Skechers Shindigs Women's Boots--a Review

 

Skechers has once again delivered an excellent product. Regular readers of this blog will know I enjoy hiking for recreation and fitness, so when it was time for a new pair of hiking boots, I thought of Skechers. This time instead of ordering from Skechers website directly, these boots came from Amazon. Amazon has a good selection of Skechers Shindigs women's boots at reasonable prices. I was not disappointed.

The chocolate leather Shindigs boots I ordered are lightweight, comfortable and sturdy. Mine go above the ankles for extra support when hiking the trails or walking the dog. The chocolate brown color is great with just about anything. 

The Skechers Shindig line comes with classic rubber-traction outer sole design and a comfy air-cooled memory foam insole. The boots come in shoe-boot height as well as above the ankle like mine and are available in both leather and suede.

Skechers Shindigs Women's Boots Review

It's little wonder that the boots score a 5 out of 5 stars on the Skechers site. That's exactly what I rate them. Five stars for an attractive leather boot that is lightweight, sturdy and comfortable at a decent price. 

Skechers Shindigs Women's Boots *****

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• Skechers Beverlee Delighted with Luxe Foam--Fashion Review
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Solar Gloves to Protect Your Hands & Arms for Summer

Solar Gloves Are an Optional Way to Protect Your Skin in the Summer

Summer is hard on your skin, and that's a fact. Photoaging causes most of the signs of aging to our skin. Dermatologists recommend liberal and regular application of sunscreen during the summer and early fall months to protect your skin from sun damage if you can't stay in the shade. 

Protective Clothing Is a Good Substitute for Sunscreen

However, if you can't stay indoors or under a tree and you don't want to keep up with sunscreen, protective clothing is another option to maintaining healthy skin. Hats, visors, long-sleeve shirts and long pants can protect your skin and so can solar gloves. 

Solar gloves come in many styles, fabrics and colors and provide various degrees of protection for the arms and hands. If you are wearing a t-shirt, long solar gloves will pull up all the way to the sleeve to protect the entire arm. So whether you are working in your garden or working out with a jog or a long hike, solar gloves are one way to keep your hands and arms out of the sun.

Read my review of solar gloves here:

Solar Gloves for Hands & Arms, a Review: While I can't say these solar gloves are fashionable, I can say they have a certain charm to them. More importantly, they cover your arms and...

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Leightweight Levi's Women's Bermuda Shorts for Summer

What's more comfortable on a hot summer day than some lightweight Bermuda shorts? These Bermuda shorts are long enough to protect your upper legs from the sun while still allowing allowing an occasional breeze to cool your lower legs. These Levi's Bermuda shorts are also lightweight enough to make walking, hiking, exercise and sports comfortable. 

Since it's important to get off the couch and get moving for a healthy lifestyle, you might as well enjoy fitness comfortably and in style.

Read my review here:

Cute & Comfortable Levi's Women's Bermuda Shorts--a Review: If you need some new summer shorts, these Levis Women's Bermuda Shorts are cute, comfortable and at $17.96, a decent price. The lightweight...

Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing the link to this article with others. There may be affiliate links in this article that help support us. Thank you for supporting Skin, Health & Beauty this way. 

Women's Skechers Relaxed Fit Reggae Fest Wicker Slip-On Sneakers Review

Summer is the season of outdoor activities: walking, hiking, running to the store, shopping malls, athletic events, festivals and hanging out with friends, If you want your feet to be able to handle a lot of walking in style, these Women's Skecher Relaxed Fit Reggae Fest Wicker Slip-On Sneakers can't be beat for comfort and fashion! 

These stylish shoes are great for 30-somethings and baby boomers alike. I liked them so well, I just purchased a second pair of these comfy shoes in taupe.

Did you know?

The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles.

That's not enough to keep your body healthy and to fight obesity. You can work up toward the recommended goal of 10,000 steps a day by walking more wearing these cute and comfortable shoes.

Remember, if you are walking outdoors, don't forget the sunscreen!

Read my review of these Women's Skechers at the link below:

Women's Skechers Relaxed Fit Reggae Fest Wicker Slip-On Sneakers Review:   The Perfect Shoes for Summer The Skechers Women's Relaxed Fit Reggae Fest Wicker Slip-On Sneakers are the perfect shoes for summer! I hardly ever give a product 5 stars....

Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing the link to this article with others. There may be affiliate links in this article that help support us. Thank you for supporting Skin, Health & Beauty this way. 

Walking -- It's Good for What Ails You!

Unless you have an unusual health issue or injury, walking is just good for you. Walking is obviously good for fitness, but according to numerous articles and studies, walking relieves stress and promotes mental health.

Walking and hiking are both low impact. Low-impact exercise doesn't cause injury to joints. In fact, walking actually helps to increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

According to the American Heart Association, walking also reduces the risk of coronary heart disease; improves blood pressure, blood sugar levels and blood lipid profile; maintains body weight and lower the risk of obesity; reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer; and reduces the risk of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes.

In addition to all these great health benefits, a stroll in your neighborhood is a good way to bond with your spouse, kids or pet, meet your neighbors, and catch a beautiful sunset. So what are you waiting for? Lace up your walking shoes and get out there!

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Recent Health News about Jogging & Hiking

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After an active summer, fall often signals a return to a more sedentary and less healthy lifestyle Summer's last hurrah as kids go back to school brings life back to a more normal rhythm. However, after...

Top three things you need to know about beginner hiking  

Hiking is hobby that almost anyone can enjoy that is both fun and healthy exercise. If you are thinking about joining a hiking group for exercise but have never gone hiking with a group before, you are taking a step...

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Advantages of hiking sticks & trekking poles for hikers & walkers - Nashville Skin. Health & Beauty Examiner

If you have read this blog recently, you know I started using a walking stick the end of 2013 on all my hikes. Here is more information on hiking sticks and poles:

Advantages of hiking sticks and trekking poles for hikers and walkers

While the terms walking stick and trekking pole are somewhat interchangeable, a hiking stick is
usually a singular device used to assist a walker's balance or used as a crutch, whereas trekking poles have traditionally been used to assist hikers with their rhythm and provide stability on rough terrain.

Continued: Advantages of hiking sticks and trekking poles for hikers and walkers - Nashville Skin Care | Examiner

Also see: Why I Always Use a Hiking Pole on Hikes

Why I Always Use a Hiking Pole on Hikes

November 2013 was not just a season of Thanksgiving; it was also the month I injured my hip.

A friend who also leads beginner hikes had joined me to check out a portion of the greenway off Old Harding Pike. After we had walked for about half an hour, it began to get dark, so we turned around to head back to our cars. I don't know if I turned too fast or did an awkward pivot, but within a few steps, I was in such pain I could barely move.

I would take three steps and have to rest. I tried stretching it out; I tried walking in different positions to take the stress off of different points, but nothing helped until we got to a bridge with a handrail. Then I was able to take several more steps before having to rest.

After we crossed the bridge, I soon realized if I had a walking stick to bear part of my weight on the right side, that might help. Before too long, we found a suitable stick in the woods to our right. From that point on, I could take 10 steps before resting as opposed to 3, and the steps were longer and faster than the slight shuffle I had managed before.

When I got home, I immediately began researching walking sticks and hiking poles online. I discovered they come in a variety of styles and prices. For my personal use, I wanted something lightweight and inexpensive.

I found the best price per stick was to buy a pair like the Hikker HP-5 Anti-shock Hiking Pole, 2-pack. The aluminum is lightweight and easy to carry. The extensions allow me to grip the poles at my perfect angle. I usually carry just one, and sometimes I have set it short and used it as a cane, and more recently I have it almost fully extended and just use it as a walking pole. At $25 for the set, each pole cost me just $12.50.

An unexpected bonus was as my hip healed, I was a bit clumsy as my body tried to protect the injured hip. The pole/s help me maintain my balance and keep from turning or falling awkwardly.

Most serious hikers would recommend something more along the lines of this Leki Corklite Trekking Pole, but for my beginner hike needs, I think an inexpensive aluminum stick is just what the doctor ordered. I recommend them highly to those who are injured, out of shape or approaching their senior years, and I plan to carry one when I go hiking for the rest of my hiking days. You don't want to be out in the middle of nowhere and pull a muscle and not be able to get to safety. A hiking pole can make all the difference.

Look for my beginner hikes at HikeNashville and Tennessee Hiking Group.

Related:

• Hiking 101: What is a beginner hike?
• Hiking 101: What is a moderate hike?
• Beginner hikes: Top 10 tips for hiking newbies 
• Getting ready for beginner hikes

My First Hike of 2014

Today I led my first hike of 2014. Not only that, but  it was my first hike since I pulled something in my hip in mid-November.

Of course, I have built up by walking in my neighborhood and local park, but this was my first day back in the Warner parks. I set an easy goal of a mile and a half on the paved roads in an area I knew would be relatively flat -- no sense re-injuring my hip on my first hike! I posted the hike on a couple of boards and had 14 other people show up, so it was a fun outing.

The weather, which has been brutally cold, was picture perfect. I prefer to hike when it is cool, and I felt rejuvenated being outdoors exercising and enjoying nature.

I also had purchased a green aluminum hiking pole (pictured above) which I just love and plan to use on all my future hikes in case my hip or anything else ever starts hurting on a hike again. Better safe than sorry!

I do recommend the hiking/walking sticks to anyone who has had an injury or who is approaching their senior years when things start to pop and pull. The one I got was lightweight, adjustable and under $20. You can find the SE Collapsible Walking Stick for as low as $16 on Amazon.

Hopefully I will build back up to longer trail hikes again, but slower, shorter, flatter hikes have a lot to offer, too. The important thing is to keep moving to stay healthy!

More Hiking Tips:

• Hiking 101: What is a beginner hike?
• Hiking 101: What is a moderate hike?
• Beginner hikes: Top 10 tips for hiking newbies
• Getting ready for beginner hikes
• Top Three Things You Need to Know About Beginner Hiking 
• Why you should consider joining Tennessee Hiking Group
• Join Hike Nashville

Consider a Labor Day hike for a healthy holiday - Nashville Skin Care | Examiner.com

Consider a Labor Day hike for a healthy holiday

Labor Day Weekend is here which for many signals the end of summer. Picnics and pool parties are popular ways to celebrate the break from our labors, but if you are looking for a healthier way to celebrate the holiday, consider a Labor Day hike to get your blood pumping.

Continued:
Consider a Labor Day hike for a healthy holiday - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Getting ready for beginner hikes - Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

This week I officially became an organizer for beginner hikes at Nashville Hiking Meetup. I plan to lead a couple of easy 2 1/2 mile hikes around Edwin Warner Park during August and September and into the fall. However, a beginner hike is NOT where you start getting in shape. For those who want to know more about preparing for beginner hikes, here are three articles I hope will be helpful:

Beginner hikes: Top 10 tips for hiking newbies (Video)

As pointed out in "Getting ready for beginner hikes," signing up for a group hike--even a beginner hike--comes with the assumption that by signing up, a hiker understands any hike will not be a slow stroll...

Getting ready for beginner hikes (Video)

So you have read about beginner hikes and think they sound like a great way to get yourself back in shape after letting yourself go for a while, but that is not necessarily true. Depending on how much you have...

Beginner hikes at Nashville Hiking Meetup (Video)

The Nashville Hiking Meetup has been hosting hikes since Oct 6, 2006. While many of the hikes are quite fast or even strenuous, organizer Kelly Stewart has always encouraged hikes for beginners. There have been regular weekly beginner hikes at...

Full moon hike provides unique exercise opportunity for hikers - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

 

Full moon hike provides unique exercise opportunity for hikers

About 30 hikers had full moon fever July 22, 2013, as members of the Nashville Hiking Meetup joined Michael Hughes of Mountain High Outfitters for the July full moon hike at Edwin Warner Park.

Article at:  Full moon hike provides unique exercise opportunity for hikers - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Join Karl Dean at Mayor's Walk 100 Miles Finale at Centennial Park - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Join Karl Dean at Mayor's Walk 100 Miles Finale at Centennial Park

Nearly 100 people including this Examiner met Mayor Karl Dean's Walk 100 Miles Challenge in 2012. The combined total miles for all the walking participants was over 18,400 miles.

 Article at: Join Karl Dean at Mayor's Walk 100 Miles Finale at Centennial Park - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

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Losing Weight Is Easier than You Think!

I went to the doctor last week and discovered to my delights I weigh 10 lbs. less than I did last year at this time. I have  never owned scales and keep up with my weight just be how my clothes fit.

The weight loss is due to better eating and much more walking, hiking and light jogging over this past year. Now that the holidays are here, the challenge will be to keep it off.

Here are a few of the things I have done right this year:

• Substituted water for at least one sugary beverage a day
• Walked, hiked or jogged 5 or more times a week
• Snacked on natural walnuts and almonds instead of chips and other salty-fatty snacks
• Read the fat and cholesterol labels on all foods before I buy, avoiding high fats and cholesterol

In many ways, I am now in better shape than I was 20 years ago. It is wonderful to be looking ahead to my my senior years planning to stay fit and in good shape.

Between good diet, exercise and skin care, I plan to tackle my older years head on!

Also see: 
Full moon hikers get in shape and enjoy smallest full moon of the year Nov. 28

Full moon hikers get in shape and enjoy smallest full moon of the year Nov. 28 - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Full moon hikers get in shape and enjoy smallest full moon of the year Nov. 28

Fifteen hikers and two canines braved the last chill of November to enjoy the spectacle of a full moon, led by hike leader Michael D. Hughes from Cumberland Transit. November’s full Moon is known as the “Beaver Moon,” or “Frosty Moon.” However, on the night of November 28, 2012, the full moon occurred within four hours of its furthest distance in its orbit from Earth, making it the smallest full moon of 2012.


Article at: Full moon hikers get in shape and enjoy smallest full moon of the year Nov. 28 - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Join Mayor Karl Dean for the “Walk 100 Miles” challenge - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Join Mayor Karl Dean for the “Walk 100 Miles” challenge

For the 14th Annual Walk Nashville Week, Mayor Karl Dean announced the second year for the “Walk 100 Miles” challenge he started in 2011. Dean came up with the concept as a community-wide effort to encourage Nashvillians to improve their overall health. The idea is for Nashville residents to join their friends and neighbors in walking 100 miles in Nashville’s many parks and greenways during the last three months of the year.


Article at:  Join Mayor Karl Dean for the “Walk 100 Miles” challenge - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Full moon hike Sept. 29 combines nature and health - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Hiking is god for your overall health and skin health, and when you do it with a group, it is good for your social health!

Nashville Hiking Meetup with full moon in the background

Full moon hike Sept. 29 combines nature and health

Some forty hiking enthusiasts from Nashville Hiking Meetup joined another 20 or so hikers from Cumberland Transit along with 10 or 12 leashed canine companions to enjoy a full moon hike at Edwin Warner Park at 7:30 p.m. on September 29, 2012. The group met at the Edwin Warner picnic sites off Vaughn Road and began their nocturnal walk up the hill and into the woods.

Article & photos at: Full moon hike Sept. 29 combines nature and health - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Also see:

Nashville Hiking Meetup

Nashville Hiking Meetup enjoys nocturnal Warner Woods Trail hike - Nashville Skin Care | Examiner.com

Nashville Hiking Meetup enjoys nocturnal Warner Woods Trail hike 

Five adventurous nocturnal hikers and two canine friends from the Nashville Hiking Meetup met at the main entrance to Percy Warner Park at Belle Meade Blvd. at 7p.m. on Monday, August 27, 2012 for a Warner Woods Trail night hike.

Find out why hiking is one of the best things you can do for your health at: Nashville Hiking Meetup enjoys nocturnal Warner Woods Trail hike - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Find out how to have healthy skin. Contact skin_and_health@yahoo.com with any questions about skin care or call 615-266-6212. 

Fitness: Nashville Hiking Meetup's full moon hike on Aug. 1 - Nashville Skin, Healthy & Beauty Examiner

At the full moon hike at Edwin Warner Park

This is what my dogs and I do to stay in shape!

Nashville Hiking Meetup's full moon hike on Aug. 1

Ten hikers and three dogs from the Nashville Hiking Meetup met near Shelter 9 at Edwin Warner Park on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 for the Full Moon Hike. Hiking at night was not only a healthy way to exercise -- no one needed sunscreen!

Read it: Nashville Hiking Meetup's full moon hike on Aug. 1 - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Also see: Nashville Hiking Meetup hikes Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Nashville Hiking Meetup hikes Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner

Nashville Hiking Meetup hikes Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park 

The Nashville Hiking Meetup held a night trek for experienced hikers at Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Eight members showed up to hike the 4.5 mile trail that winds through the hollows and ridges of the Harpeth Hills.

Article at: Nashville Hiking Meetup hikes Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner