FitSugar

Get in Gear: Kelty Dog Pack for Hiking

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:45:00 PDT

Spring weather makes me want to go for a long hike with the entire family, and that means our dog, Bonnie, comes along, too. It's important to pack water, snacks, and extra layers for everyone, but since my daughters are young, they get tired carrying anything for too long. So I've been thinking about putting Bonnie to work. Check out this Kelty Chuck Wagon Dog Pack (medium, $50).

I so want this pack, since I have other packs (you know the ones for humans) made by Kelty and love them. They're well made, not too expensive, and really durable. This pack is great for dogs weighing 35 to 65 pounds, with a girth of 22 to 35 inches. The zippered compartments allow Bonnie to help carry the stuff we need, and she can even carry food and water for herself. I love that it's bright red, so we'll be able to see her easily in the woods. Depending on the size of your pooch, they also make this pack in small ($45) and large ($55).

Roberto Cavalli's Supermodel-Packed Spring '12 Shoot, Agyness Deyn Hits the Pole, and More

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:21:10 PST

Behind the scenes of Roberto Cavalli's "goddess"-packed Spring '12 shoot - Style.com
Kim Kardashian gets replaced by a dog for Skechers - HuffPo Style
Anna Wintour corrals 22 designers into campaigning for Obama - Styleite
Stella McCartney wishes she were "less sensible" - The Cut
Is this Proenza Schouler's latest It bag? - Stylelist
Stars who seriously piss off PETA - The Daily Beast
What should Jessica Biel wear on her wedding day? - InStyle
Mulberry's Spring 2012 ads are beachy keen - Purse Blog
Target plans to expand its designer collaborations - College Fashion
Agyness Deyn works the pole for a new movie - FashionIndie

The Vampire Diaries "The New Deal": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:16:02 PST

The Vampire Diaries made its triumphant return after a long hiatus, and boy was this episode worth the wait. It's not the most action-packed episode we've ever seen, but there was a hell of a lot of plot development to make up for that. More specifically, I'm talking about the major OMG moment that happened in the final minutes!

Family is the running theme this week, as Klaus is trying to recover his ~~coffins~~ family members, and naturally he uses Elena's loved ones as bait. Meanwhile, Elena is having some problems relating to Jeremy, who is suddenly acting like his rebellious, season-one self. And, of course, it wouldn't be The Vampire Diaries without some friction between Damon and Stefan. Ready to break down this particularly juicy episode? Just

Global Pantry: Black Garlic

Padma Lakshmi — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:49:23 PST

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social networking site that celebrates our favorite topics, including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly! Today, Padma offers her thoughts on the specialty ingredient known as black garlic.

Korean culture, famous for kimchi, has perfected the art of fermentation, patiently coaxing the flavors of everyday food to an entirely new level. Not surprisingly, the origin of black garlic is in Korea. After aging for at least 30 days, it possesses a caramelized, savory richness that has a mouth feel similar to eating a date. Because it’s sweet and mild, it’s hard to believe you’re eating garlic at all.

But it is indeed garlic - definitely less attractive, but with all the best assets intact and an umami sensation to boot. These smooth, smoky fermented cloves are irresistible and easy to eat on their own - minus the lingering, pungent breath.

I’ve seen it popping up more and more over the past few years in the states, and once again, it’s at the top of many seasonal, must-have ingredient lists for the best restaurants and now even pizza joints. Keep reading to learn how to cook with black garlic.

Southern Thanksgiving Side: Andouille and Cornbread Dressing

Nancy Einhart — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:02:07 PST

People have strong opinions when it comes to dressing, starting with whether it should be called "dressing" or "stuffing." In the South, my family always called it "dressing" and baked it in a casserole dish, not a turkey, and we always had two options: sausage or oyster. What we did not have was cornbread.

As a lover of all things cornmeal - corn dogs, grits, tamales, you name it - I figured it was high time I made a cornbread dressing. To my palate, white bread stuffings are often bland, but this New Orleans-inspired dressing packs a punch with spicy andouille sausage, chopped celery and red peppers, and a dash of hot sauce. I didn't change a thing in this recipe, and it was luxuriously moist, spicy but not too spicy, and full of flavor. Get the recipe for your Thanksgiving.

Common Yoga Myths Busted

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:08:16 PDT

Yoga offers numerous health benefits, but there are some rumors about this ancient practice that need a little debunking. While it's obvious that regular Down Dogs won't cause instant enlightenment or help you live to 150, we'd like to dispel some persistent yoga myths before you step on your mat.

Hot Yoga Helps You Lose Weight
Certain types of yoga like Bikram and ashtanga are practiced in a heated room, and you end up sweating buckets. Weigh yourself after one of these intense classes, and after sweating so much you probably lost a couple pounds. This is only water weight and will quickly be "gained" back as soon as you rehydrate. While any type of exercise will help with weight loss, yoga is better for building muscle rather than burning calories. If it's pounds you're trying to drop, complement your yoga practice with cardio sessions.

It'll Give You Better Orgasms
Yoga improves sex right? Not exactly. I'm sorry to say hitting a few classes won't instantly turn you into a sex goddess and make your time under the sheets more satisfying. What practicing yoga can do is increase your flexibility, which increases your ability to try new and adventurous positions in the bedroom.

Continue reading to hear more yoga myths.

Blake Lively Breaks From Her Ryan Time For a Return to Gossip Girl

Allie Merriam — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:59:24 PDT

Blake Lively broke from celebrating Ryan Reynolds's birthday to join her Gossip Girl costar Leighton Meester on the NYC set of Gossip Girl today. The blond actress had been in Boston over the weekend to mark her new man's big day. Blake covered her dog Penny in balloons as a special treat for Ryan's 35th, sending the pup out on to his R.I.P.D. set as a surprise. Things with Blake and her Green Lantern costar Ryan seem to be going well, as they're spending as many weekends together in Massachusetts as they can between their shooting schedules. Leighton and Blake had the company of their small screen guy friends this morning, though, since Ed Westwick and Penn Badgley also reported for a stint in front of the cameras. The gang is working hard to make sure the new season of Gossip Girl is packed with all the OMG moments we've come to expect.

5 Ways Relationships Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:21:46 PDT

There are plenty of ways a relationship can lead you to pack on the pounds, but being in love doesn't automatically increase your jeans size. Here are some ways being attached at the hip to someone else can actually help you lose weight.

You have an instant workout buddy: You both need to work out to stay healthy, and it's another way you can spend time together. Sign up for a two-for-one membership at a gym, take your dog for a woodsy hike, or go for a long bike ride. And when you'd rather sit on the couch watching The Office reruns, hopefully your S.O. will give you the kick in the pants you need to lace up your sneaks.
Increased desire to look good naked: OK, so this is a little vain, but if you want to feel good when the lights go down and the clothes come off, there's no way you'll even think about skipping out on your morning run.

Continue reading to find out other ways your relationship can help you slim down.

Feeling Crampy? Low-Impact Exercises For That Time of the Month

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:19:16 PDT

During Aunt Flo's monthly visit, feeling crampy, fatigued, or bloated may make it hard to stick to your normal fitness routine. Instead of skipping out on exercise completely, swap high-intensity workouts with something less intense - light exercise can actually help alleviate symptoms associated with PMS and your period. Here are some low-impact workout ideas to send your period's symptoms packing while also shedding a few calories at the same time.

Go for a brisk walk with a girlfriend: Head out on your lunch break for a 20- to 30-minute walk in the park or around your neighborhood before dinner. This light form of cardio is enough to get your muscles moving and your heart rate up, which is the type of exercise recommended for cramp relief. For an added bonus, chatting it up with your gal pal will let you vent about work, your BF, or other things that especially set you off during that time of the month.
Go swimming: Hitting the pool is a great way to relieve cramps and get your exercise on. Since your body feels so light and free, you can move your limbs in all directions without having to expend much energy to hold your body weight. I wouldn't try to beat your best lap time, but rather focus on moving with ease through the water, and doing what feels good. All that movement and increased blood flow is sure to lift your energy levels and relieve your headache (if you have one), and I find spending time underwater also calms my mind.
Do strength training moves that target your abs: I know this seems a little odd to purposely tense up the area that already feels like it's in knots, but doing ab work can actually bring relief. The relaxing Scissor Abs move will target your lower abs as well as loosen tight hips and hamstrings - all of which can contribute to menstrual cramps.

Continue reading to hear more exercise ideas to relieve period symptoms.

Frugal Fido: 13 Ways to Save Bucks on Your New Dog

Emily Co — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:00:54 PDT

The cost of raising a dog is extremely high. In fact, if you look at rates to fly with your dog on airplanes, it's sometimes almost equivalent to what we humans are paying for a plane ticket. And it all adds up - you end up spending a never-ending amount of cash on toys, crates, flea medication, checkups, and the list goes on. However, many think the high costs of raising a dog are totally worth it. To reduce the costs of what you think is a necessary expense, here are some tips on saving money on your new dog:

Adopt a Doggie: If you're not too picky about the breeds, getting your dog from a shelter is cheaper than spending over a thousand for a purebred puppy from a breeder. Further, many of the pets have already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered, which will definitely save you money in vet bills.
Pick a Responsible Breeder: If you have your heart set on a pooch from a breeder, make sure you do your homework lest you end up with a sick dog from a puppy mill. Do research online to see what qualities a responsible breeder has, and go take a look at the dog and inspect the environment it's being raised in. Ask for references from sources like the breeder's vet, ask to see the dog's parents (if they are around) and quiz her on how she raises her dogs. Here are more questions to ask a prospective breeder.
Costco For Pets or Buy Online: Check to see if there is a warehouse superstore for pet supplies in your area. For example, Pet Club in the Bay Area gives great discounts if you buy in bulk. Great for buying items in bulk such as urine pads, cleaning solvent, and poop bags. Another option is to see if you can find better deals online - Four Paws wee wee pads are available on Amazon at a 46 percent discount, so be sure to look around online for great bargains.
Neuter or Spay at the ASPCA: Spaying or neutering your dog can be extremely pricey. Check out your local ASPCA for cheaper prices on the surgery. To compare prices, I called a local vet that quoted me a hefty $800 for a small breed puppy, while the ASPCA in San Francisco quoted me $225. However, after asking around, my friend told me about an even better deal at another ASPCA, located a little further away in Oakland, CA, which charged $100 to spay/neuter. Be sure to check out the prices of the different clinics, even if they are under the same organization. The local Humane Society clinics were even cheaper so you might want to check out their prices as well. Lesson to learn: always shop around for pet health services.
Housebreak Your Dog: If you train your dog to "go" outside of your house, you don't have to waste money buying expensive pee pads and you'll be using less cleaning solvent for the messes that accidentally spill from the pad to the floor.

For more tips to saving on Fido, read after the jump.