#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Clarissa Rivera!

Good Morning Friends,


Clarissa Rivera, Content Marketer at Taos Footwear has visited us before with wonderful information on Getting Healthy and choosing your Footwear. Today she shares some tips on disinfecting your shoes. This information has been both relevant and disavowed by the CDC but hey, you never know what to believe or when it'll come in handy so let's welcome Clarissa back.

Take it away Clarissa.....

Removing and Disinfecting Your Shoes: The Benefits of Both During COVID-19

It’s always important to guard against germs. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be more crucial than ever. You need to make sure you’re doing everything you can to stay safe.

That’s why you should remove your shoes before entering your home after you’ve been out. Additionally, it’s a good idea to disinfect your supportive sneakers, favorite sandals, and every pair of shoes that you wear on a regular basis. The following points will help you better understand why.

The Benefits of Removing Your Shoes Before Entering Your Home

Keeping Your Home Clean

You might not want to hear this, but odds are good your shoe soles are much dirtier than you realize. Most shoe soles are actually dirtier than toilet seats.

You don’t want to track germs into your house or apartment. Removing your shoes before stepping inside will help you avoid doing so.

It’s also important to understand that research shows 100% of shoes contain fecal matter. Regardless of how careful you think you are, or how clean you think your neighborhood is, the sad truth is your shoes are almost certainly home to fecal matter and bacteria. On top of that, because shoes rarely get a chance to shed bacteria (bacteria accumulates every time you step outside in your shoes), bacteria appears to remain present on shoes longer than on virtually any other surface.

Avoiding Covid-19 Spread

The coronavirus is new. We’re still learning about how it spreads. That said, while person-to-person transmission appears to be the most common way the virus infects others, the CDC’s research also indicates you may contract the virus by simply coming into contact with a surface that’s also been in contact with the virus.

This is another good reason to remove your shoes before entering your home. You can’t be too careful these days. There’s no reason to risk bringing the virus inside with you.

How to Disinfect Your Shoes

Removing your shoes before going inside is definitely beneficial. That said, to optimize your safety, it’s also a good idea to disinfect your shoes.

You can do this easily with some shoes by merely cleaning them in your washing machine. Use hot water to kill the germs.

However, in some instances, shoes are made of delicate materials (such as leather and suede) that won’t hold up in a washing machine. To disinfect these types of shoes, use a rag or soft bristled brushed with a mixture of warm water and soap. You can also use rubbing alcohol to disinfect them thoroughly. Just make sure you also wash your hands and forearms after doing so. Of course, when your shoes are made with very delicate materials, you want to rinse them gently and carefully.

Of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should try to limit outside excursions as much as possible. That said, you still need to go out to buy groceries and perform related tasks. Keeping your shoes clean and removing them before coming inside will help you stay safe.

Hope this information is beneficial to you ALL and that you'll do whatever necessary to keep yourself and your loved ones safe!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Getting Healthy by Clarissa Rivera!

Good Morning and Welcome!

2020 has launched and for many, getting healthy is a resolution we aspire to every year. We may start out OK but then old habits creep in and we find ourselves right back where we were. Or worse.

Clarissa Rivera, Content Marketer at Taos Footwear (who visited us back in September) has some tips for us....

5 Tips to Amplify Your Healthy Living Lifestyle

Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is one of the smartest decisions you can make. With a good plan for health and wellness, you can do a lot to make sure you feel better both physically and mentally. Along with that, healthy living is the key to reducing your risk for a wide range of health concerns.

At the start of your journey to a healthier life, you may have taken the time to build an exercise routine and maybe you did a little research to improve your diet. These obvious steps are a great start, but they shouldn’t be seen as the entire path to improved health and wellness. Along with having an exercise routine and planning some healthy meals, here are some quick wins to enhance your healthy lifestyle.

Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels

Snack Smarter

Having the occasional snack is fine no matter what your fitness goals may be. Whether you are a late-night snacker or if you just like to keep snacks at your desk when you work, it isn’t the act of snacking that is the problem – it is the quality of the foods you snack on.

So many of us have developed a habit of reaching for things like cakes, candy or chips when we want a snack. If you want a healthier lifestyle, your diet has to consider the snacks you eat as well as your meals. Instead of reaching for unhealthy snacks, switch to eating fruits, vegetables and nuts when you need a snack.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

If you are trying to improve your fitness, breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast helps to set the tone for the rest of the day, and it is even more important if you have an intense day of exercise planned. Even if you are trying to lose weight, you need to start the day off with a good meal.

Instead of skipping the first meal of the day, you should turn your attention to finding healthy breakfast foods. Oatmeal is a classic that can work well for almost any fitness goal. Beyond that, you could try low-fat yogurt with some fresh fruit or a whole-wheat bagel. You could even include eggs as a part of a healthy breakfast.

Get a Good Pair of Shoes

Exercise is an important part of living a healthy life, but it can put a lot of stress on your feet. Regardless of the type of exercise you do, you should buy shoes that are designed for the activity and you also want to make sure they fit well. Along with that, you should get new shoes when your old ones get worn out. Even if they are comfortable, a pair of old, beat-up shoes can increase your risk of injury.

Beyond exercise, give some thought to the shoes you wear day-in, day-out. You may be surprised to find supportive sneakers in styles usually lamented as foot killers.

One tip for finding the right shoes is to go shopping in the evening. A person’s feet tend to be a little larger later in the day, so you should be able to find a more comfortable pair by shopping in the afternoon or evening. Additionally, your shoes should be comfortable the first time you put them on; don’t rely on the idea that you can break them in to make them feel right.

Exercise in the Morning

Just making the effort to exercise can make a huge difference for improving your health. With that said, your workout schedule can make a difference. If you can plan your workout for any time of the day, you should try to get yourself out of bed early to exercise first thing in the morning.

If your schedule will only allow you to work out in the afternoon, that is fine, but research has shown that there are additional benefits of morning exercise. Exercising in the morning can increase the benefits for weight loss and it has even been shown to improve alertness throughout the day.

Look for Variety

One problem for many healthy eaters is that they have a limited number of meals that fit their lifestyle. With a limited array of recipes, it can be easy to get bored with what you are eating. Along with that, it can be difficult to get all of the nutrients you need if there is not enough variety in your diet.

If you want to avoid getting tired of eating healthy and make sure you are getting enough nutrition, you need to aim for variety. Make a consistent effort to try new healthy recipes to add to the variety. One way to do this is to pick one day a week that is for trying a new dinner recipe. After a while, you will have a wide array of recipes that will help you to keep things fresh as you continue to eat healthy.

Great tips, Clarissa! Thank you for sharing.

Hope you're inspired to make 2020 your BEST year ever, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

REMEMBER....everyone who leaves a comment is entered into a drawing for a $15 gift card of his/her choice (leave your email address too!)

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Footwear by Clarissa Rivera

Good Morning Friends,

As you know I changed the format her from posting 3 x per week to only twice and Wednesday Words with Friends is meant to be a combination of Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts. The post is geared simply to share information that entertains, encourages or inspires. Hopefully today's post will do just that.

I bought the cutest pair of shoes a couple of weeks ago. They're taking a bit of time to break in and get used to, and I get lots of compliments on them, but let me tell you...these shoes ain't made for dancing! Or perhaps I'm not made to dance in them LOL. Either way, please welcome Clarissa Rivera, Content Marketer at Taos Footwear as she gives us some tips on shoes.....

Shoes for Everyday Adventures

In day-to-day life, it’s important to remember that taking breaks and getting away from your responsibilities is the key to your happiness in the long run. You can’t be healthy and successful if you’re working all the time.

Some people use these breaks to relax and do nothing. However, that doesn’t appeal to everyone. You might be the type of person who would rather use time off to go on an adventure. 

That’s certainly a smart way to reconnect with yourself and explore your passions. Just remember, you’re far more likely to thoroughly enjoy the experience if you bring along the proper footwear.

These tips will help you do so. Keep them in mind when planning your next adventure.

Choose Footwear That’s Right for Your Adventure

The most important point to remember is that different types of activities require different types of footwear. You can’t take a “one shoe fits all” approach.

For instance, you may be hiking on rugged terrain. This requires durable, water-resistant boots. If you step in a puddle or are hiking in a moist environment, bacteria can accumulate in your shoes. Water-resistant boots guard against this. It’s also important to confirm your boots have strong grips, as this limits your risk of injury.

However, some people are more interested in urban adventures. They love the experience of touring a new city (or exploring various neighborhoods of their own city). Supportive sneakers or comfortable sandals are best for this activity. You want your footwear to provide the right balance of comfort and stability. 

That said, unless you’re wearing open-toed shoes, make sure they’re made with breathable materials. Doing so is key to preventing your feet from sweating after a day of walking around a city.

Test Your Shoes

Don’t make the mistake of heading out on an adventure with new footwear. Even if the shoes felt comfortable when you first tried them on, new footwear needs to be broken in. You want to spend a few weeks before your adventure walking around in them to confirm they provide the support you need. 

It’s also important to test your new shoes by twisting them from heel to toe. Although they shouldn’t be too stiff, some degree of light resistance is important. Shoes that are easy to twist won’t be supportive enough for your needs.

Additionally, consider walking down an incline in your new footwear. Make a point of stomping and scuffing your feet while doing so. If your toes can slide forward to the front of the shoes, they’re too large, as shoes tend to expand as you wear them.

Remember, taking time to prepare is key to enjoying your adventure. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going on a camping excursion, visiting a nearby city, or simply planning a weekend hike: you’ll have the best possible time when you’re wearing the right shoes.

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Great advice Clarissa! Thanks for sharing.

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll visit weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT