5 Things to Take Care of When Selecting Your Running Shoes

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Krissyar

Running is one of the best ways to get fit and stay healthy. It’s inexpensive, it’s fun and it isn’t hard to get started. There is, however, one thing you need to take care of before you hit the open road and start running: selecting your running shoes. Here are the five things you should consider before you buy a pair of running shoes to guarantee you find the right pair.

Learn about your running style

First, it’s important to understand your running style. You need to be aware of how your feet move to ensure you find running shoes that best support your particular movement. You can easily analyse your own running by having someone film it and then just slow down the speed.

If you run heel-to-toe, you need to find shoes that provide heel cushioning to support your stride. On the other hand, if you run on the forefoot, you don’t need to have as much support in the heel region.

Furthermore, most runners fall under three runner types: pronation, over-pronation and supination. Pronation is the neutral form in which you land squarely on your feet. Supination runners favour the outside edge when they land, while over-pronation means you fall on the inside edge of your foot.

Decide your running surface

Your shoes will also need to fit the environment in which you run. This means identifying the kind of surface you’ll run. A harsh, asphalt might require a bit more cushioning and support from the base of the shoe, while a soft, equal terrain could work well even with minimalist shoes. Furthermore, if you are running off-road, then you want to opt for shoes that provide a lot of support, especially in the ankle region.

In addition, think about the weather you’ll normally run in. Those living in sunny, warm conditions need a lot of ventilation from the running shoe. If it mainly rains where you live, you might want to invest in waterproof shoes.

Be sure you need new ones

Before you start looking for new shoes, make sure you actually need them. The clearest sign for new shoes is that your feet hurt when you run. If this doesn’t happen when you walk in other shoes, it’s probably your shoes.

Even if you aren’t hurting, you should check your shoes and see what they feel like. If they have become flimsy and don’t feel as supportive as they did when you got them, you might be damaging your foot when running. However, if the shoe feels sturdy, even though it might look worn-out, and you aren’t in pain, you don’t need to get new shoes (unless you really want to!). Good running shoes will last a long time, so only buy new ones when it’s needed.

Test before you buy

You shouldn’t ever buy shoes without testing them first. In the case of running shoes, this might mean trying it out with a light jog around the store. You want to get a sense of how the shoe works when you are running – just wearing it might not reveal enough about the support you’re getting.

Don’t forget that you don’t need to buy the shoes in-store – you can actually find better discounts online and keep your budget reasonable. Just shop with a company that has a good return and exchange policy. You could also check the shoe in-store and then find a deal for that particular shoe online. Footasylum.com is a great place for discounts and better returns – it has a great selection of reputable sneakers from brands like Adidas.

Interestingly, don’t believe the myth of ‘breaking in’ when it comes to running shoes. These shoes, if they are good, should feel good immediately, not after ten runs.

Don’t get the exact fit

When you are trying on the running shoes, don’t pick a pair that fits perfectly. This is because your foot might swell slightly when you are running and thus require more room to fit comfortably. You can prepare for this a bit by trying on the shoes in the evening. After a day spent on your feet, your feet are slightly bigger than right in the morning. It’s a good idea to go around half a size larger than your usual shoes with your running shoes.

In addition, when you’re trying the shoes, remember to wear the kind of socks you generally wear when running. Special running socks are a good idea – you definitely don’t want to try on running shoes in your stockings or woolly socks!

Next time you are looking for new running shoes, keep the above five things in mind. Focus on these tips to guarantee your new running shoes last a long time. Your healthier and happier body will thank you for it!

Posted in Fitness/Health | Leave a comment

Low-Carb Keto Friendly Taco Seasoning

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Krissyar

So one of my favorite meals to make – diet or not – is tacos. I love Mexican food, and that’s one thing I wanted to make sure to keep in my diet. So as I researched more about Keto and also started to look into what was in my pre-made taco seasoning I realized I needed to come up with something I could make on my own. So after some research and combining a few different recipes I found online I finally came up with a delicious taco seasoning.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/4 cup chili powder
2 1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all of the above.

Add 2 tsp per 1 pound of meat along with 1/2 cup water and continue to heat until sauce thickens.

Posted in Recipes, Weight Loss | Leave a comment

Cadbury Egg Cupcakes

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Krissyar

Chocolate Cupcakes

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, room temp
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups flour
1 Tsp baking powder
1/4 Tbs salt
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk, whole

Chocolate Ganache

1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup or cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cups heavy cream

Cadbury ingred 1

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare a cupcake tin with paper liners

In a microwave safe bowl, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of milk for about 1 minute, stirring half way. Stir until chocolate chips are melted. Set to the side

Cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Now add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined.

Take the cooled melted chocolate and add to the creamed butter

Begin to whisk the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, flour, baking powder, salt, and chocolate cocoa.

Add the dry mix into the wet ingredients slowly alternating with adding the milk while mixing with a hand or standing mixer.

Scoop batter into prepared cupcake tin, filling a little up to 3/4 of the way

Take your Cadbury eggs and place them in the center pushing it downs the cake mix covers it

Cadbury Easter CC inprocess 1

Bake for 23-26 minutes, checking doneness by testing with a toothpick should be cake free

Allow to cool for 1 minute in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Chocolate Ganache
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips with the heavy cream for about 1 minute, stirring half way.

Stir until smooth and all chocolate chips have melted.

Dip the cupcake in the bowl of ganache lightly twisting in motion to cover the whole area .

Allow the cupcakes to cool before frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream
Beat the softened butter on its own until smooth.

Add coca chocolate and powdered sugar alternately with heavy cream until a smooth, thick texture.

If frosting is too thick, add more heavy cream, if too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Use a piping bag fitted with a medium sized tip of your choice to frost, or cut the corner off a gallon size zip-top bag filled with the frosting.

To frost like a pro…

Place the cupcake on a flat surface in front of you. Grasp the pastry bag from the top pushing the frosting down as you slide your hand down the pastry bag. Once you start to see frosting come out of the dip twist the top of the pastry bag tight. Use a clip or a rubber band to secure the bag.

Now begin to frost the cupcake going around in one smooth motion do not stop!

Easter Cadbury CC inprocess 6

Once you have completed the first circle begin the second one onto the first one as shown below.

Continue this process until you have covered the whole area. Now make a small peak at the top similar to how you would serve frozen yogurt a wee little twist and bam there it is a perfect frosted cupcake like a pro!

Drizzle with fudge or caramel, you can also sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles or even more chocolate chips. The more the better!

Cadbury CC 10

Posted in Holidays, Recipes | Leave a comment

Do I Need Special Permission Before I Start Building in my Backyard?

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Krissyar

Do I need to ask permission to build?

If you are running out of space inside your property, you may be tempted to build on your outside space. It’s certainly a way of extending your floor space, and it can add value to your property; if done well. You should never just dive straight into a building project though; there are things that you need to consider. One of the major points to address is the need for permission.

If you are building on your property, the safest thing to do is tell the council about your plans, and ask if you need permission. The need for permission varies from place to place so it’s better to check first. If you do not check, you could be faced with problems further down the line.

What could happen if you do not check?

It may be tempting to just go ahead and build, without checking if you need permission to do so. After all, checking and permissions could take up valuable time, right? The truth is that getting permission to build can take time, but it’s still better to follow the correct procedure.

There is little point in saving time on your building project if you have to remove the structure at some point in the future. If you do not get the necessary permission before you build, you could be asked to return the property to its original condition. This is likely to be inconvenient and costly at any time, but imagine if it happens when you are trying to sell your home. You can save yourself from all this trouble by simply asking about permission before you build.

What else do you need to think about?

Getting permission is not the only thing you need to think about before you start to build. Here are some points to consider.

  • Have you factored wiggle room into your budget? It’s always good to have additional finances for unexpected situations.
  • Are risk strategies included in the building contract? Following on from the last point; it’s good to have plans should issues occur.
  • Do you know what is on your property? You may not always realise what utility pipes and cables, or other hidden obstacles, are present. This is why it’s a good idea to have construction surveying carried out. This enables you to see if there are any obstacles you could be facing.
  • Are payment arrangements included in the building contract? This is really important as you need to be aware of what you are required to pay, and when.

All of these points are vital to the success of your project.

Hopefully, you can see how important it is to ask if you need permission to build. For some small structures, permission may not be necessary, but it’s better to check and have peace of mind. Once you have permission in place, if needed, then you know you can go ahead with your plans.

Posted in Crafts/DIY | Leave a comment

Top Ways to Keeping Your Kids Healthy

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post; though I was compensated for my time all opinions are my own.

I know that everyone wants to do what is best for our children – figure out what vitamins and such to give them, feed them organic foods and healthy snacks and the list goes on. But step one in this process of raising healthy kids – is making Mom and Dad healthy first.

So many time we allow our health and mental welfare to fall between the cracks – between working and household duties, and running our kids from one practice to another, helping with homework and the list continues – we tend to allow our health to be low on the totem pole. Studies show that your mood and health will directly effect your children’s mood and health. So a happy/healthy parent generates a happy/healthy child.

There are obvious things you can do (along with your child) to be happy. Take time for yourself – read a book, take a walk, a warm bath, a nap even. Spend time outside of the house with friends. Exercise is obvious – it doesn’t have to be boring sweating along with everyone else in a boring gym. Go hiking, play racquetball, tennis, basketball. Eat in moderation; I’m not saying take away all the good stuff – just don’t eat all the ‘good’ stuff all the time! Eat fruits and veggies and meats and things that don’t come in a box.

Also making sure you take supplements or vitamins that benefit you the most – like DHA Brain Health for Adults.
vivaNUTRITION DHA BRAIN HEALTH offers all the algae sourced DHA you need to support a positive mood and brain health in just one or two soft gels a day. Since it supports a healthy mood, it in return also helps to aid proper digestion.
It was from a sustainable farmed algae and not from fish, so it’s from a purer,unadulterated and uncontaminated source. (the best!) It contains no synthetic colors, preservatives, gluten, dairy, yeast or wheat, and it’s non-GMO!

Another great supplement – this one for your kids. The vivaNUTRITION® Probiotics support the ideal balance between children’s good bacteria and otherwise non-beneficial bacteria that resides in the GI Tract. For its Probiotic product, vivaNUTRITION® chose one of the most widely studied probiotic strains, BB-12®, shown in multiple clinical studies to alleviate occasional digestive distress while supporting a child’s natural defenses. Perfectly balanced sweetness and fine powder texture in a single daily serving Ideal to consume as is, in water or in your favorite morning food or drink! (Contains NO synthetic colors, flavors, preservatives, gluten, yeast or wheat; non-GMO).

VivaNUTRITION has a lot of great products including the delish (and healthy) super fiber chia bars available in two flavors!

  • Within each box are 5 super fiber bars of 100% natural goodness.  The unique chocolate-like shape, the moist texture and delicious flavors of the chia bars are especially made for our kid’s enjoyment.
  • The bars come in two versions, the Blueberry & Carrot flavor, and the Raspberry & Red Beet flavor, nutritious snacks with healthy and soothing properties
  • These bars combine protein-rich Chia grains with other natural ingredients such as oats, chicory root, fruits and vegetables, all top-quality sources of Prebiotic dietary fibers and antioxidants parents should want for healthier kids.
  • No added sugars (all sweetness comes from fruits), non-GMO, no gluten, dairy, synthetic colors or flavors

 

 

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Enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance!

 

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