LilSugar

Wee Are the World: I Believe in Zero, Do You?

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 PST

As a mom, I take tucking my two safe and healthy kids into bed for granted. In the time it takes for us to go to work, to school, to the playground and run errands, laugh, eat, and make memories, 25,000 children around the world die of preventable causes. It's unfathomable - the pain their mothers endure and that this is happening in 2009. That's why I believe in zero. Join Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of US Fund for UNICEF and mother of three in the movement to make that number zero. To find out how you can get involved,

Getting involved is easy. Advocate on behalf of the children by signing a Presidential Initiative to make child survival policy a priority, donate whatever you can, or recruit your family members and friends to get involved. Teach your children that they can make a difference.

Why Everyone (Even 20-Somethings) Should Make a Will

Business Insider — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:15:44 PDT

Getting a will is not just for those who are on the cusp of retiring. People of all ages should consider writing one, says Business Insider. Here's why.

Despite the well-known fact that everyone alive today will kick the bucket at one point or another, nearly 60 percent of Americans admitted in a 2011 poll conducted by online legal service Rocket Lawyer that they didn't have a will.

In fact, one-third said they'd rather do their taxes, get a root canal, or give up sex for a month than lay out their dying wishes in black and white.

All right, let's not get out of hand now.

Making a will these days is easier than ever, and if you've been putting it off simply because it seems daunting, then you could be making a big mistake.

"You do it for your family's [future]," says Rocket Lawyer founder Charley Moore. "[A will] enables you to start thinking about issues like whether you have the right insurance coverage, life insurance, and ways of replacing your lost income."

Whether you're 22 years old and just ran your umpteenth marathon or you're ready to retire, laying out an estate plan should definitely be near the top of your to-do list.

It's one of the three most important documents every adult should have.

Here are the other two, according to Moore:

A living will: Also called an advanced healthcare directive, a living will is where you lay out all the nuts and bolts of your end-of-life care. If you wind up in a coma or unresponsive in the hospital, then a living will can help your family decide how to handle your medical treatment.

Durable power of attorney: Choose an attorney you trust to administer your estate after your death, says Moore. He or she will be objective (unlike family members), and their entire job is to follow your wishes.

Read on for more.

Game of Thrones "A Man Without Honor": What We're Still Talking About

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:07:13 PDT

There are only three more episodes left in the second season of Game of Thrones, and this week's episode feels like it's ramping up for an intense last few installments. But there's still a lot to talk about from this week, including a particularly nightmarish end scene and some hilarious banter between Jon Snow and his prisoner Ygritte.

The title of the episode, "A Man Without Honor," certainly feels apt, though I'd say there's definitely more than one man who shows his lack of honor this week. I'm ready to break down the big moments of the episode, though, so to see which scenes I can't stop thinking about, just keep reading.

Test Your Knowledge: The Best and Worst Places in the World to Be a Mom

Kate Stahl — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:03:05 PDT

Think America is the best place in the world to be a mom? Think again. According to the 2012 State of the World’s Mothers Report from Save the Children, America actually only ranks 25th, up six spots from last year. But shockingly, "When it comes to the number of children enrolled in preschools or the political status of women, the United States also places in the bottom 10 countries of the developed world," says Carolyn Miles, Save the Children’s president and CEO.

Of the 165 countries surveyed, the top three spots went to Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, all of which scored high for mother and child health, educational attainment, economic status, and the percentage of women in government roles. The world's worst place to raise children is Niger (eight of the bottom 10 are sub-Saharan African countries). Check out some crazy stats comparing the best and the worst below, and then take our quiz to test your knowledge about how mothers fare across the globe.

Almost 100 percent of births are attended by skilled health personnel in Norway compared to one-third in Niger.
The risk of maternal death in Norway is one in 7,600; in Niger, it's one in 16.
A girl will receive on average 18 years of formal education in Norway and a mere four years in Niger.

Source: Flickr User Explirer and Flickr User babasteve

Maurice Sendak: 5 Lessons the Legendary Author Taught Us

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:16:56 PDT

When I learned I was pregnant with my first child, I dreamed of decorating the nursery and picking out a layette. But what I really couldn't wait to do was fill the bookshelves with my childhood favorites. The first to be placed was a collection of Maurice Sendak books. Sure, every kid deserves a copy of Where the Wild Things Are, but it was the Nutshell Library that earned the place of honor on the shelf. I can still recite every poem from Chicken Soup With Rice and couldn't wait to lull my little one to sleep with Sendak's rhythmic words.

Perhaps that's why I feel like a relative - you know, that kooky uncle everyone has - has passed with the author's death this morning. Though Sendak bragged, "I never wrote a book where I taught a lesson," his influence on my and countless other parents and children's lives is immeasurable (and he is still as relevant today as he was when his original books were released - just check out his not-safe-for-children interview with Stephen Colbert from earlier this year). So though he may have been disappointed in this list, here are five lessons I'll take away from Maurice Sendak's library of work.

Cameron Diaz Talks Loving Gwyneth and the Many Charms of British Men

Allie Merriam — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:56:40 PDT

Cameron Diaz strikes a sexy pose for the June 2012 cover of Harper's Bazaar UK. The full feature appears in the June issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which is on sale Thursday, May 3. Her next movie, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, will be out in the US next month. In the picture, Cameron plays a mother-to-be. She spoke about having kids in real life with the magazine and also touched on how she's happy with her life at the present. Cameron also spoke about her connection with pal Gwyneth Paltrow and even dished on the charms of British men. Click through to see more Cameron in the magazine, and here are highlights from Cameron Diaz in Harper's Bazaar UK:

On why she loves British men: "I love their sense of humour and the sense of chivalry and charm. It's something that is innately a part of the culture - we don't have that over here, it's not the same in America."
On her friendship with Gwyneth: "We became very close after my dad's death. She reached out and it was very sweet. We bonded on that . . . They (Martin/Paltrow) are exceptional people. We have known each other because we have been in the business for the same amount of time."
On being happy with the present: "I'm not sitting there going 'Oh my god, when am I going to get married? When am I going to have a baby?' I would be remiss if I was living my life wishing I had something other than what I have. If one day, I am blessed with the experience of having a child, I would be overjoyed, but I am not sitting here feeling empty because I haven't yet, or that I may not."
On her friends and family: "I'm a nurturer to all my friends. I don't feel alone in the world. I have so many friends, more friends who are like me (without children) than not. I also have girlfriends who have kids, and I have strong relationships with their children and my nieces and nephews. My happiest moments are when I'm with my friends - and I consider them to be my greatest wealth. They are my crown jewels."

Photos courtesy Tom Munro for Harper’s Bazaar UK

Should Mothers Be Prosecuted For Exposing Their Unborn Babies to Drugs?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:03:34 PDT

Could a glass of wine during pregnancy land you behind bars? It might if you live in Alabama. In this upcoming weekend's New York Times Magazine, Ada Calhoun delves into Alabama's controversial chemical-endangerment laws where mothers who give birth to babies with even a trace of drugs in their bloodstreams are not only ordered into rehab but are criminally prosecuted for putting their newborns in harm's way.

In one case, when a newborn died hours after his premature birth, and mother tested positive for methamphetamine, she was charged with a Class A felony for contributing to the death of her child, with a mandatory sentence of 10 years to life. The laws - which are the harshest in the country - were designed to protect kids from "explosive meth labs," but they are now being applied to expectant mothers, and that's where the controversy comes in. Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all fear that such prosecutions may just be the tip of the iceberg. In the article, Emma Ketteringham, the director of the National Advocates For Pregnant Women, says:

"It starts with cocaine, and then it’s cigarettes and alcohol. How much alcohol? And when? It’s only a matter of time until it comes to refusing a bed-rest order because you need to work and take care of your other children and then you have a miscarriage. What if you stay at a job where you’re exposed to toxic chemicals, as at a dry cleaner? What if you keep taking your SSRIs during pregnancy? If a woman is told that sex during her pregnancy could be a risk to the fetus, and the woman has sex anyway and miscarries, are you going to prosecute the woman - and the man, too?"

What do you think? Should women be prosecuted for exposing their unborn babies to drugs?

Game of Thrones "Garden of Bones": What We're Still Talking About

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:46:22 PDT

To say there's little lightheartedness in this week's Game of Thrones is a bit of an understatement. In fact, it's pretty messed up - we see more of how twisted Joffrey can be, some creepy rat-torture, and the episode ends with a giant WTF moment. And to add insult to injury, there is no trace of Jon Snow this week, either.

While this week's episode may have been tough to watch, the many awful things give us a lot to talk about today. Let's talk about what's still haunting me after the jump.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:05:00 PDT

In addition to the following releases, Chasing Madoff is also available.

We Bought a Zoo

Directed by Cameron Crowe, We Bought a Zoo stars Matt Damon as Benjamin Mee, a father who literally buys a zoo in hopes of making a fresh start for his family after the death of his wife. As one might imagine, the process doesn't go quite as smoothly as Benjamin, his kids, or the head zookeeper (Scarlett Johansson) hope. The story is a bit sappy but the acting is great, especially from Damon and the young stars playing his children. Deleted scenes come with the DVD.

66%

War Horse

Set at the height of the first World War, Steven Spielberg presents an incredible story about a boy (Jeremy Irvine) who is forced to sell his beloved horse. The horse is passed to different owners, and while we wait for it to be reunited with its owner, we are able to see them both grow in the face of the horrendous war. The film was nominated for six Oscars, and it's a perfectly balanced drama for horse enthusiasts and film buffs alike. DVD extras include an exploration of the set and look of War Horse with the film's creative team.

77%

One more DVD to check out when you

Being Elmo

Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary focuses on Kevin Clash, the man behind one of Sesame Street's most iconic characters, Elmo. The engaging doc begins in the late '60s, when, as a child, Clash was inspired by the characters he saw on Sesame Street. The footage gives an incredible look behind the long-running children's show, with eye-opening interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O'Donnell, and others. The DVD includes featurettes like Some Thoughts From the Filmmakers, the Sundance Premiere Q & A, an interview with John Tartaglia, and the theatrical trailer.

92%

Princess Margaret: The Original Celebrity Princess

Annie Scudder — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:07:00 PDT

Today Queen Elizabeth was joined by her children and grandchildren, including Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice, at a thanksgiving service for her beloved mother, the Queen Mother, who died 10 years ago today, and her younger sister, Princess Margaret.

Before there was Kate Middleton or Princess Diana, Margaret mixed royalty with celebrity. The press followed every detail of her personal life, including her marriage to Lord Snowdon, the first royal wedding to be televised. The couple were given a retreat on a private island in the Caribbean as a wedding present. Their glamorous jet-set life grabbed headlines and those in her circle were dubbed "the Margaret set." Soon, Prince William and Kate Middleton will move into Kensington Palace's 20-room apartment 1A, after it undergoes about $1.6 million in renovations. The apartment has a garden, a nursery, and lots of space, and it was the home of Princess Margaret until her death in 2002. The big move is putting the late princess back in the headlines.

The original It princess's legacy wouldn't be complete without some scandals. Near the time of her sister Elizabeth's coronation, Margaret fell in love with a divorced man, Peter Townsend, who was 16 years older than her. She was forced to choose between a royal life and love, and ultimately decided not to marry. Instead, in 1960, she married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who became Lord Snowdon. Soon after, there were rumors of affairs, drugs, and drinking, as well as questions about his sexuality. When pictures of Margaret with a young lover surfaced, her husband moved for a divorce. It later came out that Lord Snowdon may have fathered a child months before their marriage. Take a look back at Margaret's glamorous and controversial life now.