FitSugar

Gifts That Move You

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:45:00 PST

If you're like me you're right in the middle of figuring out gifts for the long list of people you love (or don't totally love, but still are obligated to buy for). I hate buying people gifts that I know are going to promote them being sedentary. It is hard when it comes to games but there are some games that really get you moving.

Wii. We love the Wii ($732 was the best I could find) because people are seriouly getting moving playing this video game -- Not just adults but kids as well. Check out geeksugar to see a very cute kid playing Wii. Buy it on Amazon.com.

Cranium. There are so many Craniums out there. I love them all but for getting moving, I like Pop 5. Pop 5 ($34.98) is one of the newest additions to the Cranium family fun and you have the option to act out every play. Get Pop 5 on AreYouGame.com. For kids, go with Hullabaloo ($19.98) which is sure to get the kids in your life moving. Get Hullabaloo on AreYouGame.com.

Twister. Twister (12.99) is a tried and true game that gets anyone moving. If you don't sweat while playing Twister, then you're doing it wrong. Buy it on eToys.com. Now Twister has Twister Moves (19.99), which is a way to get kids moving to the music. Buy it on eToys.com.

Dance, Dance Revolution for Playstation 2 (though they have it for xBox as well). DDR ($29.95), as the serious players call it, is a game that can be a serious cardio workout and it might even teach you how to dance! Buy it at Toys R us. For the kiddies, try Dance Dance Revolution with Stawberry Shortcake ($29.99). Buy it at Toys R Us.

Host a Budget-Friendly Night in: Board Game Potluck

SavvySugar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:32:03 PST

After months of traveling, gift-giving, and pricey nights out, save money and score quality time with your pals by hosting a board game potluck party. Invite over a handful of friends and ask each person to bring his or her favorite board game plus a snack to share. Take care of the drinks yourself or ask guests to pitch in if things become costly.

A few entertaining tips to try:

Set up a table to stack all the games and, when guests arrive, ask them to write the name of their game on a slip of paper. Toss all the slips into a hat and draw them throughout the night to decide which game will be played next.
Create fun, festive decorations and drink recipes that follow the board game theme. Glue Sorry game pieces to the top of cocktail stirrers, swap your living room rug for a Twister mat, or laminate Uno cards and turn them into drink coasters.
Give the party a nostalgic feel and ask guests to bring the board games they loved as kids. Add to the old-school vibe by creating playlists of the songs that were popular when you were younger.

Have you hosted a board game potluck? Share your suggestions below.

What to TiVo: Sunday

BuzzSugar — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:59:00 PST

8:00 Once Upon a Time (repeat)
9:00 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

8:00 Survivor: South Pacific (new, season finale)
10:00 Survivor Reunion: South Pacific (new)

8:00 The Simpsons (repeat)
8:30 Allen Gregory (new)
9:00 Family Guy (repeat)

8:15 Sunday Night Football: Ravens at Chargers (live)

Investing Lessons For Generation Y

Kiplinger — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:02:00 PDT

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

The recent market twisters may have you scrambling for shelter for your portfolio. According to online brokerage Betterment.com, during the market mayhem of early August, investors under age 35 were one-third more likely than older investors to move from stocks to bonds.

During the week of August 8, the first trading days following the downgrade of U.S. debt by rating agency Standard & Poor’s, the Dow Jones industrial average nauseated all onlookers - diving as much as 635 points, or 5.6%, on Monday, only to climb by as much as 430 points, or 4.0%, the next day.

But none of this is reason to panic - especially for young investors like us.

Our youth not only affords us fewer wrinkles and faster metabolisms, it also allows us a higher risk tolerance for investments. “When you’re young, if there’s a major market setback, you still have time to hit your wealth targets,” says Dr. Walt Woerheide, PhD, CFP, ChFC, professor of investments at The American College, a non-profit school for financial services professionals.

Also, we’ll need stocks’ potential rate of return to try to beat inflation over the long term, says Kimberly Foss, a financial planner and founder of Empyrion Wealth Management, in Roseville, Cal. She likens the situation to trying to go up a down escalator: “If you just go on, you’ll go backward; if you walk up at a mild pace, you’re not going to make your goal,” she says. “You need [stocks’] rapid pace, which is higher than inflation, to make your goal.”

Here are answers to some questions you may have about the market mayhem - and some sound lessons you can take away from the madness to get ahead in the long run:

What should I be doing with my portfolio now?

The short answer: not much. As shown by the aforementioned day-to-day Dow movements, knee-jerk reactions to current events are generally futile - and often counterproductive for your portfolio. Young investors who traded stocks for bonds as the market dove lost out when it bounced right back. Your best bet is always to stick with your long-term investing plan.

Read on to learn more about investing.

Geek Tips For Extreme Weather Conditions

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:10:00 PDT

Harsh Winter weather may be a thing of the past for many of us, but Spring ushers in the start of "tornado season" in the central US. Of course, your tech may be the last thing on your mind when a twister strikes, but what about when a severe thunder, electrical, or rainstorm hits? The savvy geeks at DriveSavers Data Recovery shared a few tips on how to keep your gadgets safe during extreme weather. Check them out below!

Unplug your hardware during an electrical storm - Make sure that your laptops, hard drives, gaming consoles, and other electronic equipment are unplugged during severe weather. If lightning does strike, you could experience a power surge that could knock out and/or fry your gadgets from the inside out.
Use surge protectors, and replace them every few years - Don't just plug your expensive equipment into any ol' power brick! Make sure your extension cords and power adapters have surge protection to ensure that any power spikes won't destroy your machines.

Get one more important tip after the break.

A Fashionable Room: Inspired by Jennifer Garner

Shelterpop — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:00:00 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

We're obsessed with StyleList's "Look of the Day." We're obsessed with decor. So why not put them together in a shop-able, fashion-fueled room?

Today's Pick: Jennifer Garner

Garner worked the red carpet at the premiere of her newest movie "Arthur" wearing Oscar de la Renta. The seemingly-simple gray sweater was actually a reverse cardigan, complete with a button-up and scoop back. The shimmery silver lace and black skirt looked tastefully old Hollywood and added just the right amount of embellishment. Garner finished the look with black satin pumps and chic Cartier earrings, rings, and bangles.

Now: Get this look at home...

Garner's chic ensemble got us thinking of a just-as-elegant, smokey gray living room. To start the room, we chose a gray sofa with silver nailhead detail ($3,399, Horchow). The rich gray and sparkly embellishment mimic the reverse cardigan buttons on Garner's back. We imagined a couple of these silver throw pillows ($32, Urban Outfitters) tossed on the velvet sofa to emulate the silver lace embellishment of her skirt.

This twister table lamp in smoke ($378, Y Lighting) reminds us of Garner's smokey eyes and tousled brown locks. And the satin shade matches her glam-gray color palette. Next up: The Braiden coffee table ($399, Crate & Barrel) inspired by her thin, black waistband. And one last detail to finish off this elegant living room -- a scented candle in a shiny black holder ($45, Ralph Lauren) as a nod to Garner's platform pumps.

Check in every weekend on Shelterpop for another fashionable room. And see the rooms from the last few weeks:
Diane Kruger
Evan Rachel Wood
Thandie Newton