LilSugar

Strollin': Win a phil & teds Vibe!

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT

One lucky mama is about to get a brand new set of wheels! Our friends at
Right Start were nice enough to give us a black sleek and chic phil & teds Vibe ($700) so one lucky mom and her tot can get strollin' in style!

To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Oct. 12, 2008, at 5 p.m. PDT. For Official Rules, click here.

Take the Quiz

3 Things to Monitor During Every Workout

Leta Shy — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:03:02 PST

Maintaining a workout routine can be mostly about having the motivation to get up and get out. Even so, you should also have a plan for what you should watch out for while you're sweating. To get the most of your workout, make sure that you're monitoring these stats while you exercise.

Heart rate: You should monitor your heart rate so that you are reaching your cardio goals, such as the right level of intensity in your workouts. It also helps to know what your max heart rate is so that you don't continuously overwork yourself - you should normally be working out at 60 to 90 percent of your heart rate unless you are sprinting or otherwise doing interval training. If you don't want to invest in a heart rate monitor, you'll have to do the math to find out your heart rate manually. Just make sure you're using the newer formula for determining your maximum heart rate; the old school "220 minus your age" formula isn't optimized for women. Learn how to calculate your maximum heart rate more accurately.

Read on for more stats you should be monitoring with every workout.

My Picks From DWR's $1,000 Giveaway

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:53 PST

It's not too late to enter our 15 Days of Holiday Giveaways $1,000 Design Within Reach Giveaway! The lucky winner will receive a $1,000 Design Within Reach gift card. Even though I can't participate in the giveaway, I'm still admiring the inventory and imagining how I would style some of my favorite items.

If I were eligible, there are several pieces that I'd buy in a heartbeat. I'd start with Davey Lighting's Oval Bulkhead Light ($350, bottom right). This lighting company is said to have designed lights that graced the decks of famed ships like the Titanic! Wouldn't it look dashing against a a dark wall? I'm thinking onyx or midnight blue.

The Almoco Flatware 5-Piece Setting ($40-$60, middle row, left) in matte black would be a great addition to any modern table setting. I would choose a tablecloth covered in jewel-tone blooms like magenta, emerald green, and deep purple. Metallic versions are offered as well!

I have a thing for crocs. They have an element of elegance, exoticism, and danger that feels exciting to me. This Lucy the Crocodile ($115, middle row, right) sculpture by David Weeks Studio for Areaware captures the beauty of the animal in a playful manner. Since the wooden material gives it a casual, organic feel, I'd glam it up by grouping it with a lucite box and colorful agate coasters on a coffee table.

To shop the rest of my picks, just click on each image.

6 Great Gifts From Zinc Door Under $100

Elka Karl — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:30 PST

New online shop Zinc Door carries some of my favorite lines, including DwellStudio, Trina Turk, and Arteriors. As the modern alter ego to Layla Grayce, Zinc Door features a fabulous collection of furniture and decor. To get you started, I've pulled six pieces from Zinc Door's collection that are perfect for small splurges or gift giving - each at under $100.

Eclectic and colorful, I'm loving Trina Turk's super colorful Coachella Rug ($80, bottom right). This hook rug is inspired by the multicultural mix of California life, and will lend a contemporary style to any space you introduce it to.

For the holiday party season, who wouldn't want to invest in the DwellStudio Square Tray ($98, top right). DwellStudio's collection of decorative square trays boasts hand-screenprinted glass framed by chic lacquered wood. These trays' architectural pattern and dark wood will suit any chic home, whether it's owned by a hip bachelor or a busy family.

To shop the other looks, click on each image! And make sure to head over to Zinc Door to learn how to win the $10,000 Lonny bedroom giveaway, which was inspired by a spread in Lonny's March/April 2011 issue and includes products from Arteriors, Jonathan Adler, DwellStudio, and more!

Introducing FabSugar eBay Scout: Win a Shopping Spree and a Trip to NYC!

FabSugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:30:00 PST

Today we are launching the FabSugar eBay Scout Community Group with an amazing giveaway: a shopping spree and a trip for you and a friend to New York City! Join our eBay Scout Group and you will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to NYC as well as a $500 shopping spree on eBay. Imagine how far $500 can go on eBay - and with the stellar deals right at your fingertips in the Fashion Vault and the Fashion Outlet, the opportunities are endless.

That's not all - by becoming a member of the group you will have access to blog posts chock-full of insider tips on exclusive sales events, trend reports, product features - starting with today's announcement of the Rebecca Minkoff tech collection. There will also be more amazing giveaways along the way! Fashion lovers unite and join the FabSugar eBay Scout Group now to explore the wonderful world of eBay fashion and also be entered to win a shopping spree and a trip to NYC!

See Official Rules.

Entrepreneurship 101: Q&A With Wendy Downs of Moop Handmade Bags

LearnVest — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:15:12 PDT

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

Wendy Downs is the owner and founder of Moop, an online shop that sells stylish, utilitarian handmade bags for men, women and children. Is it successful? Just ask her devoted fans, who rave about the quality of both the bags and the customer service.

Wendy’s success seems almost too easy. The four-year-old business turned a profit in its second year, and it has grown from one old sewing machine and an Etsy shop to a storefront workshop in Pittsburgh and its own e-commerce site.

Find out how Wendy turned an idea into a success story, with no previous business experience - plus a giveaway below!

How did you get the business started?

After I graduated in 2006 I was basically unemployable with a useless graduate degree in art. I was using this old sewing machine to sew together a bag for myself. It wasn’t a very nice bag, just a rectangle with two handles, but people started asking where I got it, and if I could make them one.

Then my sister-in-law came to visit and she asked if I had ever heard of Etsy. A few months later, I set up shop, and within three days somebody had bought a bag.

Do you regret getting your art degree?

It wasn’t totally useless. My degree was in photography, and I do take all my own product photographs. If I’d only had an “Accounting 101″ class, though . . .

Were you scared about running your own business?

There was a short time where I was working another job, and the moment when I decided to quit was scary. But so far it’s been only good. My dad ran his business and both his parents ran their own business, so there was this entrepreneurial thing within me that I hadn’t tapped into.

I tend to operate on the philosophy of just doing things. Sometimes that works for me, and sometimes it doesn’t. But if I don’t try, I tend to wonder what the outcome will be.

Read about what Wendy has to say about the advantage of being on Etsy.

Why FitSugar Readers Love Yoga

FitSugar — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:35:27 PDT

We love reading all the reasons why FitSugar readers love yoga! Here are some of the quotes our members posted in the Get Fit For Summer community group as part of the seventh challenge in the Get Fit For Summer giveaway. By doing so, they're eligible to win a $100 New Balance gift card!

lindsgiles - "I run a few half marathons each year and when it gets to training time I normally get super tight. I was limping around and having hip pain until I started incorporating yoga into my weekly workout routine . . . I have seen how it challenges my fitness as far as strength, balance, flexibility, and even cardio. I have started attending a hot yoga class each weekend and I love the heat and being able to get deeper into the poses."
Sarah10563 - "I am an avid outdoors runner, have a gym membership mainly for body pump classes, but I also joined a bikram yoga studio because I believe it is the spa treatment of exercise. It lets you push your body to a different kind of limit that running and other exercise can't achieve. Afterward I usually feel completely relaxed and a sort of high that is amazing."

Keep reading to see what other readers had to say!

Starbucks and Lady Gaga Make One Odd Couple

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:44:06 PDT

In an interesting turn of events, Starbucks has announced a new partnership with pop star Lady Gaga. On May 23, to celebrate the release of her new album, Born This Way, Lady Gaga is taking over the Starbucks Digital Network.

There will be a series of contests and giveaways along with a puzzle-inspired digital game that you can start playing right this moment! Gaga fans can also download her songs and listen to a special edition of Born This Way.

Of the risky partnership, Starbucks chief marketing officer said, "Born This Way is a worldwide cultural event. Starbucks is excited to be one of the iconic partners to celebrate the album's release in an innovative way." Since I'm a huge Lady Gaga lover, I'll definitely be listening come next Monday. What do you think of the Gaga-Starbucks connection?

C&J Nutrition's Tips For Giving Up a Vice

Guest Writer — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:16:18 PDT

Not only is a nutritional counseling session with C&J Nutrition part of the grand prize for our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, but the duo of registered dietitians want to help you catch up on your Get Fit For 2011 challenges. These gals have some great advice for giving up a vice, the 10th challenge of the contest. Here are their tips.

Very few people can quit a vice cold turkey. Most of us need some sort of ongoing support to stick with healthy changes until they're ingrained in our life enough to make them permanent. That support comes from many different places - co-workers, family, friends, etc. - but the most important source of support is YOU. Here are a few tips for helping yourself stick with the plan to give up a vice, both immediately and in the longterm.

Set goals that are challenging yet attainable. It feels great to meet a goal. It feels even better to struggle a bit and feel challenged and finally meet a goal. On the other hand, it doesn't do you any good to set a goal that is unrealistic for your life. Instead, set a goal that you can achieve but that will challenge you. In order to determine this, ask yourself what it would take on a daily basis to achieve your goal/give up your vice. If your list of daily activities to achieve the goal are things that are feasible with some effort, then it's challenging yet realistic. If your list gives you an ulcer because you're pretty sure you can't (or won't) do most of the things on it consistently, then it's probably not a realistic goal for you right now.
Make mini-goals and track them daily. What are the daily habits it will take to make your goal a reality? If you're giving up mindless snacking in front of the TV at night, the daily mini-goals might be: Making a list of things to do other than eating at night and checking it when you feel like snacking; doing exercises in between commercial breaks on TV; putting all food into cabinets and out of sight after a certain time; eating all snacks from a portioned out bowl - not straight from the container. Once you have your mini-goals solidified, write them down, visit them daily, and keep track of your achievements.

Keep reading for two more great tips!