FitSugar

Drug Testing in Public Schools, A Good Idea?

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:00:00 PST

We have all heard about random drug testing in our respective places of employment and in professional sports, but what about in public schools?

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recently announced that it would be holding four regional summits promoting random student drug testing in public middle and high schools. The program, which has actually already been implemented in almost 1,000 schools across the country, requires that kids submit to random drug testing if they would like to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. The tests would be looking for cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, opium-based substances, oxycontin and steroids.

Do you guys think random drug testing in our schools is a good idea?

Plan Summer Itineraries With a Time Traveler

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:01:01 PDT

Ready for Summer travels is the recently released Yahoo! TimeTraveler, a free app that offers guided tours in 29 different cities, including London, New York, San Francisco, and Paris, among others. I tried out the app on cities I have lived in (Amsterdam, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and Dallas), so I feel like I have a firm idea of major landmarks every tourist should hit. The app itself is easy and intuitive to use; however, I see it more as a supplement to travel itineraries. It needs some major updates before I'd be willing to trust it to plan my itinerary entirely.

TimeTraveler Pros:

The app generates a list of attractions to see in a certain time frame. However, unwanted attractions can be removed with a swipe of the finger, and the app will generate a refreshed list of sights.
For each city, the app shows an interactive map highlighting the destinations on the itinerary (and in which order they will be visited). The map also pins nearby attractions and restaurants.
All the basic information for each attraction is right there in one place. The app pulls travel details, hours of operation, photos, and a brief description and history of each destination.

Read where the app missed the traveling mark.

5 Simple Techie Ways to Share Your Wedding Photos

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:01:44 PDT

Remember when disposable cameras were a regular wedding standby? Thanks to technology, photo sharing has definitely grown easier. lLong gone are the days of having to develop film, make copies, and send prints to friends. Now it's as simple as snapping, uploading, and adding a tag.

Looking for a simple way to swap event photos with your friends? Here are five easy ways to share:

Facebook group: Before the event, create a Facebook group and invite other guests to share their photos on the group's page. Take it a step further by making multiple groups according to who will be there - for instance, one group for friends, one for family, coworkers, etc.
Twitter/Instagram: When it comes to Twitter and Instagram, it's all about the hashtags. Ask friends to add a specific hashtag, like #KellyandMattWedding720, so that everyone can click on the tag and easily access all the event photos in one place.
Picasa album: Do most of your friends have a Google account? Try creating a Picasa album where they can add their own snaps. Send an email invitation for friends to access the album, and then share the link with pals who'd like to see the photos.
Hipstamatic D-Series app: The free Hipstamatic D-Series app allows you to share a "roll" of up to 24 pictures with friends, each of whom can upload their own perspectives of the bash. Even better? You can order prints straight from the Hipstashop.
Flickr group: If all your friends are on Flickr, then go for a group where you can each upload your favorite shots from the day. Make it completely public to give anyone access, go invitation-only to keep it private, or stay totally private if you have no intention of making the album public in the future.

Do you have any tips for sharing event photos? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Emily Steffen via Style Me Pretty

One Awesome Thing: A Swimsuit to Make You Feel Like a Bond Girl

Noria Morales — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:00:15 PDT

In my quest to find a swimsuit that gives my post-baby body plenty of coverage and curves, I've found two solutions: neoprene and nonstop Pilates. Let's go with neoprene for now. The lightweight rubber material, used in scuba gear, helps suck you in and smooth over dimples and rolls, curing you from a case of the jiggles. A wetsuit, however, is not the answer.
Enter Lisa Marie Fernandez, the fashion-stylist-cum-swimsuit-designer who made neoprene fashionable with her line of sleek and, yes, sporty (but mostly sleek) suits. This season, she partnered with British designer Peter Pilotto (and prints master) to create a collection of gorgeous printed swimwear. My favorite is the Farrah ($495). The maillot features curved seam details to add some shape to the midsection, cap sleeves to make arms look thinner, and a sexy front zip to show off decolletage à la a classic Bond girl. At $495, it's not a guilt-free buy, but after trying on so many suits that don't help, it's worth it to find one that does. Plus, I'm totally obsessed with the artful print.

Peter Pilotto/Lisa Marie Fernandez Farrah swimsuit ($495)

16 Memorial Day Discounts to Look Out For

Emily Co — Sun, 27 May 2012 00:21:20 PDT

As always, when it's time for a holiday weekend, everyone's looking forward to the extra day off - as well as the sales and discounts. Memorial Day is no different. Although we've given you the lowdown on which products you should keep an eye out for, here are a couple of great sales going on:

Amazon: Up to 60 percent off select women's, men's, and children's clothing.
Macy's: 15 percent off and free shipping with the code MEMDAY.
Pottery Barn: Save up to 60 percent on hundreds of items, such as umbrellas, lanterns, outdoor rugs, and more.
West Elm: Extra 15 percent off sales items with the promo code MEMDAY12.
Nordstrom: Nordstorm's half yearly sale on women's and children's items.
Bloomingdale's: Bloomingdale's Big Brown Sale offers discounts ranging from 20 to 65 percent.
REI: Save up to 30 percent on clothing and outdoor and sports gear.
Ikea: Deduct your restaurant charges when you purchase over $100 worth of home furnishings.
Quiznos: Small Sub, regular fountain drink, and chips combo for $2.99 if you show this coupon.
Tumi: Up to 40 percent off select items.
Sears: Over 300 Memorial Day deals.
JC Penney: Free shipping if you use the promo code JCPSHIP.
Puma: 30 percent discount if you use the code PUMASAVE30. Also, for every $50 spent between now and May 31, you get $25 to spend during the month of June.
Best Buy: 10 to 25 percent off major appliances.
Kohl's: Up to 75 percent off select home items, and if you use the promo code SUMMER20, then you get 20 percent off.
Ralph Lauren: Free shipping with promo code MAYFS12 and 25 percent off select sale items.
Perry Ellis: 40 percent off all online purchases with the code PEMEMORIAL40.

4 Reasons We Can't Wait to Play Harry Potter For Kinect

Laura Marie Given — Sat, 26 May 2012 09:02:00 PDT

There's a book series, a film series, a Florida amusement park, a London studio tour, and, coming this Fall, there will also be the Harry Potter For Kinect video game! Based on the eight films, the game gives diehard fans a chance to experience the movies' most memorable moments for themselves, whether as a character or as their own avatar. Check out the top four reasons we're excited to play:

Pretending we're wizards: Thanks to hands-free and voice-recognition technology, users can cast spells using physical maneuvers or by calling out spell names. We're already practicing our "Expelliarmus!" technique.
Flying (sort of): It's a dream come (virtually) true. Gamers will have the opportunity to fly on a broomstick for their very own Quidditch match.
Walking in Harry's shoes: With the game, users can experience some of Harry's classic moments, like choosing a house at Hogwarts, visiting Ollivanders, and confronting He Who Shall Not Be Named in a final, dramatic battle.
Some friendly competition: Select co-op gameplay to connect with wizardly friends, and master lessons so you can challenge other opponents in competitive minigames.

Do you plan to buy Harry Potter For Kinect?

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas From the Community

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:16:57 PDT

If you're looking for breakfast inspiration, then you've come to the right place! Here are a few of our favorite new recipes from the FitSugar Healthy Recipe community group.

If you're entertaining a large party, then cooking up a healthy breakfast enchilada casserole is an easy way to feed the crowd.

With a decadent name like upside-down banana-bread pancakes with maple cream, who would have guessed this recipe is oil-, sugar-, and gluten-free? Not us.

Gluten-free doughnuts with berry frosting cream? You don't have to ask us twice.

Savvy Links: 10 Guilt-Free Strategies For Saying No

Emily Co — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:42:08 PDT

10 guilt-free strategies for saying no - Real Simple
Celine Dion sells her $29 million private island - Tecca
My nonprofit career means I can barely afford groceries - LearnVest
Lessons new grads will learn - The Billfold
The real reason single women may be working less - HuffPost Women
How to do black-tie on the cheap - Corporette
6 tips to rocking yard sales this weekend - Budgets Are Sexy
Make your dream career a reality for less than $100 - Wise Bread
5 reasons not to check your email over the holiday weekend - The Grindstone

What Makes Chili Chili?

Sara Yoo — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:15:25 PDT

Recently, reader Blanca123 raised some interesting questions when responding to our recipe for President Obama's chili:

"Kindly explain why you call this pitifully flavored 'meat one-pot' a chili . . . Where's the heat? No cayenne, red pepper flakes or even hot sauce, much less real fresh chiles? Turmeric? Why?"

She sure got us thinking about what are the intrinsic elements of a true pot of chili. At its most basic level, the slow-simmered one-pot dish contains meat, tomatoes, and some form of heat (chiles, chili powder, hot sauce, etc.), but as most fierce chili chefs will tell you, the secret's in the sauce: everyone has his or her own magical blend.

Traditional Texas-style chili is also known as chili con carne: a blend of meat, tomatoes, and chiles, but strictly free of one ingredient. As devout Texas chili adherents like to say, "If you know beans about chili, you know chili ain't got no beans." Chili beans (that is, chili con carne with beans) is also a perfectly acceptable dish, but don't omit that key second word. However, whether in the Lone Star State or elsewhere, beans often show up in chili recipes and were used historically when meat was expensive or scarce.

So we want to hear from you: beans or no beans? Does it need to be three-alarm heat or can it still be parked at the station? Can it still carry the lofty title when made with white beans? What makes chili . . . well, chili?

Link Time: Top Chef Masters Season 4 Lineup Announced

Susannah Chen — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:53:05 PDT

Top Chef Masters announces its season four lineup - Eater
Meet bottarga, known as the poor man's caviar - Food52
Frito-Lay releases gluten-free chips - Delish
See a magician pour beer from an iPad - Grub Street NY
This $295 burger's got a diamond-encrusted toothpick - Zagat
50 new ways to cook chicken - HuffPost Food
Get to know all of the country's regional BBQ sauces - The FN Dish