Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 1:42PM 
If you consistently run 8 miles a week or more it is recommeneded that you replace your running shoes every three months.
While this may sound spendy, it is far cheaper than replacing your knees.
Happy Trails,
abigail dagmar
Tips on Tuesdays Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 6:53AM 
Tips on Tuesday
It is common knowledge and my experience that prevention is far more pleasant than treatment of just about any ailment. Athletes foot can certainly be prevented by adopting these simple habits:
Each time you exit the bath/shower use a hair dryer to thoroughly dry between all your toes...this is also a good time to improve your toe-spread....flexible toes are also happier toes.
Floss your toes with some soft gauze 2-3 times a week to remove any potential dampness or debris that can cause trouble....by the way, flossing between your toes feels sooo gooood!
Pull out the insoles of your shoes whenever possible to let them dry out between each wear.
Wear water friendly footwear in public showers instead of going barefoot to avoid picking up any fungus.
Use only your own towel to dry your feet.
Wear moisture wicking socks when you are planning to work up a good sweat.
Applying some tender loving thought and care to your feet way down there is apt to put a smile on your face that you can share!
happy dry feet,
abigail dagmar
Tips on Tuesdays Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:53PM
Tips on Tuesday
What size do you or I wear?
If your answer begins with "I usually where between a size.... and size..."
You are on the right track because no two pairs of shoes fit exactly alike, and your feet change throughout the day and throughout the course of your life.
Also, there are different size scales from various manufacturers and they all run a bit different.
In general, athletic shoes run short and European shoes run wide.
Adjustable sandals fit better than pumps.
What are we to do?
The best way to get the optimum fit is to aim for the best style for your foot and best size at that given point in time. Avoid hanging onto the idea that "I only wear size 9" or "I always require a narrow width". Find a shoe store that will measure your feet and a salesperson who really knows their stock. They will know which shoes run long or short to the scale, and they'll help you get YOUR size regardless of the number stamped inside the shoe.
Great fit, happy feet,
abigail dagmar
Tips on Tuesdays Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 1:22PM
Tips on Tuesday
Do you have prescribed or over-the-counter insoles called orthoses/orthotics in your shoes?
I thought so….because I hear that tell-tale squeak with each step you take. Pretty hard to sneak up on anyone, huh?
We can fix that ya know! :)
Start by removing the insole.
Then you may either apply a little bit of Vaseline to the bottom of the insole OR you may opt for a simple sprinkle of baby powder inside your shoes.
Either method will send that quacking duck inside your shoes back to its flock, so that you might rejoin yours without embarrassment.
May all your ducks be in a row and not in your shoes,
abigail dagmar
Tips on Tuesdays Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 11:36AM
Tips on Tuesdays:)
“Back in the day” folks used wooden shoe trees in their shoes.
Many think that shoe tree are simply for keeping the shape of the shoes nice but the main purpose is moisture absorption.
There was a time when folks had only one or two pairs of shoes and didn't have the luxury of switching out shoes to allow the shoes to dry out and recover.
Each foot sweats approximately ½ cup of moisture per foot per day and all that moisture will speed up the demise of your shoes.
The moisture and saltiness break down the linings of shoes which is why it is advisable to wear socks (or terry cloth liners...more on that in another post) with closed-in shoes.
These days hardly anyone uses wooden shoes trees (NEVER use plastic ones—they hold moisture against the linings) but there are a few simple things you can do to fight moisture if you don't have shoe trees.
When you take off any of your shoes that have removable insoles (like your running shoes) pull the insoles out to dry over night.
For shoes that don't have removable insoles put little packets of cheese cloth filled with dry rice or cedar chips to absorb moisture.
Also, simply rotating through your shoes allows them a day or two to dry.
If you actually have wooden shoe trees use them and remember to rough them up with sand paper when they start to look shiny and smooth as they are no longer soaking up moisture in this state.
The cedar shoe trees are the best...your shoes will smell nice and have the added benefit of keeping their shape nice. You can usually find them around Christmas time as they are considered a classic gift.
Love and Long Wearing Soles,
abigail dagmar
Tips on Tuesdays