4th of July Fun Facts =]

We all know the fourth of July is the day of independence, family fun, BBQs and fireworks. But we thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts having to do with the 4th of July that you may not have known.

Speaking of BBQs...

• This 4th of July, an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed. That's roughly 1 dog for every two people in the U.S!
• Ironically, the majority of the nation's flags and patriotic paraphernalia is produced in China. Nearly $349 million dollars are used each year to import in the flags, banners, decorations, and emblems. (You know what else is made it China? Your favorite Jambu's™ ;))
• The 4th of July wasn't declared a national holiday until 1941.
• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal - he was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle.
• Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
• The Declaration of Independence, didn't even get signed on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 of the 56 men signed it. (John Hancock was the only person to actually sign on July 4, 1776 - go John!)

Do you know of anymore fun facts you'd like to share? We'd love to read them!

We hope you and your family have a great 4th of July :)

Fourth of July Treats

As the Fourth of July is just around the bend, we want to share with you some treat ideas to make for this wonderful outdoor holiday. As people around the United States celebrate our independence from Britain, we will be sipping root beer floats. This delicious yet refreshing treat reminds us all of our childhoods. From our kitchen to yours, here is a simple recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups root beer
• 1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream

Instructions:

1. Slip on your Jambu's so that you're comfortable (your feet will thank you!)
2. For a 16 oz. glass, use one scoop of ice cream.
3. Pour in enough root beer to cover.
4. Add another scoop of ice cream to the top, if desired. (for ice cream lovers like us, add two scoops :) )
5. Serve with a spoon and a straw.

This recipe makes one serving. While wearing your Jambu's and drinking this delicious treat, your stomach and feet will be thanking you! Stay tuned this week for more July 4th ideas!

The Troy by Jambu™

This week was a great week for our 'Troy' sporty wedge. It is one of our best-sellers from the Spring '10 line, and was recently reviewed by two sites! Thank you to Barkingdogshoes.com and Planetshoes.com. Check out what they posted :)

To read what they wrote, and to check out other great posts on great shoes, follow their blog or Twitter!

Watch what Blair from PlanetShoes had to say about our Troys :)

Also, follow PlanetShoes on Twitter and become their friend on Facebook!

A little more about the shoe:

At a 2 ½ inch height, the Troy Sporty Wedge is both glamorous and comfortable. It features a smooth leather/nubuck or vegetable leather/naked leather materials and has a quick-closure bungee lacing system. Its memory foam contoured foot bed cradles and supports the foot, which maximizes comfort. The troy has a signature translucent mid sole design and toe and heel bumpers that provide protection against the elements.

A Bohemian "Journey"... great outfit ideas!

With so many great Jambu™ styles out there, we know you can get overwhelmed choosing an outfit to wear on a fun summer outing. And even though Jambu's™ can really be perfect with just about any look, we thought we'd offer a fun "Bohemian Journey" outfit to wear with your favorite Journey shoes by Jambu™.

The 'Journey' shoe comes in a bunch of colors - so pick your favorite to go with a cute maxi dress and grab that cute summer tote you've been waiting to sport. (If long dresses aren't your thing, Journeys look great with short dresses, too!) Add some cute accessories, and your Bohemian look is complete. This look will keep you comfortable and cute for these hot summer days =)

Shoes Around the World

Most designers in fashion look for inspiration in history, fashion, art and other cultures. Footwear across the globe embodies just about all of the above. When thinking about different shoes around the world, many styles come to mind. I remember the fun wooden shoes I fell in love with at Disney World's "Its a Small World" ride as a child. Oh those crazy wooden clogs, unbelievable right?! After some research I found out they were worn by the Dutch, in Netherlands, in Belgium, and in Sweden. The clog was originally made as type of protective footwear for factory, mine, and farm workers... which makes sense of why the whole shoe is made out of wood.

Now we see variations of this clog all over in fashion! In our culture "clogs" often translate into comfort slip-ons. At Jambu™ our designers really ran with the clog silhouette and have made a modern variation of this eccentric shoe. Jambu™'s Paris, is a modern, comfortable fashion forward rendition of the old school wooden clog. The Paris is even made with partially recycled rubber outsole's with a light weight midsole and a memory foam footbed for extreme comfort. And just as Jambu™ promised, it was made for the woman on the go... psssst by the way, thats you!

A Few Easy Gift Ideas That Will Keep Dad Smiling :)

Men love the attention they get on Father's Day. So why not let them soak it up on the day set aside just for their efforts? We thought it would be a good idea to share some quick and easy gift ideas that will allow Dad to relax (at least for one day :)

• Everybody loves a hammock! There's no better way for Dad to relax. Set up a hammock in the backyard, and let him enjoy the beautiful weather while he can.
• All men love sports. Give him a great way to kick back and watch his favorite team with a his teams logo on a bedrest. They're easy to find in sports stores or online, and they're super comfy!
• A one time "coupon" to mow the lawn for your man. Not the most fun for you, but this is a free and easy way to show your man you appreciate his mowing all year long!
• Get him a magazine and/or newspaper subscription. There may be a magazine that he loves to read, but never got the chance to order it. Many newspapers offer 'once-a-week' subscriptions, which make great gifts if he already has a favorite paper.
• If you really want to go all out, he will love his own reclining chair. It may not look perfect with your decor, but having his own chair to relax in will keep him comfortable and happy.

You already enjoy the all day comfort your Jambus™ have to offer, now you can help your man relax on a day just for him =]

Father's Day Traditions

We were interested in getting a bit more of the history behind origin of Father's Day. After some research we have found that the earliest record of a Father’s Day celebration is in the ruins of Babylon. A young boy carved a Father’s Day card into clay 4,000 years ago. Due to this act of kindness for his father, this tradition continued for thousands of years. Ever since this day in Babylon, the world honors father’s all over the world, expressing their love and affection for them.

Many cultures around the world celebrate Father’s Day, although what many people don’t know is that Father’s Day is recognized on different days in different countries. Not only are the dates of Father’s Day different, customs and traditions may also be different.

An interesting tradition we found for celebrating Father’s Day was in Germany. It is always celebrated on Ascension Day (the Thursday forty days after Easter), which is a federal holiday. Regionally, it is also called "Men's day"or "Gentlemen's day". It is tradition to do a males-only hiking tour with a small wagon, called a "Bollerwagen", which is pulled by the men. The wagon is filled with wine or beer (according to region) and traditional regional food (Leberwurst (Liverwurst), Blutwurst (Blood Sausage), vegetables, eggs, etc.) Many men will use this holiday to get their drink on. This holiday usually results in groups of men celebrating, many of which are buzzed, roaming the streets all day.

In the US we are more accustomed to the tradition of Father's Day being spent with family. Although we had fun exploring how other cultures spend their Father's Day. Please share any of your unique Father's Day traditions with us, we would love to hear!

Have a great rest of your week planning for Father's Day... and do it comfortably in Jambu™'s!

Father's Day is coming! Try our Beer Marinated Ribs For Your Man!

With Father’s Day approaching, we know some of you may be grasping at idea's (I know I am!) for that special day with your dad, your husband, or that special man in your life. What we do know is just about every man loves to drink a couple of brew's while grilling out so we thought of just the tasty mouth-watering beer marinated BBQ rib recipe to share. These BBQ Ribs will be sure to make your holiday special and your stomachs full!

You will need:

• Slip on your cutest pair of Jambu™ shoes to get started...
• 2 racks pork spareribs, about 2 lb each
• 6 bottles of beer
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 bay leaves, 6 to 8 large sprigs fresh thyme, 6 to 8 large sprigs fresh sage (or 2 tablespoons seasoning salt)
• Coarse salt to taste
• 2 to 6 jalapeno peppers (according to taste) seeded and sliced
• 1 cup store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan large enough to hold the ribs, combine all the ingredients except the ribs and barbecue sauce, bring to a boil. Immerse the ribs into the hot liquid until completely immersed. Bring back to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 1 hour until the meat is tender.
2. Turn off heat and let ribs cool in the cooking liquid. This can be done several hours before grilling. Refrigerate if necessary. Keep the ribs in liquid.
3. When ready to serve, lightly oil the grate and preheat the grill to hot.
4. Remove the ribs from the cooking liquid and pat dry. Brush both sides with BBQ sauce and place the ribs meat side down on the grill. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, basting with barbecue sauce, until golden and crisp. Turn on the other side and cook for another 6 minutes until nicely brown.
5. Remove from the grill and serve immediately with extra barbecue sauce on the side.

From our home to yours, we hope you looooove this dish as much as we do. Add some corn on the cobb or another favorite side dish and your all set! After a long Fathers Day with your family, Jambu and great food your soul, your feet, and your stomach will thank you!

Treat Your Feet - DIY Foot Massage and Pedicure!

Women are always on their feet. Preparing kids for school in the morning, running errands all day, and making supper in the evening, there's no way a woman's feet don't hurt by the time the day comes to an end. So go get a pedicure, you say? Who has the time??

As a follow up to our 'home spa' post, we'd like to offer a quick and easy way to treat your feet.
DIY Foot Massage:
Soak your feet in some warm water and a lightly scented soap to get started. Dry them off with a towel and place one foot on the opposite knee. Place your hands around your foot and rub the bottom to get it warmed up. Support your foot with the opposite hand, and use your free hand to twist, squeeze, and gently tug each toe individually. This will help make your toes more relaxed and flexible. Now put your two thumbs at the bottom of your foot, supporting it with your remaining fingers on top. Slowly roll your thumbs in a circular motion, pressing down as deep as you can. This will relieve any aches and pains from your long day.

Pedicure:
Trim your toenails to the length that you like. Make sure to file away all rough edges around the nail. If you have toe separators, it might be a good idea to use them. Paint a quick base layer with clear nail polish before you add color. Now, choose your favorite color of Non-Toxic nail polish (our favorite is 'Honeybee Gardens: WaterColors Non-Peel Off Polish) and paint each nail carefully with smooth, quick strokes. Apply two layers.

Now that your feet look and feel the way they should, wear your favorite Jambu's™, which will give your feet the comfort and attention they deserve =)

Meditate Your Way to Relaxation

Feeling stressed or overworked? Take time for yourself especially the moms out there before the school year ends. You may feel like you don’t have the time in your day to fit anything else in. Although for your mental and physical health it is beneficial to take some time for YOURSELF. Don’t worry about everyone else and just clear your head. The best way to distress is to meditate.

There are many different ways to mediate. Since we all get quite busy from time to time, here’s an example of a simple but effective way to mediate. A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.

First, stop all distractions and make clear your mind. Choose a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position. Keep your back as straight as possible to allow your body to stay from getting sleepy. Sit with your eyes partially closed and pay attention to your breathing. Breathe through your nose keeping aware to every aspect of your breathing. Make sure to really be aware of the sensation you get from each breath. With each breath you will become more relaxed. Your mind may seem to be clouded with more thoughts although you are instead becoming more aware of your thoughts.

The key to mediation is to stay concentrated on your breathing; your busy schedule will no longer be on your mind. Your mind will be clear of all the upcoming appointments, and school events and become relaxed and refreshed.

Just taking about ten to fifteen minutes a day to meditate, you will reduce your stress level. You will feel a sense of calmness and a feeling of inner peace and balance.

A Trip to the Spa Without Having to Leave Home

As the school year comes to an end, we thought it would be a good idea for all the hard working mothers out there to take a week for themselves =)

Get ready for a week full of relaxing things to do for yourself or with your girlfriends. The kids are gone during the day, so take this week [while you still can] to sit back and relax!

Here are a few at-home, make-it-yourself, spa ideas: (that's right, you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home!!)

For the Face: Every woman likes to treat herself to a relaxing facial mask. One quick and easy way to get soft and fresh skin is by making an Egg Yolk and Honey Mask. Simply mix one egg yolk with a little bit of honey, and spread over your face until it dries. (Don't forget two slices of cucumbers for your eyes!) Rinse off the mask with warm water, and you'll be surprised at what these simple baking ingredients can do for your now glowing face!

For the Feet: You already have your Jambu™ shoes keeping your feet comfy, but for soft rejuvenated feet do the following:

Mix together (1/4 cup of each)

• table salt
• white (or brown) sugar
• olive oil

Add a squirt of liquid soap for some foam - rub on your feet in a circular motion until for feet feel softer than ever!

For the Skin: To exfoliate dry skin, use this easy home-made mask. It's great for dry elbows and feet! Just mix together 3 tbs of Olive Oil and 1 tbs of Kosher Salt, rub onto dry skin - so simple!

Enjoy these cheap ways to pamper yourself, and stay tuned for more ideas on how to make this week a relaxing one :)

Eco-Friendly Gardening: A Few Tips On How to Keep Your Garden GREEN

Now is the time, ladies! Get out those gardening tools, and start pulling those weeds. One of the best feelings is finishing up a long day of gardening, and then enjoying the results! But how can you make your gardening experience a more eco-friendly one, you ask??

In the spirit of Jambu, and their environmentally friendly shoes, we'd like to share a few easy tips on how to keep your garden green:

1. Make your own compost!

Why throw away those kitchen vegetable scraps when they could be reused? Compost enriches soil fertility by giving it a shot of high-powered, plant-loving nutrients. Aside from the additional nutrients, making your own compost will improve soil texture, aeration, and water retention.

2. Get into some better watering habits.

Adding mulch and compost to your soil will help retain water and cut down on evaporation, two major pluses for this hot weather! Also, did you know??? Soaker hoses and drip irrigation only use 50 percent of the water used by sprinklers. Remember to water early in the day so you can avoid evaporation and winds.

3. No more chemicals!!

Pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers definitely makes the job a bit easier, by why ruin nature with these poisons if theres a greener way? Hire beneficial insect reinforcements to get rid of those pesky garden pests, remember to pull out those weeds yourself, and stick to compost!

Keeping these tips in mind while gardening will help the environment and your garden! Never forget the four R's - Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Rebuy!

Happy Gardening :)

Meet the Intern's

Hey Readers!

It’s time to meet the voices behind the anonymous blogs and posts. Our names are Kristen and Li-or. We are the new Jambu interns for Summer 2010 here at Vida Shoe Group NYC! We decided that we want to tell you, the readers, something about ourselves.

Kristen will be a senior at the University of Scranton this upcoming fall. (Oh, where did the time go?) She attends their Kania Business School to get her Bachelors in Accounting. Originally from Long Island, NY, she is happy to be working close to home. Kristen loves working in the city, especially in the world of fashion. But then again, what girl wouldn’t?!? She loves fashion and the fast pace life that the city offers her. She loves the shoes that she gets to work with. Just starting the internship last week, she has just personally found that the comfort of Jambu shoes is like no other shoe. It is the one and only shoe she has ever worn that she can wear all day long without even wanting to sit down.

Li-or will be starting her senior year this fall at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, going for her Bachelors in Marketing. Having grown up in the small town of Albany, NY, she never saw herself going to school in the big city. But, after three great years in New York, she is excited to be here this summer working for Jambu and promoting what they stand for. Having joined the Jambu team just a few weeks ago, Li-or already loves the environment she works in and the people she works with.

We have some great plans for our social media sites so don’t forget to keep coming back for the good stuff!

Kristen and Li-or make an unstoppable team.