FabSugar

Designer Spotlight: Qi New York

FabSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:22 PDT

Knitwear can either be totally chic or totally outdated. Meet Qi New York, a contemporary knitwear brand that offers the former. It originally started in 2002 as a cashmere knitwear company, but has since evolved to include other luxurious yarns. The Spring collection is brimming with must haves: sheer cardigans, handknit hoodies, soft, draped tops, and unique dresses. My favorite piece is this tunic stripe dress (center); it takes stripes to a whole new dimension.

To see more from Qi New York's Spring line,

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6 Unique Ways to Fend Off Illnesses and Avoid Medical Bills

Emily Co — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:16 PST

There are very few things that are worse than getting sick. Not only will you have pricey medical bills to pay, but you may also have to skip out on work. Fortunately, you can employ plenty of preventative methods to avoid falling ill. We've heard the usual "eat right and exercise" advice, so here are a couple of tactics that you may not have heard of:

Immune boosters in a pill: Although you've heard of the usual immune boosters like vegetables and fruits, there are a couple of holistic cures you might want to try. There's New Chapter's LifeShield Immunity ($20), which is a supplement made out of a combination of mycelium, fruiting bodies, spores, and extracellular compounds from tonic mushrooms.
Take ginseng with your vaccine: When you get a flu vaccine, try taking some ginseng with it so you'll bounce back from the effects of the vaccine. There was a study done in which only 13 percent of the group of participants who took ginseng with flu vaccinations caught colds vs. 37 percent of the placebo group.
Trick yourself psychologically: Don't discount old wives' remedies! Even if you don't have any scientific proof, perhaps the cures have some sort of psychological effect that results in physical effects. For example, a cure for cough that works for me is rubbing vapor rub over my feet and wearing socks at night. Another scientifically disproved treatment is Airborne, which somehow always fends off a cold when I feel one coming on.

Read on for more tips.

Martial Arts Classes to Try: Krav Maga, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do

Heather Dale — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:24:53 PDT

Martial arts is an umbrella term used for systems of training for combat. Boxing, karate, tai chi, tae kwon do, krav maga, kung fu, kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu jitsu all fall into the martial arts category, because they all have the same underlying principle - protection from physical threat. Martial arts can be broken into five categories including: grappling styles, stand-up or striking styles, low-impact styles, weapons-based styles, and MMA (a hybrid sports style).
Now that the weather is finally workout-friendly, you've gotten back into your Spring training groove. To keep your momentum from losing any speed, be sure to mix up your workout routine with interesting new classes. Here are three types of martial arts sports that are guaranteed to mix up your regular workout routine!

A Thai Massage Will Move You, Literally

Heather Dale — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:00:27 PDT

There's nothing worse than paying an arm and a leg for a massage and you leave feeling the exact same way as when you arrived - tight, stiff, and stressed. That's why I'm a big fan of Thai massages because I feel amazing after every session and the positive effects last for days, if not weeks. For those who are new to Thai massage, Thai massage is basically an assisted relaxing yoga session where a masseuse manipulates your body and applies gentle pressure to your muscles. Thai massages usually take place on a big cozy floor mat and you are required to wear loose pants and a t-shirt so your body can easily move around (some places provide the clothing, so just check before you go). Each session usually lasts around one to two hours and just like yoga, your breathing is very important since it will aid you through each pose.

Keep reading to learn more about Thai massages and why they are so good for you.