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Windsurfing: It's All About Balance

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

A great way to enjoy the summer weather is to take advantage of lakes and oceans. The air is usually much cooler near the water and there are so many fun things you can do to work your body besides swimming.

Windsurfing is fun and feels adventurous. You can rent a board, thats what you stand on, and a rig - the sail, a mast and the boom (the bar you hold onto). The board and the rig together are sometimes referred to as a "kit." There is the uphaul, a rope attached to the boom and the bottom of the mast that you use to pull the sail up.

I'd highly recommend getting a lesson from an experience instructor. They can give you pointers on how to position your board in regards to the wind, how to pull the sail up without getting knocked over, how to stand and stay balanced on the board, as well as the simple but important skill of how to steer.

If you want to know more about getting started, then read more

It's a good idea to first start out on land. You've got to learn how to control the sail first without worrying about staying balanced on your board. You can do this by sticking the base of the mast (it has the sail attached) into the sand or ground. Practice holding the mast (sometimes it has a little handle on it) with one hand, and pulling the boom closer to you with your backhand - this is how you catch the wind and start moving.

When you get a handle on that, venture into some shallow water with just the board. Practice standing on it to get a feel for its movements. Then you can stick the mast into the center of your board and let the mast and sail float in the water (it can swivel down). Learning to pull your sail up by pulling on the uphaul rope is a little tricky so don't get frustrated if you fall off a million times. Remember laughing is a workout too.

Once you get the hang of staying up and slowly pulling the boom towards you to catch the wind, you'll be cruising along in no time. It's a great upper and lower body workout because you use all your muscles to try and stay balanced. Since it's challenging, it's a lot of fun, and once you get the hang of it, you'll feel so proud of yourself.

Here's a video explaining how to get your board ready, how to get on it, and how to do some basic windsurfing moves.

Source

A Circuit Board Eyeglasses/ID Holder That Is Such a Geek Treat

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:05:35 -0800

I think this creation of geeky goodness, tops my list for ways to reuse old circuit boards. Etsy seller DebbyAremDesigns got really resourceful when piecing together this one of a kind recycled circuit board ID badge/eyeglass holder (which I'm naturally calling a necklace - hee hee). The artist says:

A funky badge holder made from recycled vintage circuit boards, vintage lucite and glass beads from the 1950's as well as recycled colored "bell" telephone wire from the 1950's! I've also taken very old capacitors from the 1940's and repurposed them into additional decorative components.

I just love how every piece is so unique and different - not to mention, the colorful beads and wire which make it all come together so nicely! Now if only I had to wear a badge at work, I'd be one sexy geek! You can purchase one online for $67.

What's Better: Wood or Plastic Cutting Boards?

YumSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:11:56 -0800

I use mostly wooden cutting boards, though I do own a plastic one that's looking pretty rough. After noticing several discolored grooves on the plastic last week, I started wondering if and when I should get rid of old boards. I was also curious about whether plastic or wooden cutting boards are safer, so I decided to do a little research.

It turns out that there's not much difference between plastic and wooden boards when it comes to food safety; it's really a matter of preference. According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, nonporous surfaces like plastic are easier to clean, but as long as you clean them, both wood and plastic are safe. Just be sure to always use a clean board, especially if you use one to cut raw meat. For tips on when to get rid of cutting boards, and how to clean them, read more.

Wooden and plastic boards both wear out over time, and you should toss your cutting boards once they start to look very worn out or have grooves that are discolored or hard to clean. I guess that means it's time to say good-bye to my plastic cutting board.

Here are a few tips on cleaning cutting boards.

After each use, wash your cutting board with soap and hot water.
If you have a plastic cutting board, run it through the dishwasher for further disinfecting.
For deeper cleaning, wash wooden or plastic cutting boards with a solution of three tablespoons of bleach and one quart of water.

Source

How to Strength Train With a Balance Board

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:05 -0700

If you belong to a gym, you may have seen this weird UFO-looking piece of equipment lying around. It's known as a balance board. When used for strength training exercises, it's a great tool for runners, skiers, tennis players, and yogis because it helps improve coordination and balancing abilities. It can also help target weak areas such as wrists and ankles that are often overlooked. There's no way around it - a balance board will work your core as well.

Also called wobble boards, they can be circular in shape, like the one shown, or rectangular. Since the platform is a lot larger than the base that touches the ground, once you place any body part on the board, the rest of your body is forced to engage in order to hold yourself up. That means you end up using multiple muscle groups at once.

To learn some basic exercises you can do that utilize the balance board keep reading.

Do You Use Magnetic Wipe Boards?

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:22 -0700

Magnetic wipe boards are a dorm room staple, even for fashionista Gossip Girl characters Blair Waldorf and Georgina Sparks. I rarely see them in postgrad homes, but they are handy if you have roommates or housemates that you need to leave notes for. Do you have one?

Photo courtesy of The CW

15 Favorite Family Board Games

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:00:01 -0700

Board games are a timeless way to gather the family for an hour or two of fun. What child didn't satisfy a sweet tooth with a trip across the Candy Land board or become a small sleuth figuring out the culprit in Clue? While many of these great games have only changed their graphics over the years, new ones have also hit the toy store shelves. Take a look at our 15 favorite board games for families to enjoy! Source

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Off to Market Recap: Wood Cutting Board

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:00:25 -0700

While I was writing about my common kitchen mistake - I'm prone to burning plastic cutting boards! - I realized the best way to avoid burning any more would be to invest in wooden cutting boards and I asked you to help me find them. You looked for different sized, wooden cutting boards that are thick and durable. You bookmarked the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Wood Cutting Board. I like the pale color of these bamboo cutting boards that jopperma discovered. They are lightweight and environmentally friendly. Check out the wood cutting boards below and let me know which one is your favorite!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.

Off to Market Recap: Cheese Board

partysugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:18:33 -0700

Cheese is one of my all time favorite foods. Whenever I host an impromptu dinner party, cheese inevitably makes it into the first course. However, there is just one teeny weeny problem: I never know what to display the cheese on! My cutting boards are not exactly party ready, and a plate is okay, but doesn't do the cheese justice. That's why I recently asked you to help me find a wooden board that will be used only for cheese. You bookmarked your boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Cheese Board.

I really love the modern metal and wooden eclipse cheese tray that mellie_608 found, but at an expensive $200 it's a little out of my price range. After all, I could get this fabulous space saving cheese board - complete with knife set - for $170 less! Talk about a deal. Great discovery SugarFreak! Take a look at all of the boards by browsing below.

GeekSugar has put together an explanation on how to use the fun bookmarking feature so check it out to learn more.

Off to Market: Wood Cutting Board

partysugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:36 -0700

While I was writing about my common kitchen mistake - I'm prone to burning plastic cutting boards! - I realized the best way to avoid burning more would be to invest in wooden cutting boards. Can you help me find some? Look for different sized, wooden cutting boards that are thick and durable. Bookmark the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Wood Cutting Board. I look forward to checking out collection!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.
Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you, read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

Off To Market: Cheese Board

partysugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:11:31 -0700

I love cheese. It is one of my all time favorite foods. Whenever I host an impromptu dinner party, cheese inevitably makes it into the first course. However there is just one teeny weeny problem, I never know what to display the cheese on! My cutting boards are not exactly "party ready" and a plate doesn't do the cheese justice.

To remedy this problem, I've decided I need a cheese board - a little wooden board that I will only use to display and devour cheese. Can you help me find one? Search the web for a cheese board that is rustic and attractive. Nothing too showy, it should be a backdrop to highlight glorious cheeses. Save the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Cheese Board. I'm looking forward to browsing your finds!

GeekSugar has put together an explanation on how to use the fun bookmarking feature, so check it out to learn more.

For a list of my favorite online stores, read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market