BellaSugar

Another Reason to Quit Smoking: Taste

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:30:14 PDT

If you're looking for motivation to quit smoking, I have another reason to tack onto your list: taste. A recent study performed in Greece found that smoking literally dulls the taste buds. In the small study, the smokers had flatter tastes buds compared with their nonsmoking counterparts. The shape of the buds may affect the sense of taste for Pavlidis Pavlos, the leading researcher in the study, remarked that,

"Statistically important differences between the taste thresholds of smokers and nonsmokers were detected. Smoking is an important factor which can lead to decreased taste sensitivity."

Food is fuel, but we all eat for taste as well and when you are missing out on flavor you might also be tempted to eat more to reach a satiation point. Need some more reasons to kick the habit? Check out all these reasons to quit smoking.

A Sense For Beauty, Part V: Taste

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:00:22 PDT

While edible beauty items aren't on the top of my list (I take it they're not on the top of yours either since Jessica Simpson's Dessert makeup line went bust), it is important to me that what I use, especially on my lips, at least tastes palatable and not synthetic.

For example, what I love most about Sarah Happ's Lip Scrub is that it contains sugar, almonds, cinnamon, and all kinds of other sweet ingredients that you can lick right off of your lips! Also, minty lip glosses like the ones from Lola and vanilla-scented ones from Besame make me feel more kissable.

Joey New York has even created a line of lip glosses and lipsticks based around studies on how flavors and fragrances in lip products can help you battle the urge to smoke and overeat. Conversely, they can also help you become more alluring to the opposite sex.

Isn't it all just so fascinating? If you could design your own flavored beauty product, what would you want it to taste like?

Source

10 Cool Facts About Olfaction

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:30:00 PDT

We all have a sense of smell, and we all use it constantly, whether we realize it or not. Scents and smell are two of the most important yet often overlooked elements of everyday experience. Want to learn a few truly amazing facts about the things your nose knows? Then just keep reading.

Designer Vicente Wolf Inspires With Tips From a Beautiful Bangkok Home

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:44:01 PDT

In his recent article in the Wall Street Journal, designer Vincente Wolf offered some beautiful inspiration and tips on how to give your home a taste of Thai aesthetic. By looking at the amazing home of Jim Thompson, an expat architect who revamped the Thai silk industry, Vincente offers practical advice on how to bring this calming and rich vibe to your home.

"Play with height." Vincente says it's integral to have a balance of different heights and focal points in the room.
"Casual is in the intent." A traditional floor plan and elegant furniture make the space feel livable.

"Sometimes it's not what you add, but what you take away." Being able to edit yourself is key when designing a Thai-inspired space.
"Brighten dark finishes with shimmer." Slight glittery accents can bring a sense of strong emotion to a room.

"Multitask with trays." Putting a tray on a plus-size ottoman can turn it into a practical coffee table.
"Neutral and nervy need each other." Balancing bright and neutral hues makes everything in the space feel easy and relaxed. While pops of color can make all the difference, Bangkok beauty does not intend to overwhelm.

Photos courtesy of WSJ

Sneak Peek! Madewell's Girl Goes Woodsy and Tomboy-Cool For Fall

Hannah Weil — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:15:01 PDT

We got our first taste of Madewell's Fall 2012 back in April, but if ever there was a way to prove the cool factor in this collection, it's in Madewell's perfectly styled Fall lookbook. Mastering the art of effortless layers, girl-meets-boy appeal, and the style quirks of traditional Fall clothing turned on its head, Madewell offers up the season's essentials in bold hues, clever prints (like a leopard-print grandpa cardigan), and staple denim. It's the best kind of tomboy dressing - pastel tulip skirts paired with plaid button-downs and field boots - and a woodsier edge, thanks to cozy knit hats, lumberjack-inspired jackets, and cheeky wool sweaters. Read on for our must-have pieces, then click through to get a glimpse of the whole collection.

This varsity jacket has just the right sporty vibe to toughen up all of our Fall dresses.
This adorable sheep-printed sweater tops our list with its quirky style sense and slightly vintage feel.
We love the slightly '70s feel of this look, and we're adding the felted fedora to our wish list.

8 Things You Think Are Good for Your Money . . . That Aren't

LearnVest — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:03:23 PDT

You may be wasting money when you think you're saving. LearnVest shares eight of the biggest money misconceptions.

Frugalista. Recessionista. In the past few years, people have coined a lot of silly words describing women and their approach to money, but the thought behind each of them is the same: You care about your hard-earned dollars and want to make them stretch.

That's true of most of us: We scrimp, we pinch, we try to feed our proverbial piggy bank as much as possible. Yet sometimes, in our excitement to be financial overachievers, we overreach.

It turns out there are a number of things that sound like they'd be doing good things for your money, and make you feel like you're saving more . . . when, actually, they're having the opposite effect.

Paying Every Debt Equally

When you have multiple debts to pay off (a credit card here, a student loan there) you might feel like a rock star simply for keeping up with them all and dividing your attention in a lot of different directions. Which, in a sense, you are! After all, you should always pay at least the minimums on all your loans.

But, if you have extra money to pay down your debts, you’re doing yourself a disservice by dividing it equally. The debts with the highest interest rates grow the fastest, so you should focus your muscle on the most toxic debts first.

Read on for more.

9 Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Planner

Laura Marie Given — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:00:00 PDT

You've decided to hire a wedding planner - but how do you know which person is right for you and your big day? Thanks to a growing industry and what seems like a million different wedding blogs, it's not always easy to sift through the hundreds of event coordinators out there. Not sure where to start? Ask yourself these nine important questions as you search for the perfect wedding planner:

Where is she located? It's smart to find someone who's located in the region where your wedding will take place, if only because she's sure to have plenty of connections. Plus, if your planner is near the venue, chances are she's worked there before and may be familiar with some of the regular vendors.
How many years of experience? Time doesn't say everything, but it certainly speaks to some measure of success. Look for someone with a reputation, not only because it will give you peace of mind, but also because you want to work with someone who's respected within the community.
Who are her frequent collaborators? Most wedding coordinators work with the same vendors over and over again, so do a bit of research to find out who her friends are in the business. You'll get a great sense of her taste and those are most likely the people she'd refer you to in the future.
Would I ask her to grab coffee? You'll be talking to this person very, very often throughout your engagement, so be sure that you genuinely like her. If she seems a bit cold, elitist, or argumentative, just remember that you'll be trusting this person with the most special day of your life - not to mention your dollars and cents.

Keep reading for more smart questions to ask yourself.

When to Toss Spices and Other Pantry Basics

Sara Yoo — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:10:00 PDT

With warmer weather tickling the air, I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and dig into a little Spring cleaning. Sure, there are ovens to clean and counters to scrub, but one task I'm forcing myself to tackle this season is tidying up my pantry and spice rack and clearing out old and expired items. Today I've rounded up some guidelines on how long to keep basic pantry staples and how to tell when they're ready for the trash (or compost). While these time frames are a general rule of thumb, it's important to use your senses to detect what to keep and what to toss: if anything looks, smells, or tastes strange, it's probably best to get rid of it. So let's get a-cleaning!

Source: Flickr Users Simo ubuntu, JMR_Photography, and alsjhc

Why You Shouldn't Eat at Chain Restaurants

Wise Bread — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:15:17 PDT

Think twice about eating at that chain restaurant. Our pal Wise Bread gives reasons why you shouldn't eat there.

I’ll reveal my bias upfront - I can’t stand chain restaurants. From their oversized, cheese-topped portions to the excessive use of adjectives in their menus, grabbing a bite at a big-box just doesn’t hit the spot for me. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the amount of food that people are consuming outside of their own kitchens has been growing pretty steadily since the 1970s, which may account for why chain restaurants seem to keep on multiplying. But despite chains' obvious popularity, I also believe that there are some sound reasons to skip them in favor of smaller local eateries.

There's Too Much Food

One of the top reasons that many people give for favoring chain restaurants is the portion sizes. I get it. When you go to a restaurant, you want to actually eat. I definitely don’t appreciate being presented with a pretentious morsel of an entrée any more than the next girl. If that bite of food is really tasty, it’s almost worse - as if I could be satisfied by taste alone, even when my stomach is empty! At the same time, many of the top chain restaurants boast dishes that top 1,000 calories each. I mean, let’s be honest here - most people could do without those “stacked” and “stuffed” caloric monstrosities. And while many restaurants now offer lower-calorie menus, it’s pretty hard to order those calorie-labeled little offerings when the guy at the next table is ordering a steak that could feed a family of four.

Read on for more.

When It Comes to Weight Loss, Know Your Basics

Leta Shy — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:47:36 PDT

Weight loss is all about planning, but if you're just beginning it can be hard to know just where to start. You know that changing your diet and exercise are both key to dropping pounds, but what does that mean exactly? Here are three basics to know as you begin your weight-loss journey.

Fundamental exercises: Simple exercises that are easy to do anywhere but are also extremely effective should be part of your fitness routine. Once you know how to perform these moves correctly, you can make them harder, modify as necessary, or do them at anytime throughout your day - all of which leads to a higher calorie burn. Check out our lists of five basic arm exercises and essential moves for your lower body.

Your calories: It may be obvious, but it helps to know how to keep track of calories; if you're trying to lose weight, knowing exactly what and how much you're eating is essential. Once you actually track every "taste" and the high-calorie toppings you throw onto your lunch salad, you'll realize where to make cuts and improvements. Bone up on your calorie count knowledge with our calorie breakdowns of popular foods, and track what you're eating in a food journal. Not only should you know how many calories you're eating, you should know how effective your exercises are. Calorie counts vary depending on your body's makeup and other factors, but you can get a good sense of how many calories you're burning during your favorite Spring exercises here.

Your workout plan: Not knowing what kind of workouts you'll be doing for the week? Not a good idea. If you want to lose pounds, commit to a workout plan. Strength train to build metabolic-revving muscle and raise your heart rate to torch calories with these tips on how to plan a workout. The lose weight, it's recommended that you work out five hours a week. Start your week with a plan to get those 300 minutes of sweating in.