LilSugar

Is Sparkling Wine Only For Special Occasions?

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:30:26 PDT

One of the things I most agreed with in the book French Women Don't Get Fat was the author Mireille Guiliano's point of view on Champagne. She believes that Champagne, or any sparkling wine really, is something that should be enjoyed every day and for all occasions. The notion that bubbly only be sipped on a special occasion seems somewhat old-fashioned. If I drink red and white wine whenever I feel like it, why not imbibe sparklers in the same manner? How do you feel about it?

Do You Hammer Dates Into Your Child's Head?

LilSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:00:28 PDT

My jaw drops every time a peer tells me that their parent called to remind them that they missed their birthday or anniversary. Most people I know try to be mindful of important family dates and celebrate accordingly with a card, call, visit, or gift, but it always stuns me when moms or dads expect it. As a parent, I had my kids without anticipating any kind of payback ever. Do you care if your children keep tabs on your occasions?Source

Fall in Love With These Romantic Recipe Ideas!

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:09:10 PST

This Valentine's Day, we've got you covered with recipes for every occasion, whether you're poised to create a casual night in or preparing to host a classic dinner with a special someone. From sexy, healthy aphrodisiacs to sultry chocolates, there's sure to be something to fit your bill. Here are a few of our all-time love-conducing courses.

Oysters With Champagne Mignonette	Engagement Chicken	Easy Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Nutella Pound Cake	French Macarons	Rose Marshmallows

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Tres Community — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I’ve been dating my boyfriend for a year and two months. Since this year has started, I’ve been trying to decide what I need to do in regards to our relationship. My main issue is the minimal effort he has put into making things work. He has his own business, of which he needs one or two more people to assist. However, besides his sister helping on occasion, he does everything on his own. From the start, I understood, as well as accepted this. However, our dates have always been centered around his business or attending one friend’s parties. This averages out to me seeing him about once a month.

We have never gone out and spent an evening by ourselves, nor have we ever done anything “special.” When I ask him about this, he always just says he’s busy. His sister has said to both him and myself, that even if he’s busy, he has the type of business in which I can hang out at. After two big blow outs between us where he was blatantly disrespectful to me, I’m beginning to wonder about the future of our relationship. He used to call me at least once a day, and now three to four days will pass before he calls. I usually try to call him at least once a day, however, I’ve noticed that if I don’t call him, four days will pass before I hear anything from him.

So, over a week ago I called him and told him I don’t think it was going to work. He invited me over to talk about it and the conversation ended after I expressed my frustration with our current state of affairs. He told me that he loves me, he doesn’t want to lose me, and he promises that he is going to give me much more attention. He has promised this before, which I have pointed out, but he says that this time it’s really going to be different.

This past week, the only time we spoke was when I called. Of course, our conversations never even lasted past three minutes. This morning, I called him to let him know that I was going to be in town later, to help my cousin organize an upcoming charity event, and was wondering if he would like to get together in the evening. He was hesitant at first, and then said that he was going to be busy, but I could come over. He’s planning to have friends over.

This is how it’s been from the time we’ve met. I love him, but I’m increasingly feeling like I deserve more than this. I would like for us to spend time together, especially seeing as I have to drive an hour to see him. I do all the driving because he doesn’t drive. What should I do?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries in No Time at All

Camilla Salem — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:11:42 PST

If there's one thing I could eat every day, it's chocolate and fruit. Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of those decadent desserts that people save for special, romantic occasions, but I don't really understand that. This technique for dipping your strawberries in melted chocolate is so simple, it can and should be enjoyed regularly. While many recipes tell you to melt chocolate and butter together, I find that the chocolate chips melt perfectly on their own and I like to keep things as simple as possible. I use semisweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use whatever your taste buds prefer. Click through to follow along.

Sarah Jessica Parker Wraps Up Lovelace and Returns to Her Kids - but Not the Super Bowl

Allie Merriam — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:22:00 PST

Sarah Jessica Parker left her NYC home Friday with two of her three children. Her 10-year-old son James Wilkie Broderick led the way to their car, while SJP followed carrying Loretta, one of her twin girls. It seems baby Tabitha didn't go along for the outing, but she's often seen exploring the Big Apple with mom SJP and Loretta.

Yesterday was a special occasion for the family, as Matthew Broderick's Ferris Bueller Super Bowl ad aired. However, SJP doesn't care for the Super Bowl too much. The actress, who's fresh from filming a small part in Lovelace, said recently, "I can tell you honesty, I will not be watching the football game. I have absolutely no interest. . . How long does [the game] last? Up to four hours? Really? If I had four hours of leisure time, I would watch the first episode of Luck and start the first season of Mad Men or Downton Abbey. You get my point."

Pretty Pink Pieces For Your Valentine's Day Table

Elka Karl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:00:15 PST

It's the perfect time of the year to go pastel pink. Don't let your Valentine's Day party decorations or front door have all the fun - embellish your tabletop with some inspired pink pieces as well.

For a subtle blush of pink, start with the Rosanna Classique Glass in Pink ($55 for a set of 4, top row, left). Created from vintage molds from the early 20th century, they'd be perfect for showcasing a Valentine's Day punch for a stay-at-home romantic dinner.

Add a soft glow to your table with the Floral Hurricane Candleholder ($5, middle row, left). Don't have time to grab a bouquet for your table? The frosted floral detailing on this candleholder can serve as a stand-in for fresh blooms.

For a romantic country touch, set the table with these Azalea Spring Toile Napkins ($5 each, bottom row, left). Perfectly pretty, these floral toile napkins are machine washable, so you can use them for everyday as well as special occasions.

To shop the rest of these pink pieces, just click on each image!

7 Ideas to Save on Your Morning Coffee

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:14 PST

The Latte Factor is very real - the average American worker spends $1,092 on coffee, The Consumerist reports. Citing data from Accounting Principals' latest Workonomix survey, the site goes on to say that the average worker is apparently spending more than $20 a week on coffee. The amount is comparable to other expenses like commute, which were mentioned in the study. So how do we start saving on this big budget drain? Here are some ideas:

Try low-end. New York Magazine did a coffee taste test and food critic Adam Platt found that coffee from Dunkin' Donuts actually tasted better than Starbucks. If you're craving coffee, opt to get a cup of joe from a lesser-known chain.
Cash in on freebies. Keep your eye out for freebies and remember Starbucks gives customers a free birthday beverage as long as you register your Starbucks gift card and use it once. And if you're a loyal Starbucks customer, you can attain gold member status and receive free coffee for every 15 drinks. Remember that Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, so there should be plenty of coffee freebies then. Earth Day generally offers a lot of coffee freebies as well.
Find Starbucks recipes. Find out how to make drinks just like Starbucks by doing some research online. Personal finance blogger Squawkfox was able to mimic a tall Starbucks frappuccino ($4) for only 32 cents. The secret is actually xanthan gum ($16), a food thickener that keeps the texture smooth and the drink together. There are also plenty of other sites that have copycat recipes of all the Starbucks drinks.
Go instant. Instant coffee isn't too bad if you dress it up with these recipes. Add cocoa or spices like nutmeg, blend it with ice, douse it with milk, or add honey.

Read on for more ideas.

Kate Moss Steps Stylishly Into Her 38th Year

Lauren Turner — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:19:06 PST

Kate Moss wore a leopard print coat as she left her new home in London today. It's been a big week for the model, who turned 38 Monday and celebrated with a low-key bash. Kate and husband Jamie Hince went to dinner with Stella McCartney for the special occasion, and we recognized the big day with a look back at her best jet-setting moments. In addition to a birthday, Kate recently marked six months of marriage to Jamie. The couple are going strong after tying the knot in a lavish July ceremony, which was one of the most gorgeous celebrity weddings of 2011.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Have Baby Blue Ivy - See Their Sweetest Family Photos!

Kimberly Timlick — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:45:35 PST

Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed their baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter, Saturday and we're marking the special occasion with a look back at some of the couple's sweetest pictures! We can't wait to see their little one, but until then take a look back at their amazing relationship. From "Crazy in Love" to their latest collaboration with the addition of Blue, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have been one of our favorite celebrity couples for 10 years. Congratulations to Beyoncé and Jay-Z - click through to see their cutest pictures together!