FitSugar

Weekend Reading: Chalked Up by Jennifer Sey

FitSugar — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:00:00 PDT

With the Summer games less than a week away and gymnastics on the top of my list of sports to watch, I was looking forward to reading Chalked Up by 1986 US Gymnastic Champion Jennifer Sey. Her memoir of the US gymnastic scene in the 80s is truly a page turner. This coming of age story is as much about the sport as Sey's overachieving, fiercely competitive personality. Although those traits might often be construed as negative, for a thirteen year old competitive gymnast they are essential.

The book is a bit repetitive, but the rhythm mirrors the relentless repetitions of "sticking" a complicated beam routine ten consecutive times. Her accounts of her injuries are particularly painful to read, and broken bones are celebrated as preferable injuries to career ending knee dislocations. Sey definitely delves into the darker side of gymnastics, how it denies a little girl childhood and denies a budding teenage womanly curves. Sey is berated for having three percent body fat at age 18 and this after abusing laxatives for years, and she states repeatedly that gymnastics is a sport for girls and at 17 she is over the hill.

There's more so

Witnessing someone's struggle with her demons definitely holds a reader's interest, and to this story add the element of public competition of one of America's favorite women's sports and you have a page turner. Sey's demons are internal (perfectionism, body image) and external (the unforgiving apparatus like uneven parallel bars, four inch wide balance beam, the vault). Her internal struggles follow her into adulthood, but as a mother of two with a career in advertising she has definitely carved a life beyond gymnastics.

You can see clips of her performing feats in competition at her website and you can buy her book online or check your local bookstore. It is a quick read and you could definitely finish it by August 10th when the female gymnasts begin competing in Beijing.

See How We Added Bohemian Flair to These Ikea Curtains

Angela Swinderman Elias — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:53 PDT

As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with Ikea, Elka and I have been applying simple techniques to reenvision some of our favorite IKEA products. Today, I'm sharing my second hack project, which was made with IKEA's AINA Curtains in natural ($50 for a pair).

I was inspired by Michael Penney's fabulous dip-dye curtains, but thought that adding an ombré twist would be a great way to tie in the indigo and teal hues from my room. All it took was a couple of buckets, some fabric dye, and a sunny Saturday afternoon to achieve my own boho-inspired curtains. Keep reading to see the big reveal and get the steps to pull it off yourself!

10 Amazing Avocado Recipes

Nancy Einhart — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:48:52 PDT

In California, we've been getting some awesomely delicious avocados lately. Chalk it up to avocado season, which runs from Spring to Fall. Even if you don't live in the Golden State, chances are, that green fruit you're savoring is from here anyway. 90 percent of the nation's crop comes out of California. From sandwiches and salads to salsas and other tropical-tinged flavor combinations, avocado is surprisingly versatile. Here are 10 of our favorite ways to enjoy it.

Lil Links: Breast Implants Shouldn't Affect Breastfeeding

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:32:25 PDT

Don't worry about your implants if you want to breastfeed - Fit Pregnancy
Tips for raising headbuttingly stubborn children - The Stir
Melissa Rycroft opens up about postpartum depression - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Vanessa Lachey says Nick is nesting too - Celebrity Baby Blog
The secrets of moms who choose to go it alone - Parenting
How not to tell your husband you're pregnant - BabyCenter Blog
The art of doing nothing this Summer - Yahoo! Shine
There's a rise in grade-school pornography addiction - Circle of Moms
Five Mother's Day treats for the kids to make - Momtastic
Sidewalk chalk gets a fun (and mobile) makeover this Summer - Child Mode

8 Chalk-Tastic Finds For Moms and Tots

Kate Stahl — Sun, 06 May 2012 04:27:00 PDT

The chalkboard trend seems like it's here to stay. Oprah enlisted New York-based artist Dana Tamahachi to create a piece of chalkboard art for her February cover this year. The Sesame Workshop just got an awesome display of chalk Sesame Street Muppets at its headquarters. And Etsy literally has thousands of chalkboard decals, labels, artworks, and more that are just a few clicks away from being yours. In honor of all things chalk, we've rounded up eight of our favorite chalk finds right now. Some are just for kids, while others are for moms and moms-to-be. Some are old-school, and others are as modern as the porous rock can be. Keep clicking to see them all.

What to Pack in Your Bridal Beauty Survival Kit

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:00:00 PDT

Even the most prepared bride can encounter beauty mishaps on her wedding day. But you've spent so much time getting ready; it would be a shame to not be prepared in case something goes awry. So consider arranging a bridal survival kit to pack with you for the ceremony and reception. It should contain everything you need for wedding day minidisasters, from preaisle jitters to runny mascara and stained dresses. Spread the items among your bridesmaids so you'll never be without your tools in a clutch. To see what to have on hand to be prepared for every outcome, just keep reading.

La Sandwicherie: A Hidden Gem in Miami Beach

Susannah Chen — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:40:12 PST

We may have enjoyed foie gras ravioli and stone crab waffles during our weekend in Miami, but it was some of the simple fare at La Sandwicherie that impressed us the most.

This place first entered my radar when I passed it on an early morning run. I was drawn to the approachable nature of the open-air stand and the reasonable prices (fresh-pressed vegetable juice for $5 and change? Sign me up!). By the end of the trip, both Camilla and I were fighting La Sandwicherie cravings: we ate there twice, after longing for the watery crunch of fresh lettuce, the airy baguette, and the salty cornichons.

The Miami minichain's most popular sandwich, the Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella Combination, is one of my favorites, but the truth is, everything there is satisfying in a really elemental way. I chalk the comfort of these sandwiches up to a few things: La Sandwicherie's signature French vinaigrette - a perfect balance of Dijon tang, olive oil, and vinegar; the sandwich bar's sweet and hot peppers (more hot than sweet); and, naturally, the warm Miami air on your back as you finish the entire sandwich in a single sitting. With extra hot peppers on the side, of course.

Try Reese Witherspoon's No-Liner Makeup Trick

Jaime Richards — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:52:00 PST

For a recent appearance in Washington DC, the flawlessly complected Reese Witherspoon looked as luminous as ever. Chalk it up to good, clean living, but a little thanks can also go toward Mark makeup artist Mai Quynh's way.

Quynh, who created Reese's classically beautiful palette, put the focus on the actress's eyes. After applying neutral shadow as a base, the brand's Metallic Eye Shadow in Goldi Luxe was layered on top. And in lieu of a traditional pencil or eyeliner, Java eye shadow was used as a substitute. Using shadow as a liner lends a softer finish, especially as the temperatures start warming up. And that gilded shimmer around the eyes? Absolutely golden.

Celebs Shake Things Up in Menswear-Inspired Outfits

Marisa Tom — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:24 PST

Let's chalk it up to the tailored trend that keeps on giving, or better yet, a serious resurgence of Bianca Jagger syndrome - however you spin it, the menswear-inspired silhouette isn't going anywhere. But we're OK with that because truth be told, embracing our masculine side has never been sexier. To further our case for suiting up, celebs have been working this gender-bending trend into their red-carpet looks all season long. From Stacy Keibler's slick Zara getup at Vanity Fair's "Vanities" party and Emma Stone's ultratailored Gucci ensemble at the People's Choice Awards to Rachel Zoe's traditional take on tweed at the Marchesa Fall '12 show, we're loving the mix of menswear interpretations. It's classic, streamlined, and a superconfident approach to dressing - click through to see even more starlets rocking their suits and shop our editors' picks at the end of the slideshow.

Do You Make Quality Sleep a Priority?

Leta Shy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:07:18 PST

You may just chalk up a bad night's sleep to feeling a little bit off the next day, but in reality, regularly getting a bad night's sleep can ruin your health.

A constant lack of quality sleep can lead to high blood pressure and later heart problems, and a new study is looking at the correlation between waking up during the night and developing Alzheimer's. And even without these long-term effects of chronic bad-quality sleep, there are the immediate ones: the next-day grogginess, irritability, and feeling foggy-headed.

Do all these bad effects encourage you to make getting quality sleep a priority?