FitSugar

Strike a Yoga Pose: Cow Face

FitSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:30:00 PDT

If you're looking for a relaxing pose that will stretch your shoulders, chest, hips, and ankles, it's time to try Cow Face. Named because your knees look like a cow's closed mouth and your elbows look like ears, this pose also strengthens your core to help improve your posture.

Sanskrit Name: Gomukhasana
English Translation: Cow Face Pose

To learn how to do this pose

Strike a Yoga Pose: Cow Face

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Sometimes it's nice to do a relaxing pose that stretches your muscles, but doesn't require a large amount of strength or energy. This pose called Cow Face is really calming, yet gives your hips and shoulders an awesome stretch.

The name is intriguing and you might be wondering why is it called Cow Face? Take a look at yourself in a mirror while doing this pose. Your crossed legs are the lips, and your bent elbows are the ears. See it now?

Sanskrit Name: Gomukhasana
English Translation: Cow Face Pose
Also Called: Cow Face

Want to see how to get into this pose? Then

Begin sitting on your mat with your legs out in front of you as if you were about to do a Seated Forward Bend. Now bend your left leg and sit on your heel. If this is uncomfortable, just place your left heel to the outside of your right hip.
Now bend your right knee and cross your thigh over your left thigh, bringing your right heel beside your left hip.

If you want to go further, reach your right arm straight up above your head. Then bend your left elbow, and sweep your left arm behind your back. Bend your right elbow and try to touch or clasp both hands together at the middle of your spine. If you can't reach your hands, hold opposite ends of a towel or strap.
Try to sit nice and tall, with your neck and spine straight. You can press your head back slightly against your right arm to open your shoulder even more.
Stay here for 5 or more breaths and then gently release. Shake out your arms a little and then do the other side.

Fit's Tips: If you love Cow Face pose, here's another shoulder stretch for you to try. Source

Gwyneth and Kate Toast Stella's 40th Yet Again, This Time With Cameron and Gwen!

Allie Merriam — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:51:57 PDT

Stella McCartney had a 40th birthday party - again! - in London. Some of the same characters from her lavish first bash attended last night's at the more low-key venue of Notting Hill's Cow Pub, like Kate Moss, Jamie Hince, and Gwyneth Paltrow. There were new faces too, with Liv Tyler, Gwen Stefani, and Cameron Diaz, who watched Jude Law's Anna Christie earlier in the evening, wishing Stella well. Kate apparently went to the pub just after she returned from Paris, where she walked in Louis Vuitton's show at her own request and held a bash to celebrate her new line of jewels for Fred. Uncharacteristically, though, Kate and Jamie were reportedly among the first guests to leave. The party gave good pals Gwyneth and Cameron a chance to hang out at the relaunch of the Arts Club on Tuesday, and Paltrow hopped on stage to serenade a royal crowd that included Prince Philip.

A Look at Laura Werlin's Lastest Cheesecapade

Guest Writer — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:42:15 PDT

Ever wonder what it would be like to travel the world teaching seminars on cheese? We have, so we asked the food industry's most glamorous cheese lady, Laura Werlin, to give us a glimpse at her delicious life! Here, she shares a recent experience.

Most people don’t feel sorry for me when I tell them I have to go to places like Aspen, Pebble Beach, South Beach and similar hardship locations to conduct cheese and wine pairings (not). This week’s trip was no exception. I got to go to the other mile-high city, Boulder, to talk grilled cheese and wine.

The event was a fundraiser for Attention Homes, which is a pretty amazing organization that provides residential treatment and shelter to at-risk kids between the ages of 12 and 18. Attention Homes is also heavily involved in helping the area’s approximately 150 homeless kids by getting them the help they need.

Who ever thinks much about the problem of homeless kids? Evidently it’s a much bigger problem than we knew. But I digress. What better way to shine the spotlight on such a great organization than through the joie de vivre that comes from an evening devoted to good cheese and wine in a fantastic setting?

To learn what kind of sandwiches she served, keep reading.

Why Cohabitation Will Ruin Your Finances

LearnVest — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:15:00 PDT

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

The views expressed here are those of the essayist and not the LearnVest staff, but we look forward to opening the floor to debate and discussion, so tell us what you think. This Money Mic is part of a conversation about living with your partner - click here for the opposing view.

A Seductive Idea

First off, let me say that I have no moral qualms about cohabiting: No “Why would he buy the cow . . . ?” arguments here.

In fact, I lived with my ex-boyfriend through most of my 20s before we finally broke up - which is why I would never move in with someone again, unless I was certain I was going to spend the rest of my life with him.

Why? We’ve all done the back-of-the-napkin math, and when you do, living together can look seductive. Half the rent! Half the utilities! With the added fun of playing house.

I get it - that’s why I did it. And in the short-term, I agree: living together can look like a good deal. But in the end, it can turn out to be ugly, financially and emotionally. In the long-term, shacking up can cost you far more than any savings you rack up. And don’t just take it from me.

The Financial Perils of Playing House

“I moved in with my boyfriend mainly because I was tired of commuting to Brooklyn,” says Sarah*, 24. “But I did only pay $700 a month. So that was a perk.” In six months, she’d saved $4,900, as compared to living in her old apartment.

Then, just six months in, the relationship ended. All of a sudden, Sarah needed somewhere to live - and fast. She paid for movers ($300), for storage ($100), and for a real estate broker to find her a new place ($1,800). And now that she’s got one, she’s faced with refurnishing: “I have to buy all new furniture because I got rid of it all when I moved in with him,” she says. “I don’t even want to think about how much that will cost.”

Financially, at least, she’s pretty much right back where she started - and that’s to say nothing of the emotional toll. “It was super stressful,” she says. “Now I tell my friends, ‘I’m getting a studio and not moving out until I get back from my honeymoon.’”

Read on for more on cohabitation.

Wedding Receptions Don't Have to Be Awkward: SocialTable

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:21:37 PDT

I found that the most stressful aspects of planning a wedding were details concerning the guests. Questions like "what do our guests want to eat/drink/listen to" are enough to make your head spin. Yes, the wedding is about you as a couple, but you can't deny that your guests' likes and dislikes weigh heavily on your mind. Take, for example, the seating arrangements. Figuring out who will sit next to whom is like walking through a minefield - you never really know who will hit it off. But you can put yourself (and your guests) at ease by letting them get to know each other a little better before they even step foot in the reception hall with the help of a little site called SocialTables.

SocialTables works for any event, but it's especially helpful at weddings. The site allows you to plan a seating arrangement based on your uploaded Gmail contacts, guest list (in Excel files), and/or Facebook contacts. You can drag and drop contacts into seats (with tables ranging from 4,6,8,10, and 12 tops) and arrange and rearrange your configurations until the cows come home. But that's not the best part. Find out more after the break.

Why Is Your Grocery Bill Getting Higher?

Emily Co — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:30:47 PST

Not only do we have to deal with rising gas prices, but our grocery bills are going to face an increase as well. Although retailers and food producers are willing to soak up the higher commodity costs, food prices have still been going up. Here's why it's pricier to shop for your eats:

Many areas around the world have been plagued by bad weather conditions, which have impacted the amount of production.
The smaller grain supply has increased the price of animals like pigs and cows, which consume them.
As developing nations like China and India become wealthier, there is increased demand for food items.

Now that you know your bill is getting higher, and that it's not just you, learn how to spend less on groceries by reading our tips on price matching, knowing what to buy in bulk, buying store brands, and just using realistic tricks to saving. Do you have any savvy tips for shrinking grocery bills?

Tots See Their Name in Customized Sandra Boynton Books

babysugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:09 PDT

Personalized books are everywhere, but just how often are they written by best-selling children's authors? Fans of Sandra Boynton's clever and well-illustrated board books - The Belly Button Book and Snuggle Puppy being two of her most popular ones - can now give their tots a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by the children's book superstar. For the author's latest book, Are You A Cow? ($20), parents and gift-givers can provide a lil one's name and two photographs to have the tome's text and dedication line customized specifically for the budding literary connoisseur. The entire book can be previewed online prior to purchasing, allowing grown-ups to see just where junior's face will appear among the cows, penguins, and hippos that grace the funny book's pages.

Home Work: Toe Breaker Triceps Stretch

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:30:00 PDT

If you are a runner, I'm sure your feet could use a little TLC. I like to stretch my feet with this stretch intimidatingly called the Toe Breaker because it can feel really intense on your toes. Pain and discomfort aside, this is an awesome stretch for the muscles in the soles of your feet. I like to add the triceps stretch along with it, but feel free to just focus on your feet. Just rest your palms on your knees and focus on stretching your soles.

To see how to do this stretch