Barefoot Books // Giveaway

Jess contacted me about Barefoot Books quite a while ago, so I’m excited to finally share with you more about the company’s adorable books for kids.

Barefoot Books started up in 1992. Their titles are all about having your child “step inside the story.” They carry books for children ages birth to 12 years and up. What I like a lot about these books is that their topics range from the ABCs and 123s to folk tales, world cultures, poetry, and beyond. They also carry more than just books.

Ada’s favorite product that we reviewed? The Yoga Pretzels deck.

I have a similar deck of cards with basic yoga poses, but this one breaks them down into terms kids can understand. Every night, Ada wants to pull these out, go into my yoga nook, and do a few poses. I love seeing her get so interested in something I like -- but I think a lot of it has to do with giving names to the poses like “gorilla”!

Ada’s favorite book we reviewed is Millie’s Chickens.


The art in the book is so whimsical. And beyond just a story about Millie’s chickens, we also get to read all about the different breeds, steps to taking care of chickens, information about eggs, and a lot more. It brings the story to real life and gets Ada asking lots of questions. We actually have been reading this book every day because she likes it so much.

But there are so many more books in the Barefoot catalog. And I think it’s also important to note that the company is big into sustainability practices with its printing and production. For example, the paper in these books does not contain pulp from illegal or unsustainable sources.

Here are some of the Bestsellers.

// GIVEAWAY

Now is your chance to check out Barefoot Books!

The giveaway is for a copy of the Yoga Pretzels deck.

To enter, please browse the digital catalog and leave a comment with the name of your favorite book. You get an additional entry if you order a product by October 31. For a third entry, you can “like” Jess’s Facebook Page (just leave an additional comment below).

Sound good? I’ll announce the winner on November 1st.

// CODES

If you just can’t wait, Jess has included a few codes for you.

Use the code FALL2015 for 20% off your order through October 31st.

If you’re interested in joining Jess’s team, use the code FALLSTART15 for 15% off your starter kit.




GOOD LUCK!

* Disclosure: I was given a few books in exchange for my honest opinions on Barefoot Books.

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Falling In Love with Running . . . Again

Stephen writes today's post -- helping me out while I mend from my injury. Look for more posts from Stephen in the coming weeks and months.

A hypocrite is one who knowingly acts in contradiction of his stated beliefs or feelings, whereas an enthusiast tends to get passionately absorbed in an interest. What am I getting at? A confession: Months ago, I prescribed a rather benign plan for easing into barefoot / Vibram running (in response to the painful aftermath and improvidence of my first experience.) And as you may recall, early September should have marked my first 3 mile Vibram run.

So, what am I confessing? Insanity: performing the same task over and over expecting a different outcome. Luckily, I'm not insane, just enthusiastic! Once the initial pain subsided, I was able to tack on a few 1-2 mile barefoot runs a week. A week later, I began substituting one 4-5 mile maintenance run for one 4-5 mile Vibram run. And now I'm able to run five days a week, banking between 30-35 miles in my Vibrams or bare feet.


Why did I abandon my plan?

I'm an enthusiast. I always have been. I’ve become overzealous for practically every musician, author, or hobby with which I’ve been interested. I've purchased and listened to every Iron Maiden album, read every Ray Bradbury short story, and spend entire summers devoted to oil painting. There is a point, however, where I change interests. Rapidly. My Maiden CDs and albums are now shelved to make room for Joy Division. Likewise, Tim O'Brien short stories boot Bradbury anthologies, and, of course, running boots painting.

A lingering fear of mine is that I might grow tired of running like I did at the end of high school, and at the end of college, and so on. I fear that if I don't have a constant goal, an upcoming race, or a purpose for running, my desire may fade away.


So why did I shed my shoes?

It feels good, for lack of better words. I crave the feeling of the ground against my bare feet -- the instant feedback that communicates smooth, firm, and cold -- the sensation of the earth pushing back. Over the twenty minutes I spent drafting this post, as the late afternoon sun faded behind dark rainclouds, I traded my khakis for running shorts and splashed five barefoot miles through the pouring rain. Eugene Kelly, Curt Kobain influence and Vaseline's frontman says it best:

"It feels so good, it must be bad for me."


But is it bad for me?

If you do too much too soon, yes. If you listen to your body, no. I have to admit, I just finished tending to matching blood blisters on my longest toes. But my steadily improved form and increased cadence (180 steps per minute) compensates for any cuts and bruises I’ve had along the way. After all, skin heals.

Where to go from here? Wherever my newly established goal -- to fall in love with running, again -- takes me.

Are you trying to relight the fire in your relationship with running? Tell us your stories. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Vibrams: Those Funny 5-Fingered Shoes

I bet you're thinking: What's the deal, (never home)makers? Last week, Stephen wrote all about his slow approach to barefoot running in his review (Making the Switch) of the ProGrid Kinvara, Saucony’s new lightweight, minimalist shoe. Why do you now see two spankin' new pairs of Vibrams on our feet?

Well. We've both been incredibly interested to give them a try. I've also been lusting over them in the gallery on Ashley's blog. But after visiting store after store and not finding any in our sizes, our interest had faded. Shortly after crossing the border into Maine, we found exactly what we'd been looking for . . . and on a discount ($10 off each pair!).

A swipe of the debit card later, and we were on our way.


That evening, we took a 3-ish mile walk in them. We didn't do any real running in them for several days. Just walking. Getting used to the feel. But last night, I went wild and ran three miles. It felt amazing. My feet felt free. I'm seriously in love.


Of course, everybody is different. Every BODY is different, too. At first, they felt a little strange. My toes seemed a little long or just not right for the fit. But the shoe adapted. I adapted, too. And -- happily -- my stride has always landed with more of a mid-foot strike, so the low heel doesn't really make me change my form. I was waited to get injured. Waiting for some kind of ill feeling.

It didn't come on the run. So, I thought I'd wake up this morning with major leg and/or foot pain. So far, absolutely no aches at all. At least nothing out of the ordinary. I attribute my success to my usual mid-foot strike, but also because I walk around barefoot a lot (and in tricky sandals).

However, I keep reading and reading that even if you don't experience pain or strange sensations at first, you must ease into wearing them. It's easy to get super enthused about how great they feel, but you need to remember that you're shifting from cushioned running shoes to, well, gloves. I mean, look at the difference between Vibrams and my regular running shoes:




What I read most frequently in my searches is "enjoy, but enjoy with caution." Many excited runners started out like me. They experience a fantastic run . . . then continue on with their mileage -- trying to do Vibrams every time. Then they developed a variety of foot problems. The way I see it, running the barefoot way is like starting a new sport. You're using new muscles, so you truly need to take your time getting used to the new challenges you're putting on your body.

This is a post that is definitely a "to be continued" one. I'm going to go easy on running with them for the next couple days (so, no -- I won't be rocking the Boilermaker 15K in them this Sunday). Take some walks (they're seriously great for just wearing around, too!). Barring any horrifying injuries, though, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship! By the end of the summer, I think it'd be cool to race a 5K in them. That's the goal. We'll see if we get there!


If you're looking for more information and tips about how to get started, check out Ashley's post with all the gooey details. She has some amazing information in there -- including how to not go crazy and go too fast/far too soon.

Who else out there is trying the barefoot running craze? It's definitely the "popular" thing to do right now, but do you think it will stick? Is it all just a fad . . . or is barefoot running genuinely good for form and longevity? Maybe there's a reason we've added all this cushioning over time to our shoes? No matter your opinion, we'd love to know your thoughts. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Making the Switch -- Stephen's Perspective

I'm currently reading Born to Run, Christopher McDougall’s exploration of the life and running habits of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, who are arguably the world's greatest distance runners. And I find myself questioning one of the fundamental principles I’ve come to believe as a long distance runner: the foot must be well protected and cushioned in order to run efficiently and economically.


As a high school cross-country runner, my weekly mileage rarely topped thirty-five, and my weekly long run never strayed beyond ten. Believing in quality over quantity, my coaches made every mile count. I went through pair after pair of Asics DS Trainer X, a fast, neutral training shoe.


Now I'm a twenty-something marathoner, and I’ve increased my weekly mileage from 35 to 55 and my long run max from 10 to 20. Likewise, I’ve increased the cushioning in my shoe and upgraded to the Asics Gel Nimbus, the "Cadillac" of all cushioning shoes. Pockets of pillow-y gel in the heel and alongside the mid made my feet feel safe, comfortable, and protected.


But I’ve wondered: Is wearing pillows of gel on my feet the only way for my body to train for a marathon? How have the Tarahumara Indians and elite Kenyan runners been able to compete and complete such long distances wearing only the soles on their feet?

I’m not saying I want to complete my next marathon barefoot -- at least not yet. However, I am interested in weaning myself off the plush cushioning I’ve relied on and investigating a more natural approach to running.


Enter the ProGrid Kinvara, Saucony’s lightweight, minimalist shoe to help runners ease into barefoot-style running. I write "ease" because the Kinvara isn’t as drastic of a change as the Nike Free series or the Vibram FiveFingers lineup, which allow the foot to flex its full range of motion.

Instead, the Kinvara strips away the hard plastic and gel found in many running shoes and relies solely on spongy foam. What I like most about it, besides its weight -- a light 7.7 ounces -- is the heel height, which is lower relative to the forefoot than a traditional running shoe. This translates to a more articulated mid-forefoot strike, which is arguably more efficient and natural.


After covering over fifty miles in the Kinvara, I’ve felt a significant change in how my body responds to each stride. A pronounced mid-forefoot strike coupled with minimal cushioning means that the force and weight of each stride is absorbed less in the lower leg muscles and more in the body’s best shock absorber, the arch of the foot.

In other words, for the first two weeks, my feet have felt tender and sore since they have been absorbing the extra weight, and my calves have felt tight because of my foot’s increased flexibility and range of motion. Beginning week three, I find my body adapting well and feeling more refreshed and efficient.


Once I run this pair into the ground, I hope to continue my journey of scaling down and enjoying a minimalistic style of running. Who knows, maybe this time next year I’ll be logging long distances in Vibrams!!! But more realistically, I think I’ll make the switch to Nike Free+ this fall. After all, the body is a delicate tool that responds best by making minor adjustments, not sudden jolts.

And my adventure is only beginning . . .


What is your experience with barefoot running? Or maybe not experience . . . but opinion? Seems like another way of running naked to us -- which also seems to be a good thing. We've been enjoying posts like Ashley's series on the Vibrams. But let us know -- what's your take? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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