IT'S FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE

 "take off your shoes and throw them away...come back and get them another day...we're barefootin'"
FLASHBACK 1965
like every other baby, i am born barefoot.
FLASH FORWARD 1970 something
maybe...MAYBE...my parents will say different, but i hate shoes. i only remember wearing shoes when i had to. obviously, i wore them to school...or the mall...or in the snow. 
FLASH FORWARD today
i am still barefoot as much as possible. and i am not a fan of shoes. when other women are excited for that cute new pair of pumps...or sandals...or boots....i'm just like "whateva". i have shoes. i have some cute shoes. i have cute shoes because the bk said "i like these, you should get them". or because, when i go to work, the boss is all "really, you have to wear shoes. it's the rules". if i want to be barefoot and they won't let me in the restaurant, or store, or movie theater, i wear flip flops. which is an awful lot like being barefoot. 
there are health benefits to being barefoot:

• it helps stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons in your feet and ankles, using muscles that aren't used when wear shoes. this can help prevent knee strain and back problems. 
• it frees your mind. while you're focused on avoiding sharp rocks, sticks, and thorns, your mind is clear of everyday problems and anxieties. 
• bumps and rocks can stimulate reflex points in your feet, basically a free foot massage!

                           

but, if you're going to go barefoot, you're going to want those babies to be gorgeous. follow these steps for a perfect, at home, pedicure:

1. remove any old polish and soak your feet in a warm salt bath for 10 minutes. sally hansen has some good options...
2. trim your nails straight across, making sure they are about even with the top of your toes, and round edges with an emory board.
3. rub a pumice stone over callused spots. next, rub in an exfoliating scrub (try bliss super slough scrub available at sephora) and rinse with warm water.
4. rub on a moisturizer like kiss my face foot creme. wipe toe nails with a cotton swab to remove any lotion from nails.
5. pick your fave color and paint those piggies. start in the center, at the cuticle and brushing up, finishing at the sides. apply 2 coats of color and a top coat. 

i would do this tonight while your relaxing in front of the tv because tomorrow (june 1) is national go barefoot day!!!

FLASHBACK may 2005

*note: in honor of 'hurricane preparedness week (may 26-jun 1)' i am letting you re-visit a previous post about emergency prep...enjoy!*

"in your head, in your head...zombie, zombie, zombie..."
it seems impossible, but dustin is graduating. the parents come to town for the weekend to partake in the festivities. daddy comes out of the bathroom "why do you have a guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse in your bathroom?" me "because we want to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, duh doy!" d "you need some quality reading material in there" me "one day you'll be glad your daughter and grandsons know how to survive a zombie apocalypse".
FLASH FORWARD december 2010
the bk has to go to charlotte on business. the meetings will start early on monday, so he leaves on sunday. i lay down on the couch and start flipping channels. i find the walking dead on amc. it's the season finally later so it's a marathon. i watch for 6 straight hours. it's awesome. it helps me gain a little more understanding of what the zombie apocalypse will look like.
FLASH FORWARD today
say what you want about my "zombie apocalypse" knowledge, it's actually a smart thing to be prepared for an emergency. even the cdc jumped on the zombie apocalypse band wagon, using it to teach us how to prevent infectious diseases...click here to learn more...emergency prep doesn't have to be as serious as something you might see on doomsday preppers. i have survived countless hurricanes and ice storms...i am always prepared. you should be, too.

first, have an emergency evacuation plan (especially if you live in a hurricane prone area). you need to know, ahead of time, where you will go. and you should have the following with you:

• large backpack or container for all emergency items
• health profile for all family members
• updated medications
• copy of important documents (insurance, social security cards, driver's licenses, birth certificates, deeds, stocks/bonds, wills, pet’s vaccination records, etc)
• spare keys 
• cash
• first aid kit 
• wrench or pliers
• extra cell phone chargers
• batteries
• work gloves, rope, tarp, and utility knife
• emergency whistle
• filter masks for every family member
• crank or battery operated radio
• crank or battery operated flashlight
• light/glow sticks
• can opener
• plastic bags or trash bags
• hand sanitizer
• blankets and warm clothing for each family member
• baby items (extra diapers, wipes, formula)
• pet items (food, water)
• Extra clothes for each person

riding it out at home? you need the following packed in a large rubbermaid bin:

• water: at least a 3 day supply (1 gallon per day per person)...but go for 7 if you can...also, fill some rubber maid bins with water for bathing, washing dishes, etc.
• stock up on non-perishable foods (think spaghettios, chef boyardee, dinty moore beef stew). anything that comes in a can and requires little to no water. don't forget infant formula and pet food.
• first aid kit
• batteries. make sure to have a supply of every size.
• at least one change of clothes per person. don't forget jackets, shoes, rain gear, hats and gloves.
• blankets or sleeping bags.
• crank or battery operated radio and/or tv
• matches
• candles
• personal hygeine products...y'all don't wanna be stanky do ya?

some of the items are in both kits. if the zombies are busting thru your front window, and you have to make a run for it, you really don't want to have to stop and hunt thru the bin for batteries. do you? cuz i'm fairly certain unnecessary stops will lead to you being lunch. 

happy prepping and see you in the safe haven!!!

^the walking dead^

^zombie hunter extroardinaire^

     

SATURDAY STUDIES

"what's this? what's this? i can't believe my eyes!"
FLASHBACK may 16, 2013 (i know...i know...just a few short days ago)
i am crazy busy! i'm cleaning house...i'm paying bills...i'm getting all dolled up! why? because tonight is the inaugural concert at the horseshoe casino...AND it's the killers, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE bands EVER!!...AND it's raining, so i have to be super cute whether i'm wet or dry...ugh! so, with all this going on i totally forget to sit down and write my blog. which means i totally don't look up any fun and exciting tidbits of information to share with you. which means i totally miss the best holiday we never knew about: national sea monkey day!!!

            

and so i have to:
FLASHBACK 1970 something
you see these ads in the back of comic books and teen magazines. "enter the wonderful world of amazing live sea monkeys", "own a bowl full of happiness", "instant pets". everybody tried them. few had success. i remember trying them. i just remember a bowl full of dust. or, maybe, my dad got them to live but i got bored before it happened. besides, we had a REAL aquarium with the most amazing lion fish that my dad had to save from a tragic goldfish choking...but that's a story for another time.
FLASH FORWARD 2007(ish)
i find sea monkeys at cracker barrel. nostalgia takes over and i totally forget that you only get a bowl full of dust, so i buy one. 7 days later...WE HAVE SEA MONKEYS!!!!
what are sea monkeys, you ask? just brine shrimp. some dude (harold von braunhut) decided to make his own version of an ant farm. BOOM! we have sea monkeys. the ad is a tad misleading. i was really disappointed that my monkeys didn't look like mer~people and build a community in their tank. but, still, it was fun to watch them grow.
so, now, you want your own sea monkeys but not a bowl of dust? here are some helpful tips:

• follow the instructions that come with your sea monkeys (amazing how that works, right?).
• keep the water around 70 degrees. i would not set my tank near an air conditioner vent or in a window that gets direct sun. 
• feed them 5 days after hatching...then, again a week later. feed weekly...if the water gets cloudy you're feeding too much and should wait until the water clears.
• set their tank in an area that will get plenty of indirect sunlight. direct sunlight will get the water too hot, but indirect sun will help algae grow. algae will provide food and oxygen for your monkeys.
• you need to aerate your tank. you can stir it, pour the water back and forth between the tank and a large bowl a few times, or purchase the available "million bubble air pump".
• watch for water evaporation. when the water level drops 2" fill it immediately. if you let it drop lower, you might affect the salt levels and shock your monkeys! no bueno!!

hears to your happy, healthy sea monkeys!!!

^living sea monkeys...nothing like the ad!^

^million bubble air pump^