Kate McVaugh's Experience With the JBU-404's

Kate McVaugh is a wonderful writer who has agreed to be a ghost blogger for our JBU-404's. Not to be confused with our student blogger, Kate is a writer from San Francisco, California, who enjoys nature and has shared her experience in our JBU-404 Water Ready Barefeet style with us, so we can share it with you!

My red Jambu 404 Barefoot pair arrived at the end of September just in time for summer in San Francisco. We never have much of a summer here but are often allotted fantastic sunshine and heat in September and October. My new shoes were perfect for walk in nature, so I headed over to Inspiration Point in Tilden Park. There’s a wonderful trail that wends its way over a ridge affording spectacular views in all directions. 

This was only the second time I’d worn my JBU 404 Barefoot Style and this time I paid attention to my feet and how they were holding up on the footpath. I could feel the earth beneath me; almost as if walking barefoot but without rocks or thorns to encumber my journey.

The flexible rice rubber outsole, (don’t ask me how they make that), easily bent with my foot while maintaining traction down a steep slope and over gravel and eucalyptus acorns. Then I quit thinking about my feet and started to enjoy the aroma of the trees and plants and the songs of the birds.

Generally, there are enough people around so I don’t dwell on being out in the middle of nowhere with the possibility of muggers lurking behind a manzanita tree. Then I remembered that this was also mountain lion terrain and one does need to maintain vigilance. Or rather, be prepared to act if you should chance upon a critter. I ran the safety drill through my head; make yourself big, wave your arms around, and yell. And never, ever, crouch down, and never, ever run. I decided that this was a good enough excuse to not try jogging in my new shoes.

And did I mention the fashion aspect of bright red JBU 404’s? These have to be the cutest shoes I have ever owned. One must look good even when wearing old jeans and a faded t-shirt while trudging through the wilderness. My shoes added just the right bit of style.

The first fall storms are on their way so maybe our mini-summer will be even shorter than expected. And although my shoes are waterproof, when it rains here it is always freezing cold. I suppose I will have to head to some place like Costa Rica to road test their water capabilities. Meanwhile, I still have a few more days of style and comfort both out in the wild and at the local coffee shop.

Kate McVaugh

Thank you Kate McVaugh for the great review on our JBU-404 Barefoot-Water Ready shoes! Check out Kate's travel blog at http://katerambles.blogspot.com

Staying Clean While Going Green!

Are you willing to go a step farther with becoming Eco-friendly? Is your house dirty and needs to be cleaned? Did you know that the chemicals in some detergents and cleaning products may be harmful to your health? And they are equally damaging to the Eco-system. This summer, get clean while staying GREEN! The following are exciting make-it-yourself household cleaning supplies that will last a long time and are Eco-friendly! (We are so excited to start using these products in our NYC office!) Feeling crafty? Well, the following five recipes will help you clean your houses while they help save the environment. (Don't worry, everything needed can be found in your local grocery store, online or at your local health food store!!!)

Easy All-Purpose Cleaner

• For a solution that will wipe up messy spots, mix two cups of white vinegar with equal parts water (plus a little essential oil, like tea tree, rosemary or lavender, to add a fragrance, if you want one). To boost its cleaning power, warm it in the microwave in a glass container.

Creamy Soft Scrub:

• Do your bathroom or kitchen tiles need a good scrubbing? Mix two cups baking soda, 1/2-cup liquid castile soap, four teaspoons vegetable glycerin, and five drops of an antibacterial essential oil, such as cinnamon bark, lemongrass and thyme oils, for fragrance. Then, tackle those tiles! And once you are done, you can store the scrub in a glass jar for two years.

Furniture Polish:

• Shine up your favorite furniture by wiping it down with a mix of 1/4-cup olive oil with four tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 20 to 30 drops of lemon essential oil. Don’t have the latter? Swap it for two teaspoons of lemon juice and store the polish in the fridge after you have cleaned, to keep it fresh.

Laundry Detergent:

• This detergent gets your clothes clean without the extra chemicals. First, make soap flakes by grating a pure vegetable soap bar with a cheese grater. Then, mix one cup of the flakes with 1/2-cup of washing soda (found in the laundry aisle) and 1/2-cup of borax, a powder or crystalline salt water softener and disinfectant. Use one to two tablespoons of the detergent per load of laundry.

Drain Opener:

• Who knew vinegar works wonders on clogged drains, too? Pour 1/2-cup of baking soda into the drain, and then follow that with a cup of vinegar. After about 30 minutes, flush the train with boiling water.

Who thought that these household products could be easy to make and would help save the environment. Make sure to wear your Jambu™'s to get that needed comfort from the shoes. The partially recycled sole will give you the traction that you'll need while cleaning your house. Let us know what you think about these products! (We think that they're great!) Comment for more points in your raffle! Good luck to all of our Jambu™ readers and we hope you enjoy the products.