TresSugar

The People's Court: What's Your Verdict?

GiggleSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:00:00 PST

A not so little known show called The People's Court is in its ninth season of broadcast. Seriously, people--what the hell are we watching here? (You know you're guilty of tuning in at some point or another.) The show attributes itself to the rise of the entire "television court show genre" because it was the first to feature an hour's worth of "real litigants...real cases...real justice...all year long!" Right. I think the people and cases featured on the show are about as legitimate as the following Mad TV parody. So what's your verdict on The People's Court?

Angelina Jolie Focuses on Philanthropy and Hits a Berlin Red Carpet With Brad

Lindsay Miller — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:30:20 PST

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt continued their visit to Berlin today after he made a quick pit stop in London over the weekend to attend the BAFTAs. He was nominated for best actor at the British film celebration, which aired yesterday evening, though The Artist star Jean Dujardin ended up taking home the honor. Brad and Angelina first flew to Germany last week for the Berlin Film Festival, where Angelina hosted a premiere of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. Angelina's film and her philanthropic ties are closely related, and today, she joined the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for a workshop on sexual violence and child soldiers at a Berlin hotel. After the meeting, she reunited with Brad at the Cinema for Peace gala, where she was given an award for her film's message against genocide and war.

Before accepting the honor this evening, Angelina told reporters she hopes the movie is actually difficult for audiences to see. She said, “It’s a strange thing to say as a director and a filmmaker, but I want people to be very uncomfortable when they watch it, and they should be upset and they should want some intervention, and they should want it to stop and they should be angry."

6 Ways Couples Can Tell They're Financially Ready to Live Together

Business Insider — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:15:47 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Moving in together as a couple is more than deciding who gets the "good side" of the bed and finding the best spot to stash the PlayStation.

Not only will you be sharing household bills and probably setting up a joint bank account, but you'll also get up close and personal with your partner's money demons for the first time.

"A husband or wife, even a boyfriend or a girlfriend, is not a financial plan," says Dr. Taffy Wagner, CEO of Money Talk Matters. "We've seen enough drama on Court TV shows."

As a certified personal finance educator and author of Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ, Wagner's an expert on all things relationships and finances.

Before you start building a bigger closet, make sure you're both ready to merge your finances by checking for these six signs:

1. You can talk money without arguing. Per Wagner: "When you can openly discuss finances without arguing and blaming the other person when there is a financial issue," you're on the right track. "The people in this situation would also be able to discuss a financial issue and reach a viable solution that is best for the overall relationship."

Read on for more.

30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

YourTango — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:00:44 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

Writing about love is daunting. It really is.

To paint an accurate illustration of the way I felt when I first began tackling this topic, I ask you to envision me-a skinny, uncoordinated white girl measuring all of 5'3"-facing off with Shaquille O'Neal on the basketball court.

The entire scenario is silly and farcical, and that's exactly how I felt trying to form accurate conclusions about love, a force that is much like a giant on a basketball court. It's towering and intimidating and has the capacity to undo me. The challenge was intriguing, however, so I couldn't say no.

As I started brainstorming everything I’d learned about love over the short 30 years of my life, I quickly recognized that in pondering the mysteries of love, I was actually placing myself in the company of others who had sung and written and theorized about it. As I listened to their music, read their novels, and watched their films, the insights I gained helped shape my own. They bore witness to my experiences and gave voice to feelings I couldn’t otherwise articulate.

I share some of them with you here, intermingled with musings of my own.

Make a list, but don't let it rule you. It can be helpful to make a list of things you want in a romantic partner, and it can be equally helpful to throw that list away. Love asks that we remain open, and always ready for surprise.
Love doesn't require perfection. There were so many presumptions that I'd allowed to be built into my own mind about what a wife should be. I thought she should be a show-stopping cook and a brilliant entertainer, a nonstop quick wit, a wild thing in bed, an effortless nurturer . . . but, if I can be honest, my grandmother was none of these things and she still enjoyed one of the most legendary lives and marriages that I've ever seen.
Be realistic.In generations past, there was far less talk of "compatibility" and finding the ideal soul-mate. Today we are looking for someone who accepts us as we are and fulfills our desires, and this creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both the searchers and the searched for . . . In other words, some people in our culture want too much out of a marriage partner.
Let go. The more I let people be who they are, instead of cramming them into what I need from them, the more surprised I am by their beauty and depth.
Men are not from Mars and Women are not from Venus. Contrary to popular belief, I don't buy the idea that men and women come from different planets. We both live here on Earth, and in spite of a few rudimentary differences, such as personal interests, or ways of approaching the world, I see more similarities between the sexes with every year that goes by.

Find out the other lessons when you finish reading the rest of the story on YourTango: 30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

Written by Christy Krumm for YourTango.

Why Everyone Wants to Work at Google

Emily Co — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:07:07 PST

It didn't surprise me that Google was rated the best company to work for this year by Fortune. The tech giant has consistently been in the top five firms to work for in the last few years. Although the interview process is grueling, many will say it's well worth their efforts. Here are some of the reasons people want to work at Google:

Free lunch and dinner by gourmet chefs.
Convenient on-site services like oil change, car wash, dry cleaning, massage therapy, gym, hair stylist, eyebrow maintenance, doctor visits, fitness classes, and bike repair. Some of these services like laundry are actually for free!
WiFi-equipped shuttle buses that pick up employees from several locations.
Gym, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, bowling alley, outdoor volleyball court, and bocce court.
Up to 18 weeks maternity leave with full pay.
Full benefits for the partners of lesbian, gay, and transgender workers.
Bringing your dog to work.
Tuition reimbursement is up to $12,000 every year as long as you keep your grades above a B.
Donation matches up to $12,000.
401(k) match.

Which perk are you interested in?

Top 10 Signs It's Time to Switch Gyms

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:28:10 PST

We can't all afford to go to luxurious health clubs with Olympic-sized pools, indoor tennis courts, and live DJs spinning during spin classes, so we learn to live with the basics. But here are some things that are absolute deal breakers when it comes to a gym, and if these sound all too familiar, it's time to start shopping for a new one.

You have to share your shower with soap scum, mildew, and spiders.
You've seen more clothes worn by people at the beach than at your gym.
Most of the equipment is older than your grandmother.
Your locker is just big enough to fit one sneaker and a granola bar.
When you tell a staff member they're out of towels, they point to the dirty hamper and say, "No we're not."

Continue reading to here five more signs it's time to ditch your gym.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Plan Rivaling NYE Concerts

Katie Henry — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:05:00 PST

Justin and Selena planning to "break up" on New Year's Eve - Zap2It
Find out who won The Amazing Race - People
Meryl Streep lands the cover of Vogue - Us Weekly
Leighton Meester prevails over her mother in court - Hollywood Reporter
Louis Dowler talks about his split from Kate Winslet - Celebitchy
Do Scarlett Johansson and Colin Farrell make a great couple? - Lainey Gossip
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth wow on the red carpet - Lifeline Live
Is it the beginning of the end for Dexter? - Huffington Post
Get a sneak peek of Will Smith in Men in Black 3 - TooFab
Find out which holiday blockbusters are headed our way - Rotten Tomatoes
See Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection before it goes up for auction- The Daily Beast
Is Jessica Simpson's deal with Weight Watchers back on? - Wonderwall

Group Therapy: I Demanded My BF Stop Seeing His Friend

Tres Community — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:05:00 PST

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

My bf has a really close female friend who he used to have feelings for until he met me. I didn't mind that and I thought she was a cool girl to become friends with. I was excited that I made a new friend quickly and I feel a connection with. As I got to know her more, I realized she's not who she makes herself out to be. At one point, she tried to pull me away from my bf when we hungout in a big group when my bf and I were in the courting stage. I thought maybe she just wanted to have some girl time with me, but my bf knew better. She was using me to socialize with other people because she didn't want to be alone knowing that my bf at the time was trying to get to know me. And the second time she made this smart-ass comment about how my bf loves hanging out with her more than anyone else. At that point, I knew that she had deceived me. She was not going to be my new friend.

So all that plus the fact that my bf realized she was never exactly a good friend to him i.e. using him for money constantly made me dislike her even more. And he knows all these things about her, he continues to invite her to places (other people are invited too). And obviously, she is two-faced and I cannot stand it. It really bothers me especially since I have had a few two-faced friendships before and it really hurts. He says he wants to distance himself on his own terms, slowly.

I told him that he cannot invite her to any more places and he didn't like it that I forced him to but he agreed he wouldn't anymore. I have never issued an ultimatum or demanded something like this from a relationship. And I know ultimatums backfire. I just want to tell my boyfriend, wake up and smell the coffee. So now, I'm thinking, is he going to resent me because I forced him to do this? He said no one has ever forced him to do something like this before. So was it a good idea? I kinda feel like I want to take it back but I know this is something that needs to be done now especially know what my bf and I know now.

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.

Niki Taylor Welcomes Her Fourth Child!

Lauren Turner — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:10:00 PST

Meet Niki Taylor's new son Rex - People
Two Girl With the Dragon Tattoo stars go head-to-head - Lainey Gossip
Meryl Streep's upcoming film is already causing outrage - Huffington Post
Donatella Versace has specific requirements for who models her clothes - D-Listed
Pregnant Hilary Duff treats herself to a spa day - JustJared
Diane Keaton lands her first fashion campaign - Hollywood Reporter
Stacy Keibler keeps the bikini pictures coming - Hollywood Tuna
What do you think of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in the new Hunger Games stills? - Pink Is the New Blog
Wait, the Justin Bieber paternity suit continues, just out of court - The Superficial
Is there another reason Prince William is being sent to the Falklands? - The Daily Beast
Miley Cyrus isn't the only star who has battled weight criticism - TooFab
What's Kristin Cavallari's connection to the Kardashians? - The Blemish

DIY or Not: Wills and Estate Planning

LearnVest — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:15:07 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

When it comes to the people you love, you’d do almost anything to ensure they’re taken care of.

Even fill out forms.

And if you have loved ones, there are a few crucial financial forms you will need to fill out to protect those you care about.

Luckily, you don’t always need to see an attorney - or pay expensive fees. Some forms are so simple you can download them and fill them out yourself within minutes, at no cost.

Then again, some forms-and some family situations-are complicated enough that you definitely should enlist professional help. We spoke to Yana Feldman, an estate planning attorney based in Garden City, New York, who told us when to DIY and when to call an attorney.

One thing she did tell us definitively: Never entrust your estate planning to online services like LegalZoom. These services still cost money . . . and don’t provide the eagle eye of an attorney to ensure you cross every last T just so.
Here’s when Feldman says you should call a lawyer like her - and when you can easily DIY for free:

Don’t Call Me If . . .

You’re looking for a living will.

And you should be. Regardless of age and health, every adult in the U.S. should fill out a living will, health care proxy and HIPAA authorization. A living will specifies the medical treatment you want, in case you can’t voice it yourself. This would prevent an expensive and heartrending experience for your family (think Terry Schiavo). Also, designate someone you trust as a health care proxy who can carry out your medical wishes, and sign a HIPAA authorization form, which would provide her with access to your medical records in case of emergency.

How to DIY:

Learn the regulations for living wills and proxies for your state here.
Search online for your state’s living will and proxy forms (search “[your state] + living will form”).
Fill out the forms and have them signed by the proxy you’ve chosen as well as any witnesses your state requires.

Read on for more.