FitSugar

Elegant Solar Powered Totes From Noon Solar

GeekSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:00:06 PST

Back in June I introduced you to the Solar Powered Beach Bag, which happened to be one of the few solar bags on the market at that time. Five months later I bring to you the fashionable Noon Solar totes, which teamsugar's boyfriend couldn't help but share with me. The black leather Cortland Tote shown here features a solar panel on one side so you can face it inwards or outwards, two interior zipper pockets, and one exterior zipper pocket. In order for it to work its charging magic, the included battery box needs to be connected to the solar panel cable located inside the bag. The bag will take about six to eight hours of strong sun to completely charge and if full, the battery box will keep its charge for a few days if not used. Noon Solar bags are completely water and weather proof, so you won't get zapped if the panel gets rained on. The Cortland comes in black or chocolate (shown above) and costs $383. If you scroll down you can also see the Willow which is similar to the Cortland except it has a suede exterior, comes in chocolate and steel, and costs $274. Considering the solar beach bag costs $250, I suggest spending the extra money to have one you can actually use away from the beach. And not only are they pretty to look at, but Noon Solar creates bags that are made with materials that can either biodegradable naturally or be reclaimed and re-used for generations to come.

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Fit Tip: Pick a Time to Work Out and Stick to It

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:30:00 PDT

I know we all have crazy schedules. One day we have to stay late at work for a meeting. The next day a workout time is usurped by an appointment for a haircut. Then we have a lunch meeting with some clients. Of course those all are very important activities that need to get done, but you can't just keep skipping your workout because of them.

Whether or not you're trying to lose weight, exercise should be a part of your weekly schedule. One thing that works for me is scheduling my workouts at the same time, three to five times a week. Noon is the perfect time for me because I have an hour off for lunch and can eat at my desk afterwards. Maybe 7 a.m. works well for you because you never have early meetings. Or maybe your workout may have to wait until after work at 6 p.m., or even later until after you put your kids to bed.

You need to pick a time that you can easily stick to. A time that can't be overtaken easily by something else. This half hour to an hour time slot is just as important as your other appointments you may have. So be sure to schedule your workouts during times you are always free.

Fit's Tips: If you are going to exercise during work, talk to your co-workers and boss about your "workout appointments." It's common courtesy to make sure it's OK with them, and it'll also let them know that you aren't available at that time.

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Online Dating: 5 Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd

YourTango — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:50:50 PDT

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. Today, David Osterczy gives us an excerpt from his new book 101 Online Dating Tips.

Here is a smattering of tips from my latest book, Dating DeMistyfied, 101 Online Dating Tips.

I've left out much of "the meat and potatoes," but left in enough content for you to get an indication of what you will learn from this book. This book was written from 10 years of Internet dating experience, thousands of interviews with both men and women and research garnered from our last five to six Dating DeMistyfied Workshops.

Put great effort into writing your profile. Show passion and humor.

I mean really, if you can't have fun writing a simple online profile, then what sort of person do you suppose that you'll attract? Way back in 2001, I submitted my first profile to Match.com. I had no experience writing profiles but just figured what the hell . . . let's have fun!

I wrote the text on a Sunday night and didn't check my email until Friday night. During the five days I was "away," I received nearly 150 emails from about 120 women. Yes, some wrote me up to three times during that week! I was shocked, but realized that I was on to something!

The point that I'm attempting to make is to be sure that your personality comes through in the profile. If you're silly or funny, then by all means, portray that! If you're really smart and have a lot to say, then say it! If you're sarcastic - in a good way - then allow that to come through. If you're not into writing, like many are not, then just do the best that you can but make sure to come across as you. After all, you are the only one that you really know how to be!

Just have fun folks! Be honest and definitely ask for what you want when describing what you seek in a mate. Write in the same manner as you speak so that each person reading your profile feels that you're talking directly to him or her. After all, that is what we're all here for!

Make sure to upload only the clearest, best and most recent photos.

You'd think that this would be a no brainer, but the more you surf the personals online, the more you'll be shocked at the sheer idiocy of some people and the pictures they submit to dating sites. Photos are your first line of attack, and if they suck, no-one will even read your wonderful, well thought out profile! I'm not telling you that you need to go out and get professional shots taken, but I have friends who have done very well going exactly that route.

Simply put, if you don't have any decent, clear photos of yourself, then grab your digital (you know that you have one!) and grab some friends and spend the day taking lots of photos alone and in groups. It is critically important that you have a variety of pictures. Have some close-ups (head-shots) so that people can see how beautiful your eyes are, some full length shots so they can get an idea of your body type and some group photos so they know that you actually leave the house and can be social.

For the rest of the article, head to YourTango: Online Dating: 5 Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd

Written by David Osterczy for YourTango.

Fixes For These 10 Money Mistakes

Business Insider — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:15:04 PDT

Everyone makes mistakes. Business Insider shares solutions for some common money mistakes people make.

Recently, two friends confessed they live check to check - a revelation worsened by the fact that they only check their bank balance once or twice a month.

We called in the finance experts, and here's what we decided they should do to get on track.

"I check my balance once . . . every two weeks."

The mistake: The more we rely on our debit cards, the easier is to go over budget - and risk having our bank misorder the charges to slap us with overdraft fees. It's the reason my friend keeps paying $39 for that Starbucks latte.

The fix: Get in the habit of checking your bank balance morning, noon, and night, says financial expert Farnoosh Torabi. "Rather than compartmentalizing into a once-a-month chore, make checking statements a habitual, daily thing."

"What, my bank offers an app?"

The mistake: Ignoring your balance can make you "forget" about incoming bills and checks waiting to clear, and not using your bank app is careless.

It also keeps you out of sync with your money, something you don't want to do in an era of rampant identity theft.

The fix: Download the app!

Read on for more.

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Not Psyched to Sweat? Motivate a Workout in 5 Minutes or Less

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:30:58 PDT

You work out every day at noon, but today, you just don't feel like it. When you're suffering from the workout blahs, you need a few techniques in your hydration ~~tool~~ belt to instantly inject some pep in your step. Think of these the next time you need quick motivation - you'll be in your sports bra and sneakers in no time!

Ask Madonna for help: You know how you hear your favorite upbeat song and you can't help but bop your head and mouth the words? Use the power of music to motivate your workout, by blasting a booming, fast-paced tune. By the time the three minutes are up, you'll be out the door. Need some new tunes? Check out this list of top 100 workout songs.
The power of a few words: Sometimes all it takes is to hear one quote about sweating it out, and you're on your feet, ready to go. This one always gets me psyched: "The hardest step for a runner is the first one out of the front door." Read through these motivational quotes to inspire your workout, or print out your faves and look at them the next time you need a kick in the pants.
Phone a friend: Make a quick call to a good friend. Tell them you're thinking of skipping out, and they'll tell you exactly what you need to hear, "Just do it because you know you'll feel so much better afterward." Maybe they'll even join you!
Follow the five-minute rule: Even if you don't want to, get dressed and start working out for at least five minutes. Within the first few minutes, you'll probably feel more energized and will want to keep going. If you still don't feel like it, then you probably truly need a break.

Simple Tips on How to Stay Healthy All Day Long

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:18:51 PDT

When striving to be healthy, a few everyday changes can make a world of difference to your body. Maybe you're just focused on a morning workout or staying away from the wrong activities before bed, but if you want to reboot your lifestyle for the long haul, you've got to commit to a healthy lifestyle all day long. Interested in what I mean? Read through these tips to help you keep your healthy living on track whether it's morning, noon, or night.

Morning

If a morning gym session fits your schedule best, then our early morning exercise tips are a must read. From laying out an outfit the night before to scheduling a session with a trainer, these tips can help kick off your day with an energetic bang.

We know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Whatever your dietary needs or time restrictions, we've got you covered. Start the morning with healthy whole-grain hot cereal recipes or low-sugar breakfast ideas or save some time in the morning with a healthy breakfast made the night before.

Think outside the box and mix up your standard morning beverage routine. Take your pick of these inventive drinks to boost your energy to get your head right for your commute and commitments.

Keep reading for tips to stay healthy during the afternoon and evening.

How You Can Donate Your Hair to Patients in Need This Friday

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:34:00 PDT

Is it time for your annual springtime cut? If you have long hair, don't let your strands go to waste; donate them to a good cause with the help of Pantene. This Friday the 27th, the hair care company will hold the first-ever National Donate Your Hair Day to benefit its Beautiful Lengths program. With the help of wig-makers HairUWear, Pantene builds real-hair pieces for women undergoing cancer treatment. The wigs are then distributed by the American Cancer Society wig banks for free. See how you can help by getting all the details now.

Shawn Johnson Takes Us Inside Training Camp

espnW — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:04:59 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson is blogging for espnW throughout her training for the Olympics in London this summer. Follow her journey and other Olympic hopefuls on espnW.com.

Say "camp" to an ordinary kid and she'll probably tell you about bonfires and sing-alongs and arts and crafts. Say it to an elite gymnast, and she'll tell you camp is every four weeks outside New Waverly, Texas, at "the ranch" - the national team training center.

Shawn Johnson in the Driver's Seat

The ranch is a lot different than it sounds. Yes, there are animals (camels, peacocks and lots of deer!), but it's also fully equipped with multiple gyms, a row of cabins for gymnasts, a separate row for their coaches and dining facilities. It's an honor to be asked to attend the national team camps, but spending a few days there is also really hard work, especially for a slightly older body like mine. I'm used to it, though - after all, I've been going to camp since I was 12 years old, and I'm now 20.

When we're there, we wake up around 6:45 a.m. and head straight for breakfast. Most of the girls grab eggs and coffee before we go back to our cabins and get ready to hit the gym. National team coordinator Martha Karolyi has an unwritten rule: If you're not 30 minutes early to practice, you're late. So although practice starts at 8:30, we all get there at 8. We get heat packs, get taped and do whatever we need to get ready, then sit in a loose circle on the floor and wait. At 8:30 on the dot, Martha walks out of the office. It's a signal - we stand up, line up and address her. She gives our assignments for the day, and we start practice.

My last camp, three weeks ago, was just a check-in for me. I'm not competition-ready yet, but it was good to be in the gym, working alongside all of the other girls. I'm impressed by them all, but I try not to watch too much because it makes me nervous. I don't want to compare myself to them yet; because of my knee injury and rehab, I'm not where they are right now.

Shawn Johnson Rehabbing, Eyeing London

Read on for more of a day in the life of Shawn Johnson at training camp.

Tori Spelling Opens Up to Us About Her Surprise Pregnancy and Her Favorite Birthday Parties

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:37:48 PDT

You may want to call her the mother of reinvention. In the public eye since she was a teenager starring her dad's hit teenage soap opera, Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling has more recently been known as an innkeeper, a reality star, a best-selling author, a boutique owner, and a jewelry designer. But the role that's giving her the most attention these days is mom. Currently pregnant with her fourth child - who was conceived just one month after Tori gave birth to daughter Hattie in October (the family includes son Liam, 5, and daughter Stella, 3) - and due in September, the busy mama is taking all of her roles in stride.

At a party celebrating the release of her first party planning book, celebraTORI, at NYC's craft shop Make Meaning yesterday, we laughed as Tori revealed that her current pregnancy was a bit of a shock. She said, "All my friends keep asking me that: 'Was it planned?' Seriously, Hattie was 1 month old. Do you think it was planned? I was up all night with feedings. I don't know how he got that . . . to make this [pointing at her baby bump]!"

We sat down with Tori to talk about one of her favorite subjects, party planning, and how this pregnancy compares with her previous ones.

LilSugar: You are known for going all out for your kids’ birthday parties. How much input do you allow them to have?
Tori Spelling: They plan the whole party with me. I have always vowed not to be that person that was like, "Oh, you want that, oh, gosh, ugh, no, that’s not going to be very chic." We just had [Liam's] SpongeBob party. He said, "I want SpongeBob," and I was like, "OK, great" [rolling her eyes], then I was like, "Well, that's cool. I can make mini-sliders and call them krabby patties. I can make these big jellyfish and fish," and I was going on and on. I [said], "OK, hold it . . . Liam, what do you want?" He looked at me and said, "Mom, I just want a piñata." I was like, "Keep it simple, stupid. What are you doing? The kid wants a piñata." And it's true, we need some cute little things at the party, but he was all about the piñata. It’s not my call - whatever they want, they get . . . within reason! I mean, budgetary reason!

LS: So Hattie’s first birthday is going to sneak up on you right around the baby’s birth! Have you thought about her party at all?
TS: Yes, for sure! I have not thought about the theme, but I have thought about what I should do. Should I plan the party before I give birth? Because am I going to be freaking out! The baby is going to be born roughly a month before her birthday. I’m going to be walking around with a newborn at my 1-year-old’s birthday party! Crazy town! She loves to dance, so that did cross my mind. When she hears music, she goes nuts! I mean, her version of dance is like jump, jump, jump! Maybe we will have Hattie’s dance party.

LS: What was your favorite party as a child?
TS: Oh, my gosh, I think it was my 8th birthday party. That's the one I talk about in the book. That’s when I got my first opportunity to plan. It was a roller-skating party, so that was really cool. My mom let me pick out my outfit, and I totally looked like I was in the movie Grease. I had the spandex, hot pink leggings or whatever they are - they are now sold at American Apparel, but when we were younger, they were hot! I had a tube top and a little tied shirt that said "Tori" in rhinestones, white roller skates with neon pink laces, and hair out to here with little clips . . . It was awesome!

Keep reading to see how Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott told the kids they were expecting again, and her favorite baby shower idea!