TresSugar

The How-To Lounge: A Great Morning

DearSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0700

A good morning really does pave the way for an even better day, but somewhere between the sound of the alarm clock blaring and arriving at your daily destination, more than a few things can go wrong. Before you know it you’re lying in bed again, dreading the next day! So to avoid this cycle, I have some pointers for how to set yourself up for a great morning. To see them just read more.

Most of us naturally establish a morning routine out of necessity, but streamlining that routine can go a long way in creating a more efficient and ultimately, more successful morning. If you pack a lunch for work, save time by doing it the night before. Or pick out your outfit the night before. A few small changes can make a big difference in turning a typically hectic morning into an easy one.
Much of the franticness of a stressful morning comes from not having enough time. While planning ahead helps, so does giving yourself 10 extra minutes. Set your alarm clock early for one week, and see if you don’t find yourself significantly more relaxed. Plus, 10 minutes less sleep really is doable.
For many people, exhaustion plays a detrimental role in a morning routine. When you’re sleepy, everything just seems more difficult. If you find yourself struggling to get up everyday, it may be time to start going to bed earlier. If you struggle falling asleep, try increasing your daily exercise routine.
Though caffeine can be helpful when you’re in desperate need of a quick boost, you’ll get far more energy out of a meal. Even if it’s as small as a slice of toast with peanut butter, it’ll go a long way in getting your mind ready for the day.
It’s true that there are only so many things we have control over in creating a positive morning. We can’t fix a terrible commute and there’s not much you can do about the work that lies ahead of you. But setting aside a few minutes just before bed to organize yourself and clear your head can make a huge difference.

Nothing ruins the potential for a good day like a rough morning. Taking the time to create a successful morning will go a long way in establishing a happy and productive work week.

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The How-To Lounge: Turning Around a Bad Day

DearSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:00:00 -0700

We have all woken up on the wrong side of the bed, I'm sure more than once, but instead of giving into a bad day, here are some tips on how to re-start your morning.

Click here to read more

Don't snooze your alarm clock. In my opinion, snoozing makes you lazy for the rest of the day. It also can add a level of stress to your morning routine if those extra 10 minutes in bed made you late for work.
As soon as your alarm goes off, mentally plan out your morning and try to do something nice for yourself. Stop to get coffee and your favorite muffin if you are already dreading the morning. Giving yourself something to look forward to will lessen the sting of your bad day.
Hydrate. Our bodies wake up dehydrated, which can cause fatigue and effect your mood, so drink a couple glasses of water as soon as you wake up to jump start your morning.
If you wake up grumpy, exercise. If you don't have time for a full fledged gym workout, take a quick walk around the block, do some sit ups or push ups at home, do a quick exercise video, anything to get your heart pumping so you can reduce tension and increase your energy level.
If you woke up thinking about something specific, don't dwell on it. Get to the root of the problem and if you can, deal with it head on so you don't wake up the next day on the wrong side of the bed too.
Have a sense of humor about it. Sometimes when it rains, it pours, so try to laugh at yourself. When I have a really bad morning, I usually call a friend and make light of just how miserable my morning was so I can get it out and just have a laugh at it. Give it a try and see if it works for you!

These are my methods, do you have any?

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Is Bristol Palin a Good Role Model For Teens?

TresSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Now that Bristol Palin is a teenage mother, she's promoting abstinence as a "teen ambassador." Never mind that she told Fox News back in February that abstinence is "unrealistic." Today, on the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, she appears on Good Morning America to express her ~~unwavering~~ somewhat wishy-washy belief in abstinence. When the interviewer asks if abstinence vs. protection is a black or white issue, Palin wanders into a gray area. Check it out.

Do you think Bristol Palin's personal experience makes her a good or a bad spokesperson on the issue of teen pregnancy? And what do you think of the PSA from Candie's - which apparently understands the issue because it makes sexy shoes?

Not a Fan of Morning Sex? Try This

DearSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

A while back I talked about the pros and cons of morning and evening sex. Now I happen to be a fan of both but if you've never been into getting it on in the a.m, here are some ways you can help make morning sex more desirable.

If morning breath is a turn off for you, who says you have to kiss on the lips? Kissing everywhere else can be a real turn on too, especially on the neck, ears, chest, and back.
If kissing on the lips is a must for you, keep some mints or gum in your nightstand drawer.
Morning sex doesn't have to happen immediately upon waking, so don't worry if you have to visit the ladies room. Just do it quickly and then hop right back into bed!

Want to see some more tips? Then read more.

If you're always short on time in the mornings, set your alarm a little earlier. Sex is a great way to "snooze."
If brightness turns you off, get some thick curtains that block out the morning sun. That way when you wake up, it'll still feel dark and cozy.
If you're into morning sex but your partner's not, wake him up in the sexiest way you know how, tell him you've been dreaming about him all night and I guarantee it'll make him feel in the mood, too.
If you do like morning sex but it's lost its charm, try having it every once in a while. That way when you do have it, it'll be like unwrapping a sweet treat.

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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!!

Dick Cheney Says Good Morning America!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:34 -0800

Today on Good Morning America outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney talked flying shoes, Hillary Clinton, and Saddam Hussein. Here are some excerpts.

On Obama's national security team:"I must say, I think it's a pretty good team. I'm not close to Barack Obama, obviously, nor do I identify with him politically. He's a liberal. I'm a conservative. But I think the idea of keeping Gates at Defense is excellent. I think Jim Jones will be very, very effective as the national security adviser. While I would not have hired Sen. Clinton, I think she's tough. She's smart, she works very hard, and she may turn out to be just what President Obama needs."
On waterboarding: "I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn't do. And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it."

To find out what Cheney had to say about Guantanamo Bay, the Iraq War, and this weekend's shoe incident, read more.

On closing Guantanamo Bay prison: "If you're going to close Guantanamo, what are you going to do with those prisoners? One suggestion is, well, we bring them to the United States. Well, I don't know very many congressmen, for example, who are eager to have 200 al Qaeda terrorists deposited in their district."
On whether the US would have invaded Iraq with different intelligence: "This was a bad actor, and the country's better off, the world's better off with Saddam gone, and I think we made the right decision, in spite of the fact that the original NIE was off in some of its major judgments."
On his thoughts after seeing shoes flying at the president: "Well, I thought the president handled it rather well. He had some good moves the way he ducked and avoided the shoe and then what was his response? That it was a size 10 and he could see that as it went by. No, I think it's an incident where an Iraqi reporter threw shoes at the president. I don't attribute any special significance to it. "

Do you think the vice president made some valid points in the interview?

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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Cyber-Bullying - Who's Responsible in Computer Tragedies?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:11:51 -0700

This morning Good Morning America had an exclusive interview with Ashley Grills. If that name doesn't ring a bell, the story about the teenage girl who committed suicide after succumbing to a MySpace prank might. Grills, 19, admitted that she was part of the plan to create a fake persona on MySpace to start a fake online romance with a 13-year-old neighbor, Megan Meier.

Grills insisted that she was not the only adult involved in the tragic prank which led the vulnerable Meier to commit suicide after her fake online boyfriend and others began making nasty comments about her. Grills has testified to a grand jury that Lori Drew, 47, the mother of one of Meier's friends, was actively involved in creating the account and wrote some of the messages to Meier. Drew and her attorney deny that charge. To see why the case is being re-examined, read more.

Grills said, "we were just combining ideas about how we can figure out what Megan was saying about Lori's daughter. It was all three of us - me and Lori and her daughter." Drew was never charged with a crime in the initial case, but now may be facing federal fraud charges. Grills said she did the interview to show, "that I'm not heartless. I do know what I did and I take responsibility for it every day."

Megan Meier's mother has said, "It's pathetic. It's pathetic that we as a society do not have laws to protect our children or to protect us in general from somebody being able to hide behind a computer and do these despicable things." Meier's mother has turned her MySpace page into a memorial.

Are laws the answer? Is it even possible to determine in sad cases like this, who is responsible? Should networking sites like MySpace have tighter controls? Should parents more closely monitor relationships their children have online, or should there be tight minimum age controls on networking sites? Is the government responsible for prosecuting fraud when tragedy strikes?

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Flashback: Good Morning, Miss Bliss

GiggleSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Many peeps don't know that Saved by the Bell originally debuted as a show called Good Morning, Miss Bliss. The show followed the day-to-day adventures and mishaps of a tirelessly dedicated and inspirational young teacher, Miss Bliss. In GMMB,the conniving Zack Morris and the rest of the gang played only supporting roles to their teacher. The premise sounds decent in theory, but check out the intro below and you'll understand why the show un-bliss-fully bombed. No neon colors. No electric guitars. No ear worm lyrics. No future skeeves. No way.

Diane Keaton Blames Her Dirty Mouth on Her Skinny Lips

GiggleSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

It was the clash of the Dianes on Good Morning America yesterday. Keaton dropped the F-bomb on live TV, which is never a good thing. She then gushed on and on about Sawyer's deliciously plump lips, only to let it be known that, had she some of them juicy lips, she would probably have a less developed personality. Pause. Pause. All eyes on Sawyer. . .