GeekSugar

Widower Calls Deceased Wife's Voice Mail Just to Hear Her Voice

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:00:43 PDT

File this under Sigh: An 80-year-old man whose wife died in 2005 has been calling her number every day since, just to hear her say her name on his voice mail recording. I'm in a virtual puddle over here.

Anyway, after a while, the carrier, Verizon, upgraded the service and it was lost - but don't worry, they got wind of it and restored the message for the man. He says, very simply, “I’m glad they rescued it. . . I’m very happy.”

So if you're feeling a little worn-out and overwhelmed by all our wedding coverage on IDoSugar and details, details, details - take a break and read this story and remember what it's supposed to be all about.

Source

Flashback: Answering Machine Jingles

GiggleSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Back in the day, you could still pretend you weren't home by turning your answering machine on. The folks who created this ad understood that you might not want to stress over taping your own greeting, though. Enter "Crazy Calls," pre-recorded machine jingles conveniently available on a cassette tape(!) With lyrics like "Nobody's Home!" to Beethoven's 5th, and "Call Me If You Can-Can," your friends and family would probably look forward to calling and not reaching you. George Constanza knows what I'm talking about.

Oscar Worthy Gadgets: Little Miss Sunshine's Answering Machine

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:00:14 PST

There are a few reasons why I love Little Miss Sunshine. No. 1: Steve Carell. No. 2: The Script. No. 3: The scene where little Olive (played by Abigail Breslin) unleashes a scream more intense than a stampede of hundreds of people getting their hands on a Wii when she finds out she was accepted to the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty and talent competition. Olive: "I won, I won, I won, I won, I won!"

Not only is Breslin the new Dakota Fanning in my book, but her answering machine gets my pick for being an Oscar-worthy gadget by osmosis. Who uses old school answering machines anymore? The cutest 11-year-old ever, that's who. Want to see more Little Miss Sunshine gadgets?

View 4 Photos ›

Have you filled out your Oscar ballot? The winner will score a fabulous Prada bag, runners-up will get $50 to $500 gift cards Neiman Marcus, Sephora and The Apple Store. Get your votes in! Good luck! For official rules click here. Source

Seinfeld: Message Machine Musical

GiggleSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:33:07 PST

Another Seinfeld moment featuring my favorite answering machine remix of all time - the Jingle George Rock. It's music to my ears, I tell ya. Bottom line: Friends don't let friends go public with bad singing.

Best Practices: Extend the Life of Your Workout Wear

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:43 PST

You splurged on $70 capris, but since they make such a difference in the way you feel during workouts, you'll never go back to cheapo clothes again. Because you've shelled out a lot of dough for these items, it's best to know how to take care of your workout clothes so they'll last. Always check the label or the brand's website for care instructions, and to answer a few common concerns about washing wicking-wear, we spoke to a few of our fave brands to get the skinny on the matter.

Go With Cold
We spoke with Zobha, Lululemon, and SmartWool, and they all agree: wash your technical and wool workout garments in cold water. No need to hand wash either! Just drop your clothes into the machine. But Lululemon adds "avoid washing with fluffy clothing (i.e. big cotton sweatshirts)" so your favorite leggings don't end up with a bunch of unwanted lint as decoration.

Say No to Bleach and Fabric Softeners
Bleach does not play nice with technical fabrics, so these brands say to avoid it. When it comes to your woolens, SmartWool recommends avoiding fabric softeners "because they coat the merino wool fibers and reduce the fibers' ability to naturally manage moisture and regulate your body temperature."

To Tumble Dry or Not
When it comes to drying your gear, all these brands agree: it's perfectly acceptable to tumble dry your clothes on low. Lululemon does provide the caveat that "hanging to dry will help prolong the life of the garment." I find using the dryer helps lessen the stink factor that affects some of my workout wear. Plus it saves time - I hate when I grab a pair of air-drying capris for my morning workout and they're still damp.

If you have more questions on washing your fave pieces of gear, read up on how to wash workout clothes for more tips.

3 Ways to Make Over Your Sleep

Leta Shy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:12:30 PST

Are you getting the best sleep possible? If you just answered a bleary-eyed "No," chances are your sleep patterns need a makeover. Find out three ways to revamp your sleep and wake up rested.

Limit distractions: Light emanating from your TV or iPad before you go to bed, noisy neighbors, or a never-ending stream of cars outside your window can all take away from quality sleep. Make sure you keep distractions to a minimum by powering down at least 20 minutes before bedtime - otherwise you may be so wired it'll take even longer for you to fall asleep. If outside distractions are the source of your wide-eyed nights, try a white noise machine (or a white noise app like Simply Noise [$1] on your iPhone).

Read on for two more ways to make over your sleep for a better night's rest after the break.

How to Get Your Metabolism Moving

Health — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:03:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Does your metabolism grind to a halt after 35? Can certain foods rev it up? Answers ahead — and they're good.
By Paige Greenfield

Here's something to feel good about: your body is a calorie-burning machine. You'll even torch a few while reading this article. The point is, every single thing you do — from breathing to eating to sleeping — uses energy. The number of calories it would take just to lie in bed all day is called your resting metabolic rate. And just like your curly hair or warm personality, yours is unique.

"There are so many factors that determine your metabolic rate," says Janet Rankin, PhD, professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise at Virginia Tech. Among them: your height and weight (bigger people burn more calories), your gender (women have slower metabolisms than men), your age (your metabolic rate declines as you get older), how much muscle or fat you have (muscle burns more calories than fat does), and your DNA.

Health.com: Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Although you can't rewire your double helix or switch back the clock, there's still plenty you can do to be a fast burner, Rankin says. All you need to do is remember these four research-backed truths.

Cardio Revs Your Metabolism For Hours Afterward
Resistance training often hogs the metab-boosting spotlight. It's no wonder, since a pound of muscle at rest fries three times as many calories as a pound of fat. However, cardio is every bit as crucial for keeping your metabolism humming.

New research explains why: In a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, people pedaled a stationary bike as hard as they could for 47 minutes.
The finding: They slashed 190 calories above their resting metabolic rate for 14 hours after their workout. Add that to the 519 calories, on average, the cyclists scorched from the workout itself, and that's one heck of a sweat session.

"If you do just two to three vigorous bouts of exercise per week for 45 minutes, you could lose a pound of fat every two weeks from the combination of calories expended during exercise plus what you burn afterward," says study author David Nieman, PhD, a professor of exercise science at Appalachian State University.

So how can you tell if you're pushing hard enough? Any sweat-inducing activity you can sustain for 45 minutes will do the trick.

More useful tips after the break.

Gear Review: Motorola's MotoACTV Fitness Tracker

Leta Shy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:55:36 PST

Is getting fit one of your New Year's resolutions for the coming year? Whether you're just diving into a new regimen or need a better way to track your workouts, you'll love the new MotoACTV fitness tracker from Motorola.

Released in November, the MotoACTV promises to be your constant fitness companion, and with good reason. It can track calories burned, pace, speed, steps taken, and GPS route out of the box, and holds up to 16 GB of music and workout data. All features that will make anyone's workouts better, so I was happy to test out the 8 GB version that Motorola recently sent over ($250; the 16 GB version goes for $300).

The MotoACTV is slightly bigger than the iPod Nano, and like the Apple product, it has a simple interface making it completely intuitive as soon as you power it on. You can use it as a pedometer, and the home screen shows the time, steps taken, and calories burned for the day. By swiping left and right you can navigate to four more screens with different options. Five tactile buttons and one designated back button on the touch screen work all the main functions, which I appreciated since having easy-to-feel buttons made pausing music or finding my way back to my workout screen much faster than if I were fumbling my way through touch screens. And after entering your height and weight stats, the MotoACTV tracks the amount of calories you burn throughout the day, including your basal metabolic rate. When on the workout screen, you can choose between five styles - running, cycling, walking, elliptical, and step machine - and what type of workout you want (like racing against a previous personal best or setting a time and distance goal). During a workout a pleasant voice keeps you updated on certain milestones and how long you have left in your workout.

Keep reading for more on how the MotoACTV performs.

5 Lame Excuses That Shouldn't Keep You From Exercising

Leta Shy — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:45:13 PDT

Have a regular fitness routine? Do you always stick to it? If the answer is no, you've probably made one of these excuses before. Before you convince yourself to ditch your gym bag for another day, here are five common excuses and the reasons why they shouldn't keep you from sweating it out.

I'm too tired: No matter how many times people tell you that exercise will help give you an energy boost, it won't matter if the thought of actually putting on your sports bra has you spent. But consistency is key to keeping energy levels up. The more regularly you exercise, the more energy you'll have, meaning you won't nod off on the couch while trying to catch your favorite primetime shows at night; so, use that as motivation to just do it.
I'm too busy: Who hasn't looked at their schedule and wondered how they are going to fit it all in? Juggling workouts with work, kids, and social engagements can be a feat in itself. But an effective workout can be had in just 20 minutes or less as long as you're prepared. Find a few quick workouts to have on hand the next time you have a busy day. Squeeze in a few of these quick five-minute exercises the next time you have a few minutes to spare, or make like perpetually busy working mom Bethenny Frankel and pop in an exercise DVD when you get home. "A long time ago I used to go to a gym or a yoga class, but that involves getting there [and] getting back. I don’t really have that extra time, so I really believe in at-home workouts," she recently told us.

Read on for more lame excuses that shouldn't keep you from working out!

4 Items That Help Create a Healthy Workspace

Leta Shy — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:04:32 PDT

So, there are a lot of reasons why work leads to weight gain, but being chained to a desk for eight hours a day doesn't mean you have to give up on being healthy. Read on for a few items you should keep at your desk to keep motivated to stay healthy.

Healthy snacks. Desk dining may sometimes mean mindless eating, but if your stomach is grumbling during the afternoon you don't want to be encouraged to answer the call of the vending machine. Keep packets of trail mix, nuts, or protein bars in your desk for a quick snack that'll keep you on the right track. Even better: eating your snack away from your desk so you can concentrate on appreciating your food and not overeating.

Gym extras. If you go to the gym from work, it helps to keep a rotation of heavy-use workout gear stashed away in case you forget to pack something. If you have an older pair of gym sneakers, keep them at your office, along with socks, sports bra, and other workout essentials in case you forget.

Read on for more healthy desk suggestions!