PopSugar

Fast & Easy Dinner: Angel Hair Pasta With Mussels and Red Pepper Sauce

partysugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:41:39 -0800

One of my all time favorite dinners is linguine and clams. I love it so much I could eat a bowl of piping hot pasta and plump little clams every night. However, to expand my shellfish horizons, I've decided to experiment with mussels. Like clams, they pair perfectly with pasta.

In this recipe, the mussels are cooked in a red sauce made from canned tomatoes and bell peppers. The final result is a delicate and delicious pasta with fresh shellfish flavors. To explore the world beyond linguine and clams, read more.

Angel Hair Pasta with Mussels and Red Pepper Sauce
From Cooking Light magazine

8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup diced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups diced red bell pepper (about 2 medium)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of ground red pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1/2 cup white wine
36 mussels (about 3 pounds), scrubbed and debearded
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; keep warm.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender.
Add bell pepper, salt, and ground red pepper; sauté 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and wine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
Add mussels, and increase heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 7 minutes or until shells open. Discard any unopened shells. Serve mussel mixture over pasta; sprinkle with parsley.

Serves 4.

CALORIES 372(18% from fat); FAT 7.4g (sat 1g,mono 2.6g,poly 1.3g); PROTEIN 24.9g; CHOLESTEROL 40mg; CALCIUM 85mg; SODIUM 809mg; FIBER 4.5g; IRON 8.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 46.9g

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Bella Brand: EasyStraight

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:00:50 -0700

Come rain or shine, EasyStraight is a brand that anyone fearful of the frizzies should familiarize herself with. The haircare brand was founded in 2004 by Haime Munoz, a salon owner who was dissatisfied with anti-frizz styling products, most of which left behind a grimy residue and made hair look dull and flat. Munoz set out to create something affordable that would rinse out easily and protect hair from humidity.

EasyStraight products address three of the most common causes of frizzy hair: over-processing, natural frizziness, and environmental factors like humidity, weather, and sun. The line includes shampoo and conditioner, a finishing gloss, an ironing styler, blow-dry spray, and two at-home straightening kits.

Most recently, the company launched four new products, all of which can be purchased at drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. (To find a retailer closest to you, click "Where to buy.") The best part: EasyStraight products are priced from just $8 to $30 each. For details on the four new products, read more

Long-Lasting Frizz Remover ($15) is a straightening kit that is intended to keep your hair frizz-free for a month by repairing the cuticle and raggedy split ends.
Instant Silk ($8) is a light anti-frizz cream that helps to soften hair using silk and cashmere.
Climate Shield ($8) is a waterproof hairspray. Very cool. I have never actually heard of anything like this: It shields hair from weather and humidity while providing a strong hold./li>
Frizz Block ($8) is a serum made from flax seed, coconut, and cashmere extract that helps detangle hair and protect it from heat and breakage.

Easy Tip: Go to Bed, Wake Up With Curls

Bella Community — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:02:57 -0800

Check out what reader blondeyy had to say in the Do-it-Yourself Beauty group:

Wake up with gorgeous curls - seriously, fast and easy! Spend the morning making a nice cup of tea and watching CNN rather than working on your hair.

Wash your hair at night.
Put your favorite styling cream in damp hair.
Flip your head over (bending at the waist) and pull all hair into a scrunchie on the top of your head.
Section by section, roll hair into curlers and pin. ( I have very long hair and I only need about 6-7 curlers).
Everything stays on the top of your head so you don't feel a thing when you are sleeping.

In the morning: magic! Remove the curlers and scrunchie; either brush hair or finger tousle and you're done! Beautiful hair! I read this somewhere and do it all the time. It is a REAL time saver with fab results!

Have tips and tricks you'd like to share with others? There's a bevy of groups in BellaSugar Community, so join in the fun!

Hump Day: Sex Makes Her Uncomfortable

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:30:23 -0800

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. If you have questions about sex, send them to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:
I'm 24 and in my first relationship. I really like the guy, we've been going out for six months, but I get nervous whenever he slips his hand under my underwear. He gets the hint and stops. I don't mind him doing other things (we haven't slept together yet), but I wish I wasn't such a prude. I don't know what he expects and I worry that he will be grossed out, as I only shave/wax the bikini line but not the whole thing. What if he thinks it is ugly? I also don't know what I should expect; he knows I'm a virgin, but I don't know how to speak to him about why I get uncomfortable, and I don't know how to overcome it! I also have a few stretch marks and worry that he will be grossed out by them. Please help?

To read Dr. Glickman's response, read more.

Thank you for sharing this challenging situation. I know that it can be scary to talk about things like this, but these are all really common thoughts.

One of the things that can help when you’re on the edge of your comfort zone is to take it very slowly. It’ll probably help to tell your guy about your discomfort, even if you can’t tell him why it’s there. You could simply say "I have a lot of discomfort around sex." You also might want to do a little solo exploration. It takes the pressure off because there aren’t any partner expectations. Check out the wonderful book Becoming Orgasmic. If you’re looking for tips or ideas for techniques, Tickle Your Fancy is full of suggestions. Once you know a bit more about what you like or dislike, you and your boyfriend might be able to find something that you both like to do.

It’s worth mentioning that vulvas come in all different shapes. (The vulva is the external female anatomy. The vagina is the inside part.) There’s a long history of negative attitudes towards the vulva, but each one is unique and beautiful in its own way. A lot of women have the idea that there’s something wrong with their vulvas because they don’t look like what we see in porn or because they have hair, and I think that’s unfortunate. I strongly recommend getting to know your parts and Scarleteen has a great site about that. It’s geared towards teens, but there's lots of amazing info about sex, bodies, and pleasure.

Another option would be to explore some of these concerns with a therapist. When you have an itch on your back, you need someone else to scratch it. Therapists help us by reaching the spots we can’t reach on our own. Lastly, depending on where you are, you could join a body-image support group. While they tend not to focus on sexuality, they can be an incredibly helpful way to work through our concerns about our bodies and how we (or other people) feel about them.

Working through these challenges isn’t always easy, but it can be very rewarding. Whatever route you choose, I hope you find the pleasure and joy that you deserve.

DIY: Remove Sweat Stains from T-Shirts

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:45:00 -0700

If you workout (or even if you don't), chances are you sweat. Any good exerciser has one or two favorite shirts that have acquired the yellowish sweat stains in the armpit area. That is the worst.

Here's a unique way to get rid of those nasty sweat stains from gomestic.com:

To remove perspiration stains from white T-shirts, dissolve two aspirins in half a cup of warm water and apply to the area of the fabric where the stain is. This should be left for a couple of hours before washing.

Hair turning green from the chlorine in the pool? There is a cool way to get that out too, so read more

Yellow or green hair from chlorine in a swimming pool can be remedied very quickly by dissolving 8 aspirin tablets in a glass of water and rubbing the resulting liquid into your hair. Leave for about ten minutes and then rinse it out. Shampoo in the usual way.

Easy, right? If you try it, let me know how it works.

Source

Say Hello to Our New Beauty Video Channel, BellaTV!

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:00:29 -0800

If you're a fan of our daily PopSugar Rush, you'll love this news. We're so excited about the launch of BellaTV, the ultimate video channel for beauty junkies everywhere. A lineup of original shows - three fresh episodes weekly - covers the wide world of beauty, including the latest hair, makeup, skin, and nail trends, celebrity how-tos, tips and tricks, and more!

In today's show, we reveal the secrets to achieving Sienna Miller's beachy hair with the help of her stylist Daniel Erdman. Check out his easy step-by-step instructions for creating these sexy tousled waves at home. Watch now!

The Men Who Stare at Goats: Glaringly Unfocused

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

I went into The Men Who Stare at Goats with high expectations. How could a film possibly disappoint when you have the acting trifecta of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, and Jeff Bridges? But unfortunately, while the pros work hard to generate laughs - and they do deliver at times - the film on the whole is all over the place.

Goats is based on the non-fiction book by Jon Ronson. That's right - non-fiction. The film opens with the line, "More of this is true than you would believe," which is a nice reminder, because the plot is intentionally convoluted. At first, this far-fetched quality makes the story feel fun and quirky, but as time goes on, it gets mucked up in its own self-aware confusion and starts to feel stale. To see what I mean, read more.

McGregor stars as the movie's hero, Bob Wilton, a small-town journalist whose wife has just left him for his editor. So Bob decides to do what most men do when they're heartbroken - he goes to war. Or at least he tries to, but he only gets as far as a hotel pool bar in Kuwait. That's where he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a former "Jedi warrior" with the U.S. Army - or simply put: soldiers with superpowers. (Yes, note the coincidence: McGregor and Jedis.)

Lyn begins to tell Bob about the former founder of his unit, Bill Djanjo (Jeff Bridges), a vet who goes to find himself after Vietnam in the drug and orgy, peace and love '70s. Armed with a new, zen persona, Bill returns to the Army to share his more peaceful point of view and take charge of a new special force that uses mind control over traditional weapons. That's when Lyn comes in. As a new recruit, Lyn is exceptionally psychic, and he quickly gets a reputation for being able to find anyone, including terrorists, strictly using his mind.

So Bob and Lyn begin on a journey into Iraq. Where they're headed, Lyn's not exactly sure. He just assumes he'll find it, thanks to his extra sixth sense. As for the audience, we're sort of in the same boat - along for the ride without any real direction.

The movie tries to comment on the inhumanity (and stupidity) of war, but has a difficult time making its point alongside the slapstick elements. The actors are great with comedic timing and deliver one-liners to entertain the audience in many moments, but that was ultimately the only aspect that held my interest. (That and Jeff Bridges's sweet hippie braided hair.) What had the potential to be a funny, original story or a satire instead starts to feel boring. The characters wander aimlessly, the flashbacks float in and out, and without a clear focus, you stop caring. And that's not an easy feat where Clooney's usually concerned.

How-To: Drew Barrymore's Fine Tuned Makeup

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Last night in Hollywood, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Robert De Niro arrived at the premiere of their new movie Everybody's Fine looking glamorous as can be. To honour the occasion, Drew even matched her lips to the red carpet standing out in a beautiful purple gown paired with polished hair and smooth, flawless, even skin. To shop some product suggestions for her makeup look, check out the ShopstyleUK widget below:

And, if that's not enough, to learn how you can recreate Drew's red carpet makeup at home by following these step by step directions, just read more.

FACE: Begin with a clean, exfoliated face and apply an anti-redness moisturiser. Next, blend a makeup primer all over and let it soak in for about one minute. When you're finished, apply your foundation with a brush or a sponge for the most even coverage possible followed by concealer. Then, dust a translucent powder over your face to set the foundation and buff it out well with fluffy brush for a natural finish.
CHEEKS: All you need is a touch of colour on the cheeks so that you don't look washed out. I recommend a winter rose or a warm peach (nothing too apricot) lightly swept over the apples of your cheeks and along the cheekbones.
EYES: Drew is a Cover Girl, and talk about easy breezy eyes - this look is super simple to create! Begin by tweezing and filling in your brows, as they will serve as a frame for your face. Then, curl your lashes and apply two coats of black mascara (false lashes are optional). When it's dry, blend a shimmery cream or powder champagne shadow from your lash line to your crease and blend well - fini!
LIPS: Since lips are the focus of this look, they are going to take more time to pefect than usual. However, don't be intimidated by a bright colour. Begin by using a reverse lip liner just outside the rim of your lips so that the colour doesn't bleed. Then, fill your lips in with red lipliner, red lipstick (use a lip brush for precision) and if desired, top off the look with a clear or sheer red gloss!

Hair Color Dos and Don'ts: Must-Have Tips For Perfect Results

Sponsor — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:01 -0700

When it comes to at-home hair color, all products are NOT created equal. Knowing what to look for can make the difference between so-so and stunning. Here are some secrets, including special tips from celebrity hair colorist and L’Oréal Paris expert Christophe Robin, for achieving beautiful, professional-looking results on your own.

DO choose a shade that complements your skin tone and eyes. “If you have fair skin and blue, green or gray eyes, your complementary shades will have ash or beige tones,” Christophe advises. “If your skin tone is golden, olive or dark and you have dark eyes, your complementary shades will have gold or red hues.” Have characteristics of both warm and cool tones? “Go with whichever is your preference.”

DO stick close to your own hair color if you want a subtle change. “If you’re not sure which shade to choose, go just 1 or 2 levels lighter or darker than your natural color,” says Christophe. “This will give you a noticeable change that’s not too dramatic and is easy to maintain.”

DO pick a product that’s specifically formulated to cover gray hair, which can resist coloring.

DO use products specifically designed to preserve your color, like Vive Pro Color Vive Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair.

DO choose a gentle formulation and indulge in regular deep-conditioning treatments.

DON’T be afraid to take a risk. Hair color offers a fun way to express your personality and experiment with a new style or attitude. “When a woman goes darker with her color, she’ll feel stronger,” Christophe notes. “When she goes lighter, she’ll feel more sexy and sensual.”

DON’T skimp on time. You might be tempted to cut corners to save a few minutes, but resist the urge. It’s crucial to allow the proper amount of time for each step - especially when you are going for a dramatic color change “You can’t rush hair color,” Christophe cautions.

DON’T judge a box by its cover. Although it’s a common misconception, you shouldn’t expect your hair color to turn out exactly like the model’s on the box. “Your personal result will be determined by the condition of your hair, your current hair color and the shade you’ve selected,” says Christophe.

DON’T overdo it. Coloring too often can compromise hair’s health and yield uneven results. A touch-up every four to six weeks is all that’s required to keep your shade looking fresh and vibrant.

DON’T forget the SPF. You protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, so why let your hair take the heat? “The sun is the number one enemy of color-treated hair,” says Christophe. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain UV filters to block damaging rays and prevent fade-out.

A Quick Tip For Voluminous Hair

BellaSugarUK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:00:00 -0800

The days of flat, ironed-straight hair are well and truly over. Now, it's all about big, bouncy styles and expensive-looking volume. Great, if you've just walked out of a salon, not so easy at home.

Volumising products certainly help, try MOP Glisten Volumising Spray, (£10.99), on wet hair, before you blow dry. If you have thin or flat hair, it also makes sense to blow dry upside down, at least until your hair is about half dry. Adding just a tiny bit of mousse first, like Trevor Sorbie Rejuvenate Mousse, (£4.49), will help fluff up your style.

My other top tip, for next-day, super-volumised hair is easy peasy, but it actually works. Just read more

Before going to sleep just tip your head upside down. Hold the very ends of your hair with one hand and the hair near your scalp with the other.

Gently twist the hair into a loose, top knot that should sit tight on the very top of your scalp. Knot with a bobble and tuck in the ends under the front section of hair, so that any oils from your scalp can be transferred onto the dry ends.

The next morning when you take out the bobble your hair will likely be looking very bed-head! Carefully brush your hair, starting from the ends, to tame the volume a little.

Whenever I do this it looks like I've just come straight from a professional blow dry, instead of my duvet. It's a great trick for hang-over days too.

Source

Clarins Eyebrow Kit "Pro" Palette - £25.20	Eyeshadow by 3 Custom Color - £14.50
Enchanting Lipstick by Besame Cosmetics - £11.00	Soft Touch Tinted Moisture (Number 1) , Le Métier de Beauté - £50.00
NEW Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder - £24.00	Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow, Nars - £23.00
Two-Timer Mascara by the Balm - £15.50	17 Shine Control Loose Powder - £5.37
Tweezerman Mini Slant Tweezer - £9.00	Reverse Lipliner by DuWop - £14.00
Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick - £6.84	Gosh Blush Natural Blush 36 Rose Whisper - £6.50
Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion - £15.00	Glimmerstick Lip Liner - £5.00
Rimmel Vinyl Lip Gloss Crystal Clear - £4.49