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A Shooting Star Valentine Gift

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:42:28 PST

Diamonds may be forever, but a meteorite, well, a meteorite that once flew thousands of light-years from the edges of the solar system is forever ever. The Meteorite Heart Pendant ($85) from Etsy shop ThePolkadotMagpie is made from real meteorite chunks discovered in 1967.

Composed of iron and nickel alloys, iron meteorites are believed to be made up of the core of planets that broke apart billions of years ago and traveled the universe until they one day hurtled to Earth.

The density of meteorite makes it a tough material to work with: a heavy-duty, large band saw and grinder are used to shape the hearts. Practicalities aside, the pendant is a romantic way of showing your love that you'd wander the depths of space for them, just like this shooting star.

Couture Fashion Week: Armani Privé

Hannah Weil — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:06:31 PST

If you glimpsed Giorgio Armani's Spring Couture, you might just have one first thought: he's going green - literally. Initial reactions aside, the palette gives way to a range of vibrant hues that encompass every shade of green. But if you lose yourself in the color, you lose sight of the whole collection, how it marries both the sporty, streamlined menswear in shinning gray tones and the decadent eveningwear that's made Armani a favorite dresser among the Hollywood crowd. The collection doesn't cater definitively to either persona; it gives us both the modern suiting in a glossy, slick finish, then carries over that same contemporary confidence topping a sequined floor-length gown with a jacket tossed effortlessly across the shoulders.

Trends: Pantsuits, texture, sequins.
Colors: Every shade of green, citrus, slick gray, liquid silver, and black.
Key Look: The liquid-silver strapless gown with the embellished jacket tossed nonchalantly over the top.
Accessories: Swirl-shaped fascinators, handheld clutches, elbow-length gloves.
Who Would Wear It: Awards-show A-listers; Cate Blanchett would rock this suiting.

Savvy Tip: 3 Steps to a More Relaxing Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:13:52 PST

To make Monday through Friday run more smoothly, tweak your weekend routine and take advantage of the extra free time. Saturday and Sunday tend to fly by, but if you learn to make the most of those hours, you'll be able to tackle extra tasks and set yourself up for an easier work week. Follow these three tips for a productive weekend and prepare to reap the benefits all week long:

Schedule a time slot for errands. Spend five to 10 minutes each Friday figuring out which tasks you need to check off by Sunday night. Make a list and plan to take care of them in one day so that you'll have at least one full day to have fun and fill however you'd like. Once you've finished brainstorming and marked the to-dos on your calendar, move the chores to the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your days off.
Keep up your routine. If you wake up at 6 a.m. throughout the week, don't sleep until 11 a.m. on weekends. Give your body a break and stick fairly close to your standard sleep schedule. Same goes for your diet: don't shock your body with excess food or alcohol or you'll risk getting sick. Just because it's Saturday doesn't mean you should toss your healthy habits aside, so keep your mind and body in shape by taking your vitamins, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated.
Chill out, guilt-free. The best thing you can do to kick-start a productive work week? Relax. Use your time off to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the things you love. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so remember to reserve at least one day each weekend to sit back and unwind.

Turkey Pot Pie

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:19:10 PST

Turkey pot pie is a necessary indulgence in the world of dieting and salads we all seem to be living in. Yoo Eatz gives us a straightforward, weeknight-friendly recipe for a comforting pot pie.

This holiday season came and went like the whirlwind it always is, and I sit here in the aftermath realizing that I have plenty of recipes to catch up on. So let's take a mini jaunt down memory lane to Thanksgiving, shall we?

Being the lucky recipient of my family's turkey carcass, I ended up with about 6 quarts of homemade stock, most of which sits in the freezer waiting for a chilly night when turkey noodle soup is a quick solution to the question "What's for dinner?" Unfortunately for the stock but quite happily for the rest of us San Franciscans, warm weather has taken up temporary residence in these parts, so soup has been on the back burner, so to speak. But back in late November when temps were still brisk in the low 50s (here, my East Coast friends may shout whatever expletives come to mind), comfort foods were definitely on the brain.

Purists will say that a pot pie must be just that: a pie complete with buttery, flaky crust on the top and the bottom. I get it (admission: I love Marie Calendar's frozen chicken pot pies dumped on a pile of hot white rice), but (1) who has time to whip up pie dough on a weeknight?, and (2) it's hardly a light meal. So I substituted store-bought puff pastry for the crust and focused on a rich, hearty filling for my turkey pot pie. For the recipe, read on.

5 Health Reasons to Make Time For Cuddling

Shape — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:08:28 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Next time your guy gets on your case about cuddle time — he says he's too hot, needs his space, doesn't feel like relaxing — present the evidence. Research suggests that there's more to cuddling than meets the eye. Lovey-dovey'ness aside, the health benefits of cuddling will surely convince him to make time for it.

Reason 1: It Feels Good
Cuddling releases oxytocin, which is also known as the feel-good hormone. "It increases overall happiness," says psychologist, physical therapist, and author of bestseller A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness Elizabeth Lombardo.

"Cuddling, holding, and sexual play releases chemicals, like oxytocin, in the brain that create a sense of well-being and happiness," says Dr. Renee Horowitz, an ob-gyn who recently opened the Center for Sexual Wellness in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Cuddling can also release endorphins, which is the chemical released after a good workout or when you eat chocolate, Horowitz adds, which contributes to that great feeling.

Dr. Oz: 5 Tips for Lasting Love, Health, and Happiness

Reason 2: It Makes You Feel Sexy
The most obvious benefit to cuddling is getting close to your partner in the physical sense. Cuddling can lead to fun sexy time or relaxing and loving time post sexual intercourse, but there's also a chemical plus.

"There is also the release of dopamine, which is an excitatory hormone that increases sexual desire," Horowitz says. Plus, studies show that sex is healthy for fitness and mental reasons, too. So it's a win-win.

Keep reading for two more reason to snuggle up!

A Reader Recipe: Asian Peanut Noodle Salad

Fit Community — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:48:49 PST

We love healthy versions of our favorite takeout foods, and so does FitSugar reader For The Love of Fiber, who posted this recipe for Asian peanut noodle salad in our Healthy Recipe group.

Here’s a nice vegetarian entrée with a healthy dose of fiber and tons of antioxidant-rich veggies! Inspired by a recipe I found in Shape Magazine a few years back, it’s really tasty and makes great leftovers for lunch. If you’re on a budget, peanuts can be substituted for macadamia nuts – no one will think any less of you. And if your preference is meat, swap out the tofu for some chicken breast. Serve with steamed broccoli and you have yourself a taste of the Far East in the comfort of your own home, minus the MSG. And I made this with Mara's Pasta - quite possibly the best-tasting whole wheat pasta on the planet. It's brand new and doesn't taste like cardboard. Pretty awesome.

Use organic ingredients when possible, particularly if you’re going meat-free with the tofu. Look for a quality brand that is organic and GMO-free. It’s worth the extra money.

Read on for the recipe.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Put Me In, Coach"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:43:54 PDT

The doctors of Seattle Grace are competing for more than just surgeries on this week's Grey's Anatomy; Owen is also trying to whip them into shape as a softball team. They're not exactly in prime athletic shape though, and even recruiting a former pro in Henry is no match for the stiff competition coming from Seattle Press.

It's on the lighter side of the spectrum as far as Grey's episodes go: everything works out peachy keen with their patients, and the show is low on drama - aside from Sloane and his new lady friend having a serious effect on Lexie. Let's break it down when you keep reading.

How Stacy Keibler Got Those Killer Legs

Shape — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:16:35 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Before she danced with the stars, romanced George Clooney and literally “wrestled” her way to stardom, Stacy Keibler had an impressive career as an actress and model. But, the 5’11 blonde beauty is perhaps best known for one of her most enviable assets: a great pair of legs. We all know that, genetics aside, it takes some hard work to get sculpted stems like Keibler’s. So, we went right to the source to find out exclusively how the former WWE diva keeps her legs looking so fab - her own personal fitness guru!

Get Keibler’s Killer Calves
"Juliet has a gift of hyper-focusing on each muscle to make them 'pop' perfectly, keeping my legs long and lean," says the 31-year old Keibler, of Juliet Kaska, her trusted personal trainer and a Hollywood heavyweight known for keeping a bevy of boldfaced names lean and mean. But in Stacy’s case, Kaska says, she can’t take all the credit. "Stacy was born with stunningly long, athletic-looking legs. But, my job is to work on sculpting them so that she has more muscle definition and shapely calves," Kaska says. "Most women avoid focusing on calves fearing it will cause them to bulk up and make legs appear thicker," she adds, "but with Stacy, it's the key to her gorgeous gams." And their routine starts with something ever so simple that you can do at home - take the stairs!

See the rest of Stacy's leg workout after the break!

10 Biggest Spending Excuses and How to Squash Them

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re a clever gal.

Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.

You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale . . . and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon,” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.

Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use-and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!

Excuse #1: But It's on Sale

(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)

Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.

Excuse #2: But I've Been Working so Hard, I Deserve It

We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life-you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better-and check out our salary negotiating tips.)

Read on for more spending excuses.

4 French Techniques That Aren't All That Scary

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:32:15 PDT

When you first step into the kitchen and prepare a dish you love for the first time, things can be a little overwhelming; often the last thing you want to do is translate what a technique actually means as you're knee deep in the kitchen. I get it: there are some French cooking methods and terms that scared me so much when I started cooking that I let go of the dream of creating a certain recipe and moved on to something that felt more accessible.

Truth is, fancy words aside, you'll be surprised how many of these techniques are actually fairly simple concepts once you get a little confidence in the kitchen. Like most things we're afraid of, it's never as bad when you tackle the problem head on and figure out what you need to succeed.

So don't sweat the technique right away; once you get into the swing of these, you'll feel like a kitchen queen. Get acquainted with these French terms and techniques, and they'll soon seem like no kitchen biggie.