There are a lot of people though that are not sold on the idea of barefoot running. Whatever there reasoning, there have been many studies that have proven barefoot running to not only be better for running in general, but also better at preventing running injuries from occurring.

Last year I was forced to quit running when an ankle injury suddenly came about. I had been running for years and years, but when the injury happened I was sidelined and frustrated. Physical therapy was a must and the therapist introduced me to the idea of barefoot running. The proof is in the pudding because I began barefoot running and I never looked back.
The shoes that I wear now are the ideal barefoot running shoe by Vibram. Other running shoes force your legs and feet to strike in a manner that your body was not made for hence the greater potential for injury.

The video below shows the difference in running without shoes and with running shoes. If you had any question about going barefoot before, this video should help you decide.

                                      

It can be pretty hard to tell, actually, since authentic Birkenstocks are made to look rugged and often have visible “edginess” or glue that shows, the cheap knock-offs might be harder to spot. The main thing, according to one Birkenstock wearer I spoke with, is to know your Birkenstocks thoroughly before making a purchase, and stick to buying only from authorized resellers that have a listing on Birkenstock.com, the official global website of the company.  Without doing a little homework and studying all the styles that Birkenstock actually makes, you have about a 0% chance of knowing a fake when you see one.  That’s unfortunate when you’re spending about $150 USD on a pair of these “caveman shoes” with cork bottoms and leather or suede straps.  For that kind of money, people expect quality.  They expect the real thing.

Even if you are not a fan of Birkenstocks, and lots of people are not, the clogs instead of the sandals do have a distinctly European stylishness that, when paired with just the right socks and a skirt, can really lock in an awesome look.  You have undoubtedly seen shoes that are obviously meant to resemble real Birkenstocks for sale in shoe outlets all over the place, but they are not being advertised as being Birkenstocks, and they’re a lot less expensive.  So, again, just know your product before you shop, and avoid buying from places like eBay. Also keep in mind, that according to sites like www.physiciancaredirect.com, true Birkenstocks are designed with the natural arch of the foot in mind. Many replicas are not. Just food for thought!

                                      

Thanks to Toms, a shoe company with a mission, Mycoskie is able to share shoes with those children around the world who have none.  Toms business model is a One for One plan:  for each pair of Toms purchased, a pair is given for free to a child in need somewhere in the world.  This makes sense globally and economically.  I first learned about Toms on direct tv while viewing the following clip, and I want to share this with you.

                                      

Only in a dream,right?  Not quite.  There are many shoe companies out there right now making big bucks off of shoes that supposedly help do the shaping for you.  These fitness shoes are said to be designed to make your legs really work even when you are just simply running errands or walk around.

What do I think of these shoes?  I think it’s all a scam to get in on some of the profits that weight loss supplements, videos, and pills make each and every year from consumers willing to try anything but a healthy diet and exercise.

Turns out I wasn’t so wrong either.  Check out the infographic below to see how these toning shoes ranked against typical athletic shoes.

                                      

My husband is a wonderful man.  He has a warm heart and a great smile.  He is not an unfashionable guy and he likes shopping, but his wardrobe is pretty much just dress slacks and golf shirts.  I am okay with that, I mean he does work at a golf course.  The thing is his shoes are just awful.  He has always just bought a pair of work shoes from a cheap shoestore and worn them until they get holes in them.  I am a bit of a shoe snob so this has bothered me for some time.  Luckily, this all changed just yesterday.

It was time for him to get new work shoes.  Instead of going to the huge shoe dump as I call it, I told him we were going to the department store to get him some new kicks.  At first he was not convinced that paying more for a nice pair of shoes would be necessary, and when I showed him the trendy Clarks Desert boot he was still unsure.

This was going to take some work on my part.  He knows I know shoes, so why didn’t he trust the fact that I know that all the men are wearing these?  I told him he had to sit down and try them on to see what I was talking about.  He obliged and when the shoes were on the look on his face said it all.  The shoes looked good.  They looked real good.

When we got home last night, he was going through his clothes to see what kind of outfits he could create to wear with his new shoes.  Finally, golf shirts might only be for the course!  And today he mentioned that he saw a picture of Channing Tatum wearing similar shoes so he knows that they are really in style (even though I already told him so).  So thanks to just one pair of great shoes, my husband found his style.

                                      

According to some experts, running shoes may be doing you more harm than good.  A shoe so specialized, like an advanced system from adt home security, should simply work as advertised.  So often, however, this is not the case.  Some people have very different shaped arches and toes, and not all running shoes are suitable for all people.  It can also be true that a running shoe diverges too far from the natural shape and step of the human foot, potentially contributing to injuries that might not occur were one not wearing the shoes.  Here is some info:

                                      

The Stacked Heel. Easy to wear and stylish, the boot with a stacked heel adds some subtle hints of the 1970s.  Pair these with some skinny jeans or a skirt for a chic look.

This boot is from Ann Taylor and it is the Lavinia Pull-Up High Heel Boot.

The Ankle Wedge. Anything but classic and simple, an ankle wedge boot gives you a fearless and edgy look that will get you noticed.  It’s hard not to feel confident when pairing shoes like this with a sleek outfit.

For more spice, find a pair with a peep toe.

The Buckled or Harness Boot. Oh hi, buckles!  These boots are all around fun, am I right?  With some skinny jeans and a classic coat, these boots speak for themselves.

Leave the motorcycle jacket at home though when wearing these.  Subtle biker babe is okay, but too many buckles just won’t work.

The Riding Boot. Classic, chic, and timeless.  They can be black or brown, but the riding boot style will be here forever.  Trousers, dresses, and more can be worn with these bad boys of your feet.

If you are looking to get boots with stay power as far as trends are concerned, this is definitely the way to go.

What style boot is your favorite for this season?  I’m loving the riding boots for sure, but the buckle boots are certainly in a close second.  Love!

                                      

Here is one entertaining video presentation demonstrating how it is done.  It is set to calming Japanese music.  There are no verbal instructions.  You simply watch and observe as the music fills your mind and spirit.  Here, you can see more instructional material: Instructables

                                      

Anyway, since shoes are a necessity if you want to keep your feet from becoming dirty and calloused, and you absolutely must have them if you have any intention of working, eating, or grocery shopping, etc. I think we should take some time to think about shoes.  Whatever type of shoe you love, just ponder over it in your head for a bit.  Do you see Christina Louboutins dancing around?  Maybe you see Air Jordans or Toms shoes.  Whoever you are, you have to have a favorite shoe.

You can tell a lot about a person by the type of shoes he or she wears, and it has been that way since the beginning of time.  Let’s take a trip and a look back at shoes.

                                      

I thought that it was interesting to see how different online shopping habits are between men and women. There are dramatic changes between the genders when regarding online shopping. Surprisingly men are the big spenders when it comes to online shopping. It’s thought that they buy more items at once opposed to women who buy small amounts of things more often.

The next time that you go to do some online shopping think about your habits that you have when you shop. At what age did you shop the most? How much do you normally spend? What time do you make your online purchases? These questions had never entered my head, how about yours? You might fit right in to the stereotype of your gender or you might be a part of the outlyers in the set of data.

I wonder how men and women differ when making a buying decision about satellite television?