FitSugar

Food Additives To Avoid

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:00:00 PDT

As we're all moving away from the unnatural these days we look for the obvious in the list of ingredients for trans fats (aka partially hydrogenated oils), but there are some additives that the Center for Science in the Public Interest also suggests that we should avoid all together that may have fallen through the cracks amidst all the trans fat talks. Here are a few that caught my eye.

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Spanish Fiesta: Crema Catalana

Lauren Hendrickson — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:14:42 PST

Ever since my trip to Barcelona, I love to travel back down memory lane by making the dessert I discovered on my travels, crema catalana. Many of us have had crème brûlée, that famous French dessert that Amélie loved to crack with a spoon, and this Spanish caramelized custard will surely give you the same satisfaction. The Spanish recipe is lighter, since the custard is milk-based, unlike the French version that uses cream.

Traditionally, the Spanish add a bit of lemon zest to the custard, but grapefruit, lime, or orange zest would be a great addition. The recipe is not complicated, but pay close attention once you have added the eggs because too much heat can result in curdling.

To caramelize the top, you don't need a fancy torch; just stop by the local hardware store for a propane torch, which will surely save you a couple bucks. Or skip the torch altogether and just use the broiler in your oven.

Sweeten up your next meal and keep reading for the recipe.

Marc Jacobs Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:45:08 PST

One thing's for sure - nothing is off limits or out of the realm of possibility when Marc Jacobs is at the helm. Set in a Rachel Feinstein-designed storybook-inspired castle-in-ruins Winter wonderland, he presented his Fall '12 lineup with more than just a little fashion fanfare. The first word that comes to mind? Hats! And lots of them, all by mastermind milliner Stephen Jones; each one more wonderfully whimsical than the one before. These wild toppers, in addition to the parade of rich, slightly oversized outerwear, giant safety pin closures, bejeweled square-toed shoes, luxe ostrich-skin handbags, and more, served as a serious testament to Marc's vivid imagination. All flights of fancy aside, though, there were ultra-wearable pieces peeking out from under the more fantastical garb. To this point, we spied cozy layered tweeds in muted tones, shimmery metallic pencil skirts in looser silhouettes, and slick cropped pants sent out in leather, brocade, and jacquard versions. Marc Jacobs's Les Misérables-meets-Dickensian disco-meets Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter tea party collection certainly highlighted the fact that fashion, at its core, is whatever you make of it . . . and yes, wildly fun.

Trends: rich textiles like brocade and jacquard, floppy hats, oversized outerwear, fur-accented accessories.
Colors: Muted jewel tones - green, purple, ruby red, pink, slate gray, and black.
Key Piece: Slightly oversized coats in luxe fabrics and cropped pants in every texture, from leather to brocade.
Accessories: Fabulously fantastical hats in every color, square-toed shoes with crystallized buckles, long opera-length gloves with finger cutouts, and large boxy totes, some covered in fur, some made in decadent ostrich skin textures.
Who Would Wear It: The fashion-daring set, like Anna Dello Russo.

Home Improvement: Why Don't Men Notice Decorating Changes?

Stylelist Home — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:00:58 PST

I'm happy to present a post from Stylelist Home!

Turns out there's a slight difference when it comes to how women and men approach home improvements and decorating at home. According to a recent study by retailer TK Maxx - not to be confused with TJ Maxx - a poll of 2,000 women reported that men don't notice the decorating changes they make to the household more than 50 percent of the time. Worse yet, two-thirds of the women also said that they had to literally let their partners know what the actual changes in the home were.

While it may be said that this depends on the scale of decorating change that has been made, it appears that this is besides the point. The same group of women claim to have done projects as big as "painted a room and got no reaction from their husband at all" to switching out "curtains to wallpaper and even moved furniture without their partner noticing." On the contrary, mother-in-laws and friends are quick to pick up on home additions such as new cushions and color palettes.

We can definitely understand the argument posed by this study. But while it's often suggested that men are less likely to turn their attention to small details in the home as women do, is it really an indication that they don't care about their domestic environment? We're curious to know what you think. Let us know in comments below.

To read the full article, click here.

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12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

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

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

See All the Pictures From the Grammys Red Carpet, Show, and More

Allie Merriam — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:40:51 PST

The Grammy Awards took place in LA last night! The action started right away on the star-studded Grammys red carpet, where outlandish fashions were donned by some of music's biggest names like Fergie, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna. The fun continued during the show, thanks to host LL Cool J. In addition to paying homage to the late Whitney Houston, there were lighter moments thanks to performances from Rihanna and Coldplay, Katy Perry, Paul McCartney, and even the Beach Boys. The night, though, belonged to Adele with six wins for her song "Someone Like You" and her album 21. The Foo Fighters were a close second with five new statues. We've rounded up ALL the Grammys pictures here in one place, so click through to see any images you may have missed!

How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding

Kiplinger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:14:10 PST

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

Political theater over whether or not to extend the 2% payroll tax holiday has overshadowed the fact that most workers can do more to reduce the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks than anything cooked up in Washington.

The power-to-the-people ploy? Using a W-4 form to put an end to overwithholding from your paychecks. First, let's set the stage. Even as anti-Washington sentiment rises to a fever pitch, most middle-class Americans continue to allow the government to claim more than its share every single payday. The proof: In 2011, 109 million of the 145 million individual tax returns filed called for refunds. That's 75%. The average refund last year: $2,913. That's significantly more than even the highest-paid worker gets from a 2% payroll tax holiday.

Yes, we love our tax refunds. But we ask this simple question of those of you who get refunds year after year: Doesn't it make more sense to get your money when you earn it?

If you agree with us that the answer is a resounding "yes," we have good news. Unlike stubbornly high unemployment, it's easy to fix overwithholding. All you have to do is file a revised Form W-4 with your employer. The information on that little form determines how much federal income tax is withheld from your checks. The more "allowances" you claim on the W-4, the less income tax will be withheld.

Read on for more.

It's About Time: 3 Steps Closer to Back to the Future II

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:45:31 PST

We've seen film magic turn into reality before - remember, the tablet was first seen on Star Trek! Now for those who daydreamed of a life as cool as Marty McFly's as a kid, your turn has come. During this week's New York Toy Fair, Mattel announced plans to produce the pink hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II.

OK, there's no actual air hovering that will occur, but it's a 1:1 replica that will glide over most surfaces and make whooshing noises. Mattel will take pre-orders from March 1-20 for the hoverboard, expected to ship in the 2012 holiday season. There's a bit of a catch: Mattel needs you to get your fellow superfans to pre-order the product to bring it to production. As they say, "Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production. If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged. The price will be announced later this month."

It's up to you mini-McFlys to make the hoverboard a reality! The hoverboard, though, is just one of the products that can have you living like Marty; follow the break to see what else can get you Back to the Future.

Experts Say Sexism Keeps Women Out of Military Combat Roles

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:06:25 PST

Ask GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum why women shouldn't be allowed to serve in combat roles, and he will give you various reasons. First off, a man's emotions. Santorum believes men will try to save their fellow female soldiers, explaining this weekend: "instead of focused on the mission, they may be more concerned about protecting someone who may be in a vulnerable position, a woman in a vulnerable position." In addition to chivalry, Rick says "You throw on top of that just simply physical strength and capabilities," and women simply can't handle the job. Fortunately, the military, which recently opened 14,000 combat jobs up to women including tank mechanic and front-line intelligence, doesn't completely agree with Rick, and experts say "sexist" attitudes are responsible for a policy against trained female soldiers serving in combat positions.

Sociologist Ryan Kelty, who specializes in studying the military, tells LiveScience that the old-fashioned belief that women must be protected is not a good enough reason to exclude women who want to and are capable of serving their country. In other words, chivalry is not a legitimate basis to deny a woman employment, especially when there is no evidence that professional and highly trained male and female soldiers are incapable of carrying out their missions. Kelty explains the military should employ gender-neutral, objective requirements. For example, a soldier should be able to carry 100 pounds for eight hours, regardless of gender.

There may be back and forth, but the truth is that women already serve in these combat roles. In Iraq and Afghanistan, 144 women have lost their lives, 60 of them in combat, while 865 have been wounded. And countries including Canada, Israel, and Australia already allow women in close-combat roles. Despite the slow evolution of American rules on women serving, it can be said that the US military doesn't have the most retro policy. In China, women recruits must display a talent like singing or dancing and Russia holds a Miss Russian Army beauty pageant.

Rachel Zoe Sends Her Latest Collection Down the Fashion Week Runway

Allie Merriam — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:41:32 PST

Rachel Zoe had a busy weekend at NYFW. In addition to checking out the Diane von Furstenberg, Skaist-Taylor, and Derek Lam shows, she presented her own Rachel Zoe Collection Saturday at the Empire Hotel. Stars like Olivia Palermo and Mary Alice Stephenson turned out to see Rachel's designs, which were inspired by '60s London and icons like Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger. We caught up with Rachel just before she sent her creations, which included wrap dresses, textured suites, and red carpet-ready gowns, down the runway. In addition to her styling work, inspirations, and famous clients, Rachel Zoe spoke about her start in fashion. She said, "I'm gonna say, when I started reading Vogue, and I looked at the work of Grace Coddington. And I thought, 'I want to do that.'" Rachel celebrated at night with her loved ones. She tweeted a photo of their low-key meal, and wrote, "Celebrating post show with Deluscious cookies with friends and family! Perfect way to end a special day."