FitSugar

The Germiest Places at Home

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:50:43 -0700

I know that I've been a little obsessed about germs lately, but it's flu season and I'm trying to get through this one unharmed. I'm washing my hands constantly, not touching my face - I'm even making my own hand sanitizer. The Hygiene Council just released this year's findings of its annual home hygiene study, and the results have me motivated to do some serious Fall cleaning. Here are some of the germiest places found in the home, in case you want to get your cleaners out too.

View Slideshow ›

Welcome CasaSugar! Win A $5,000 west elm Sweepstakes!

Community Manager — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:23:40 -0700

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the Sugar Network Family, CasaSugar!

Offering design ideas and inspiration, CasaSugar is the place to indulge all of your home-related hankerings, from decorating trends and gardening tips to strategies for getting organized. For a more complete list of features, visit CasaSugar now!

To celebrate the launch of CasaSugar, we have teamed up with our generous friends at west elm to offer a fabulous $5,000 sweepstakes!

Entering is easy: Just visit the contest page and create a wish list of your favorite west elm products worth up to $5,000. By creating and saving your list, you'll be entered to win all of the items on it! You must be a TeamSugar member to enter, so register here if you aren't already.

You can edit your list as much as you'd like between now and when the contest closes on August 19 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Please, only one entry per person. One grand prize winner (chosen at random) will receive all of his or her wish list items, and your west elm makeover will be featured on CasaSugar. In addition, we'll also randomly choose 100 second prize winners, who'll each receive $25 west elm gift certificates.

Household Hot Spots: Where Does the Bacteria Lurk?

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Just when you thought you were safe, WebMD is here to tell you that your house may be germier than you think. Plus all those bacterial hot spots might not be where you would expect them to be.

According to a new study performed by The Hygiene Council, the common household toilet bowl is home to the most bacteria per square inch. Not surprising is the fact that the Hygiene Council is funded by Reckitt Benckiser, the company that makes Lysol. I find that almost as interesting as the fact that the area around the bathtub drain contains more bacteria than the bathroom floor.

Interested in seeing all the rankings? Then read more

1. Toilet bowl: 3.2 million bacteria/square inch
2. Kitchen drain: 567,845 bacteria/square inch
3. Sponge or counter-wiping cloth: 134,630 bacteria/square inch
4. Bathtub, near drain: 119,468 bacteria/square inch
5. Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964 bacteria/square inch
6. Kitchen faucet handle: 13,227 bacteria/square inch
7. Bathroom faucet handle: 6,267 bacteria/square inch
8. Bathroom sink, near drain: 2,733 bacteria/square inch
9. Pet food dish, inside rim: 2,110 bacteria/square inch
10. Kitchen floor, in front of sink: 830 bacteria/square inch
11. Toilet floor, in front of toilet: 764 bacteria/square inch
12. Kitchen counter top: 488 bacteria/square inch
13. Bathroom counter top: 452 bacteria/square inch
14. Garbage bin: 411 bacteria/square inch
15. Dish towel: 408 bacteria/square inch
16. Toy: 345 bacteria/square inch
17. Kitchen tabletop: 344 bacteria/square inch
18. Home office phone or refrigerator door: 319 bacteria/square inch
19. Toilet seat: 295 bacteria/square inch
20. Bathroom light switch: 217 bacteria/square inch
21. Microwave buttons: 214 bacteria/square inch
22. Kitchen chopping board: 194 bacteria/square inch
23. Child-training potty: 191 bacteria/square inch
24. Infant changing mat and infant high chair: 190 bacteria/square inch
25. Kitchen phone: 133 bacteria/square inch
26. Bathroom door's inside handle: 121 bacteria/square inch
27. Toilet's flush handle: 83 bacteria/square inch
28. TV remote control: 70 bacteria/square inch
29. Home office computer keyboard: 64 bacteria/square inch
30. Home office computer mouse: 50 bacteria/square inch

Now that I have turned you into a germ-a-phobe, I just want to remind you that the CDC recommends washing hand thoroughly for 15 seconds with soap.

Source

At Home Spa Treatment: Moisturize Dry Hair

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

We all know olive oil is a healthy fat that is essential to our health, but it's not just for salads and warm bread. You can use it to nourish your dry and fuzzy hair. I've tried leave-in conditioners and deep conditioning treatments, but they don't seem to work. Here's something I do about twice a month, but you can do it once a week if your hair is really thirsty.

Here's what you'll need:

1/4 cup olive oil (you may need more or less depending on how long and thick your hair is)
plastic grocery bag

Here's what to do:

Rinse your hair with warm water.
Pour about 1 tbsp into the palm of your hands, rub them together to warm up the oil, then using your fingertips, gently massage it into your scalp and hair.
Continue doing this until your hair is covered evenly with the oil, making sure the ends of your hair are treated too.
Now place the plastic bag over your hair, tying the ends in a knot or securing it closed with a hair clip or clothespin.
Keep the oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse, shampoo and condition as usual.

That's it. Your hair will look and feel shiny, soft, and smooth. It's especially good if you have thick and curly hair, but it's also great to do in the summer when the sun and saltwater can really dry out your hair. Try it and let me know what you think.

Fit's Tips: If your hair is NOT dry, do not try this treatment - your hair will end up looking really flat and greasy.

Source

Flavia: Drinks By the Cup

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:00:17 -0800

Flavia is a coffee pot, espresso machine and teapot all-in-one. It makes single cup servings, so everyone can get a fresh cup of whatever they want.

It's really easy to use - you place your cup on the tray, insert your drink packet, close the door, press the button, and that's it. You've got a hot cup of anything your little heart desires.

There are over 30 drinks to choose from. You can make gourmet coffees and Wellbeing drinks uch as Blueberry Balance, Lemon Calm, and Raspberry Spark.

They also have fresh leaf teas, which actually have real food ingredients (I was skeptical, at first). You can get English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Green Tea.

Need something that's a little more sweet? You can make indulgent drinks like cappuccino and chai latte with frothy toppings. These of course are not so good for you, but the website contains all the nutritional info, so you know for sure.

The machine itself will cost you about $130. It comes with 18 sample drink packets. If you want to buy more (which you'll have to), that 18 pack will cost you $9.95.

Personally, I think anything that does everything, can't do it very well. But if you aren't a drink snob, and you have limited counter space, the Flavia could be your new favorite thing. Plus, because it's so easy to use and cleanup, you'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the warm goodness.

Would You Be More Likely to Use a Treadmill at Home or at the Gym?

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:00:00 -0800

Some people have exercise equipment at home that's used more often as a drying rack.

Some women despise going to the gym more than going for their annual pap smear, and their well worn exercise equipment is a permanent fixture in their living rooms.

I think we can all agree - There's no way we could do this at the gym.

So which do you prefer? Would you be more likely to use a treadmill at home or at the gym?

Relax Already: Decorating for the Holidays

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:15:00 -0800

Holidays got you starting to majorly stess out? Thanksgiving is enough to handle let alone everything that follows. One thing that always stresses me out is decorating. Ugh!

This year, go easy on the outside decorations, this way you will be less stressed and able to focus on making the indoors cheery. Your neighbor who has the animated manger scene with strobe lights and a paid Santa actor always takes the cake and no one even looks at your house anyway-- give yourself a break this year. A pretty wreath on your front door tastefully says Happy Holidays. Sitting in front of the fire and sipping some warm tea is a lot more relaxing than stringing 4,000 light bulbs on your frozen gutters.

Defibrillator for Your Home?

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:15:00 -0800

Wow, I've seen one of these used on ER millions of times, but did you know that you can now have a defibrillator in your home?

It's a great idea if you or someone you know has a heart condition. But they don't come cheap.

For the whopping price of $1495.00, you can purchase a HeartStart Home Defibrillator. Some folks think it is just like having a fire extinguisher in your home, wearing your seat belt, or having airbags in your car. I don't think I'd go so far as to buy one though, but it's cool to think I could be like Dr. Yang on Grey's Anatomy.

Don't Let Traveling Get You in a Bind

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.

For more helpful tips keep reading.

Stop Hating the Gym and Start Loving It

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:50:43 -0800

If you are dreading moving your workouts indoors due to falling temperatures, let me help you learn to love, or at least tolerate, the gym. Here are some common reasons people hate hitting the gym, and solutions to help you overcome the hurdles.

I hate the gym because . . .	The solution
It's too expensive.	Go price hunting. There are so many different types of gyms that offer various services, so find one that fits your budget. Instead of paying $90 a month for a gym that has cardio machines, a weight room, classes, a pool, and a yoga studio, figure out what's most important to you and just pay for that. A gym down the street from me is only $10 a month for cardio and weight machines. Not bad at all.
It's too far away from my home.	If you can't find a gym close to where you live, try to find one close to where you work. That way you can head over on your lunch break or after work.
The cardio machines are boring.	Find a way to make them more enjoyable. I like to download audio books or podcasts onto my iPod. Listening really helps pass the time. Switching to different machines in one workout also helps beat boredom. Or try competing with a stranger.

To learn more ways to start loving the gym, keep reading.