Today is Stamp Out Hunger Day for Letter Carriers Union

Today is the day to leave non-perishable food items in that paper sack your mail carrier has already provided to you. Just put it near your mailbox, and if you don't have their bag then use one of you own, labelled "Stamp Out Hunger Donation."

The National Association of Letter Carriers has been doing this for 18 years - and this year, they hope to break their past records, with a goal to bring in 1 billion pounds of food.

Me? I'm so amazed that my mail carrier - a nice man who promptly brings my mail every afternoon, so dependable you could set a clock by this guy - will be adding all this weight to his already impressive workload.

Think about it. These mail carriers are voluntarily carting bags and bags and bags of canned goods as they walk mile after mile with that heavy mail bag on their shoulder. Wow.

Betty White Hosting SNL Tomorrow Night

This may not be topical for simplifying life, but I gotta do this. I'm a big fan of Betty White -- have been for years. So much so, that I'm very hopeful and somewhat protective of her as she's sorta been drafted to appear live on SNL ... but from the sound of things, it's gonna be great.

Watch Betty White talk about her upcoming appearance as host of SNL tomorrow night:

Flip Flops Can Seriously Injure Your Feet - Beware!!!

Flip flops are fun, and right now they're so popular.  Creative spins on how to make a pair of very basic sandals unique abound - buy them, make them - and they're a great choice of summer foot wear for the whole family. 

Except flip flops can seriously, seriously injure your feet and cause you major pain. 

Dear Reader, it happened to me.  I had a beloved and growing collection of flip flops.  Different colors, shiny, sequined, bowed!  Here in San Antonio, it's perfect flip flop weather -- for almost the entire year, these shoes are a footwear option.  Heck, all year long when you're indoors. 

And, they're so simple.  Not expensive (tho you can pay a high price for some, if you choose to do so).  Unique, creative.  Fun.  And, your pretty toenail polish gets to show itself off, to boot. 

Until last year, when my excessive Flip Flop Fashion resulted in foot pain so intense that I had trouble standing - my mother would have diagnosed "fallen arches."  You may recognize the condition as "plantar fascitis." I had torn ligaments in my right foot by walking for so long in poor footwear.

Choosing Summer Sandals - You Can Have Flip Flops, But You Must Be Picky

Recognizing the greatness of the Flip Flop, the American Podiatric Medical Association hasn't prescribed an outright ban of this type of shoe.  Instead, they've issued a Tip Sheet on which Flip Flops to buy, and they even recommend a brand or two:  SOLE and Orthaheel. 

When I was in such pain (and I'm talking PAIN here, folks - Plantar Fascitis isn't for sillies), Birkenstocks were recommended to me.  I was sold on them the minute I walked - make that hobbled - into the local Birki store, and tried on a pair.  I could feel the support immediately.  Amazing difference. 

I've been sold on Birkenstocks ever since, just from the store experience, but I've gone on to learn much more about the brand.  They originated in Germany back in the 1700s, and they've been around ever since.

Sure, some Birkenstocks are ... well ... ugly.  I love them, but that Arizona model is just Not Cute.  Have horrific foot pain, you don't care.  Get to feeling better, and you miss those Glow-in-the-Dark Floral Flip Flops of old....

Luckily, Birkenstock has come out with a lot of variety, and I'm pleased with the newer versions.  And, I found an online store where I can get Birkis for a great price -- Birkenstocksd.com.    Such great deals that I almost stopped from sharing this link with you Dear Reader -- but that would be wrong.  Right?

Image:  Oasis Flip Flops, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.