TresSugar

The 7 Reasons Halloween Is Huge in 2009, Part 1: TV, Movies, and Celebrity Baby Trick-or-Treaters!

Molly — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:05:16 -0700

We had so much fun with our PopSugar Rush Vampire Special, so we're back with more - this time it's all about what makes this Halloween even bigger and better than ever! In part one, we've got our favorite vampires, the TV shows with the best Halloween episodes, the reason that scary movies are everywhere - hint, the Twilight craze helps! - and our favorite celebrity kids all dressed up for trick-or-treating. Watch the 7 Reasons Halloween Is Huge in 2009, Part 1 now, and check out part two on Thursday!

Do You Like to Double Date?

TresSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night's How I Met Your Mother was all about double dates and the couples who love them - and the couples who hate them.

In the episode, married couple Marshall and Lilly get so excited that their friends Barney and Robin are together because finally have another couple in their group of friends.

Unfortunately, Marshall and Lilly's previous attempts at double dating haven't gone too well. The eager pair comes on really strong and ends up scaring couples away. The same thing happens when they invite longtime friends Barney and Robin over for a couples night of cheese, charades, and margaritas. While they're enjoyable under normal circumstances, the fact that it's an official double date turns Marshall and Lilly into an overbearing and annoying duo. Barney and Robin have an awful time and end up trying to avoid any future double dates!

When you're in a relationship, do you avoid the classic double date, or are you eager to hang out with other couples?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Have You Ever Dated the Same Person as Your Friend?

TresSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night on How I Met Your Mother, we saw the rare benefits that can come from dating a friend's ex. On the episode, Barney (played by Neil Patrick Harris) looks to his best friend Ted for tips on how to date his new girlfriend Robin. If you don't follow the show, I'll fill you in. Robin and Ted dated for a while, broke up, and remained friends. Now, Robin is dating Barney.

To help out his friend, Ted gives Barney a lesson in Robin 101. Conveniently, Ted is a college professor, so he and Barney meet in his classroom where Ted spills the beans on everything, from Robin's surprising erogenous zones to a crucial list of five things never to do in front of Robin. Needless to say, Robin is not thrilled when she finds out about these lessons.

While watching the episode I couldn't help but think that the characters make the potentially awkward situation of dating your friend's ex seem pretty fun and easy. Have you ever had a lover in common with your friend?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Dear Poll: Do You Believe in Second Chances?

DearSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Did any of your catch Britney Spears on How I Met Your Mother last night? If not, the few minutes of screen time that she got was actually pretty funny, and she looked surprisingly good, too! I've always been a big fan of Brit's, and even though she's hit rock bottom on more than one occasion, I keep cheering her on because I'm a firm believer that everyone deserves a second chance. Sure, she's had more than her fair share of chances to redeem herself, but sometimes it takes the third or fourth go around before things just click. Since no one is perfect, what I want to know is, do you believe in second chances?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Rent-a-Friend Business Booming in Japan

TresSugar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite episodes of How I Met Your Mother involves Barney and his hired "family." The eternal playboy (played by Neil Patrick Harris) wants his mother to think he has settled down, so he pays actors to play his wife and son, concocts an elaborate backstory with details including his son's "catch phrase," and plays along for years every time he visits his mother with his fake family in tow.

Well apparently, Japan has turned this sitcom plot into a reality. Japanese rent-a-friend companies allow people to pay for pretend friends, relatives, work colleagues, or even best men! Sometimes single mothers hire fake husbands so kids stop bullying their children at school for having absent fathers!

Just like Barney's family, the "agents" are trained to know an extensive backstory. If rentees give any hint that they're aren't really the people they're pretending to be, it could mess up the clients' lives. Creepy! Apparently the need to look like everything is perfect in your life is so important in Japan that some people are willing to rent these actor-CIA-agent hybrids for about $250 per appearance.

While it might be tempting to hire a stand-in boyfriend for awkward situations, like when you're the only single girl invited to a dinner party filled with couples, this still seems strange to me. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Neil Patrick Harris Tries the Gosselin 'Do on For Size

TresSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Seems like we're not the only ones obsessed with Kate Gosselin's reverse mullet. Or momhawk/hedgehog ‘do.

The folks over at The Early Show, while interviewing How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris (who hosted the 63rd annual Tony Awards last night), managed to sneak in a reference to her hair. They showed him what he'd look like with the cut. I mean, NPH is super-cute, but no one, absolutely no one, would look good with the Tellum.

You Asked: I'm Stuck in the Middle

DearSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

My mother got divorced from her husband of 16 years, a year and a half ago. He claimed he didn't love her anymore, and my mother was left wounded and angry. Together they have a wonderful 12-year-old son, my half-brother, who now takes turns staying with each of them. Things are very bitter, and they mostly communicate through text messaging or through me and my brother - my mother feels too angry to have a more civilized relationship with him. I will admit that my step-dad was cold to her during the divorce, and I understand that she feels hurt, but at this point, I wish she would give in and work at making their relationship better.

I'm away from home in grad school, in a foreign country, extremely busy with my studies, so I mostly communicate with them via email. Yesterday my step-dad told me he has begun dating another woman. It sounds pretty serious. He told me my brother has met her and that they got along. I'm happy for him, but I don't think my mom knows about this. She has been dating herself, but I just know this will make her angry and she might start some kind of power war with her ex through me, or worse, my brother.

If I wait to tell her, my brother might end up blurting it out (what a heavy secret for a twelve year old to have to carry around). So I think it's best if I tell her. How do I go about this in a manner that is gentle? How can I persuade her not to involve me or my brother in the anger she will most likely feel?

- Family Drama Dannika

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Family Drama Dannika,

I'm very sorry to hear that you and your brother are trapped in the middle of your parents' issues. It's really not fair to either of you, and it makes an already difficult situation that much worse. You're right; your brother shouldn't have to carry the burden of this information, and I'm sorry that you do. Your mother is obviously struggling with her own issues, but she's still the parent. If I were you, I would be direct and simple, and certainly don't play into her drama.

If she needs someone to vent to, it should be a therapist or an outside friend, and don't be afraid to tell her so. You can support your mother and recognize her anger without allowing her to place her emotional burden on your shoulders. When it comes down to it, you can't control how your mother reacts to this news or behaves in the future, but you can be a person of strength for your brother. Talk openly with him, and above all else, make sure he knows he can talk to you. I hope things get easier soon.

Source

Ask E. Jean For DearSugar: I'm a Total Basketcase!

E Jean Carroll — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:00:52 -0700

Sit tight, Sugar darlings: This is a long and juicy letter!

Dear E. Jean,

OK, you ready? My two middle school children decided for themselves to fabricate some claims about me so they could live with their dad, who buys them everything they want and lets them go anywhere they want.

Me? I won't do those things, and even if I could, I'm not able to. I am on disability for fibromyalgia and have a very low income. So because they thought the only way they could make it possible to live with their dad would be to make horrible accusations about me, my visitation has been suspended until it goes to court. Yes, I have an attorney. And, yes he sucks, but I had to beg and borrow to hire him and now I'm stuck.

I also recently ended a six-year relationship with a man who, by the way, is still married to his wife. He has a son. He did not want to pay child support, so he kept stringing me along for those six years with the promise of, "I'll get a divorce in the next few months when we get caught up on bills so I can afford an attorney." Hook, line, and sinker, that’s how hard I fell for this. I tell you what, at the time I even thought I was being so loving and patient - ha! So I booted him out once and for all!

(That's just the beginning! So read more.)

You don't know the days that all I could manage to do was cry. I would be so depressed that I couldn't eat, sleep, or even go out to check the mail. However, recently, I've been getting out on weekends and have made some friends. I’ve gone out with a couple of real jerks and I’ve gone out with a couple of really nice, handsome, very successful men. But the nice ones don't want me after they find out about the disability. I feel like damaged goods or like I'm defective in some way, when really I have quite a few good days, where I am able to get out, go dancing, or do whatever I feel like doing.

My current issue is a new man I met online. We had been talking about a month online then decided to meet. He is sooo much fun, funny, down to earth, successful, and gorgeous as all get out! He is just the perfect picture of who I want to be with. The issue? He wants to have children someday, and I had a hysterectomy due to endometriosis. He told me on the phone today that he realized that I wanted a relationship (without me saying a word about that because I didn't want to scare him away) and he admired the fact that I could be so full of love and open with my heart with no fear, but right now he just wants to be friends.

He said that he really had to think about him wanting to be a father and the fact that I was not able to bear anymore children. That hurt worse than if he would have just dropped me like a piece of trash!

I broke down and started crying on the phone when he said this. Well, he felt bad that he had hurt me like that and called back a few minutes later inviting me to go to PetSmart. He told me to bring my little dog so he could pay to get her toenails trimmed. He bought her a new leash and he paid to put gas in my car. (About $125 for just those three things).

After I left his house, I took a walk with my dog for two hours. When I got home, I wrote him a simple email that said, "I am sorry I started crying on the phone earlier. I'm OK now after a long walk to get my head straight. I am happy to have your friendship. I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, but I think I'll put it in my pocket for safe keeping. Talk to ya later." I honestly thought I would never hear from him again. That was basically my goodbye.

As soon as he read that email, he called me. I took every ounce of energy I could find to sound chipper on the phone. I kept the conversation very brief. Then, as soon as we hung up, he starts IMing me. We chatted for over an hour about simple trivial things. He said that he was going to bed and would talk to me tomorrow.

I am left sitting here past 2 a.m. with band-aids on six of my fingertips (when I get nervous, I bite my nails), wondering what in the heck is going on! I'm a friggin' basketcase! I know this is a lot to get advice on, but trust me. I could really use some. Not even my therapist can keep up with everything that is going on with me right now! - All Messed Up and Lonely in Tennessee

Dear Miss Messed,

You are wrong, my darling. I do not have "a lot" of advice for you. I have no doubt that you are quite charming, but alas, I have read your insufferably long letter, and your excruciating selfishness, immaturity, and juvenile idiocy comes through with every line.

Your children left you - brought "horrible accusations" against you - and you're writing because you're a basketcase over a man who had your dog's toenails trimmed?

Grow up, hunny. Get your priorities straight. Stop thinking about yourself for one half-second and realize there are other people on this planet. Like your kids.

The one piece of advice I do have for you is this: Take the band-aids off, stop bawling, cease trolling for dudes online, and get a job. Fibromyalgia is painful. Fibromyalgia is a bitch. But you gotta play the hand you were dealt, girl, or be a loser the rest of your life.

Get a job! Get a job! Get a job! Get a job! Get a job! Get a job! A job will bring in money. A job will boost your feelings of self-worth. A job will help you gain your self-respect. A job will give your kids a mother to admire. Every problem you have comes from the fact that you’re a superficial, man-crazy, irresponsible lackwit who lays around the house carping and bellyaching and doing nothing to help herself.

And don’t tell me about the pain. I know from pain. Get a job.

P.S. About that line in your letter that says "the nice (men) don’t want me after they find out about the disability." The guys are not turned off because you have an unfortunate medical disorder, my dear; they are turned off because you are a helpless, rather thoughtless woman who lost your own kids because you would not get a job and fight for them.

No sane man would want a woman like that.

To see more advice from E. Jean, visit Elle magazine and AskEJean.com.

You Asked: Why Can't I Get a Date?

DearSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I haven't had a relationship in over seven years and I am wondering what is wrong with me. It seems that everyone around me is either engaged or setting a date to be married, and I don't even have a boyfriend! I have dated a few guys, but I'm always the one left wondering what went wrong. I can't help but think that it must be me. I live alone, I have a profession, I own my own car, and live in a nice apartment that's beautifully finished. People keep telling me that marriage will happen for me, but I'm not convinced. And, if it does, I'll probably be too darn old to even enjoy it! And, lastly, it makes me feel even more inadequate when my mother tells me how pretty I am, but doesn't understand why I can't find anyone. Do you have any advice? I am already seeing a therapist because I think that I'm going crazy! - At My Wits' End Amy

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear At My Wits' End Amy,

There's nothing worse than feeling like you're the odd woman out - I've been there - but dwelling on the fact that you haven't met anyone will only make things worse. Finding someone special isn't easy and it won't happen overnight. You have to endure a lot of trial and error and perhaps a few broken hearts, but most of all, you have to be patient. It sounds like you have a lot going for you, so use that to your advantage - get yourself out there and meet people! As E. Jean put it, it's a mathematical certainty that you'll meet someone if you place yourself where there are high numbers of men. Football season is about to start, so get your girls together and hit up your local pub on game day. Keep your eyes open while you're at the gym, take walks in the park after work, and Amy, don't forget to ask your friends, your friends of friends, or even your co-workers to set you up - it works sometimes, you know!

While I'm sure your mom means well, be firm and to the point when you tell her that you'd appreciate it if she'd stop with the questions and pressure. The way you feel inside is bound to show on your exterior, so as hard as it may be, you must think positively. I wish I had an answer for you as to why you haven't met "the one" yet; unfortunately, and as cliche as it may sound, it'll only happen when the timing is right. Good luck.

Source

Come Story Telling with me!!! The Completed Story

DearSugar — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 08:22:09 -0700

I hope you all enjoyed this new feature as much as I did! Your wild imaginations made for a great story line! To read the completed tale you all helped create, read more

As I saw her walking through the Starbucks' door, my heart started to pound and my hands started to sweat. Did she really do it? Did she shave her head? While we all knew her hair would eventually fall out, I never expected her to shave her head before she even started treatment. She's so courageous, marching around town with a shaved head. I mean, I would hide it behind a Missoni head scarf or something. I can't believe she actually has cancer and she is dealing with it in such an admirable way. I've known her all my life and I can't confront it the way she has. What would I say? Nice new look? How's facing death? Before I had time to think, she spotted me, trotted over, and said you know what? It's all an act. I hate my job, I'm sleeping with my boss, and I didn't know how else to get out of going to work. How do I get out of this big hole I dug for myself? "With a wig, apparently" I said as I tried to process the information she just divulged. "I had no idea you were so vain and sleeping with your boss, Clay Aiken. You're going to have to retire from being his backup dancer unless you can figure out what's actually going on in this story that seems to make sense."

She gave me a strange look and then suddenly I awoke, in a panic. I was alone in the middle of an an abandoned warehouse with a huge bruise on my throbbing head. A blinding light shone on me and then he bangs on the table and shouts " TELL ME" "TELL ME, I KNOW YOU WHERE THEY ARE KEEPING IT" And, "CUT", yelled the director. I immediately sat up from the warehouse set floor where I was lying. "Tell me," the director said, "what were you thinking when you were having the bad dream?" "Oh I made this crazy story up about a friend of mine having cancer, and than sleeping with Clay Aiken it was really odd motivation for this scene I know..."

"Well whatever works! You were wonderful!" Watch out Lindsay and Mischa, there's another starlet on the block. Boy deciding to take this movie role about the scarred, raped, and tortured girl was sure starting to pay off. I mean just this morning before shooting began I was having my doubts about this. Before I moved out to LA, people always told me to be skeptical of criminals posing as "movie producers", waiting to take advantage of wanna be starlets hoping to be discovered. I'd heard horror stories of women being abused and taken advantage of. Thinking of those stories, a chill creep ed up my back. I looked around and realized I was alone in a warehouse with men I'd just met yesterday. I wondered if I'd been just a little too taken with their constant flattery to realize that I, too, could be a potential victim. Maybe I should have signed a contract, I thought to myself as I remembered Brad Pitt was my co star and realized that I didn't really care if there was a signed contract! Besides, hes flirting with me lots and this is my one chance to be the huge glamorous film star I've always wanted to be. I cant back out now! I've just seen that huge mansion I want to buy in the Hollywood Hills, the one that is next door to Health Ledger and Michelle Williams. I mean think about it: I'll ask Jen from Dawson's for butter while I'm baking, how fabulous! Now on to what needs to get done: hair and makeup! As I walked back to my trailer enjoying the brisk morning air I noticed that there was a note taped on my door with my name written across the front. Excitedly wondering what it said, I peeled it off and carefully opened it because it looked like the paper itself was worth a mere million dollars. "You looked beautiful on set today," the note read. I stared at it and wondered who it was from because the note wasn't signed and there was no name inscribed to the back of the note like most exec's here in Hollywood...not even a fingerprint!

Suddenly my dressing room door jerked open almost hitting me in the face, and Michelle leaned out to say "watch out!!" . At that moment, I was struck from behind by crew members riding in a golf cart. The next thing I remember was waking up in my hospital bed and my head was throbbing AGAIN!. My room was filled with flowers from all of my adoring fans and two guards were blocking the paparazzi from taking pics. When I looked up, there was a young, handsome doctor standing over me. With a concerned look, he leaned down, took my hand and said it's bad news-- you have to have a brain transplant but before we start can I have your autograph, my sister would kill me if I didn't get it, plus it would be worth a lot in time since you are the first actress in Hollywood to have such major surgery, apart from Micheal Jackson of course! "Yes, of course". I signed my name and handed back his clipboard. Just then my mother burst through the door and screamed ...... DARLING!! What are you wearing?!? And OK, OK. Yes. I was playing the part of a hooker. But it's a great paying job and an incredible experience and Julia Roberts did it and look where it got her.

I guess my mother wasn't used to seeing me look so grown up. I hadn't seen her since last Christmas when she invited herself to spend the holidays with me and my wonderful boy friend. sadly, after a week with my mother, my boy friend was no longer my boy friend. Now here was my dear mother playing fashion police and Emily Post when I needed Florence nightingale. My head was throbbing, my vision was blurry. Was that my mother!? or was it my ex-lover from college, you know, when I was experimenting? Who can tell right now. Did that doctor really say a brain transplant? Did I sign on to star in a daytime soap opera and not realize it? I just needed to shut my eyes and think, and make this throbbing stop. As I slowly opened my eyes I noticed another note similar to the one I had found on my trailer door right before the golf cart accident. I used all of my energy to pick up the beautiful paper and slide it open. My eyes blurred as I tried to read what was written, focus I told myself. I blinked and the writing became clear. It said 'Even bruised from the accident, you are beautiful. I will be waiting for you after surgery.' The note was again unsigned. Who could possibly be waiting for me? I thought. Who knew of the accident? My head hurt too much to think. I laid back and closed my eyes. That's when I felt a hand run down my chest and something cold placed over my heart. What was going on? I opened my eyes and saw my doctor. Dr. Derek Shepard. He asked me to breathe in slowly because he was making sure my lungs and heart were OK. He spoke softly and said "Meredith will you tell Izzy that she needs to scrub in on this?" Wait what did I just hear? Meredith? Izzy? Dr. Shepard? This isn't real! There's no way I am a patient on Grey's Anatomy. I shot up out of what was apparently a deep 4 minute sleep and realized I was in an empty hospital room and had horrible pain in my back and head from moving so abruptly. I groaned and gingerly lowered myself back onto the bed. As I lay there, head throbbing as though it had continuously throbbed since this whole debacle began, I began to panic. How much of what had happened in the last few days was real? How much of it was a delusion? Had it even been days? For all I knew, it could have been hours or months.

Just as the first stinging tears threatened to trickle down my cheeks, I heard a footstep in the hall. I froze. Who could it be? Will it be the nurse with syphilis, or George? No, this is crazy. I can't be on Grey's anatomy. The footsteps stop, and there is a shadow in my doorway. I say "hello?" but I realize I have no voice! What if I need to scream? What if i need to ask for help? My heart is pounding like a 5 year old with a drum set, and then the person emerges from the hallway. I gasp because my asthma had kicked in. I looked over to my window and noticed a lovely, flowering tree outside accompanied by the grating sound of a lawn mower. I said, to myself, "yay, allergies!" because remember, I can't talk. And now I can't breathe. I want to laugh because really, if I separated myself from my situation it's funny to see how powerless I am when just two months ago I had gotten to level 99 on my favorite video game. But anyway, the person that had walked in told me she wanted to give me a sponge bath. I looked closer and realized she was the person who had been writing me notes all day. I was right, all the nerves about not signing the contact, after going through this nightmare of a day... well it was all worth it when I realized it was my co-star writing me those notes, waiting for me in the hallway, and most importantly, waiting to give me a sponge bath! I waved him in the the rest in history!