he's back

Hollywood summer is here and “Iron Man 2,” the sequel to the hit 2008 superhero movie starring Robert Downey Jr., opened the season with $133.6 million during its first three days of release in North America, distributor Paramount Pictures said on Sunday, meeting pundits’ forecasts but failing to break industry records.

That’s the fifth-highest opening weekend of all time, not accounting for ticket-price inflation, and a sign that audience interest in Marvel Entertainment’s superhero played by Robert Downey Jr. has grown significantly since the first movie debuted with $98.6 million in 2008.

Some rival studios, following pre-release audience surveys had said “Iron Man 2″ could come close to or exceed the largest opening weekend of all time: $158.4 million for “The Dark Knight” in 2008. But although the new film fell short of that mark, it’s still a hugely successful start.

Overseas, “Iron Man 2″ raked in another $57.2 million, this weekend, its second weekend in most foreign countries. That brings its international total to $194 million and worldwide take so far to $327.6 million.

“Iron Man 2″ had by far the biggest domestic opening of the year, a particular achievement given that it didn’t play in 3-D and so didn’t carry the ticket-price surcharges that provided a boost to other top films including “Avatar” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

As the first big movie of the lucrative summer moviegoing season, it easily cruised past the $99 million opening of the first film in the franchise, not to mention the $77 million start of box office behemoth “Avatar.”

“Iron Man 2″ is the first big Marvel superhero film to open since Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) $4 billion purchase of the comic-book studio last year. Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc (VIAb.N), is releasing the film worldwide for a distribution fee.

“Babies” was the only other movie to open nationwide and took in $1.58 million, according to an estimate from distributor Focus Features, a pretty good start for a documentary playing at only 534 theaters, compared with 4,380 for “Iron Man 2.”

Ticket sales for the reboot of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” the No. 1 movie last weekend, plummeted 72% to $9.2 million.

Read More on Access Pinoy

chic momma

Women usually forget about fashion once they become mothers because of so many things to think of: the kids, your husband, daily expenses, and how to stretch your budget, not to mention maintaining the house. These things preoccupy the supermoms that they often look manang or losyang. Looking great and being fashionable doesn't mean you have to drain your savings. Here's how to be chic on a low budget.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY. Most women who gave birth gain huge pounds and have difficulty of fitting into their old clothes. To avoid this, exercise regularly and eat proper diet. It is not enough that your daily home routines will make you sweat or stretch your limbs, a daily morning brisk walking would be a good start.

Here are a couple of benefits of brisk walking:

• It helps to fight against stress, by providing complete relaxation to your mind.
• It protects you from the clutches of diseases like osteoporosis, colon cancer, constipation etc.
• It increases the longevity of your life, by maintaining your fitness.
• It helps in reducing the problem of depression, thus enabling you to derive mental peace.
• It relieves you from backache trouble and also acts as a great remedy for arthritis problem.
• It helps in increasing your flexibility, by strengthening your muscles, bones and joints, thereby toning your body.
• It ensures that you have a proper sleep at night

ADD A SHOT OF STYLISH CHIC TO YOUR LOW-KEY GETUP.  When you do your grocery , you always wear flats, well, nothing's wrong with it, in fact, its advisable, because you do a lot of walking and you don't want to tire your feet too much. You always wear a white tee and jeans combo with your flats because its too comfy and you think that you don't need glam while doing your marketing, you're wrong! Who knows, you might bump into your old classmates or even your ex, and it's a shame if they see you looking losyang. Next time, add some accessories to your laid back look, invest on some necklace and bangles, cutey and colorful flip flops, and more colorful shorts to stand out.

RAID YOUR HUBBY'S CLOSET FOR SOME PIECES YOU CAN WEAR.  Fashion now has named a new trend of jeans, or new way of wearing them, it's the Boyfriend jeans,it’s on the extreme end of the skinny, figure-flattering denim cuts. You can also wear his button-down polos, add some necklace of belt for a more sexy feminine look.

INVEST ON CLASSIC PIECES. See my previous posts on Fashion Investment. You will never go wrong if you invest on a good pair of skinny jeans, high heels, little black dress and versatile tunic dresses.

BE CREATIVE. Let loose your imagination when it comes to how you wear each item in your closet. Skirt can be double as tube top, dresses can turn to trendy tops matched with hot leggings.

photos: dreamstime

home-spa deluxe

Don't worry if Mother's day's over. You can still treat yourself in the  ultimate pampering session even at the convenience of your home, without the high salon price.

Relaxation is not a luxury when you're not busy. It is a must despite your hectic schedule. Buy yourself a healthy mind and body with this easy home-spa.

What you need:

*your favorite music ( preferably mellow of course, to relax your senses)

*scented candles/scented oils/or your favorite perfume, scents can set the you in a relaxing mood

*shower gel,loofahs,body moisturizer,bubble bath,aromatherapy,bath salt,rose petals,shampoo and conditioner

*green tea and fresh fruits

*foot scrub,foot lotion,pumice

*facial cleanser,toner and mask

*towels

What to do:

1. FIX YOUR SCHED. Choose the time of the day when you are most free. It's hard to relax when you are waiting for dinner to cook, or the washing machine to finish its job. The best times are when your kids are either sleeping, or off to school, and hubby is at work. Sunrise and sundown provide the ideal climate and temperature. If the summer heat is too scorching, set your home-spa in an airconditioned or well-ventilated room.

2.SET THE MOOD. Creating a relaxing environment is foremost in fixing a home-spa. Choose the best part in the house where you are most relaxed. The space should be clean and clutter-free. Make sure that lighting is not too bright or not too dark for calming feel. Play some soft music and spray sweet perfume or light scented candles to add your desired ambience.

3. GEAR UP. Put together all your spa essentials: shower gel or bar, body scrub or loofahs, moisturizers, a cup of green tea and a plateful of your favorite fruits, try papaya because it cleanses the digestive system or banana that relieve stress.

4.FACIAL CARE. Cleanse your face with a gentle soap and steam it by placing your face a safe distance over a basin of hot water with some green tea. Apply toner and a facial mask after a few minutes. Try avocado,banana, or aloe mixed with freshly squeezed citrus juice, and a drizzle of olive or nut oil.

5.CONDITION HAIR. Massage shampoo onto hair. Do not use your finger nail tips in scratching your head. Rinse and apply rich conditioner and let it seep into your locks for 5 minutes. You can wrap your head with a towel while waiting for 5 minutes and do your facial mask. Rinse hair in cool water. Shower off.

6.SCRUB AND INDULGE. In the shower,scrub your whole body, following a circular motion. Start from the feet, going up to the neck. Pay close attention to the knees, ankles and heels. Rinse and wrap yourself in a towel. Fix your foot spa with some bubble bath,aromatherapy bath salts and some rose petals on a basin with warm water. Slip your feet into the sweet-smelling water and enjoy the soft music as you drift and think of peaceful places and things while sipping your green tea and munching on fresh fruits.

7. PAT AND DRY. After enjoying 10-20 tranquil minutes of foot spa, rinse and pat dry your feet with a soft cotton towel. Lavishly apply creams or lotions all over your body, specially the knees,ankles and heels. Cap this refreshing experience with some yoga exercises or good massage.

Relax...Inhale...Exhale..

photos: dreamstime

pop momma

Madonna posed in sexy bikini on May 2010 issue of Interview Magazine, and her musculature is perfect. At 51, the Material Girl looks youthful and active. 

In her interview with the mag the 51-year-old ‘Material Girl’ talks about visiting Africa twice a year. 

“I go to Malawi twice a year. It’s where two of my children were adopted from, and I have a lot of projects there that I go and check up on and children who I look after. It’s sort of a commitment that I’ve made to this country and the hundreds of thousands of children there who have been orphaned by AIDS. I made a documentary about it [I Am Because We Are, 2008], and it’s just become part of my life. I’m going to meet with Jeffrey Sachs [the economist]. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s starting a global education initiative, and I’m going to be his Girl Friday, so to speak. We’re going to hold a press conference to talk about the school for girls that I’m building in Malawi. It’s kind of our way of making sure that every kid has a chance to have an education-more specifically girls, but boys as well. Girls, though, in a lot of developing countries don’t have the opportunity to go to school, nor are they encouraged to go to school, so what we’re doing is the beginning of a dream. But I’m going to Malawi for lots of reasons.”

She also talked about ex husband Sean Penn’s work in Haiti: He’s got a fire under his ass, that’s for sure. A bee in his bonnet.

On collaborating with Alek Keshishian on the new film W.E.: I’ve known Alek for years, and we have a weird kind of brother-sister relationship. One minute we’re hugging each other and crying on each other’s shoulders, and the next minute we’re slamming the door in each other’s face and not speaking to each other for a month. [laughs]

On making a movie vs making record: Making records and putting my shows together-except at the very beginning of my career-I’ve never really experienced much resistance. But when you make a movie, it seems like there’s nothing but resistance. Every other day, it’s like, “What am I doing? This is insane. I could be off gardening right now.

On getting her first record deal: Seymour Stein is the person who signed me and gave me my first record deal. He listened to my demo. He was in the hospital, and he had me come in to visit him. He was hooked up to all these weird devices-I don’t know what was wrong with him. But he made me bring my boom box and play my music for him. He was laying there in bed in his boxer shorts and a wife-beater.

Read More on http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/madonna

think your appetite needs spicing up?

Yoga positions get you more sexually excited than making out with your husband; you have to put a burger in your cleavage to get him to look down your shirt, these are few of the signs that your appetite for making love needs some spicing up. Here are some.

1. Let's groove tonight, share the Spice of Life. Hot spices may add the sing you need. Food with a kick increase blood flow, which heightens sexual sensations. Try some chili powder for some red-hot loving. But don't eat too much that you offend your partner.

2.The shape of things to come. Phallic-shaped foods like cucumbers and bananas, or shaped like woman's body parts may be suggestive.

3. Chocolate lovers. Chocolate is not popular on February 14 because it's sweet. Its main ingredient, the cocoa, accumulates in the pleasure centers of the brain and intensifies sexual sensations. Oh I see! So next time, someone gives you chocolate, that person's suggesting something.

4. A Recipe of Love. The amounts are not available in the book, just follow your instincts, but be careful, this might drive the flame into uncontrollable level. Melt sweet butter over medium heat for 10 minutes. Let it sit for a while and remove the white foamy part on top.Pour some of the yellow"ghee"( is a clarified butter without any solid milk particles or water. Ghee is used in India and throughout the South Asia in daily cooking. A good quality ghee adds a great aroma, flavor and taste to the food) into a glass of cow's milk.Melt some black molasses and pour into mixture.Boil a portion of asparagus until tender, then add that and some cinnamon to mixture.Lastly, melt some licorice and blend into brew. Sip with your lover, then slip into something comfortable.

5. A little night of music. Just like the temper tamer  and the laughter medicine that I posted, music plays an important role in couples' lives. Play some music with a crescendo or a strong, rhythmic bass ( or sensuous beat) can really keep things mounting. Pleeaassse!!!, delete your Careless Whisper track from you list!

6.Scentsuality. Jasmine is one the most romantic aromas-rich and exotic. Make sure you're both smelling good when making love. Limit the amount that you'll wear so you won't suffocate him.

source : The Sex Encyclopedia, The Book of Aphrodisiacs,Pamper your Partner

photos: dreamstime

tame that temper

Long meetings, a screaming kid, too many upcoming deadlines, missing stuff, bitchy co-workers and long lists of monthly bills are common daily problems that may affect your sanity. You may end up being extremely stressed at some point. Here are some temper tamers to calm you down before you shout at or punch the first person you see.

1. GET REPETITIVE. Do small movements over and over to help distract and calm you down. Try raising your legs again and again while sitting or play a pen with your fingers. 

2.SAY CHEESE. When you feel upset, force a smile by holding a pen between your teeth. This tricks your mind into thinking that you are actually smiling.

3.IMAGINE. A scene or object that you've always found amusing or calming, like a road trip back to home, your children running to you and giving you hugs, your good-looking husband that will pick you up later, your boyfriend holding up a bouquet of flowers dying to see you tonight, that will relax you.

4. DO SOME STRETCHING. Extend your arms forward or upward counting 1 to 10 while slow inhale-exhale cycle. This can take your mind off situations that rattle you.

5.DOODLE. Be creative, and let the inner artist in you come out. Doodle on your note book or used paper, your names, your family members, flowers, human sticks, etc. This will also take your mind off the situations.

6. TAKE TIME OUT. Ask permission to leave, if you're having a meeting, and have a quick coffee break or a quick chat with a good friend or co-worker outside the room. Go to the washroom and have a powder retouch. Lock yourself up in your room and scream. Put on your headphones while you dig your things for the missing stuff.

Kool Ka Lang!

photos: dreamstime

morning energy booster

Monday is nearing again, have to be up early to work, but most of us are really too lazy & tired to get up for another busy day, whether at home or to work. Here are some tips to boost us in the morning.

1. Buy a coffeepot with a timer and set it to brew a few minutes before your alarm sounds. The aroma of the brewing coffee may help rouse you.

2. For wives, have your hubby wake you with a quick back rub or tummy massage. You may not get out of bed faster, but you'll feel better about the morning. For singles like me, set your alarm to play an up-beat music to pump you up. Mine is ke$ha's TikTok. Music is always a feel-good thing.

3.Before stepping into the shower,scrub your body with a dry,soft,natural-bristle brush from ankles to legs and torso with firm,sweeping strokes. Brush arms, from wrists to shoulders, then move to the neck and brush down to the chest.

4. Use bath products scented with known mood lifters like mint,citrus,rosemary,ginger or basil. The aroma of these products, like coffee, may rouse you.

5. If you're shy in front of people in karaokes, like me, shower is where you can be at your best. Sing while you're soaking your body and rinsing. Remember, as mentioned earlier, music is a feel-good thing, it's an effective mood lifter.

6.Rub your ears from the lobe up with a cooling toner, therapists says, that the ear is a key pressure point in most body massages.

7. Plan at least one fun thing for the day; a lunch date with a friend or checking out a sale at your favorite mall can give you reason to get out of bed.

8.Eat a high-carbohydrate,low-fat breakfast, such as cereal or a plain bagel to stay energized throughout the morning. Avoid fats and sweets.

9. I mentioned in my previous post about laughter being a good medicine. Listen to a funny TV or radio morning show, avoid the morning news, as more than half of the broadcast is bad news. You can try Love Radio 90.7 FM, it's jologs but you'll surely have a good laugh with it.

Tick Tock! Says the Clock!

photos:  dreamstime