BuzzSugar

10 Entertainment Moments I'm Looking Forward to For '09

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:30:19 PST

We've barely gotten into 2009, and already, I have a packed entertainment calendar. With albums from some of my favorite artists coming out early in the year, some major movies on the horizon, and TV looking like it could be great again, I have my fingers crossed for an amazing year in pop culture ahead. Want to see some of the things filling up my '09 dance card? Just hit start.

Shawn Johnson Talks Weight Loss and Learning to Love Her Body

espnW — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:05:26 PDT

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

By Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson is blogging for espnW throughout her training for the Olympics in London this summer. Follow hers other Olympic hopefuls' journeys on espnW.com.

Four years ago, I was standing on an Olympic podium, wearing a gold medal, and still thinking to myself how I could have been better. It had nothing to do with my performance - it was all how I looked. Back then, I always felt like I could have been a few pounds lighter. But the irony is, when I look back at the pictures, I look unhealthy and too thin. It's easy to get into a trap as an elite athlete, because you're made to feel that you're never perfect, that you can always be better. That's how you improve in your sport, but it's also tough because you aren't satisfied with yourself ever - it's second nature not to be. I'd always think, "Just get a little stronger, a little lighter," until it was completely ingrained in my mind.

Shawn Johnson takes us inside training camp

It's easy for people to blame gymnastics for this mentality, but I feel like the sport has improved a lot. The horror stories we heard from generations ago (think Joan Ryan's infamous book Little Girls in Pretty Boxes), you don't hear at all anymore. But I do believe it can improve further and that good nutrition could be a key to all of this, if it were only taught at a young age. Many gymnasts go into the elite level at 13 or so, and a 13-year-old isn't going to go to the library to read some book on nutrition! She needs to be given the right information on how to eat well. Otherwise, it's not until she's out of the sport that she realizes the damage she's done to her body by not eating enough over the past 20 years.

Shawn Johnson in the driver's seat

I see all the success we have as a country where the gymnasts aren't 100 percent healthy, and I imagine how amazing we could be if we were doing it in the healthiest way possible. I don't think it's a failure on anybody's part; the education just isn't there right now, and it's just not thought about in our sport. My parents have told me since I was little, "You're given your body for a reason. It's OK to be different. Being unique is a good thing." But I always struggled to believe it. I'm stocky, muscular and short, and I wanted to be thin and flexible so bad! My mom would say, "You're not made that way, and you're not going to become that, so you have to learn to accept and love the body you're in." Well, some people are born with that appreciation, and some people have to work really hard to get there. Put me in that second camp.

Read on for more on what Shawn Johnson has to say about body confidence and how she feels in her gymnastics leotard.

How a Determined Desiree Davila Won a Spot on the US Olympic Marathon Team

espnW — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:25:02 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here.

By Bonnie D. Ford

At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Desiree Davila, fellow favorites Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher, and Amy Hastings. Davila increased her tempo. Hastings dropped back. Davila forged on with Flanagan and Goucher, her five-foot-two, 98-pound frame dwarfed by her taller rivals. Then, with two miles to go, Flanagan kicked into a higher gear, and Davila was faced with another decision: should she try to match the surge and bid for the win, taking the chance that her cramping calves would betray her, or maintain her pace and protect her spot on the team?

Davila weighed the situation and decided not to risk it. Flanagan soloed to the line, and Davila secured her Olympic spot by finishing second, 17 seconds back, in 2:25:55. It was a tough, savvy race, and the latest evidence that Davila's gradual climb to the top is peaking at an ideal juncture.

After a largely anonymous high school and college career in the arid heat of Southern California and Arizona, she migrated to Michigan to join the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in 2005. The elite training environment in a harsher climate helped her transform herself into "a contender, not just someone who's on the line and might have a good day," as she put it.

The Lesson Learned From Second Place

Davila debuted at the marathon distance in Boston in 2007 and ran 2:44.56 in a raging northeaster. A year later on the same course, Davila thought she had progressed enough to make the Olympic team. At mile 21, running fourth, it looked as if she'd been right. But Davila, who hadn't hydrated and eaten enough before the race, ran out of gas and faded to 13th.

She was devastated. Fellow marathoner and friend Amy Hastings was there to comfort her, and so was sister Natalie Davila. "If I'm investing my money in someone right now, it's you," the older sister said. "You're going in the right direction - you're going up."

Read on for more of Desiree Davila's road to the Olympics after the break.

What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Sex and Feminism

The Good Men Project — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Lisa Solod, who came of age during the sexual revolution, explores what feminism means to this generation.

My mother married my father because, she told me in a rare moment of candor, she wanted to have sex with him. She was 25 and tired of pre-sex fumbling and stolen kisses. My father was, of course, far more experienced, having been in the Pacific Theater during World War II; far less discreet about his former life (and life in general) he told his daughters inappropriate tales of the women he had met on shore leave. One I particularly remember had her front teeth filed into points. Well into their marriage, each of them managed to be unfaithful and they finally separated (but not because of infidelity) after twenty years of marriage. Yet, for another dozen years or so they would hook up here and there, travel together, and, of course have sex. In a further revelation, my mother told me that the sex was the best part of her relationship with my father.

I came of age at the tail end but the real beginning of the sexual revolution (1971-1974). At that point, sexual liberation was inextricably tied to the rise of feminism. Having sex like men, i.e., without attachment, was part of our freedom. But too many of us got hurt. We hadn’t yet factored in the biology of mating and how really hard it was to have that much sex without any real commitment. Most of the women I know who grew up during those years had far more sexual encounters than they were ever willing to reveal to their husbands. Those of us who divorced then dived back into the sexual market with the same abandon. I am not sure we were all the wiser. I hear STDs are on the rise in the over 50 group, which doesn’t surprise me. We all were pretty practiced in birth control but we took it into our own hands, with the pill and the diaphragm. This was pre-AIDS. Barrier methods were not our methods of choice then. They are not, apparently, our method now, either.

Should a Man Stand Up For His Woman?

But those of us who grew up in the trenches of the sexual revolution know that feminism was about far more than women having the kind of meaningless sex with men that men had been having with us for eons. Feminism, which is still being parsed in the media as well as our own homes, still being debated and discussed and accepted and dismissed, was about being able to control (to the extent that anyone can) our work lives, our love lives, our lives as a whole. It was about being able to have a career, being paid equally well for that career, and making our own decisions about marriage and childbirth without having to merely capitulate to what society had set out for us. I, for one, was happy not to have to marry to have sex. I was thrilled to be able to go to college and think about a career without worrying that it might make me unmarriageable. I was ecstatic about the notion that I could make decisions for myself.

All those ideas I passed along to my daughter. But, of course, she had no need to wrestle with those notions as the women in my generation had. She lived in a society where (she thought) feminism was taken for granted. Women her age did not talk about marriage, either as an option or something to reject. They saw it as fact that women could do anything.

Read the rest of the story below.

5 Mattress Buying Secrets from an Insider

Guest Writer — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:00:21 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from guest writer, eco lifestyle expert, and all-around awesome guy Danny Seo. Today, he's here to walk you through some simple, smart tips for buying a new mattress.

If you're like I was a few years ago, buying a mattress from a store was akin to purchasing a used car: stressful, high pressure, and not fun.
In 2009, I partnered up with the Simmons bedding company to create a line of eco-friendly mattresses called the Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo. It was my attempt to do a mainstream line of eco beds that would be sold in retail stores nationwide and come with all the bells and whistles Simmons mattresses are known for: great customer service, white glove delivery, long and trustworthy warranty. The line was a hit.

This post isn't about my beds, but about the insider tricks and tips I learned about the mattress business and what consumers should know and do when shopping. Here are my top 5 tips:

Bring Your Pillow. When you sleep at home, most of us do not lay flat on your back, shoes on, head firmly pressed against a bare mattress. Yet, we do that all the time when "test driving" beds in stores. Since you can't strip down to your PJs in the store, do the next best thing: bring your pillow. Resting your head on whatever number of pillows you normally sleep on will give you a true feel for how a new mattress will feel when you sleep on it.
Don't Bother Looking For a Lower Price. Some stores have the tagline "If you find a lower price, it's free!" but the truth is, you will likely never find a lower price. Regional chains work with mattress manufacturers to make special version of popular beds. So instead of just selling a Simmons Natural Care mattress, it could be called The Simmons Natural New Hope model or The Simmons Natural Care Iverness Valley. These model names are often unique to stores, so finding a lower price can be next to impossible. If you find a bed you like, negotiate with the store and don't bother shopping around.

Keep reading for three more matress-buying tips from Danny Seo!

Hail to the Pooch: Saluting First Dog Bo on Presidents' Day

Sara Yoo — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:45:00 PST

As we pay homage to this nation's highest office today, it's also the perfect time to celebrate the commander in chief's best friend. First Dog Bo has snuggled himself into the hearts of the Obama family, White House staff, foreign dignitaries, and the American public with his curly, cuddly fur, even-keeled temperament, and deep, soulful eyes. He's also put Portuguese Water Dogs on the map for many folks who had never heard of the breed before this pup paraded across the White House lawn in 2009. So happy Presidents' Day, Bo! We hope your day brims with treats, naps, and a gallop across the South Lawn!

George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis Break Up!

Allie Merriam — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:36:48 PDT

George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis have broken up! In a joint statement today, the couple confirmed the news. Elisabetta and George drafted a press release that said, "We are not together anymore. It's very difficult and very personal, and we hope everyone can respect our privacy."

George and Elisabetta, who started dating over the Summer of 2009, were spotted together in Italy recently. He was in her home country to work on an ad campaign in Milan before retreating for some R&R near his Lake Como home. Elisabetta recently gave an interview to the European magazine Chi in which she talked about her happiness with George, saying, "I am very happy at the moment - thanks to my man and my fairytale is continuing. We are a couple that never gets bored." It seems, though, they have decided to officially part ways.

Why We Should Give Everyday Thanks For the Little Things

Annie Scudder — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:00:37 PDT

Author Leah Dieterich is really good about writing thank-you notes. And not just to people who send her birthday presents or host her for a weekend. Since 2009, Leah has written a thank-you note every day to objects, ideas, places, or people. She's given thanks to clean sheets, men who walk Pomeranians, and her own laziness. At first she kept them in a box, but soon she started a blog so she could share her gratitude. Last month, she published a book, ThxThxThx, of these letters, as well as some she saved for her offline readers. I had a chance to speak with Leah, and she shared these reasons why we should all give thanks every day. Read them below and click through to see an exclusive excerpt of 10 letters featured in the book, which would surely make a great thank you gift!

It can ground you. "My partner, who's an artist, got an opportunity to go to New York for a year for a prestigious fellowship. We decided to do long distance. Everything was up in the air, so I needed something to ground me. I just wrote a thank you note to some random thing and it felt really good. Even though I didn't know what the future of my relationship was, it reminded me to take things one day at a time."
It can turn the negative into a positive. "Knowing that I have to do a note every day keeps my mind open to seeing the bright side of any situation. Sometimes if I have an experience that seems negative on the surface, I think there has to be something to learn."
They're like a diary. "Reading my notes, they're almost in chronological order. I can read them and it feels like a memoir. I can see what was happening in my life during that year."
You get back what you put in. "Putting a positive energy out in the world, you feel like you get it back. Even if it's just thanking an object, like a glass, it makes me feel more positive. Everyday is a little bit nicer, a little bit cooler since I'm looking for the good thing in even a crappy day. I hope anyone who reads the book will have that little shift in their mindset, too."

Check out a preview of the book now.

4 Exciting Moves Maria Shriver Can Make Post-Arnold

Annie Scudder — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:05:56 PDT

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his love child have captured the attention of the world this week. Sad details about the affair continue to emerge, as pictures of the mistress flash across newspapers and websites everywhere. In her undoubtedly heartbreaking family breakup, Maria Shriver, the other half of the toppled power couple, has a chance to triumph.

Some are asking who Maria should date next. Tim Robbins? Alec Baldwin? While it would be fun to see JFK's niece hook up with a high-profile liberal after decades with a Republican, I doubt she's even thinking about a new love connection as she tries to stay strong for her kids. Still, with the public's goodwill behind her, Maria's next move could be her best yet.

In her 2008 book, Just Who Will You Be?, Maria discussed her reluctance to quit her successful journalism career at NBC to become first lady of California. She wrote, "You've got to be kidding! That's not me! I didn't grow up wanting to be first lady of anything!" Over the years she said she came to peace with being first lady and believed it helped her find her own voice. Maybe this next life stage will move her further along that path. Based on her experience so far, below you'll find four potential projects Maria could take on post-Arnold.

Forget Marriage, Bring On the Baby Carriage: 20 Celebrities Who Had Babies Before Rings

LilSugar — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:46:07 PDT

The times, they are a-changin'! Once upon a time (just 50 years ago), in a land not too far away (Hollywood), having a child out of wedlock meant one thing: career-ending scandal. Not so anymore, where celebrities are just part of the growing trend of women - both coupled and single - who don't feel the need to be married before having a child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that out-of-wedlock births accounted for 41 percent of US births in 2009, and children are now more likely to have cohabitating parents than divorced ones.

What do you think? Would you have a child out of wedlock? Or would you make a mad dash for the closest chapel and hope everyone buys the story that your 10-pound baby was three months premature? Keep reading for a list of 20 celebrities who bucked tradition and proudly bared their baby bump before marriage.