LilSugar

What a Difference a Year Makes

babysugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:00:53 PST

A year ago, I was laid up in a hospital bed in the maternity ward ogling my little newborn. She was born exactly one year ago today and what a year it has been. From pushing to posting, my life has been forever changed. Here are some of the ways that motherhood has revealed herself:

An unconditional love and worry for a little being has overwhelmed me.
I can no longer sleep peacefully, unless I'm on vacation.
I know I have a little partner in crime (until she can speak at least).
I never eat alone.
My body will never be the same as it was when I was 18.
I prefer the smell of baby detergent over my own scented lotions.
I like to spend the night cuddling with my hubby on the couch instead of out on the town (most times).
Our friends and family don't care so much about us - just about her.

The thing is, I love and accept it 100 percent. I know there are times when it's hard, especially at the beginning. But it grows on you as your baby grows. I can't imagine life without her.

What Was Hot the Year You Graduated From High School

Tara Block — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:35:28 PDT

For today's generation of teenagers, high school's almost out for Summer. And for seniors graduating this month and the next, this is a big time of transition as they enter the collegiate world and beyond. We've long said our goodbyes to our high school days, but during this graduation season we can't help but reminisce about our past. So if you graduated from high school any year from 1990 to 2005, we've got a blast from the past for you! Here are some of the hottest pop-culture moments by year that will take you back to the days of backpacks, lockers, and homework!

22 Actresses Who Could Play Anastasia in Fifty Shades of Grey

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:31:08 PDT

We've been throwing out ideas for who should play Christian in Fifty Shades of Grey, but he's not the only lead in the upcoming movie. It's safe to say that a ton of young actresses will be vying for the role of Anastasia Steele, the beautiful but insecure 21-year-old that becomes a love interest (and an obsession, really) for billionaire Christian. You've had a lot of thoughts and suggestions about which actresses you'd love to see play Ana, so here are the top 22 candidates.

Always a Bridesmaid: The Best Onscreen Wedding Parties

Maggie Pehanick — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:30:30 PDT

Weddings are about more than just the bride and groom - they're about the whole wedding party! After all, what would a ceremony be without the tuxes, ties, and taffeta that go along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen? We've already relived the many onscreen vows from over the years, but now we're celebrating our favorite wedding parties. From Blair, Serena, and the gang in the many weddings of Gossip Girl to the uproarious bridal party in Bridesmaids, check out the top wedding parties in movies and on TV!

With additional reporting by Shannon Vestal and Becky Kirsch

Men in Black 3: A Return to (Alien Life) Form

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:29:01 PDT

I saw the original Men in Black movie so long ago that my memories of the film might as well have been zapped with a neuralyzer (that's the memory-erasing device the guys use in the movie, for those of you who are also having trouble recalling the original). What I did retain is that the film was funny, fresh, and silly and that it didn't hold up very well for the 2002 sequel. With that in mind, I had low expectations for Men in Black 3, but the newest installment is just as much fun as the original, and it actually benefits from the 15-year time lapse.

The script for the film is one of its biggest assets and truly sets Men in Black 3 apart from its predecessors. The aliens are still alive and ickier than ever now that they're in 3D, but the story is more focused on the friendship between J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) and how it has evolved over the years. We learn early on that K has been keeping a secret from J all these years, and the mystery drives a wedge between the partners. Meanwhile, a treacherous alien named Boris the Animal (played to hilarious perfection by Flight of the Conchords's Jemaine Clement) breaks out of maximum-security prison and goes back in time to get revenge on K, who arrested him back in the '60s. The day that K had Boris locked up is the key to K's secret, so J heads on a mission back in time to save K and learn the truth.

To see why Men in Black 3 is so much fun, just

Will Smith hasn't been in a movie since 2008's Seven Pounds, and I didn't realize I missed him until I found myself giggling all the way through Men in Black 3. His shtick is still the same (he's one-liners still consistent of dialogue like "Where did you come from? Planet damn?"), but you can't help but love Agent J as he bumbles through the '60s, desperately trying to sell his story to people who don't recognize him - or believe him. You can tell that Smith feels completely comfortable in the role, and in the signature suit, which still looks perfect on him, as he hasn't aged a day.

Tommy Lee Jones is ever the reliable curmudgeon, but the film mines extra laughs when J travels to the '60s and meets a much younger version of his partner, played by Josh Brolin. Brolin looks enough like Jones to pass for him, but it's really his studied delivery and mannerisms that sell the performance. We also get some insight into how K has evolved over the years (he's always had a penchant for cowboy music, but he also used to be a bit of a dreamer), giving the film an extra layer to the enjoyable banter between J and K.

I'm not usually one to gush about 3D, but the special effects really come to life in Men in Black 3 in a way they never did in the first two movies. Not only do the aliens look creepier than ever, but the cartoonish feel of the film is taken to the next level with the 3D aspect, especially with the time-travel thrill-ride element. Much like with the 3D movies from my youth, I found myself shrinking in my seat just to avoid being too close to the alien goo, blood, breath, and beyond. Combined with the welcome return of Will Smith, you've got yourself a fun, mindless blockbuster.

Photos courtesy of Sony

Beauty Must-Reads From the BellaSugar Community

Jessica Cruel — Sat, 26 May 2012 03:32:00 PDT

5 things you need to know about SPF - Beauty Starlet
5 gorgeous cheek and lip stains in this year's hottest hue - Blaq Vixen Beauty
Chill out with this DIY cucumber toner - Beautiful Basics
Haute hair accessories for your Memorial Day cookout - At First Blush
View this step-by-step winged eyeliner how-to - Shine, Shimmer, & Sparkle

10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

16 Memorial Day Discounts to Look Out For

Emily Co — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:35:29 PDT

As always, when it's time for a holiday weekend, everyone's looking forward to the extra day off - as well as the sales and discounts. Memorial Day is no different. Although we've given you the lowdown on which products you should keep an eye out for, here are a couple of great sales going on:

Amazon: Up to 60 percent off select women's, men's, and children's clothing.
Macy's: 15 percent off and free shipping with the code MEMDAY.
Pottery Barn: Save up to 60 percent on hundreds of items, such as umbrellas, lanterns, outdoor rugs, and more.
West Elm: Extra 15 percent off sales items with the promo code MEMDAY12.
Nordstrom: Nordstorm's half yearly sale on women's and children's items.
Bloomingdale's: Bloomingdale's Big Brown Sale offers discounts ranging from 20 to 65 percent.
REI: Save up to 30 percent on clothing and outdoor and sports gear.
Ikea: Deduct your restaurant charges when you purchase over $100 worth of home furnishings.
Quiznos: Small Sub, regular fountain drink, and chips combo for $2.99 if you show this coupon.
Tumi: Up to 40 percent off select items.
Sears: Over 300 Memorial Day deals.
JC Penney: Free shipping if you use the promo code JCPSHIP.
Puma: 30 percent discount if you use the code PUMASAVE30. Also, for every $50 spent between now and May 31, you get $25 to spend during the month of June.
Best Buy: 10 to 25 percent off major appliances.
Kohl's: Up to 75 percent off select home items, and if you use the promo code SUMMER20, then you get 20 percent off.
Ralph Lauren: Free shipping with promo code MAYFS12 and 25 percent off select sale items.
Perry Ellis: 40 percent off all online purchases with the code PEMEMORIAL40.

Buzz Time Machine: Matthew Morrison and Zooey Deschanel in Once Upon a Mattress

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:47 PDT

Seven years ago, before their starring roles on hit Fox series, in a land far, far away, Matthew Morrison and Zooey Deschanel were just two star-crossed lovers in Once Upon a Mattress. Disney's TV movie production may not have been what catapulted the two to fame toward Glee and New Girl, but we sure are glad this exists in the universe. I'm wondering if this song, "In a Little While," was on Morrison's audition tape for the part of Mr. Schuester.

Meet the Euro Pop Princesses of the '60s: Yé-Yé Girls

Tara Block — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:52:29 PDT

Are the yé-yé girls having resurgence? First there was Megan's infamous Mad Men song and dance number, and now they've come up again in Wes Anderson's latest film Moonrise Kingdom. In the film - set in 1965, a year before this season of Mad Men - Suzy Bishop is one half of the lovesick preteen couple at the center of the movie. While her style is clearly fashioned after the yé-yé girls, Suzy's interest in the pop singers is brought up at one point when she shows her love interest, Sam Shakusky, her favorite album, Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles by yé-yé girl Françoise Hardy. Later in the movie, Sam and Suzy have a very entertaining dance scene on the beach in their underwear to her song "Le Temps de l'Amour" ("The Time of Love").

Derived from "yeah! yeah!", the yé-yé movement was comprised of female pop singers from France, Québec, Italy, and Spain. The themes and lyrics of the songs, often written by men like Serge Gainsbourg, were deceptively innocent, as the girls beamed sexy naiveté. One not-so-innocent song Serge wrote for yé-yé singer France Gall was "Les Sucettes" ("Lollipops"), which was really referring to oral sex. It included the line, "Annie loves lollipops, aniseed lollipops, when the sweet liquid runs down Annie's throat, she is in paradise." Learn more about France and other popular yé-yé girls like Françoise Hardy, Sylvie Vartan, and Sheila.