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Nice and New: Fresh Finds at Ferm Living

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:33 PST

One of my favorite wallpaper retailers, Ferm Living, has a few new things in store that I'm really loving. First of all, I think the way this Sewing Kit Wall Sticker ($57.50) is staged is absolutely hilarious. I think it would be clever to use it around a window or doorway in your home, especially one that doesn't have a lot of molding. See a few other new things when you

The On-Off Mug: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:00:46 PST

Cause everyone needs to know when their coffee mug is on or off, there is now a visual indicating On-Off Mug that reads "off" without liquid and "on" when filled with a warm bevy. A special heat-sensitive pigment will turn the mug from black to white as the temperature increases, so you not only get your morning cuppa joe, but you get a magic show as well. Each mug is dishwasher safe and costs $25. What do you think? Love or leave?

Tea Kettles to Fit Your Mood

DearSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Microwave my tea? No way! Having a cup of tea isn't just about drinking the hot, soothing liquid, it's about the whole experience of actually making your tea.

Tea time is about taking some time for yourself, choosing the perfect aroma of tea to suit your senses while you wait for your kettle to quietly whistle as it warms. I love to cup the warm mug between my hands and smell the sweet steam as my tea bag steeps. Having friends over for tea is a great way to entertain or you can enjoy it by yourself while curling up with a good movie or book.

Here are some of my favorite tea kettles.

Le Creuset Pink Whistling Tea Kettle	Calypso Basics 64 oz Tea Kettle in Coral
Demeyere Resto Whistling Tea Kettle	KitchenAid Sky Blue 64oz Porcelain Tea Kettle
Williams-Sonoma Copper Kettle	Copco - Avanti Tea Kettle	Creative Home Brushed Dome 96oz Whistling Tea Kettle

CasaSugar Stuff on ShopSugar!

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:23:52 PDT

There are many things that excite me about CasaSugar, and one of them is the site's logo. I absolutely love the salmon and brown color palette. (It's okay for me to brag about it, since I didn't design it.) Anyway, I'm pleased to announce that the ShopSugar store on CafePress is now stocking CasaSugar gear!

There are tons of cute clothes (I particularly like the ringer tee) as well as lots of home-related goodies, like CasaSugar mugs, tote bags for eco-friendly shopping, aprons, and coasters. If you buy something, don't forget to share it in the Show Us Your Sugar group.

Bird Jug & Mug: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:58:39 PDT

I have a thing for little birds, they're pretty darn cute and add a nice rustic flair to modern elements. They're also pretty trendy right now, which is okay in my book. Yesterday I saw this lovely bird jug and mug set and just swooned. The mug is £4.95 ($10) and the jug is £19.95 ($40). What do you guys think, love it or hate it?

Source: Another Shade of Grey

Taz Ah Animal Face Mug: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 02:42:37 PDT

There's not much to say about the Taz Ah mugs from Generate (and designer Attua Aparicio Torinos), except for that I love, love, love them. They're available for $29 each and come in three options: pig nose, dog nose and rabbit nose. I think they're perfect for when you don't want to seem too serious. What about you guys, what do you think? Taz Ah Animal Face Mug - Love it or Hate it?

Geeky Mugs to Keep You Warm on Cold Winter Nights

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:50:40 PST

Winter is still rearing its cold and dark head, and if your neck of the woods isn't as toasty as you'd like it to be, try warming up with a hot beverage instead of turning on your radiator. Your coffee or tea (or Captain Picard-style hot toddy) will taste even sweeter in one of these geeky mugs. Cin cin, baby. Cin cin.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Low-Cal Love Potions

Susi May — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:04:21 PST

Low-calorie cocktails for your Valentine's Day celebrations - Shape
Go ahead and plate up some pasta; these recipes are healthy - Real Simple
Healthify your chocolate torte with sweet potatoes! - Vegetarian Times
9 power foods that boost your immunity - Prevention
Healthy reasons to not follow recipes when making meals - Self
Low-calorie sweets that please the palate and satisfy - Fitness
Crazy, natural ways to jump-start your stalled weight loss journey - Mind Body Green
Quick protein-packed breakfast: eggs in a mug, in a microwave - Fit Bottomed Girls
You can make a meal in a rice cooker - see how - Fitnessista
How long does it really take for food to go bad in your fridge? - Blisstree

Tips For Building an Effective Online Dating Profile

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:02:33 PST

In this digital age, men and women aren't just hitting bars and coffee shops to snag a date. More and more, they're heading to the Internet. In fact, 50 percent of men have met a woman online according to a recent survey. It's obvious that online dating has become the norm, and for good reason - the Internet gives you more options because you can cover a wider area of partner possibilities (as in, the entire globe). And while your chances are better of finding a compatible mate on the worldwide web than, say, your small town of 13,000 people, the Internet can't help you if you don't give off the right signals. First impressions are everything - even virtual ones. Beef up your online dating profile with these tips, and snag yourself one of those "many fish" your mother is always talking about.

Make sure you're fishing in the right pool -You wouldn't go to Craigslist's Casual Encounters to look for a serious relationship, so don't go to Match.com if you're just looking for a little fun on a Friday night. Sites like eHarmony and Chemistry have had a lot of success by getting scientific about the dating process (taking your likes and dislikes and matching you up with someone who's compatible), so make sure you're ready to commit before diving in!
Lose the negativity - No one wants to meet up with a Debbie Downer, so if your online dating profile is riddled with sarcasm, negativity, and pessimism, you can be sure that you won't be getting many date requests any time soon. This doesn't mean you have to be fake, just keep the "I'm too cool for school" attitude to a minimum.

See a few more tips, including some important dos and don'ts for your profile photos, when you read more

Want to Age Better? Swap Your Morning Cup of Coffee For Green Tea

Leta Shy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:05:42 PST

We all know that green tea has many benefits - eye health, sunburn protection, and disease prevention, to name a few. Now, a new study can add another possible benefit to that list: green tea may help you remain functional as you age.

The Japanese study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked 14,000 adults 65 years old or older for three years and found that those people who drank at least five cups a day of green tea were about a third less likely to have functional disabilities than those who drank little or no green tea. Even those who only drank two to four cups of green tea a day also experienced a benefit as they aged. "Functional disabilities" were defined as the inability to do basic daily activities or necessities, like bathing or dressing, so the more green tea you drink the more likely you are to be able to stay independent when you're older. The study did find that those who drank green tea tended to have healthier lifestyles overall, but the researchers said a positive effect still existed when diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits were accounted for.

Five cups may sound like a lot, but it's actually a lot less than you think. So, how much tea should you actually be drinking to reap this benefit and possibly remain independent as you age? Read on after the break.