BuzzSugar

Mischa Barton Is Walled In

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:33:38 PDT

Miss Mischa Barton, the waifish former Marissa Cooper from "The O.C.", is a busy lady these days. Currently working alongside Bruce Willis in Assassination of a High School President and having just wrapped up production on Finding t.A.T.u., Barton has landed another role. This time she'll be solving mysteries and getting goosebumps in the psychological thriller Walled In.

Based on the bestselling French novel Les Emmeures, the movie will follow Barton's character, "a demolition company rep who supervises the razing of a mysterious building and discovers horrifying secrets and past inhabitants entombed within its walls by a vicious murderer."

The movie will be French director Gilles Paquet-Brenner's first English-language project, so that should be interesting. I'm also curious to find out if Paquet-Brenner can get some good performances out of Barton, since I think she often comes across as wooden. But maybe the psychological thriller is her genre and she just hasn't had the chance to shine yet.

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Inversion Issues: How to Remedy Common Shoulderstand Complaints

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:27 PDT

You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic - challenging, but basic - pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them.

"I Can't Breathe"
If you're well endowed or carry extra weight in your belly, then gravity causes added pressure on the lungs and throat, making it tough to take in a deep breath. A supportive bra and fitted top can help, but if you still have trouble breathing, then changing how you do the pose will make a huge improvement. Instead of stacking your pelvis and feet directly over your shoulders, hinge at your hips slightly, pressing them away from your face so your feet extend slightly behind your head.

Still can't breathe? Try the Legs Up the Wall variation; rest your lower back on your mat or, to give your hips a little lift, rest your lower back on a folded-up blanket or flat bolster.

Continue reading to learn how to alleviate neck pain and feelings of imbalance while in Shoulderstand.

Space-Saving Decor Tips For Kids' Rooms From Design Expert Kelly Edwards

Lisa Horten — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:40:01 PDT

We recently caught up with design expert Kelly Edwards, who has been featured on HGTV's Design on a Dime and Style Network's Tacky House for her scrappy style and ability to transform ordinary rooms into incredible spaces, even on a budget. Kelly's decorating and design expertise apply to any room in the house, but we were eager to hear her ideas specifically for lil ones, and she didn't disappoint! Read on for five of Kelly's best tips for making your kids' rooms organized, creative, and playful spaces that can grow along with them.

Kelly Edwards's 5 Pieces of Design Advice That Every Mom Can Put to Use

On Space Saving and Storage: Look for furniture pieces that your kids are going to grow into. Stay away from the typical bins and baskets, and instead opt for some really cool furniture for a more put-together look. Whether it's a midcentury modern credenza that's been in your family for years or a thrift-shop find, not all furniture has to scream "kids!"
On Coordinating With the Rest of Your Home: Your kids' rooms are where you can really have some fun. Visitors will judge your home on your kitchen and your bathroom. They're not the ones spending time in the bedrooms, you and your children are. Turn their rooms into places for creativity, and don't be afraid to try out that fun paint color.
On Trends: Remember, it's just $20 or so for a can of paint, so wall colors are a great place to try out a trend like neon. If that scares you, get a giant canvas, and paint that instead of the wall. Tack their artwork up on it. It'll add a splash of color to the room without your having to worry about repainting.
On Making the Most of Small Spaces: Look for ottomans with removable tops - you can stash everything in there! In a nursery that doubles as a guest room, put a twin bed in there along with your crib, but be sure to buy an upholstered box spring with drawers built in, so that you have extra storage without the boxes and bins showing.
On DIY With Kids: A fun DIY project that your kids can partake in is to find an old TV armoire and paint it with chalkboard paint, which you can either buy at the store or make yourself by mixing a cup of latex paint with two tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. The armoire becomes a great storage piece, and the chalkboard paint turns it into a piece of furniture that they can really have fun with.

Barre Workouts are Expensive! Try This At-Home Alternative Instead

Self — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:23:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body in your living room. "This at-home workout is effective because it targets the whole lower body. Cardio Barre is amazing because it is a no-impact workout that allows you to lengthen and strengthen your muscles while burning fat. It will also help increase your flexibility and strength," says Bosworth.

Celebrity devotees, including Dakota Fanning, Neve Campbell, and Heather Morris, can all attest to the fact that Cardio Barre has given them "a lifted tush and leaner, dancer-like legs!" Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine three times a week for maximum results.

Butt Blaster
Come down to the floor on both forearms with your knees bent. Your left hip is directly over your left knee. Your right leg is bent to a 90-degree angle with your foot flexed. Extend your right leg toward the ceiling as if you were pushing the ceiling away from you (see photo above). Bring your right leg down past your left hip and then back up toward the ceiling, keeping your leg parallel to the floor with your kneecap pointing toward the ground and your foot flexed. You are doing a full range of motion, trying to imagine extending your leg all the way through the ceiling.

Keep reading for more barre moves you can do at home!

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:58:44 PDT

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below.

A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the lower back pain that too much sitting on the couch can cause.

Routine shakeup: Adding an exercise ball to your normal mat routines can shake things up and challenge you. For example, you can plank using an exercise ball at your feet to make holding your pose that much harder, or sit or lay on your exercise ball while you execute arm exercises. Even just practicing your balance by kneeling on the exercise ball can help you tone and whittle. Need some ideas? Try these amazingly effective ab and butt workouts using the exercise ball:

Find out how to do the plank pike and the hamstring curl using an exercise ball with this advanced exercise ball workout video.
Skip boring crunches and do this ball pass ab exercise instead.
Challenge your core and balance with this single-leg squat, done against a wall using an exercise ball.
Lie on the ball and work your arms with this chest press move.

Read on for more reasons to use an exercise ball.

See How We Gave This Ikea Lampshade a Nautical Twist!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:49:44 PDT

As part of our Styled by You $500 Giveaway with IKEA, Elka Karl and I have been thinking of ways to punch up basic Ikea products. You may have seen how I added block-printed ikat polka dots to this Asele lampshade ($15). Well, now I'm revisiting the same shade with an entirely different approach. Armed with some thin manila rope, a glue gun, and a Bran table lamp base ($20), I set out to create a nautical-inspired lamp with a modern twist.

Keep reading to discover how easy it was to create my rope lampshade!

The Perfect Summer Getaway . . . in Finland

Elka Karl — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:48:18 PDT

When one thinks about perfect Summer getaway spots, Finland usually isn't on the top of the list - but maybe it should be, if Saunders Architecture's Finnish Summer house is any indication.

Located in the Aland Islands, a group of islands in the Baltic Sea just north of Stockholm, the house is nestled in a pine forest close to the sea. The home is comprised of a series of folding wooden structures that make up the walls, stairs, roof, floor, and roof garden. From the roof garden, guests can gaze at the islands surrounding the home, while at ground level all that can be seen is a thick pine forest.

The Summer house is also quite eco-friendly, with features including insulation made from woven linseed fibers and wood protected with cold pressed linseed oil. All of the wood for the home was sourced from a local sawmill, and the house was built on pillars, which eliminated the need to create a foundation that would uproot trees or disturb the forest.

Keep clicking to take the full tour!

Photos courtesy Saunders Architecture

Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Takes Playtime to a Whole New Level

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:27:17 PDT

For 44 years, kids have been racing Hot Wheels cars around their homes, on the sidewalks in front of their houses, and, if they're my kids, down the slides on the playground. Playground play aside, most die-cast car play has been strictly horizontal since that time. Now Hot Wheels is shaking things up - really up! - and moving car play vertical! Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, the company's new line of wall-mounted race tracks, literally takes playtime off the floor and onto the walls. The company sent me the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set ($32), one of four playsets in the collection, and I took it for a test run with my two car-obsessed kids. Here's what we thought!

Who is this product designed for? The manufacturer suggests that race tracks are for kids ages 4 to 8 years old, but my 2-year-old is having a very good time playing with it, too.

What sets it apart? For generations, car racing has been limited to floor play, where intricate tracks were laid on the ground to facilitate races, crashes, and general play. For the first time, that play moves up the wall, helping to clear the clutter of toys on the floor, but also creating a new play experience. Using 3M Command Strips (which are safe for painted and wallpapered walls - I tested it!), the track supports easily stick on the wall to create vertical, complex race tracks that eventually lead cars to the ground. The enclosed templates make setup a breeze - within 15 minutes of opening the box, we were ready to play!

What could be better? Unfortunately, the 3M Command Strips can lose their "stickiness" pretty easily, and if they do, the entire track falls down - quickly. This problem is easily remedied, though, by simply purchasing additional strips at an office supply store.

Keep reading to see how long the tracks entertain youngsters and for more views of the toy.

David Beckham's Road to the Olympics Starts in Greece

Katie Henry — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:39:56 PDT

David Beckham visited the Experimental University School in Athens, Greece, today before traveling to the UK with the official Olympic torch. David, Princess Anne, and various Olympic officials boarded an Airbus dubbed Firefly and embarked on a four-hour flight with the Olympic torch, bound for an airfield in Culdrose, Cornwall. Expressing his gratitude and excitement, David posted a heartfelt message on his Facebook wall, "What an incredible moment, very proud day for me and so excited for the country."

The torch will make its way across the UK during a 70-day relay before returning to London for the Summer Games opening ceremony. It's been a week full of memorable events for David. David and the LA Galaxy were honored at the White House on Tuesday for their MLS Cup win, and in addition to bringing the torch to his home country, he was also nominated in the category of choice male athlete at this year's Teen Choice Awards.

Fall Preview: Our Favorite New Products From Crate and Barrel and CB2, and Land of Nod

Elka Karl — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:47 PDT

We recently swung by the Fall press previews for Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Land of Nod, and were utterly delighted by the new Fall lines. Most of these pieces won't be available until July, so you're getting an exclusive peek at what to expect from these companies in the coming months - make sure to bookmark your favorites so you can look for them online or in-store after July. Here are some quick notes on each collection:

Crate & Barrel: Gorgeous Marimekko fabrics, natural woods, plaid and stripe upholstery, organic, handmade-looking tableware, pops of blue, and beautiful pendant lamps are some of the highlights for us.
CB2: A fun, urban vibe, big pops of color, especially yellow, experimentation with pattern (see the red gingham lounge chair and various rugs), and natural woods.
Land of Nod: This kids' retailer provides major inspiration for weddings or outdoor party decor thanks to the lanterns, garlands, string lights, and textiles. We're also loving the throw pillow, pendants, Sante Fe-style rugs, wall decor, and more.

Keep clicking to see everything we loved from the retailers!

All photos courtesy of Tanya Salazar for Crate and Barrel
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