BellaSugar

Lil Tip: Don't Stop Believin'

babysugar — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:00:26 PST

It's Christmas Eve and your lil ones are expecting Old St. Nick to make his appearance tonight. If you're not the type to don a white beard and pillows stuffed under a red jacket, we've got some other ideas that will keep your babes believing in Santa Claus.

Chances are the kids will leave out cookies for the jolly old man and his crew of reindeer. Santa always managed to find time to put the dishes away at our house, which didn't make sense when he had to deliver toys to the rest of the world!

So before the kids come down in the morning, leave a trail of crumbs near the fireplace or at least on the table. The kids will be thrilled to see Santa's evidence.

As a child, I swore that I heard Prancer and Vixen on the roof one Christmas Eve. Get into the spirit and jingle some bells around midnight when the kids think Santa might be making his appearance.

The last thing you can do to add to Santa's magic is to leave some sort of belongings around the house. Maybe an elf hat was left behind during the gift drop or one of Santa's black buttons popped off when he ate too many of your child's delicious cookies.

Have fun playing along – the innocence doesn't last forever.

How Long Does the Myth of Santa Live On?

babysugar — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:00:00 PST

I vividly remember the moment I was told Santa Claus wasn't real. I'd heard the rumors, but was still convinced that he existed. Then my best friend told me who Santa really was and how the lie was perpetrated. I was just 7 when I realized my parents were the naughty ones.

How old are kids when they find out that Santa Claus lives down the hall?

Source

Fragrance Giveaway! Britney Spears believe

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:29 PDT

Welcome to another BellaSugar giveaway! Ten lucky readers will receive a 3.3-ounce bottle of believe, the new fragrance by Britney Spears. It's easy to enter, too: Just by taking my quiz and leaving a comment, you are eligible to win!

Don't worry if you don't get 100% on the quiz, as the winners aren't chosen by high scores. But you must leave a comment to enter the contest, and to do this you have to be a registered TeamSugar user-so make sure you are all signed up!

Please remember that you are only allowed to enter once; repeat quizzes will be ignored. Just click on "take the quiz" below and on Friday, November 2 at 5 pm PST, a random drawing will take place to choose ten winners. Be sure to read the official rules-and good luck, because I believe you've got a great shot at winning!

Take the Quiz

A Few New Bits About Brit's Believe

BellaSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:00:03 PDT

Most of you said you're tired of celebrity fragrances, and, well, I'm feeling overwhelmed by them, too. While some, like Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker, are created with a lot of input from the star in question, others seem to be patched together with little or no input. I could be way off-base here, but I have a feeling Britney's new fragrance, Believe, falls into the latter category. Considering her odd behavior this year, I find it hard to, er, believe, that she's had the time to be deeply involved in Believe's development.

Still, the scent is expected to do at least $10 million in US sales during its first year, and WWD reports on its fragrant notes:

The scent, by International Flavors and Fragrances, has top notes of guava pulp and golden tangerine; a heart of honeysuckle and linden blossom, and a drydown of patchouli aura, sensual amber and pink pralines.

WWD says that Believe is "arguably the most sophisticated" of Britney's fragrances, but those notes sound pretty sugary and young to me. And the packaging, while more grown-up than the looks of Curious and Fantasy, is still more girly than womanly. Believe ($38–$58) launches in October, but if you pre-order online, yours will ship earlier.

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Coming Soon: Britney Wants You to "Believe"

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:59:46 PDT

First she was Curious, then she had a Fantasy, and soon Britney Spears will add one more scent to her fragrance collection. In October, Britney Spears Believe will arrive in Macy's and other department stores. So far, there's no word on what this scent will smell like, but details should roll out soon.

Believe is a logical progression in Britney's naming choices. She began dating Kevin Federline in late 2004, at almost exactly the same time as the Curious launch. The following year brought Fantasy, which debuted the day after Britney gave birth to Sean Preston. And now, as she prepares her comeback single, there's Believe-perhaps a not-so-coded message to fans who want to see her succeed?

Considering Britney's bizarre behavior as of late, marketing Believe is going to be a challenge, to put it mildly. Page Six reports that Brit ditched the photo shoot for Believe's packaging. And although she's appearing on the cover of next month's Allure-perhaps the best place to promote her new fragrance-there's no interview because Britney flaked on her appointment four times.

So what do you think? Will Believe make millions of dollars like Curious and Fantasy did? Or are Brit's hijinks alienating her fans? Or does it all come down to how good this fragrance smells?

Source

Eat Cake For Breakfast and Lose Weight, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:21:52 PST

If your insatiable sweet tooth is preventing you from losing weight, findings from a recent study may be just the thing to help you slim down. Researchers found those who ate a large breakfast that included something sweet lost weight and were able to keep off more pounds than those who ate a small breakfast.

A group of 193 obese adults (not a huge study) were split into two groups. One ate a large, 600-calorie breakfast that included a sweet item such as a cookie, cake, or doughnut. The other group ate a 300-calorie breakfast with no dessert. Both groups ate the same amount of calories daily: 1,600 for men and 1,400 for women.

Keep reading to find out more details about cake and weight loss.

Count Your Roses to Decode Your Valentine's Hidden Message

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:38:28 PST

As old superstitions fade and Emily Post-like etiquette evolves, you're probably not counting the number of roses or orchids or hydrangeas you received today (or, like most people, didn't). But the number of roses a man once gave a woman held hidden meanings, so check out what your Valentine either intentionally or, more likely, unintentionally told you today.

One rose: Love at first sight, or years later "you are still the one."
Two roses: Mutual love and affection . . . so you may owe him two roses!
Three roses: The traditional three-month anniversary gift also simply means "I love you."
Six roses: Infatuation, or "I want to be yours."
Nine roses: A big jump up from six, nine roses symbolize eternal love or "I want to be with you forever."
10 roses: A perfect 10 means "You are perfection."
12 roses: A dozen is like picking the best heart from a Sweetheart candy box, it means "Be Mine."
13 roses: Thirteen may be a baker's dozen, but not so in love. Its meaning is actually disputed: Teleflora says it means you'll be friends forever, but several other sources, like Love Letter Box, say it means you have a secret admirer.
15 roses: Does he have a reason to apologize? Because 15 roses means "I'm sorry." If not, take it as credit for future remorse.
20 roses: The red starts to get excessive around 20, and supposedly that means "Believe me, I am sincere toward you." Usually, sincerity does not need to be proved with quantity, but that's just me!

People send more than 20. See what they mean below.

In Her Shoes: April Beyer, Matchmaker and Relationship Coach

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:05:36 PST

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, April Beyer, expert relationship coach and matchmaker, gives SavvySugar an insider's look into her unique career. Helping men and women find lasting relationships for almost 14 years, she is the founder and president of Beyer & Company, a matchmaking and relationship consulting firm. She's frequently interviewed and has been seen on Dr. Phil, 20/20, and Good Morning America. Beyond her weekly clients, April writes on her blog, conducts seminars, and is working on a book to help women prepare for love and romance. April tells us what it's like to assist other people on their journey to finding love and happiness.

SavvySugar: Can you tell me about your career path and how your business has grown throughout the years?

April Beyer: I started out in the high-end matchmaking industry nearly 14 years ago. I had worked with a matchmaking company and was there for about six or seven years. I was responsible for many marriages there. In 2003, I decided to venture out on my own and start a relationship coaching and consulting business. Now, I still have my matchmaking company. I work with a handful of highly successful marriage-minded men. I am also a coach and a writer.

Now my passion is to help women better understand themselves first so then they can naturally attract the man of their dreams. I am a little bit more of a holistic dating and relationship coach, but I think of myself more as is a communication and authenticity coach. For me, it's not about teaching people dating skills, it is teaching them relationship skills.

Click here to read more about April.

Low-Cal (to No-Cal) Ways to Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:03:41 PST

It's the time of year when chocolate is everywhere. They say you are what you ~~wear~~ eat, so I must be bittersweet. While I believe a little dark chocolate here and there is good for the soul and your health (here are some surprising health benefits of the chocolate), some chocolate cravings run deep. Here are seven ways to scratch your chocolate itch without piling on the calories and literally wearing your chocolate.

Experts Say Sexism Keeps Women Out of Military Combat Roles

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:06:25 PST

Ask GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum why women shouldn't be allowed to serve in combat roles, and he will give you various reasons. First off, a man's emotions. Santorum believes men will try to save their fellow female soldiers, explaining this weekend: "instead of focused on the mission, they may be more concerned about protecting someone who may be in a vulnerable position, a woman in a vulnerable position." In addition to chivalry, Rick says "You throw on top of that just simply physical strength and capabilities," and women simply can't handle the job. Fortunately, the military, which recently opened 14,000 combat jobs up to women including tank mechanic and front-line intelligence, doesn't completely agree with Rick, and experts say "sexist" attitudes are responsible for a policy against trained female soldiers serving in combat positions.

Sociologist Ryan Kelty, who specializes in studying the military, tells LiveScience that the old-fashioned belief that women must be protected is not a good enough reason to exclude women who want to and are capable of serving their country. In other words, chivalry is not a legitimate basis to deny a woman employment, especially when there is no evidence that professional and highly trained male and female soldiers are incapable of carrying out their missions. Kelty explains the military should employ gender-neutral, objective requirements. For example, a soldier should be able to carry 100 pounds for eight hours, regardless of gender.

There may be back and forth, but the truth is that women already serve in these combat roles. In Iraq and Afghanistan, 144 women have lost their lives, 60 of them in combat, while 865 have been wounded. And countries including Canada, Israel, and Australia already allow women in close-combat roles. Despite the slow evolution of American rules on women serving, it can be said that the US military doesn't have the most retro policy. In China, women recruits must display a talent like singing or dancing and Russia holds a Miss Russian Army beauty pageant.