FitSugar

Battle of the Frozen Yogurt Hot Spots

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:30:00 PST

Every once and a while something comes around that grabs the attention of Hollywood's hottest A-listers. What is it this time?

Frozen yogurt. Yup, Hollywood is bringing frozen yogurt back (yay). Not one, but two hot spots are attracting quite the following of folks looking for a sweet treat that is actually good for you and not jam packed with calories.

Berri Good Kosher Frozen Yogurt is rich in calcium, but there is so much more. It also claims to "boost immune system, prevents acne and builds clear skin, builds strong bones and teeth, prevents bacteria in intestine and promotes good digestive system." Berri Good is not only Kosher, but also eco-friendly. Among others, Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Bar Rafaeli are serious Berri Good followers. Berri Good says that it's, "Probably the best tasting non fat frozen yogurt in this world." Probably, if Leo eats it, I bet it's more than probably the best.

One ounce of the other yogurt in Tinseltown, pinkberry, has only 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 35 mg of sodium and 6 grams of carbs. Some of the locations are known for their hour long lines -- Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, David Hasselhoff and many others have been spotted picking up some yogurt from here. Pinkberry says, "Pinkberry is yogurt, pure and simple."

Anyone tried either? Which do you prefer?

Leo and Bar images courtesy of Celebrity Babylon

10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Link Time - Woman Kicked Off Flight For Controversial Pro-Choice Shirt

Annie Scudder — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:45:06 PDT

A woman was removed from a flight for wearing a pro-choice shirt - The Frisky
Should Sarah Palin sit down again with Katie Couric? - The Jane Dough
How Priscilla Chan kept her wedding a secret - The Daily Beast
Miley Cyrus is obviously having good sex - YourTango
"Why I always fall for addicts" - HuffPost Women
Chris O'Dowd makes for great eye candy - theBERRY
Six places you shouldn't leave your underwear - CollegeCandy
How social media can increase condom usage in conservative cultures - GOOD
Some options for officiating a wedding - The Hairpin

Yogini Kristin McGee Dishes on Bethenny Frankel's Fave Pose and Getting Ready For Beach Season

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:21 PDT

I was lucky enough to take a class taught by Manhattan-based yoga teacher Kristin McGee right here in San Francisco! Although one busy lady, Kristin traveled across the country to teach Vinyasa Vibes (a new offering at The Sports Club/LA), a flow-based, powerful yoga sequence enhanced by music. The most musical part of the practice? During Savasana, the class culminated in a live sax solo by Grammy-nominated musician Dave Koz. After class, Kristin and I chatted about her yoga journey, getting ready for bikini season, and what it's like working with one of her famous clients, Bethenny Frankel.

FitSugar: Some of the moves in Vinyasa Vibes are Ashtanga-influenced. Is that what your yoga teacher training background was in?
Kristin McGee: My original background was really eclectic because I started in the early '90s. I started taking [yoga] at NYU; some of my very early teachers were Jivamukti teachers who did study Ashtanga. Then I did study with Richard Freedman for a while, who is pure Ashtanga, and Cyndi Lee at OM Yoga. I wanted to get deeper into Iyengar classes and get into the alignment and the detail. Now in my practice I want to get more into Pranayama, more of the breathing, and maybe take some more Kundalini classes. I just feel like it constantly evolves.

FS: The Vinyasa Vibes class has live music during final relaxation. Can you elaborate on the experience of live music and yoga combined?
KM: In yoga practice, it’s a very intimate, immediate place. It's almost like live theater or live music where it brings you right into the moment. Music is a universal language, just like our breath is a universal breath. I think the second we're in this surrounding, in this environment with that live music and the intimacy of a live class, it brings it all together in one beautiful experience.

FS: You’ve collaborated with Bethenny Frankel on some projects. What's her favorite pose?
KM: Bethenny’s all-time favorite pose is Straddle Forward Bend because she says it feels like the weight of the world is falling off of her shoulders. Someone like Bethenny Frankel has a million things going on, and I don’t know how she does it! But I think you also noticed it in the practice tonight. Right when we finally got to that Straddle Forward Hang, it was kind of just like, "Ugh! Such a release!" You feel like you could stay there for quite a while.

Keep reading for Kristin's favorite snack before class and how to get your body ready for Summer.

Halle Berry Reveals the Secret to Her Flawless Skin

Jessica Cruel — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:38:00 PDT

Yes, Halle Berry really is as gorgeous and flawlessly complected in person as she appears on screen. So now that your most pertinent question is answered, let's move on to the good stuff. Halle has served as the global brand ambassador for Revlon for over 10 years, and she's set to launch a campaign for the brand's new ColorStay Whipped Creme foundation (which hits shelves June 1).

With Halle's impossibly glowing skin, it's hard not to want to know her skin-care secrets. The actress has a few pearls of wisdom to share on how she maintains her luminous look, along with her tips for living a happy and beautiful life. Find out Halle's advice, the reason she changed her hairstyle, and more when you continue reading.

Link Time - What to Do When a Love Interest Disappears

Annie Scudder — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:19 PDT

4 things to keep in mind if a guy pulls a disappearing act on you - TheFrisky
Online dating safety: signs he's a criminal - YourTango
Why being on The Bachelor could be good for your career - The Jane Dough
Fifty Shades of Grey gets a Funny or Die parody - BuzzSugar
A new website will tell you if you should dump your boyfriend - HuffPost Women
Don't mess with these actresses - theBERRY
15 things you shouldn't do while online dating - CollegeCandy
"Dealbreaker: she always agreed with me" - GOOD
Meet the future Mrs. Alec Baldwin - The Daily Beast
How to spot a hipster in the bedroom - Em & Lo

Link Time - Classic Movies Every Woman Should Watch

Annie Scudder — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:05:20 PDT

Have you seen these classic movies every girl should see? - CollegeCandy
Dr. Oz is having a wardrobe malfunction on the cover of Good Housekeeping - The Frisky
Strange safe-sex ads - The Daily Beast
"Should I leave my sexless marriage?" - YourTango
Obama has some inspiring advice for women graduating from college - SavvySugar
Billy Bob Thornton takes the blame for the end of his marriage to Angelina Jolie - Newser
Watch this surprise proposal at a graduation - theBERRY
What does Fear of Flying author Erica Jung make of Fifty Shades? - The Jane Dough
The 5 things you have to do before you consider divorce - HuffPost Divorce

Ice, Ice Baby: Creative and Healthy Ways to Use Your Ice Tray in the Kitchen

Michele Foley — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:06:43 PDT

Eating healthy is no easy feat - it usually requires a little more time in both planning and preparation. But did you know that a simple ice tray can make healthy living a breeze? From smarter snacking to a good-for-you breakfast, keep reading for creative and healthy ways to use your everyday ice tray.

Smoothies
A smoothie makes a healthy on-the-go breakfast, but sometimes life is so hectic, there isn't even time to turn the blender on. Save yourself a daily mess by freezing a batch of your favorite smoothie to use at a later date. When you're ready to enjoy, let cubes defrost in a cup overnight and grab it on your way out the next day. We're loving this recipe for make-ahead coconut green smoothie cups. You can also save time by freezing yogurt in ice trays and portioning those cubes into baggies with frozen fruit - just dump the contents into the blender whenever you're in the mood for a smoothie.

Homemade Healthy Treats
Skip sugary store-bought popsicles and ice-cream treats and make your own at home. When using fresh fruit, like in this recipe for homemade berry-banana popsicles, you don't even need to add sugar. Add a little protein (and good bacteria mix) by using Greek yogurt, like in our recipe for Summer berry and yogurt ice-tray pops.

See more creative and healthy ways to use ice trays after the break!

Ben Affleck Has a Busy Saturday With Violet and Seraphina

Allie Merriam — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:40:24 PDT

Ben Affleck kept an eye on daughters Violet and Seraphina Affleck Saturday while out shopping in LA. The trio swung by Williams-Sonoma, possibly picking up a Mother's Day present for Jennifer Garner, and happened to run into Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez outside the shop. Ben and Halle shared a hug and chatted before the groups went on their separate ways.

Later in the afternoon, Ben swung by Hank Azaria's Playing for Good poker tournament. Yesterday was all about Jennifer for the Garner-Affleck family. Last week, though, Ben got a head start on the Mother's Day celebrations. Ben posted a video on Facebook thanking the ladies in his life, saying, "I want to say Happy Mother's Day to the moms in my life: my mom Chris and my amazing wife Jennifer, who is an incredible, spectacular, world-class mom."

Molly Sims on the Most Surprising Thing About Pregnancy, Her Glam Maternity Style, and More

Lisa Horten — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:12:58 PDT

She may be 34 weeks pregnant, but that didn't stop mom-to-be Molly Sims from squeezing time into her hectic schedule to chat with us. In addition to her acting and modeling work, Molly was recently named the Global Ambassador for Population Service International (PSI)'s child survival program, Five & Alive, and she's counting down the weeks until the birth of her baby boy.

LilSugar: Congratulations! How are you feeling?
Molly Sims: I'm coming into the end of my third trimester, and there's been a lot of swelling. I've been putting my feet up and soaking them in freezing cold water. That seems to work. We just went on the hospital tour and that made me a little nervous. I kept asking, "What's that?" and Scott [Stuber, Sims's husband] was taking notes on his BlackBerry. I said, "Can you tell we're first-time parents?!"

LS: Any other pregnancy tips and tricks that have worked for you?
MS: My back has been bothering me the whole time and the best investment I made was the Sleep Number bed. You can sleep with your feet up! It's great for my husband and I, and it means that he can rest without my waking him all throughout the night.

LS: You just had your baby shower - how was that?
MS: It was so great, just so much fun. We didn't really have a theme, but afterwards, we had a Cinco de Mayo party with everyone.

LS: Any favorite gifts?
MS: I love [online retailer] Layla Grace, and they sent me this supersoft rocking horse. I also got three great strollers - a Bugaboo that I'll use in New York, the Orbit System, which is supposed to be really easy to take apart, and then Baby Trend sent me a custom one - it's the coolest thing! I walk and hike a lot, so it was important to me to have a really good jogger. What's been great is that all of my friends have been giving me the products that they found really worked. There's so much out there, so that's been really helpful. I've also been working with Margot Stuart at Ready Me Baby. She helped me narrow down my Amazon Wish List to the 15 or so things that I really need.

Keep reading to see what's been the biggest surprise in Molly's pregnancy and her cravings.