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Announcing the 2012 Grammy Award Winners

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:20:23 PST

The mood of the Grammy Awards was a bit somber this year in the wake of Whitney Houston's shocking death, but the show went on, and the statues were all handed out to the winners. Adele owned the night, picking up multiple awards, including those for record of the year, album of the year, and song of the year.

Plenty of other folks received Grammys too, including Kanye West, The Foo Fighters, and Taylor Swift, so to see the full list of winners, just keep reading.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Valentine's Day Camera Phone Tips

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:02:10 PST

Amore is in the air, and if you plan on spending Feb. 14 with your current flame, you'll of course want to capture all the best moments as they happen. The good news is, with camera phones being as handy (and powerful) as they are, you probably don't need to tote around a full-featured digital in order to post an album's worth of mushy kissy-face pics on your various social networks.

Keep up your high photo standards no matter what the situation with these camera phone tips straight from professional photographer Perry Reichanadter. Have any of your own to add? Leave them in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Get close to your subject - Your camera phone probably won't have a macro setting, so be sure to get up close and personal with your beloved so he isn't drowned out by the surrounding action.
Clear the background - There's nothing worse than snapping a great pic of your BF, only to have something in the background distracting from his face. Make sure you steer clear of any street signs, bright lights, or "loud" objects, and keep your honey in focus.

See the rest of the tips after the jump.

Impress Your Guests With Bite-Sized Filet Mignon Crostini

Susannah Chen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:55:58 PST

On the hunt for an elegant passed appetizer? Chef Meg Hall shares how to make decadent bite-sized crostini with filet mignon, topped with crème fraîche. These hors d'oeuvres look luxurious, but don't be fooled by their sophistication: these bites are deceptively easy to make. Watch the video, then follow Meg's simple crostini recipe to impress your guests without spending all of your time in the kitchen.

"We Had Drunk Sex and I Feel Awful"

Tres Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I had been "seeing" this guy for about three months, when it appeared to me that he really wasn't that interested in me anymore. He would always say that I worry too much but eventually admitted that "He didn't want to be in a serious relationship, but enjoyed my company and still wanted to be friends." I stupidly agreed b/c I really liked him.

Through the time we had been seeing each other, we fooled around but never actually slept together. I had told him that I didn't want to have sex unless we were committed and since he couldn't commit, we didn't let it get that far. Well...being the idiot that I am, I decided to hang out with him one weekend and go out to have drinks. He invited me to stay the night since he didn't want me driving home intoxicated, and I agreed. The deal was we'd sleep in different rooms.

Long story short . . . I drank wayyyy too much. I didn't even realize I was so drunk until the morning. I had blacked out, and woke up to find that we had sex. I apparently came on to him, very aggressively and wouldn't take no for an answer. He told me he resisted a couple of times and told me things weren't like that anymore, but I kept pushing. He also said that I was acting completely out of character and that I usually freak out about things like that, but that I was all for it. So he agreed to it.

I don't remember any of it.

Needless to say, he says he had a great time and doesn't regret it and asked that I don't regret it either. I agreed, but told him afterward that being just friends sucks for me. He says he knows, but it's all he can give me.

I feel sooooo embarrassed and ashamed for doing this. I tried so hard not to sleep with him and I suddenly get drunk one night and am all for it!? He tried contacting me a couple of days ago, but I didn't respond. Idk if I should speak to him again. I'm hurt that I let myself get into this situation and also that he agreed to sex when he knew I was acting differently. I know it takes two to tango, but I never wanted it to be this way. Now I just feel hurt, and awkward. He says everything is cool and he's not upset about it, but I feel terrible. I don't like casual sex like that . . . especially with him. I feel cheap.

What do I do? Just move on, ignore him, and forget about the whole thing or talk to him about it? Being just friends is too hard, especially when this just happened. I really like the guy, I just can't believe I let it get that far, especially when I knew he didn't want anything more than friends.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Healthy Dose Link Time: How Yoga Can Improve Your Sex Life

Michele Foley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:40:17 PST

3 ways yoga can make you better in bed - Mind Body Green
Gluten-free recipes good enough to fool the bread-eater - Health
Keep your workspace germ free with these 10 tips - HuffPost Healthy Living
More on Ioana Spangenberg, the lady with the 20-inch waist - Blisstree
20 celebs criticized for their curves speak out - Shape
Is it chocolate that's causing your acne? - Self
The secrets of happy people - Fitness

5 Pranks You Should Avoid at the Office

Emily Co — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:55:00 PDT

If you're rubbing your hands with glee at the thought of playing an April Fools' prank on your co-workers, read through my list of things not to do in the office. You may be able to pull off some of these jokes, but it probably won't be funny to your co-workers. Remember, although April 1 is a fun holiday, there is a professional protocol in the office that you still need to take heed of.

Send in a Resignation Letter: Sending your boss a resignation letter is serious business, and when she finds out that your letter is a gag, I don't think she'll find it very funny. If you want to hang tight to your job, you might want to avoid playing this prank in the office.
Say You're Terminally Sick: I've actually had a friend who claimed he had a short time left to live among his friends, and seeing as it wasn't very funny to my friends, it'll be even more inappropriate for the office.

For more inappropriate jokes at the office, read on!

Favorite April Fools' Pranks From Around the Web

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:04:51 PDT

Happy April Fools' Day! The truth is, I enjoy laughing at all the hilarity that pops up around the Internet on this day, but it also makes my job super hard - sometimes I can't tell what's real and what's not! Check out some of my favorite April Fools' pranks so far, and tell me - do you have a favorite?

Make an Easy Meat-Lover's Dip This Super Bowl Sunday

Susannah Chen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:02:40 PST

Need a crowd-pleaser for your Super Bowl party? Try this chili con carne meat-lover’s dip! With plenty of spicy meat and melty cheese, it really hits the spot. All you’ll need is ground beef, cheddar cheese, salsa, taco seasoning, jalapeño, and onion to whip it up. But don’t be fooled! While this dip may not look pretty, it’s hearty and flavorful and the first dish to go at any party. Watch our video to see how it’s done and print out the recipe here!

Labor Pains: 7 Ways to Ease the Pain of Labor

BabyCenter — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:37:43 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 Nancy Johnson Horn about tips for easing labor pain.

I remember going into labor over 6 years ago with my first child. When my water broke 11 days early I couldn’t remember a thing, other than "pick a focus point on the wall" and breathe.

But there’s more you can do to make labor go a little smoother. Recently, I spoke to Hope Garland, an Affiliated Bradley Instructor, www.blossombirth.net, who recommended these amazing tips. So, if you’re weeks or days away from childbirth - don’t panic, just print out (or bookmark it on your smartphone) this post so you can reference it when you go into labor.

Pack in the protein: If you were about to run a long marathon, would you eat only ice chips? No. You need to eat a protein-rich meal. It will give you the stamina needed for labor (plus many hospitals won’t let you eat once you check in anyway). Make a plan to either keep something in the fridge/freezer/cupboard or know where you can go to get your marathon meal.
Don’t fight gravity: Remain upright as long as possible. Walk around or sit up, but don’t lie on your back. (Yes, that’s really me in the pic, before I found out I should be walking around.)
Hydrate thyself: Pack (and use) a water bottle. If you properly hydrate yourself during labor, you’ll increase your energy output by as much as 30%. Also, if you can keep drinking water, you may not need an IV that will really restrict your mobility. That’s when the ice chips and clear liquids can also help.
Breathe using your abdomen: Normal abdominal breathing increases relaxation, which you’re really going to need. Chest and patterned breathing may fool your body into stress mode, and you don’t want that.
Take a virtual chill pill: You’ve got to stay relaxed. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. If music helps, bring a preloaded playlist on your iPod, locate a focal point in the room and breathe. Banish as much negative energy as possible. While it’s not easy, stay as relaxed as you can through contractions – it will let your body do what it’s supposed to do.
Move around during labor: There are a variety of positions for labor. Try to change positions so you’re not in one place for too long. Speak to the nurse about how you can be monitored and still move around. Bring slippers for those lovely grippy hospital socks so you can walk the halls.
Make sure you have support and loving encouragement: Having your husband, partner, or trained birth partner can make a big difference. That support will do more for you than any amount of medication!

Do you have any tips to make labor a little easier? What did or didn’t work for you?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Quantity or quality time: Which matters more?
Five reasons you need the Origami Stroller - now!
The three greatest dangers for baby are . . .
Seven ways to spread the love this Valentine's Day
What do you say to pushy parents?

Source: Flickr User bradleygee

Viola Davis Gets a Little Help From Her Costars in the SAG Awards Press Room

Lindsay Miller — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:11:09 PST

After accepting one of the evening's most coveted awards, for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, the stars of The Help paid a visit to the SAG Awards press room. The film was one of the night's biggest winners, with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer also taking home the Actor awards for their leading and supporting roles in the film, respectively. Viola was fresh from snapping up her own individual award and fielded most of the questions backstage. She weighed in on winning the honor over one of her idols, Meryl Streep, and how The Help actually helped her find her own voice. Here are some highlights:

Viola on how she personally related to her character: "During the course of promoting this movie, and having to kind of defend my choices in playing a maid in 1963 Mississippi - [it's] 2011 - and I've had to find my voice. I've had to find my voice as a woman of color, an artist, and I never thought that I would ever be put in a position like that. I've always been kind of in the background, a character actor doing four or five scenes. And all of a sudden, I was being put to the test, kind of being pushed against the wall, kind of making me feel what Abilene, Minnie, [all of them] felt in finding their own voices, and not keeping silent anymore. Not staying in the background."

Viola on how she felt about "beating out" Meryl Streep: "I feel pretty overwhelmed with my name being called. I just don't see the 'best' thing going on. It's hard - every time I start a job ... I feel like I've never done anything before, everyone's going to find me out to be the hack that I am. It's hard to me to think that I triumphed over Meryl Streep. I just think that a few more people checked my name in a box for whatever reason, and this time, I fooled them. You know, I bought a little time to maybe suck in my next role or something."

Viola on why The Help is important: "For me, and I know for Octavia, and for Ms. [Cicely] Tyson, they are the stories of our mothers, our grandmothers, and we absolutely feel like these women's stories are worth it."