FabSugar

Maloles Doctor Bag: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:00:22 PDT

I forever love multiwoven styles. That's why this Maloles Doctor Bag ($328, originally $655) stood out to me. I like the embroidery and the blue turn lock, but I'm not loving the shape of the satchel. Something is just off here. What's your take?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here! To post your selections go to the Love It or Hate It? group. And if you want to learn how to do a blog post click here.

11 Things You Need to Throw Away

Emily Co — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:07 PST

The first step to taking care of yourself and de-stressing is to make sure that your environment is in order. Seeing your house full of clutter can affect your mood negatively and make your personal space seem like a place you want to escape from, rather than something to look forward to coming home to. Organize a "throwing out" day every month to make sure that you don't have clutter building up. Here are some things you should consider purging from your home:

Old magazines. Get rid of old magazines you have lying around because chances are, you aren't going to read them again. Find places where you can donate your magazines to such as child care centers, doctor's offices, nail salons, nursing homes, and libraries. If there's an article that really speaks to you, scan a digital image of it and keep it in your computer. Or keep a folder of magazine clippings if you like saving magazine articles.
Receipts, bills, and documents. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scanner, a pricey specialized receipt scanner ($174), or a smartphone app ($2). See here for a full list of documents you should keep forever or temporarily.
Clothes. Use the two-year-rule for clothes - get rid of apparel that you haven't worn in two years. Sell them to a thrift store (find a thrift store at thethriftshopper.com) or donate them to the needy.
Books. Go through your bookshelf and gather together books you haven't touched in months and ones that you aren't planning on rereading. Be realistic and make sure you're ruthless. If you haven't touched it in a year, you're most likely not going to read it again. Sell the books on Amazon, Craigslist, or eBay. You can even trade them for something else on swap.com. You can always donate them as well!
Medicine and vitamins. Take a look at your medicine closet and clear out drugs that have expired, medicine that has sat on your shelf for too long, or ones that you no longer use. First, check to see what the proper disposal methods are for the medication, and if you can't find any, check to see if your community has a drug take-back program. If there isn't a program near you, then the FDA advises mixing medicine with "used coffee grounds or kitty litter" in a container or sealable bag before throwing it away to make the drugs less appealing.

For more things to throw away, read on.

10 Things New Parents Don't Need

Kiplinger — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:15:21 PDT

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

I'm expecting my third child, and as I sat in the doctor's office this morning, I thumbed through pregnancy and parenting magazines. I got a good laugh (as an experienced mom and personal finance writer) at the nursery necessities, diaper bag must-haves and ultimate registry guide I found on the pages of those magazines.

A $20 diaper purse to hold diapers within a diaper bag. A $48 sleep sack for baby. A $99 changing pad. A $450 toy storage unit for the baby's room. A $1,500 crib. There was even a six-page spread in one of the magazines with tips on organizing every room in the house (including closet and mudroom) to prepare for baby's arrival and what you need to buy to do so.

As crazy as the prices (and some of the products) may seem, it can be so tempting for first-time parents to purchase all the cute baby things they see in magazines or stores. But the last thing new moms and dads should do is rack up debt buying stuff their baby really doesn't need. Instead, parents should focus on buying things they really need, such as life insurance, and funding a college-savings plan for their child. See also: What New Parents Really Need and Smart Ways to Save for College.

So what items are a waste of money? It is a matter of opinion (and, trust me, people have strong opinions about this - as I discovered the last time I wrote about this topic). But here's a list I came up with based on my experience and the advice of many other parents I know.

1. A designer nursery. By this, I mean a room full of high-priced furnishings and décor. Your baby will not care whether his monogram is on everything, if the crib came from Target or Pottery Barn, or if the lamp, curtains and area rug coordinate. And visitors won't even notice the nursery theme when they see the main attraction of the room: your adorable baby.

Read on for more things new parents don't need.

How Your Thoughts Can Lead to Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:08:52 PDT

Your mind is a powerful tool that can make or break your quest to slim down, and the combination of a positive attitude and realistic goals goes a long way when it comes to reaching your goals. Avoid these sabotaging thoughts that often lead to weight gain.

"I just got married so to heck with dieting and exercise. It's time to celebrate!"
You worked hard in the months leading up to the big day and it showed when you walked down the aisle. But saying your vows and slipping on that wedding band shouldn't give you the green light to throw all your hard work out the window. Definitely take time to celebrate, but don't overdo it. Keep up with your exercise routine and healthy diet so you can continue to look and feel good in your amazing body.

"I worked out this morning so I can eat whatever I want."
A typical 30-minute workout burns about 300 calories, so you do the math. Does that mean you can eat two slices of pizza, a bag of potato chips, a cupcake from a co-worker's birthday, and a huge burrito? In order to lose a pound a week, you need to cut out or burn a total of 500 calories a day. If you splurge at night just because you hit the gym in the morning, the numbers on the scale will end up rising.

"That girl over there is eating a sundae, and she looks skinny, so I can have one too."
Unfortunately, there are people who can eat whatever they want and never gain a pound. If you know in your heart you're not one of those people, don't try to convince yourself that you are.

"I'll always have a weight problem, so I'm not even going to try to lose weight."
You can't give up before trying! If you've always struggled with your weight, figure out how to stop the cycle. Whether you need to meet with your doctor, join a weight loss program, hire a personal trainer, or take cooking lessons, making that first positive change toward your journey to a healthier and more fit you is the hardest part.

What other thoughts do you have that get in the way of reaching your weight loss goals?

Rachel Bilson Packs on the Layers For a Mid-Summer Day

Katie Henry — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:25:00 PDT

Rachel Bilson arrived on the LA set of The To Do List yesterday carrying her trusty Chanel quilted bag and a Navajo printed jacket. Earlier in the week Rachel opted for a much less layered look and gave the crew a glimpse of her abs in a retro two-piece ensemble. She's been hanging out on the West Coast thus far this Summer enjoying quiet afternoons with friends and kicking back with her little sisters. The pilot for her new series Hart of Dixie was shot on location in the South, and will be sharing the CW Monday night lineup with Gossip Girl. Rachel and the rest of the network stars will get together in LA in early August to promote their shows at the biannual TCA, and we're excited to see more of the former The OC star slipping into her new role as a doctor.

DrSugar on Cancer Myths: Nonstick Pans and Microwaving Plastic

DrSugar — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:34:15 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's debunking a couple of cancer myths centered in the kitchen.

Based on a few questions we have received, I will be discussing two popular myths about cancer risks in the kitchen, the first regarding cooking with nonstick pans and, the second, microwaving plastic containers. I must admit, doing the research for this week’s column was a real eye-opener for me and hopefully the findings will be informative for you! To learn more about these cancer "myths," keep reading!

DrSugar on Dealing With an Unplanned Cesarean Birth

DrSugar — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 02:00:22 PST

DrSugar is in the house! And this week she's discussing how to deal with an unplanned cesarean birth based on her own experience.

Hello to all the readers out there! After a six-week hiatus, I’m back after having a beautiful baby boy and ready to answer your questions! However, this week, I’d like to share my birth story, which includes an unplanned cesarean section, so I will be offering advice on c-sections – from someone who just went through it!

Early on in my pregnancy, I decided that I wished to pursue a more natural unmedicated childbirth and took a natural childbirthing course with my husband. We learned special techniques for relaxation and to help with the pain of labor with hopes that my goal of an unmedicated labor and delivery would be realized. However, as a physician, I was aware that there was the possibility that things wouldn’t go as planned and that I would either need to have pain medication or an epidural or would have to have a cesarean section.

For more on how birth plans change, keep on reading.

How to Throw Away Prescription Medication

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:00:21 PDT

While cleaning out some cabinets, I had a dilemma: expired prescription meds - OK to just throw away? I almost tossed a pill bottle into the trash but then stopped; do old pills leach chemicals, or worse, what happens if the wrong person (or stray animal) has access to my garbage? A quick call to my doctor proved to be an invaluable lesson in dealing with expired or unwanted medication.

Whatever you do, don't flush. Even though flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet may seem like a good idea, it's not - this isn't Goodfellas, after all. And the same goes for pouring anything down the drain. Septic systems can't break down the harmful substances in meds, which can end up in groundwater, lakes, rivers, or oceans, affecting animal and plant life.
Take it back where you found it. Depending on where you live, there may be programs in place to dispose of your unwanted medicine. Call a nearby pharmacy or hospital to see if it has a take back program. Some trash and recycling providers will also accept unwanted medication.
Using care, dispose of it yourself. If you have to dispose of your meds yourself, follow certain parameters to ensure proper care. Crush or break up any pills, and mix them in with kitty litter, coffee grounds, or any other undesirable substance. Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or container before throwing it in a trash can so the chemicals don't leak out into the garbage. Mix liquid medications with coffee grounds, sawdust, or kitty litter.

Break the Cycle of Yo-Yo Dieting With These Tips

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:30:32 PDT

Celebs like Oprah Winfrey and Kirstie Alley are no strangers to yo-yo dieting. For whatever reason, once people reach their weight loss goals, it can be hard to maintain it. Here are some tips to prevent the numbers on the scale from rollercoasting.

Lose weight the right way. Run far away from fad diets that offer quick weight loss, and instead embrace the slower yet more effective way of losing weight - healthy eating and regular exercise. You'll lose about a pound or two a week, but losing weight at this rate means it's more likely to stay off.
Maintain your healthy eating habits even after you reach your goal. Losing weight is all about eating a balanced and nourishing diet. So once you see the number you want on the scale, you can't just abandon your healthy ways and go back to chowing down bags of Doritos on the couch. You must change your mindset and take on this healthy way of eating forever. Don't think of it as a diet, but as a way of life.

For the other helpful tips,

5 Things: Apples

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:50:00 PDT

The old adage "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" seems to be true. This common fruit is a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition. Here are five facts to ensure this fruit becomes the apple of your eye.

Apples are in season now and they are a relatively inexpensive fruit. Plus they don't lose much of the nutritional punch if they are stored for long periods of time, making them a perfect autumnal fruit. They travel well, too - throw one into your bag in the morning for a snack later in the day.
A medium apple contains three grams of fiber, which is 10 percent of your daily recommended intake. Eating 30 grams of fiber per day has been shown to decrease your risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. This means they'll help decrease your LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) as well as help keep you regular.

For two more things about this Fall fruit and a couple of tasty recipes featuring apples, keep on reading.