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Treat Yourself to a Relaxing Pedicure at Home (relax + save your cash) »

Treat Yourself to a Relaxing Pedicure at Home (relax +


Are you looking to treat yourself to an incredibly decadent and enjoyable home pedicure?

Here are the tips you need to make it an exceptional experience. Look no further for instructions because we will walk you through everything you need to know to pamper your precious feet.

You might think that only trained professionals can perform pedis, but you couldn’t be further than the truth. Of course, salon and spa employees and estheticians receive specialty training in these skills, and that education is a fundamental of their success. However, you can quickly learn the basics, and use that knowledge to treat yourself to regular home pedicures at your convenience and within your comfort levels.

It’s always nice to have another person rub and pamper your feet, and you don’t have to give that up. But, you could do well to learn a few of the basics to supplement your spa treatments, to enhance the knowledge you have of your feet, and to make your ankles, feet, and toes feel better thanks to the skills of your own two hands and without having to leave the house.

Benefits Of Home Pedis

Learn how you could be damaging your feet–but not even realize it!
  • You Likely Already Have Everything You Need.

You don’t need to break the bank to get a whole professional-grade set-up for your house. Take a look around at what you already have. Namely, you need a large basin for soaking your little paws, a few towels, plenty of moisturizer, and some handy, clean tools to use on your softened feet.

  • They Are Cheap, Even Free!

    You can easily spend $30-50 a pop or more on professional pedicures at the salon or spa. Of course, you’re worth a million dollars, but perhaps you could find a better use for that moolah and DIY with the same results.

  • You Can Remain In The Comfort Of Your Own Home.

    No need to dress up and hustle about, having to deal with parking and making small talk with strangers. You can stay in your most comfortable lounging pants and get a professional-grade pedicure while listening to your music and eating your favorite snacks.

  • You Can Do It Exactly How You Like.

    Sometimes you leave the salon feeling a bit underwhelmed by the entire experience. No need to be disappointed! Get that water temp perfect for you, let that foot massage run along a little longer, and get that color polished on the entire surface area of each nail bed – just the way you like it.

Step-By-Step DIY Instructions

Start by getting everything you’ll need for your luxurious home spa experience before you put your feet in to soak, or else you’ll miss it later on when you need it!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A large basin for soaking both your feet, water to fill it, a few drops of Castile soap, essential oils, or fractionated coconut oil
  • Two medium-sized clean towels
  • Sterile tools for working on your feet, such as a pumice stone, nail clippers or scissors, a nail file, cuticle trimmers, an orange stick for pushing back cuticles, etc.
  • A moisturizer that you like
  • Nail polish, both colored and clear
  • Toe separators

Now, here’s what you do for your luxury at-home pedicure:

1 – Make a perfect foot soaking tub

Fill the basin with water that is more than warm but not scalding. Ideally, you should be able to comfortably put both feet into the soaking tub at one time, but if your container only fits one foot, you can easily do them one at a time.

Be sure to use a clean basin and clean water, and swap out the water in between feet. The name of the game here is sterility, so you want to start with unsoiled items and to only use clean items throughout the pedicure.

You can opt to add a few drops of Castile soap, a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and/or a squirt or two of fractionated coconut oil to facilitate the process a little. Lavender and Frankincense have relaxing properties, while Tea Tree is a natural microbial and will be useful to zap away foot odor.

2 – Enjoy a pampering, long soak

Place one or both feet into the water and let them soak comfortably for a solid 10 minutes. This step is essential so that the hot water penetrates into the many layers of live and dead skin on your feet and begins to soften everything up.

This step is also important to set a time or mood for your overall experience. This should not be a rushed process, as this time should be calm and enjoyable. Consider putting on some calming music, lighting a candle, and flipping through a magazine while your feet start to melt into the water.

3 – Perform nail and cuticle care

Now is the time to use the tools you have, and let’s emphasize once again how important it is for your devices to be clean and sterilized. This is often the source of the infections you read about in salons, so be sure to wash and thoroughly dry all your tools. What happens is, you might nick your skin on accident, and then it is easier for germs to infect your tiny open wound. However, this is easy to avoid with clean tools and surfaces.

Start with the nail clippers or scissors and take advantage of your now soft toenails by clipping them down. You want to cut straight across and not curve the edges down too much to avoid possible ingrown nails. It’s always better to err on the side of caution because you can file them as well.

Next, use the orange stick or equivalent to gently push back all your cuticles. Since they will be soft and pliable, they will be easy to push back. So don’t break the delicate skin by being too rough. Use your cuticle trimmers to cut off that excess dead skin carefully.

4 – Exfoliate your feet

Take a few moments, if you have a pumice stone, to quickly run it over the surfaces of each foot, paying close attention to the heel, the big toe, and the sides. Then, take one foot out of the water and dry it with a clean towel. Keep the other foot in the basin, and cross your dry ankle over your knee to access it. Adding liberal amounts of your moisturizer, begin to massage your foot and rub it in.

This is a time to really knead that arch, stroke that heel, and rub those toes. Use your thumbs to press into the center of your sole. And then rub the thumbs outward toward the edges of your feet. If something feels good, stay with it, and don’t forget to keep adding the lotion or oil to your hands. Your steamy, slightly damp feet will soak that moisture right up!

When you’re finished with one foot, wrap it up in the towel, and set it down on the ground next to your basin. Bring the other foot up to dry and cross it over your knee, gently sliding the tub away from under your feet, so you don’t accidentally step into it. This water should be discarded when you’re finished, and the basin should be scrubbed with soap and hot water in order to fully sanitize it.

When you’re finished with the second foot, wrap it up in the towel. Feel free to take ample time with this step because your feet hardly ever get this kind of dedicated TLC. Enjoy!

5 – A polished finish

To polish or not to polish? If you’re opting out of nail polish, then you are all set! Think about putting on some nice cotton socks for an hour or so in order to let all that moisture fully penetrate into your skin.

However, if you’re polishing, take the corner of one of your towels and buff each of your nails with it. You don’t want the oils and such from your lotion to affect the polish’s finish and need a dry nail bed.

Gently roll each of the polishes, color, and clear, in between your palms for several minutes each. This practice serves to mix up the lacquer but not add air bubbles. Apply two coats of the color of your choice to each of your toenails. Move from one side of the foot to the other twice. Finally, apply one coat of clear coat on every nail. Take your time, and have a piece of tissue nearby to wipe up any polish that ends up on your skin while it’s still wet.

handwashing
10 Tips for using hand sanitizer and performing handwashing the right way.

6 – Patience, please–don’t bloop your nails

Keep your nails dry and smudge-free by applying toe separators or cotton balls in between each toe. After all your hard work, this is not the time for damages! Wait 15 more minutes before getting up from your chair. Remember, this patience is well worth the wait.

Final Thoughts On Home Pedicures

Use this tutorial tonight, and give yourself the pedicure you’ve been missing. This can become automatic and easy, a real pattern in your life if you’d like! Learn what makes the process easier and better and improve your technique each time you treat yourself.

You’ll discover that this type of pampering is more than a simple treat. It’s required maintenance for our bodies and our peace of mind. There’s always time to perform a little self TLC. You deserve it!

Lifestyle

An Expensive Treat: What Are Truffles?

An Expensive Treat: What Are Truffles?


An Expensive Treat: What Are Truffles?

Truffles have been part of the human diet for a long time: we’ve traced truffle-eating all the way back to nomadic hunters and gatherers. From ancient history on, people have enjoyed truffles as part of countless different cuisines. But what are truffles, anyway? 

You may have seen truffles on menus. You may have even eaten them in various forms. However, the experience becomes even more enjoyable when you learn about these fascinating foodstuffs. 

Whether you love to cook or simply love to eat, we’ve put together the basics about truffles so you can expand your foodie knowledge. Keep reading for answers to your truffle questions!

What Are Truffles and Where Do They Come From?

You may have seen chocolate truffles in fine candy stores before. These confections actually get their name from the true truffle, a type of fungi with a rounded shape. Chocolate truffles share the name and shape, but that’s where the resemblance ends. 

Real truffles grow underground, typically in the shade of specific trees, such as oaks. Certain species of these truffles are beloved as food. Trained pigs and dogs (today, dogs are used more often) help harvest them by sniffing them out from the ground. 

These edible truffles are mostly found in certain regions, which is why they’re associated with the cuisines of France and Italy. You’ll see both black and white truffles on menus, which have very different tastes. 

What Do Truffles Taste Like? 

Truffles have a strong, earthy taste, but black truffles taste stronger than white truffles. Their savory flavor is sometimes described as musky or even gamey. However, many foodies agree that it’s impossible to describe the taste of truffles — you just have to try it for yourself. 

Since truffles are a fungi, many people compare their taste to mushrooms. However, truffles aren’t mushrooms: they’re a different kind of fungi, and they taste different too. They’re richer and earthier than mushrooms, and are used in much smaller quantities because the truffle flavor can quickly overpower a dish. 

Popular Uses for Truffles 

How do people eat truffles?

One of the most common truffle products out there is truffle oil. However, this flavored oil typically doesn’t contain real truffles. Instead, it’s flavored with the same chemicals that are found in truffles. 

For the full experience, you’ll want to track down a dish made with real, fresh truffles — even though they’re expensive. Truffles are often used to add flavor to rice or pasta dishes, but they can also elevate many other simple meals, such as scrambled eggs or steaks. They can also be used to make delicious truffle butter. 

How to Enjoy Truffles at Home

Ready to give truffles a try for yourself?

It is possible to buy fresh truffles in some areas, but they’re very expensive and don’t last long. So, if you want to get a taste of truffles at home, it’s best to look for a truffle oil made with real truffles.

Although high-quality truffle oil can be costly, a little bit goes a long way, so it’s a worthwhile investment. If you’re feeling creative, you can also make truffle butter at home. While most people associate truffles with fine dining restaurants, oils and butters are a great way to recreate the fine dining experience in your house. 

That said, restaurants are always an option for when you want truffles and don’t feel like cooking. For the latest restaurant news, don’t miss our Food + Drink Restaurants section! 

Health

Vaping and Anxiety: Can CBD Oil Help Treat Anxiety?

Vaping and Anxiety: Can CBD Oil Help Treat Anxiety?


Vaping and Anxiety: Can CBD Oil Help Treat Anxiety?

Are you aware of the connection between vaping and anxiety?

Since the legalization of CBD, people have been searching for more ways and easier ways to incorporate this chemical into their daily lives to treat conditions like anxiety and depression.

Keep reading to learn more about how to use CBD oil for panic attacks and treating anxiety symptoms with nothing more than a vaping pen.

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is one of the two main chemicals found in the cannabis plant. The other is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is what alters your mind to make you high.

The branch of cannabis plants that contain THC is often referred to as marijuana whereas CBD comes from hemp. This distinction is important because hemp is legal because plants contain less than 0.3% THC and cannot get you high.

Does CBD Help with Anxiety?

Although the research is still limited, there have been positive results for using CBD to treat anxiety. This is great news because it was previously thought that only products that contained THC could treat anxiety.

One recent study showed that there was a noticeable difference in blood flow to the emotional centers of the brains of people with social anxiety disorder while taking CBD in pill form.

This study and others like it indicate that CBD’s anxiolytic properties are what allows it to decrease the feeling of anxiety in sufferers. The increased blood flow and oxygenation to key areas in the brain alleviate anxiety symptoms.

Other research has found that CBD may increase the body’s production of serotonin. This neurochemical is responsible for many positive feelings and high levels of it help treat things like anxiety and depression.

CBD Vaping and Anxiety

There are many ways to take CBD for anxiety. This includes:

  • Capsules
  • Oil
  • Candies or other edibles
  • Tea
  • Vaping

At this time, there isn’t a standard for how much CBD you should take to treat your anxiety symptoms. For that reason, many have turned to vaping as a way to get as much as they need for their current situation.

All you have to do is add some prefilled CBD cartridges to your vaping pen. Then, you can take it out and vape when you start to feel your anxiety increasing or before going into a situation that makes you nervous.

Because so many people vape now, this is a subtle way to get what you need so you don’t have to worry about being judged by those who don’t understand the numerous benefits of using CBD for anxiety.

What to Do After You Overcome Anxiety

Now you know how vaping and anxiety are connected and how CBD oil can help you overcome this mental illness so you can be the best version of yourself.

If you’re not sure what to do after you begin to overcome your anxiety, keep reading our blog. It’s full of business ideas, tips, and tricks so you can use your confidence boost to change your life financially.