BuzzSugar

Download of the Day: Mojo

GeekSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:20:05 PDT

Instead of visiting your friend's house to rip all of her CDs one by one, you can save yourself the trouble with Mojo - it's a download that gives you convenient access to your friends' iTunes libraries. Now, you can't download Mojo and just grab everyone's music willy-nilly - the friends need to be on your network at the same time, and they need to have downloaded Mojo as well.

After you've both downloaded Mojo, you get your friend's username and add each other. When you open iTunes, the compatible library will show up in the left margin, and as you browse through his or her library, there's a download option next to it you can select when you see something you like.

It's easier and more efficient than sending songs and albums via IM or email, and it's available for both Macs and Windows. Have more questions? Check out the Lifehacker post for more details!

Buzz Gift Guide: Gifts for an Audiophile

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:33:11 PST

Today's holiday gift guide is for your audiophile friend - the one who never hears the phone ring because she's got her headphones on and plans her social schedule around her favorite bands' tour dates.

Your audiophile friend might already own all seven pre-In Rainbows Radiohead albums - but just in case, check out this bizarrely cute USB stick that contains the band's complete recordings from 1993 to 2003, including bonus content. Too techie? There's a normal boxed set, too.

Does your friend have years and years of mixtapes languishing on a shelf now that cassette players have gone out of style? Pick up a Griffin iMic, which converts cassette and vinyl recordings to mp3. I've got one, and it's helped me get my favorite music from junior high and high school back in the regular rotation.

Rolling Stone and Spin not your friend's style? A subscription to Mojo might be a good alternative. The British music bible will cost you a bit if you need to ship it to the US, but helping your friend be a well-informed music fanatic might be worth it.

And OK, this one's not so much "audio" as just "phile," but the Meg and Jack White Lomo cameras are pretty craveworthy. Maybe your friend could use them to keep a record of her encounters with her favorite rock stars.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Load Up on Omega-3s With This Easy Salmon Recipe

Michele Foley — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:07:37 PDT

Your easy weeknight dinner: balsamic-glazed salmon - Eating Bird Food
A protein bar battle royale: Nature Valley vs. Clif Mojo - Fit Bottomed Girls
Time to celebrate -a cookie you can have for breakfast! - The Fitnessista
7 reasons to start every day with hot water and lemon - Mind Body Green
Learn how experts cope with the big and little stresses of life - Daily Spark
The healthy trends that are actually worth buying into - FabFitFun
Disabled one day, running the next; how yoga changed one man's life - Prevention

How Long Does It Take to Feel Sexy Again?

BabyCenter — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:46:31 PDT

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Kerala Taylor about bringing sexy back after baby.

Last week, when a coworker pointed at my shirt, I immediately started to panic. My first thought: My breasts are leaking. Or maybe I had missed a spit-up stain in my state of groggy semi-wakefulness this morning. Or worse yet, a big ol’ blob of dried poop.

Instead my coworker said, "You look nice in that shirt." Nice? That was the last thing I'd been expecting to hear. Every morning it's such a struggle to look halfway presentable, 'nice' isn’t even on the agenda.

With a baby daughter who is nearing the five-month mark, I'm feeling much more 'mom' than 'woman' these days, and I'm hoping the two aren't forever mutually exclusive. But with my once ornamental breasts now serving a utilitarian role, and with fluids regularly oozing onto me from every hole on my baby's body, it's tough to make the transition to 'nice,' let alone sexy.

When my husband first broached the subject of intimacy after childbirth, I asked, "You mean, with me?" What's surprised me most about our romps in the bed is his ability to still feel attracted to me (though I've given him full permission to fantasize about someone else).

Even more bewildering was the recent catcall I got walking home from the metro. I turned to snatch a curious glance at the hot young girl I was sure must be walking behind me, only to find the sidewalk empty. Is there such a thing as catcall recall? Clearly, this man was sadly mistaken.

Actually, lots of people insist I look great - which is very sweet of them and I'll take the compliment, thank you very much - but on the 'repulsive' to 'sexy' scale, I always feel somewhere between 'barely passable' and 'halfway presentable' - even in heels and mascara.

And that's OK, for now, as long as it's not forever. I may never again sleep through the night, stay out past 11 p.m., or wear a bikini, but I would, eventually, like to get my mojo back.

How long did it take you to reclaim your sex appeal after childbirth? Any advice for the rest of us?

More great posts from BabyCenter:
Should hospitals give away free formula?
Last-minute tax tips for parents
The easiest homemade baby food ever
5 steps to get your lil monster to sleep through the night
6 favorite family games

Why Your Diet Isn’t Working

Prevention — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:03:31 PDT

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

By Tula Karras, Prevention
Can't drop those extra pounds? These surprising explanations can help you reach your goals.

You've spent the last seven days putting in your best effort to lose a pound or two. But your weekly check-in with the scale reveals (again) that you can't get your weight loss mojo in motion. The good news is that the problem probably isn't your willpower. You may be making common mistakes that even inveterate dieters fall prey to. These are seven surprising reasons your weight-loss plan isn't working. Get the facts and get back on track.

1. You aren't eating enough.
You may need to bump up your calories to stoke your metabolism. When you dip below about 1,200 calories per day, not only are you not eating enough to get all your nutrients, but your body slows its metabolism in order to hold onto precious calories, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, and author of The Doctor's Detox Diet. Also, if you skip meals to lose weight, your body could lose its ability to feel full. Blame evolution, which has designed our bodies to resist famine and not the buffet table. For example, if you skip breakfast, the body assumes food is scarce. You need a morning meal to let your body know it's OK to burn calories. "Within one hour of waking, you should consume a 350- to 500-calorie breakfast, with 10 to 15 grams of protein and fiber to stoke the metabolic fire," says Dr. Gerbstadt.

How to Kick Your Sugar Cravings

More reason the scale isn't budging after the break.

Stock Up: 5 Snacks to Pack For Holiday Shopping and Travel

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:55:01 PST

You don't have to be a Boy Scout to be prepared. Whether simply stocking a bag for a trip to the grocery store, or packing for a cross-country flight, moms know a thing or two about preparing for the unexpected. And while mama's regular stash of goodies can tame a fussy and hungry tot on a good day, when airport delays and holiday shopping crowds are on the agenda, it's a good time to step it up a notch. Check out five snack-time picks that do more than occupy lil ones during the holiday madness!

Clif Mojo Dipped Bars ($15 for 12): Chocolate-covered peanuts? Yes, please! Available in a variety of flavor combinations, Clif's Mojo line of bars combine the sweet and salty by mixing fruits, nuts, and pretzels and then dipping them in sweet vanilla or chocolate. The kids will never know it isn't a candy bar!
Happy Baby Happy Munchies ($3): Happy Baby's allergy-free sticks are perfectly sized for toddler hands. Made with whole grain corn and packed with choline (to help with brain development), the snacks keep sodium to a minimum so your tot won't be begging for drinks as you try to pass through the airport security line!
Funky Monkey Snacks ($12 for 12): All-natural, freeze-dried fruit may sound boring, but with Funky Monkey's fun flavors (like Jivealime, a pineapple and lime combo), kids will love testing them out. Best of all, their satisfying crunch will have lil ones thinking they're eating chips!
That's It bars ($20 for 12): Made from just fruit, these bars are perfect pick-me-ups during a long day. They're nut-free, GMO-free, and just plain good!
Revolution Foods Fruit Shredz ($4): Think of these as the modern-day interpretation of the Fun Fruit. Made without high fructose corn syrup and glycerin, they're healthy, tasty, and unbelievably kid-friendly!

Havana Nights: A Cuban Food Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:37:34 PST

When you taste Cuban food for the first time, you'd swear that Spanish and Caribbean cuisines had a little love child - which isn't too far from the truth. The diversity of Cuban culture is indicative in the rich and varied flavors of the country's cuisine. One of the most thriving Cuban communities in the US is located in Miami, FL (and let me tell you, they've got the food to prove it!). Lucky for the rest of us, there are great Cuban restaurants all over the country that tantalize our taste buds with recipes that pack a powerful punch of flavor. Are you a fan of Latin American foods, but not sure where to start when it comes to comida Cubana? Continue reading to get to know a few staples of Cuban cuisine.

Group Therapy: Jealous Boyfriend Crossed the Line

Tres Community — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:05:03 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

So the story is: I used to always make guys fall me for - sick thing, I know but it is what it is. I was so good at it before. Then I got a boyfriend. I love him. A lot. But it's been so long since I've even talked to someone of the opposite sex besides him since we've been dating for awhile. Last night, some dude IMs me on Facebook and we start chatting. I DIDN'T flirt but I manipulated the conversation to make sure he was into me. It was harmless and he knew I had a boyfriend. Then I had a rush of happiness - rare - because I realize I still have it! I still have my mojo! Anyways . . .

My boyfriend always badgers me to tell him things cause I'm usually so cut off. So I told him in the middle of the night, in such a good mood, that "I still have it!" He started getting really antsy and kept asking me what does that mean and if it involved boys. I explained the situation and he exploded. Now . . . don't get me wrong, I love jealousy, but he crossed a line. He started attacking me personally, which is something he never does. I understand most of his points but still . . . It meant nothing and he knows that. I would never leave my boyfriend for some random dude. Especially since we've been together for so long. Anyways, I'm labeled the bad girlfriend yet again blah blah blah.

But I realized . . . He never, ever helps any situation. I'm usually sad. All of the time. I can't help it. And he always complains and whines to me that he wants me to talk to him so he can take the "hurt away." I tried. Multiple times. And every time he said the wrong things, ignored me, or just didn't make a difference. It's saddening. Cause I feel like I can never feel better and he can never help me. He's my boyfriend. He should know exactly what to do or say. And finally, one night where I was briefly happy, he ruined it. It sounds kind of crazy and foolish, but it's the truth. I don't know what to even do anymore. Advice?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Link Time: Ponytails For All Hair Lengths, Caffeinated Beauty Products, and More

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:13:00 PDT

Summer ponytails for all hair lengths - Real Simple
Beauty "flaws" that really aren't - Glo
Get your caffeine fix with these beauty products - Beauty High
Check out Dakota Fanning's pixie cut - InStyle
Can you get Kate Middleton hair at the new Duane Reade salon? - The Cut
This real girl reveals her curly-hair mojo - Refinery29
How to shimmer and shine without looking like a disco ball - xoJane
The Body Shop's Honey Bronze collection is the bee's knees - Beauty Fool
Summer hair tips from the stylist behind Selena Gomez's look - PopSugar City LA
Face time with Maureen Kelly of Tarte Cosmetics - T Magazine

World Traveler: Filipino Chicken Adobo

Susannah Chen — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:00:47 PDT

I've never met a cuisine I didn't like, and ethnic dives are among my most regular haunts. But I recently have come to terms with the fact that I've never made any of the sought-after dishes at the top of my list: North India's saag paneer, Korea's bibimbap, Cuban tostones con mojo. Then, when I learned that most of you are just as interested in adobo and banchan as I was, I decided it was time to tread through previously uncharted kitchen territory.

So, in a new series, I'll be exploring new dishes from around the globe, beginning first with a wildly underappreciated dish: chicken adobo. The term adobo can mean many things, but in the Philippines, a Southeast Asian country that's heavily influenced by Spanish and Chinese cultures, it refers to the process of stewing chicken or pork in a vinegar- and soy-based sauce. I can't get enough of the succulent result, which has an intoxicating sweet-and-sour aroma, and the sauce, which is phenomenal with rice. Make a new chicken dish when you read on.