BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 3/3

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:33:10 PST

Access Hollywood reports from the Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice singing benefit in LA. You can watch some shaky video footage over here.
Speaking of Grey's, Eric Dane will join Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston in Marley and Me, writes ComingSoon.
ComingSoon reports that Tim Allen will make his directorial debut with the indie comedy Crazy on the Outside.
Anne Heche will replace Jennifer Jason Leigh in the "indie sex comedy" Spread, also starring Ashton Kutcher, writes Hollywood Reporter.
According to Variety, Al-Qaeda is calling for the execution of a Dutch filmmaker and a politician on account of their anti-Koran short film, Fitna.
Radiohead, Tom Petty, and Jack Johnson will headline the inaugural Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco in August, Billboard reports.
L.A. will host the first Brazilian Film Festival March 7-9 at the Landmark Theater, Variety reports.
CBS is no longer the No. 1 TV network, losing the most-viewed title to Fox, the LA Times reports.

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Casts to Sing for Cash

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:30:37 PST

Wondering how you're going to get your Shonda Rhimes fix before new episodes of Grey's Anatomy return in late April? Well, if you live in LA, and you have 85 bucks and no plans for Feb. 29, you can go see the casts of Grey's and Private Practice as they throw a singing benefit.

Yup, singing. The casts are putting on a variety show called Good Medicine to benefit crew members who were out of work during the writers' strike.

Now, some of these people have actually been paid to sing before - and they're even quite good at it. Sara Ramirez and Audra McDonald have five Tony Awards between them, Taye Diggs was an original cast member in the stage version of Rent, and Chandra Wilson has been a Broadway star, too. As for the rest of them, well, I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks. Can you imagine TR Knight singing? Kate Walsh? McSteamy? Which cast members would you most like to hear belt one out?

The Final Say in the Light Weights vs. Heavy Weights Debate

Shape — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:47:20 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

You've always heard that when it comes to building muscle mass, heavy weights are preferred over lighter weights. But a new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology has found that isn't always the case. In fact, you can build just as much muscle by lifting lighter weights. If you do it right...

10 Health and Fitness Myths You Still Believe

The key is working the muscle to total failure or exhaustion, says Michele S. Olson, professor of exercise science at the Human Performance Laboratory of Auburn University Montgomery and the star of the workout DVD Perfect Legs, Glutes and Abs.

8 Reasons Why You Should Lift Heavier Weights

"Failure, in this sense, is a success," Olson says. "If you work your muscles, on each set, until you cannot execute another repetition with appropriate form, the heaviness of the weight becomes less important."

Find out exactly what a "light" weight is after the break!

Avery Island, Part Deux: Boils, Bottles, Bloodies & Boudin

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:45:45 PDT

If you're itching for a culinary adventure, there's no need to leave your home! Escape to Avery Island for a crawfish feast with Food Orleans.

This was my lunch. I ate it all.

Avery Island is a gorgeous place; it's surrounded by a long lace of bayous, has plenty of wildlife roaming around freely (deer, bears, raccoons, alligators), and houses the beautiful Jungle Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. You can spend a full day there soaking up the splendor, especially if you pack in a trip to the Tabasco factory.

We had a lovely, long ride down the bayou to the McIlhenny family's trapper's camp, just so we could get in some air boat rides (FUN!) and a little of this:

My favorite lunch in the world! These fellas were HUGE.

I'm only partly responsible for this amount of crawfish carnage. Let's just say that my tablemate, Cecil, is one fast picker.

Earlier that day, we had a tasting of all seven flavors of Tabasco sauce, led by CEO and Chairman of the Board Paul McIlhenny. His chief flavor developer, Charlie Chang, who has worked for the McIlhennys for over 30 years, was also present at the tasting. It was fascinating listening to the two describe how certain flavors were inspired, or how they were refined to become what they are today. I have to say, my new favorite hot sauce is Tabasco Habanero. It's Jamaican inspired and has a lot of fruit flavor to it, plus it packs a slow, intense heat that hits you at the end. For the tasting, we had saltine crackers and softened butter to help us tolerate the high amounts of heat in some of the sauces. I discovered that a saltine cracker spread with butter and topped with a little Habanero sauce is extremely delicious--like eating a wicked little butter cookie. I'm in love.

For more on this tasty adventure, plus a Tabasco-inspired mixology lesson, keep reading!

Conserve Cash and Celebrate Earth Day With These Beauty Deals

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:00:00 PDT

This Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day and beauty companies are getting in the spirit to do good and go green. Already, brands like Josie Maran and Kiehl's are adopting a charitable attitude with their eco-inspired programs. But below you can find discounts for this weekend that will save you money, and go to a worthy cause. Get the codes when you read more.

4 Tips to Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

Emily Co — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:05:32 PDT

The medicine cabinet is a part of the home that no one really thinks about . . . until you need something from it. And when you finally do, you might find yourself wading through the items that should have been discarded to get to the medication you need. Or perhaps you're missing the needed item because you never noticed you were low on it because of the mess. Take some time to organize your medicine cabinet this week, so if someone falls ill or if there's an accident, you'll know exactly where to find supplies. Here are a couple of tips:

Discard expired medication: How long has it been since you've organized your medicine cabinet? If it's been a while, you probably have a lot of expired medication. The FDA has good tips on how to dispose of your medicine.
Take stock of what you need: Now that you've thrown out the old, it's time for the new. Restock your supplies with fresh ones and make sure you have the basic necessities - aspirin, aloe vera gel, Band-Aids, bandages, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, thermometer, adhesive tape, antiseptic solution or towelettes to clean wounds, eyewash, cough medicine, and instant cold packs.
Separate your supplies: You don't need to keep all the medical supplies together in one container. You should separate the medication based on factors like how often you need to use it and who the medicine is for (you, your kids, or pets).
Start labeling: When you're done separating, place them into their requisite containers and label them with things like "first aid," "adults," "kids," "pets," or "miscellaneous."

Good News For Chocoholics: Study Says Chocolate May Help You Stay Slim

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:44:01 PDT

This good news couldn't come at a better time, especially with all the chocolate bunnies and cream-filled chocolate eggs hopping around. A study examining surveys from nearly 1,000 adult men and women published in the journal Archives of Medicine shows that people who eat chocolate frequently (more than twice a week) have a lower BMI (body mass index) compared to those who consume it less regularly. In fact, even though chocolate eaters in the study consumed more calories overall, they still had lower BMIs.

Researchers think there may be something in the chocolate that makes the calories consumed less likely to be deposited as fat. Chocolate contains polyphenols, which in animal studies have been known to increase the number of energy-burning mitochondria inside cells, as well as improve blood flow. Both of these factors could boost metabolism, which in turn would prevent weight gain. Some researchers, however, aren't convinced, because they feel in order for polyphenols to have this kind of effect on BMI, the chocolate consumed would need to contain high levels of polyphenols, such as that found in pure cocoa. Chances are the participants were eating processed chocolate with low levels of polyphenols.

Studies do show that indulging a little can curb cravings, preventing possible binges. This in turn prevents weight gain, which could also be a reason chocolate eaters have a lower BMI. Unfortunately, this recent chocolate research doesn't give you the green light to devour an entire chocolate bunny just yet. The researchers only found an association between eating chocolate and staying slim, and feel more detailed research needs to be done in order to confirm the connection.

Now we want to know: how often do you eat chocolate?

How to Make Your Own Makeup Remover

Michelle Phan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:00:13 PDT

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has a new tip or two for making life a little easier. This week, Michelle tells us how we can create our own natural makeup remover:

Hi everyone,
Makeup remover doesn’t have to be expensive or come with a label. In fact, I actually prefer this gentle version that you can make at home on the cheap. It’s non-irritating, easy to make, inexpensive and highly effective.

Sublimely pretty Spring makeup

I recently uploaded a video on how to make this perfect makeup remover, but here is a step-by-step guide to have on hand when you try it out for yourself.

9 Items a Forgetful Person Must Keep in the Office

Emily Co — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:32:55 PDT

I used to constantly forget to charge my phone overnight and would spend my day furiously switching my cell on and off just to conserve battery. That's until I bought another charger to leave in the office. I know that some of you with superhuman memories don't have this problem, but for my forgetful peers, here is a nice list of things you should keep in the office . . . just in case!

All Types of Chargers: Keep an extra set of chargers, be it phone or computer or some gadget you can't do without, at your office. This is so you won't beat yourself up over forgetting to charge your electronic devices the night before. You can alternatively choose to leave another fully charged battery at the office, but it seems like the chargers are generally way cheaper!
Feminine Products: It's the time of the month, but you keep forgetting to bring some feminine products to work. If the office bathroom doesn't have a dispenser, remember to keep a full pack of it at work so you don't ever have to run out to the nearest pharmacy when you're on the job.
Mini Whiteboard: If you're really forgetful, you might not remember completing things on your electronic to-do list. I know it's really easy to dismiss and click away the alerts when you're on your computer. Increase chances of remembering by placing a small whiteboard on your desk to scribble down urgent items.

For more items a forgetful person must keep in the office, read on!

3 Snacking Habits to Break Now

Prevention — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:08:19 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

These noshing habits could be the reason your scale is stalled
By Karen Ansel, RD, Prevention

We do it in the car, on the train, in front of the TV, on the phone, and even in bed. For too many of us, snacking has become so automatic that our brains barely register the hand-to-mouth motion. And it's not as if we're all reaching for diet-friendly apples: A 2010 study from the University of North Carolina found that most of us eat nearly 600 calories a day-roughly a third of our food-in snacks rather than meals.

"The business plan of the modern food company has been to put their foods on every street corner, making it socially acceptable to eat 24-7," says David Kessler, MD, former commissioner of the FDA and the author of The End of Overeating (Rodale, 2009).

6 Ways to Stop Overeating

The result has been a nutritional disaster. In their natural state, whole foods may be high in fat or sugar, but they're rarely high in both. Today we have man-made snack foods with a tantalizing combination of fat and sugar rolled into one. "Foods have become so 'hyperpalatable' that they're now capable of hijacking our brains the same way that nicotine and alcohol do," says Ashley Gearhardt, the lead author of a Yale University study on food addiction.

Keep reading to learn how to fix your snacking habits.