JeannyTSY site, Health & Beauty

Madonna and her daughter arrive at premiere of the film "Nine" in NY

2009-12-17T20:17:00.001+07:00

Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon arrive at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Madonna arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon arrive at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Madonna arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Jessica Seinfeld (L), wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, poses with Madonna and daughter Lourdes Leon at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Dsquared2's Caten twins launching into limelight

2009-12-17T20:14:00.000+07:00

This photo taken Sept. 25, 2008 shows Canadian twins Dan, left, and Dean Caten acknowledging the applause at the end of their DSquared2 Spring/Summer 2009 fashion collection presented in Milan, Italy.[Agencies]

NEW YORK – Dan and Dean Caten are loving this moment in the limelight.

The twin-brother team behind the fashion label Dsquared2 are on TV and the radio, they created concert costumes for Madonna and Britney Spears, and they'll be outfitting the headlining performers at the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Earlier this year, they received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame — the only fashion designers to be honored alongside the likes of Michael J. Fox and Wayne Gretzky.

They have a collection of branded MAC cosmetics as well as eyewear and fragrance deals. But any time it seems success might go to their heads, they remember their modest Canadian roots and have a good chuckle.

Actually, they do more than chuckle, they crack each other up, communicating in shorthand that takes other people in the room a little while to understand.

"We are twins in every sense of the word," says Dan, who describes himself as the more approachable of the two — although he's also the one who'll crack the whip at work.

Dean claims he's "taller and thinner," sucking in his cheeks and striking a model-worthy pose.

Hysterics ensue.

They've been this close since the day they were born in 1964 in Willowdale, Ontario, and have wanted to work in fashion almost as long, Dean says. Family life was as ordinary as it could be in a household with nine kids, yet he and Dan always had an eye on a bigger picture that his family couldn't see — one that would take them to New York, Milan, Italy, and now London.

"It was normal people, growing up, just not us," Dean says. "We didn't quite fit in, but it was still fun."

Dan jumps in: "With five sisters, though, we did a lot of shopping, dressed them for a lot of proms and parties — and we dressed them! We could do it on a budget, which allowed us to be more creative, and they trusted us because they knew we knew better than them."

The way they tell it, they couldn't wait to start their careers. The first stop was a summer program at Parsons School of Design straight out of high school, but before they knew it they were back in Canada, coaxed by the owner of Ports International (now known as Ports 1961).

It was there that the Catens cut their technical teeth, learning how to cut a pattern, tailor a jacket and critique their own work. On a local scale of success, they were a hit — but the brothers weren't satisfied. It was going to be the European runway or bust.

"People say, `Why risk everything?' But I say, `Why not risk everything?'" Dan says.

"We chose Europe instead of New York," Dean adds, "because it was not so easy to come back home."

Still, they're proud of their Canadian roots: Maple leaves are incorporated into several designs each season.

They started in menswear in 1994 and added womenswear in 2003. Their runway shows are among the most elaborate and flashy on the Milan schedule with themes ranging from "Charlie's Angels" to "Mad Max."

Personally, they only wear clothes with the Dsquared2 label. "We're our own customer. We know what we want and need, so it's all from our heart and it works," Dean says.

(Dean has been known to act as the fitting model — even for the womenswear — because, he explains, no one else is available in the middle of the night when he does his best work. He says he has mastered high heels.)

The new spring collection has a campfire vibe, presented on the catwalk with "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy blaring through the speakers. "Deep down inside, we're a little `hick,'" Dan says with a smile.

Music is a key source of inspiration, the Catens say, and they put together the playlist for their runway shows as they're sketching styles. Their famous soundtracks led to XM Radio's "Dean and Dan On Air: Style in Stereo" and now they host Bravo's new "Launch My Line," which gives artistic professionals a chance to break into the fashion biz.

The Catens' personalities largely serve as the glue for the TV show.

"Not only are they super-credible, hot and talented designers, the idea of having identical twin brother designers as fashion hosts is as unique as they are," says Andy Cohen, senior vice president of original programming and development at Bravo. "Plus they're fun, fun, fun!"

When they have time for leisure remains a bit of a mystery, but, at least on this day, it seems they enjoy everything they do.

Between their day jobs as designers and moonlighting gigs as entertainers, they designed much of the interior and furniture of the home they moved into in London. They craft their own ad campaigns, and they joke — but not really — that they are toying with an album.

Still, they can't do it all.

"Don't ask me to tap dance, and Dean can't play hockey," Dan says. "But we can figure skate."

taken from : China Daily

Nicole Kidman,Cruz and Hudson arrive at the premiere of the film "Nine" in NY

2009-12-17T20:13:00.000+07:00

Cast member Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009.[Agencies]

Cast member Nicole Kidman poses at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Penelope Cruz arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Madonna arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Penelope Cruz arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Kate Hudson poses at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Kate Hudson arrives at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Kate Hudson (R) arrives with her mother, Goldie Hawn, at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast members Daniel Day-Lewis (L) and Kate Hudson (C) arrive with Hudson's mother, actress Goldie Hawn, at the premiere of the film "Nine" in New York December 15, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Study: Looking young may mean living longer

2009-12-16T21:46:00.000+07:00

LONDON – Those baby-faced people now have another reason to be smug: a new Danish study says looking young apparently means a longer life.

Research published online Monday in the British medical journal BMJ suggests that people who look younger than their years also live longer.

In 2001, Danish researchers conducted physical and cognitive tests on more than 1,800 pairs of twins over aged 70, as well as taking photos of their faces. Three groups of people who didn't know the twins' real ages guessed how old they were. The researchers then tracked how long the twins survived over 7 years.

The experts found that people who looked younger than their actual age were far more likely to survive, even after they adjusted for other factors like gender and environment. The bigger the difference in perceived age within any twin pair, the more likely it was that the older-looking twin died first.

They also found a possible biological explanation: people who looked younger also tended to have longer telomeres, a key DNA component that is linked to aging. People with shorter telomeres are thought to age faster. In the Danish study, the more fresh-faced people had longer telomeres.

The authors said that perceived age, which is widely used by doctors as a general indicator of a patient's health, is a good biomarker of aging that predicts survival among people over age 70.

taken from : China Daily

Pictures of the year: Fashion

2009-12-16T21:41:00.002+07:00

Photographers and videographers train their cameras on a model as she presents a creation from the Rosa Cha Spring 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week, September 10, 2009.

A model displays a creation as part of DSquared 2 Spring/Summer 2010 men's collection during Milan Fashion Week, June 23, 2009.[Agencies]

Models present creations by German designer Karl Lagerfeld as part of his Spring/Summer 2010 women's collection for French fashion house Chanel during Paris Fashion Week, October 6, 2009.[Agencies]

A model walks in central Madrid after the show of designer Maria Lafuente at Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 show in Madrid, September 21, 2009.[Agencies]

Models display creations by designer Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel's 2009-2010 cruise collection at the Excelsior hotel on the Venice Lido, May 14, 2009.[Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Celebs attend at the Z100 Jingle Ball in NY

2009-12-14T21:04:00.001+07:00

Singer Taylor Swift performs during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Adam Lambert introduces an act during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Kris Allen performs during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Taylor Swift performs during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Comments(0) PrintMail

Singer Taylor Swift performs during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Actress Leighton Meester introduces an act during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

Singer Taylor Swift performs during the Z100 Jingle Ball in New York December 11, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Chanel's Far Eastern fantasy barges into Shanghai

2009-12-14T21:01:00.001+07:00

Karl Lagerfeld left China's fashionistas awestruck by showing his latest collection of haute couture on the Huangpu River earlier this month, with the city's legendary skyscrapers serving as a backdrop to his Paris-Shanghai Metier D'Arts Collection.

"Shanghai has a special reputation that sets it apart from other Chinese cities," said the Paris-based German designer, who serves as the creative director at Chanel. "My interest in the city (was piqued) by both its past and its present."

The 8th annual edition of his special line dedicated to seven exclusive Paris-based metals and embroidery ateliers - which Channel purchased in 2002 - was presented exclusively in Shanghai with a tribute film to Coco Chanel, the mastermind behind the French brand.

Written and directed by Lagerfeld, a.k.a. The Kaiser, "Paris Shanghai, a fantasy" depicted the tale of Coco's imaginary voyage to China, bringing the tableau to life along an 85-m-long barge on Shanghai's central waterway.

The screening was followed by a show featuring over 30 models, with Lagerfeld's own cosmopolitan Terracotta Army of human clothes horses capturing the spirit of Hollywood heroines, the urban romanticism of Chinese cinema, and the grandeur of the city's 1930s heyday.

In modes of jet black, fiery red, midnight blue and khaki, wafer-thin models fashioned high-collared suits, richly embroidered fitted coats, knitwear with raised patterns, tunics and sequined gowns highlighting their slender shoulders and slim waistlines.

Long, striking earrings and large printed hats framed their faces while sexy leather heels with aged-cork soles and thigh-reaching boots added a sense of edginess.

His signature trademarks were illustrated by the models' dark sunglasses and sleek ponytails.

Amid all the hard work, Lagerfeld still found time to lighten the mood, at one point during the preceding press-conference even mock-apologizing for the absence of the world's two most historic fashion icons: Mao Zedong's jacket and Coco Chanel's coat

Nonetheless, Chinese undertones are woven into his popular French-style romantic pieces.

Lagerfeld said he was greatly influenced by the country's distant past, especially the striking colors of Chinese red and imperial yellow, as well as by its traditional music.

"I have seen some ancient (Chinese) clothes from more than 2,000 years ago, and they still look modern today," he said.

taken from : China Daily

Miss World: Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino crowned

2009-12-14T21:01:00.000+07:00

Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino reacts after winning the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.[Agencies]

JOHANNESBURG – Kaiane Aldorino from Gibraltar was named the new Miss World at a glittering two-hour pageant that put South Africa in the spotlight and featured traditional dancers and drummers.

The leggy brunette, dressed in white-lace evening gown, was crowned as silver confetti rained down onstage around her. She clapped her hands to her mouth when her name was announced.

"I have no words," she said when asked to describe how she felt. "I am really happy."

The 23-year-old administrative clerk from the British territory on the tip of the Iberian peninsula was a crowd favorite after winning the swimsuit competition.

She joined seven other contestants in the final round of the show. The loudest cheers were reserved for Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar who was the second runner-up.

First runner-up was Miss Mexico, Perla Beltran Acosta.

Aldorino did not give an indication of what her immediate plans were now that she had won the prestigious title.

"I will try to do the best that I can now that I have opportunity and advantage," she said in a brief interview with The Associated Press after the event.

Gibraltar, known as The Rock, is a quirky, multicultural British outpost of 30,000 people, most of whom speak perfect Spanish and even own property along Spain's southern Mediterranean coast. An estimated 12,000 people cross over from Spain daily to work and many more to visit.

Spain ceded sovereignty of Gibraltar to Britain in a 1713 treaty, but has persistently sought its return, claiming the territory as a natural and historic part of its geography. The outcropping is in the Strait of Gibraltar, for centuries a strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Wearing her crown of tiny jeweled blue flowers, Aldorino said had been impressed with South Africa, which was hosting its seventh Miss World final.

"It has a lot to offer," she said.

South Africa is taking advantage of the world's attention as the country gears up to host the World Cup in June.

Saturday's show, which was televised across the world, gave a taste of South Africa's rich cultural heritage and natural attractions.

The 112 contestants were welcomed at the start by Zulu dancers and the ululating African female performers. There were clips from the finalists time in South Africa — showing the beauties cuddling cheetahs and lions, on pristine white beaches and even playing soccer.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for South Africa to showcase that they can host a world-class event and also a great tourist opportunity to show off the best that South Africa has in store," Keshwar said.

taken from : China Daily

Wedding list: Flowers, church, liposuction?

2009-12-11T19:12:00.000+07:00

LONDON - More than half of Britain's brides-to-be and 39 percent of grooms are considering cosmetic surgery or an aesthetic treatment in preparation for their wedding, according to a new study.

Treatments and procedures under consideration ahead of the big day range from botox through to breast augmentation, cosmetic surgery advice website www.goodsurgeonguide.co.uk said.

"A wedding is the single most important day in plenty of men and women's lives and a large number want everything to be perfect, including their appearance," said goodsurgeonguide.co.uk co-founder Christiana Clogg.

The website, which says it is Britain's only review and recommendation site for cosmetic practitioners and clinics, asked 512 engaged women and 509 grooms-to-be whether they are considering having a cosmetic treatment prior to their wedding day.

It found that 58 percent of the women and over 1 in 3 of the men were considering cosmetic treatment.

The results also showed that 11 percent of the women and nine percent of the men who took part in the research had already had some work done.

The most common reason for women wanting to have surgery before their wedding day was to look good in their photos, with 64 percent claiming it would make them feel better about themselves.

Men were more concerned about pleasing their partner, with 3 in 5 saying they would consider surgery to be more appealing to their other half.

In a multi-answer question, the website asked them which procedures appealed to them most.

The most popular considered by women were:

1. Botox - 68 percent

2. Teeth Whitening - 62 percent

3. Liposuction - 55 percent

4. Breast Augmentation - 47 percent

5. Face plumpers - 43 percent

The men went for:

1. Veneers - 78 percent

2. Botox - 62 percent

3. Hair Plugs - 41 percent

4. Liposuction - 33 percent

5. Chest Reduction - 25 percent

taken from : China Daily

Burberry creative head wins Brit Designer of Year

2009-12-11T19:11:00.000+07:00

LONDON - Luxury goods group Burberry said its Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey has won the 2009 Designer of the Year prize at the British Fashion Awards.

Burberry also won Brand of the Year at the ceremony held at The Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday night.

Bailey said the 153-year-old British maker of raincoats, fashionable clothes and accessories will continue to show its Burberry Prorsum womenswear show during London Fashion Week.

Burberry, which runs 122 retail outlets, 255 concessions, 90 franchise stores and an e-commerce business in over 25 countries reported better than expected second-quarter revenue forecasts last month, helped by demand for handbags, leather goods and snoods.

It said it expected to open about 15 mainline stores over the full year, at the top end of its previous guidance.

Bailey has previously been recognized at the British Fashion Awards with the Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2008 and 2007 and with the Designer of the Year award in 2005.

He is responsible for the design of all Burberry collections and products, as well as all advertising, corporate art direction, architectural design, multi-media content and overall brand image for Burberry.

taken from : China Daily

A Minute With: Tom Ford on dressing his "Single Man"

2009-12-11T18:00:00.000+07:00

LOS ANGELES - Fashion designer Tom Ford is best known for reinventing the house of Gucci in the 1990s and more recently, launching his own Tom Ford label.

But Ford has shifted gears in recent months to movie directing and his debut "A Single Man" begins playing in U.S. theaters on Friday after a run in festivals earlier this year.

Based on Christopher Isherwood's novel, the film stars Colin Firth as a man who can't bear to continue living after suffering the tragic loss of his lover.

Ford spoke to Reuters about the movie, his switch from fashion to film, and his idea of "enhanced reality."

Q: How does filmmaking compare to fashion design?

A: "Filmmaking is a totally different expression. Fashion for me is a commercial endeavor. Filmmaking is an artistic endeavor and a commercial endeavor. Working on 'Single Man' was the truest expression of anything I've ever created. It had nothing to do with fashion."

Q: Still, you had to get someone to give a fashion designer money to make a movie. How did you do that?

A: "You don't. You pay for it yourself, which is what I did. We had financing set up, but then the Lehman Bros. crash happened. The people who were investing money pulled out in early September when we were already in pre-production."

Q: What brought you to the decision to finance it?

A: "I was talking to (billionaire businessman) David Geffen, who's a friend of mine, and said: 'David, I'm trying to decide if I should just use my own money but everyone keeps telling me that's dumb.' He said: 'Invest in yourself. It's always the best investment.' I realize I'm very, very fortunate to have that ability."

Q: Exactly how much did you put in?

A: "All of it, so I know exactly how much. We worked with the union ... and the maximum you could spend was $7.2 million dollars and we came in below that."

Q: Julianne Moore was the first actor on board. How did you convince a triple Oscar nominee like her to sign on?

A: "I've known her for a long time. I've dressed her. We're friends. At one point, I said something to her about being sweet to consider this part. She said: 'I'm not sweet. I like the script. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love the script.'"

Q: You had someone else in the lead before Colin Firth.

A: "Colin was my first choice, but he wasn't available because he was going to be shooting 'Dorian Gray.' So I cast another actor but when our production schedule moved, he dropped out. Colin was wrapping 'Dorian Gray.'"

Q: He won best actor at the Venice film festival. Now there's talk about a shot at an Oscar. What do you think?

A: "He absolutely deserves an Oscar. We shot this film in 21 days, shooting night and day and Colin's in every single scene. He has an ability to show an enormous amount of what his character is thinking or feeling without moving his face -- just telegraphing it. That was very important for this character."

Q: Every person in this movie is drop dead model gorgeous -- like they could appear in one of your fashion campaigns.

A: "Honestly, I didn't even notice it was populated with beautiful people. Although Colin's character is going through what may be the last day of his life, so he's struck by beauty everywhere. I believe in a kind of enhanced reality. A long time ago, movies used to be that way. If I were working in a different era, I would have had to have been at MGM."

Q: How so?

A: "Alfred Hitchcock -- and I'm certainly not comparing myself to him -- everything he did was stylized and every single person was gorgeous. It was enhanced reality. Style without substance isn't worth very much."

taken from : China Daily

Hepburn's wardrobe sells for double estimate

2009-12-10T19:38:00.000+07:00

Former Royal Ballet principal dancer Darcey Bussell poses in a Valentino black ruffle-edged cocktail gown from 1970-1971, in London, December 7, 2009.[Agencies]

LONDON - A collection of dresses worn by film star Audrey Hepburn fetched 268,000 pounds ($437,800) at auction, more than double the pre-sale estimate, organizers said on Wednesday.

More than 40 items from her wardrobe, including dresses worn in her films, were auctioned in London in a sale described by organizers as "the like of which will never be seen again."

The highest price, 60,000 pounds, was paid for a Chantilly lace cocktail gown by Givenchy which Hepburn wore in "How to Steal a Million" in 1966 -- against an estimate of 15,000 to 20,000 pounds.

Givenchy was the designer most closely linked with Hepburn, but also up for auction was the ivory satin bridal gown designed by the Fontana Sisters for her planned marriage to James (later Lord) Hanson, which sold for 13,800 pounds. Hepburn later called off the wedding.

Hepburn, who won an Oscar for her first starring role as a runaway princess in "Roman Holiday," is also known for roles as divergent as cockney Eliza in "My Fair Lady" and a terrorized blind woman in "Wait Until Dark."

The actress, who personified the svelte, chick, minimal European post-war look, became renowned for her perceived purity, innocence and vulnerability, the fashion auctioneer Kerry Taylor said before the sale.

The collection was sold by Tanja Star-Busmann, a life-long friend of Hepburn's, and 50 percent of the net sale proceeds will be donated to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

Organizers at La Galleria had expected the auction to fetch a total of 100,000 pounds, but in the event it made 268,320.

"Tanja is pleased that all these lovely clothes and accessories that she has treasured for so many years will go to collectors and museums throughout the world," Taylor said in a statement.

Hepburn's clothes do not often come up at auction, despite the actress hating waste.

She died in 1993 at the age of 63.

taken from : China Daily

Celebrities Nicole Kidman,Cruz and Fergie arrive at screening of film "Nine" in L.A.

2009-12-10T19:13:00.002+07:00

Actress Nicole Kidman, star of director Rob Marshall's new film "Nine", arrives at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, California December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

Actresses (L-R) Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Fergie, stars of director Rob Marshall's new film "Nine", pose at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, California December 9, 2009.[Agencies]

Actresses Penelope Cruz (L) and Nicole Kidman, stars of director Rob Marshall's new film "nine", pose at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, California December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

Actresses Nicole Kidman (L) and Fergie, stars of director Rob Marshall's new film "Nine", pose at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, California December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

Actress Nicole Kidman, star of director Rob Marshall's new film "Nine" arrives at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, California December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Prenatal yoga: pregnant poses, great expectations

2009-12-09T17:55:00.002+07:00

NEW YORK - Modern mothers-to-be are turning to the 4,000-year-old practice of yoga to put mind over pregnancy matters as they strengthen their bodies for the road ahead.

"There's a level of comport and presence women cultivate when they're practicing regularly through their pregnancies, so the changes that come are not going to shake them," Elena Brower, a New York City-based yoga instructor said in an interview.

The founder of the Virayoga studio in Manhattan, Brower has worked with celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow and Christie Turlington Burns during their pregnancies. She also has developed the DVD "Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga."

"It's about teaching women how to safely strengthen their abdominals," said Brower, herself the mother of a toddler. "And strengthening is complemented by learning how to stretch, so that you can be as limber as possible when that baby comes."

Yoga can also help women to get to know themselves a little better.

"You have a level of presence that allows you to ride the wave of the contraction/pain into another place. You don't think intellectually about it. You breathe."

A study of 335 pregnant women in Bangalore, India, found that those who practiced yoga experienced shorter labor, less pregnancy-induced hypertension, and higher birth-weight babies than the control group.

More than 11 million Americans are estimated to do some form of yoga. The name derives from the Sanskrit meaning yoke or union, and the practice strives to unite movement and breath.

Brower cautions that some of the pretzel-like contortions that characterize the practice are not suitable for expectant mothers, even if they are experienced yogis.

"Don't lie on your belly, don't twist. You want to keep the house as big as possible for the baby," she advises. "Do inversions if it feels right."

Dr. Jacques Moritz, Director of Gynecology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, says yoga is a fine idea for pregnant women, as long as they inform their instructors of their condition.

"Yoga is a great relaxing exercise. It's good for flexibility, it limbers people up," he said. "Part of the process of having a baby is opening up your pelvis. Yoga is one of the good ways to do that. It strengthens your core muscles and pelvic diaphragm."

Moritz, who is featured in the 2008 documentary film "The Business of Being Born," said it also helps the back pain that nearly all women get during pregnancy.

Post-natal yoga can help new mothers re-tone and strengthen the pelvic floor but Moritz warned they should wait six to eight weeks after the birth before resuming yoga.

"You can't do something if you're still fatigued," he explained. "Most women are still breast-feeding on demand every three hours. So the last thing on their mind is exercise."

Then there's the challenge of losing that postpartum weight. The average woman puts on about 30 pounds of it during pregnancy.

Moritz is familiar with those celebrity supermoms who seem to drop their baby weight in the time it takes the rest of us to complete a sun salutation.

"For celebrity clients it's all about getting back in shape immediately," he said. "Most of them are doing yoga and Pilates."

taken from : China Daily

Health Garlic, chili ineffective against A/H1N1: Officials

2009-12-09T17:55:00.001+07:00

Despite popular belief, neither garlic nor chili is an effective weapon against A/H1N1 influenza, health officials said yesterday.

The price of garlic - a popular flu remedy in traditional Chinese medicine - has skyrocketed by more than 500 percent this winter amid public fear about the spread of the potentially deadly virus. Recent media reports said that the demand for chili is also increasing.

But Wu Jiang, head of the immunity division under the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said garlic and chili are not a cure for H1N1.

"There is no scientific proof that either garlic or chili is effective against the flu," Wu said during a live web cast on Qianlong.com, the municipal government-run news portal.

"The two ingredients may work for people to improve their digestive functions and stay healthy, but they are definitely not useful for curing the flu," said the official.

Yesterday, the price of garlic remained high at 7.40 yuan per 500 g at the Xinfadi market, the largest vegetable market in Beijing.

It cost less than 1 yuan per 500 g before the H1N1 outbreak. Chili cost about 7.50 yuan per 500 g, compared to 4 yuan earlier this year.

Liu Tong, head of Xinfadi's market department, said there are signs that the price of garlic will soon drop, the Beijing Times reported.

"It is pure rumor that red pepper farmers and sellers are stocking up on the ingredient and waiting for the prices to soar like garlic," Liu said.

"The price is rising because it needs to recover from a major drop earlier this year amid the economic slowdown."

"Pet owners should pay attention when playing with them. I would suggest people not to kiss their puppies during this particular period," Wu said during the web cast.

But the official denied that the virus was spreading among pets, including dogs.

She also said that 2.16 million people in Beijing had received H1N1 vaccinations by Sunday and 621 people, or three out of 10,000 cases, reported side effects.

Deng Xiaohong, vice-director and spokeswoman of the Beijing municipal bureau of health, said the number of flu victims is expected to peak during the upcoming New Year holiday.

More than 3 million vaccines are still available to residents in Beijing.

Local and foreign residents can apply by Dec 15 to receive the vaccine.

taken from : China Daily

Miss Arab beauty pageant

2009-12-09T17:38:00.002+07:00

An Israeli-Arab contestant has make-up applied before the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

Israel-Arab contestants posebackstage during the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

A woman looks at an Israel-Arab contestant during the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

An Israel-Arab contestant walks the runway during the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

Israel-Arab contestants take part in the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

Manar Dabah, the newly crowned Miss Arab beauty queen, poses during the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

Israeli-Arab contestants prepare before the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.

Manar Dabah, the newly crowned Miss Arab beauty queen, takes part in the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

Manar Dabah, the newly crowned Miss Arab beauty queen, is seen during the 2009 Miss Arab beauty contest in Shefaram, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, December 6, 2009.[Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Health Cigarettes kill, but don't tell smokers

2009-12-09T17:22:00.002+07:00

SINGAPORE - Cigarette pack warnings that remind smokers of the fatal consequences of their habit may actually make them smoke more as a way to cope with the inevitability of death, according to researchers.

A small study by psychologists from the United States, Switzerland and Germany showed that warnings unrelated to death, such as "smoking makes you unattractive" or "smoking brings you and the people around you severe damage," were more effective in changing smokers' attitudes toward their habit.

This was especially the case in people who smoked to boost their self-esteem, such as youth who took up the habit to impress or fit in with their peers and others who thought smoking increased their social value, the researchers said.

"In general, when smokers are faced with death-related anti-smoking messages on cigarette packs, they produce active coping attempts as reflected in their willingness to continue the risky smoking behavior," the study said.

"To succeed with anti-smoking messages on cigarette packs one has to take into account that considering their death may make people smoke."

The study was based on 39 psychology students, aged between 17 and 41, who said they were smokers.

Participants filled in a questionnaire to determine how much their smoking was based on self-esteem, were then shown cigarette packs with different warnings on them, and then after a 15-minute delay, the students were asked more questions about their smoking behavior that included if they intended to quit.

"One the one hand, death-related warnings were not effective and even ironically caused more positive smoking attitudes among smokers who based their self-esteem on smoking," the study said.

"On the other hand, warning messages that were unrelated to death effectively reduced smoking attitudes the more recipients based their self-esteem on smoking."

The researchers said this finding can be explained by the fact that warnings such as "smoking makes you unattractive" may be particularly threatening to people who believe that smoking makes them feel valued by others or boosts their self-image.

The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

taken from : China Daily

Johnny Depp attends a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies" in Tokyo

2009-12-09T17:22:00.001+07:00

U.S. actor Johnny Depp waves at a photo session prior to a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies" in Tokyo December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

U.S. actor Johnny Depp poses at a photo session prior to a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies " in Tokyo December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

U.S. actor Johnny Depp poses at a photo session prior to a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies" in Tokyo December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

U.S. actor Johnny Depp waves at a photo session prior to a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies " in Tokyo December 9, 2009. [Agencies]

U.S. actor Johnny Depp greets his fans upon his arrival at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo, December 8, 2009. Depp arrived in Japan on Tuesday to promote his movie "Public Enemies". [Agencies]

U.S. actor Johnny Depp greets his fans upon his arrival at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo, December 8, 2009. Johnny Depp arrived in Japan on Tuesday to promote his movie "Public Enemies". [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Sexy minnie Megan Fox

2009-12-08T19:56:00.002+07:00

Megan Fox dresses up for a Minnie Mouse look in her new photo shoots.

taken from : China Daily

Cast members arrive for premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood

2009-12-08T19:49:00.002+07:00

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-08 16:09

Cast member Saoirse Ronan arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Executive producer Steven Spielberg arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood, California December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Rachel Weisz arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood, California December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Saoirse Ronan arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Rachel Weisz arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood, California December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Executive producer Steven Spielberg and director Peter Jackson arrive for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood, California December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Alyson "Aly" Michalka (L) and Amanda "AJ" Michalka arrive for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood, California December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Director Peter Jackson arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Michael Imperioli arrives for the premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood December 7, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Hugh Grant attends game show "Wetten Dass" in Bremen

2009-12-07T18:58:00.001+07:00

Thomas Gottschalk, the TV presenter of German game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it...?), listens to British actor Hugh Grant during the show in Bremen December 5, 2009.[Agencies]

British actor Hugh Grant jokes with German actress Stephanie Stumph during the German game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it...?) in Bremen December 5, 2009.[Agencies]

British actor Hugh Grant stands in the audience during the German game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it...?) in Bremen December 5, 2009.[Agencies]

British actor Hugh Grant (R) jokes with comedian Anke Engelke, dressed as her character Anneliese, during the German game show "Wetten Dass" (Bet it...?) in Bremen December 5, 2009.[Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Robbie Williams performs during the Miss France 2010 pageant in Nice

2009-12-07T18:55:00.001+07:00

British singer Robbie Williams performs during the Miss France 2010 pageant in Nice, southeastern France, December 5, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

Style Low-carbon lifestyle fashionable

2009-12-07T18:54:00.000+07:00

Actress Li Bingbing (center), an ambassador with the Earth Hour campaign in Asia organized by the WWF, joins volunteers to advocate for a low-carbon lifestyle in Beijing Wednesday. [Xinhua]

A youthful online group that calls itself the "Low-Carbon Tribe" is leading the way to an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Tribe members, who range in age from 20 to 40, say they are trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in a relaxed and fashionable way.

Helping save the planet is part of their daily routine, they claim, citing the way they dress, what they eat and how they travel.

Following the lead of government-sponsored environmental groups, the website Internet Forest was launched on World Earth Day, April 22, and offers netizens tips on how to be a Low-Carbon Tribe member.

Anyone can get involved.

Supermodel Jiang Peilin said she has been wearing cotton for a long time, because it is healthy and eco-friendly. She never drinks bottled water, because plastic harms the environment.

Li Huiying, a 27-year-old office worker in Beijing, takes the subway to work every day, even though she bought a car in 2006. She seldom uses her air-conditioner at home and in the office turns it down a couple of notches to save energy.

A low carbon way of life is in vogue, Jiang said.

"It shows young people also care about society and we try to influence people around us."

Li Yongmei, a spokeswoman for Internet Forest, launched by science and technology company hutong.com, says the website has had 17 million visitors so far.

She said there are online discussions with environmentalists and staff members of non-governmental organizations like the Climate Group.

It offers carbon-saving advice such as washing clothes by hand, eating less meat and climbing stairs instead of using elevators.

Li said these activities and the carbon savings they entail are based on the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), initiated by The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Economic Forum in late 2005.

Some tribe members balance their carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees.

Celebrities have got in on the action and actress Zhou Xun said she spent 6,000 yuan ($879) on buying and planting 238 trees in Beijing at the beginning of this year.

She said it was to offset the amount of carbon dioxide she emitted in 2008.

Professor Chen Jiancheng, at Beijing Forestry University, said the Low-Carbon Tribe proves more Chinese are concerned about environmental protection.

taken from : China Daily

Back pain? It could be stress

2009-12-03T16:20:00.001+07:00

Modern life can be a blur of dropping the children off at school, preparing for an important meeting at work and then managing a big project for the boss only to get to the weekend and face a mountain of household chores.

It all translates into stress for a lot of people, which means a series of negative signals, both mental and physical. Many start to feel worn out. Some fall ill.

"Stress is harmful in the long run," says psychologist Joachim Kugler of Germany's Dresden Technical University. But every person experiences stress differently.

"What's stressful for one is just a challenge for the second. A third might see it as a neutral."

A person's time limitations don't make a difference, adds Frank Schneider, president of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology. Stress means brushing up against one's limits.

Anyone who doesn't face the problem squarely runs the risk of getting caught in a downward spiral. "Stress is a signal, like when you're driving and the petrol level drops and a little yellow lamp lights up," says Nossrat Peseschkian, a psychotherapeutic physician and neurologist. He sees stress as the expression of conflict, which manifests itself as disease.

Stress can show itself in a variety of ways. It can be subjective: A person might just feel stressed and try to learn more about it.

But it can also manifest itself on a physical level, with psychosomatic illnesses like stomach, head or back pains, a racing heart or asthma attacks, says Kugler. Stress shows itself at the behavioral level by upsetting sleep schedules or driving people to abuse substances like alcohol.

Additionally, people who lose or gain weight, often seem scared, wake up suddenly or are prone to popping pills might suffer from stress. "Chronic stress symptoms resemble depression," says Schneider.

Hormonal status provides a more objective test. Just like someone who jogs 10 km a day, people with elevated stress levels will see a jump in cortisone levels in their saliva. Football coaches awaiting a big game or top-level stock market traders ahead of the opening bell would never admit to being stressed, says Kugler. But studies have shown they have elevated cortisone levels.

That change can explain the stomach problems which some people experience during stress. "The stress hormone cortisol strips away the acid protection of the stomach lining." It also boosts immunity in the short term, but weakens it in the long term, meaning people suffering from stress are more likely to catch the sniffles.

That means it is important to manage both positive and negative stress. Relaxation methods like autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation in the Jacobsen style are both possibilities.

"That makes it possible to learn how to survive certain situations without damaging stress," says Schneider. He says he will often put aside the telephone for a moment or two in stressful situations and take two minutes to compose himself.

"When someone learns to split his energy between multiple areas of life, then he can cope quite well with life's surprises," says Peseschkian. He says it is important to find the positive in stress. Fear is a sign that someone is avoiding particular questions. Aggression shows a need to express feelings. Depression shows that someone has yet to make a decision.

Stress management means keeping an eye on what happens next. Keeping an inventory is important. How, where and when did the stressful situation develop? What was the reaction? What was learned from the crisis? How did a person get past it?

Finally, it's important to keep one thing in mind: "When a person has a goal, it's possible to push stress to the side."

taken from : China Daily

Bai Ling arrives at H&M's lingerie collection in Paris

2009-12-03T16:20:00.000+07:00

Chinese actress Bai Ling poses as she arrives for a fashion show by Sonia Rykiel for H&M's lingerie collection at the Grand Palais in Paris December 1, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

JeannyTSY site, Health & Beauty

Madonna and her daughter arrive at premiere of the film "Nine" in NY

Dsquared2's Caten twins launching into limelight

Nicole Kidman,Cruz and Hudson arrive at the premiere of the film "Nine" in NY

Study: Looking young may mean living longer

Pictures of the year: Fashion

Celebs attend at the Z100 Jingle Ball in NY

Chanel's Far Eastern fantasy barges into Shanghai

Miss World: Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino crowned

Wedding list: Flowers, church, liposuction?

Burberry creative head wins Brit Designer of Year

A Minute With: Tom Ford on dressing his "Single Man"

Hepburn's wardrobe sells for double estimate

Celebrities Nicole Kidman,Cruz and Fergie arrive at screening of film "Nine" in L.A.

Prenatal yoga: pregnant poses, great expectations

Health Garlic, chili ineffective against A/H1N1: Officials

Miss Arab beauty pageant

Health Cigarettes kill, but don't tell smokers

Johnny Depp attends a news conference to promote his movie "Public Enemies" in Tokyo

Sexy minnie Megan Fox

Cast members arrive for premiere of the film "The Lovely Bones" in Hollywood

(Agencies) Updated: 2009-12-08 16:09

Hugh Grant attends game show "Wetten Dass" in Bremen

Robbie Williams performs during the Miss France 2010 pageant in Nice

Style Low-carbon lifestyle fashionable

Back pain? It could be stress

Bai Ling arrives at H&M's lingerie collection in Paris

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-08 16:09