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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Getting a pedicure is one of the best ways to relax after a hard day, but hitting the salon every time you feel stressed can get expensive. But no worries!

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I love a good pedicure. Not sure I'd love one if it involved flesh-eating fish devouring my dry skin and callouses. Hey, I guess fish need to eat too -- which is exactly what they are doing is some spas and salons. Ouch.

People are swimming to one salon in Alexandria, Virginia -- the only U.S. salon featuring the feasting fish from Turkey -- and as one reporter notes in this video after giving it a try, it's not all that bad. It's amazing, actually. As for her feet: they are so soft even her husband noticed.

Here's how it all works: First, you wash your feet. Then, you step into a tub of water, have a seat, and allow the fish to nibble for about 15 minutes. Don't worry, they're only drawn to dead, unhealthy skin areas and won't attack your healthy skin, allegedly. And by all accounts, the whole process is safe. The fish are safe, the water is safe -- it's changed after each use -- and your bank account won't suffer too badly either. The cost of this fishy experience starts at $35.

Sound strange? Does to me. Would you give it a try? Don't think I would.

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Have you taken a peek at our Summer Slimdown Guide yet? It's full of tips for a healthy and fit summer. We didn't forget (and we hope you don't either) that losing weight isn't just a numbers game. For many people, a lack of self-confidence is a contributing factor to weight gain. When you don't feel good about yourself, you're less likely to take care of yourself and, in time, extra pounds can creep up on you.

Taking care of your health -- both physically and emotionally -- is important. When you care for your own well-being, you're better able to manage your life effectively and energetically and you're better able to care for your loved ones. If your self-esteem could use a little boost, try some of these ideas:

• Meditate. Taking a few moments each day to re-center will help you to feel better about yourself.
  
• Pamper yourself. Schedule periodic "pampering" treatments -- get a facial or a massage, visit a spa, or get a pedicure.
  
• Associate with supportive friends. Spend time with those who make you laugh, those you can count on for support, and who love you unconditionally.
  
• Live healthfully. Eating right and exercising don't only improve the health of your body, they improve your mind and spirit as well.
  
• Do something for others. Put yourself and your needs aside occasionally and do something for others -- it's amazing how focusing on someone else's needs can give your self-confidence a huge boost.

Check out the gallery for more info. And be sure to read through the Summer Slimdown Guide -- it's chock full of tips to help you finish the summer season in style.

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When the days get longer, our shoes get strappier. Gone are our bulky boots -- summertime is all about fun sandals. But, before you slip on your favorite flip flops, take a look at your feet. Are they sandal ready?

You can get your feet in beautiful beachy shape in just a few easy steps. Sure, you could hit the nail salon and get a professional pedicure, but that's nowhere near as fun as doing it yourself at home! Grab a girlfriend and do your own pedi party -- check out the gallery for tips!

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There are few luxuries in life that I enjoy more than spending a day -- or even just an hour -- at a spa getting all prettied up. Sure, the results may only last a day or two and it tends to cost a small fortune, but taking the time to relax and rejuvenate, with the added benefit of looking good afterward, makes me feel pretty good about myself.

While I would love to enjoy a spa day at least once a month, it's not really possible because of the cost. I'm sure that many of you are in the same boat. But just because you can't afford to hand over hundreds of dollars on a regular basis for various beauty treatments doesn't mean that you have to go without. Why not try a few DIY treatments instead? Sure you've got to do the work yourself, but it's still relaxing to take some time out to focus strictly on you. Plus, it's a heck of a lot cheaper. It can also be fun to have a DIY beauty night the next time you're having an evening with the girls -- instead of hitting the bars, you can eat pizza, drink wine and have a few laughs while painting your toes.

I've had a look around the web for some good Do It Yourself instructions and found pages that focus on pedicures, manicures and facials, so take a look and see which you'd like to try:

DIY Facial: I think this may be my favorite of all the at-home, on-your-own treatments because it looks really simple and I imagine you'd finish with a really healthy glow. Start with a cleanse using your regular face cleanser, follow with a steam either in the tub or over a bowl of hot water, and then give yourself a massage using an exfoliator. The next step is to apply a mask, then treat yourself to another massage but this time with your regular moisturizer. Finish by applying some eye cream and your skin will look great. If you want to look really fab, check out this site for instructions on how to properly shape your eyebrows so that they perfectly frame your face.

DIY Manicure: OK, I find that painting my own fingernails can be a nightmare. Trying to use my non-dominant hand to do anything is tough and adding nailpolish to the equation often equals a huge mess. But I'm sure for those of you who have similar problems, if you take your time, this DIY Manicure will have your hands looking spa-perfect. Start by removing old nail polish, trim nails to desired length, soak hands in warm water and then use cuticle oil to soften. Follow this by pushing back cuticles with a cuticle stick, exfoliate and then moisturize hands before carefully applying polish. I'm sure the time and delicate work will be worth it!

DIY Pedicure: This one is especially useful now that summer is coming to an end. A few months of going bareful has likely left a lot of feet out there looking and feeling pretty rough. A Do It Yourself pedicure is pretty similar to the manicure, which is great because you can use a lot of the same tools. Like the manicure, begin by removing polish and then soak your feet. Once they're nice and soft use a pumice stone to buff off all that rough, dry skin and then exfoliate off any leftover dead skin. Trim your nails before moisturizing your feet and applying cuticle oil. Push back cuticles and finish with a polish. You can either use the same one as on your hands or mix it up by choosing a complimentary color.

Once you've completed your big beauty day you can either stay and home and chill out while watching a movie, or head out on the town and show off all of your hard work.

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Manicures, pedicures, facials and visits to a salon for haircuts, coloring and hi-lites can be incredibly expensive. So what's a girl to do if she wants to maintain a polished, movie star look but obviously doesn't have the same kind of money to spend as a star? Well, you can try some of these tips on getting an expensive look for less.

The piece offers advice on how to keep hair looking shiny, keeping a just-polished look on finger and toe nails and getting celebrity-worthy eyebrows. Tips include not washing hair every day or using mousse as both will make your mane look dry and dull, shilling out for a really great, classic and personalized haircut a few times a year rather than opting for a trendy cut that needs maintenance every six weeks and buffing nails or using light, shimmery polishes -- like opal and taupe -- to keep nails looking like you've just been for a mani-pedi.

Let's face it, unless you've got too much money to throw around -- and most of us don't -- it's not really realistic to try to keep up with all of the treatments and styles that the stars favor, but these hints will help you look great without spending a fortune.

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I spent the last week in the company of four young children, and had I told them that they had to get off the swing set/come off the beach/quit playing in the dirt to head for a treatment at the spot, I would have had an argument on my hands (and been outnumbered). Kids play, grown ups treat themselves to the spa, right? Not always.

Spas are seeing an increasing number of young customers, so much so that many are creating packages just for families or kids. Some have even created a separate spa to accommodate their newest customers. But is spa going really healthy for kids? It depends on who you talk to. Critics say that manicures, pedicures, and facials teach kids that life is all about looking good and takes away from crucial life lessons kids should be learning. Proponents say that many spas offer massages and other alternative therapies and teach kids the basics of good hygiene. (Can't that be taught with a toothbrush and nail clippers?)

Though my girls love to have their toes painted now and then, I won't be pulling them out of the sandbox anytime soon to visit a spa. What about you? How young is too young to visit a spa?

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Nope, that's not a spelling error -- a medicure, or a medical pedicure, is the newest way to treat those feet. Done in both traditional and medical spas, a medicure involves more than soaking and buffing tired feet. Instead, your manicurist looks for common foot problems like corns, bunions, ingrown toenails, fungal infections and even may do a quick check for signs of skin cancer. Then, after a very thorough cleaning, you'll have dead skin and callouses removed with a drill-like tool that has a sandpaper tip. Follow with a massage and you're piggies will be softer, smoother, and healthier than ever before.

High-end medicures can cost up to $100-$125, but budget-minded folks can find them for as low as $30. As with a conventional pedicure, make sure you know your salon practices good hygiene to be sure that your medicure is a safe and healthy experience.

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This is the kind of news piece I read and later feel extremely frightened about the world around me, about leaving my house and getting a ... pedicure. Yes, I said pedicure.

A pedicure is the kind of sole nurturing and foot treatment every woman and man should splurge on occasionlly without the fear of developing some kind of fungal or bacterial infection later. This WIFR Pedicure Dangers piece (which sounds like highly over-dramatized nightly news) highlights the importance of making sure your salon or foot spa is performing the necessary cleaning procedures to flush out all the water, removing dead skin cells of patrons that -- if not caught -- can cause bacterial infections. Bacterial infections are usually characterized by a red, swollen toe and fungi that, once in the nail, grow and multiply, increasing the thickness of the nail. Let's just say it's pretty unattractive and painful from the sound of things.

Personally, I've never done a thorough health inspection of any of the salons I've been to in the past before dipping my feet into their tubs for a nice footsy rub-and-scrub and I've never known anyone get an infection after a pedicure. It doesn't mean it isn't happening, though, and apparently it's happening enough to make headlines. The article's author suggests walking out of a salon if you feel as if they aren't going the distance to keep your feet happy.

Sounds pretty basic to me.

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