BuzzSugar

Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Takes Playtime to a Whole New Level

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:27:17 PDT

For 44 years, kids have been racing Hot Wheels cars around their homes, on the sidewalks in front of their houses, and, if they're my kids, down the slides on the playground. Playground play aside, most die-cast car play has been strictly horizontal since that time. Now Hot Wheels is shaking things up - really up! - and moving car play vertical! Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, the company's new line of wall-mounted race tracks, literally takes playtime off the floor and onto the walls. The company sent me the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set ($32), one of four playsets in the collection, and I took it for a test run with my two car-obsessed kids. Here's what we thought!

Who is this product designed for? The manufacturer suggests that race tracks are for kids ages 4 to 8 years old, but my 2-year-old is having a very good time playing with it, too.

What sets it apart? For generations, car racing has been limited to floor play, where intricate tracks were laid on the ground to facilitate races, crashes, and general play. For the first time, that play moves up the wall, helping to clear the clutter of toys on the floor, but also creating a new play experience. Using 3M Command Strips (which are safe for painted and wallpapered walls - I tested it!), the track supports easily stick on the wall to create vertical, complex race tracks that eventually lead cars to the ground. The enclosed templates make setup a breeze - within 15 minutes of opening the box, we were ready to play!

What could be better? Unfortunately, the 3M Command Strips can lose their "stickiness" pretty easily, and if they do, the entire track falls down - quickly. This problem is easily remedied, though, by simply purchasing additional strips at an office supply store.

Keep reading to see how long the tracks entertain youngsters and for more views of the toy.

Mattel Plans More Toy-Inspired Movies

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:31:54 PST

The Transformers movie clearly turned out to be massively successful for the Hasbro toy company, and talk of a sequel swiftly followed the first movie's release. Then a G.I. Joe movie went into development, followed by a deal with Universal to make at least four movies based on Hasbro products, including Ouija, Candyland and Battleship, among others.

Not to be outdone, rival toy company Mattel got to work on a live-action "300-style" He-Man movie (with rumors of Brad Pitt taking the main role) and now there are a few more toy-inspired projects on the way. Apparently the company hopes to make an action film based on Hot Wheels, and at long last, Barbie will get her very own live-action feature film (though, as we all know, it's not exactly easy to find real women with the Barbie doll's measurements, or those who walk only on their tiptoes).

Obviously these projects are done with the intention of selling more toys, but do you think there's anything cool or interesting about them? And what kind of character will Barbie be?

Source and source

Sugar Shout Out: Entertain Outdoors With Gorgeous Glass

PopSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:55:15 PDT

Try Emily Blunt's Hot-Pink Lipstick Trick

Jaime Richards — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:47:00 PDT

Hot-pink lipstick has often gotten a bum rap thanks to its more garish 1980s roots. But for Emily Blunt at the premiere of The Five-Year Engagement, her hot pink - CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in Spellbound ($7), a bright, creamy fuchsia - was hotter than hot.

Part of the reason the palette worked so well is that makeup artist Jenn Streicher kept Emily's eyes and cheeks simply elegant, opting for a clean-skin palette to begin with, starting with Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum as a base, followed by Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Foundation. But another reason the palette worked so well is all thanks to the science of color. Pink (as seen on Emily's lips) when paired with green (as seen on her earrings and in her frock) is a winning combination. The reason is because pinkish tones are directly opposite of greenish tones on the color wheel, so Emily's overall ensemble made for one truly spellbinding style.

Yoga No-Nos For Pregos

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:33:23 PDT

Fun issues like nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the need to hit the ladies' room - three different times during a workout! - makes it difficult to keep up with a regular exercise routine when pregnant. If you're expecting, taking up yoga (or continuing to go) is wonderful because not only does it alleviate some of these annoying discomforts, your body will stay strong and flexible. No prenatal yoga class offered in your area? Take a regular class, but be sure to avoid the following during your practice.

Deep forward bends: Folding forward can compress blood vessels and nerves that connect to your uterus. Keep things flowing by separating your legs like in this Wide-Legged Forward Bend to make space at the top of the thighs.
Deep twists: This can also decrease circulation, so always twist in an open position as in this pose, not deeply across the knee.
Lying on your back: Once you hit the second trimester, avoid lying on your back for extended periods of time (as in Savasana). The increased weight of your uterus interferes with the flow of blood and nutrients to your developing baby. It can also aggravate lower back pain, heartburn, and elevate blood pressure. Use blocks and bolsters to prop your torso up instead of lying flat, and whenever possible find ways to stretch the same muscles while you're standing, sitting, on your hands and knees, or when lying on your side.
Poses that work your abs: As your belly expands, it's difficult to support the weight with your rectus abdominus (the muscles you see when someone has a six-pack), so you use your obliques (ab muscles on the side of your belly). Overly-strong obliques can pull your abdominal muscles apart, causing a condition known as diastasis. Avoid risk by skipping poses that target your core, especially your obliques - worry about getting your abs back in shape after the baby arrives.

Keep reading for more prenatal yoga no-nos.

7 Reasons Your Yoga Instructor Might Yell at You (and How to Handle It)

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:30:44 PDT

Yoga instructors are often the calmest people you'll meet, but when their beliefs are grounded in strict yoga principle and technique, they may sometimes put their foot down during practice. Here are some reasons your yoga teacher might reprimand you during class.

Drinking water: Practicing yoga is about building your energy or prana, otherwise known as your fire. Some by-the-book instructors believe gulping water puts out the fire you're working so hard to create and may say something if you reach for your Klean Kanteen. It's important to hydrate before coming to class, but while you're practicing, you can't always prevent a dry throat or feelings of being overheated. Only you know if you need to drink some water, so if your teacher says something, politely smile, take your sips, and get back to your practice.
Doing another variation: Yoga instructors take great pride in designing their classes, so when a student strays from a teacher's sequence by doing a different pose, the teacher might not be pleased. Due to injuries and different ability levels, it's imperative to listen to your own body and do the practice that's right for you. Of course, what you do on your mat shouldn't disrupt other people in the class. But if you're quietly doing the more advanced Full Wheel rather than Half Wheel and your instructor gets peeved, chat with them afterward, or try out a class with a more lenient teacher.
Coming out of a pose too soon: Yoga instructors are there to inspire your practice, which means designing challenging sequences of poses. Sometimes it's too much, and if your quad is burning after the sixth variation of Warrior 1, I can understand needing to straighten your leg to come out of the pose. It's great for an instructor to encourage deeper stretches in poses, but only you know your body and what it needs. If an instructor makes you feel bad for taking a break, then they may not be the nurturing teacher you need.

Keep reading for more reasons your yoga instructor might yell at you.

Your Ultimate Field Guide to Chinese Dim Sum

YumSugar — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:42:36 PST

February's National Hot Breakfast Month, and we've offered up warm and comforting recipes to get your day started. But it'd be impossible to ignore what is arguably the best hot breakfast of all: the tradition of Chinese dim sum. Dim sum (which technically translates to "point of the heart") can be a disorienting ritual: unrecognizable food being wheeled around in carts, waiters who only speak Cantonese, and an endless number of dumplings and buns.

We're here to save you from the confusion of the process, as we present to you our ultimate field guide on the subject. We promise, you'll never be scared to order dim sum again!

6 Retro Board Games For Your iPad

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:21:26 PST

I don't know about you, but board games were an important part of my childhood. Hours and hours could be spent sinking battleships, spinning wheels, and passing go outside on hot Summer days and indoors during the rainy Winter months. Needless to say, these new iPad versions of my favorite retro board games pull a bit on my heartstrings and take me back to simpler times when I could take all your play money and totally p0wn you on the Boardwalk. There's no crying in real estate.

Get into the game with these retro board game iPad apps. Which is your favorite?

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 4-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:33:43 PST

By 4 years old, tots know what they like, and they're already forming their own wish lists for the holidays. Chances are that many of the items on that list are the hottest toys of the season - including the LeapFrog LeapPad and the VTech InnoTab, Lalaloopsy, and Hot Wheels Wall Tracks. If mama's looking for a few new ideas, we've got her covered. Check out our favorite finds for these preschoolers!

The Orb Factory's StoryCraft The Frog Prince ($20) allows for creative storytelling, as tots add shapes and jewels to a 10-page story book about the Frog Prince fairy tale. LeapFrog keeps expanding its popular Tag reading system to do more than just teach tots to read. The LeapFrog Solar System Adventure Pack ($14) uses the Tag stylus to teach lil ones about the solar system - exploring planets and educating tots about life beyond Earth. Exercise doesn't feel like a chore with Diggin's Wobble Deck ($45), which plays music and games while tots try to balance on the board. Mini American Idol fans will love First Act's Voice Rockrz Mic ($25) that not only changes the singer's voice, but provides drumrolls and applause. Kids will rule the neighborhood with Fisher Price's Power Wheels Stinger XT ($250), a motorized car with room for two.

13 Signs You’re Too Busy

LearnVest — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:15:38 PDT

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

There’s busy.

Then there’s too busy.

Busy is running from one appointment to the next. Too busy is running over someone on your way to the next appointment (physically, vehicularly, whatever). Busy is leaving your cell phone behind at the grocery store. Too busy is leaving your kid behind at the grocery store.

And then there’s the biggest of all ironies-we want to cut back, but frankly, we just don’t have the time to figure out how to do it.

Sound familiar? Well, we’re here to do an intervention-a time intervention. Today, we’ll help you figure out if your life is starting to burst at the seams when it comes to your time. If it is, you need a wake-up call to reset priorities, because there is no shakier foundation for healthy, balanced living (and healthy, balanced money management) than not having the space and breathing room that time provides in our lives.

If you’ve crossed over the line into too busy, you’ll need to reset your foundation: Maybe it means taking a day off from work to reassess your life priorities. Maybe it means evaluating what your time is worth and outsourcing chores like housekeeping or laundry. Maybe it means taking a break from social engagements for a little while to focus on building the right foundation.

Here are 13 signs that you might need a time overhaul in your life-and easy tips on how to get started, today.

You Spend a Good Amount of Time Worrying About Your Time

If your time is preoccupied with, well, your time, you might be: endlessly cycling through your to-do list in your head, spending a lot of time arranging and rearranging your schedule, or wishing throughout the day that you had more time.

If you've worried about your schedule or wished you had more time more than three times a day, you need a break from time itself as a stressor in your life.

Try this: Take a mental break. Remove one thing from your schedule for today that is the least important-it might be putting off doing the laundry or postponing a work call. Spend that time instead totally luxuriating in something in the present moment (like eating a macaron or listening to your favorite song) and not thinking about your schedule, or future plans, at all.

Read on for more.