Hydrocolloid Bandages (blister care) [4.5 stars]

I am an avid hiker and trail runner... Recently switched to a new pair of shoes - developed a large blister on my left heel. I tried all the home remedies for "quick blister recovery" (puncturing, draining, neosporin wrapping, etc) and NONE worked; the blister did not go away and pain continued when running or hiking.

I know, the best home remedy: do not use my foot for 7-10 days and it will heal naturally. Well, the rest of my body and my 2 Siberian Husky hiking/running pals did not agree with this remedy. "No pain, no gain," they said; suck it up and hit the trails ;-)

My solution: hydrocolloid patches/bandages for my blister area. I used the Walgreens version, but this review applies to hydrocolloid patches/bandages in general:

The pros:

1. I am running & hiking without pain - these patches are magic!

The cons (why a 4.5 instead of a 5 rating):

1. The patches claim to be "super adhesive" such that you can wear a patch for a week even with daily exercise and showering. The truth: I had to use ace bandaging to keep the patches on for a week (they tend to lose the adhesive power after one day).
2. The patches claim to be "super healing". Well, 10 days in and my blister was still alive & well - something I needed to keep patched whenever exercising.

Summary: hydrocolloid patches will enable you to continue an active lifestyle through any blister situation but you will need to tape them on and only time will heal - just keep it patched and wait.

George Foreman Grill [5 stars]

I have owned George Foreman grills for over a year now. If the following apply to you, then a foreman grill is for you too:

1. You typically prepare meals for 1-2 people (or 1-2 portions) at a time.
2. You love the "fresh grilled" taste of seafood, chicken, turkey or other meat dishes.
3. You hate high maintenance appliances or anything that takes longer to clean than to eat.
4. You love "easy & quick to prepare" meals.
5. You have an interest in preparing heart healthy meals.

All five of these points apply to me and my foreman grill. I cannot imagine how I ever tolerated making (& cleaning) fresh grilled meals without a foreman. In fact, I rarely did prepare anything fresh grilled before I had it.

A tip for meats you put on the foreman: spray each side of your meat with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (or similar spray) and sprinkle any spices for flavoring on top. This spray does 3 things: (1) it keeps meats from any excessive sticking to the foreman; (2) it holds any spices on the meat; and (3) it adds zero fat, cholesterol, sodium or anything unhealthy to your fresh grilled meal.

Dog Chew: Real Antlers [5 stars]

We recently switched from nylabones to deer and elk antlers as a chew toy for our dogs. The change was incredible and I'm left thinking, "why would anyone buy nylabones when you could buy antlers instead?"

What is great about antlers as a chew toy over all other options:

1. Antlers last a lot longer than any manufactured chew toy (nylabones, etc) - the only thing longer lasting is an actual bone. You save money!
2. Antlers have no smell or disgusting/messy animal innards as you get with bones. No mess!

Save money, no mess - what else could you ask for? Well, my Siberian Huskies LOVE them. The youngest is a real chewer and he can render a nylabone unusable in days; he's been working on our current pair of antlers for months!

I cannot recommend it more... If your dog loves to chew, you'll love deer and elk antlers.

505 Southwestern Green Chile Sauce [5 stars]

I am a huge fan of green chiles and the Green Chile Sauce from 505 Southwestern does not disappoint.

The sauce is think and chunky enough to use as a regular salsa. It is rated as "medium" but has a taste hotter than your typical medium salsa (but not as hot as your traditional "hot"). I think the rich green chile flavor gives it this "hot medium" feel.

Another bonus of this salsa: it is low in sodium and has zero grams of fat. If you are looking for a heart healthy salsa, the 505 Green Chile is definitely for you.

As far as pricing, 505 runs middle of the pack at my grocery stores: not expensive but not the cheapest salsa on the shelf. It is, though, the best priced healthy salsa in the stores where I shop.

Book Review: The Blight Way [4 stars]

Patrick McManus was recently recommended to me as an author that may suit my interests; especially his recent set of "Sheriff Bo Tully" mysteries.

The first book I tried was The Blight Way, the first in the Bo Tully series.

Positives: The book was an enjoyable read with very good character development. McManus is known for his western/mountain settings and "modern day cowboy" style of mysteries. This novel lived up to my expectations.

Negatives: The plot was "over-foreshadowed" (if that it a word). I had the outcome determined by the time I was 2/3 of the way through the book as the many foreshadows made it easy to piece together the conclusion.

Summary: Despite the less than surprising ending, the book was well-written and an enjoyable read. I will try another book by McManus and hope for a little more unpredictability as the book develops. I have been told The Double-Jack Murders may be the best in the Bo Tully series, so I will give that one a go next.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment [4 stars]

I live in the high country of the Colorado mountains - over 9,000 feet elevation and very dry air. The only "drawback" I have encountered about living in the mountains: my heels dry and crack. This is exasperated by the fact that I am an active trail runner (summer) and cross country skier (winter) - an activity regime that stresses my feet, increases the heel cracking and leads to some pain if not corrected.

The solution: apply aquaphor healing ointment to my heels 1-2 times a day. When done regularly, the cracking all but disappears.

When I forget to apply (as happens to all of us ;-) - I remember when I feel a slight heel pain. Within about 1-2 days of re-applying, the pain goes away and the cracking begins to repair.

The only thing that makes this a 4-star, instead of 5-star, product for me: it takes a few weeks of daily application to get the cracking completely under control. I wish it worked faster, thus the 4 star rating.

McDavid Ankle Braces [5 stars]

I broke one ankle while in college, I severely sprained the other multiple times, I love to go trail running in the mountains with my dogs, I am over 40 - my ankles are FRAGILE compared to what I subject them to. What to do...

I discovered McDavid Ankle Braces about 8 years ago - these braces are a lifesaver! I have used both the Neoprene and Cool Flex varieties with great success. Once on, your foot fits naturally in your standard shoe (i.e., no reason to increase your shoe size) and you have the protection of a professional taping.

While trail running in the mountains, I have hit numerous "rock surprises" and kept on going. I am convinced most of these would have crippled me, with a severe sprain at least, had I not been wearing my McDavid braces.

So, slip on a McDavid brace and take your fragile ankles anywhere you please, you will be amazed at the comfort and stability these give you.