Fitflops look rather like a cross between traditional flip-flops and a trainer, but there are subtle differences. They are specially designed to stimulate and tone your muscles. They incorporate micro-wobbleboard technology which positions your posture to give you a perfect workout as you walk. The added cushioning in the mid-sole helps to reduce pain in the joints and absorb shock. Some wearers have also reported a reduction in lower back pain. It is also thought that Fitflops help with other medical conditions that cause foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, commonly known as heel spurs.

Fitflops are very comfortable and lightweight and designed to ‘support’ your foot. They come in several different designs and fabulous seasonal colours. As well as the basic style there are gladiator style versions and suede with fringe. There is also a new sequined design suitable for more formal occasions or evening wear.

Now that summer is approaching it is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself and your legs to a pair of trendy Fitflops. They are a great investment, save money on your gym membership this spring and summer by purchasing a trend pair of Fitflops. What’s more, with all this extra cash you can treat yourself and your legs to more shopping trips!

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So why do women have this intense need and the love affair for designer shoes? Shoes are no longer simply items to protect our feet. They have become the ultimate fashion statement and form part of the social interaction that goes on at gatherings such as dinner parties and fashionable events.

Shoes come in all shapes, sizes, fabrics and colour. But designer shoes are truly beautifully made, and furthermore known for their style and quality factor. They are good value for money because our foot size remains much the same throughout our lives. The same cannot always be said about our bodies! Even if we have gained a few pounds our shoes still fit. Although the initial outlay for the shoes is high, the quality of construction and materials used mean that in the long term they are better value than cheap imitations.

TV shows such as ‘Sex in the City’ have helped to boost the sale of designer shoes.  Celebrities like Victoria Beckham also have a big influence on our choice of designers and style. Popular luxury brands such as ‘Jimmy Choo’ makes exquisite hand-made shoes, while shoe designs from’ Dolce & Gabbana’ will be sure to inject a touch of Italian glamour into your wardrobe.

Some of the latest must-have luxury footwear designs are gladiator sandals which look great with mini or maxi skirts. Furthermore, brightly coloured platforms are set to work perfectly with the summer trend of high wasted ‘skorts’. Other styles include leopard print stilettos and beautifully beaded moccasins.

Cinderella knew something about the power of shoes. She used her dainty glass slipper to catch herself a Prince!  We may not all be that fortunate but one thing is for certain, women love shoes!

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Even once the weather begins to improve, the British climate is notorious for its unpredictability. You may be sporting shorts in April and jackets in August. Admittedly, it is far more likely that, as we pass through the last days of winter and enter into spring (are you listening, Mother Nature?), we will be facing dull, grey, damp weather, but you can never be entirely sure. So, when it comes to choosing outdoor clothing and footwear, how can you deal with this uncertainty?

It’s probably time to put away the heavy winter coats, and save them for when you go out at night. During the day, thick coats may well be too warm, so the ideal coat or jacket would be one that is three-quarter length. Worn with a pair of boots, it will keep most of your body dry during the inevitable showers that we are plagued with. What is the best material? A lightweight wool coat will keep you warm and dry, without being too thick or warm, and won’t be too heavy to carry if you go into shops (they invariably have the heating turned up so high it feels as though you are in a sauna).

Alternatively, a padded jacket, although arguably less stylish than a coat, is ideal for both colder and warmer days. It is especially suitable if you lead a casual lifestyle, as this style of coat will not make you look overdressed. Also these coats are more likely to have a hood attached (maybe removable for those occasions when you don’t want to use it), which can be very useful if you don’t want to carry an umbrella, or if it is too windy to keep an umbrella open! As we all know, the combination of wind and rain is unfortunately all too common in the British climate …

As for footwear, a lighter pair of boots will prove very versatile and, if purchased now, will still give you plenty of opportunities to wear them. With luck, there may even be some still available in the sales. Make sure that they are waterproof, or buy a product to make them impermeable, as one thing that we can be sure of is that there are plenty of rainy days to come! Avoid fur-lined boots, unless you want your feet to feel like they’re cooking. If you do a lot of walking, a good sturdy pair of ankle boots will also help keep your feet warm and dry. Finally, for safety’s sake, make sure that the soles of your shoes or boots have a good grip, for those rainy days.

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The old bag like socks or even sports socks tend to slip around and can cause slight discomfort, but with these new fangled socks they stay on tight but give your feet more freedom of movement, it’s like walking barefoot but better.

In the cold weather I found that the socks kept my feet warmer than standard socks do, I guess it’s because each of your toes is individually wrapped in its own little compartment. The socks do not slip as much either for example on laminate flooring where you normally have to tread carefully in standard bag socks.

These toe socks are made by a variety of companies and come in a great range of funky colours and styles which will make you look super cool. Kids love these socks but I wouldn’t recommend them for very young children as they can be a nightmare to get on them if you have to dress them.

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Shopping online will give the biggest savings to your purse. The extent of how much you want to save depends on you. There are numerous ways to save that extra bit of cash and the main way of saving money is of course, the sales. Sales are happening constantly on the web, all you have to do is shop around. There are thousands of shops on the net, far more than your high street could accommodate. Don’t just buy from the first sale you come across as you can guarantee that it will be being sold elsewhere for less.

You can sign up to email newsletters and alerts from most of shopping sites and there are certain sites that aggregate all the news of sales and special events for lots of shops and send it directly to you.

Voucher codes for ecommerce sites can be easily obtained from many affiliate sites that will often give you free delivery or an extra 10% off any purchases as well as voucher codes there are special affiliate sites that give you points for each purchase made through their site, these can then be redeemed for something nice.

Not only can you take advantage of the numerous sales but it always wise to look around the site for any other special offers that are hidden away hiding behind the sale.

If you feel like giving something back after saving so much money why not try looking for shops that sell products that are linked to charity. Damart is selling a limited pink thermal vest and the proceeds from which go to support the Breast Cancer Campaign, so not only do you get to stay warm in your nice Damart thermals in this horrible winter weather we are having but you can feel great that you are doing your bit.

So next time you think about going into town to the shops, why not just sit at the computer instead and surf the web for a smart bargain.

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There are many Christmas gifts that are a waste of money after the Christmas period and are simply forgotten about. If the gift receiver, for example, is an avid skier then you could buy some ski wear as a gift! Or perhaps some Icebraker gloves or socks? It makes perfect sense.

I know it is sometimes quite easy to get drawn in to those novelty gifts. The explicit shower radios, the mini punch bags for  a desktop or novelty books are all good fun and produce many laughs when first opened but how long does the enjoyment continue for? Furthermore, I know it is Christmas but wouldn’t you want to know that you are getting value and use for money from your gifts. I for one would certainly prefer my gifts to be used and appreciated rather than opened and stuffed in a cupboard and it would be the same for the other way round, I want to receive gifts which I can use and appreciate.

So, what kind of practical gifts are there on offer? There are so many choices available to you! Winter clothing is always an ideal practical gift because it can provide something special that one would not usually be able to buy but also offers practicality at the same time. There are also many online websites which offer many different types of practical electrical gifts. This can range from an electric letter openers and change counters.  Obviously these wouldn’t be ideal gifts for young children but parents and some adults would certainly appreciate such a gift and would find the gifts very useful and would help them in their daily routines.

I think that the best way to choose a Christmas gift is to think about the recipient, their personality and their hobbies especially. If they have a hobby then that is the type of thing you could buy for as you know that they will not only be pleased with the gift but also use it time and time again.  I know it is easy to become attracted to the novelty gifts that provide a few moments of laughter but it is better to give a gift that will be used time and time again than one that will be forgotten about.

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The best way of keeping warm is to wear layers of clothing.  Children particularly should wear a vest next to their skin, covered by a shirt or blouse for school, then a cardigan on top.  An underskirt, covered by a skirt made of a woollen mixture fabric is warming and comfortable for girls while the boys need trousers made of thicker materials than thin polyester fabrics which are more suited to summer.

There are some great jackets and anoraks in the shops which children of either sex will love.  Jackets with warm fleecy linings and hoods will keep out the bitterest chill or rainstorm.  When buying new clothes you really get what you pay for.  The cheaper garments are often made of inferior fabrics, with threads which become undone very quickly and causing seams or pockets to become undone.  You need to pay around £30 or more for a good quality jacket which will see the winter through.

Children’s legs need to be kept covered and warm with long stockings or tights.  There are some trendy, colourful styles in the shops which kids will love.  Tights are really fashionable this year and can tone or contrast with their other clothing, saving more sober colours for school.  There are some great styles for festive parties, bright pinks, blues and greens with pop star motifs, stars, butterflies etc.

The most important item of clothing for children to wear in winter is a pair of strong, sturdy winter boots.  There are some great styles available for children, with snow boots and moon boots becoming increasingly popular.   These are lined with warm, fleecy fabric which keep out the bitter cold.  Timberland make a great range of practical boots designed especially for children.  They are made from leather or suede and the sole is of a strong, sturdy material which grips the surface, even if frozen.  These days Ugg boots are the epitome of fashion but cost much more than most parents want to pay.

Wellington boots are another alternative to wear during the Winter (or Summer) season.  The traditional long black rubber boot has been seriously updated!  Now, wellies are available in every shade and colour under the sun.  They are also very practical, and more importantly, children with an eye to fashion love them.  A favourite with parents as any mud or dirt is easily washed off, whereas it is much more difficult to clean boots made from leather or suede.

In order for children to keep comfortable and warm through the long Winter season, it’s necessary to splash out on a range of clothes designed especially for the cold.  A walk down the High Street, or a look at some leading supermarkets, will show the large range of styles available.

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Children’s foot size can increase considerably throughout the season, and it’s important for both feet to be measured by a foot specialist.  When children find a shoe style they like, after being measured, the child should be asked to walk round the shoe shop to check whether they hurt anywhere.  With the child standing, press at the front of the shoe to check how much room there is to allow for growth.  Check that the sides don’t ‘bag’ out and there isn’t too much spare room at the heel.

As the shoes – or boots - are to be worn during the coldest season, it’s important that they will protect against the bitterly cold temperatures typical of the season.  It’s always best to buy leather as this will protect against cold and rain, and allow the skin to breathe.  Leather also stretches slightly resulting in shoes which last longer and fit more comfortably.  Lace up shoes or shoes which have bars across the front are more suitable for children as they won’t come off when the child is running and playing.  Check that the soles of the shoes are strong and made of thick rubber, making them skid proof.

Children, of course, have their own ideas of the fashionable shoe styles they want to wear, and usually they don’t always correspond with their parent’s wishes.  Children often choose something like ‘moonboots’ made from silver lurex, priced at £45.  They are also tempted by Fizz boots, priced at around £50, in light pink or turquoise colours.  Fashionable styles like these are expensive and aren’t designed to last for the coldest 5 or 6 months of the year.

Really fashionable children’s shoes and boots are often not designed for vigorous rough and tumble play, and are often built of materials too thin to protect against severe winter conditions.  If parents and children can compromise, there are some great and practical styles available in the shops.
Start-rite, among other children’s shops, has a large range of winter shoes and boots specially designed for children.  Designs are guaranteed to last against normal children’s wear and tear, and styles appeal to the most fashionable kid.  Boot styles such as Amber-Leigh  and Flowerchild are made from leather and come in appealing trendy colours.  Both parents and children love them.

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The best way is to think smart. Suppose you have to spend a lot of time at home, because you’re retired, or not working. Well, there’s no need to sit around shivering, especially if you have the right Damart thermal clothing. If you live in a city or large town, try enjoying some of the cultural sites. Visit museums and galleries; after all, you are paying for them in your council tax, and take advantage of their central heating. You could even volunteer as a guide, and stay warm all day.

An even more useful tool is your local library. Make maximum use of this wonderful resource (and its warmth). No-one will think it odd if you spend all day, every day, there – unless it´s closed, in which case it will be unheated, and you´ll be arrested for breaking and entering. I can´t promise the police cells will be heated, so you may want to avoid that option. Anyway, the library is a perfect way to save on your own heating bills, and it has enough material to give you good reason to stay there for hours. They have newspapers, internet, even books (if you look hard enough among the DVDs). I am writing this on my laptop in the local library, and even though it is warm and sunny here (sorry to rub that in … okay, I´m smug, not sorry), I am still saving on lighting and electricity.

Supposing your libraries don´t have the generous opening hours that we do in Spain, which are open until 9 pm? What do you do on a weekend, for example? Simple – go shopping. Visit your local mall, and check out the Damart winter clothing range to keep you warm while walking back and forth to the library. Shops are guaranteed to be overheated. Or why not visit a friend, who can afford heating? In fact, you could while away the winter spending a week here, a week there, and before you know it, spring will arrive … You might have to invent some creative excuses for wanting to stay with friends in your own town, but it´s better than staring at a four-figure electricity bill, and wondering if you can pawn your children …

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As the costs of heating our houses increases (at a fairly alarming rate) we must act now before it’s too late. The soaring cost of fuel has resulted in many families unsure how they are going to heat their houses (a dilemma faced by many a pensioner year after year). The answer has got to be Damart thermals whether they’re thermal undergarments, thermal pyjamas, thermal blankets, thermal baby grows or even thermal socks. The list is endless, but they’re all valid. If you are going skiing and are a bit chilly then you put on a set of thermals – why not in the comfort of your own house as well. After all thermals are possibly the most comfortable clothes ever invented.

Another, more globally responsible, reason for wearing Damart thermals is of course that the burning of fossil fuels is adding to global warming. If people stopped burning fossil fuels to keep themselves warm and snuggled into a pair of thermals then the world would be a better place. Indeed I can’t think of a better reason to switch off the heating, put on some thermals and snuggle up with a loved one. Maybe the world would also be a happier place.

The only issue I have with thermal wearing for younger folks is that the clothes themselves are awful. They have been designed for people with old fashioned taste. This is fine for people with that type of taste, but not those who prefer more fashionable clothes (ie most of the younger generation). So come on designers, make us some nice thermals made for snuggling.

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