GeekSugar

Follow What Obama and McCain Are Reading on the Internet!

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:30:56 PDT

This is the first campaign we've got to follow in this particular age of the Internet; with blogs, every little story becomes a big story, every mountain a molehill, as word-of-mouth has become URL-link-hand-offs. I'm already trying to keep up with CitizenSugar, and now, you can keep up with what the candidates and their campaigns are reading themselves, with Google's new Power Readers feature.

The Power Readers page is like reading shared items in Google Reader, only instead of a shared blog post from your friend, it's from Barack Obama. Choice on his reading list? The Daily Show!

9 Easy Tricks to Maximize Your Wardrobe

LearnVest — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:15:31 PDT

Despite what you think, you actually don't need more clothes. The trick is to just maximize your wardrobe. LearnVest shares how.

Whether you live for shopping the latest trends or wish you could spend every day in your favorite pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, your clothes project a message about who you are.

The great thing is that you have the power to control that message entirely - as long as what you already own isn’t standing in your way.

From having a wardrobe that’s bursting with every item of clothing you’ve had since childhood to owning a ton of pieces that you never wear (the definition of wasted money), these are the ways your closet can stop you from being the most stylish version of yourself.

To cut through the clutter and help you get the most from the items you already have, we polled everyone we know - including all of the LearnVest editors, who are definitely invested in looking their best on a budget, and one fashion expert - to come up with nine easy, inventive ways for you to make over the closet you have without spending a ton on new trends.

At least one of these strategies will dramatically change the way you feel about getting dressed in the morning.

1. Follow the Rainbow

This strategy comes courtesy of LearnVest reader Erin Greenbaum, who has used this technique for years with great success. Every day for a week, make sure that your ensemble includes an item of a certain color: week one is red, two is orange, three is yellow, etc. This will encourage you to search through your closet and actually wear the pieces that have been languishing, unloved, underneath your go-to items.

2. First In, Last Out

In her new book, You Are What You Wear, Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner says that the majority of people wear 20 percent of their closet 80 percent of the time. There are variations on this “first in, last out” wardrobe strategy, which prevent you from wearing a few pieces nonstop.

Instead of wearing the same small percentage of your closet every week, do what Assistant Editor Alden Wicker does: after wearing an outfit, she hangs it in the most remote corner of her closet, which forces her to see only pieces she hasn’t worn frequently. If she’s totally uninspired by a piece staring her right in the face, she has to decide whether to consign it or not. Another approach (which might be better if you like to organize by item type - dresses near dresses, shirts near shirts) is to hang each item inside out after you wear it (assuming you don’t have to wash it immediately). This way, you can easily see which pieces you’ve recently worn and which items you may have forgotten about.

Read on for more.

Feeling Wronged as a Customer? Vent Online to These 6 Sites

Emily Co — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:36:11 PDT

One of the things I love about this digital age is that we have more power as consumers, because we now have a public online forum to voice our dissatisfaction. Sometimes you may feel like your complaints are going unheard. Perhaps the firm did not respond to your multiple calls and emails or maybe the customer service rep was just plain rude. As frustrating as it is, we know that the "customer is always right" adage is no longer true for many establishments. But don't worry, there are plenty of places to voice your unhappiness. Here are some of them:

Amazon: If you're unhappy with any product you have received, leave a review on Amazon.com to enlighten other customers. Amazon is the largest online retailer in the US so your review will definitely be seen by many pairs of eyes.
The Consumerist: A bulk of the posts on consumerist.com come from complaints and tips from readers. The blog also scours the news to find other examples of consumers being wronged. Some of the top posts include a customer getting banned from Best Buy after catching the store doing something illegal.
Yelp: Compelling Yelp reviews can really make a difference. I've gotten messages from shop owners thanking me for my positive review and some who requested me to take down a negative one. Remember, you're the one with the upper hand so don't be cowed by store owners who try to threaten you.

For more places to vent, read on.

From the Community: Everything You Need to Know About CrossFit

Fit Community — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:22:23 PDT

FitSugar reader meetcasey interviewed CrossFit expert Robert Sax, owner of the CrossFit Amped Gym, and posted the Q&A in our Get Fit For 2012 community group. Check out what Robert had to say about this rising fitness trend!

Meet the Expert: Robert Sax

Can you begin by telling us a little about yourself?

I am 27 years old and a Capricorn (yes, that’s the goat). I’m originally from Portland, ME (the first Portland), and I currently live in Bellevue, WA. I graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a BS in exercise science. I own CrossFit Amped, coach during the day, fight crime at night, and occasionally put down an entire jar of fresh-grind almond butter. Mmmmmm, fat!

What is CrossFit?

Textbook definition: it is constantly varied functional movements executed at a high intensity. CliffsNotes version: constantly changing workouts that involve body weight movements, gymnastics, aerobic and anaerobic training, Olympic lifting, power lifting, strongman movements, and anything else my twisted mind can conjure up! It is a universally scalable platform for exercise that allows any man or woman of any age and ability level to participate. I have worked with every walk of life and haven’t been stumped yet. In fact, I am currently coaching two men who are deaf, which was a challenge at first because of the amount of detail needed to comprehend and apply to certain movement patterns. Now it is no problem. In fact, I’ve learned some sign language because of it!

Learn more about what a CrossFit workout is and how it can change your body after the break

Look of the Day: Soft Focus Florals

FabSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:00:37 PDT

Spring's in bloom. Case in point: Fab reader Smileforstyle has doubled up on the floral front in honor of the seasonal transition. We love the way she paired faded floral skinny jeans with a brighter buttoned-down flower power blouse. To make sure this pretty printed look didn't get too carried away, she wore a sweet white sweater over the top. It's one-part preppy, two-parts strategic layering. For a polished finish, she added long delicate gold chains and nude pumps.

Congrats Smileforstyle!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

The Hunger Games: A Satisfying Adaptation and a Stunning Movie

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:20:28 PDT

If you've been holding your breath about The Hunger Games, it's time to let it out, because the movie fulfills any and all hopes you could have. Not only is the adaptation loyal to its cherished source material, as a film, it's simply incredible.

Based on Suzanne Collins's novel, The Hunger Games portrays a dystopian future in which what's presumed to be North America has been broken up into 12 districts surrounding an ultra-rich, powerful Capitol. To remind the districts of their subordination, the Capitol holds an annual event in which one teen girl and boy (known as tributes) from each district are forced to fight to the death (until only one remains) as a televised show. At the center of all this is Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a 16-year-old from one of the poorest districts, who volunteers to participate in the place of her younger sister, Prim. The movie follows Katniss from her hardscrabble life at home with her family and best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to the flamboyant excess of the Capitol and into the action-packed arena as she does everything she can to survive. The story is already well-known to legions of readers, and director Gary Ross brings Collins's novel to life as a visual treat, with an emotional punch as strong as the film's heroine.

To find out why I thought The Hunger Games is so fantastic, just keep reading.

From the Community: Dr. Oz’s Top 10 Healthy Eating Musts

Fit Community — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:51:55 PDT

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV posted these healthy eating tips from Dr. Oz in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

In honor of National Nutrition month, we asked Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and host of the Dr. Oz Show, to share with us his top 10 musts when it comes to eating for better health, weight loss, and overall wellness. We were surprised to learn a few of these!

1) Eat this #1 cancer-fighting, cleansing produce item

What ranks at the head of the class when it comes to the produce department? "Broccoli is the best produce option, because it cleanses the liver and helps to fight cancer," says Dr. Oz.

2) Stay in shape by eating these

Think you’ll stay slim by just sticking to salads and fat-free foods? Think again! "Nuts are the number-one food for staying in shape," says Dr. Oz.

3) Don’t just cut calories to drop lbs.

"Losing weight isn’t all about cutting calories. The brain looks for nutrients, not calories," says Dr. Oz. Yet another reason to focus on whole, unprocessed foods to help speed up weight loss!

See the rest of the tips after the break

Look of the Day: Floral Burst

FabSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:00:22 PST

Following suit on this season's ultra-vibrant floral trend, Fab reader TheFancyTeacup rocked her own version of flower power to perfection. She paired a bold floral-printed sweater with a solid mandarin orange-hue circle miniskirt. The form-fitting topper against a fit-and-flare bottom has a sweet silhouette effect. For accessories, she kept it low-key with neutral-toned capped-toe pumps and a purple suede clutch. We think this bright look deserves to be created come time for Fashion Week, don't you?

Congrats TheFancyTeacup!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

Look of the Day: Neon and Neutrals

FabSugar — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:00:50 PST

Fab reader Pearlsandgreentea showcased the powerful effect of a cool and colorful accessory. Her casual ensemble - comprised of a beige knit sweater, black leggings, scrunched gray socks, cuff bracelet, and neutral wedge booties, got a bright boost from the neon yellow Cambridge Satchel Company bag draped across her body. We think the fluorescent hue and structured shape gave the daytime look a zippy finish.

Congrats Pearlsandgreentea!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

Vacations: The Best Time to Try New Fitness Classes

Heather Dale — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:11:50 PST

Some may leave their gym shorts and running shoes at home when they jet off for a vacation, but FitSugar readers make it a point to sneak fitness into their schedules while traveling. And I commend you for doing so, because when you've got a mai tai in one hand and a gripping novel in the other, it can take a lot of willpower to head to the gym.

Working out while on vacation can actually be an exhilarating and rewarding experience - especially if you try a new class. Here's why trips afar are the best time to switch up your fitness routine