FitSugar

When Is a Fever Too High?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:49:00 PST

With the nasty flu bug making its rounds, there's only so much eating healthy, getting enough rest, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and avoiding germs one can do. If you're unlucky enough to get the flu, your body will hike up your body temperature to boil away all those germs. So is there a point when your temperature can get too high?

When you get the flu, a sudden high fever is totally normal, and it can get as high as 104° F and last for three to four days. The best thing you can do is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, since a fever can cause you to become dehydrated. Don't attempt to cool off your skin with cold packs since they'll just make you shiver, which will end up raising your body temperature. Instead you should alternate between taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours to help reduce your fever. Alternating these meds will help to prevent accidental overdose, and sometimes the combination of the two will be more effective in bringing down your fever. But if your fever persists for more than five days or goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

In Season: Chervil

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:45:28 PDT

With Spring in full bloom, there's no better time to inject the aniselike flavor of chervil into a tired recipe for a new taste of inspiration. Closely related to carrots and parsley, this herb has been around for thousands of years. But while its flavor has been a longtime staple in European cuisine, chervil is a relatively new herbal pleasure in most American kitchens. Sometimes called "the new parsley," lucky for us, this lovely lacy herb has been popping its cute head up in high-end kitchens all over the country.

When purchasing chervil at the market, be sure to choose stems that stand proud and tall with vibrant green leaves. And like most herbs, chervil's flavor is best fresh. If you're planning on using it in a cooked dish, be sure to add it near the end of the cooking process for the best results. Interested in how to incorporate this cute herb into your next meal? Keep reading for a few recipes starring chervil.

Glee-Ful Highlights From Episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver"

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:49:48 PDT

It turns out that disco isn't dead after all - it's alive and kicking on this week's episode of Glee. In search of an assignment and a way to get through to a few of his troubled students, Mr. Schue finds the answer in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. So what does that mean for us? A little Bee Gees, a little hustle, and a lot of white polyester.

As we get closer to McKinley High's graduation day, the seniors are getting more antsy about their future plans. Even Mr. Schue is starting to get worried about a select three - Finn, Santana, and Mercedes - because they don't have anything set in motion yet. Ready to break down all the big moments? Just

Disco isn't exactly my favorite genre (is it anyone's anymore?), but the episode kicks things off on a good note with a performance of "You Should Be Dancing." Even if it seemingly comes from nowhere, the number got my attention thanks to featuring the three best dancers - Blaine, Mike, and Brittany - in an upbeat number.
If you were missing Mr. Schue's sweet, sweet falsetto, then this episode provides a special treat. Not only does Will lend his pipes to "Night Fever," but we also get to sample some of Sue's moves. I know that Sue is on Team New Directions now, but something about her smiling and grooving out on the dance floor felt bizarre.
Mercedes uses a performance of "Disco Inferno" to prove that she's not just a wayward sheep: she's got big dreams of following in the footsteps of the likes of Mariah and Aretha. The only problem is that she's too scared to act. Luckily, Sam's there to be her white knight with an iPhone. He takes a video of her performing and puts it on YouTube, which gives her a much needed self-esteem boost. It also wins Sam a big smooch for being so supportive. It's about time those two crazy kids got back together!
My favorite performance of the night doesn't even come from the gleeks. It's courtesy of Wade (played by The Glee Project's Alex Newell), who worships Mercedes and Kurt. After he meets them, he decides to perform at Regionals as his female alter ego, "Unique." Oh, and did I mention that he's a member of Vocal Adrenaline? Kurt and Mercedes are conflicted about whether or not they should let Wade go through with it, but in the end he takes the bull by the horns and brings the house down with "Boogie Shoes." Jesse St. James is not pleased, but something tells me that Unique will be the new secret weapon of Vocal Adrenaline.
Mercedes isn't the only one with someone in her corner. Santana's dead set on becoming famous, but Mr. Schue is skeptical about how she'll get there. Brittany steps in to help, except for Brittany, "helping" means making a sex tape that's hilariously called "Two Girls One Cat," featuring Lord Tubbington of course. Santana's a little peeved, but I was surprised at how well she takes the news that everyone in school is talking about her. The whole mess gets cleaned up in no time, because Brittany and Sue have conspired to get Santana a full cheerleading scholarship in college. That's two gleeks who have gotten someone else to fill out college applications for them. Just once, I would like to see that happen in real life.
Rachel and Finn recover from their fight about the future, but Finn's still having serious doubts about whether or not he can make it in the real world as anything other than a competitive eater. He's basically convinced that he peaked in high school, but all it takes is one magical viewing of Saturday Night Fever to make him realize his dream of going inside the actors studio. He tells Rachel that he's ready to go to New York with her, and struts around to "Stayin' Alive" to show off his newfound confidence.

Though this isn't my favorite episode, the scenes for next week's Glee already have me looking forward to a whole lotta Whitney Houston. How'd you feel about the disco flashback?

Photo courtesy of Fox

Spring Dreaming - Our Luxe Designer Shopping Wish List

Chi Diem Chau — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:00:16 PDT

All of the gorgeous Spring runway collections are making their way into our favorite stores and boutiques, which means Spring fever has hit an all-time high here at Fab. We might not have the superstar-status budget to shop all of these pieces, but a girl can always window shop, right? That said, we're daydreaming of all the luxe designer goods we'd like to get our hands on this season: a bright yellow stingray clutch from Proenza Schouler, Dolce & Gabbana's magical ladylike frocks, and the coolest cobalt blue suede jacket from Acne - yes, that's the same one we spotted on Hanneli Mustaparta during NYFW. There are many more designer goods to swoon over; just click the slideshow to see, and perhaps shop, our top 10 luxe picks for Spring dreaming right now.

Jessica Alba Dishes About Her Mommy Must Have and Details of Her New Book!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:32:19 PDT

Just call her supermama. As if having a baby and launching The Honest Company weren't enough to do in one year, Jessica Alba recently announced plans to write her first book, too. The actress and mother of two - Honor, 3, and Haven, 7 months - hopes to share some of the tips and tricks she's learned about motherhood, as well as her methods for creating an eco-friendly and toxin-free environment in her home, with other modern moms who are busy trying to juggle it all.

I spoke with Jessica about her version of healthy living, why we always spot her wearing scarves, and the best trick her own mama taught her about motherhood.

On her forthcoming book about honest living:
"It's what I've learned along the way through trial and error - things that are actually attainable and applicable to me and to my life. I'm not growing organic vegetables at my house and picking them and feeding [them to] my family. I'm a working mom, so for me, it was easier to use disposable diapers. I do the best I can. I make my kids organic food, but I'm not the extreme. I think a lot of people probably fall more in the category where I fall - we want the best for our families, but sometimes we feel like it's too hard and it's too unattainable to go all the way and grow a garden and do that. So where's the happy medium? The book's going to be a very simple handbook on little things you can do that add up and make a big difference."

On sharing new mom tips:
"From room decor to making meals for the week to simple beauty recipes that my grandmother passed down to me made from things that are in your pantry . . . through trial and error, I've figured a few things out, and I'm sure other people have to. So [I'm] putting them together in a very simple, easy-to-read, colorful book. I also want it to be if you only have 10 minutes, you can walk away with something. It's like, what do you pack in your diaper bag that's easy - do you even have a diaper bag? Maybe you just carry a large purse. Maybe you use your purse instead of buying 50 different diaper bags knowing that your purse will probably go better with your outfits. So how do you pick a diaper bag that's neutral and will go with everything? And what do you really need in that diaper bag? In the beginning, I was stuffing my child's entire nursery into the diaper bag and breaking my neck and was like, 'Oh, wait, I forgot my wallet. What's going on?'"

On wearing scarves:
"I wear scarves, mostly because it's an accessory that can dress up an outfit, so you're not just wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. But it's also because if my baby has an accident - and I'm holding the baby - I can cover that accident up! So I'm not walking around with a big puke stain or poo stain on my shirt! Knowing that I don't have time to go home and change, and really, I don't have the space, time, or capacity to pick out five different changes of outfits for my car - it's enough to remember my baby's change of clothes. I have funny little stories about how I learned that lesson [in the book]."

Keep reading for Jessica's thoughts on letting Honor play with the iPad, Jessica Simpson's baby shower, and the importance of the mom community.

The Best Outdoor Weekend Activities For Kids

LilSugar — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:36:12 PST

Is it beginning to feel a lot like Spring where you live? If so, chances are, you and your kids are ready to cure your cabin fever and get outside this weekend.

Encourage Budding Entrepreneurs: Little ones love to feel in control, and giving them their own business opportunity for the day is a great way to teach basic math, social, and even marketing skills. Start a classic lemonade stand, or on a chilly afternoon, try hot chocolate instead. If they're kitchen-savvy, cupcakes or muffins will add an extra "production" element to the plan, and are likely to solicit lots of compliments from the neighbors!
Head Out on a High-Tech Treasure Hunt: Heard of geocaching? The hot, new treasure-hunting trend is a great way for families to embark upon an adventure together. All you need is a GPS device (GPS-enabled mobile phones count), and to sign up for a free membership on geocaching.com. Identify your coordinates on the website, and your GPS will guide you toward your treasure - more than 1 million geocaches are hidden around the world! Even supermodel Cindy Crawford is a fan, as she recently posted about the activity on her Facebook page.
Play Tourist in Your Own Town: Traveling tends out to bring the planner in all of us, but on a typical weekend at home, more often than not, we're guilty of getting stuck in the same old routine. Take advantage of a beautiful day by discovering something new. Whether it requires simply walking out your front door or driving 30 minutes, make sure that everyone in the family learns something from your mini adventure that they didn't know before.
Plan a Picnic: Get the most out of an old-fashioned picnic by including kids in the planning process. Let them help decide on a menu – be it breakfast/brunch food, sandwiches, a healthy snack, or a sweet treat - and pack their own backpacks with games and toys.
Bundle Up and Head to the Beach: It may not quite be bathing-suit season, but kids still love the excitement of going to the beach. If you're lucky enough to live within driving distance, make sure everyone's bundled up and go for a family walk by the sea. If it's windy out, bring a kite - Spring days are often ideal for high-flying fun.
Photo Safari: Encourage your little shutterbugs to get snapping by creating a list of "photo missions," and accompanying them on a photo safari. Include things you're apt to see around your neighborhood - a red door, a mom with a double stroller, a white dog . . . get creative!

The Siku Cam: A Live Show So Cute We Can't Bear It

Sara Yoo — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

Siku fever has hit, and we'll admit it: we're afflicted! The lovable baby polar bear is just 3 months old, but he's already claimed the hearts of animal lovers, environmentalists, and fans of cute. We've seen plenty of adorable photos, but if like us, you just can't get enough, now through a joint effort between Explore.org and Polar Bears International, you can watch Siku live!

Every day from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. EST, the un-bear-ably cute baby polar will appear live via high-definition video from his home at Denmark's Scandinavian Wildlife Park. The live cam's backers hope that he will become an ambassador for his roughly 25,000 relatives remaining in the wild whose survival is threatened by the melting of polar ice. Siku, whose name means "sea ice," would like us all to remember to shrink our carbon footprint in the hopes of saving the polar bears' Arctic home!

For five easy ways you and your pet can help reduce carbon emissions, just keep reading.

Antibiotics Worthless Against Most Sinus Infections, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:53:31 PST

When suffering from the pain and pressure of a sinus infection, getting a prescription for antibiotics becomes priority number one. New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association put this practice into question. Hold onto your tissues folks - scientists found antibiotics don't ease patients' symptoms any faster than placebo pills.

The small study included 166 adults with sinus infections; half were given a 10-day treatment of amoxicillin, a common antibiotic, while the other half were given a placebo. After 10 days, 78 percent of those on antibiotics and 80 percent of those taking the placebo said they felt better or no longer had symptoms. That's because less than two percent of sinus infections are bacterial and require antibiotics to clear up.

Since sinus infections make patients so miserable, doctors often prescribe antibiotics even when they aren't sure if the infection is viral or bacterial. If it's viral, the drugs won't help a lick, and the over-prescribing of antibiotics is contributing to the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics should only be used when symptoms last over 10 days with no signs of improvement, or are accompanied by a fever.

What's a person to do about the sinus congestion and unbearable pain and pressure? Keep reading for natural ways to get sinus infection relief.

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.

Combat Cabin Fever With Katherine Heigl

Sponsor — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:00:00 PST

It's cold out and cabin fever has set in. You've extensively researched (aka Facebook stalked) your New Year's kiss, emptied out your DVR, and polished off the last of those Christmas cookies. What's a girl to do? Head to the movie theater!

You won't want to miss One for the Money. Based on Janet Evanovich's best-selling novel, this boyfriend-friendly flick blends action and, of course, romance. And as the story's heroine, Katherine Heigl definitely brings the laughs. Follow her character, Stephanie Plum, a proud, born-and-bred Jersey girl who is on the trail of a murder suspect who also happens to be her high school ex-boyfriend (hilarity ensues). So, step away from the empty cookie tin and mark your calendar, One for the Money hits theaters Jan. 27!

Can't wait to see the movie? Watch the trailer below and check out the Facebook page here.