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Not a Morning Person? Try Flowers

FitSugar — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Are you a morning person? Well, if you are always amazed at how your best friend can head to the gym bright and early each morning while you can't even form a sentence until after 8 a.m., then probably not. However, you may be looking for a trick to help change your unpleasant morning ways.

A recent study from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that non morning people reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning. Perhaps the phrase should have been, "Wake up and smell the roses," not the coffee.

So head out to your own garden and cut some blooms to put on your nightstand. Don't have a garden full or roses? Then head to the local farmers' market to get some flowers perfect for waking you up - I'm thinking yellow flowers would do just the trick. Not only will you be getting out of the house and walking around, but you're also supporting the local farmers.

Who knows, you may be more inclined to get up and get active with your day if the first thing you see is a lovely bouquet of flowers, rather than the maddening glow of your alarm clock.

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Not a Morning Person? Try This...

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Caffeine is the drug of choice for most people. If you're hooked on your morning cup of coffee to jumpstart your brain, why not try these drug-free techniques?

Sleep with your window shades open: Even if the sun is shining outside, you'll have no idea if you are sleeping in cave-like darkness. If you keep your curtains slightly open, as the sun rises outside, it will gently pour in and gradually wake you up.
Snooze on purpose: I don't know how people can wake right up after their alarm goes off. I set my alarm at least 40 minutes before I actually have to wake up. That way, I can snooze many times, and it gets my body and mind used to the idea that soon I'll have to get out of bed.
Exercise in the morning: If you can, set your alarm even earlier so you can get up and go for a walk, or jog, or pop in a workout DVD. By doing something you want to do, you won't be so aggravated about having to wake up.
Stop eating 2 hours before you lie down at night: Not only is this good for sleeping, but it's a great tip for losing weight. So when you wake up, your hungry belly will inspire you to get up and fill it with some yummy breakfast.

Want to know what else may help? Then read more

Avoid caffeinated beverages and spicy foods late at night: They'll prevent you from getting to sleep at a decent hour, so when it is time to wake up, you won't feel rested.
Get to sleep an hour or two earlier: Get this - you may be tired in the morning because you're not getting enough sleep. I don't mean to be sarcastic but not everyone needs 8 hours - some need less and some need more.
Avoid taking naps during the day: If you take a power nap in the late afternoon, you won't feel tired when it's bedtime. Then, you'll fall asleep much later and if you have to wake up early, won't get a full night of sleep. It's a vicious cycle.

Fit's Tips: If you're not a morning person, there's really nothing you can do to change that - it's part of your personality. Hopefully some of these tips can help make your mornings a little less traumatic. Be sure to let me know if there are any other tips that have worked for you. Together we can conquer mornings.

Dear Poll: Are You a Morning Person?

DearSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:09 -0700

Though I occasionally have to hit the snooze button, I’m pretty good about getting up in the morning. I love having a few minutes to myself before I start getting ready to clear my mind and enjoy that perfect morning sunshine. But for some people, there's just nothing enjoyable about early morning, except sleeping! Which category do you fall under?

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Do You Consider Yourself a Morning Person?

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:00:00 -0700

A recent Gallup poll found that the majority of American adults feel their best, on a typical day, between the hours of 5:00 am and 11:59 am, making them "morning people."

Mornings definitely have their merits, and some people find that it is the best time to schedule and stick to a workout. Others, would never classify themselves as morning people.

How about you...

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Ashley Greene's New Moon Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:19 -0800

If you were part of New Moon fever this weekend, I’m sure you were transfixed as I was watching the epic battle scene between the Cullen family and the Volturi. The young actors demonstrated dynamic moves coupled with super human strength that were spectacular to watch on the big screen.

Moves like that don’t come easy, Twilight actress Ashley Greene told Us Magazine. Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the films, said that prepping for the role involved a lot of training - up to four hours a day! In addition to working out with a personal trainer every day, she also had an intense week of fight training with the rest of the New Moon cast. No wonder all the actors look ripped.

To find out how else Greene stays in shape, read more.

Greene was pretty candid in admitting another reason she’s looking so svelte - 12 hour workdays don't "leave too much time to eat." Before dismissing Greene as an actress who starves herself to look good, the star did say that she ate well and stuck to healthy foods during filming. As for her day-to-day off the set she does Pilates six times a week.

"I do it early in the morning. It wakes you up, and it's kind of refreshing," said Greene, who is headed to London in a few months to begin filming the thriller The Apparition. "And that is basically it. Sometimes cardio. I am not a big weight person because when I do weights I build muscle mass."

Cranky in the Morning?

DearSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

I am a morning person, but not everyone is. Many of my friends hit snooze until that last possible second and then drag themselves out of bed. Does this sound like you? If so, besides your morning cup of coffee, give these techniques a try.

Sleep with your window shades open: Even if the sun is shining outside, you'll have no idea if you are sleeping in cave-like darkness. If you keep your curtains slightly open, as the sun rises outside, it will gently pour into your bedroom and gradually wake you up.
Snooze on purpose: Set your alarm at least 40 minutes before you actually have to wake up. That way, you can snooze and get your body and mind used to the idea that soon I'll have to get out of bed.
Exercise in the morning: If you can, set your alarm even earlier so you can get up and go for a walk, or jog, or pop in a workout DVD. By doing something you want to do, you won't be so aggravated about having to wake up.
Stop eating 2 hours before bedtime: Not only is this good for sleeping, but it's a great tip for maintaining your weight. So when you wake up, your hungry belly will inspire you to get up and fill it with breakfast.

Want to know what else may help? Then read more

Avoid caffeinated beverages, spicy foods and alcohol late at night: They'll prevent you from getting a sound sleep so you'll end up waking up tired.
Get to sleep an hour or two earlier: You may be tired in the morning because you're not getting enough sleep.
Avoid taking naps during the day: If you take a power nap in the late afternoon, you won't feel tired when it's bedtime and your sleep patterns will get out of whack -- It's a vicious cycle you don't want to start.

Dear's Advice: If you're not a morning person, there's really nothing you can do to change that - it's part of your personality. Hopefully some of these tips can help make your mornings a little less traumatic. Be sure to let me know if there are any other tips that have worked for you and together we can conquer the mornings!!

Website of the Day: It Made My Day

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:50:05 -0800

Sometimes, you just need a little digital pick-me-up, and today I'm here to bring you exactly that. Today's installment of Website of the Day is not only endlessly entertaining but may even give you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It Made My Day is a site where people can submit great moments they come across during their otherwise boring days. For example, my favorite:

This morning, my seven-year-old son showed his excitement for going out to breakfast by doing the Robot

Now if that doesn't make you smile, your geeky heart must be made of stone. IMMD is filled with other awesome stories of the little things that make your day, whether it be witnessing karmic revenge on the person who stole your parking spot or uncovering hilarious mistakes on your righteous co-workers' reports, it's all there. Check it out, and enjoy a good win giggle.

Do you have an interesting website you want to share? Create a PopSugar Account or login to your existing account. Then join the Website of the Day group where you can post your favorite website. And you never know, it could be featured on GeekSugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:30:19 -0800

The Tuesday night CW block made a particularly strong showing this week. Personally, I thought 90210 had one of its best episodes of the season - nice character development, a few teary moments, and some "oh no she didn't" disses. And as for Melrose Place, I've got two words for you: Heather Locklear. Yes, Amanda Woodward is back, and it's quickly becoming clear that the residents aren't going to have it easy any time soon.

So with plenty of drama to go around, which show shocked more? Let's break down all the juicy tidbits and decide the victor when you read more.

90210 point: Well, Annie sleeps with Jasper, and she skips into the kitchen in the morning to tell her parents about her new boyfriend. Debbie invites him for dinner - but once Dixon warns about his druggie reputation, Deb and Harry are less than enthused and forbid Annie from seeing him. She, of course, gets defensive, and as for Jasper's reaction? He tries to kill Navid by pushing him down the stairs at school.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Speaking of crazy murderers, did Michael off Sydney? Sure seems like it after David ransacks his car and finds her bloody necklace in a plastic bag. Now, he's determined to clear Auggie's name (who has since been shunned by all of his friends) and get payback by putting Michael behind bars.

90210 point: Richard and his mom walk in on Naomi with Jamie. (How about the Dean sarcastically calling Naomi "classy?" Ouch.) Naomi admits to Jamie that she was dating Richard for the wrong reasons, and he breaks up with her over it. Her guilty conscience getting the best of her, Naomi then confesses to Richard, too. Jamie finds out and asks to get back together, but unfortunately for him, Naomi had an epiphany during their 24 hours apart - she's still not over Liam.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Like I said, Amanda Woodward is back, and she's out to make Ella's life hell. First she fires Caleb, and then she sends in an agent named Melissa to lure Ella away from WPK as a "test." Oh, and did I mention that Melissa comes on to Ella and the two women make out in a back room? That part totally came out of nowhere - talk about scandalous.

90210 point: Last week Silver's mom Jackie wasn't waking up, and this week starts with her being rushed to the hospital. The doctor tells Silver and Kelly to say their goodbyes, but Kelly refuses after all the years her mother mistreated her. She regrets that decision later, so she finally makes amends and tells Jackie that she forgives her. Jackie passes soon after, and I admittedly got a bit choked up.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Things are looking up for Riley - her jeans campaign is all over magazines - but once Amanda Woodward steps in, she concocts a rags-to-riches fake bio for Riley for PR purposes. Once the press starts asking questions, Riley admits to the lie and things blow up in WPR's face. Amanda seeks revenge by asking Ella to rat on Riley for abusing her sick days for the photo shoots. When Ella won't agree, ruthless Amanda does it herself, and Riley gets fired.

90210 point: Adrianna tells Navid that he was easy to get over because she was never really in love with him. Brutal. Then Naomi discovers Adrianna's stash, and she says good riddance to Adrianna, too. This can't be good for her substance problem.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Can we talk about Violet and Auggie's sex scene on the kitchen counter? Lauren's stripteases make me blush enough already, but this may have even topped that.

90210 point: I still can't stand Jen, but we're slowly starting to see her softer side. Ryan suggests going camping, and she packs a fondue set and a Burberry rain coat - not exactly low-maintenance is she? After she complains a lot, Ryan tells her he's disappointed since he's always bending over backwards for her. She takes his words to heart - even builds a fire! - and opens up about being broke . . . and still married.
Melrose Place counterpoint: In other couple news, David woos Lauren by decorating her apartment like Autumn, complete with falling leaves. But just as things get hot and heavy, she puts on the brakes, because of her "issues" with intimacy. How long are they going to drag this out?

While I really enjoyed 90210, we're talking about scandal here, so I'm going to give this week to Melrose Place. Having Amanda Woodward on your side already makes you a lock, but then throw in the borderline porno - Auggie and Violet, Lauren and David, Ella and Melissa - and it's a no-brainer. Plus, we had a great MP cliffhanger - what exactly is Sydney is referencing in her letter to Amanda that says, "You'll never find it?" You'll never find what?!

Tell me your theories (and what you thought about the episodes) in the comments! And don't forget that if you're a 90210 follower, you can always join the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community.

Photos courtesy of The CW

Mad About Minkoff! Score Rebecca Minkoff's Zip Morning After Mini Bag

FabSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:22 -0800

The Minkoff fun never ends. This Rebecca Minkoff Black Zip Morning After Mini Bag ($550) could be yours. This baby contains no studs, no buckles - just sleek, perfect-sized arm candy with cool long tassels and exposed zippers. Translation: You can carry this bag for years and years to come. Don't forget to check out Minkette.com for more RM goodies.

To enter to win, just log into your PopSugar Community account and take our fun Rebecca Minkoff quiz. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Remember, you must be logged into your PopSugar Community account to be entered, so if you're not already a member, register now. Here are the official rules. I'm pulling the plug on entries Monday, Nov. 16, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Good luck!

Take the quiz

The Pros and Cons of Buying Topshop Online

Fab Community — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:22 -0800

Check out what Emily EMS has to say about her online Topshop experience in our 24/7 Go-To Fashion Guide group.

I always knew they existed - I have seen their chic dresses, sexy heels and cool tops. I am talking about Topshop. I got even more excited when I found out they opened a store in NYC, although I live in Denver, Colorado. I must say, things come around a lot slower around here, and don't get me wrong, there are nice stores here, but it's not to the point where they satisfy my fashion cravings.

This is when the beauty of online shopping comes in handy. My friend Sophie loves to shop online. She says that it's the best because she can buy things anytime, even at two in the morning, not have to worry about driving to the mall, (and not finding anything at the mall!), and in most cases, there's no sales tax, a small shipping fee, and usually, the return and exchanges are easy.

I must say, I was never comfortable with buying clothes online. Shoes and bags, I'm OK with. With clothes, things are different simply because every brand has slightly different sizing and all. Topshop was no exception. It's from the UK, and I know sometimes the equivalent of those sizes can be confusing - look at H&M!

One day, as I was looking through tons of pictures as always - new trends, jackets and coats for Fall and Winter. And there it was. I fell in love with this striped knit jacket from Topshop. I looked at the price, and fell in love with it even more - it's only $80!

I had to go to the store - but wait, there is no Topshop here in Denver! As I envied those folks in NYC, I went online. I quickly navigated myself to look for the jacket and there it was! I want, I want! Pause. What is my size?

Suddenly, I was lost. I usually wear a 2 or 4, depending on the brand. I also have jackets and tops that run rather small or large. While all those thoughts kept going around my head, I looked up on the sizing chart. Hmm . . . I think I am 4, but I don't want it to be too tight since it's a knit jacket . . . oh well, let's just order 6 in case, and if it didn't fit, I'd just exchange it. Before placing an order, it suddenly dawned on me that in case this size didn't work out, I better check on the return policy. Just in case. I'm not sure if that was a sign of something, but I looked. And I discovered many things I did not know. At first, I did not know Topshop's merchandise all ship out from UK. Thus, $15 shipping charge makes sense. Then I realized another thing. What if I wanted to return or exchange something? Sure, you can either return it in person at their stores but that is not my option. According to their website, if you wanted to return or exchange an item, you have to ship it back to their UK warehouse at your own expense. Hmmm . . .

Now I'm determined to make my purchase more "oops wrong size" free. I certainly don't want to go through with shipping the item back and forth till I get it right. It's not only time consuming, but also could end up being costly. I carefully studied the sizing chart, I realized, I needed some real people's opinions. Of course, the chart gives you the idea to narrow down which size you could possibly be, but just in case, to double check it, I did my own research.

I googled the "Topshop sizing review" and voilà! There were a few out there, but one forum was particularly helpful - Facebook. People with the same problems come together and discuss the sizing. Some argue Topshop's sizing runs smaller. Others disagree.

In the end, I ended up getting a 6 - I figured if it's bigger rather than smaller, I could live with it. I haven't gotten the jacket just yet, because I just ordered yesterday, but I'll keep you posted on the sizing. I must say the forum, like the one Facebook, did help me tremendously, sometimes a sizing chart won't do justice. Real people's opinions really do count.

So will I shop online again? Yeah, sure. But do some research beforehand, and read the fine print in case you don't like it, or it's too small or too big, or it's not what I thought it would be, or whatever the reason may be. As for me, for now, I'm waiting and hoping that all the research and reading will pay off.

There are already a bunch of groups you can join and explore, and please - start some new ones! Here's a helpful guide to creating in case you need some clarification.