My best friend in high school hated feet. If you pointed bare feet in her general direction, she squealed and squirmed. If you touched her with feet, she began to dry-heave. If she spotted any feet with fungi-ravaged toenails or bunions, she would nearly pass out from the horror of it all.

It was great fun at sleepovers back then, but the whole thing made me hyper-aware of my own feet. During this time of year, the boots start making their way to the back of the closet and my naked toes come out of hibernation. I love, love, love strappy sandals and flip-flops, but I'm a little self-conscious lately about my unpolished nails and neglected heels, as it's been months since I've bothered with a pedicure.

This past Sunday, Deal Diva Stephanie and I visited the lovely ladies at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor to talk fashion and makeup tips, which turned out to be a very lively discussion about everything from eyebrows to foot soles. One woman turned around and announced to the entire ballroom her favorite beauty secret: Gold Bond foot cream. "Everyone I know who has tried it has been amazed," she said.

Well, I'm here to say I tried it, and she can add me to her list. Gold Bond Therapeutic Foot Cream really is amazing. It seems like a no-brainer that something called "foot cream" would be good for your feet, but I guess I always shied away from the old timey label, assuming it was some kind of medicine-scented treatment for old men with cracked, craggy corns. I guess I was associating it with Gold Bond foot powder, which is not what I want.

When my feet get rough-looking, I usually go for the fancy, pretty smelling foot creams from Bliss or Bath & Body Works, but this stuff works even better. It has a light, pleasant scent, feels kind of cool and absorbs really well. Slather it on at night and then wake up with soft, silky feet. It's magic, and it's only about $7 at CVS or Walgreens.

Thanks, lady at Temple Ahavat Shalom!

Deal Diva Emily

Photos: iStockphoto and Goldbond.com