CasaSugar

Roundup: Knotty Details

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Ahoy! I love the beachy look of nautical ropes used in the home. Unlike the standard boat, fish, and lighthouse motifs, rope details a pay homage to the high seas with a less kitschy tone. They can be subtly used on glasses and doormats or steal the show on standouts like this impressive Dock Glow Chandelier ($798). The detail on this chandelier is incredible - it literally looks like it was made purely from ropes. If you like the natural fiber look, you might also like these burlap Etsy finds. To add this look to your home, check out the accents I've roped in below.

Love It or Hate It? Spool Side Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PST

Ballard Designs' new Spool Side Table ($199) was inspired by actual spools used by French rope makers to display and sell their natural fiber manila rope. Crafted of mango wood and authentic manila rope, it's not the bulky side table it appears to be: its top lifts off for storage. While this design is quite clever to me, with an antiquey meets nautical vibe, I think I'd rather own the real thing. If you read about my drum side table, you know how I love to turn unusual finds into furniture. How about you?

Casa Quickie: Wrap It Up

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:15:39 PST

Photographer Todd Selby recently toured the NYC apartment of music label director Keith Abrahamsson and stylist Kate Young, which is simply too cool for school. Under a backdrop of warm grays, the digs have plenty of high-quality furniture with interesting shapes and artsy elements, but the thing I love the most is that each room has something subtle and creative to notice.

In the bathroom, I thought the couple was so clever to wrap an ugly pipe with rope (or twine) to lend it a more organic, less industrial look. Especially in cities, many of us are plagued with old piping and other things we'd like to hide. So it could be a useful trick for many of you. The material is really versatile and can work with different aesthetics; you needn't just have a nautical theme. What do you think?

Noboarding: I Say Yes to the No, bindings that is

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:30:00 PST

If you are a surfer in your heart and soul, nothing can compare to the freedom of gliding over ocean waves, with nothing but a board between you.

But in the winter, your only option is to snowboard, but the feeling of being locked into bindings that are attached to a board, isn't much like surfing at all. Until now.

Check out the noboard. No bindings. Nothing but you and your board. In order to stay on, you hold onto a rope that's attached to your board, which has a heavy duty, thermal-set, elastomeric pad. This just means that it's specifically designed to have outstanding grip and it's able to handle cold temperatures.

Noboarding allows you to use your body more freely, which obviously makes it much more difficult than regular snowboarding. Which was why it was created in the first place by the late and great Gregg Todd.

You can check out the Noboard short film (Yes to the No) coming to a town near you - the Banff Film Festival World Tour features this and other stunning short films on mountain themes that are like nothing you've ever seen.

Want to see a some photos and a video of noboarding? Then

View 4 Photos ›

Skip to My Lou: Burn Serious Calories With Jump Rope

Heather Dale — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:06:39 PDT

In case you didn't get the memo, jump ropes are still in style. Just because it was an activity you did as a kid, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it now. Jump rope is not only an amazing cardio workout - a 145-lb person can burn 132 calories in just 10 minutes if jumping at a quick pace - but it's also a simple, convenient workout as well. Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, includes skipping in the workout routines she suggests to her clients.

Here's why else jump rope is so great.

Get in Gear: Jump Ropes

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:21 PST

Whether you're an exercise newbie or a fitness buff, jumping rope is a great option for fun, quick, and effective cardio. Though a jump rope is one of the simplest pieces of equipment available, shopping for one isn't easy because they come in various lengths and the quality can differ depending on materials used.

You'll find that ropes differ in handle size and cord weight; I recommend staying away from ropes made of cloth or leather. Generally, beaded ropes are supposed to give you the best aerobic workout. Speed ropes are the lightest type of rope, but I've found they can be difficult to control when you're a new jumper. I prefer slightly heavier ropes made of plastic.

See some jump rope options and learn how to determine the proper length of your jump rope when you

read more. While standing on the center of the cord, the handle tips should reach your armpits. If the handles are up by your ears, the rope is too long for you! You can also jump with your rope to determine if it's the proper length: If the cord doesn't touch the floor, the rope is too short; if it lands in front of you, it's too long.

Weekend DIY: Scarf Camera Strap

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:23:22 PST

No need to scour the Internet for the perfect sturdy, cool camera strap to take on your travels; just peek inside your closet. This camera strap DIY by Photojojo calls simply for a silk scarf or piece of cut silk fabric, sturdy key rings, and some basic sewing skills. Silk is an incredibly sturdy fabric, which makes it an ideal candidate to keep a precious DSLR safe. Silk rope is actually stronger than steel cable - its prohibitive costs keep silk from becoming a standard manufacturing option.

Head over to Photojojo for the full how-to on making a boho-chic camera strap of your own and share pics of your creations on our Facebook page!

Rock Climbing With a Toddler on Your Back: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding Me?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:21:11 PST

For Menna Pritchard, rock climbing, hiking, and surfing are a way of life -and she isn't going to let a lil thing like a baby get in her way of a great adventure. The single mama is at the center of a storm of controversy since turning to Facebook to post a photo of herself rock-climbing with her daughter Ffion, 2, strapped to her back. In the image, mama Menna is wearing a helmet for protection, but lil Ffion is not. When fellow moms questioned her decision, she told the BBC:

The route I was climbing with Ffion [at Three Cliffs], there was no risk of any rock fall. I knew 100 percent it was safe. The person below me was very competent, I had a mountain climbing instructor there too and I'm pretty confident of my own competence. I was top-roping (which prevents a climber from falling down the cliff surface), which is very safe.

The babywearing advocate spends a significant amount of time blogging on her personal blog, Per Ardua Ad Alta, about her adventures, many of which include having her daughter riding on her back.

What do you think?

Source: Per Ardua Ad Alta

Reasons to Own a Jump Rope

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:08:53 PST

If Winter weather curbs your outdoor runs and steep gym prices prevent you from hitting the pool or a spin class, you'll need an inexpensive and easy way to keep up with your cardio sessions. You may associate a jump rope with school-aged girls, boxers, or those in the military, but jump ropes are a great tool to keep in your home gym and here's why.

Cheap way to save time while burning major calories: For about $7 and 30 minutes, a 130-pound woman can burn 330 calories - running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile (six mph) only burns 270 calories.
You can do your workout anywhere: Whether you're in a hotel room on a business trip, outside on your deck, or inside your home because of bad weather, you can jump rope - just make sure the ceilings are high enough. A bonus is that since a jump rope takes up so little room, it can easily be stashed in your suitcase, gym or yoga bag, or even your purse.
Jumping is good for bone health: If you're young, you're not exactly worrying about osteoporosis yet, but what you do now can help prevent this condition. It turns out that simply jumping up and down helps strengthen your bones.
It tones your legs and booty: Who doesn't want a tight and toned tush? Just like running and biking, jumping rope requires mostly leg strength. You can jump up and down, side-to-side, or forward and backward, jump while moving around the room, jump with one leg, or jump with both legs together. Varying your steps will target different muscles and also prevent boredom.

Gym 101: Strength-Training Warmup

Susi May — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:55 PST

A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio - for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work - Lauren has me do three out of these five moves. Mix and match the exercises however you please, or do them all for a very thorough warmup.

Rocking Lunge
Give an active stretch to both your hips and hamstrings with the rocking lunge. Start in a deep lunge with your right leg forward; you can even bring your left knee to the floor. Straighten your right knee to rock your weight back and onto your left foot to lengthen the hamstring. Flex your right toes as you rock into the hamstring stretch. Return back to your deep lunge and repeat for a total of 10 times on each side.

Toy Soldier
A walking kick, the toy soldier stretches out the back of the leg, both hamstrings and calves. Step forward on your right foot, and kick your left leg forward, bringing your left toes toward your right hand. Step onto your left foot and kick the right leg, bringing right foot toward left hand. Take 20 steps total.

Keep reading for three more moves.

Rope And Silver Tray - $375.00	Kate Spade Wickford Glassware - Sold Out
Coiled Rope Knob - Sold Out	Fisherman's Float Vase Filler - Sold Out
Lautrec Silver Rope Frame - $95.00	Hanging Wooden Trays, Set of 2 - Sold Out
Japanese Float Table Lamp - Sold Out	Coir Knot Door Mat - Sold Out
Dock Glow Chandelier - Sold Out	Spool Side Table - Sold Out
Rope Mirror - Sold Out	Rope Candleholders - Sold Out
Warwick Baskets, Natural - $78.00	Plantation Wing Chair with Cushion - Sold Out