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Spidey Stays on Top in its Second Weekend

BuzzSugar — Sun, 13 May 2007 23:20:48 PDT

What do Lindsay Lohan, Zach Braff and zombies have in common? None of them can touch Spider-Man 3. In its second weekend, the web-slinger stayed strong at the box office, bringing in an estimated $60 million more and easily taking the No. 1 spot.

Sure, $60 million is nothing compared to the $151 million Spider-Man 3 racked up in its first weekend, but none of the weekend's other movies came close. Horror flick 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to 2002's 28 Days Later, slid in at No. 2 with $10 million. Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda's Georgia Rule snagged just $5.8 million to finish third.

Disturbia finished fourth, while new release Delta Farce brought in $3.5 million and finished sixth. The weekend's other major new release, Zach Braff's The Ex, finished at No. 11 with a puny $1.3 million.

It's been a pretty easy ride for Spidey so far, but things will get tougher next weekend when he has to compete with a big green ogre as Shrek the Third premieres.

Spider-Man photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Swimmer Dara Torres on the Quest For Her Sixth Olympic Games

espnW — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:12:32 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Luke Cyphers

Dara Torres once wrote a book called Age Is Just a Number. Nowadays, though, the feel-good story of the 2008 Olympics admits to, well, feeling her age. Torres won two silver medals as a 41-year-old mother and swimmer in Beijing, but she harbors no illusions about repeating the feat four years later. "You have to be realistic," Torres said. "I am 45 years old. I'm that much closer to being 50, and my body just can't recover the way it used to."

Her goal was gold in 2008. In 2012? "I don't feel like I have anything else to prove going into these Olympic Games," said the 12-time medalist. "It's not about medals. I have enough."

So why does she put herself through grueling training five days a week in the hopes of making her sixth - and she swears last - U.S. Olympic team? Because, at her best, she's still one of the fastest sprinters in the world. She placed second in the 50-meter freestyle (25.24 seconds) at the winter nationals. Last month, she swam a solid 25.36 seconds in the prelims of the Indianapolis Grand Prix, but faded to 25.47 in the final to finish sixth. She'll need to place within the top two at the Olympic trials in Omaha in June to make it to London.

Kim Rhode is not your typical Olympian

Dara Torres says it is harder for her body to recover compared to when she competed in the 2008 Olympics. "If I had to just swim the race once, I don't think it would even be an issue making the team," she said. "But I have to swim it three times, and having my body recover for those three races is my issue."

Torres embraces the actuarial challenge of capping an Olympic career 28 years after it began in 1984, even as her world has changed and her body has creaked. Her longtime coach, Michael Lohberg, died of a rare blood disorder in 2011. One of Lohberg's assistants, Bruno Darzi, now coaches her. Her daughter Tessa is now 6. And her left knee required surgery and more than a year to rehab. Through it all, "I still have a passion for the sport of swimming," she said.

But there's also a sense of obligation to the public following she has built through her success and frequent television appearances. (The former telecommunications major and frequent morning-show guest announced her comeback on "Live with Regis & Kelly.") "I have so many people come up to me and say I'm inspiring them to do things that they thought they couldn't do because they were too old, or that they put off because they couldn't find a balance in their life to do it," Torres said.

Keep reading for more on Dara Torres' Olympic past and present.

Julie Andrews on the Importance of Princess Culture, Princess Kate, and Her Favorite Roles

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:32:56 PDT

It's hard not to become giddy when talking about Julie Andrews. The legendary actress's career spans more than 50 years, with multiple generations of families still enjoying her library of work together - from Mary Poppins to The Princess Diaries. What many people don't know is that the 76-year-old Academy Award winner is also the coauthor - with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton - of more than 20 children's books, including the just-released The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl!, part of the "Very Fairy Princess" series.

As far as meeting her in person - well as someone who can still recite virtually every line of The Sound of Music, it's a totally surreal experience. From the beautiful English accent that spoke to me from my favorite films to the fact that she still exudes the authoritativeness of the governesses she played, the experience was almost regal - which is why Andrews is perfectly cast as the spokeswoman for Disney and Target's first National Princess Week, which runs from April 22-28. I met up with the living legend, her daughter, and her granddaughter at a princess-themed tea - feather boas, scepters and all - to discuss the relevance of princesses today, working motherhood, and her favorite roles over the years.

On why playing princesses is really OK:
Julie Andrews: "My personal take on it is that they may be trying on for size what it feels like to be, say, a real lady. [It] perhaps, in some way, helps them find their own identity later in life. I do think fantasy and play of this kind - whatever it is, if you want to play at being a nurse, or if you want to play at being a florist - it's all important and should be allowed, because it would be an awfully sad place if we didn't try on those airs and have fun doing it."

On raising strong, independent, confident women in a culture saturated with princesses:
Emma Walton Hamilton: "Sometimes I think princesses are given an unfair rap. We compiled a list of over 70 contemporary princesses. In doing the research for that, I was reminded once again of the extraordinary work princesses do in the world. The charitable contributions, the causes they champion, the amount of good and service they contribute and provide. I think they're a wonderful example of being strong, feminine, and kind, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

On her favorite Disney princess:
Julie Andrews: "Mine has to be, because I've been involved with it, Cinderella. I played Cinderella when I was about 17 years old in England, and then when I came to America it was the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical they wrote for me. So for me Cinderella has always resonated. And I love the rags to riches, kind of like my own story in a little way."

Keep reading for Andrews's thoughts on Princess Kate, the state of motherhood today, and her favorite role.

In Defense of the Chronically Late Mom

BabyCenter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:11 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Betsy Shaw about being late for school.

If I were to wear a scarlet letter it would be T.

T for tardy. T for turd ball. T for totally inept mother.

We are late for school with such alarming regularity it’s embarrassing. The last time we were on time, after a mini snowstorm that excited my children enough to urge them into their snowsuits and outside at 6:30 a.m., we got to school five minutes early to find it dark and empty. Delayed opening. I was apparently the only mother who didn’t get the memo.

Calling Charlie Brown…

Being late for school brings up a vicious brew of conflicting emotion in me. On the one hand I just don’t care. Life is short. Far too short to risk traumatizing your children with a bullwhip and terrorizing morning walkers and squirrels, not to mention my own white-knuckled children, speeding our way to school like Toad on a motorcar bender each weekday morning.

On the other hand I am ashamed, deeply embarrassed, to be “that mom.” All the other moms can do it, even the single ones. Why. Can’t. I? What’s wrong with me?

I complained about this once to a woman from South Carolina who I met on my Guatemala trip and she told me her school started at 7:30. She also made it clear her kids were never late.

Never late.

Keep reading for more of Betsy's reasoning for being late.

10 Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More

Wise Bread — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:15:37 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

Have you heard of the expression “penny wise, pound foolish”? It’s something I heard a lot growing up, from my parents, and it can have multiple meanings:

You are very careful with small amounts of money, but throw caution to the wind with large amounts. This is akin to someone who eats from the dollar menu every day but then blows a hundred dollars every month on a gym membership that’s never used.
You do things to save money now, only to have those savings cost you more farther down the road.

The second definition is what I’m focusing on today, because it’s a lot easier to fall into the trap of saving money only to have it bite you later on. Here then are 10 things that you may be doing to save money that could actually cost you a lot more in the weeks, months, or years to come.

RELATED: The Case For Expensive Shoes

1. Avoiding Regular Checkups With the Doctor, Dentist, or Optician

It’s something I did in college when money was tight. “Aah, who needs to pay money to a dentist to have him tell me I should floss more?” Well, after leaving the dentist alone for a few years, I paid the price. Avoiding the regular cleanings and checkups left me facing a hefty bill later on when I needed a bunch of costly fillings. I was lucky that I didn’t need root canals or replacement teeth. Now I have a dental plan that covers free checkups twice a year, but even if you don’t, get to the dentist and doctor for health checks. It’s a lot better to pay a co-pay now than pay for major surgery later on. And worse still, it could even cost you your life, especially as so many conditions can be treated if they’re caught early enough.

Read on for more.

Get Your Holiday Fix With Isabella's Cookies on PopSugar Shop

PopSugar Shop — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:45:56 PST

Looking for an easy yet crowd-pleasing edible gift idea this holiday season? If so, don't overlook this PopSugar Shop steal for cookie samplers from Isabella's Cookie Company.

Founder Jennifer Palmer sums it up best: "We are in the business of making people smile, one cookie at a time." She's been making people giddy since she was a little girl baking in her mom's kitchen. This week, get six large cookie sampler bags from Isabella's for just $28, and you can treat your friends to something sweet while being sure to save some for yourself.

Whether you've been naughty or nice, bring on the holiday cheer with this festive cookie bundle, which includes the to-die-for Peppermint Sugar Rush, a soft sugar cookie frosted with vanilla and crunchy peppermint candy pieces; star-shaped Holiday Sugar Rush with creamy vanilla frosting and sprinkles; and chocolaty Choco La La La, with white chocolate mint chips and colorful sprinkles. Whether you savor now or later, just know that every order is handmade, baked to order, and shipped immediately so they arrive fresh from the oven. Now that's some major cookie care. Steal this deal on PopSugar Shop now.

Justin Timberlake Tapped Into His "Personal Demons" For In Time

Lindsay Miller — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:40:02 PDT

Justin Timberlake is branching out into new territory with his action-heavy role in this month's thriller In Time. The sci-fi movie takes place in a future where time is currency - the richest can afford to live forever, but most people are lucky to make it through their 20s. Justin plays Will Salas, a working-class guy who sets off on a race against the clock after he's suspected of murder. We spoke to Justin at the movie's press day in Beverly Hills this weekend, and he told us the story's themes - as well as the chance to shoot guns and make out with leading lady Amanda Seyfried - drew him to the project. He also talked about why acting is more personal to him than music and even admitted he tapped into his own dark side to portray Will. Stay tuned later this week for our full interview with Justin and check out In Time when it hits theaters on Oct. 28.

PopSugar: As someone whose own time is in such high demand, did the movie's theme especially appeal to you?

Justin Timberlake: I don't think I thought of it that way. When I read the script, for two or three days, I couldn’t stop thinking about the themes - that one being one of them - but also our obsession with looking young forever. But I think honestly, the reason I inevitably was like, "I have to play this guy," was because I hadn't had the opportunity to play a character that, at the end of the day, I hope I would be like if my back was against the wall. And I just saw this character as an everyday man who gets pushed too far and decides to fight back. And then you keep reading and it's like, "Oh, yeah, shooting guns and car chases and flipping cars around and kicking ass and kissing Amanda." You know. You're kind of like, "Yeah, OK. I'm in."

PS: You've done some great roles in the past few years. What do you get out of acting that's different than what you got out of singing?

JT: Well, listen . . . I could give you nine things that are the same, or that I could find comparable, but I actually weirdly enough find acting [and] working on movies to be a way more personal experience than making music. I think that, at least for me, you get an idea for a song and then you make it sort of as fantastical and sonically otherworldly as you can. And you take a movie like this, and even though you're in another world, it's your job to be as grounded and real as possible, and a lot of the scenes in this movie for me were personal. I found myself accessing a lot of my own personal demons . . . fears, but also fantasies.

Group Therapy: Should I Spend Christmas With His Family?

Tres Community — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:05:34 PDT

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

My boyfriend (age 28) invited me (26) to live (not together) in the Midwest. Later this month, we'll have been together for four months though we've known each other for almost a year. He invited me to spend a week in his hometown in Utah for Christmas with his family. If I didn't come from such a close family, I would not be at all hesitant about going. But I am very close with my family.

My parents are both very old-fashioned and over-protective. Although they know that I'm not a virgin, I know that if I were to tell them I'm spending the night at his apartment (about a half hour away from my house), they would get extremely angry and say I have no respect for myself. We both have busy schedules and are only able to see each other about once a week so when we do see each other, I want to give him my undivided attention (which I would do even if we saw each other often) and want to spend as much time as I can with him. My parents don't understand this, however, and get upset if I don't text them throughout the night letting them know that I'm okay and then they'll text me at 9 or 10 p.m. saying it's late and I should be home by now.

What I want to know is, how can I bring up the possibility of spending a week with him and his family? Also, I kinda feel like this is a big step in the relationship, but I would still like to go. If I do go, this will be my first Christmas away from my family (ever since I can remember, we have always had big Christmas family parties with my mom's side of the family), my first time on a plane, and my first time away from home. Thoughts?

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.

The 5 Germiest Spots For Travelers

Heather Dale — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:53:36 PDT

Jet-setters, backpackers, hotel aficionados beware - your carefree travel from point A to point B may not be so innocent after all. There are germs lurking on the check-in counter at the airport, on the subway seat during your morning commute, and on the ice bucket in your hotel room. If you've watched the movie Contagion, you'll most likely already be on high germ alert. Here are are five bacteria-thriving spots travelers should take extra precaution to protect themselves against.

Airports: As soon as you arrive at the airport, you'll come in contact with the check-in counter and ticket kiosk - both of which are covered in bacteria and possibly even mold. Just think of the thousands (possibly millions) of people who have touched these areas before you. Try wiping the kiosk ticket monitor with an antibacterial hand wipe to make sure it's clean before using, or wash your hands afterward as soon as possible.

And to avoid athlete's foot or other fungal infections when walking through the security checkpoint, wear socks (or bring some if you're wearing sandals) - just don't go barefoot! Staphylococcus aureus has been discovered in these checkpoints.

Keep reading to see what other locations made the list.

Before and After: Sprucing Up a Cane Chair For the Guest Bedroom

Casa Community — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:00:58 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member CourtneyOutLoud from the Su Casa group:

I love chairs. I love textiles and fabrics. What I didn't love was the chair sitting in my guest room.

However, when I stumbled upon this cane chair at a resale shop for $28, I found a solution to my "problem."

It needed to be cleaned and restained but it had potential. The stars lined up when I found a rug from Uzbekistan at Anthropologie - it was colorful, vibrant and had the perfect pattern I wanted for the room. It also helped that it was large enough to provide fabric for the whole chair for less than $50. Two weeks later thanks to my savvy bartering and some elbow grease, I brought home this to replace the original chair in the guest room. Keep reading to see how the chair looked after it was reupholstered!