LilSugar

Toy Box: PlayFoam

babysugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:00:27 PST

At a local indoor playground, I spotted one of the most ingenious toys I've ever seen. Similar to play–dough, PlayFoam is a moldable substance made of foam dots that lil ones can squish or build into shapes and creations of their liking. Unlike their competition, the goods aren't sticky or smelly, which is a nice advantage for mama. And, it never hardens when left out!

The fun stuff is available in various colors, glow in the dark and sparkle versions. The best part about the cool stuff is that it's inexpensive. A pack of six colors will set you back about $8.

Is Your Tot Going Gaga for Ga-ga?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:29:49 PST

Move over Lady Gaga, there's a new game in town that's changing the way kids say your name! In an age where bans on traditional recess games like tag and dodgeball are becoming more prevalent (seemingly due to the violent nature of the games), new sports are gaining a tot following, and they're gaining traction - fast!

Ga-ga - a fast-paced, Israeli game that has been called "a safe version of dodgeball" - is popping up on playgrounds and Summer camps everywhere. Using a soft foam ball, kids try to hit their opponents below the knees (this is where it becomes safer than dodgeball) while the opponents run, jump, and dodge around an enclosed ring, called a pit. Once a player is hit, she's out. As time passes, additional balls are thrown into the pit to speed up the game, ensuring no game lasts longer than five minutes, and allowing kids to jump back in the ring and start a new round.

Though previously reserved for the playground, New York City is about to see the opening of the city's first dedicated Ga-ga play-site. The Gaga Center will offer 50-minute classes after school every day for $620 per semester.

Have your kids been bitten by the Ga-ga bug yet?

Source: GAGABALLPITS.COM

Two Quick Cardio Workouts

Susi May — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:35:26 PST

Who doesn't feel pressed for time between the major holidays? I asked my Equinox trainer, Lauren, for a couple of quick cardio workouts to burn up the calories. She gave me a rowing workout - a great machine that always seems to be available - and an incline workout on the treadmill. Even though you might be short on time, you don't need to give up your sweat sessions. Try these quickies.

Rowing Machine Workout
Set resistance between two and five; anything higher and you're likely to hurt your back.

Warmup: Row for three to five minutes at 50 percent of max.
Sprint: Row at 90 to 100 percent of max for 100 meters; rest for 15 seconds, repeat for a total of 10 reps.
Cooldown: Row for three minutes, at 50 percent of max.

This is a great workout to add into circuit training for a nice cardio kick. Be sure to read up on tips for using the rowing machine before heading to the gym.

Not feeling it for the rowing machine? Keep reading to check out the treadmill incline workout.

Shoe Review: Nike LunarEclipse+ Shield

Susi May — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:48:10 PST

When you pick up a stability shoe, you expect it to have some weight to it, keeping with the notion that it takes a lot of extra shoe to keep an overpronating foot on track. But the times they are a changin', and running shoes have gone minimalist, across all categories. When I picked up the LunarEclipse+ Shield ($140) that Nike sent me to test out, I was pleasantly surprised by its lack of heft. One of my size eight shoes clocks in at around 9.8 ounces - light for a stability shoe.

The LunarEclipse has a bouncy feel. It's got cushion and spring. The sole is not overbuilt like previous generations of stability shoes, so I can feel the road under my feet, especially at push-off - I feel my big toe adding to my propulsion forward and I like it. The sole is flexible, which adds to the shoe's responsiveness. The stability of this shoe comes from what Nike calls dynamic support, a technology it developed for the Lunar series the company introduced a few years ago. Using strategically placed dense foam, the shoe limits excessive pronation without making the shoe too stiff.

Keep reading for more deets on these kicks.

What to Skip When Shopping For Baby

LearnVest — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:15:45 PST

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

By the last few months of every woman’s third trimester, she’s inevitably faced with one of life’s most intimidating situations: baby shopping.

No matter whether you had your most recent child years ago or are currently expecting, I’m sure you’re familiar with the situation.

You walk into your local baby store brimming with excitement and confidence, ready to stock up for your little one. Ten minutes later, after seeing floor-to-ceiling walls of bottles, swaddling blankets, baby food containers and strollers of every variety, that confidence plummets. Or it morphs into apathy that has you reaching for the chocolate and telling yourself your baby would be fine sleeping in a box.

At least, that’s how it was with me.

Thankfully, you don’t need everything you see at the baby store-nor do you need to be drowning in debt to provide a happy home for your little one. As it turns out, a lot of the items listed on the “must buy for your baby” checklists given out by big box baby stores aren’t essential at all.

If you’re way past the baby stage, share your wisdom with other budding moms in LearnVest Discussions.

As for me, here’s what I’ve found you can skip:

Bottle Sterilizer

Keeping your baby’s bottles germ-free is the best way to prevent infection and upset tummies. But you don’t need to pay upwards of $80 for an electric sterilizer that will take up a lot of kitchen counter space. Instead, try this Munchkin one for $18. It fits all size bottles, takes up no space and sterilizes your feeding accessories in the microwave in three minutes.

Read on for more items to skip.

Snap to It! Halloween Costume Tips From a Pro Pet Photographer

Morgan Ashley Parker — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:03:48 PDT

Since we currently have a costume challenge in our community, what better time to gather picture taking tips than before the big day? Photographer Jesse Freidin created the wildly popular Doggie Gaga project earlier this year - that's his cute Boston Terrier, Pancake - and he offered tips on both costumes choices and creation in addition to photography ideas to share with you.

PetSugar: Halloween costumes already have so much going on, how do I create a setting that limits visual distraction?
Jesse Freidin: If you’re going to put your dog in a costume and create a fun photograph showing off the costume and the dog, what you want is for the dog and the costume to really stand out. That’s the focus. You want to show off the costume and show off your dog being beautiful so there’s not always a need to make your background really busy. What you could do is work with a simple background whether it’s putting your dog outside near a wall that’s really simple. Then be really thoughtful and have a couple props, maybe there’s a pumpkin or maybe there’s some leaves. As long as your eyes are really drawn to the focus, which is the dog, that will make your hard work, stand out.

PS: What if I pass by someone else's cute dog on the street? How do I get a good shot?
JF: A good thing to do is get on their level and, before you stick a camera in their face because you’re a new person and it’s a camera and that can be weird, just let the dogs sniff you and get used to you for a second. Make sure you know their name and call it and hopefully they will look at you. It’s always an overstimulating environment to have lots of dogs, lots of people and costumes so keeping everything as calm and simple as possible is the way to get some really great photos.

While Pancake is posing as part of the Doggie Gaga project here, learn what Jesse's cute pup will be for Halloween this year, how to pick out a photo-worthy costume for your pet's coloring, and get an amazing base for any DIY costume when you

read more. PS: How can I tell what costume would work best with my dog's coloring? JF: I think it depends on whether you really want to have the dog blend in or if you want to show that sort of ironic, funny contrast. It’s fun to play with your dog’s coloring so let’s say you have a black lab. Sometimes it’s fun to put them in a black spider costume because they blend in really well, that line is blurred, and maybe that’s the look you are going for. Sometimes it’s fun to go the opposite route and contrast. I have a lobster costume for my dog - it’s bright red and it really makes him stand out because his black and white fur stands out against the red and that’s a funny shot. PS: Any plans to dress up your pet this year? JF: Pancake’s costume, we need to finish it, but he is going to be a pet rock, actually. I always make the costumes by hand and for some reason I think conceptual costumes are the funniest. Last year, he was outer space and the year before he was a box of Polaroid film. I just think it’s funny to make dogs into inanimate objects. That’s just my own weird sense of humor. I always make sure that the costumes are easy for him to wear and as comfortable as possible. Usually what I do is create some sort of harness base and then build something on top of it so he can wear it and walk around. I am going to try and find some light foam, make it rock colored and put moss on it. PS: That's an amazing idea. So If I wanted to make North a costume, could a store-bought harness work as a good base? JF: Yes, totally. I’ve done both, taken one of his walking harnesses and then built on top of that and I’ve also made my own harness out of a comfortable foam and Velcro. That way it will fit on him and it doesn’t feel awkward. My theory in dressing up dogs for Halloween, or any reason, is that they need to be comfortable and they need to know that it’s a fun challenge for them and they need to be rewarded. I’ve been putting my dog in sweatshirts cause he’s always cold so he’s used to wearing clothes and all the dogs that I’ve ever photographed in a costume I know are used to wearing clothes and enjoy the challenge of working for me. Using things they already know like a harness or a collar and that’s just going to make it easiest to them.
Source: Jesse Freidin

No Excuses! Try The Dailey Method No Excuses DVD

Angelica Marden — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:29:19 PDT

That lean and toned dancer's body is in thanks to Black Swan, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and the growing popularity of Bar Method, The Dailey Method, and Body Bar. The differences between the systems may seem subtle at first, but each has a unique focus and avid followers. The Dailey Method, which has locations across the US and studios in Canada and France, has released its first DVD: No Excuses With Jill Dailey ($25). Like the classes, the DVD promises to help you get "longer, leaner, stronger, and more fit" and focuses on ballet bar work, core conditioning, light weights, and stretching.

Keep reading for four reasons you should try it and a video preview of the DVD.

Reese Witherspoon Sports a Swimsuit With Ava, Deacon, and Shirtless Jim For Fourth of July Fun!

Katie Henry — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:28:46 PDT

Reese Witherspoon slipped into a one-piece and kicked off her Fourth of July festivities yesterday with a swim in Malibu. She splashed around with her kids, Ava and Deacon Phillippe, and played on the beach with their French bulldog Coco. Jim got in on the fun too, tossing around a foam football with Deacon and later offering drinks to Reese and their friends. Later in the day Jim and Reese took two romantic walks on the beach. First the newlyweds were spotted walking hand in hand with Reese wearing a patriotic red, white, and blue ensemble while Jim broke out one of Matthew McConaughey's Just Keep Livin' t-shirts. Next the family of four changed into new outfits to watch a beautiful sunset. It's a repeat of holiday fun in Malibu for Reese, Jim, and the kids who partied with Sean Penn at his luxurious home last Summer. Hope everyone is having a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Fun: Colorizing and Customizing Your Fitness Gear

Heather Dale — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 05:00:02 PDT

I find working out to be very personal - I'm sweating, pushing myself to my physical limits, and striving to achieve my fitness goals - which is why I like my workout gear to reflect my style and personality. As soon as I saw Jennifer Aniston present Oprah with a customized yoga mat from Yogamatics earlier this year, I knew I had to have one since I love yoga and needed a new mat anyway. But other than yoga mats, what else can you customize to your liking? Here's a rundown of some of my favorites.

DIY Running Shoes From Nike: Add a splash of color to a new pair of kicks thanks to Nike's ID customization service. Just find your favorite Nike sneaker, use their color palette to find all your favorite colors, and then personalize your shoes with a cute tag (eight characters max). Just playing around with the site and customization options is a fun experience. What are you waiting for - just do it!

See what other gear you can design to your delight.

Common Running Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Susi May — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:10:03 PDT

Even with the longer days of the Summer months, I sometimes feel like there is so much training to do and so little time to pack it in. Upping your mileage certainly brings increased stamina, so you can "bring it" at your races, but it can also mean increased injury risk. Overuse injuries are the bane of any runner's well-laid training plans. And that is where some prehab comes into play. You can strengthen areas prone to injury, hopefully bypassing nasty and nagging injuries that can often follow you as you log mile after mile. Here are four common running issues and how you can hopefully prevent them.

Shin Splints

Symptoms: Pain in the lower leg starting below the knee. It can be either on the outside of the shin (called anterior shin splint) or the inside of the bone (referred to as medial shin splint).
Causes: Shin splints are small tears in the area where the lower leg muscle attaches to the tibia, aka the shin bone. The tears are caused from overuse, especially after periods of inactivity. In runners, shin splints often occur because the calf muscle becomes stronger than the tibialis anterior, the muscle on the outside of the shin.
Prevention: Stretch your calves regularly, even on days you don't run. And when running, think about lifting your heels toward your pelvis to activate the hamstring rather than propelling yourself forward by pushing off with your feet, which activates the calves. As for strength training, a series of toe and heel walks help to balance the muscles of the lower leg.

Unfortunately there are more injuries, so keep on reading.