FitSugar

Organize Your Health

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:30:00 PDT

On the road to becoming the healthy, happy you, it pays to be organized. Keeping a mental list of all your various projects can be overwhelming. There is just no way to remember all those things you need and want to do.

Many of us use day planners for work, so why not use a planner as a tool for your personal life as well? I came across these from lobotoMe.com. Talk about organization! They make notepads for everything.

My favorite is the Feed ME meal planning to do list. It's a pad of 50 sheets ($8) and helps you plan out your meals for an entire week. On the right-hand side, there is a preprinted grocery list so you can keep track of all of the ingredients you need so you are organized when you go to the grocery store. This way you don't wander into the cookie and chip aisle, and hopefully the organized list keeps you from having to make multiple trips back to the store for forgotten ingredients.

I also like the organizeME Weekly Planner ($16 per pad of 60). It's a way to organize all the chores and errands you need to get done in each day, and a way to remember to take care of yourself too. It has a spot to write down what healthy dinner, exercise, and "me time" you have planned Monday through Sunday. It even has a little spot on the bottom to check off when you've had your 8 glasses of water a day. These sheets can tear off and fold to fit in most daily planners.

Taking care of yourself is something you need to do everyday, and sometimes you need to plan for it in advance. I'm all for anything that can make eating healthy, getting exercise, and staying stress-free easier. There's a lot to keep track of, and these day planners can help keep you on track.

Hello, Kiddo! A Sunny Breakfast Baby Shower

Kate Stahl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:01:27 PST

While a heavy-on-the-dessert lunch might be your typical baby shower meal, we're loving the creative shower Costa Mesa, CA-based wedding planner Jesi Haack recently threw for a friend, who's expecting a little boy. Inspired by phrase "Hello, Kiddo," the morning affair featured a heavy dose of sunny yellow fabrics, golden flowers, and of course, orange juice, along with an omelet bar, kid-inspired foods, sweet signage, and a cute activity that would please even the most shower-game averse friend. Keep clicking to check it out!

Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, and Snacks: Calorie-Burning Recipes For Every Meal

Michele Foley — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:06:58 PST

You're eating right and working out; pretty much doing all the right things to achieve your weight-loss goal. But, did you know that there are foods that actually help burn fat? Added bonus is that they're tasty, healthy, and easy to add in just about every meal. From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, here are six recipes that combine a medley of fat-burning foods!

15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100

Business Insider — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:15:47 PST

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

At first blush, $100 is only $100. It's so easy to fritter away on eating out, entertainment, or booking a trip online.

But you should never underestimate how far $100 can go, even in this economy.

"It's smarter to put that money away because once it's in your pocket, it's pretty much gone," says Joel Larsen, a certified financial planner based in Davis, Calif.

No matter where you are in your financial life, we've compiled 15 tips to help you stretch that Benjamin.

Open a college savings account

"A lot of people will say, 'it's only $100,'" says Larsen, but if you were to save $100 a month over 20 years at a 7% rate of return, you would amass $52,092.67. Impressive, right?

Depending on your financial picture, you'll need to shop around to find the right plan based on investment performances, expenses, and tax exemptions.

Andrew Schrage, founder of the personal finance site, Money Crashers, recommends looking into a 529 College Savings plan set up by governments or colleges to help parents save.

"One of the primary benefits of a 529 savings plan is that it offers tax protection from the federal government," he says. "Also, you may be eligible for tax protection from the state government."

Read on for more.

A Last-Minute Thanksgiving Menu Sure to Impress

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:22:53 PST

For many, Thanksgiving is a monthlong production that involves plenty of planning ahead when it comes to oven space, refrigerator space, and day-of preparation. But even if you're not much of a planner - or you've suddenly been put on the spot to pull off a turkey day feast! - I promise that you can still host a meal worth boasting about afterwards.

The key to a successful last-minute feast is to choose snappy dishes with only a few ingredients, many of which you'll already have on hand. Rest assured, however, that the menu will be anything but mundane:

Gin and it cocktail
Antipasto skewers
Mushroom and brie bruschetta
Shredded brussels sprouts and kale salad
Prosciutto-wrapped turkey roulade
Tomato and bread gratin
Roasted sweet potatoes
Cranberry salsa
Herbed rice salad
Honey cake

More on the menu, and every recipe to go with it, when you keep clicking.

Wedding Planning Duo Carter & Cook Answer Your Big-Day Questions

Tara Sharp — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:10:55 PDT

I had a chance to chat with Southern California-based wedding planning duo Ashlyn Carter and Heather Cook of Carter & Cook Event Co. (full disclosure, they are my wedding planners!), so I asked them some of your big-day dilemmas, and they were happy to share their expertise! From groom duties to wedding planner etiquette, see your questions answered below!

What sort of tasks should be delegated to the groom?
C&C: Depends on the groom. Some grooms want to be involved in every detail because maybe they're better at the planning process than the bride. And other grooms want nothing to do with the planning process. We've had grooms take on anything from planning the meal and choosing the beverages to researching and scheduling all the appointments with potential vendors. Give the groom tasks he's interested in (for example, maybe he's into music . . . let him be in charge of choosing the songs with the DJ or band).

How do you know how many bridesmaids/groomsmen to have?
C&C: The old school rule says you should have one attendant per 50 wedding guests. But I don't believe you have to follow that. At my wedding, my husband and I each had nine attendants, and we loved it! It was like we were our own party!

When dealing with a wedding planner is it OK to shop around? Should you make that transparent so they know they have competition? If you have already looked at venues on your own, should you disclose that information?
C&C: Of course it's OK to shop around. Your wedding planner is an integral part of your wedding, and you want to make sure you connect with them on a personal level and that they understand your vision for the wedding. We find that most of our prospective clients who shop around normally interview the same handful of planners. The wedding community is great, and we happen to be friends with many of the other planners in our area. So we normally figure out when a bride is shopping around. But we totally respect that!

For the rest of C&C's advice, keep reading!

Yoga 101: What Beginners Should Know Before They Go

Leta Shy — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:15:12 PDT

It's almost National Yoga Month! If the celebration (and the free classes) have inspired you to check out a class or two next month, now's the time to bone up on your yoga knowledge. If you have an idea about what to expect your first few times at a yoga studio, the more likely you'll be able to focus on your practice and not whether or not you're doing the wrong thing. And if it turns out you're a yoga fan, you may find yourself reaping the workout's benefits of lengthened and toned muscles in no time.

Interested in learning about what to expect? Check out these tips for your very first yoga class.

Find your yoga personality. Read the descriptions of types of yoga to determine which one interests you the most. And check out this yoga personality guide; whether you're a Type A planner or a spontaneous creative type, we can help you find which type of yoga may be right for you.

Check out a few studios before you commit. Many times studios will have new student specials where you can try out the classes at a reduced rate or for free. But before you saunter in just any class, however, make sure you read this guide on what those yoga class levels really mean.

Read on for more info about what to expect if you're new to yoga after the break.

Work From Home Without Gaining a Pound

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:46:36 PDT

There are tons of perks to working from home: the short commute from bedroom to home office, limited exposure to germs from coughing co-workers, and taking calls in your PJs. These perks are great, but when it comes to your health, working from home could be your downfall. You may be tempted to snack all day long since your kitchen is steps away. It's also tough to motivate yourself to leave your comfy house to exercise. Here are some suggestions for working from home without gaining weight.

Wake up and put on your sports bra and sneaks. Wearing exercise gear (instead of your cozy jammies) will motivate you to work out.
Schedule a time to exercise and stick to it. Write it down in your planner and think of your workout as an appointment you can't miss. If it's tough to break away once your work day begins, exercise before work. Better yet, make a fitness date with a neighbor so you won't be tempted to sleep in.
Take regular breaks from work to do some strength training moves and stretches. Keep a set of weights and a yoga mat in your home office. Since no one is around, you won't feel silly doing some bicep curls or Sun Salutations.
If you have more than one bathroom, use the one that's the farthest away, preferably one that's on a different floor so you have to climb stairs. A few extra steps throughout the day really start to add up.

Keep reading for more tips.

When to Stop Accepting Parents’ Help With Money and Pay the Bill?

LearnVest — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:15:45 PDT

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

Your parents have supported you since you were born, but now you’re an adult. You don’t want to mooch off the ’rents forever, but you’re not sure if there’s a cutoff: at what age, if any, should you start to pick up your parents’ tab? This can come in one of many, many forms: our dad has been sending us care packages with coupons and the comics section since college-has the time come to return the favor?

Erika Safran, certified financial planner and owner of Safran Wealth Advisors, told us: “It’s a personal matter based on the relationship within the family. It’s based on the norm within the family, and it’s dictated by need.”

The Most Important Thing Is Open Communication.

After graduating college and getting her first job, Lauren - our financial planner in residence - was a little taken aback when her parents stopped paying for anything. They wanted to teach her personal responsibility. When she visited her childhood home, they’d make her pay for her own toothpaste! But then she spoke to them about where she was in life and in her career. Since that first toothpaste conversation, her parents have alternately offered and not offered to pay for her plane ticket to visit them, depending on where she’s been in life and on their own personal finances. When they offer, it’s because they want to help, and when they don’t offer, it’s because they know she can swing it. Talking about money is the number one most important thing you can do. Our goal is to change the way people talk about finances: Money should not be taboo!

For more on parents paying for their children, read on.

Delilicious: Tools for Lil Chefs

LilSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:02:45 PST

Williams-Sonoma, the store for mommies with a culinary inclination just launched, wsKids an online destination for lil cooks who want to get their hands in more than the cookie jar.

Featuring recipes, a family meal planner, tips, blogs and instructional videos, the site can help your child create edible delights. And, it offers a fun line of quality kitchen tools. Click slideshow to check them out.