Now, here is a pic of Eli in the same shoes on November 11th, 2009 (He was the star of the day at preschool).
Proof that the shoes REALLY are durable… and that I’m not very good at fitting shoes on my kiddos.
Because that picture of Cora is horrible, I must show proof of her cuteness as a baby…
Now, here is a pic of Eli in the same shoes on November 11th, 2009 (He was the star of the day at preschool).
Proof that the shoes REALLY are durable… and that I’m not very good at fitting shoes on my kiddos.
What? You don’t believe me!?!?
See…
Why do I love this picture so much!?!?
Why do I love this picture so much!?!?Dear Folks at etnies,Thanks for an awesome day… even though Eli acted like a snot and Cora got boogers all over your nice office (probably infested with the flu… which we got the following week). Especially, thank you (Don, Brenda & Ashton) for staying after to chat about my lil’ ole’ business AND for the chance to shop it the company store. We love our new etnies (we needed them) and have sported them proudly since we got em’. (I even wore my new tee in my latest She’s Crafty Video!)Much Thanks,
KN
Dear Readers,Buy anything from the etnies online store from now to December 4th and get $10 off for every $40 you spend AND free shipping!!! Enter the coupon code: ETNIES FAMILY while checking out!!Hug,
KN
Latest posts by Kara Noel Lawson (see all)
- Low Carb Banana Bread – Keto Friendly - June 11, 2018
- The Fresh 20, Black History Month and Midnight Reading - January 22, 2018
- Reverse Osmosis Water System from Costco - January 22, 2018
Aracely--Daytrippingmom says
I love your posts and you always make me crack up with your pictures! Love it!
Kristin says
great post! your posts always make me laugh. i love how you are so honest 😀
thanks for the link love too. sniff sniff… my cupcakes should have been there… sniff sniff
😀
rachael says
Yay for your trip to etnies!! 🙂 Great post.
CanCan (Mom Most Traveled) says
Aww yeah, I was all about the flannel in 8th grade too! Sorry, I'm not going to go backwards in fashion.
But the etnies look awesome for my 2 toddler boys! Woo woo!
Angry Julie Monday says
Your pictures always crack me up!!! Seriously….I almost fell out of my chair at work…