FitSugar

Enjoy Your Travels: Adjust to Time Change

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:30:00 PDT

One of the hardest things about traveling over the holidays is adjusting to the time change (if your travels require one). The key to feeling good is to get adjusted to the new time zone quickly. One thing I suggest is to set your watch (to the new time) on the airplane before you take off (from your origin). This way you'll start to adjust to the time change well in advance.

If you're always saying, "Well sure it's 9 am here, but where I live, it's only 6am. No wonder I'm so tired...," your brain is going to have a hard time adjusting -- Especially since you keep reminding it of how offset things are. Instead of focusing on the time, focus your energy on eating healthy, exercising and relaxing.

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Chiropractics: Full of Cracks or Full of Crap?

FitSugar — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:00:00 PDT

When you think of going to a chiropractor, do you think it's just about getting your back cracked? A visit to a chiropractor can be so much more than that.

Chiropractics is an alternative medicine, like Homeopathy, that treats disorders of the body by manipulation of the spine. It's based on the belief that the nervous system is the mission control to your body. Because the spine houses the spinal cord, chiropractors believe that a misaligned vertebrae, whether it be from injury or how you were born, your range of motion becomes limited.

Also, the nerves that extend out of the spinal cord can be affected, causing pain in other areas of your body. They believe that your misaligned spine is the cause of most medical problems.

When you get your back "cracked," it's called an adjustment. And most people feel a release of tension and pain after they get adjusted.

Chiropractors also help to prevent pain, so they require that you see them regularly, not just when your neck hurts.

Of course, some believe that there is little evidence that spinal manipulation is effective in treating medical conditions.

But like most alternative medicines, chiropractics treats the whole person, which is a lot more than I can say for regular doctors, and could be the reason why it works for so many people.

See for yourself. Find a doctor in your area and talk with them. Most will do a free consultation visit so you can get a good sense if you think it's for you.

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.

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.

Handy Everyday Gmail Tips and Tricks

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:01:03 PST

If you've moved to Gmail recently (congratulations!), it's possible that you could get overwhelmed with all of the options, settings, and possibilities at your fingertips. We've got a ton of tips to share, but let's start with a few basic and handy tips that you could use every day. Check them out below!

Make voice calls - You can easily make voice calls in Gmail on the cheap. In the "Chat" section, just click the "Call Phone" button and enter the digits. You'll then be able to make free calls to landlines the US and Canada, and for super cheap you can call cell phones and landlines worldwide.
Search with options - If you haven't discovered the "Show Search Options" link to the right of the Gmail search bar, you're in for a treat. Clicking it reveals a host of helpful options, including the ability to search by sender, date, attachment, subject, and more. It's extremely helpful if you are less than diligent about labeling and filing emails in your inbox.
Use rich text signatures - Tired of those boring text-only signatures or canned responses coming from your Gmail account? Take note: Gmail supports rich text signatures! Add links, colors, images, or formatting to your Gmail account signature, or any other account you've set up to send from Gmail. It's super easy to set up - just head to your settings page, scroll down to the Signature section, and design away!
Use keyboard shortcuts - First, enable keyboard shortcuts in your Settings menu. Then, use these fast and easy keyboard shortcuts to navigate!

See the rest of the list after the break.

Khloé Kardashian Odom Tells Us Women and Girls Shouldn't Be Shy About Their Bodies

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

While Kris Jenner is making headlines for promoting a very adult product - arousal oils to be exact - her daughter Khloé Kardashian Odom is appealing to a younger audience. Khloé has teamed up again with U by Kotex, the eccentric line of pads and tampons for young women. Khloé told me that she loves that the line is "trying to destroy the old-fashioned belief that we have to be so discreet" and that it also supports the charity Girls for a Change. During fashion week, a fleet of branded U by Kotex taxis will be picking people up at Lincoln Center and in the Meatpacking District, and donating up to $100,000 to the charity. I chatted with Khloé, and she opened up about the awkward years in the Kardashian household, as well as her move to Dallas for love. Keep reading to find out all about it!

TrèsSugar: Why did you team up with U by Kotex?
Khloé Kardashian Odom: I love their packaging, the neon colors, the black boxes, they're trying to make everything so chic, and fun, and vibrant, like it's OK. Especially if you're in high school and you're pulling out one of those tampons or maxi pads, it's not as embarrassing. I love being able to let women, and especially younger women, know that it's OK to talk about this and to ask questions.

TS: Would this message have appealed to you when you were younger?
KKO: I am so thankful that I had older sisters, because I had a really tough time in school. I was always bullied in school. If it wasn't for my older sisters always making me feel like everything was OK and being able to ask them questions, I don't really know how I would have gotten through those years. I love that this brand is almost like an older sister but on a larger scheme. They're letting everyone know that this is what happens to everybody and it's awkward for everyone.

TS: So who did your older sisters talk to? Did your mom fill that role?
KKO: Kourtney told me that she didn't even tell my mom she got her period for the first year and a half. She said she told her friend and her friend just told her what to do. To me, I find that so weird. But that's Kourtney. Kim was always very open about it, but I think Kim got hers first, and I think Kourtney got jealous. Kids are weird! I don't get what that jealousy is. I'm like, "Honey, please. Be grateful that you don't have it." It's so funny that I'm 27, and my sisters are 16 and 14. I'm not so much older than them, but the comfort in talking about your bodies grows so much.

TS: Do you have an awkward or funny memory from that time?

Find out Khloé's answer, as well as the scoop on Dallas, when you keep reading.

Tax Stuff Every Newlywed Should Know

Emily Co — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:12:40 PST

You're still hearing wedding bells, but don't let the honeymoon phase distract you from reality. Money is a huge factor in relationships and if you don't tackle it from the start, it can start to shake the cornerstones of your marriage. Kathy Pickering, the executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, names a few things newlyweds should be aware of come tax time:

Filing Status: A newly married couple has two filing status options, married filing jointly or married filing separately; however, a joint return often results in a lower federal tax. That said there are some cases where married filing separately does make sense. For example, if you have relatively high medical bills and lower income, it may be best to file separately. Medical expenses can be included in itemized deductions, but are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. If you have very high medical expenses and a low adjusted gross income, filing separately means you could deduct more of these expenses. However, if you filed jointly, you may not benefit from this deduction. Other things for newlyweds to pay attention to:
Name Change: Whether you took your husband’s last name or hyphenated your name, you must report your name change to the Social Security Administration (SSA). To avoid any delays or problems at tax time, your name and social security number on your tax return should match the records the SSA has.
Adjust Income Tax Withholding: If you and your husband work, your joint income may put you in a higher tax bracket and increase your total tax liability. You should make any necessary withholding adjustments for the next year by filing a new W-4 form with your employer. Use the withholding worksheet to indicate whether your spouse works and how many dependents you have, which determines the number of allowances to claim and the amount of income tax employers will withhold from your paychecks.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

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

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

Becky Kirsch — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:05:00 PDT

In addition to the following movies, The Eagle, starring Channing Tatum, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules are also now available on DVD.

The Adjustment Bureau

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt star in this sci-fi love story about a Congressman named David (Damon) whose life changes when he falls for dancer Elise (Blunt). As he tries to pursue her, he learns of The Adjustment Bureau, a league of angel-like men dressed in business suits whose job it is to ensure that destiny is fulfilled. When David learns that his relationship with Elise is not in The Adjustment Bureau's plan, he and Elise begin a game of cat and mouse in the name of love. The film has a few plot holes and a flimsy ending, but Damon and Blunt have chemistry in spades. Bonus features include an interactive map of New York and deleted scenes.

72%

Unknown

Liam Neeson stars in this action flick about a guy who wakes up from a car accident to find that his identity has been tampered with. His wife (January Jones) doesn't seem to know who he is, and the only person who seems to have information about what happened is a cab driver (Diane Kruger). The film is a bit cliched, but it's a ride that's entertaining from start to finish. DVD extras include featurettes.

55%

One more release when you

read more. Cedar Rapids Ed Helms takes a crack at being a leading man in this indie comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Helms stars as Tim Lippe, a small-town insurance agent who's never been away from home. When he's sent to a big conference in Cedar Rapids, IA, he meets an eclectic mix of characters (including John C. Reilly, Alia Shawkat, and Anne Heche). Throughout the course of the weekend, he finds his morals tested and gets a lot more than he bargained for. Though the film doesn't break new ground, it's still got plenty of heart and laughs. DVD extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more. 85%

The Adjustment Bureau: Needs Fixing

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PST

Fate versus freewill. Religious theorists and philosophers have contemplated the idea for centuries, and this weekend The Adjustment Bureau tries to tackle the debate. What would you do if you found out your entire life were planned for you? And what if the plan wasn't what you wanted? The weighty subject matter should give you plenty to chew on, but The Adjustment Bureau isn't adept enough to handle the issue. Instead, we get a generic story.

Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick (the sci-fi writer also behind Blade Runner and Minority Report), The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon as David Norris, a politician who crosses paths with a ballerina named Elise (Emily Blunt) in a men's bathroom. Instant sparks ignite, so when they bump into each other again on a bus, David is convinced that fate is intervening. But really, it's a mistake of chance - and it must be corrected. In come suited agents led by Richardson (John Slattery). They're men in charge of monitoring the world (the film suggests they're angels) to make sure everyone proceeds on the path predetermined for them. Since David has fallen off course, they must make sure he forgets about Elise for the sake of his political career. But unfortunately for them, David is quite the smitten schoolboy and isn't willing to let her go.

For my thoughts on the film's problems and Damon's performance,

read more. As the chase begins, David bolts through Manhattan streets to steer clear of Richardson and his men. But how can you outrun or outsmart fate? Especially considering the head of the agency is - as implied in the film - God. There literally is nowhere for David to escape, so you start to wonder where exactly the film can go. Given the story's inventiveness, I kept waiting for a clever twist or unexpected outcome, but the ending is flat and dumbed down. The Adjustment Bureau wants to be a sci-fi film, thriller, and romance all in one, and by trying to do too much, it ultimately runs into problems. It glosses over many of the sci-fi plot components through quick verbal explanation, and the relationship between David and Elise feels rushed. When David first meets the agents, he doesn't seem nearly as concerned with the bizarre group as he is with holding onto Elise's phone number. Not only is it realistic, but it's a little too cheesy. The agents themselves don't help matters; Slattery does the best he can with his role, as does Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) who plays David's personal watcher. But on the whole, they come across as campy and deliver the script's most cliched lines. Damon and Blunt are what ultimately make the film worth watching. Damon was born to play a politician with his charisma, and Blunt's sarcasm makes for fun banter. They have great chemistry, and when the script does allow their relationship to grow, it makes for some of the movie's most gratifying scenes. If only the rest of the film was just as satisfying.