BuzzSugar

TV News Tidbits: Amy Sedaris, Jada Pinkett Smith, and More

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:29:18 PST

It's that time again! The twice-yearly Television Critics Association press tour kicked off in Los Angeles this week, which means the TV news is going to flow fast and furious for the next week or so. PBS and cable take the stage this week, and then the network portion kicks in early next week, when Molly and I will be flying down to LA to blog and Twitter this tour ourselves!

Until then, I'm keeping an eye on some of the TV news coming out, both from the networks that are presenting and the others that are just making announcements. Some of the highlights so far:

TNT has picked up two new drama series, including Jada Pinkett Smith's project, Time Heals. The other series is The Line, a cop drama starring Dylan McDermott.
Unsurprisingly, Amy Sedaris had the crowd in stitches at the PBS panel yesterday. She's narrating a new PBS miniseries called Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America, which airs starting Jan. 14. Oh, and apparently Amy does not like the internet very much, but the internet still loves her.
If you like Discovery Channel shows, then get a load of this: The network has at least seven new shows coming soon, including Out of the Wild, in which suburbanites are dropped into the Alaskan wilderness and have to find their way back to civilization. (I'm not kidding - I'd totally watch that.)
Ian McKellen will not be nude for the PBS version of King Lear. So uh, you can cross that off your calendar, I guess.

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Jada Pinkett Smith Makes Time For TNT Series

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:31:58 PDT

More proof that TNT is the official network of strong women: it's lured Jada Pinkett Smith back to television. She'll be starring in - and executive-producing - the network's new drama pilot called Time Heals.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show "centers on Nancy Hawthorne (Pinkett Smith), a strong but caring director of nursing at Charlotte Mercy Hospital in North Carolina, a single mother who always puts the pain of others first." That sounds like it could be a meaty role - and a show that will fit well on the network that also recruited Holly Hunter for Saving Grace and Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer.

Frankly, I'm happy anytime a TV network turns out a show with a powerful woman at its core, and it's about time we had another show with a woman of color in the lead. I'll be interested to hear more about this show as it moves forward. How about you?

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High Heels Can Give You Barbie Feet

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:41:45 PST

High heels. You either love them or hate them, but you can't deny they are chic. We love the height boost and illusion of longer legs they offer, but we do realize they're not the best things for our feet. Unfortunately, recent research shows that these lovely shoes may be worse than previously thought.

In a study of longtime high heel wearers, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers found wearing heels actually shortens the fibers of the calf muscle, making the Achilles tendon stiffen instead of flex when walking. High heels keep feet in a pointed position, so even when habitual high heel wearers (those who wore heels at least 40 hours a week) slipped off the pumps, their feet were so used to walking with the heels raised that it became the new norm for their muscles and joints - think permanent Barbie feet. The constantly engaged calve suffers from serious muscle fatigue, but switching abruptly from heels to flat shoes, like sneakers, puts stiletto wearers at a greater risk for injury.

Keep reading to find out what you can do to heal your heel-wearing legs.

RX For Shin Splints: Ice Massage

Susi May — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:39:21 PST

Shin splints are the bane of many new runners. The tight calves that accompany mileage increases can spell pain for the lower leg. If running causes any discomfort, take time off to allow your shin splints to heal. But you need not sit idle on the sidelines while you recuperate: ice massages help, too. A serious runner, my Equinox trainer reminded me of the healing combo of ice and massage to decrease the inflammation around the tibia (anatomy speak for shin), caused by this overuse injury. The technique is simple, but first you need to make the ultimate tool: the icing cup!

Make Your Own Icing Cup
Used in gyms and physical therapy clinics, an icing cup protects your fingers from freezing and provides a perfectly sized contact point for massaging troubled spots. Take six Dixie cups, fill them with water, and freeze. When it comes time to ice, peel back the paper and begin the massage.

The Massage
Starting by your foot, place your icing cup on the outside of your shin, on the tibialis anterior muscle. Making long strokes toward your knee, massage the muscle with an amount of pressure that feels good. Mix up your massage strokes and try small circular patterns, once again starting at the ankle and working up toward the knee. After five minutes of massaging, finish your 20-minute icing cycle with 15 minutes of static icing by placing an ice pack (or frozen peas or corn) on your shin. Aim to massage and ice twice a day.

If you're not up for an ice massage, you can always show your shins some foam roller love. Do keep stretching your calf muscles, and once the pain diminishes try these easy exercises to strengthen the tibialis anterior.

Hangover Cures That Work (and Ones That Don't)

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:17:53 PST

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

You know you shouldn't, but sometimes a girl just can't help herself. You plan to meet up with friends for a drink after work, and one drink turns into many more, which then turns into a rough next morning. We hope you don't have a hangover reading this, because we bring you some not-so-good news. "There are a lot of myths about hangover cures," says Ruth C. Engs, RN, EdD, a professor at Indiana University who has done extensive research on the effects of drinking. "Essentially there is no cure other than consuming water and liquids like juice (i.e., not spiked) in the morning." The reason? Hangover symptoms are a product of dehydration, hypoglycemia, and the poisonous side effects from toxins in our drinks (sounds great, right?). Water will not only help hydrate your muscles and organs, but will also aid in flushing out the toxins. Juices such as orange juice accomplish both while replenishing your body with missing sugars.

That said, if you swear by a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel or a five-mile run after a night out on the town, you're not alone. We got the scoop on which remedies seem to prove real, and which ones are just part of the rumor mill.

Find out which hangover cures work after the break!

Work From Home or Take a Sick Day? Here's How to Decide

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:34:26 PST

Modern technology makes it easier to transport our work to home, which can be a blessing when you wake up with a nasty cough but aren't sick enough to skip out on work. Here are a few tips to help you know when you should work from home or when you should take a sick day and rest.

Work from home if you have:

Nasal congestion, headaches, sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose: Nothing is worse than sharing a desk with someone who is persistently coughing, sniffing, sneezing, and blowing their nose. Not only is the sound annoying, but it's repulsive to think that each time you cough or sneeze, you are potentially spreading your germs all around the room. If your energy levels are OK, work from home until your nose blowing and coughing calms down. Since you are the most contagious the first two days, make a point to stay home during this period as a courtesy to your colleagues. Keep in mind that if your cold has zapped your energy levels down to zero, give yourself a day or two to rest.

Find out when you should take a sick day.

3 Easy Tips For Soft, Kissable Lips

Michelle Phan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 PST

We're excited to continue our partnership with YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan! Every other week, we'll be bringing you the best from her website, MichellePhan.com. This week, Michelle has the lowdown on making your lips kissable just in time for that holiday party:

Hi everyone,

Mistletoe is tricky. You can’t really avoid it, since you never know when it will reveal itself. You also can’t run to the bathroom and freshen up when it finally does, because that would ruin the moment, and it’s really more of an on-the-spot kind of thing.

The ultimate bubble bath is within reach

Your best defense is to just be prepared for the possibility at all times. Here are some tips to keep your lips mistletoe-ready all season long, no matter what the weather or circumstance. Check them out now.

Get the Look: John Barrett's Braided Headband

Real Beauty — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:05:22 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

Some soirees require you to dance all night (preferably with an RPattz lookalike), which can result in a sweaty, messy mane. Be a bit type-A and prevent this drastic situation by trying a sleek braided updo. To create a holiday party look that is both elegant and fuss-free for keeping tresses off your face, we enlisted Kayley Pak, a braiding specialist at the John Barrett salon in NYC, to give us some pointers on how to execute this stay-put hairstyle. Here are her tips.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Eggnog Overnight Oats

Susi May — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:37:57 PST

A holiday twist to your overnight oats: add eggnog - Peanut Butter Fingers
Seemingly healthy foods that you really should avoid - Real Simple
Healthy eating habit to remember: don't make too much food - Daily Spark
Honey is a healing food! Learn how it helps digestion - Vegetarian Times
Add some nutritious mix-ins to your T-day stuffing - Blisstree
Full of fiber and tasty too: orange raspberry muffins - Tone It Up

7 Unusual Uses For Breast Milk

BabyCenter — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:02:12 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 Jennifer Borget about some unusual ways she won't be using her breast milk.

Breast milk. It's a great source of nourishment for your growing baby, a comfort snack for some toddlers, like my 16-month-old who doesn't seem to want to stop (that's a whole-nother post). And breastfeeding in general is beneficial in many different ways. But did you know breast milk has more than a dozen other uses?

Why yes, some sources will tell you breast milk has a variety of uses.

Are you taking full advantage? Let's take a pop quiz:

When you cut your foot or burn your finger, do you grab the Neosporin, or use a bit of your own liquid gold to do some healing? If your answer is western medicine, you may be selling yourself short.

When I returned to work after maternity leave I had a stash of 220oz of milk in my freezer and I didn't want to waste a drop of it on anything else.

I'm not going to lie, ok? Some of the things I've read people using their milk for creep me out just a little bit. Here are seven things I don't plan on using my breast milk for.

A weapon: I've read stories of women who squirt their milk across the room at their husband, their dog, or whoever is getting on their nerves at the time. While I'm sure at some point in my lactation abilities I may have been able to accomplish this, I can proudly say I have never tried.
Acne: Ever heard of Proactive? … Or maybe this is the secret ingredient. Sorry, I don't wash my face with liquid gold, or my bodily fluids for that matter.
Scratches, scrapes, and cuts: Bandaids people! And something that works… Like Neosporin.
Ashy legs/ dry skin: I'll admit, I've been in a bind several times where I look down and my legs are pale white from dryness. But it would take far too much milk, and be far too awkward to pump my milk like a lotion bottle.
My milkshakes: This gives Kelis' Milkshake song (think "My milkshake brings the boys to the yard…") a whole new meaning. No thanks.
Contact solution or eye redness: I know people who have used breast milk for pink eye. I've even had friends tell me it works like a charm. But the thought of putting milk in my eyes seems weird and wrong. Coming from a human or not. And if you're in a bind for contact solution please don't look for the nearest lactating mom. You can make your own by mixing salt with distilled water.
Sexual lubricant: This is quite possibly the most disturbing suggestion I read on that list. I would love to know who actually has tried this sexy idea.

I won't judge you. You can tell me. Have you or would you try any of these things?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Judge OKs Facebook hacking in custody case
When bedtime goes bad
How do we prevent sexual abuse?
7 helpful C-section tips

Source: Flickr User Daquella Manera