Sore Aching Feet

Besides kicking back and giving your feet a rest, here are some remedies that can help ease the ache and rejuvenate tired feet:

1. Moist Heat - Sometimes aching feet are simply the result of overstressed muscles and connective tissue due to excess activity or weight-bearing. One of the best remedies for relaxing sore muscles is a foot bath. Soak your feet in a basin of warm water or in a store-bought foot spa for 5-10 minutes. Try adding epsom salts to the water for an added soothing effect. Epsom salts are readily available where first aid products are sold. Use approximately 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of warm water. If your feet are swollen, hot, or tired, use cool water instead of warm and elevate your feet for a half hour or more after the soak.

2. Stretch - Overstressed muscles will tend to contract or spasm. To counteract this tightness, stretch your feet. A good time to stretch is after warm soak, when muscles will be relaxed. Sit in a comfortable position and stretch the ankle and toe joints using your hands or a strap. To also target the calf muscles, try a runner's stretch while leaning against a wall. Hold each motion comfortably for 10-20 seconds for maximal benefit.

3. Massage - Apply oil or lotion to the soles and massage while applying gentle thumb pressure to any sore areas of the feet. Focus on the plantar fascia, the prominent cord-like structure that runs the length of the arch, from the ball of the foot to the heel. You can best feel it on the sole of your foot when you flex your toes upward. The plantar fascia is an important anatomical structure because it helps give form and support to the arch, which is necessary for absorbing shock when our feet hit the ground. Tightness of the plantar fascia can often be a root cause of heel soreness. Another easier way to massage the feet is by using wooden foot roller or a foot spa with built-in massage.

4. Arch Supports - Try a pair of store bought arch supports for your shoes. Arch supports will help decrease the shock that your feet experience with every step. The heel and ball of the foot are especially prone to soreness and full-length arch supports will help cushion these areas. Custom-made orthotics offer even more support for the feet and have the added benefit of accommodating specific foot problems.

5. Check Your Shoes - Identify which shoes may be contributing to the soreness. Switching to running shoes or shoes with a stiffer sole may help. Even sandals come in styles that cradle the arch and have a slightly thicker sole, which is preferable. Also, if your shoes have excess wear and tear they may be contributing to your sore feet. Worn out soles can change the dynamic of how your feet hit the ground, thus throwing off your biomechanics. Since shoes that are too tight or too loose can lead to soreness and fatigue, have your feet measured the next time you buy shoes. You may be surprised to find out that you were wearing an incorrect shoe size.

From About.com

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Why I Hate My New Job.

1.       The lack of training.

2.       The lack of organization.

3.       They expect you to know where everything is your first night there.

4.       Everyone gets annoyed when you as for help or where something is.

5.       They expect you to work at the same speed as everyone that has been there for years.

6.       Thinking your almost done then getting told that there is still more back there for you when it’s less than an hour before you get to go home.

7.       Having to walk to the front of the store every time you need to use the restroom because the ones in the back are pad locked and there are no employee restrooms.

8.       Wasting your entire 15 min. break just to go to the restroom.

9.       Not getting to take your entire 15 min. break because you still have a pallet as tall as you still out on the floor. 

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Oven Tacos

A recipe my mom posted on her blog that I want to try out. It looks and sounds really good.

Oven Tacos
Copied from MommyImHungry

2 lbs ground beef (or turkey/chicken)

1 small onion diced

1 small can diced green chilies

1 recipe for Homemade taco seasoning (below)

1 (8 ounce) can low sodium tomato sauce

1 (16 ounce) can fat free refried beans

2 cups shredded reduced fat Colby-jack cheese

18-20 hard taco shells {if gluten free, be sure they are}

Optional Condiments-
Lettuce (shredded)

Tomato (diced)

Salsa

Guacamole

Sour Cream

Olives, sliced

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess liquid. Return to pan, add chilies, refired beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for a few minutes if mixture seems runny.

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9x13 inch baking dish, standing up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tacos are heated through. Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving.

Taco Seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

In a small bowl, mix all together. Store in an airtight container.

I used all of this on 2 lbs of ground meat with a little water mixed in.

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Assignment: CD Cover Design

This was a class assignment, this is not a real musician and images where taken from the internet for the assignment.

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Update: October

So I realize that it has been several months since I have posted anything to my blog, for that I am sorry, things have been kinda busy and keeping it updated wasn't a priority. But I have found the time to start updating once again, but it may not be as often as it was in the past. So here is a bit of whats been going on over the past couple of months.

Well first, Sean will be getting out of the Army in the upcoming months and things are a little stressed over what is going to happen when he gets out. We are both praying that he gets the job he wants, which will take him back over seas for almost two years. I'm not thrilled about how long he'll be gone, but it's what he wants and I'm actually kinda ready for him to go back too.

Second, I have been spending more time focusing on my school to improve my grades, but you wouldn't be able to tell at the moment with my current grade in Economics, I'm just not that great of a test taker. But my skills have been improving in Photoshop and Illustrator, along with the grades of my assignments and projects. I have also been self teaching myself how to digital paint and draw on my Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, which I recently got and lot.

Third, I have been spending more time as a housewife, wanting to limit as much stress as possible with everything that's going on and wanting to focus more on myself and my health, which you can never do too much of.

There have also been other things mixed into the bunch but these are the main reasons or excuses, but whatever the reason its time to get things back on track.

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