LilSugar

10 Reasons I Will Never Be a Perfect Mother

LilSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:01:19 PDT

Everyone has a vision of the perfect mom, particularly new mothers who just want to be the best for their children. I was no different when my daughter was born - I tried to juggle it all without breaking a sweat. And then my son arrived, and my life fell into perfectly magical disarray. So I cut myself some slack and learned to live in the moment rather than worrying about what I wasn't achieving in my role. To see a few of the reasons why I will never be a perfect mother, check out the slideshow.

What to Expect When You're Expecting Set Visit: Elizabeth Banks on Her Fake Bump and Personal Baby Joy

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:11 PST

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will share the big screen in the upcoming comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, which follows different mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrivals of their bundles of joy. Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks are among the famous ladies who strapped on fake baby bumps to portray different kinds of pregnant women, and Banks's character, Wendy, doesn't exactly have an easy time of it.

I visited the Atlanta set of the film last year, where Banks was shooting a climactic scene in which her character addresses all the woes of pregnancy - in an auditorium with a rather large audience. The hilarious meltdown, which you can see in the opening of the trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting, includes harsh truths like "I'm calling it: pregnancy sucks." It was great fun to see Banks film the passionate speech again and again, especially since the funny lady mixed up her one-liners from one take to another. What was even more interesting was seeing all of the extras who played the audience members, since the group of women was a mix of actual pregnant women and women rocking fake baby bumps.

I chatted with Banks about her own experience filming the movie, and she revealed that she actually felt like she was in her own little movie, since she doesn't have much screen time with her costars. Banks was refreshingly honest about not having any parenting tips and also admitted that though welcoming her son, Felix, has brought her a great deal of joy, it hasn't changed her stance on how she feels about kids in general. Here's more of what Banks had to say about pregnancy and motherhood:

What inspired you to take this role?
Elizabeth Banks: I cried when I read the script. It has a really great ending: at the end of the movie, everybody has a baby! It really is just a very relatable story for everyone: anybody who is a parent, has considered being a parent, has a baby, whatever. It's just very universal, what happens in the film. We really explore so many great storylines and different paths to getting a child. I had a unique path to getting my son, so I understand how everybody's path to their child is different.

How does it feel to wear the bump?
EB: It's sweaty! [Laughs] I think it's probably a decent approximation; it weighs a good 10 lbs. The boobs weigh about 6 lbs. They are really unbelievable. It's fun. It definitely makes you sit and walk in a totally different way. As an actor, it's a great prop.

How did you change when you became a mom?
EB: I get drunk much faster and easier, and it's a big problem, so I can't go out very much. I find that I underestimated the amount of joy. I'm really learning about my capacity for joy through my son.

To see what Banks had to say about baby fever and her parenting tips, just keep reading.

Tips For Building an Effective Online Dating Profile

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:02:33 PST

In this digital age, men and women aren't just hitting bars and coffee shops to snag a date. More and more, they're heading to the Internet. In fact, 50 percent of men have met a woman online according to a recent survey. It's obvious that online dating has become the norm, and for good reason - the Internet gives you more options because you can cover a wider area of partner possibilities (as in, the entire globe). And while your chances are better of finding a compatible mate on the worldwide web than, say, your small town of 13,000 people, the Internet can't help you if you don't give off the right signals. First impressions are everything - even virtual ones. Beef up your online dating profile with these tips, and snag yourself one of those "many fish" your mother is always talking about.

Make sure you're fishing in the right pool -You wouldn't go to Craigslist's Casual Encounters to look for a serious relationship, so don't go to Match.com if you're just looking for a little fun on a Friday night. Sites like eHarmony and Chemistry have had a lot of success by getting scientific about the dating process (taking your likes and dislikes and matching you up with someone who's compatible), so make sure you're ready to commit before diving in!
Lose the negativity - No one wants to meet up with a Debbie Downer, so if your online dating profile is riddled with sarcasm, negativity, and pessimism, you can be sure that you won't be getting many date requests any time soon. This doesn't mean you have to be fake, just keep the "I'm too cool for school" attitude to a minimum.

See a few more tips, including some important dos and don'ts for your profile photos, when you read more

Style Out Plush Fur and Leather Like This Cool Celebrity Crew

Hannah Weil — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:40:45 PST

Thanks in large part to this fashionable set of celebs, we've taken notice of a new way to layer up. This crew proves that the only thing cooler than a leather jacket may just be one topped with a furry vest. The two luxe finishes play off each other with perfect street-chic style quality - one that's just as easy to finish with jeans and sneakers as it is to style up with slick bottoms and heels. Kate Moss, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Poppy Delevigne show off the look's casual capabilities, while Olivia Palermo and Mary-Kate Olsen outfit two dressier versions. Take a moment to study the celebrity gang, then read on to get our styling tips as we take the look from day to night.

To style it out day to night and shop our picks, just read more.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "If/Then"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:20:41 PST

Last year we had the Grey's Anatomy musical episode, and this season it's the alternate-reality episode. That's right: as Meredith ponders on the veracity of the phrase "meant to be," we get to see what could have been - or in this case, what was always destined to be. Though this is a filler episode if I ever saw one, it's still pretty fun to see the characters go down different paths (well, except for Jackson, who pretty much stays the same).

What we're treated to is a preppy-pink Meredith, a geeky Karev, and an even edgier Yang just to name a few. There are also plenty of shout-outs to characters from past seasons, like Izzie, George, and Burke. Ready to break down all of the differences? Just

Tot Gets Tat: Mom Gets Jailtime?

Natasha Dantzig — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:16:34 PST

Tats on tots? Tattoos are a divisive aesthetic on adults; the thought of a child actually getting their sweet lil skin permanently inked is a pretty unpleasant idea, to say the least. Yet that's exactly what 10-year-old Gaquan Napier did with the full support of his mother Chuntera. According to the law in Georgia, where the family lives, it's illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to get tattooed - with or without parental consent, a fact that Napier claims to have been unaware of when she granted her child permission to permanently mark his body.

This story sounds pretty black-and-white - what was she thinking? - until we learn more details of the reason behind the tattoo. Two years ago, Gaquan was with his older brother Malik when he was struck and killed by a teenage driver at the heartbreaking age of 12. When Gaquan went to his mother and asked her permission to get a tattoo in memory of his deceased brother, Napier said, "It made me feel good to know that he wanted his brother on him."

Napier is currently in custody and facing a charge of misdemeanor child cruelty. In several other states, a child getting inked with the parents' permission is perfectly legal, so do you think this mom deserves to serve time for allowing her son to create a memorial to his big brother?

Tori Spelling's Meaty Lasagna Recipe

Tori Spelling — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:48:32 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week, we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares her favorite lasagna recipe.

I've been making my lasagna recipe since my early 20s. When I moved into my first apartment at age 19, I decided to learn my way around a kitchen and started experimenting with my favorite cuisine, Italian. At first, more spaghetti landed on the ceiling than on the plate, but ultimately, I perfected my go to dish: T's Meaty Lasagna.

It became my good luck dish. I made it for my friends every time one of my TV movies premiered, which back then was a lot. Hey friends, come eat lasagna and watch me get stalked, killed, and shoot a bad pimp. Ahhh, those were the days! Nowadays, I make my lasagna for family and friends whenever we feel like a cozy home cooked meal. This Christmas / New Year’s, we went away to a house in the mountains. We didn't get any snow like expected, but I did make my lasagna dinner! Here's the recipe...

Disclaimer: I've never formally written this recipe down. It's all in my head. So I apologize if I've given it to anyone before and the measurements are slightly different.

Keep reading for Tori's recipes for lasagna, lasagna cupcakes, and garlic bread!

Lauren Bush Shares Relationship Advice and Thoughts On Giving Back

Annie Scudder — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:50:27 PST

Lauren Bush is much more than a pretty face and famous last name. This past weekend at Pixar Animation Studios, Lauren spoke about giving back creatively at the Intersection Event, a conference on innovation.

Before her panel, I caught up with the newlywed model and founder of FEED, a project to fight world hunger in conjunction with UN World Food Programme. She shared her relationship advice, as well as the issue she hopes women will pay more attention to and details about her upcoming FEED back. Read our interview below.

TrèsSugar: How have your relationship and career priorities changed with age?
Lauren Bush: "It's been a flow to this point. I don't think there's a perfect science to it. Maybe there is and in that case I'd love to know. I don't have kids yet, therefore I can travel more easily perhaps. I think it's about doing what you love. FEED for me is like my arm. It's like second nature. I feel like I'm in this rare awesome position where getting up to go to work isn't really work, it's exciting. If you find something you love, it melds naturally. To be an entrepreneur is all consuming. And lucky enough, my husband was an entrepreneur himself, is very entrepreneurial, so he just gets it. It's also about surrounding yourself with people who will support your passion."

TS: What piece of relationship advice would you share with young women?
LB: "Don't sweat the small stuff."

TS: Who are your female role models?
LB: There are more women now than when we started five years ago that I can look to. Sheryl Sandberg (the COO) from Facebook. I saw her speak and she's so inspiring. Also, Somali Moms, a foundation in Cambodia with this amazing woman. And Christie Brinkley and what she's been doing with Every Mother Counts is really inspiring.

Keep reading to find out about more about FEED and its newest bag.

Pilot Scoop: Bent

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST

NBC's comedy Bent is part of their new midseason lineup, and it stars Amanda Peet and David Walton as two people who can't really stand each other - and obviously become love interests. The half-hour show is set in Venice Beach, and the tone is as relaxed as the beach town setting. If you want to know whether Bent is something you'll want to tune in to, my pilot scoop can clue you in.

What it's about: Amanda Peet plays Alex, a single working mother who hires a contractor, Pete (David Walton) to make over her kitchen. Her uptight personality is challenged by Pete's relaxed, go-with-the-flow mentality, and though they're just client and contractor at first, there is chemistry all over the place.
Where it works: I've loved Peet since her days on the short-lived series Jack and Jill and she brings her effervescent charm (even when Alex is being uptight) to her role here. And Walton is hilarious and her perfect foil. You may remember him from Perfect Couples, which didn't get much of a chance, but Walton was one of the highlights.
Where it doesn't: The show seems like it's going to rely too much on Alex and Pete's will-they-or-won't they relationship. Sexual tension is a classic TV ingredient, but there has to be something more going on, and a kitchen renovation isn't going to cut it.
When it's on: TBA
You might like this show if: You like light, quirky comedy - think Cougar Town.

To watch a preview and see some photos from Bent, just keep reading.

Owen Wilson Has a Picture-Perfect Park Day With Robert Ford

Allie Merriam — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:24:31 PST

Owen Wilson was a doting dad yesterday at a Santa Monica park with his young son Robert Ford Wilson. His ex, Jade Duell, also kept an eye on their little one as he tackled the jungle gym and slide. Owen preserved memories of the happy afternoon by snapping photos on his iPad. Owen and Jade welcomed Robert earlier this year in January. Since then, Owen's visited the mother-son duo multiple times at her Hawaiian home.

Owen's jet-setting hasn't stopped there. Last week, he was in St. Barts on a vacation with friends. Owen was seen hanging out at the island's chic Bagatelle, enjoying attention from women on the dance floor. It seems like a perfect time for Owen to celebrate since he recently nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Midnight in Paris. Make sure to fill out our Golden Globes ballot with your winner picks for a chance to win $1,000!