Good morning, Mini-Women! Loved your posts yesterday -- everything from great suggestions for nail polish colors to a major protest against glamor! It's the BEST -- because you're all showing that who you are is just exactly beautiful enough. You're totally getting it! Some of you should definitely be in the nail-polish-naming business -- "Dazzling Purple" -- "Pleasantly Purple" -- "Loquacious Lavender" -- and my personal fave, "Lots of Latte", although I'd be too tempted to drink it. Right alongside you was our new commenter, Anna Solomon, who speaks for many of you when she says having your hair all spirally up and wearing make-up is pure torture. (Have you read the Lucy books, Anna S.? I think you'd love them!) Yes, Anna, it is PERFECTLY okay to stick to your straight hair and freckled face and no make-up at all (and Caitlin agrees). The whole point of our Beautiful You series is to help you find out exactly what YOUR own PERSONAL beauty is and go with it -- anything from glamor nails to a quick face wash and a ponytail. Don't you just love that there are so many ways to be a girl?
That applies to feet, too. You may be as into taking care of your piggies as my great-nephew Landen (I have about ten pictures of him doing this!), or you may be thinking, "Toenails? Do I HAVE toenails?" And yet even the most anti-manicure among you have said that painting toenails is a lot more fun than fiddling with your fingernails, especially now that we're into sandal and barefoot weather. So let's do a quickie look at basic foot care.
You pretty much tend to your feet the same way you do your hands, with a few special variations:
* Since toenails are tougher than fingernails, trim them with clippers instead of trying to file them.
* It's better to cut your toenails straight across instead of making ovals. Otherwise, you can get ingrown toenails -- which belong in the Major Owie Department.
* While you're doing your weekly manicure, soak your feet in warm water to soften them up
* Then use the pointed thing on the nail clippers to clean out the dirt from under your toenails. You think your FINGERNAILS get icky . . .
* If you're going to polish your toenails, put pieces of cotton between your toes to spread them out. That way you won't get polish all over them.
I think one of the reasons toenails are more fun to paint than fingernails is because you can do it for each OTHER. Ever had a toenail-painting contest at a sleepover, where you choose a partner and you paint each other's toenails using as much imagination as possible and then compare? It's TOO fun -- and being a girl is supposed to be a blast. Of course, if you would rather be bound and gagged than paint somebody's toenails, that's okay, too!
While we're on the subject of feet, let's talk a little bit about foot funkiness -- the things that make feet a nuisance.
* WARTS. Although they're not anybody's best look, they're harmless and usually go away by themselves. You can try treatments from the drug store, but it still takes a while for them to shrivel up. A wart on the bottom of your foot is called a plantar wart and can realy bug you. A doctor can "Freeze" that off. Oh, and BTW, frogs and toads don't give you warts, so go ahead and chase them on these warm summer nights!
* SMELLY FEET. Yeah, that can get stinky. Once they start to reek, the only thing to do is wash them. To PREVENT the pee-yew every time you take off your tennies, wear socks made of natural fibers, avoid plastic tennies, sprinkle baking soda inside stinky shoes and leave them over night, and wear sandals or flats instead of sneakers as much as you can when the weather's hot.
* HURTING FEET: If you get a lot of blisters or you can't wait to take your shoes off, you're probably wearing shoes that don't fit well. Your feet are growing right now, so have your feet measured every time you go shopping for shoes. And don't beg for the pair you love if the store doesn't have your size. BTW, if your feet are bigger than your mom's, don't freak. Women's feet are commonly larger now than they were even a generation ago. Some of the most beautiful women in the world have slipped into a size nine or larger.
* THE BATTLE OVER HEELS. If you want higher heels now and your mom won't let you .. . . listen to her. Three-inch heels when you're ten are right up there with the long fake nails and the heavy eye shadow. You're going to loook like you're playing dress up with your mom's shoes. Besides, high heels throw your spine completely out of line and cause all kinds of problems with hips, knees, and even necks. They're cool for special occasions as you get older, but never for all day. Be part of the generation that says, "We will NOT walk around around on stilts! We will take care of our bodies!"
* BETWEEN THE TOE FUNGUS. That's called athlete's foot, even if you aren't into sports. To avoid it, wear flip-flops when you take a shower in a locker room or at a pool, since that's where we usually pick up the fungus. Dry your feet really well after a bath and don't wear the same shoes all the time. If you do get athlete's foot, start treating it with a powder, spray, or cream you can get at the drugstore. It won't go away by itself, and who wants itchy feet 24/7?
That's it -- that's all there is to it. Whether you want a butterfly painted on your big toenail at all times or you just don't want to drive everybody out of the house with your stinky feet, that's foot care. Today, go to your beauty chart and under WEEKLY add "clean under toenails" and "clip toenails". In your HANDS AND FEET section of your Beauty Book, write down any of the instructions above that apply to you. Your Beauty Book is almost done!
Want to post today? See if you can find a reference to FEET in the Bible. I know of at LEAST seven -- and I know there are tons more. Oh, and don't forget you have two more days to send in or email your wardrobe pictures, drawings, or descriptions. I'm LOVING what I've received so far! You are a beautiful group of mini-women!
Blessings,
Nancy Rue
Oh I know! In the new testament where Jesus was washing the disciples' feet!
Posted by: Abbie | June 25, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I Love it!
~Isabelle~
Posted by: Isabelle | June 25, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Ooh! Psalm 40:2.
Posted by: Caitlin | June 25, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Yes! I absolutely LOVE the Lucy books! They are my fav-or-ite, no joke. she's exactly like me in so many ways. but i'm more into basketball.
Romans 16:20--The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (NLT)
so we can crush Satan? That's AWESOME!!!
Posted by: Anna Solomon | June 25, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Psalm 36:11
Posted by: Olivia | June 25, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I am going to have to look in my bible tonight FOR a verse! I am lovin' this BEAUTIFUL YOU Thing! Ms. Nancy, what's the next thing called after BEAUTIFUL YOU?
Posted by: isabelle | June 25, 2009 at 01:35 PM
I have some problems with my feet because I dance, and I'm on pointe. Plus, you forgot a feet problem, bruised toenails :p I got a bruised toenail a few monthes ago from pointe and it really hurt! Finally the toenail fell of and a normal one grew in it's place. I love painting my toenails! Now for the bible reference...I'll have to look something up later!
Posted by: Melody | June 25, 2009 at 01:48 PM
In the Bible, a woman with a bad reputation anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and washed them with her tears. That's really fancy!
Posted by: Katie | June 25, 2009 at 03:32 PM
hey this is the same Anna BTW, only i took off my last name! in the Bible it says the clouds are like dust beneath his feet...not sure where tho...
Posted by: Anna | June 25, 2009 at 04:03 PM
His as in God's. sorry, 4got 2 explain myself!
Posted by: Anna | June 25, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Love this blog!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sariah | June 25, 2009 at 04:53 PM
In the Bible Jesus washed the disciples feet... That is teaching us to be a servant to people! Jesus came tO serve us(washing our feet) therfore we should serve on another! ~Isabelle~
Posted by: Isabelle | June 25, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Melody, just reading your comment I'm on pointe and well... this year I take pointe with the older girls so it's really hard. I have blisters(break out the toetape) and bruises all the time! I did have a friend that had an ingrown toenail that had to be removed because of pointe... ! It's harder (much harder) than it looks.... :)
Posted by: Isabelle | June 25, 2009 at 06:00 PM
Hey, I take pointe also! You have to cut your toe nails a certain way, however. They can't be too long at all (there can be almost no white) or too short, or too rounded. I just took class yesterday and was about to die because, though standing on your toe alone isn't that bad, standing on your toe nail is!
I've read your books for a while and I absolutely love them! I just recently got into blogging and reading blogs, and now that I've thought to look you up, I'm folowing religiously! Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Tori Tj | June 25, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Luck-y...I have a long way to go until my feet are nearly strong enough for pointe. Um, feet...in Psalm 110:1 it says "...I [will] make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Just please don't go stand on your little sister because that's not what it means!
Posted by: Veronica | June 25, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Doesn't it say somewhere that Jesus will crush Satan under his heel or something? And they put nails through Jesus's feet when he was on the cross, and of course when he washed his disciple's feet... And in Psalm 77:19 it talks about footprints - does that count?
Posted by: Erika | June 26, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Anna, I did a post about "The dust beneath his feet" a while ago on my blog post...http://girlz4godrok.blogspot.com/2009/04/dust-beneath-his-feet.html
Luv,emii
Posted by: emily | June 26, 2009 at 03:36 AM
Wow Erika, you found a lot of foot stuff! There are a lot of foot references in the Bible!
Posted by: Veronica | June 26, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Hi again
Posted by: Veronica | June 26, 2009 at 01:05 PM
There are alot of foot references in the Bible... I wonder if God made feet for us to learn something! I think feet are a great way for people to learn more about God!
Posted by: Reagan | June 26, 2009 at 01:15 PM
does any1 know why Nancy hasnt done a new blog 2day? i'm pratically dying w/ out it! :,(
Posted by: Anna | June 26, 2009 at 01:25 PM
hey emii, i went 2 ur blog...i <3 christy miller! i own all of them :)
Posted by: Anna | June 26, 2009 at 01:31 PM
I certainly don't know, Anna...I am dying too!
Posted by: Veronica | June 26, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Maybe she's working on finding winners for the wardrobe contest, which ends tomorrow... that must be hard work since I'm sure all the entries are great!
Posted by: Katie | June 26, 2009 at 06:09 PM
BTW, I am leaving for vacation tomorrow so I will not get to talk to you guys for a whole week...agony! This is my FAVORITE site. Plus, I will have a lot of reading to do to catch up but I will see you guys next week! Yeah, all the entries should be awesome.
Posted by: Veronica | June 26, 2009 at 07:50 PM