When gift giving, I pride myself on finding the most perfect gift- you know, something that the receiver didn’t even know they wanted (or needed) until they open it. This can be quite a chore at times and I can spend hours on end searching for these items. With only a few weeks left before Christmas I find myself frantically trying to finish up my holiday shopping. One gift I still need is a grab bag gift.

Every year my extended family does a grab bag where every person brings a gift and then we draw numbers to see who gets to choose a gift first. The next person in line can then steal any gifts that have already been opened or choose an unopened item from the grab bag items. If they decide to steal an open gift the person they steal it from gets to take another turn and either steals a gift or chooses from the unopened pile. As you can imagine, this family tradition can get pretty intense as each person is vying for the best prize. Each gift can only be “stolen” up to 3 times. This swapping frenzy continues until everyone has a gift, so as you can imagine some years this has taken hours…

Each year my goal is to bring a gift that anyone would like (easier said than done, right?!). I prefer that my gift is one of the most popular gifts, or one that is stolen the most throughout the grab bag process. This year I decided to put together a basket of Heartland Foot and Ankle products to pamper my gift recipient’s feet. My favorite item will be included: a foot roller that massages tired feet, loosens up tight muscles, helps with inflammation, and relives pain! Anyone can use it- its small enough to fit in a purse, bring on trips in the car, plane, or train, or even use while seated at your desk.  Also included will be a BioFreeze roll on to relieve all their aches and pains, hands-free.  This will be great for many of my Aunts and Uncles who suffer from arthritis and joint pain.  There will be a pair of aertex copper sole socks because many of my family members have sweaty smelly feet.  These socks naturally wick away sweat and they’re anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.   Aloe Grand Crème will hydrate their skin and lock in moisture, with vitamins A and E as well as aloe vera. My other favorite, Dr. Remedy’s nail polish, will be included in Focus Fuchsia, a very popular color that looks great on fingers or toes.  Among all of the candles, martini glasses, and cocoa mixes, there will be on very unique basket of fabulous foot fixers that anyone is sure to enjoy!

Last year citizens around the world watched as Chilean miners were trapped underground for days.  The mine that imprisoned the workers is located deep in a desert in Chile, South America, one of the driest and harshest regions on earth.  The buried men, who became known as "Los 33" ("The 33"), were trapped 2,300 ft underground.  In addition to the obvious threats- dehydration and starvation- these miners were victim to another hazard that many would not automatically think of...

These miners were victim to a very warm and humid setting, which is an ideal environment for fungi and bacteria to flourish in.  Thirty six days after being trapped, all the miners received socks with copper in them to protect and eliminate fungi, bacteria, and odor.  If the miners had no protection, they would have likely ended up with severe infections causing pain, itchiness, discoloration, perspiration, and irritation.  Both their skin and nails were at risk for infection.       

All miners emerged from the tragedy with clean feet, free of bacterial and fungal infections despite the damp humid environment.  Dr. Juan Carlos Mellibovsky, head of the dermatology department at the Copiapo Regional Hospital, had the following to say:

“I was the physician responsible for performing an initial examination and following treatment for each of the 33 miners rescued from the San Jose mine in Chile. I am convinced that these socks containing Cupron technology played a major role in protecting the miner’s feet from developing fungal and bacterial infections.”

Here at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates, we are proud to carry the product that protected the Chilean 33 from dangerous infections.  Our Aetrex copper sole socks are unsurpassed in comfort, performance, and protection, as proven by this valiant story.  Copper sole technology has been lab tested and clinically proven to help prevent bacteria, fungi, and odor as well as improve skin texture and appearance.  The copper ions, which are imbedded in the yarn, are guaranteed to last for the life of the sock regardless of repetitive washes and wear and tear.

To see and purchase the sock that shielded the Chilean 33, stop by Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates.  We carry the copper technology in 5 styles:

1. Athletic, crew or low cut, black or white
2. Non-binding, crew or low cut, black or white
3. Compression, available in 5 different colors
4. Dress, crew or ankle, black, brown, khaki or navy

Click here to see pictures of the miners feet after recovery.

I’ll admit it- I enjoy fashion and keeping up with the latest trends (what girl doesn’t?!). My newest “obsession” is painting my fingernails. I have always polished my toenails in the spring and summer, but recently I have taken to keeping my fingernails pretty also. I like that polished fingernails can be seen year round, unlike your tootsies which are packed away in closed toed shoes in the winter. This past summer my “go to” nail color was electric pink, but in the fall I like to do more neutral and darker shades. Last winter my favorite color was a charcoal gray.

A few weeks ago I was watching a fashion segment on the Today show and was informed by Ann Curry that the hot polish color for this fall was navy blue.  Besides being pleased that I was aware of a hip new trend before all my friends knew about it, I was SUPER excited because Dr.’s Remedy enriched nail polish just came out with Noble Navy- a sea-at-dusk shade that reflects light and brings dimension to tips and toes alike- a.k.a. NAVY BLUE, this fall’s hot color!

As the self-acclaimed fashionista that I am, I didn’t want to sport just 1 polish shade all winter.  I love my old faithful charcoal grey, but it was NOT a Dr.’s Remedy polish, so it contained a bunch of  nasty chemicals that could harm my skin, nails, and even my health.  Lucky for me, Dr.’s Remedy had my NEW favorite shade- Healing Heather Grey. This seductive pewter shade has even more dimension and shine than my old charcoal grey, so I was more than happy with the change. 

I have begun transitioning ALL of my favorite colors to Dr.’s Remedy polish.  I’m excited to announce that along with my old favorites like Purity Pink, Blissful Bronze, and Peaceful Pink Coral, Dr.’s Remedy has a new holiday line filled with seasonal shades to enchant, inspire, and ignite.  They have managed to bottle up holiday cheer with 5 shades that are rich, riveting, and radiant.   

The JOLLY & JOY collection of Enriched Nail Polish includes:
REVIVE Ruby Red: A shimmer-infused, Wizard of Oz-inspired shade of crimson.
SERENE Silver Glitter: A seasonal sizzler like no other; shine, chic, totally unique in
the metallic scene.
RESOLUTION Red Glitter: A red-meets-copper spin that's sequin-look-alike laden
with high-shine and sparkle.
ESSENTIAL Emerald: A take on the classic tree-and-plant-inspired gem of a shade,
with delicate glimmer and unparalleled amounts of glamour.
PASSION Purple: A bombshell-boysenberry with subtle silver meshed throughout.

So Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail polish now has me covered for every season throughout the year!  Stop by Heartland Foot and Ankle today to pick up some holiday cheer that is GOOD for you!

Outwit, outplay, outlast.  Families across the world instantly recognize these legendary words as the ‘slogan’ for the reality television game show Survivor.  Survivor has been a hit for over a decade with a whopping 23 seasons aired in the U.S.

As a foot care professional, I have 1 major tip for surviving Survivor - or being stranded on any desert island for that fact- wear comfortable, breathable shoes!  Regardless of whether you’re collecting fire wood, climbing a rock wall, or dragging puzzle pieces through a mud pit your body works from the feet up.  Your feet have to support and stabilize every other part of your body.  When your feet hurt, everything hurt!      

Many survivors have worn tennis shoes to compete in.  These are okay but most tennis shoes take a long time to dry out after getting wet (and doesn’t Jeff Probst ALWAYS make you jump out of a boat or something?).  For this reason Keen or Tevas sandals are a good choice.  They provide support, protection, and stability, while still allowing you to transition from water to land.  I would recommend getting Keens or Tevas with a back strap to give you even more support. 

Now that you know what shoes you can survive in, let’s talk socks!  You will need a well-cushioned sock for proper reinforcement.  Copper socks are a great choice because they wick away sweat.  They also prevent bacteria, fungi, odor, as well as improve skin texture and appearance.  Just think of the fungus and bacteria in our homes, let alone in the wild- your feet need to be protected!

Remember, a trip to Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates can help you be the sole survivor.

Dipping into a new shade of nail polish before slipping into sandals is a quick and easy way to update your summer look. Vibrant oranges, blues, greens, and purple can be spotted everywhere. Metallics, like gun-metal gray for the bold or concrete hues for a more conservative look, continue to be hot for summer. Neutrals and nudes are classic yet fresh, letting you tame down this summer’s bright and bold prints while matching every outfit. But did you know that most regular nail polish can actually harm your nails – and maybe even your health?

Who would think that the very stuff we put on our nails to make them look good might actually end up making them look worse?  Some of the scary stuff in regular polish – which may account for the strong smell – includes:  formaldehyde, a chemical that has been proven to cause cancer; DBP, a potential developmental and reproductive toxin that has been linked to birth defects and is banned in Europe; and toluene, a chemical the EPA restricts in our drinking water.

 Luckily, there are some new doctor-formulated polishes that are not only a safe alternative but will actually help your nails look better than ever.  These polishes, which are only available in a doctor’s office, contain NO chemicals, so they are a great choice for pregnant women and children.  They also include natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial ingredients, to prevent infections that tend to be more common in the summer (especially fungal – yuk!) These polishes also contain vitamins and wheat protein, to promote stronger nails and naturally increase shine.  

These natural formula polishes come in two dozen colors, so you should be able to find one that matches your skin tone and mood. One of the newest trends is the cracked look. When applied, it “cracks,” giving a two-toned effect against the base color. But just in case you have a go-to summer color you can’t live without - no need to sacrifice.  You can wear the doctor formulated natural basecoat under your salon brand to still protect your nails and encourage healthier growth. There is also an acetone-free polish remover.

Whether you spend time in the spa or are a do-it-yourselfer, top your toes with a nail polish that offers the latest colors and styles along with a safer blend that helps keep you and your toes in tip-top shape.

For this season’s safest and trendiest options, stop in Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates during office hours or call 309-661-9975 or schedule an appointment.