FitSugar

Weekend Functional Fitness: Winterizing Your Home and Yard

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:00:00 PST

Getting prepared for Winter weather, be it rain or snow, is a chore few of us look forward to. I know I don't. There really is nothing appealing about cleaning the gutters, is there? As a means of self motivation, I decided to explore these tasks on a functional fitness level. Yeah, thinking that way actually motivates me. Here are some alternative ways to view all those Fall chores for prepping your house and yard for the Winter months:

Cleaning the gutters: My personal favorite, cleaning the gutters requires ladder climbing and walking on a pitched roof. These activities will challenge your sense of balance as well as your core.
Removing A/C window units: If you haven't already stored your window unit air conditioner, this is the weekend to do it. Not only will this work your arms as your carry the heavy A/C unit to its Winter resting place, but you get to practice your excellent safe lifting technique. Remember to keep your back neutral and lift with your legs. Thank goodness you do squats regularly, right?

Three more functional Fall chores, so

Raking leaves: Save your lawn and plantings by raking fallen leaves. This can actually be a moderate aerobic activity depending on how aggressively you rake. Once again, you can certainly put your squatting technique to use as you bag all those leaves.
Clearing out garage: It is time to make room in your garage for your cars to avoid having to scrape upcoming snow and ice from your windshield. While making space in your garage, you might just notice your bike. I give you permission to take time off from your weekend chores to go for one last bike ride. Enjoy.
Plant bulbs: It is time to get your tulip bulbs planted before the frozen ground prevents you from digging. This is good upper body work, and if you work your spade quickly enough it can be aerobic, just like kranking (spin class for your arms).

Which of these activities will you be doing this weekend? Commiserate with me in the comments section below.

Source

11 Iconic Frozen Treats to Make at Home

Sara Yoo — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:26:43 PDT

Warm weather is here, and with it, the inevitable cravings for ice cream and other frozen treats. Sure, a scoop of organic sorbet could do the trick, but sometimes nothing beats a bite of chilly nostalgia best enjoyed on sweltering days at the community pool. If the tinkling tunes of the ice cream truck don't grace your neighborhood nearly enough, we've rounded up 11 iconic frozen novelties that you can whip up at home!

Source: Eat Boutique, Purple House Dirt, and Cupcakes and Cashmere

Remembering Donna Summer's Best Beauty Moments

Jessica Cruel — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:22:00 PDT

A look back at Donna Summer's best beauty looks - The Cut
L'Oréal faces a lawsuit for selling potentially flammable products - HuffPost Style
Teasing with a toothbrush and other unique hair home remedies - Stylelist
Kate Moss graces the cover of Harper's Bazaar in matching red lips and nails - Styleite
Whip your bathroom into shape with these organizing tips - Real Simple
Save strands from chlorine and sun overload this Summer - The Fashion Spot
Replace cold-weather makeup with these lighter formulas - Refinery29
Three tips for coordinating your clothes and your lipstick - Racked
Go retro with these hairstyle ideas from Instagram - Beauty High
Get your hands on these heat- and meltproof products - The Frisky

Source: Memory Lane

A Reader Shares Why She Loves Running in the Rain

Fit Community — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:05:25 PDT

Don't let the elements stop you! OnSugar blogger egilbride shares her thoughts on why she loves running in the rain in her blog, Ready to Run.

Today I went for a run . . . in the rain. I know most people HATE running in the rain, but sometimes I prefer it to running on a sunny day. Take my Rock n Roll Half-Marathon (did I mention it was my first half-marathon EVER?!) that I ran last August. I may sound a little extreme when I say this, but it was literally like a monsoon. And I loved every minute of it! If I had been running in 90-degree weather in the city in August, I'm not sure I would have finished. But running a half-marathon in the rain was . . . refreshing. Other than causing me to wait in line for the porta-potty a couple of times, the constant downpour didn't have much of an adverse effect on me.

Then today, I went for a run . . . and it was amazing. I left my cell phone at home (see my last post reviewing my armband), which meant no GPS and no way to track my time, other than by using my iPod nano, which was set for the wrong time. It was just me, the road, and the rain. And what did I accomplish? A lot! Since I didn't have my phone telling me when I hit each mile and what my time was, I wasn't as worried about speeding up my pace at every mile to hit my goal time. But instead, I reached another "goal," which was to run my entire "course" - which includes running around my ENTIRE hilly block, including one the size of Grendall - twice! And I felt great! It may seem like a small feat to some, but that 2.62 miles (it's just a guess) was the best accomplishment I've made since I started running again! Here's to more victories to come in the future!

Do you like running in the rain? Share your own thoughts on outdoor running below. Start your own OnSugar blog and we might feature your posts on our homepage.

Tips For Pulling Off an Elegant Spring Picnic Indoors

Angela Swinderman Elias — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:07 PDT

Uncooperative Spring weather can be the perfect excuse to experiment with alternatives to outdoor entertaining, like an elegant indoor picnic. Matthew David Hopkins, Creative Director of 360 Design Events, insists it's the best way to meld the laid-back feel of outdoor entertaining with the glamour of indoor dining. Impressed by his stunning Indian-inspired picnic spread, we grilled him on the details for getting the look.

CS: Is it possible for most home entertainers to pull together an indoor picnic from their own closets and cabinets?

MH: Start with the place settings. Likely, you can find most of the elements in your own kitchen cabinets. Wine glasses, silverware, napkins, trays, and votive candles (for romance) all add to the look. Choose a mix of special and everyday items.

Add metallic flair with these Antiqued Tapered Votive Holders ($18 for a set of 6).

CS: What's one unexpected item someone should use for an indoor picnic?

MH: In picking out the blanket, you might think - it's going on the floor (or ground) so it shouldn't be too nice. Switch up that thinking and go for the opposite. I have this great tapestry I found in India years ago. My Mom always said, "Why have things if you don't use them?" And that stuck with me. The blanket is the biggest opportunity to make an impression here - so go for it!

Keep reading for more of Matthew's tips on pulling off the perfect indoor picnic!

Tips For Entertaining Your Kids at a Wedding

Kate Stahl — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:34:00 PDT

Kids and weddings don't always make the most natural partners. Brides often dislike pint-size guests' affinity for screaming out at inappropriate times and their tendency to hog the spotlight (don't they know she's the star!?), while kids can find the hours-long events mind-numbingly boring. Finding a way to make everybody happy can be tough, but follow our advice and odds are, the whole family will enjoy your next wedding - and the bride won't regret adding your children to the invite.

Before you go, communicate! Prepare your child for the day's events. Will the reception be short or long, and will they be expected to sit quietly and pay attention? How long do you plan on staying at the reception and is it outdoors or in? Let your kids know in advance what's coming, and they'll be more likely to be on good behavior.
Bring along quiet activities for the reception. Soft books for young children or a noise-free, inconspicuous hand-held video game for older ones can be a lifesaver for ceremonies, especially if they include lengthy religious services.
Think food. Hopefully the couple has thought ahead to order kid-friendly meals, but just in case, pack extra snacks for kids who might not like the steak or chicken options, or prepare for your kids to fill up on wedding cake.

Keep reading for more ways to entertain pint-size wedding guests.

How to Find the Best Deck Chairs For Your Home

Stylelist Home — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:13 PDT

We're happy to present a post from Stylelist Home!

Without a doubt, one of the most essential furniture pieces for outdoor lounging is a comfortable deck chair. And, over the years, the deck chair has come to include a wider selection of designs, from colorful slingback seats to larger adirondack styles (some even recline). Lounger-like deck chairs make relaxing seats by a pool, while foldable and stackable ones can serve as extra garden chairs in a more traditional backyard.

Although the style of your deck chair depends on your personal preference and your backyard, there are a few very general things you should keep in mind when you're shopping for one. We break down these basics for you here.

Keep reading for tips for finding the best deck chairs for your home.

Everyday Activities That Make Your Allergies Worse

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:45:18 PDT

Most of us are psyched for warmer weather, but allergy sufferers are cursing runny noses, congestion, red eyes, and itchy throats. You may not realize it, but here are the everyday things that can aggravate your symptoms.

Exercising outside is a no-brainer when temps start going up, but not so for those allergic to pollen. If you can't bear to skip outdoor workouts, try to exercise early in the morning when pollen counts are lowest. If you decide to exercise outside, be sure to wash your clothes to get rid of pollen and take a shower to rinse allergens out of your hair. If your allergies are really bad, invest in a gym membership or equipment for your home gym - exercising in the AC will make you breathe much easier.
Opening the window to get some fresh air? Don't you dare. Pollen and other allergens blow in where they come in contact with your eyes and nose. Keep the windows in your home, office, and car closed, and definitely don't use a window fan. If you're hot, turn up the air-conditioning.

Keep reading to find out other common things you're doing that can worsen allergies.

11 Things Hiring Managers Won’t Tell You

LearnVest — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:15:24 PDT

Ever want to read your interviewer's mind? LearnVest shares a couple of secrets hiring managers don't want you to know.

The next time you walk into an interview, consider the following:

Your wedding or engagement ring? Can and may be used against you.

Those photos of kids on a hiring manager's desk? They may not actually be the manager's children - but the photo is designed to get you talking about your kids or whether you plan to have some eventually.

And then there's the trick that can land some applicants $20,000 more when they start negotiating their salary.

In fact, LearnVest got the inside scoop from hiring managers across the country. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because their methods were so controversial - and not what you'd find in any company manual.

New research out of the United States Census Bureau shows that women still earn less than their male counterparts at every education level. Although women are outearning men in terms of college degrees and doctorates, our wages aren't keeping up. In fact, the gap only worsens at higher levels of education.

RELATED: The 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs

But armed with this insider knowledge - straight from the mouths of those who hire you - you can help improve both these statistics and your bottom line.

I leave pictures of kids on my desk. They’re not even my kids.

Legally, hiring managers aren’t allowed to ask if you have kids, just as they’re not supposed to discriminate against you on the hunch that your child might occasionally have a soccer game. But we spoke to one hiring manager who leaves pictures of her niece and nephew to find out (legally) who has kids. “I’m not allowed to ask about family situations, but if they bring it up, it’s fair game. Kids are a distraction to this job, which requires long hours and weekends. I won’t hire someone who has other priorities.”

How to handle this: it’s very easy to get nervous and resort to small talk. (“Oh, are those your kids? How old? Mine are 6 and 10 . . . ”) Commenting on kids’ photos is easy bait, especially if you’re a parent yourself, but avoid it if you can. Talk about the weather or find something to compliment your interviewer on instead.

I check for wedding bands.

One hiring manager told us: “This is an entry-level job, and the people we hire are usually fresh out of college. If I see a wedding band, there’s a good probability that candidate is going to start a family soon. If I hire her and she goes on maternity leave, I can’t legally fire her, but I still have to find someone else to replace her while she’s gone. When she comes back, I can’t fire her either, so now I’m stuck with two employees when all I needed was one. No thanks.”

This one is an easy fix: leave your wedding ring at home. You're not obligated to share any information about your relationship status, so try to avoid doing so.

Read on for more.

Buying Guide: Find the Best Planters For Your Garden

Stylelist Home — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:34 PDT

We're happy to present a post from one of our favorite sites, Stylelist Home!

Like a great tailored jacket over a casual ensemble, the right planters can instantly "pull together" any outdoor garden space. (Even if it's the size of a postage stamp.) However, getting the right one can be tricky. Planters like metal ones hold water better than porous containers made out of wood, while lightweight plastic pieces are not the sturdiest choice for larger plants. So, we've rounded up the basics you should know about planters.

Keep in mind that the style and size of your planter depends on your garden and the type of plant you're looking to use it for. But, if you're looking for one to amp up the look in your garden, here are some very general things remember when shopping for planters.

A good size. Generally, a good size planter is one that can hold a healthy amount of soil for the plant and also allow room for roots to grow. And, you should see more of the flowering plant than the planter. So, generally a good-sized container is one where the plant is about two times more visible than the actual pot itself.

Consider the materials. Planters made from wood and metal are affordable and easy to move around. Wood is porous so it provides better drainage (since it soaks up water) and it's also more resistant to the elements than metal, which may rust over time. Also, wood planters are generally not used for planting inside directly. Instead, they're great for concealing plastic pots. Because wood planters are so porous, they can get mildewed if not carefully cleaned. But if you have a plant that requires a lot of water, go with metal or plastic, which will keep the water from evaporating. However, metal (as well as dark color planters) absorb more heat, so you'll have to keep a close eye on the plants to make sure the soil doesn't dry out completely. If you're looking to really amp up the look in your garden, go with ceramic or terra-cotta planters, which come in an array of colors. However, these are usually more expensive and are most breakable out of all the materials. On the contrary, lightweight plastic planters are the most cost-effective, but they're also the least sturdy, meaning they're not best-suited for heavier plants nor hold up in harsh weather.

Keep reading for more tips on selecting the best planter for your garden!