SavvySugar

7 Weekend Movies That Motivate

SavvySugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:41:41 PDT

After a rough week at the office, you deserve your downtime. I'm usually begrudging Friday traffic as I make my way home to climb into bed and a pair of cozy sweats. But, just so I don't lose all motivation come Monday, I'm setting my sights on a movie marathon that packs some career-minded motivation this week. Read on to get my movie suggestions - then, grab a snack, kick back, and kick off your weekend with a little career-inspiring entertainment.

Your Weekend Fit Tip: Start With a Healthy Breakfast

Leta Shy — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:43:52 PDT

Many of you will be celebrating someone you love (or being celebrated yourself) this weekend for Mother's Day. And when it comes to family gatherings, chances are you'll be in for a big feast. But no matter if you're going out for an indulgent brunch, lunch, or dinner, you can start the day off right with a healthy breakfast.

Starting the day with a small bowl of yogurt with fruit before brunch or a green juice before a stack of pancakes for breakfast ensures that you'll be getting many of your nutrients for the day right away, which can help you feel less guilty about any more-indulgent dishes you spring for later on. And it can also help you know when to stop once you've sat down to eat; if you have just a cup of yogurt before brunch, for example, you'll be more apt to feel satisfied sooner so you don't overeat during your big meal.

This weekend, start the day off right. If you're in the mood for a green juice, try one of these green juice and smoothie recipes.

How to Splurge This Weekend Without Gaining a Pound

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:49:28 PDT

For many who have stuck to their healthy ways all week long, the weekend is a time to loosen up the reigns a little, ignore weight-loss rules, and indulge in some high-calorie Cinco de Mayo goodness. If you're not careful though, an entire weekend of living it up could make you gain the pounds you've worked so hard to keep off all week. Here are some ways to splurge a little this weekend and not feel guilty on Monday morning.

Sip on this: If you're starting the Cinco de Mayo festivities a little early tonight, pass on the margaritas made with premade sugary mix and go for a glass made with real lime juice and a splash of simple syrup to save calories (opt for no salt on the rim). Or you can skip the margarita altogether and whip up a batch of this low-cal sangria-inspired cocktail made with heart-healthy red wine, unfiltered cranberry juice, and fresh strawberry puree.
Skip this calorie-loaded app: Ordering an enormous plate of nachos topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, seasoned ground beef, and avocado means devouring a huge amount of calories before your entrée even arrives. Start with a small taco salad instead made with fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, corn, black beans, a few crushed tortilla chips, and sprinkled with an avocado vinaigrette.

Keep reading for more calorie-saving tips.

3 Savvy Things to Do This Weekend

Emily Co — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:05:05 PDT

We usually come up with plenty of fun, social activities for you to do over the weekend, but let's get savvy and down to business this weekend. It may feel like a chore to complete these tasks, but you'll feel so much better after you're done with them!

Organize Your Receipts: Dump all the receipts out from your bag, wallet, and pocket, and put them in a designated box or folder. You can also test out Shoeboxed, which is a free online service that can automatically track and organize your online and offline purchases. All you need to do is snap pictures of receipts on your cell and email them to Shoebox or mail in paper receipts to the company, and they will organize the information for you.
Plan Your Work Lunches: If you're resolving to bring your lunch to work every day, you need to craft your meal plan on the weekend so you won't be rummaging around your fridge for scraps during the early mornings.
De-clutter Your Home: Spend the weekend de-cluttering your home and getting rid of the excess things that you don't need. First figure out what areas you need to tackle and take a look at a list of my suggestions.

What Do You Catch Up On During the Weekend?

Leta Shy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:44:15 PDT

Even with best-laid plans at the start of the week, come Friday, you may realize that you've failed to hit your mileage for the week, or you've spent every morning bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived. No matter what the case, if you're a worker bee, you probably join the collective sigh of relief once the weekend rolls around.

Extra hours on the weekend can be perfect for catching up on those healthy things you couldn't get to, like a nice long workout session or recharging with sleep. And it can be the perfect time to gear up for a healthy week, by shopping for veggies or mapping out next week's workout plan.

What healthy things do you find yourself needing to catch up on during the weekend?

3 Steps to a More Relaxing Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:15:43 PDT

To make Monday through Friday run more smoothly, tweak your weekend routine and take advantage of the extra free time. Saturday and Sunday tend to fly by, but if you learn to make the most of those hours, you'll be able to tackle extra tasks and set yourself up for an easier work week. Follow these three tips for a productive weekend and prepare to reap the benefits all week long:

Schedule a time slot for errands. Spend five to 10 minutes each Friday figuring out which tasks you need to check off by Sunday night. Make a list and plan to take care of them in one day so that you'll have at least one full day to have fun and fill however you'd like. Once you've finished brainstorming and marked the to-dos on your calendar, move the chores to the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your days off.
Keep up your routine. If you wake up at 6 a.m. throughout the week, don't sleep until 11 a.m. on weekends. Give your body a break and stick fairly close to your standard sleep schedule. Same goes for your diet: don't shock your body with excess food or alcohol or you'll risk getting sick. Just because it's Saturday doesn't mean you should toss your healthy habits aside, so keep your mind and body in shape by taking your vitamins, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated.
Chill out, guilt-free. The best thing you can do to kick-start a productive work week? Relax. Use your time off to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the things you love. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so remember to reserve at least one day each weekend to sit back and unwind.

8 Common Cleaning Spots People Often Miss

Emily Co — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:05:04 PDT

When you're doing a little bit of dusting and cleaning up this weekend, remember to do a thorough job. Places people often clean include surfaces and things that are visible, but we often forget about the hidden nooks and crannies in our home. Here are some spots you may want to tackle today:

Under your cushions. While you're vacuuming your floor, suck some of the grime out from beneath your sofa cushions.
Behind and underneath big pieces of furniture. Move heavy furniture and vacuum the dust collecting behind or underneath your bed, sofa, or other bulky pieces in your home.
Under your fridge. People often forget to clean under the fridge, so this weekend, try to roll your fridge from its usual spot and clean the floor beneath it.
Behind your toilet. When you're cleaning your toilet, remember to reach for the back and clean away!
Your remote control. Just grab a disinfectant wipe and quickly swipe your germy remote.
Telephone buttons. We use phones all the time but rarely think about cleaning them. Use a disinfectant wipe and quickly wipe down your phone buttons.
Window tracks. We often clean the windows but forget about the window tracks. Use an old toothbrush and a cleaning solution of your choice (maybe vinegar?) and scrub away.
Toothbrush holder. One important piece of hygiene equipment that we neglect is our toothbrush holder. It's definitely a health hazard to neglect it because the bacteria can spread to your brush. Fill your holder up with water and drop an Alka-Seltzer in it to clean.

Are there any spots I've missed?

22 Cheap Ways to Treat Yourself

Emily Co — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:15:30 PST

You've worked hard this whole week, so it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the weekend! Give yourself a treat this weekend to feel rejuvenated and to make yourself feel good. Don't worry, treating yourself doesn't always mean pricey massages at the spa or weekend getaways. Here are plenty of wallet-friendly suggestions:

Relive your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory memories and treat yourself to a bar of chocolate. Remember how Charlie savored each Willy Wonka chocolate bar? Eat yours in the same manner and relish every bite.
Buy yourself a steak and cook it. It's much cheaper than going to a steak house! Eat it while drinking a glass of affordable red wine.
Grab a few friends and go on a picnic in a nearby park.
Watch reality show reruns or shows saved on your DVR with a bowl of chocolate ice cream.
Explore a museum you've never been to.
Reread your favorite book (maybe The Hunger Games?).
Go to your local coffee shop and try a new coffee flavor. Bring your laptop with you and catch up with friends and relatives over email.

Read on for more.

9 Cost-Saving and Social Weekend Ideas

SavvySugar — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:05:43 PST

When you work so hard all week long, it's tempting to just throw caution to the wind on the weekend and spend your hard-earned money without a plan. I'm all for enjoying your time away from the office, and have come up with nine weekend activities that won't break the bank. Spend less money while enjoying quality time with a friend or two by using one (or more!) of my ideas.

Your Guide to Enjoying a Money-Less Weekend

Emily Co — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:05:17 PST

I know what you must be thinking, how in the world am I supposed to not spend any money this weekend? And no, you don't have to stay in all weekend, isolated, watching Law & Order reruns, and eating scraps from your fridge (although a leftovers party is a fun idea!). Here are some exciting free things to do this weekend.

Take a Hike: There's nothing like a walk to clear the mind and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Make plans to take a walk in a park or go to hiking trails nearby. It's also a great way to wind down from the hectic work week you had - scientists found that viewing bits of greenery is really good for relaxation. Having gone away on a weekend recently to greener pastures, I can truly attest to that!
Free Apps Galore: Use the downtime this weekend by exploring the apps world and taking advantage of all the free apps available. I'm seriously loving some I recently downloaded on the phone, and I'm going to use the free time to look for more. My favorite ones that help me save money include KiK Messenger for free texting, Tip and Split for easy tip calculations, and Cheap Gas!, an app that looks for the cheapest gas rates near you. My other freebie favorites: Casa's home decorating apps and Geek's top 10 free iPad apps.
Animal Time: I don't have my own pets here with me, but I love animals. I spend my days cooing over the adorable pictures over at PetSugar, but sometimes pictures aren't enough. Get your animal fix by either offering to pet sit for a friend or volunteering at an animal shelter.

For more fun free stuff to do this weekend, read on!