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Hand Model by Funny Mummy Kathy Buckworth

Pump gloves by funny mummy kathy buckworthby Kathy Buckworth

There’s a new product on the market called “Pump Gloves” which are designed to protect our delicate hands from having to hold onto a filthy pump handle at the gas station. If sales of hand sanitizer are anything to go by, the concern about passing on nasty germs has never been higher, and now it seems the return of gloves and introduction of special hand covers is imminent. 

Naturally I can’t help but reflect back on a Seinfeld episode where George discovered himself becoming an unlikely hand model and walked around the streets of NYC with his oven mitts on to protect his future.  As a mother of four, I have to tell you that there are many times I have wished I had some sort of hand covering, be it old fashioned oven mitt or newfangled Pump Glove, that would give me and my hands some protection from the constant barrage of bugs, bodily fluids and other assorted disgusting materials we’re forced to handle in the course of a regular parenting day. I’m thinking that the following would be an instant hit:

PalmPoopyProtectors:  For those times you’re on your last diaper, you open it up to discover there’s a piece you could palm into the closest trash can and keep going with the same diaper. Built in scooping action makes for easy transference.

Digit-DigIt-Out:  If you’ve had a newborn, you’ve picked its nose. Tip coverings for those times when they’re just not cute enough to do it without protection.

FaceIt Finger Flicks:  Your two year old has a cold.  They napped, but the fluids from their nose didn’t.  And now it has dried on to their cheeks. Flick it off with this spongy shovel which straps on to the end of your now protected forefinger.

Wouldn’t It Be Glove-ly: You arrive at your in-laws for dinner only to discover that your child’s fingernails are longer and dirtier than Beetlejuice’s.  A quick fix with these thin child size gloves that mimic a clean, well-manicured hand, to slip on before dinner and before anyone notices.

MovieMittens: A tiny built in TV screen turns the palm of your hand into an instant source of video entertainment for your bored child at church, school concerts, doctor’s offices and more. Finger to finger speakers sold separately.

Hand Holder Helper: They want to hold your hand. They have to hold your hand. But what on earth is on that hand? It’s sticky and brown and eww some green and oh great there are cars going by and you grab it.  But if you have your Hand Holder Helper, junior is sliding his hand into one side and you into the other, like an old fashioned fur muff.  But it has a divider to keep what belongs to him, to him.

Mama ‘Minder Mitts: I have about fourteen stops to make this morning but I can’t remember about twelve of them. Oh wait – look – a handy reminder paper pad built right into the Back of my Hand in my new ‘Minder Mitts.  Comes with mini-pen for easy writing accessibility. Can be adapted for BlackBerry or iPhone insertion.

That’s all I have for right now, but I’m working on the Martini MittMaster too.  Back to testing that one now.  Thumbs up.

Kathy BuckworthKathy Buckworth‘s latest book is “Shut Up and Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children and Chardonnay”, and is available everywhere books are sold.  Visit www.kathybuckworth.com or follow Kathy on Twitter.

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Books & Music

Best Movies of 2010: Must See Movies of 2010

by Shannon Lintott

It’s a pretty big year ahead for movies, especially with anticipated films like the final Harry Potter, part  1 of Breaking Dawn, the 3rd Transformers movie, the next Pirates of the Caribbean, The Hangover 2, X-Men First Class, Cowboys and Aliens and the list goes on and on. 

But before you move on and get cozy with 2011 here are a few films from 2010 that were so fantastic that you really shouldn’t let them slip past you:

BuriedBuried

(Starring Ryan Reynolds, and only Ryan Reynolds)

A man is buried alive and he has no idea why.

And that’s all you should really know about this film. Best performance by Ryan to date, that and it is the best suspense/thriller of 2010. Hands down.  I had a nervous breakdown while watching this movie. I cried because I was so anxious that I had no other option but to sweat and cry. It’s strangely one of the best action movies of 2010 too – you’ll understand when you watch it. You really should watch it. Really, you should. Really.

The King’s Speech

(Starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush)

The true story about King George VI and his battle against his speech impediment. Best performance by Mr. Firth to date! Yes, even compared to A Single Man which is also fantastic but from 2009. The story is fantastic. I really had no idea it was going to be as inspirational as it was.  I generally couldn’t care less about anything concerning Royalty but this movie wasn’t about that at all. It was about one man that over comes his life long struggle, one day at a time. Stunning film. Very emotional and very funny at the same time. Geoffrey Rush was a nice bonus.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, 127 hours127 Hours

(Starring James Franco)

One of the most anticipated and discussed movies of the year. This film will test you. It’s not as gory as everyone makes it out to be…well, it sort of is, but only for a few minutes. The rest is watching someone summing up their lifetime and getting the most intense wake up call of life. Fantastic and mind blowing performance by James Franco. Really something you must see. This movie got me thinking really hard about my own life and how each choice I make has an effect on who I become. Anything that can make me do that and not feel emo about it gets a high five. This one gets a high five and, uh, a sundae. Win! The gross scene is worth it, if you stick in there and find the courage I guarantee you’ll find something you like.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, inceptionInception

(Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Out of all the movies on this list I truly believe that this one was the biggest hit. It was built up and built up and then it came out and blew all expectations out of the water. Think of the best thing you can and then magnify it by 10 and you’ll get Inception. Action, thrill, humour, imagination, amazing characters, stunts you’ve never seen before and a concept that will make you over think everything in your life for days. Definitely an ultimate favourite, Leonardo was great but Ellen and Joseph really shine in this film. And that ending…if you don’t make some kind of noise seconds before the credits than you must have watched another movie. Fantastic. Best ending to a movie ever. Such an intense and original script. See it!

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, black swanBlack Swan

(Starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis)

This movie seemed to come from nowhere and then swoop down and dominate all film discussion, websites and festivals, and rightly so. This is definitely something you’ve never seen before and probably won’t ever see again. It really is a horror/thriller film. You wouldn’t think so at first, it starts off and you’re a bit confused as to why it got so much hype. Then…Bam! It hits you across the face and you cannot look away until the credits roll. Portman is stunning. I actually loved Mila Kunis in this role, she was fantastic. It’s messed up, dark, beautiful and might give you nightmares. What a great combo! It’s as good as everyone told you it was, maybe even a little bit better than you thought.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, tronTRON: Legacy

(Starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde)

Nerds unite! The first time I heard of this movie was over two years ago and I have been giddy waiting for it to get here. I had really high hopes and dreams for this film and was kind of expecting it to disappoint. Don’t ask me why, I just wasn’t sure with the Disney aspect and all the hype if it would be good…ohhh boy. Did it ever complete my life! The story was awesome, acting was great, action was flawless and it had one of the best soundtracks ever (Daft Punk!). I’m not a 3D fan but this movie made me okay with the switch to 3D. It was awesome. Such a wild ride, so beautiful and so much better than I ever thought it could be. This is one that is worth going to see in theatres.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, the social networkThe Social Network

(Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake)

I hate Facebook. As soon as I heard this movie was coming out I let out a loud and obnoxious grown of disapproval to my unfortunate friend and yammered about how a movie like that could never be good. How deliciously wrong was I! This film is fantastic. Jesse was amazing, heck, even Timberlake was amazing. The story was way better and far more engrossing than I ever expected. I was unable to even talk about it afterwards because I was so shocked by how good it was. A must see for everyone. Even if you don’t like Facebook you will love it. It isn’t even about Facebook really, it’s about everything else.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, kick assKick Ass

(Starring Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz)

I wasn’t even going to see this movie because it looked cheesy and lame. After a friend suggested I go and I did, this is what happened…Story: Awesome. N. Cage: Rocket awesome. Aaron: hot and awesome. Chloe: movie stopper of awesomeness. Action: Melt your face and your mind into lime Jell-O that is awesome. This movie is kick ass. I know, hold the eye rolling and the sighs of “did she just say that?!” because it’s true, it really is true. This is one of my new favourite action movies. It’s not your classic super hero flick, it’s hilarious and real and Chloe is enough reason alone to watch this film. She will rock that little nerd/action heart of yours. Some scenes in this movie are too epic and amazing to sum up in words so I shall just say this: see it!

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, toy story 3Toy Story 3

(Starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen)

So good! This movie is flawless in every way. It made me feel just as good, if not better, than the first time I watched the first Toy Story years ago as a child. That should be saying something.

It may have even been more of an adventure and more hilarious to me now than the first one did to me then. There isn’t much else I need to say here, this film is fantastic for everyone. I love these toys!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

(Starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin)

This is a fun movie. I haven’t been a Michael Cera fan in a long time and I was really hoping this movie would make me like him again and it did! Woohoo! He was great in this role. Really awesome. Kieran Culkin was pretty hilarious.

I just liked how different it was compared to other comic book to film type movies. It was quirky and weird but also hilarious but with really good fight scenes. I hope this turns into a cult classic, if it hasn’t already. It’s so much fun to watch.

best moves of 2010, top movies of 2010, harry potterHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

(Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson)

I was really glad when they announced the movie would be in two parts because it would’ve sucked if they tried to cram everything into one film. This may in fact be my favourite Harry Potter movie to date. I wasn’t sure at first but the more I thought about it the more I loved it. It’s dark, it’s emotional, it’s intense and all three actors really shine in this film, especially Rupert. Fantastic job. I was kind of shocked by how amazing he was this time around. It was great to see the characters you’ve loved and thought you knew change before your eyes. This movie really made them seem real, more than ever before.  I felt so connected to them all throughout the movie. Cannot wait for Part 2!

How to Train Your Dragon

(Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and Christopher Mintz-Plasse)

This is one of the best animated kids movies I have ever seen! It’s even one of my new favourite over all movies of all time. The story is amazing. The characters are weird and hilarious. Also, come on, it’s about dragons! Who doesn’t like dragons? I was completely engorged in this movie from start to finish and when it was over I wanted to watch it again right away. It made me feel like a kid again…I really want a pet dragon.

Shutter Island

(Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Emily Mortimer)

This movie had a ton of hype around it for what seemed like forever. I remember when it finally came out in February and everyone was talking about it. For me the big shock at the end was not so shocking, I sort of had a good idea of what was going on about half way through. With that being said it didn’t stop me from being glued to the screen during its entirety or still loving when the big climax came around. Leonardo was the perfect choice for this role and it was so good seeing Mark Ruffalo by his side. I’ve always liked that guy. It’s suspenseful and mysterious and just a really good story. It’s a movie that will stick with you.

So, check these movies out before watching the upcoming Golden Globes and Academy Awards!

Shannon LintottShannon Lintott works in production at a professional theatre company in Toronto. A recent graduate of the Ryerson Performance Production BFA program, she spends her free time exploring the internet, taking photographs, reading or writing on one of her numerous and addictive websites. The majority of her time is spent watching movies and reviewing them on her movie review blog I Like (good) Movies. Follow Shannon on Twitter.

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Entertainment

Is Facebook Really Shutting Down? Facebook Ending March 15? Can’t Be True!

Is Facebook really shutting down? Is Facebook really shutting down?   The rumors are flying around that Facebook is ending March 15th. 

Over the holidays, there were plenty of internet hoaxes of premature deaths of celebrities, but now the victim is Facebook!

A report that was put out by WeeklyWorldNews claims that Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, “wants his old life back” and that “managing Facebook has become too stressful.”  It also says that “users will no longer be able to access their Facebook accounts on March 15th.”

In the past, this “news” site has also started other outrageous rumors so this must definitely be a hoax. 

Facebook isn’t going anywhere… the only other hoax I’ve heard also is that Facebook will be charging users but that has yet to happen.

There is no response yet from Mark Zuckerberg but I think it’s safe to say it’s another Facebook internet hoax.

Can you imagine the millions of people who would be heartbroken?  Lost? Left without a social life?

That would be tragic!

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Entertainment

Gwyneth Paltrow Had Postpartum Depression: Will It Help Others Talk About It?

Gwyneth Paltrow had post-partum depressionDespite being a successful actress and married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow suffered from post-partum depression after her second child was born.

“I felt like a zombie. I couldn’t access my heart. I couldn’t access my emotions. I couldn’t connect,” Paltrow, now 38, says in the February issue of Good Housekeeping.

“It was terrible, it was the exact opposite of what had happened when Apple was born. With her, I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t the same. I just thought it meant I was a terrible mother and a terrible person.”

How did she realize it wasn’t just the baby blues, a postpartum mood disorder than many new mothers experience?

It was Paltrow’s husband who first thought she might be suffering from something much more.

 “About four months into it, Chris came to me and said, ‘Something’s wrong. Something’s wrong,’ ” Paltrow recalls. “I kept saying, ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ But Chris identified it, and that sort of burst the bubble.”

Paltrow says the hardest part was acknowledging the problem, something I think many new mothers can relate to.  Approximately 10 to 15% of women suffer from postpartum mood disorders (PPMDs).

“I thought postpartum depression meant you were sobbing every single day and incapable of looking after a child,” she explains. “But there are different shades of it and depths of it, which is why I think it’s so important for women to talk about it. It was a trying time. I felt like a failure.”

Now that her son is two years old and Apple is four, Paltrow is back in the saddle and starring in Country Song.

Why did it take her so long to come out about post-partum depression?  I think for many, it’s still a taboo subject.  But I’m glad that the actress has revealed her struggle with post-partum depression and is so open about it.  I hope this will allow other women to feel like they are not alone, and that even a Hollywood actress can suffer from the same issue.

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Entertainment

Dating Re-Invented: How Technology Has Changed Relationships

by Mr. Dad

Once upon a time, I read about a world where a gentleman would call on a lady he was interested in.  He perhaps made a call to her parents to make sure it was ok.  He brought gifts, flowers, dressed appropriately to make an impression; the works, so to speak.  In fact, one can argue that the courting dance was quite formal with an air of pomp and circumstance.  Then the 70’s came about and there was an appreciable shift.

Through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s methods changed and brought about new challenges.  Although the scene moved from the sock hops of the 60’s to modern bars and clubs, it seemed that many of the challenges of “boy meets girl” still lingered from earlier days; the biggest being the highly charged environment that is the social scene.  I’m a child of the 70’s, so I was limited to being a spectator, but what I saw was a change in the dating culture.  Looking back at it now, I understand how it could have seemed like a scary future for a 14 year old me.

I am referring to the dreaded pick up scene; guys trying to “put a move on a girl” and the girl observing and evaluating “the move” and either dismissing or opening him up for further examination; 14 year old me dreading this thought.  On TV and in the movies, I saw men polishing up their pick up lines, filling them with words insinuating character traits that were not remotely real.  Men trying to by the right clothes, the right fragrance, the right car, having the right job, the right haircut, all to make sure, that the single moment of truth, the first line, they had every chance to be successful.  It seemed, to 14 year old me, like a lot of pressure, a bitter pill to swallow.  I immediately began looking for my hook, preparing for my moment on stage, one day performing for that girl that I may not even like or want, after all is said and done.  So being a lifelong examiner of things (read geek), I had to break it down and understand the heart of it all.

I observed dating as a peculiar effort to build a Brand; the better the Brand, the more girls you could get.  Why, because the Brand had to overcome all the distractions involved in courting a potential mate in a face to face society.  In effect, if I have my Brand in place, I can at least have a chance to somehow communicate the real me; without it, I’m just another face in the crowd.  Admittedly, thhow technology has changed relationshipsis seems like a generalization of dating in the late 20th century, but a young me had to comprehend it at the simplest level.  Sure people met at school, under slightly less pressure but still there was the element of the male putting on a show for the female and she having the ultimate say, something that is by the way ingrained in our DNA, just look to the animal kingdom and their involved mating practices,.  Along the way, many pretend boys met many pretentious girls, they got together and began finding each other’s true nature, with many unhappy endings.

Get to the good news, you say.  Well, here it is.  Along came technology; two information streams seemingly on a collision course that would change dating forever. One, the brick sized cellular phone of the late 90’s and the other the huge home computer that Bill Gates introduced us to around the same time.  Soon it brought us the tools of the trade: internet, email, instant messaging and social networks, the pillars of modern dating.

Remember that problem with building a Brand, no longer necessary.  Remember the nervousness of that first date, a thing of the past.  Today, by the time you actually meet face to face for dinner, you will probably know a library of interesting facts about your date.

Thank you, IM.  You are now, old friends getting together to catch up and share ideas instead of limping through a first date.

Thank you, email.  In fact, you’ve probably already seen photos of your date in his/her environment, maybe you saw her in a more relaxed setting, maybe you saw him with his sister in a charming photo.

online dating, how technology has changed datingThank you, social networking.  A potential couple is now capable of true personal intimacy and understanding much earlier in the relationship.  Social networks allow you a chaperoned view into your potential mate’s life; what is important to them, what makes them happy, most importantly, what he/she may have in common with me.  We, my friends, are miles ahead of the past.  Our next generation will grow up with a real appreciation of people, not just a lust-at-first-sight hunter/prey sensibility.  No pressure on dates, but rather intimacy and idea sharing.

So what happened to the Brand … no longer required.  The new Brand is the real you; your ability to communicate and share your thoughts.  The car you drive, or the job you have is not the front burner requirement anymore.  When the phone met the computer, it revolutionized the way we relate.  You are interested in a certain book, meet 1,500 other people that share your passion, some of them may even be women that you may enjoy to be with in a social setting.

You are a visual person, get on Facebook and see and share music for your eyes.  You enjoy music, share it with your new flame while you are walking (not driving!).  You need to say a quick “I’m thinking of you”, go ahead, add a smiley while you are at it.  You are separated for a while; you can communicate to your heart’s content.  A single mom can flirt and hold her baby’s bottle at the same time, try that one before the blackberry.  You need to coordinate a night out?  I don’t even have to mention this one.

My point is that my whole world is no longer centred on that one good-looking person at the end of the bar and whether I have sufficient Brand so that she will not reject me.  Believe me, there will still be rejection in life, not all is rosy in this brave new world.  There will always be those that will choose to abuse technology to further their unsavoury goals.  But …. at least now you can make an informed decisions on friends that you meet, ones that could possibly lead to having a life-long friend or networking contact.

Imagine not treating people like targets in a meat market; looking at them as valuable people in your life.  Given all the positives there is still often signs of backlash, a common side-effect of massive adoption.  Or people who will choose not to avail themselves of the rich tapestry that is technology.  All that is good, always carries some bad, but I’d like to think that somewhere buried deep in this new culture, is a hope for a connected future.  One where people around you become meaning in your life; and you become part of a sensible society full of companions sharing ideas and not half-truths.

The 14 year me feels a lot better now 🙂

Mr. Dad is a father of one, a business professional and loves his tech gadgets.

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Featured

Too Much Radiation Exposure in Kids?

too much radiation exposure in kidsThe first large study on the use of medical radiation in children says that the average child will get more than seven radiation scans by age 18.

This figure has researchers and health officials concerned because repeated and prolonged exposure to radiation may significantly increase the risk of cancer.

Some of the common screening tests like X-rays use little radiation. But other imaging tests such as CT scans emit far more radiation can raise the risk of cancer. Dental x-rays were not included in the survey.

Should we, as parents, be concerned?

Dr. Adam Dorfman of University of Michigan Medical School, the lead author of the study, thinks so.   “Today’s children are undoubtedly getting many more of these studies than previous generations.”

The research shows that 42 percent of kids underwent one radiation procedure while 25 percent had two or three tests within a three year period. Eight percent had at least one CT scan and three percent had at least two.

Researchers are especially worried about radiation exposure of children since their tissues are more vulnerable. An earlier study shows that the risk of an infant developing cancer from a CT scan of the abdomen is eight times higher compared to a 50-year-old’s risk.

The important thing to note here is that radiation technology should be used properly, although this will prove to be challenging if physicians aren’t area of a patient’s previous scans.  As a parent, we should keep track of our kids and the various tests they have done.

Dorfman added:  “While I can’t say any given procedure was appropriate or inappropriate, I think as a whole we have to make sure when these studies are being used, they are used only when they are absolutely necessary.”

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Entertainment

Craiglist Killer: The Story of Philip Markoff, Megan McAllister and Julissa Brisman

philip markoff, megan mcallister, craiglist killerLifetime’s made-for-TV movie, “The Craigslist Killer” is based on the chilling and disturbing case that gripped the country in 2009. 

Boston University Medical School student Markoff had a bright future ahead including an upcoming wedding to a wealthy, beautiful pre-med student, Megan McAllister.  It was the perfect life – until he started searching for masseuses on the classfied website, Craiglist.

Markoff was leading a double life – he seemed like he had it all together.  But in reality, a he was a killer.

He was charged with the armed robbery and murder of Julissa Brisman in a Boston, Massachusetts hotel on April 14, 2009, a masseuse he met on Craigslist.   He pleaded not guilty to the charge but he was also charged with robbing another masseuse at gunpoint four days prior to the murder.

Brisman wanted to become a substance abuse counselor, inspired by her own successful battle with alcoholism. She called home to her mother every day while pursuing her studies. The 25-year-old was also pursuing a modeling career when she became Markoff’s target.

The feeling of losing my daughter in this way and the pain she must have felt will haunt me for the rest of my life,” Brisman’s mom, Carmen Guzman, said in a statement released last year before what would have been her daughter’s birthday.

Mcallister, who stood by Markoff when he was arrested for the murders, broke off their engagement in June 2009.  After Markoff was arrested, McAllister had released a statement saying, “To me and my family, he is a loving and caring person and in the eyes of the law and constitution, he is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Even after his arrest she thought they would still be together saying, “We expect to marry in August and share and wonderful, meaningful life together.”  

But McAllister broke up with Markoff while he was in prison.  Right before Markoff took his own life, he had written her name in blood on the wall of his jail.

The movie, from a book by Michele McPhee, details Phillip and Megan’s life together from the moment they met, until his suicide in jail just before his trial was set to begin, in August 2010.

Where is McAllister now? She is still pursuing a career in medicine and was attending medical school in the Caribbean.

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Celebrities

Top Celebrity Scandals of 2010

Demi Lovato is in rehab getting betterWe are talking top celebrity youth scandals of 2010.  Who made the top three on our list?  (in no particular order)

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has been in treatment since last month after fighting with back-up dancer Alex Welch during the Jonas Brothers tour in October. 

After the fight, Lovato ended up quitting the Jonas tour and checked herself into rehab “for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time.”

Demi Lovato and Alex Welch have settled their differences after Lovato allegedly gave the backup dancer a black eye.

Lovato is on leave from her Disney show “Sonny With a Chance” and is still in a Chicago treatment facility.   We wish her a speedy recovery!

Lindsay Lohanlindsay lohan vanity fair cover

Lindsay Lohan has had a rough year.   But she was released from rehab January 3rd, quietly leaving the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, Radar Online reports.

“Today is the first day of the rest of my life,” Lohan tweeted on New Year’s Day, before later dropping the quote, “‘The future depends on what we do in the present.’ — Mahatma Gandhi . . . One step at a time.”

The 2007 drunk-driving case that started Lilo’s troubles, causing her to go in and out of prison and rehab, still isn’t completely behind her. The 24-year-old is still on probation and is due in court Feb. 25 for a progress hearing.

But will Lilo be on her way to getting her life back?  She appears to have a good support system keeping her on the straight and narrow.  Her management team is planning to keep the actress out of the spotlight for the time being, similar to Britney Spears’ post-psych ward experience.

Team Lohan includes two people from from Spears’ team: manager Larry Rudolph and financial manager Lou Taylor.

Hopefully Lilo’s team will help get her life back on track!

Miley CyrusMiley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus can’t be tamed! 

Recently a few leaked photos and video show the singer looking right into the camera, very aware that she is being photographed or videotaped.

The latest racy photo shows the Disney star in a revealing black dress and looking shocked as her assistant pretends to kiss her in an inappropriate place.

A few weeks ago, Miley was videotaped smoking salvia from a bong.  The herb is legal in California and most states but can make users as high as those using LSD

Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, wrote on Twitter after her partying video scandal:

“Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. Im so sad. There is much beyond my control right now.”

It’s obvious from his reaction that although he is involved in her life, he can’t seem to control her latest behaviour.

Is Miley looking for attention?  If she is, she’s definitely going about it the wrong way.  Perhaps she’s trying to show the world that she’s no longer a kid and wants to shed that good-girl image.  But she’s only 18 after all.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus are currently going through a divorce, and recently rumors surfaced that Miley is having a hard time dealing with it.

Will Miley continue to be out of control in 2011?

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Featured

Dear Fantsi: Bored Broken and Bothered

Dear Fantsi,  

I am a 39 year old mother of 3 and bored with my life. It seems all I do is work at a job that I tolerate and then run an early morning and late shift at home. Hubby just doesn’t get it or stress the way I do. How do I enjoy life when there is absolutely no time available for me?

boredbrokenandbothered

~~~~~

Dear boredbrokenandbothered,

Life sucks. Period. End of story. Give up now!  And you’re turning 40!!!!!  Does it get any worse?????

Pisshhhhhh. Although I’m sure that’s what many will tell you, trust me, it really doesn’t have to be half as suckish. Sure life has monumental downs… like the 3 hour drugless birthing process.  Not the 12 hour labor, I mean the actual pushing and 30 minute crowning that brought forth into this world my fabulously big-headed bundle of cranial diva joy.  Yes that’s right ouch!  And from time to time life can have some surprising ups … like the fact my OBGYN chose to meticulously sew/reconstruct what could easily have become a fully functioning replica of the Suez Canal!

Spiegel Signature Silk Cashmere Knit Collection

But I digress… Life is mostly a fabulous flutter.  Not always perfect, but always yours to conquer OR surrender to. If you choose to believe it is merely half-way above or half-way below tolerable blahdom… then you sadly choose to surrender to it.   Don’t let your perception of life be completely distorted by celebrity panderings of the life and style of the oh-so-fabulous people they think they are!

Darling, you too are fabulous! You just need to believe it! Start by letting go of the martyr syndrome that’s caged you… and for goodness sake (hereinafter referred to as FGS), adopt my cardinal ME 3 R’s rule – Retreat! Refresh! Recharge!

This rule entails building a 10-20 minutes 3R session into your day, every day. You most certainly are screaming “HOW?!?!?” I sense your exacerbation and empathize, but this is more about habit breaking and routine forming than it is about magical fairy dust sprinkling. I assure you! If you can bribe, I mean, talk your kids into eating their broccoli and peas, you too darling, can do this!

Intrigued? Read on.

RETREAT: Your routine can turn into something like this:  you arrive home, you give the kids a big hug and kiss…  significant/insignificant other can wait – unless he’s/she’s got a blood-orange martini in hand waiting for you and the promise of a no-strings-attached full back rub – at which time you must simply announce that you are dying to change … or need to make one quick business call … or have a serious case of some gastric ailment (this usually works well to stave off those who would otherwise follow you into the toilet with incessant chatter about their *gasp* day … the nerve!). I mean, no bird, fish, dog, cat, child, man or woman for that matter has starved in the 20 minutes you need to become human again … grumpy yes … but then again, so are YOU!

The point is, you need to do whatever it takes to get thee to thy room and shut the door behind you for those precious 20 minutes that you are more than entitled to.

Some advice: do be sure to make it a safe place by putting locks on the door! Truuuust me. It took 10 years of constant walk-ins – worse than any north-eastern clinic during flu season – and one daytime romp-n-sprawl-with-hubby interrupted by one very boundary challenged teen (post-witness-traumatized I might add .. ha ha) to figure out this one remarkable necessity.

Origins Gloomaway™ Grapefruit Body Mist

REFRESH: Do something to refresh!  Brush your hair, your teeth, your legs … whatever … spritz on some perfume or body spray … anything to give you a mental lift. My favorite is Origins Gloomaway™ Grapefruit Body Mist or Body Souffle or even Mary Kay Warm Amber™.  Then FGS!   Change into something fabulously comfortable!

Please leave the sweats and toilet cleaning pants for … toilet cleaning! I am particularly smitten with Speigel’s Signature Silk Cashmere Knit or Stretch Silk Knit Collections for glam loungewear.  I don’t think it is meant to be loungewear, but it really is absolutely perfect.  Feeling calm, refreshed and even a little sexy is half the battle … in a nutshell darling, go on…. get Fantsi! It’s a start!

RECHARGE:  Once safe and settled your aim is to RELAAAX … preferably with drink in hand. Let the kids scream. Let the dog bark. Your household, as brilliant as they all are haven’t the faintest idea how to start a coup and revolt… anarchy isn’t an inherent human trait … they’ll survive a few more minutes without you.

Too distracting? Well, tune them out FGS! Listen to music … your choice … mine varies from day (mood) to day (mood) … today, it happens to be Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major but tomorrow it could quite possibly be Lily Allen’s F*ck You… tres apropos, if you ask me.  Be sure plug that music directly into your ears to truly shut out the voices in your house AND in your head!

Mary Kay Warm Amber™ Eau de Toilette

And FGS darling …. please breeeeeeaaaathe deeeeeeeeeeeeply. Studies show how this alone is instrumental to stress busting… and the clincher: it doesn’t cost a thing! And combined with this routine, it helps keep that mass proliferation of frown lines and stress induced crows feet at bay. Imagine how adorably fantsi your skin can be! (This might be good time to revisit that drinky you had … best to keep that to a limit of 1 or maybe 2 … you don’t want to reverse any of the fantsi goodness we’ve been achieving. Alcoholism, is not the objective here darling!)

And remember, take this precious time and clear your mind of all responsibilities that await you today, tomorrow and every day thereafter. You will have that opportunity in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …

Go forth now darling and conquer!

Best of luck to you! 

PS:  Stay tuned for weekend tips and techniques which involves finding that all elusive “ME” time. A weekend bath, wax, massage and home-based mani-pedi ritual… when time just won’t let you get out to the salon… sound good?? Trust me darling … a calm, sexy, soft and scintillating YOU will get anyone revved up and committed to making sure you get that special time YOU DESERVE.


 

 

Shopping Guide:

Origins www.origins.com   Mary Kay  www.marykay.com   Spiegel www.spiegel.com

 
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