Researchers from Auburn University in Alabama studied the biomechanics of the flip-flop and determined that wearing thong-style flip-flops can result in sore feet, ankles and legs.

“We found that when people walk in flip-flops, they alter their gait, which can result in problems and pain from the foot up into the hips and lower back,’’ said Justin Shroyer, a biomechanics doctoral student who presented the findings to the recent annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis.

For the study, the researchers recruited 39 college-age men and women and asked them to wear flip-flops or athletic shoes. They then had them walk a platform that measured vertical force as their feet hit the ground. A video camera measured stride length and limb angles.

Flip-flop wearers took shorter steps and their heels hit the ground with less vertical force than when the same walkers wore athletic shoes. People wearing flip-flops also don’t bring their toes up as much as the leg swings forward. That results in a larger angle to the ankle and a shorter stride length, the study showed. The reason may be that people tend to grip flip-flops with their toes.

This is not to say you need to give up your flip flops -  but they are NOT meant to replace shoes or being worn for long periods of time. By all means wear them  at the beach or when relaxing around the house but do not consider them shoes. Your feet and lower back will thank you.

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Food For Thought:

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.  This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.  Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.

 ~Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech, American Society of Newspaper Editors, 16 April 1953

I got turned on to 7 for all mankind a couple of years ago and have been buying them ever since. They are expensive but they last and wear well, look fantastic on once you find the right style for your body so I don’t mind the price. An added bonus they are made in the USA!! Out shopping this weekend I wandered into my favorite boutique “Impulse” in Brighton, MI. The owner (Gail) knows me, she’s the one who turned me on to this brand originally. She also knows I’m weird about jeans being too tight or too low. Yet I’ve been told enough times something I’m wearing is too baggy. “You have slender legs, your jeans should fit your thigh and your butt”. She’s had an uphill battle with me but I finally wear jeans that fit my body the way they should.

So back to shopping. 7 for all mankind has a new jean out this season called flip flop, they’re made shorter instead of the usual 34″ they’re 30″ meant to be worn with summer flip flops. YEA!!!! Which means for me they don’t have to be altered! They also are more slender fitting in the thigh which I need. Then I tried on a pair of crop pants (same brand) and those fit so I had to get both.

I then made the mistake of telling Gail I needed a “fun belt” to wear with these jeans. I have plenty of black ones, brown ones, boring ones, but wanted a fun belt. She brings me an Ed Hardy belt to try on, what can I say? Other than it looks great and I bought that too. Topping off the shopping spree the staple that every woman has in her wardrobe, the black tee. Seems they never last long enough before they fade and need to be replaced. Michael Stars is a good brand and comes in every color imaginable.

That’s it for me, I’m done shopping for awhile. Oh by the way, Citizens of Humanity is another brand I like and made in the USA if that’s important to you. Thanks to my husband for finding those for me

I have many boots, from expensive Anne Klein to several different pairs/styles of hiking boots. Day hikers and my favorite leather Timberlands that I wear in the snow and on the hiking trails.  What I don’t have is a pair of UGGS, the wonderful sheepskin boot from Australia.  It’s cold and I want a pair now!

So off to Nordstrom’s we go today (after Pet Smart picking up dog food and toys for Poco).  For any woman with small feet Nordstrom’s is the only department store that carries small sizes and more than a few pairs.

My husband wanders off to the high heeled sexy black leather ones….”sure you don’t want a pair of these”?  YES I AM SURE,  as I drag him back to the practical warm boots that I need right now!

Finally my salesperson brings me out an assortment of warm boots, but  only one UGG, and why is that? There are NO UGGS! I am told the next shipment is the end of January and there are 500 people on the waiting list! You’ve got to be frickin kidding me, course I am too polite to say that.

We ask about ordering them online………I will get them in March. Clearly this is not going well for me. Back to the one pair of UGGS he did bring out in a size 6. It’s a light colored tan and it’s the display model which means one foot has been tried on and stretched out to about 3 sizes bigger than a 6! That clearly won’t work and I want black anyway.

So off to the computer he goes trying to locate this boot for me in black in a size 6. Comes back and tells me there are there some located in the southern stores. Hmm do southerners even have a need for UGGS?

My new UGG’S will arrive in 5-7 days, hopefully it will still be cold then. Never know with this crazy weather, blizzards one day and tornadoes a few days later. But I’m prepared with my assortment of boots!

If you haven’t read the UGG story it’s pretty interesting. Apparently Oprah discovered them too and gave them to all her staff.  And always Kudos’ to Nordstrom’s for the superior customer service they consistently deliver.

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