FitSugar

Would You Pay For an Allergy-Free Hotel Room?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:00:24 PST

Since I have allergies, traveling away from my trigger-free home can be frustrating and uncomfortable. Not only do I have to deal with cats on the plane, but new locations mean new plant pollens, dust, and mold. So what's an allergy-suffering girl to do?

Some hotels, including Marriott, are offering allergy-free hotel rooms, using a system called Pure Room. Visitors can opt for specially treated rooms with bedding, carpets, and AC systems free from contaminants. The rooms come with air purifiers to make breathing easier, and the mattresses and pillows are encased in covers to fend off dust mites. Also, the carpets and upholstery are treated with ozone shock treatment to kill mold and bacteria.

Since it's estimated that one third of people who stay in a hotel end up having an allergic reaction, this is a brilliant and much-needed improvement. The Pure Room isn't available at all Marriott Hotels, but you can call ahead to find out. Each room is only about $20 more a night, so tell me, would you pay more for an allergy-free room?

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Jennifer Morrison Talks About the Fairy Tale She Wants on Once Upon a Time and Emma's New Love Interest

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:34:19 PST

Jennifer Morrison plays Emma on Once Upon a Time, the show's reluctant heroine who has been chosen to break the curse of a town full of fairy-tale characters. I chatted with Morrison about the series, and I had to know how she felt about Graham's shocking death and whether we'll ever see him again. We also discussed the upcoming tales we'll get to see on the show, including the story Morrison would love to see play out. Read my interview below, and if you want to catch up with the show, you can watch episodes online here.

BuzzSugar: We were really upset when Graham died; were you sad when you found out it was going to happen?
Jennifer Morrison: Well, we knew what was coming in the story line since the beginning of the season. But all of us were upset because we love Jamie Dornan, and I thought he was just absolutely fabulous in the show. We all were very close, you know? So it felt like a huge loss, not just on the show, but just personally. We were all really close friends, and we still feel that loss. It feels weird with him not being in Vancouver with us.

Buzz: Is there any way that Dornan might return?
JM: The thing is, just because he died in reality doesn't mean that he can't return as the huntsman, because those are flashbacks. So, depending on the structure of the show, and the story we decide to tell, as far as I understand, there's room for him to exist still in fairy-tale land.

Buzz: With him gone, is Emma getting another love interest?
JM: Well, this last episode that aired, there's a stranger that comes to town, played by Eion Bailey, who is in that very last scene in that last episode that aired. I don't know for sure where they're cutting this at, but I know that there is a possibility that this stranger in town could somehow be connected to Emma at some point. Beyond that, I don't really know.

To find out what else Morrison said about the show, including the fairy tale she hopes to see on Once Upon a Time, just keep reading.

Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron Bring Double the Glamour to W Magazine

Lauren Turner — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:44:08 PST

Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron grace the cover of two separate W covers this February. Brad got casual in an undone black tie look while Charlize went glamorous in a brightly colored gown and jewels. Both Brad and Charlize are being recognized for their roles in Moneyball and Young Adult, respectively, this award season and have best actor and actress nominations at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards - make sure to fill out your Golden Globes ballot before the big show. In the publication's Best Performances Issue, Brad talks about his experience watching movies while Charlize shares a funny quirk she brought to her big-screen character, Mavis. Here's more from Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron in W:

Brad on crying at films: "I’m not much of a crier at films, but there was one . . . I was coming back from Cabo on my way to Montreal, and I got hit with Montezuma’s revenge. I could not keep anything down. I was stuck in a hotel room with no windows and was just doing what you do when you’re sick. On day two of this extremely painful episode, I watched a film called Life as a House. I don’t know if it would still hit me the same way, but on my 27th hour of pure wretchedness, this movie just crushed me."
Charlize on Mavis wearing bra inserts: "I wear those! If you don’t have boobs, you wear those cutlets. It’s just the most bizarre, unsexy thing there is - so I added that to Mavis."
Brad on whether it's difficult to watch himself die in a movie: "God, no. I’m just checking the boxes. Hit that. Missed that. Hit that moment. Missed that one. God, I’d like to do that one again."

3 "Skinny" Thanksgiving Sides (Sweet Potatoes and Stuffing Included!)

Self — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:02:58 PST

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

We have some alarming news about your Thanksgiving dinner plans. According to SkinnyChef.com founder Jennifer Iserloh, the average American consumes 3,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. That, Iserloh points out, is the equivalent of one pound of body fat, people. (Are you running in place yet?)

Don't worry. We're not going to suggest that you skip the gravy or - gasp! - dessert (let's not get crazy here). Believe it or not, says Iserloh, despite that "pound of fat" comment, the average Thanksgiving meal is already fairly healthy. "It's all about portion size," she explains. "So remember not to overload your plate - your waistline will thank you, and it means a lot more leftovers throughout the week!"

Iserloh offers two simple strategies for making traditional sides "skinny," so your table (and thus your plate) isn't totally overloaded with calories:

Cut down on milk fat. Use skim milk when the recipe calls for milk or half and half. And, Iserloh assures us, you don't have to forgo butter all together - just cut the amount in half and use a little chicken broth if you need more moisture for whipped potatoes and stuffings.
Boost the flavor! When you cut the fat in half in your traditional recipes, use "flavor boosting" ingredients that are low-calorie. Iserloh recommends orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, mustard and turkey bacon.

And now, the SkinnyChef's three recipes for trim and tasty Thanksgiving sides

A Reader Recipe: Healthy Vegetarian Pot Pie Recipe

Fit Community — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:58:19 PST

This healthy pot pie recipe from FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle, looks perfect for a chilly day. She posted this recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

One of my husband’s favorite Fall meals is a pot pie. In my feel-good interpretation of this classic comfort food, I use an abundance of veggies with a creamy white bean and rosemary puree (instead of gravy made with white flour). For my husband, I keep a touch of the rich, flaky pastry crust. But you could easily enjoy these creamy veggies over a piece of whole grain or sprouted grain toast. I like to serve these pot pies piping hot with a small salad.

Learn more about this recipe after the break!

Shoe Review: Brooks PureCadence

Leta Shy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:54:49 PDT

The Brooks PureCadence ($120) is part of the company's new PureProject line of minimalist running shoes. The shoes all feature lightweight, flexible, and eco-friendly materials and are designed to improve your stride. The PureCadence, one of four PureProject models designed for different running needs, is made for the overpronator. Show me a stability shoe that's lightweight and cute, and I get excited, so I was more than happy to test out a pair Brooks sent over. If you're in the market for a pair of minimalist shoes for your dry or indoor runs, read on to learn more about the PureCadence.

If you're a regular stability shoe user, your feet will be happily surprised when you slip on these lightweight shoes. Each PureCadence shoe weighs in at 8.3 ounces, but these sneakers don't skimp on support and cushioning. My feet never felt better, whether I was on the treadmill or running in the park, thanks to the Brooks DNA gel-cushioning, which disperses or firms depending on your stride to give you the support you need. And even though I have low arches, I'm a big fan of the Nav Band that wraps around the shoe (you can see the neon green band in the middle of the shoe in the photo) - you can feel the arch support while you run. My runs felt more light and bouncy than normal, thanks not only to the minimalist design but also the small touches that help correct your stride, like split sole to under the big toe to give it room to balance and push off during your runs (see the split in the sole photo above), and a rounded short heel box helps correct your stride to be more mid- or forward-foot.

Keep reading for more about my Brooks PureCadence review.

White After Labor Day

Elka Karl — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:23:10 PDT

While you may have stashed your white pumps and trousers for the season, there's no reason to give up white when you're dressing your home after Labor Day. Whether you go with a pure white look, or find one augmented with color or metallics, these whites will add serious style to your home.

I've rounded up home items that are both modern and traditional design, but don't be afraid to pull a streamlined Kartell chair up to an antique rosewood table - this mixing of styles is often the perfect way to add your own personal touch to a room's overall look. Now, let's take a look at a few pale favorites.

The Lilly Pulitzer Home Boulevard Wing Chair ($2,000, middle row, right) adds Chinese Chippendale styling to the traditional wing chair. Featuring a detailed back and sides on its handcrafted, hand-painted rubberwood frame, it will add tons of flash to any room in which it's placed.

I also couldn't resist the Futura Salt and Pepper Shakers from Jonathan Adler ($50, bottom row, middle left), which feature a rich gold patterning on the shakers' bulbous shapes. They'd add richness to a reserved, all-white tableware arrangement.

Did something else catch your eye? Just click on each image to shop for your favorite!

Interview: Frédéric Malle on '70s Paris, Imitation as Flattery, and More

Annie Tomlin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:00:28 PDT

If you have even the slightest interest in fragrances, you know of Frédéric Malle, the founder of Editions de Parfums. Since debuting 11 years ago, the collection has given some of the most creative noses in the business an opportunity to create scents outside of the usual constraints of marketing needs. This past Saturday, we caught up with Malle at Barneys New York to talk about his Parisian upbringing, copycat perfumes, and influences. Keep reading for the interview.

Coriander Girl's 5 Tips For Beautiful Flowers

Elka Karl — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:14 PDT

Last week, I shared a posy-making tutorial from Coriander Girl, a Toronto-based floral shop that was just featured in Pure Green magazine. Coriander Girl is owned and operated by Alison Westlake, who stocks her shop with pretty flowers, cool antiqes, and a variety of lovely bits and baubles for the design-savvy girl. Alison was raised in Toronto and on a farm in the country, and her shop's aesthetic beautifully merges rural and urban elements. She shared a fun interview with Pure Green in its latest issue (check p. 29 of the magazine), and she offers some great tips along the way for bringing out the most in your home floral arrangements. Check out some of my favorite tips below.

Buy local flowers (or better yet, grow your own). "When you buy from a company that doesn’t care where they buy their flowers from, you might be buying from a farm that employs young kids with no laws protecting them, women who are often mentally and physically abused on the job, flowers grown in warehouses no longer producing scent because there are no bees to attract as well as incredibly toxic pesticides, dips and sprays that you should not be inhaling as you bury your nose into that giant grocery store bouquet."
Look beyond your normal blooms. Alison, of course, loves all flowers, but currently these blooms are playing on her hit list: "I love them all so much but what I can tell you is that ranunculus is very charming and is getting along really well with others; lisianthus is surprisingly independent, and (I think) can be left on her own; and hyacinth too, she can really light up a room. "
Just say no to boring vases. "With so much great vintage love out there, I don’t want [Coriander GIrl] to be a shop full of glassware made in China. Growing up on a farm, we put flowers in everything from sap buckets to rubber boots. It’s what I know. "
Take inspiration from what's growing in your garden. "I really just loved flowers from a gardener’s perspective. I planted them, I harvested them, I grouped them together in lovely little vignettes at home"
Want to make someone happy? Hand deliver a hand-picked and -arranged bouquet. "I love that I still hand deliver bouquets, and when I hand a person their flowers and they really look at the flowers, I’m overcome with gratitude."

In Season: Apricots

Susannah Chen — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:41:54 PDT

Right now, farmers markets everywhere are heralding the arrival of apricot season, which comes just as warm-weather festivities start to light up, but before the sun and temperatures become unrelenting. At the height of their heyday, these fuzzy orange stone fruits are juicy with an intoxicating floral aroma that simply can't be replicated. But keep in mind that they're only around from May to July. How to shop for and cook with them, when you keep reading.