Now that winter is over and you're putting away your thick socks, you might notice that your feet aren't in the greatest shape. Whether it's because you've been wearing heavy shoes to protect your tootsies from the snow, or because you've been hitting the treadmill all winter, it's entirely likely you're dealing with some serious calluses and other ickiness. However, you don't have to spend a fortune at the spa for an elaborate treatment -- there are plenty of ways to get your feet in shape at home!

First of all, remove any nail polish remaining on your toenails -- use a cotton ball to get it all. Then, soak your feet in hot (but not uncomfortably hot) water. You can add Epsom salt, a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil, or any sort of scented soak you like -- go with citrus or minty fragrances to invigorate, or to relax, choose something like lavender or chamomile.

Clip and file your toenails as desired, but be careful not to go too short too quickly. If you have dirt under your nails (hey, it happens!), use a birchwood or orangewood stick to gently remove it. Then, you're ready to really get to work on those calluses and rough skin, which is where the right tools and products make all the difference.

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Unless you're recession-proof wealthy, currently dating "The Biggest Loser's" Bob Harper or Jillian Michaels, or run NCAA track, most of you are probably solo when it comes to diet and fitness. From the doctor, the nutritionist, the trainer and emotional motivation/support, here's how to gather your Weight Loss Dream Team without plunking down big bucks.

• Should a Doc Kick Your Wheels or Not? -- Visiting the doctor before starting a fitness program depends on your age, overall health, possible disabilities and how much weight you need to shed, says the LA Times. Check out their sensible advice, and if you're seriously obese, a comprehensive obesity center might be the best bet.
• The Nutritionist -- My only run-in with a dietitian was a bad experience. She was some state-paid employee asking me questions about my newborn son's nutrition in the third person, like I wasn't even in the room. "Does mom nurse or bottle feed?" I should have replied, "Does dietitian know my name?" Bad memory aside, expert nutritional advice is critical to point your DIY diet in the right direction. Check out these resources. Love CalorieKing, and don't miss this free Healthy Eating Plan tool over at Ask the Dietitian.
  
• Virtual Training -- Hiring a personal trainer is expensive. Have you ever considered training online or over the phone? Here's the lowdown, four reputable places to start, and smart tips to make sure you're not being coached by some out-of-shape Joe in a faded bathrobe talking to you from his couch.

Don't forget to surround yourself with support -- there's no "i" in Dream Team.

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I was making out a grocery list the other day and realized we were almost out of peanut butter. We don't make many peanut butter sandwiches around here, but celery with peanut butter is one of my son's favorite snacks. Even though I know most major brands of peanut butter aren't on the growing list of recalled peanut products, I have to admit that I paused. The whole salmonella scare is enough to put a person off peanut butter entirely.

Planet Green has a great solution; make your own peanut butter. Not only does DIY peanut butter eliminate any worries about salmonella, it also means you control the ingredients -- there's no partially hydrogenated oil in sight! All you'll need is shelled and skinned roasted peanuts, honey, sea salt and peanut oil. Homemade peanut butter lasts about two months when sealed in an airtight container.

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This time of year, I don't know of anyone who couldn't use a little pick me up. We're all a little tired, slightly stressed, and unfortunately, it shows.

I know lots of folks who take a day and head off to the spa, but that's a little pricey for my taste. Plus, when you go to the spa, you're relying on their products and their ingredients, many of which might have more artificial ingredients than you'd really like.

My suggestion? Set aside a little time this holiday break for yourself (think of it as a gift, if you must) and take advantage of one or two of the all-natural, DIY beauty tips in the gallery. You'll feel better, which will help you look better, which is definitely a bonus when everyone starts snapping pictures around the Christmas tree.

Do you know you can decaffeinate your own tea? Family Circle senior editor Gay Edelman does it. And in the October 2008 magazine, she tells readers all about it. Here's what she has to say.

Since 80% of the caffeine in tea is released within the first 30 to 45 seconds of steeping, it's easy to decaf your own tea, says Edelman. Just pour boiling water over the tea leaves or bag, wait 30 seconds, then discard the water. Final step: Brew with fresh hot water -- and enjoy.

Edelman says she can try all sorts of healthy tea flavors with her decaf trick, and she never needs to worry about the jitters. Got any of your own DIY food or drink-related tricks? Do share.

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Most women are familiar with body scrubs, even if they don't use them. Scrubs are designed to get rid of dead skin and rough patches, leaving you with skin that's smoother, healthier-looking, and more radiant.

However, certain types of scrubs are great for your body, but not your face -- and vice versa. Additionally, if you're working on a particularly dry, scaly area of skin, like your elbows or your heels, you need a whole other level of scrubby goodness to get the desired effect.

Check out the gallery to get schooled in Body Scrubs 101. There's a little homework involved in the form of DIY scrubs, but don't worry -- a successfully scrubbed post-bath body is all you need to get an A!

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Most of the gum available on the market today is made from synthetic materials, and, while that isn't necessarily a problem for many of us, it might be a bit disconcerting for folks who strive to eat as naturally as possible.

Glee Gum is one of the few chewing gums available made from chicle, the original source of gum. The use of chicle in chewing gum goes back to the late 1800s, but aside from being historically interesting, this natural gum has another benefit -- chicle is still a very important part of the economy in many rainforest areas. It's harvested by cutting into trees just deep enough to release the sap, but not so far as to cause any permanent damage to the trees, allowing these parts of the rainforest to be profitable without being cut down.

This gum is made from all natural ingredients and comes in a variety of flavors -- in fact, there's even a "Make Your Own Gum" option, which could be a fun project to do with your kids. Glee Gum contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or sweeteners, so if you want to chew on something you can feel good about, this might be just the thing!

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If you missed our daily postings this past week, we invite you to take some time to catch up on our prior week's news and gear up for a new week of healthy living information and inspiration.

Summer's clock is ticking louder every day. In some states, kids will be starting school next week, while others won't begin until after Labor Day. Either way, it's clear that autumn is on it's way. Get the most out of these last few weeks and enjoy a few of this past week's posts:

• Kristen asks the question: Are you guilty of obnoxious gym habits? (And if so, can you please stop?)
• Debra shows you how to save money with DIY energy bars... yum!
  
• Chris shared three ways to keep your backside bikini-ready through this last month of summer... and beyond.
• Find out why Kathy Griffin has given up plastic surgery for good.
• Got a kid going back-to-school? Find out which cereals are the healthiest for kids.
• Jacki asks the question: Would you sport a milk mustache?

Have a great week everyone!

As a family, we like to get outdoors and enjoy natural surroundings. But there's one part of nature that we don't enjoy -- bugs. Whether buzzing in your ear or nibbling at your ankles, bugs can quickly ruin an outdoor activity. There are plenty of bug repellents out there -- effective ones at that -- but if spraying yourself or your family down with chemicals isn't your style, consider this homemade insect repellent bar instead.

You'll need to gather a few items, some likely from a health food store, but after that, putting the bar together is fairly quick. I'd make several at once, I think, then store them in handy places like the car, my backpack, the beach bag, etc. Though I'm certain a homemade bar won't repel bugs as well as a chemical spray, the peace of mind you'll get from using something natural and non-toxic might be worth a bite or two.

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Keeping a food diary is a proven way to help people take off the weight, teaching portion control and accountability. Though you can buy a food journal online, you don't need to, and a pre-made food diary won't be customized to your unique needs. Instead, why not try making one yourself?

About.com has some simple instructions for making your own food journal, including pages that you can print out and put into a three-ring binder. BBC also has printable pages that you can use to make your own food diary. And Celiac Travel has some examples of a homemade food diary done on Excel (though hers is for food allergies, not weight loss).

One thing to keep in mind when you start tracking your intake is that less is more. It's a big commitment, writing down everything you eat, so pick just one or two things to start. For instance, maybe you want to count calories or track your fruit and vegetable servings. As you get more experience, your tracking will become more sophisticated, and soon you'll be tracking "pounds lost" as well!

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When little Millie Kelly was born, she was diagnosed with gastroschisis, a condition where the intestines (and sometimes other organs) develop outside of the abdomen. During surgery to correct the defect, her kidneys started to fail.

Infants, particularly tiny infants like 6-pound Millie Kelly, are too small for traditional dialysis machines. So Millie's physician, Dr. Malcomb Coulthard on Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary in the UK, together with senior children's kidney nurse, Jean Crosier, came up with a plan for a smaller version. And then, Dr. Coulthard built the machine in his garage.

After seven days on the machine, Millie's kidneys were able to recover. Today she's a happy two-year-old and her mother describes her as "fit as a fiddle." The homemade machine is still in use, but Dr. Coulthard hopes for a professionally assembled version to replace it soon.

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For years, Gatorade has been promoting its electrolyte-based drink as the athlete's choice. When we exercise, we lose a great deal of these body salts in our sweat, making their replenishment almost equally important as fluids. This is where Gatorade (and in recent years, Powerade) has excelled over other so-called sports drinks, and probably why most football coaches don't have tubs of Ensure dumped over their heads.

But in an ever-changing economy, many people find their disposable income to be less and less worth spending on things like sports drinks (that's assuming there's any disposable income to speak of at all). So, if you'd prefer to tuck your money away for what you consider to be more worthwhile things than electrolyte-replacing sports drinks, you can always make your own version of it at home.

Men's Health magazine suggests the following DIY recipe for a Gatorade-like, isotonic drink:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 large pinch of salt

While it may not taste as good as Fierce Berry or Frost Glacier Freeze Gatorade, it should still provide you with approximately the same replenishment as those more expensive drinks.

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All drinks taste better when you make your own straws, say the folks at thinkgeek.com of their DIY Drinking Strawz. Intended for adults, I imagine, these straws -- you buy the parts, then put together at home -- made an appearance in the April issue of kids magazine Wonder time. No doubt, this contraption could be pretty cool for the little ones in your life.

Wonder time suggests you use the DIY Strawz for this refreshing watermelon drink. Feel free to substitute another fruit for the melon if you wish.

• Puree two cups diced watermelon and two cups water in blender
• Pour into pitcher
• Stir in another cup of water -- or more to best match your taste
  
• If not sweet enough for you, add 1/8 cup sugar
• Chill for one hour
• Pour over ice and serve

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As much as I enjoy splurging from time to time on pricey beauty products, I also really like trying out simple, DIY beauty items. Not so long ago I wrote about home-made hair care -- using foods like mayonnaise and beer to soften and brighten your hair. I think what I like about at-home beauty is that, since the tips are usually cheap, barring any major disasters you can figure out which products you like without having to waste a tonne of money on stuff that turns out to be not so great.

I was pretty excited to find this list of 10 great budget beauty products that you can make at home. They're all really simple, containing only a few ingredients each. In addition, a number of the 'recipes' include a lot of the same ingredients -- like essential oils and rubbing alcohol, so you only have to buy a few things and can still try most of the ideas. All you need is a range of empty bottles and containers and you're good to get started.

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I am a hair dye enthusiast -- I love to color my hair. While some do it to cover gray or because they've always dreamed of being a blond, brunette or red head, I do it because I love that it's a non-permanent way to considerably alter the way I look. Well that, and also due to the fact that my normal hair color is an extremely unappealing shade of mousy, ash-brown.

While I'm happy to shell out a fair-sized amount of cash to have my hair done professionally for special occasions, I can't afford to pay expensive salon prices every time I decide I need a change. I imagine this is the case for most of you fellow dye fans out there. I know that many hairdressers will try to persuade all of us that home hair-coloring kits will forever destroy our hair, but I also know of a few who will admit that many of the products currently on the market do a pretty decent job at a much lower price.

Having said that, if you do decide to try the DIY method, it is important to do a little research beforehand as the onus is on you to get it right. A botched at-home job will end up costing even more when you have to go to a professional to fix the splotchy, orange mess you've made of your former crowning glory. With this in mind, it's important to think about the four things listed here before you start the process.

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