Tulips and Toadstools: These Boots Were Made For Walking (in the rain)!

So I can't believe that I'm going to admit this, but I have never owned a pair of rain boots. I mean, not since I was like 5 or something. As an adult they have just never been on the top of my shopping list. In fact, up until recently I wasn't really sure how I felt about adults wearing rain boots. I have contemplated buying myself a pair many times but always decided against it for one reason or another - I don't really need them, they might look dorky, will I ever actually wear them, we had a drought, they might not be comfortable, etc.

Now that we are living in Iowa I feel that most of those excuses are void. It has rained here a lot in the short time that we have been here and the snow is bound to be coming sooner rather than later (I won't get started on how I feel about snow). I don't think that I can bring myself to wear snow boots, so my rain boots will have to do double duty and act as snow boots too. The dilemma that I'm having now is finding a pair that I like. And that are not $200+. No matter how much I might like them, I simply cannot justify paying that much money for a pair of boots that are going to be worn in rain, snow, mush and muck. Even if I could justify, it I cannot afford it. End of story.

I have an idea of what I want but can't seem to find the exact pair that is just right. I'm starting to think that I am either very picky or just not with the current trends these days because I have been looking for a few months (in anticipation of the move I started searching while we were still in NC) and still have not found the perfect pair of rain boots.

Here are some options (of course my top choices are either sold out or too pricey!):