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A Day in the Life . . . of Airplane Travel

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:15:00 PST

With all this holiday travel going on, can you navigate your way through a day of airport eating. For this quiz, you want to try and pick the food with the fewest amount of calories. Good luck!

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A Day in The Life . . .Thanksgiving Edition!

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:00:00 PST

So the big day has come and your Aunt Bethany has cooked up a storm. Now it's up to you to try and pick the items with the fewest calories from her traditional Thanksgiving-meal spread. While each item may not have substantial differences in calories, remember you'll be eating a lot on Thanksgiving, so every decision counts.

Good Luck!

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Boating Safety: Things to Know Before You Go Afloat

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:27:32 PDT

It seems like boating season unofficially begins on Memorial Day weekend with everyone headed to their lake houses, weekend river residences, or the beach. In different parts of the nation, boating accidents, injuries, and unfortunately fatalities are on the rise. Now that I've captured your attention, let's review a few tips on boating safety.

Boater's fatigue is real, and it can wear you down. The US Coast Guard warns people about this condition, created by the combination of wind, noise, heat, and vibration of the boat. All these elements can mentally and physically fatigue boaters and subsequently impair their judgment.
Personal flotation devices, otherwise known as life jackets, are vitally important for everyone on board the boat, be it a canoe or a speed boat. Some states even require children under a certain age to wear life jackets, so if the little ones complain about wearing the big orange life vest, tell them it's the law.
Boating and alcohol don't mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm. Coupled with boater's fatigue, folks on a boat will feel the effects of alcohol faster than they would on land. Plus, driving a boat while intoxicated is illegal.
The wind can keep you cool and make you forget you're in the sun, but don't forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours and always after swimming. Lube up even if it's overcast since UV rays can still damage your skin through clouds.
Watch the weather to keep an eye on local weather conditions, and be prepared for electrical storms. Water conducts electricity, so you don't want to find yourself on the open water during a lightning storm.

Men in Black 3: A Return to (Alien Life) Form

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:29:01 PDT

I saw the original Men in Black movie so long ago that my memories of the film might as well have been zapped with a neuralyzer (that's the memory-erasing device the guys use in the movie, for those of you who are also having trouble recalling the original). What I did retain is that the film was funny, fresh, and silly and that it didn't hold up very well for the 2002 sequel. With that in mind, I had low expectations for Men in Black 3, but the newest installment is just as much fun as the original, and it actually benefits from the 15-year time lapse.

The script for the film is one of its biggest assets and truly sets Men in Black 3 apart from its predecessors. The aliens are still alive and ickier than ever now that they're in 3D, but the story is more focused on the friendship between J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) and how it has evolved over the years. We learn early on that K has been keeping a secret from J all these years, and the mystery drives a wedge between the partners. Meanwhile, a treacherous alien named Boris the Animal (played to hilarious perfection by Flight of the Conchords's Jemaine Clement) breaks out of maximum-security prison and goes back in time to get revenge on K, who arrested him back in the '60s. The day that K had Boris locked up is the key to K's secret, so J heads on a mission back in time to save K and learn the truth.

To see why Men in Black 3 is so much fun, just

Will Smith hasn't been in a movie since 2008's Seven Pounds, and I didn't realize I missed him until I found myself giggling all the way through Men in Black 3. His shtick is still the same (he's one-liners still consistent of dialogue like "Where did you come from? Planet damn?"), but you can't help but love Agent J as he bumbles through the '60s, desperately trying to sell his story to people who don't recognize him - or believe him. You can tell that Smith feels completely comfortable in the role, and in the signature suit, which still looks perfect on him, as he hasn't aged a day.

Tommy Lee Jones is ever the reliable curmudgeon, but the film mines extra laughs when J travels to the '60s and meets a much younger version of his partner, played by Josh Brolin. Brolin looks enough like Jones to pass for him, but it's really his studied delivery and mannerisms that sell the performance. We also get some insight into how K has evolved over the years (he's always had a penchant for cowboy music, but he also used to be a bit of a dreamer), giving the film an extra layer to the enjoyable banter between J and K.

I'm not usually one to gush about 3D, but the special effects really come to life in Men in Black 3 in a way they never did in the first two movies. Not only do the aliens look creepier than ever, but the cartoonish feel of the film is taken to the next level with the 3D aspect, especially with the time-travel thrill-ride element. Much like with the 3D movies from my youth, I found myself shrinking in my seat just to avoid being too close to the alien goo, blood, breath, and beyond. Combined with the welcome return of Will Smith, you've got yourself a fun, mindless blockbuster.

Photos courtesy of Sony

Casa Capsule: Unbelievable Design Moments at the Elle Decor Modern Concept House, Memorial Day Decor, and Boho Weddings

Elka Karl — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:00:09 PDT

35 unbelievable design moments from the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House.
Take a trip to Marrakesh, thanks to this new book.
Indulge in major deals with these Memorial Day sales.
Would you use terrariums at your wedding?
Learn how to make this DIY clothespin chandelier.

Have you tried any of these 100 DIY projects?
We're loving these chic urban homesteading products from Agrarian for Williams-Sonoma.
These design apartments would be amazing places to call home!
Enjoy the gorgeous decor from these bohemian weddings.
Create an amazing outdoor dinner tablescape with these products.

Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson picked up an awesome new house.
See how a cramped city apartment got a beachy makeover.
These gorgeously designed hotels have equally gorgeous rooftop spaces.
See how Snow White and the Huntsman inspired these products.
Ridiculously chic outdoor furniture for your home.

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:26:41 PDT

These sweet Memorial Day treats may steal the show at your barbecue!
What to do with all that stuff baby outgrows.
These personalized baby gifts are perfect if you have any new babies in your life!
Planning a birthday party for your tot? Don't miss our favorite birthday party themes - ever!
Don't head to the beach this weekend without reading our guide to packing a beach bag for a toddler.
Are you on Instagram yet? If so, then join our first Instagram challenge and load a picture that demonstrates motherhood!
Tired of waiting for baby to arrive on her own? Try one of these tried and true methods for inducing labor on your own!
Hats off to the lil preschool graduate with these graduation ideas for tots.
Todd Oldham's beautiful collection of arts-and-crafts projects and supplies hit Target this week. See which are Todd's favorites.
We love Valentina Pinault's impeccable style and jet-setting ways!
Have a stack of used baby food jars sitting around? Try reusing them for more than just food!

Jennifer Garner Sticks Close to Seraphina as Violet Finishes Up Her First School Year

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:38:17 PDT

Jennifer Garner gave 3-year-old Seraphina Affleck a piggyback ride into the Brentwood Mart yesterday. The girls picked up a gift and coffee to go and then headed on their way. Later in the day, Jen spent one-on-one time with her eldest daughter, Violet, after school. Jen's been on a break from acting since giving birth to Samuel earlier this year, though she's making her debut on the Internet in a new short film. Jen stars with Alfred Molina in the Youtube feature Serena. Their 12-minute film documents a complicated relationship between a serial liar, played by Garner, and her priest, Molina.

Ben Affleck and Jen have a few more months to enjoy time at home with the family, including baby Samuel, before they return to work this Fall. He's starring in and directing the CIA thriller Argo, due out in October, and Jen shares the big screen with Joel Edgerton in Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green, which is set for release in August.

Expert Shares 3 Ways to Make Your Inbox Less Overwhelming

Emily Co — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:05:36 PDT

It's good to get rid of all the clutter in your life - at home, at work, and even on your computer. Dealing with too many emails can make you overwhelmed and less productive, because weeding through a mess of messages can feel like a herculean task. Organization expert Peter Walsh shared some great tips for better managing your emails:

Archive all your emails: "Bite the bullet: archive-don't delete-archive all of those emails or all of those emails from more than a month ago, and start from scratch today." You can set up an automatic filtering system that will immediately shuttle your emails to the appropriate category. Most email systems have the option, and Walsh favors Hotmail for that function.

Keep your inbox clean: The organizing expert says he's "never had more than 10 or 15 emails in my inbox at any one time." He's able to answer every email he receives by having them automatically categorized.

Set aside time for email: Set up a schedule for your emails. Walsh avoids looking at emails the first hour of his morning and does whatever needs to get done "first up in the day." He then sets aside 90 minutes of uninterrupted time to handle email. "I don’t try to multitask; I think multitasking is a huge myth. Trying to do more than one thing at once, you end up doing nothing well," he says.

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.

Video: Charlize Theron Talks Bringing Home Baby Jackson on Ellen

Lauren Turner — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:10:44 PDT

Charlize Theron sat down on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote her upcoming projects Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus, but talk turned from movies to her family life. She opened up about what it was like to bring home her son Jackson at just 9 days old, and revealed how her two dogs are dealing with the new addition. Watch the video now!