The penny loafer originated in the 1930s when loafers of several varieties were fashionable as men’s and women’s shoes. Somewhat unbelievably, this fashion started with the Spaulding company when they produced shoes styled after those of Norwegian dairy farmers that had appeared in an article in Esquire Magazine. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that the penny entered the equation.

In trying to add his own unique stamp to the popular loafer, John Bass began producing loafers he called Weejuns that had a strap across the top of the shoe for style purposes, as a loafer is traditionally defined by having no buckles or laces. This strap had a split design that was supposed to look like a pair of lips. This opening in the strap was soon used as a way to add a decorative touch to the usually simple loafer and small objects, such as pennies, were often placed there. A stylistic embellishment that had once been peculiar to Bass’s shoes became synonymous with an entire fashion.

When pay-phones were still ubiquitous and hadn’t yet been raised to a quarter, the penny loafer was often the source of funds for an emergency phone call home, especially for school-age children or teens on dates.

Penny loafers have been unique since their inception in that they have moved between both form and casual fashion and men’s and women’s fashion. Acceptable for both genders and viable with everything from a suit to jeans and even shorts, penny loafers have long made a smooth transition from work to play. The unique style of the vamp of the shoe that gives them their name has even been transplanted onto a high-heeled (and therefor non-loafer) version for women.

For men, the penny loafer has generally been worn without socks since the 1960s. This style was particularly popular then, and in the 1980s, where the penny loafer with a suit but no socks was emblematic of preppy fashion. It was seen commonly on style-leading celebrites of the time, such as Don Johnson of Miami Vice.

Women more commonly have worn their loafer with socks or stockings, but as bare legs, even with skirts, have become more acceptable for women, their loafers have also become fashionable as a sock-free shoe, at least in casual circumstances.

Despite its presence in many fads, the penny loafer is a simple, classic and understated shoe with practical, long-term fashion value.

One thing that’s very important for runners but that is often forgotten about is rest.

Many runners run seven days a week and run hard seven days a week. The human body, though, is set up to need rest, and a schedule of hard running every day will soon wear it down.

When I began running, I would hit it hard every single day until I met a trainer at my local gym who gave me some sound advice. He told me never to do anything seven days a week. In fact, the ideal is to train hard one day followed by a less-hard day (alternate one day on and one day less on) and always take one day off every week. Keep doing this and your body never has time to get bored.

So, if this is the case, why do so many runners train too much? The phrase “work hard, play hard” has become synonymous with success, and people tend to carry it over to every element of their life, including their workout routine.A body that is pushed to its limit all the time will soon rebel. Boredom will set in, injuries will happen and soon you won’t be running at all due to injuries.

The ideal schedule for a runner is to train hard three days a week. Push yourself to your limit. Then, on three other days, continue to train at a slower pace than on your hard days. Then relax one day a week. Go to the movies or to the beach, have dinner with your friends, be a couch potato. Literally do anything….. but go running. One thing I do on none-running days is get a massage. This relaxes me, works out the kinks in my body and sets me on course for another three days of hard training.

Whatever you do though, make your off-days fun and your on-days work. After a few weeks of this regimen, you’ll find you enjoy running more, you’ll get more out of your hard workouts but your body won’t be wiped out all the time.

Many years ago, encouraging kids to try ethnic dishes was a lot more difficult then today, where most children seem to be more adventurous than adults. In fact, they’re willing to try a large variety of ethnic foods, but one of their favorites is Mexican food. This has led many families to have a weekly taco night. While tacos may be fun, and can certainly be prepared in a healthy way, why not do something different? Instead of taco night, why not have Mexican night and try something new each week?

Beefy Bean Taquitos
Serves 4

• 16 small corn tortillas
• 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
• 1 packet of low-sodium taco seasoning mix
• 14 ounce can of fat-free refried beans
• 4 ounces of pepper jack cheese, shredded

• Nonstick cooking spray

1. Cook the ground beef, add the seasoning packet, and cook according to the package directions.
2. While the ground beef is cooking, add a small portion of refried beans to each tortilla and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Add the ground beef on top of the cheese and roll each tortilla into a tight cigar shape.
4. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and place the taquitos seam-side down on the cookie sheet.
5. Spray the top of the taquitos with additional cooking spray and bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy.
6. Serve with low- fat sour cream and salsa.

As with any other meal, you need a dessert. Unfortunately, many Mexican desserts are deep fried. That’s okay though. This just forces you to get creative.

Fruity Nachos
Serve 4

• 4 large flour tortillas
• Butter flavored nonstick cooking spray
• Cinnamon sugar, to taste
• Fat-free cream cheese, softened
• Powered sugar, to taste
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 1/2 cup strawberries, cut into cubes; 1 kiwi, cubed

• 1 cup fat-free whipped topping

1. Cut the flour tortillas into wedges.
2. Place the wedges onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spray additional cooking spray onto the wedges and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
3. Bake the wedges in a 400-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until crispy.
4. In the meantime, mix the cream cheese with the powered sugar.
5. Place the cooked chips on a platter and layer them with the cream cheese, blackberries, strawberries and kiwi.
6. Use a piping bag to add the fat-free whipped topping.

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