GeekSugar

Burning Reminder Ring: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:00:48 PDT

In the realm of wedding planning, hunting for wedding bands is just one more thing to remember. One thing you don't want to have to strain to remember, though, is your anniversary. Well, you may not need help remembering, but some (cough, male) people may need help - get it with the first nagging gadget - the Remember Ring!

The Remember Ring burns your finger in the 24 hours before your anniversary, at hour intervals, to ensure that no roses go unbought and that no dinners go unplanned. It's 120 degrees, "hot enough to cause discomfort, but not hot enough to burn." Because that's what guys like to look forward to in marriage: Punishment. Hey, I'm not saying it's only guys who have trouble remembering important dates, but let's just say that it's funny how they only come in wedding bands for him.

Meet Me in Moscow: A Russian Food Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:45:20 PST

Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see fit! It's time to get reading about the delicious dishes Russian cuisine has to offer.

Dishes:

Solyanka: The base of the spicy and sour solyanka soup consists of pickled cucumbers with brine, cabbage, mushrooms, sour cream, and dill. It's either served with meat, fish, or mushrooms.
Pirozhki : Pirozhki are small buns that are stuffed typically with a savory filling and then baked or fried. Some typical fillings include meat, onion, eggs, mashed potatoes, or cabbage.
Stroganov: Beef stroganov, or stroganoff, is cooked up in many a cafeteria today, but this recipe originated in Russia. It's typically pieces of beef served up in a sour cream-based sauce on top of egg noodles.
Blini: These thin, crepelike pancakes are enjoyed with either a savory or sweet topping. As opposed to the French crepe, blinis are made from buckwheat and are part of traditional Russian cuisine.
Borscht: Soups are a staple of a traditional Russian diet. And borscht is the czar of these soups. While it's served up cold in many restaurants in the US, traditionally borscht, primarily made of beets, is served piping hot.
Vatrushka: This traditional Russian dessert is a big ring of flaky pastry dough with cottage cheese in the center. Similar to a delicious American-style Danish, it's typically topped off with raisins or bits of fruit.

Staples:

Smetana (sour cream): Blinis are topped off with it. Soups utilize its flavor. It's even used in dessert recipes! In short, expect to find fresh and delicious sour cream accompanying just about Russian ration you eat.
Black bread: The dark, crusty, hearty rye bread is served alongside many a Russian dish.
Ikra (caviar): Briny caviar is a definite splurge in the US, but in Russia, you can find caviar far more often on a table. It's often served with blinis or atop black bread.

Did I leave anything off? Any Russian foods you love to chow down on? Add your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Flickr User Istelleinad & geishaboy500

Are You Ready For Marriage, Or Are You Rushing Into It?

YourTango — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:00:04 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

When I was a little girl I remember watching all the Disney Princess movies (You know the ones: Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin… there seemed to be an endless supply), and I loved everything about those fairy tale stories-the handsome prince, the white dress, the cake, the pumpkin stagecoach, and the big castle to live happily ever after in-I always pictured my future playing out just like my favorite princesses. Doesn't every girl?

We all know the saying "first comes love, then comes marriage," and when you feel you've found your perfect match, you start to picture yourself eventually settling down. You see the future, you see building a strong and wonderful married life together, and even creating a family. You start imagining fairy tales and castles and Cinderella dresses . . .

But you know what? It's not that simple. I wish it were. There's a lot more to marriage than just the love you feel for one another. The Beatles' might have said, "All you need is love," but real life doesn't work that way. Ever. Marriage requires effort.

Before you start calling up wedding coordinators and venues, before you start looking for a dress and picking out a cake, put away your emotions long enough to ask yourself a few questions.

What makes this person The One?

Out of all the relationships you've been in, what makes this person the one for you? Answering this question is crucial to prevent yourself from entering a marriage for all the wrong reasons. Never pressure yourself with the idea that you may never have another opportunity to get married. There's always time. Your wedding is just one day while your marriage is for a lifetime.

When I met my husband's family for the first time I saw first hand how he treated his sisters. His sisters are 13 and 20 years younger than he is, and when I saw them together, I knew he'd be a great father. Among his other great qualities, that's what sealed the deal for me.

Do you share the same values?

Issues about careers, finances, raising children, discipline, sex, spending, religion, and values are the most important subjects that need to be addressed before you even think about engagement rings. If you can't plan for and effectively discuss these topics with your partner, you won't be able to merge your two lives together with any amount of success. If you don't feel comfortable bringing them up, then you're not ready to say, "I do."

When my husband and I started dating we talked about our personal values and beliefs. We found we shared more in common than either one of us thought. Coming from similar family backgrounds, we found it easy to envision a future together, and another way that made merging our lives together almost effortless.

Get more questions to ask yourself when you finish reading the rest of the story on YourTango: Are You Ready For Marriage, Or Are You Rushing Into It?

Written by Alisha Cornett for YourTango.

The Office, "Pool Party": Best Lines of the Night

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:20:50 PST

On this week's The Office, we got to see the colleagues of Dunder Mifflin as we rarely see them: in their bathing suits. The gang gets invited to a pool party at Robert California's dream home before he has to put it on the market, and things get a little wild.

Erin bends over backward to make Andy jealous, who has an engagement ring he may or may not use on his girlfriend. Jim tries to leave the party early, but the wet and crazy festivities keep everyone going, and things get weird. There were so many funny lines, but I managed to pick out a few favorites. See them when you read more.

Golden Globes: Jessica Biel

BellaSugar — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:08:54 PST

Jessica Biel has been taking a decidedly fashion-forward turn on the red carpet lately (remember her Giambattista Valli number a few months ago?) and tonight was no different. She flaunted her toned back and raven-hued hair on the red carpet tonight, looking absolutely stunning in an Elie Saab haute couture gown. She left her hair long and loose, and opted for a pretty, bright pink lip color. We especially love the drapey back detail and cascading jewels, although we couldn't help but notice the absence of one much-talked-about accessory: her rumored engagement ring. What do you think of Jessica's look?

Vote on all of our Golden Globe Awards polls here!

Critics' Choice Awards: Charlize Theron

FabSugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:29:19 PST

Has Charlize Theron ever gotten it wrong? Not that we can remember. The Young Adult star walked the gray carpet in a black, floor-length gown from Azzedine Alaïa's Fall 2011 collection - the gown featured some beautiful details, like a tiered hem and feminine scalloping at the neck. To show off the intricacy of the dress, Charlize kept her hair slicked back, with a pretty braided bun on one side. She kept her makeup minimal, as well as her accessories, opting for a black box clutch and a jeweled ring. Do you love Charlize's look?

Vote on all of our Critics' Choice Awards polls here!

6 Surprising Health Mistakes Even Smart Women Make

Prevention — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:05:18 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

When was the last time you got 8 hours of sleep or lifted weights at the gym? You're not alone if you can't remember: Even some of the most savvy women didn't get the memo about these health-wrecking habits. Find out if you're among them.
From the Editors of Prevention

You're supposed to watch saturated fat and eat lots of vegetables — that's why you usually pick up a salad for lunch and dinner (even when the kids get burgers). But you're not obsessed with the scale like some women you know. You brush your teeth twice a day, and you last flossed, oh, maybe two weeks ago. You exercise but avoid lifting so you don't bulk up. The tummy pains you got last week? Must have been gas — nothing serious. And hey, you'd like to get 8 hours of sleep, but the days are short, and it's hard to get everything done. Sound familiar? These so-called "good" habits may actually be derailing your health. Here, experts share the surprising things you're doing wrong — and how to recover.

1. You Always Order a Salad
Don't assume that bowl of lettuce is always the healthiest menu pick.

Truth is, a lot of take-out and restaurant salads are basically a burger in a bowl, says Brie Turner-McGrievy, RD, clinical research coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington, DC. That's because add-ons like fried chicken, croutons, and full-fat dressing pack major calories, fat, sodium, and other unhealthy nutrients. One example: McDonald's Bacon Ranch Salad with Crispy Chicken and Newman's Own Ranch Dressing has 540 calories and 35 grams of fat; a Big Mac has 540 calories and 29 grams.

The fix: Don't scratch take-out salad off your menu; just use a few common sense rules before you order. Avoid high-fat add-ons such as sour cream, extra cheese, croutons, bacon bits, and creamy dressings like Caesar and ranch. Opt for salads that aren't just a fiber-free mound of iceberg lettuce dotted with a few carrot and red cabbage shavings. And plan ahead: Most fast-food chains supply nutritional info online so you can scout out the best options before you leave.

Avoid These Surprisingly Unhealthy Salads

2. You Rock Out While You Work Out
Do your ears ring after a long iPod-powered workout?

Check the volume on your iPod or MP3 player, advises Andrew Cheng, MD, an otolaryngologist at New York Medical College. The normal range of an MP3 player is 60 to 120 decibels; persistent exposures above 85 may cause hearing loss. If you're concerned, ask a friend to stand next to you while you listen: If she can hear your music, it's too loud.

Learn the fix and four more other common mistakes, when you read more.

6 Little Instant Health Boosts

Prevention — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:42:05 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Minor moves that offer major benefits for your mind and body
By Alyssa Shaffer, Prevention

Brush and Floss
Health boost: Cut risk of head and neck cancer by 400 Percent

Take good care of your smile and you'll have more than just white teeth to show for it. New research from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, shows that people with the chronic gum disease periodontitis have a fourfold risk of developing a type of head or neck cancer (which makes up about 5 percent of all malignancies in the United States), especially in the mouth and throat. The risk was increased even among patients who never used tobacco. Gum disease occurs when the bacteria that live in plaque infect the gums, so brush and floss regularly to prevent plaque buildup.

16 Amazingly Easy Ways to Dramatically Improve Well-being

Hide Your TV Remote
Health boost: Whittle 2 inches from your belly

When switching TV stations, put down the remote, get up, and do it manually. An Australian study found that people who did the greatest amount of light activity during otherwise sedentary behavior, such as watching TV, had 16 percent smaller waist circumferences than those who were inclined to stay put. Even the simple act of getting up and walking around for a minute or so was enough to make a difference, regardless of whether they had a regular workout schedule.

They also had lower body mass indexes and triglyceride and glucose levels, all of which are associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. More ways to break up an otherwise inactive day: Stand up every time the phone rings at your desk; take the long way back to your desk after a bathroom break; do some stretches before reading a new e-mail.

Super Secrets For a Trim Tummy

Doodle During Work Meetings
Health boost: Improve memory by 29 Percent

People who doodled while listening to a recorded message had nearly one-third better recall of the details than those who didn't draw, according to a study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology. "Doodling acts as a buffer against daydreaming," explains researcher Jackie Andrade, PhD, a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth in England. "It provides just enough distraction to stop you from drifting off, but you can still focus on what is being said."

Find more ways to boost your health after the break.

5 Facts About the Fictional Middle-Earth

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:24:00 PDT

J.R.R. Tolkien created a vast and complex world when he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The setting for these stories, a land called Middle-earth is rich with its own languages, myths, races, and cultures. With the guidance of The Origin's of Tolkien's Middle-Earth For Dummies ($16), we've noted five facts about this fictional world that came straight from one man's imagination.

Hobbit origins - Despite Tolkien's statements that hobbits are in no way related to rabbits, the similarities are striking. Both live in holes, have furry feet that are fine shoeless, Bilbo Baggins wears a waistcoat reminiscent of the Alice in Wonderland's white rabbit, and several characters in The Hobbit remark on Bilbo looking like a rabbit.

Gandalf - Wizard Gandalf the Grey's name originated from the Dvergatal ("Tally of the Dwarves") section of an ancient Norse poem called the Völuspá. The Dvergatal includes a list of dwarf names, many of which are seen in the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, including Gandálfr, Fíli, Kíli, and Bombur.

Language - As a professor of Anglo-Saxon and proficient in over a dozen languages, Tolkien put a huge emphasis on linguistics in Middle-earth. He created languages used in his books, including Quenya, which has similarities to Finnish and is the language of the Elves.

For more about your favorite fantasy realm follow the break.

What's Your Affordable Family Go-To Spot For Special Occasions?

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

When you want to celebrate special occasions as a family, it's tough to find a kid-friendly place that offers affordable, good quality, and nutritious food. Kids need room to play or some form of entertainment in front of them. Otherwise, you might spend your whole meal nagging them to stop kicking their legs or behave (like an adult).

I remember as a kid begging my parents to go to Benihana on my birthday to watch the hibachi cook make an onion ring volcano steam and flip shrimp tails into his coat pocket. I loved seeing him scramble an egg on the hibachi flat top grill and perfectly pack the fried rice into bowls with dome tops. Even today, going to Benihana is a special treat - one that the Jolie-Pitt family enjoyed last night - especially since Benihana used to only offer adult-size portions. However, Benihana has recently released a kid's menu, making the final check a little easier to swallow.

Where does your family go out to eat for special occasions?