FitSugar

What is your dream winter vacation?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lately I have been thinking about getting out of dodge for a winter vacation.

These shots of Cameron really inspire me to head for the waves, but a week skiing could be great too. Ahhh...but it is just a dream for me. What about you -

What is your dream winter vacation? Do you escape the cold or celebrate it?

Meeting My Sperm Donor

The Good Men Project — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:00:50 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Ben Sommer, conceived through alternative insemination, is a young man now and tells the story of deciding to meet his donor.

I grew up in a middle-class home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with two loving parents, both of whom are women. My conception was perhaps the most organized and scientific miracle of the modern American family - my architecture, the dream of dozens of individuals conducting their work across thousands of miles.

Objectifying Ryan Gosling

I was conceived through alternative insemination. A donor submitted his sperm to the Sperm Bank of California in Oakland (TSBC). Later, it was sent to the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. Since opening its doors in 1982, TSBC has helped families without the ability to conceive on their own to birth over 2,000 children. Two thirds of those have ended up, like me, being raised in a lesbian household. TSBC is also the first sperm bank to offer a donor-identity-release program, which allows children of alternative insemination access to their donors' information when they turn 18.

I am not as much an oddity as you might think. As of 2005, some 270,000 children in the United States had same sex-parents. We are a generation that is just now beginning to come of age and able to share our stories. This is mine.

Growing up in a lesbian household was much like growing up in any other family unit, I imagine: vacations to Cape Cod, parents working late and sometimes not, play dates with a diverse group of friends.

I never gave much thought to that mysterious figure across the country. I never questioned the fact that I didn't have a father. As far as I was concerned I didn't need one. Is having two moms really all that different than having a mom and a dad? Parents are parents, right? I didn't see a difference at the time. My parents didn't either - at least at first.

They decided to conceive through a donor, in part, to avoid the complications that a third parent would bring. Asking a close male friend to donate, like some couples have done, can create unforeseen consequences. In the past, there have been custody battles between the donor and the parents raising the child. This was the case with a friend of mine, whose parents arranged donation from a male family friend. With a semi-anonymous donor like the man my parents chose, it would be clear who my parents were. And it was.

That's not to say that it was smooth sailing. "When we first learned you were going to be a boy, we really panicked," my mother told me recently. "Who's going to teach him to throw a ball? We didn't have many male friends. There was even basic stuff, like who's going to teach him to pee standing up. That doesn't come naturally."

Read the rest of the story below.

Your Prepregnancy Bucket List

LilSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:27:40 PDT

If you're starting to think about getting pregnant, you've probably heard plenty of advice on all of the things you should be doing: getting your finances in order, taking prenatal vitamins, learning your company's maternity leave policy . . . but what about the fun stuff? The trips you want to take, and the splurges you want to make? We've come up with the ultimate bucket list of all the purely selfish, indulgent things that you should enjoy before you become pregnant, because oh baby, is your life about to change!

The Trip of a Lifetime If there's a vacation destination that you and your significant other have always talked about traveling to, but deemed too expensive, far away, or impractical, now's a great time to splurge and go for it.
Adventures Always dreamed of skydiving, mountain climbing, or taking flying lessons? Take the plunge! Once women become mothers, their mindsets are apt to change, and a sense of responsibility often outweighs that of adventure.
Get in Your Girl Time While being a mom doesn't mean that you'll have to cut ties with your girlfriends, it sometimes does make fitting in plans (especially evening plans) a lot more challenging. Take advantage of this time, and enjoy going out with your girlfriends. Stay out an hour later than you'd planned, have another glass of wine, and enjoy their company.
Culture Vulture If you count leisurely afternoons perusing art galleries or scoring tickets to the hottest show in town as favorite pastimes, soak it up now (and continue to do so once you get pregnant!) Once "me time" means having to hire a babysitter, you may find yourself hesitant to devote three hours of your day to checking out an exhibition or show.
Spread Out Depending on where you live, your soon-to-be nursery space may be the only cherished "free space" in the house or apartment. If you're currently using it as a guest room, take advantage and invite out-of-town friends and family to come spend a weekend before that queen-size bed is replaced by a crib!
Indulge in Something You Deserve Whether it's a spa day, a pair of shoes, or a completely superfluous kitchen gadget, go for it now. Babies need lots of stuff . . . tons of it, in fact. And then there's college savings to start planning for. This may be your last time to spend on yourself without feeling guilty, so treat yourself - just this one time. We promise we won't tell!
Encourage Your Husband to be a Little Selfish as Well If you're thinking about a baby, you're probably not in this alone. The hypothetical little person that you can't stop thinking about is going to have a huge impact on both of you. So encourage your husband or partner to buy the new TV, join that basketball league he keeps talking about, or take a golfing trip with his buddies now.
Sleep Late It may not sound like a tremendous indulgence, but once you have a lil one to worry about, even the best laid plans for a great night's sleep are going to be put to rest. So if your weekend schedule allows it, go ahead, be lazy and love it.

Peruse J.Crew's Colorful March Catalog, Plus Spring Styling Tips

Chi Diem Chau — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:35:45 PST

J.Crew just released its March catalog, shot in the picturesque mountains of Uruguay, supplying us with cute color combo inspiration and covetable Spring separates. As expected, the looks are perfectly styled, showcasing green sequined skirts with purple cotton shirts, bright yellow shorts with cobalt-blue toppers, and our favorite look, silk printed trousers paired with an effortless denim button-up. Accessories featured an array of two-tone leather satchels and cute woven sandals, and if a warm vacation is set in your future, check out J.Crew's collection of sweet vintage-inspired swimwear. Read below for styling tips we culled from the collection, then peruse the slideshow to see the rest of the lookbook.

Spring styling tips:

Do invest in a pair pf printed trousers. Dress it up with heels and a silk blouse for an evening out, or downplay the print with a white tee and oxfords for a more casual effect.
Combine solid bright separates together, like a green skirt with an orange shirt, to create a simple yet standout Spring look.
We love feminine pencil skirts. Style it up with a denim button-up shirt and platform sandals for a chic office-appropriate ensemble.

This Winter, Hit the Swiss Slopes at New Hotel Nira Alpina

Elka Karl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:20:24 PDT

For the alpine sports enthusiasts with a keen design eye, Switzerland's new hotel Nira Alpina, a glass-and-timber-built mountain sanctuary, is the place to be this Winter.

From award-winning hotelier MPS Puri, Nira Alpina is the only hotel in Switzerland's Engadin Valley to offer guests a true ski in, ski out experience. Just five kilometers away from the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz in the village of Silvaplana, Nira Alpina's location grants guests access to some of Switzerland's highest mountains, including Corvatsch, the highest mountain in the upper Engadin skiing region.

With 120 kilometers of ski runs, outdoor recreation and natural beauty abound, with gorgeous views over Lake Silvaplana, as well as up to the mountains. Skiers can access a private, glassed-in covered walkway that leads directly to the Corvatsch cable car, which guests can take to reach the mountain peaks and virgin powder snow.

Keep reading to find out more about the Nira Alpina's design and offerings.

Summer Travel Guide: Sicily

Brittney Stephens — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:05:42 PDT

Sicily is home to heavenly beaches, majestic mountains and Europe's oldest active volcano. The coasts are gold with orange and lemon orchards, and each scenic region offers something totally different. When it comes to Sicilian vacation style, the most important thing to keep in mind is your shoes - it's inevitable that you'll do tons of walking, so comfortable footwear is essential. The climate during the Summer months is dry and hot, so keep cool with lots of easy, breezy cotton and linen fabrics. Skirts and sundresses are favored over shorts, so feel free to pack all your ladylike favorites. Whether you're stretched out on the beaches of Lido Mazzarò, hiking Mount Etna, or getting dolled up for La Passeggiata, we've put together some looks that will have you living la dolce vita in no time.

Don't Let Camping Break the Bank - Rent Gear Instead

Michele Foley — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:42:28 PDT

I love renting bikes when I am on vacation. It's a great way to incorporate exercise when traveling and an easy way to test out the waters if you're thinking about buying one. But bikes aren't the only fitness-related things you can rent, which is something I learned when visiting my favorite outdoor gear store, Sports Basement.

While I was waiting in line to make my purchase I was surprised to see someone renting all the essentials for a weekend of camping: tent, stove, sleeping bag, and even trekking poles. When I spoke to the salesperson, he told me that more and more local gear stores are renting equipment because it encourages people to hit the outdoors without having to make a major investment up front. I was also happy to find out that national chains like REI, Sports Authority, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Sport Chalet also rent gear. But if you're nowhere near a sports store, don't fret, you can also rent gear online or by phone from LowerGear, who will ship the equipment to you. Besides camping equipment, most stores rent gear for snow sports, tennis, water sports, and cycling. In general, the rental prices are up to 90 percent off what it would cost to buy the same stuff.

I'm pretty stoked about the idea of renting gear and am already making plans to rent a two-person kayak with a friend. It's a great way to get in shape without having to commit yourself to a huge investment, especially for sports that have a limited season.

Lonely Planet: The Most Surprising (and Often Neglected) US Cities

Guest Writer — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:05:11 PDT

Editor’s note: Summer travel is heating up! The following guest post was written by Robert Reid, the US travel editor for Lonely Planet. He will be guest blogging on Savvy for the Summer, helping you find some great ideas of how to get your vacation on this travel season.

Some cities in the US will always be prime-time tourist attractions. The New Yorks, the LAs, the Vegases, the San Franciscos. And they justify their fame. For the penultimate article of Lonely Planet’s 15 Weekends of Summer season, I’d like to pay a nod to five of the most surprising US cities – ones that are sometimes zipped through and given less time as we blaze trails elsewhere. And if you want a free mini-guide to NOLA, we’re giving one away on the Lonely Planet website.

Pittsburgh

No city has improved more in the past 15 or 20 years that Pennsylvania’s burg with the "h." Steel town doesn’t quite describe what you find in this walkable downtown area of golden bridges, with funicular trains going up the Allegheny mountains and a serious investment in art. There are sculptures across downtown, but the best museums are across Andy Warhol Bridge where you can see the Warhol Museum, huge rotating fish on sticks outside the Children’s Museum and the avant-garde Mattress Factory, built from, um, an old mattress factory.

North of downtown, the Strip District is lined with eateries and bars; big for breakfast is the timeless Deluca’s. Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater is near Ohiopyle, a 90-minute drive southwest.

Denver

Long dismissed as just the gateway to the mountains – yes, the mountains! – Denver has never made a better case for sticking around a couple days. They’re easily filled by a visit to the superb collection of Western art at the avant-garde Denver Art Museum. Catch a show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and spend lazy hours in the historic LoDo district, which is filled with good restaurants and bars (Denver takes beer very seriously; the governor rose to fame based on his microbrew credentials). Stay at the Brown Palace Hotel, one of the country’s great historic hotels.

And, yeah, there’s always the mountains.

Read on for more surprising US cities.

How to Be the Perfect Houseguest

LearnVest — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:15:17 PDT

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

At the beach, in the mountains or in the big city, being invited to a friend’s place not only lets us catch up with loved ones but also lets us save on hotels.

Of course, the flip side is that there’s a totally different set of expectations (read: you can’t throw your towels on the floor). If you’re not a master of houseguest etiquette, you might come off as ungrateful and inadvertently ruin your chances of visiting again next year.

We don’t want you to break a long tradition of shacking up at your aunt’s cute beach house every summer, so we’ve put together a guide to being the perfect houseguest.

Be Clear About How Long You Will Stay

Make sure you lock down your visiting dates far in advance with your hosts . . . at their invitation. Don’t ever be vague or hope to stretch out your visit after you arrive. If your BFF says she’ll be busy after Labor Day, book your return ticket to leave a full day before so she has some time to herself.

No Surprises, Please

Never show up unannounced - or, even worse, with a puppy, child, significant other or friend (even if it’s a mutual friend), unless you've cleared it with your host beforehand. You may call it spontaneous and fun . . . your cousin and her husband may call it inconvenient.

Read on to find out how to be the perfect houseguest.

From a FitSugar Reader: Mini Workouts in 15 Minutes or Less

Fit Community — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:53:00 PDT

It's the season to be busy! Luckily, FitSugar reader getfitgirl has your crazy schedule in mind. She posted these suggestions for fitting in a few exercises, no matter how booked your social card, in the FitSugar Community.

With Summer here, everyone seems to be short on time. Vacations are being planned, friends and family are visiting, and you just can't seem to find 20 minutes to get in a workout. Try these tips to fit in mini workouts throughout the day. Something is better than nothing when trying to stay fit and healthy.

Run the rack: Pick a body part to train. Start with a light weight, 5 lbs and do 8 reps, rest 10 sec, proceed to next weight on rack, do another 8 reps, rest 10 sec., then 8 reps with the next weight. etc. Work your way up the rack until you can't do more than 2 reps. Rest 20 sec. and proceed back down the rack. It should take about 15 min.

Check out more mini workout suggestions after the break!