BellaSugar

10 Fab Fillers For Hurricane Lamps

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:00:56 PDT

From seashells to skeleton keys, I recently shared with you 10 fabulous fillers for apothecary jars. Truth be told, put any old thing in one of those pretty glass jars, and it'll work. Hurricane lamps, on the other hand, need to be filled with a more malleable collection of odds and ends to make room for their glowing pillar candles. Beyond that, the petite items must be able to withstand the heat of the flame - so jellybeans are a no-go. Thinking of lighting up your outdoor space with hurricane lamp this Summer? Consider these 10 fabulous fillers first.

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Beauty Byte: Filler Injections Can Cause Permanent Damage

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:00:29 PST

Here's another reason to stay away from the needle: Some British and European doctors are raising concerns about facial fillers. A handful of plastic surgeons is worried that these injectables could permanently damage skin over time. Dr. Daniel Marchac, a prominent French plastic surgeon, said he had been contacted by at least 25 patients who developed untreatable fibrous tissue and other changes after being injected.

"We will see in the future patients of 50 who have had 15 years of fillers with fibrous, tough tissue we wouldn't be able to do anything with," he said. "The serious things are the permanent fillers, and the second is abuse of resolvable fillers." Abuse, in his view, involves using temporary fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane twice a year for four years. (Botox, which isn't a filler, isn't a worry, the doctors say.)

This story makes a good point: Some technologies are so new that we don't yet know the long-term effects. (Remember what happened to this woman?) Plus, if plastic surgeons are raising concerns-and they have every financial reason to encourage cosmetic procedures-I think it's worth paying attention to them when they say it's dangerous stuff.

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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

What We're Sweet On: (Really) Natural Mineral Makeup

Miriam Lacey — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:00:00 PST

If you're into luxe mineral makeup and skin-friendly ingredients, you might want to put Kide on your radar. The line of baked foundations, concealers, and highlighters, is mica-based, and doesn't contain talc or bismuth oxychloride (the ingredient responsible for the itchiness that sometimes accompanies mineral makeup). Plus, the light reflectors and pigments aren't a bunch of filler metals and lake colors you've never heard of. It's just mica, iron oxide, tourmaline, copper, and diamond dust. The stuff is not cheap at $85 per item, but neither, thankfully, are the ingredients.

The only drawback we see with it is that, since it's a powder, it's not great for people with dry skin, especially if you live somewhere with cold weather that exacerbates the problem. Otherwise, the packaging is great, the products (especially the highlighters) are gorgeous, and the formulation is outstanding.

13 Foods For Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:19 PST

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want to hear it.

#13: Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff; however, I've known quite a few folks who are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people freaked out by tapioca in general . . .
#12: Squid ink pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink, but some find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky.
Keep reading to see more freaky foods perfect for Friday the 13th.

Why You Snack at Night - and How to Avoid It

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:13:30 PST

Late-night snacking can be a calorie-loaded diet pitfall, but if you're able to recognize the reason behind your cravings, you can curb the impulse and stick to your healthy habits. Regularly find yourself back in the kitchen shortly after dinner? Here's why you keep snacking, plus how to scale back:

You skimp on food throughout the day. If you aren't eating enough at each meal, your body is going to kick into hunger overdrive later. Do you skip breakfast to save time? Breeze through a small lunch because you're too busy to keep eating? It's important to space out your food intake so that the hunger doesn't sneak up on you after dinner. Make sure to stay satisfied by eating a mix of protein, fats, and carbohydrates at every meal.
You're sad, angry, or _____. Any and all emotions can trigger the impulse to eat. Lower the odds of stress-fueled fridge raids by staying in touch with how you're feeling and choosing different outlets. If you start to regularly unwind in other ways - by calling a friend, for instance, or taking a walk - then you'll learn to deal with your anxiety before you even think to storm the cabinets.

Keep reading for more healthy snacking tips.

Jennifer Aniston Doesn't Love Facial Fillers

Mackenzie Wagoner — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:20:25 PST

What We're Sweet On: An Inexpensive Hair Saver

Miriam Lacey — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:01:33 PST

When you've taken your hair to its literal breaking point, Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment ($4) is one of the cheapest, most effective ways to salvage it. It's a collagen-based hair treatment that actually bonds to hair instead of just acting as a temporary filler, and it goes around your strands to help protect them. It's great on hair that's been over-processed or suffered a lot of heat damage, and if you've gotten to the point where your hair is all mushy when it's wet and is basically impossible to comb, this is the stuff you want.

Sweat It Out For Healthy Hair

Zelana Montminy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:26:36 PST

You might think that sweating it out can be harmful to your hair, but you should start thinking of your workout as part of your beauty routine. Most of us know that eating a well-balanced diet helps make for a healthy mane. But it hadn't occurred to me that hair could also reap beauty benefits from working out until celebrity stylist, educator, and fitness buff Natasha Sunshine introduced me to the idea. She's built her career on holistic hair care after witnessing the benefits first hand. Natasha shared five ways that getting your sweat on helps add shine to your hair.

Turn Up Intensity
Natasha reminded me that intense cardio is a great way to rid the body of toxins. This has a direct impact on your sebum, an oily, conditioning substance secreted by skin glands that helps prevent hair from drying out. Natasha says that the release of toxins "directly contributes to purer, healthier and an even more conditioning sebum."

Get Drenched
In addition to intense cardio and other sweat promoting workouts, Natasha advises clients to take a steam or sauna once a week as a "fantastic tool in releasing excess contaminants in the body to maintain a healthy sebum."

Learn more ways your hair benefits from your gym time, after the break.

How to Create a Spooky-Chic Séance Room This Halloween

Diana Nguyen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:00:31 PDT

While pumpkin carving and spiderwebs are fun, you may want something a little more mature for your All Hallows' Eve-theme shindig. For a more sophisticated ambiance, create a séance room without the usual suspects (velvet tablecloth, piles of old books) and blow your guests and ghosts away with your unique style. Not only will it make a great appetizer and gathering room, but calling forth the spirits will help break the pre-party ice.

Let the Table Shine

Instead of the clichéd red velvet tablecloth, opt for a fabric that is just as rich but more refined, like silk or lace. Also, don't feel like you have to stick to a dark color palette. Although the Horchow 90" Round Cloth ($120) is polyester, the champagne hue adds a luxe antique feeling perfect for calling the most stylish of spirits. Plus, it'll pop in a dimly lit room.
Place some séance tools of the trade for your guests to ghoulishly delight in, like tarot or regular playing cards or a Ouija board.
Leave the table empty except for the séance games and a few votives. You never know when a temperamental spirit (or intoxicated guest) might disrupt the table.

For more spooktacular tips,

read more. Blanket the Room With Accents

Candles, candles, candles! They're not only inexpensive, but they exude mystery and romance scattered throughout a room at different levels.
Round up all the frames in your home and place them all over the room. The older the photo the better! There's nothing scarier than having smiling faces staring back at you.
Place branches, flowers like dark-hued calla lilies, black dahlias, or Dried Black Sola Flower Filler ($10, originally $17) into vases and disperse them throughout the room with the candles.

Lighting Sets the Mood

Like most events, lighting is an important factor, but, unfortunately, it is often overlooked. If you have a small chandelier laying around or are willing to make a quick stop by Target for a relatively inexpensive 3-Bulb Mini Chandelier ($60), hang it above the table. I like this practical yet modern Chrome 3-light Black Shade Crystal Chandelier ($115); it has the sharp lines to complement your chic room and the hanging crystals to move and sway when a mysterious gust of wind blows by.
Now light those candles, dim the lights, and voilà - you should have a chic and party-friendly take on the séance room!

Photo courtesy of The CW