I’m just fresh from my night out with my friends.  We went to watch one of the most anticipated movies of summer, Sex and the city.  It was worth lining up for and it was hilarious and it didn’t featured ’sexcapades’ unlike the tv version.  The girls have moved on and matured and had encountered changes in their lives.

Spoiler alert: if you haven’t watched it, then stop here. But then again, spoilers have been given out months ago, so, proceed.

I liked Samantha Jones’ (Kim Catrall) “maturity” in the movie.  She delivered the funniest and witty lines and among the four, she was still into sex. But she is the best, most fashionable friend one can ask for.  She took care everyone, from a wedding cancellation, to a honeymoon reservation, and Miranda’s wax treatment.

The media coverage did a good job to make the people believe that the Carrie-Big wedding was the happily ever after ending of the story, but..well, that’s where I’ll leave you.

As a future parent to my unborn child, this is one of my concerns.  Parenting styles may have evolved, but the objective has stayed the same.  Parents just want to give their child the best.  Now, the difference is what parents thinks is the best.

Today, parenting and child rearing has become “scientific”. Parents turn to research, self-help books, and ofcourse, google.  After following the steps, some parents end up becoming pushover parents,  Many times, parents end up bringing up their difficult-to-manage child for consultation saying that they have tried everything from reasoning with the child, even spanking, or punishing or threatening but still, nothing changed.

So, what is a pushover parent?  It is best to just see the possible signs.

1. Fails to set specific limits

You can be one if you are not able to set rules even if your child’s behavior are already harming others.

2.  Almost always submits to their kids’ decisions

You are the parent, and until they are still under age, you still have to make their decisions for them as much as possible.

3.  Has feelings of helplessness or intimidation

If you feel overwhelmed in the face of your child’s behavior, then be on guard.

4.  Showers the child with material things to compensate for the guilty feelings

Now, this may not sound bad,really.  Whose parent doesn’t want to give their kids all the things they didn’t have when they were young?  But too much is too much, no matter what justification is laid.

5.  Competes with your spouse over the child’s affections

That’s why there are two parents, well, ideally.  If you’re raising your child with your partner and you two have spats on who the children run to when they need something, then it’s time to talk.  But if you’re a single parent, it’s a different story but has similarities.

A lot of fuss has been going on about Rachel Ray’s Dunkin donuts ads all over.  What’s the big deal? It was because of the black-and-white scarf she wore in the ad while holding an iced latte.  Critics said that it looked an Arab terror person.  For me, what were the critics thinking?

I feel that we are taking this stigma in terrorism too far.  I am not undermining what happened at 911, but then, a scarf? This is a free country the last time I checked, we can wear scarves of whatever design as long as we want.  They say that it was what Arab people wear when they are on a jihad.

I doubt if Rachel Ray bought that from an Arab terrorist disguised as a scarf retailer.  It is bad enough that we terrorism threats, but scaring ourselves?. We are creating our own ghosts. And our labeling has gone too far.  I say, give it a rest.

There are tons and tons of tearjerker movies that has been showed over the years.  And let’s admit, we often avoid these tearjerker movies because feeling down and gloomy is the last thing we need in our lives.  But, we still watch them, but then, we end up laughing or feeling proud that it didn’t made us cry, even a tear.

There is a notion that most chick flicks are tearjerker movies.  But, this is not entirely true, it all depends on what a person feels at the moment they watch the movie, or what the consider as sad or if they are the weepy type, plus a lot of factors.

What makes the difference is if we admit that we cried even a tear. Admitting we cried over a movie is a sign of vulnerability, especially if it’s a chick flick.  But, it happens, and here is a list of what people consider a movies that made them cry but don’t want to admit.

1.  The notebook

Oh, yes, this movie adapted from a Nicholas Sparks’ novel is a tearjerker.  It’s a classic me-against-the-world-because-the-one-is-poor love story but true love conquered in the end.  The most heart-wrenching is the part where Alzheimer-inflicted Allie remembered her husband the night before they died holding hands in the elderly home which was once their house.

2.  The pursuit of happyness

We all know what made us cry a bottle, the subway scene where Will’s character locked the door and cried silently while trying to keep the door closed as someone was trying to knock it open.

3.   I am sam

Sean Penn was at his best here.  And Dakota Fanning’s performance as the ‘adult’ is so touching.

4.  A walk to remember

Now, who would not remember this?  Mandy Moore never looked so simple yet so beautiful.  And in a matter of ways, we do can relate to her.  Not that we all leukemia.

5.  Beaches

Now, the song isn’t the weeping signal here, but how a friendship so strong can fade away and can still be patched but only one standing.

6. American history X

It is not a love story but about brotherly love which can make one empathize to Edward Norton’s character of looking after his younger brother from doing the same thing he did that had him ended up in prison.

People of all sexes have their own preference when it comes to what can make them weepy.  And many don’t want to openly that they were taken by a movie.  Even a funny move can make one cry,right? So, how about you, what’s on your list?

We all know that there is a direct relationship between the sun and skin cancer, so making an effort to have a good tan this summer is becoming an almost impossible option.  So, what are we to do?  In spite of the busy work that we’ll have to do this summer, I bet, that like me, you’ll still squeeze a day to go tan. But we don’t have father Sun to help us with this so I’m extending a helping hand.

A good way is self-tanning or in other words, artificial tanning.  This method of baking was introduced in the 70’s with the advent of the first tanning lotion.  Now, we loads of self-tanning products such as sprays, gels, SPFs, and ofcourse, lotions.  But even with these products that could expediate our tanning process, we want to look naturally baked, so here are a few sneaky ways.

If you’re going to do self-tanning, remember these:

1.  Go nude or wear black

Self-tanning products can stain your clothes, so don’t wear anything when putting a lotion for example or else, someone will notice that you just put something on.  But if you’re a primary colors person, wear it a day after self-tanning.

2.  Apply it a night before flaunting it

Reason for this?  Self-tanning products have a sour odor when applied and you don’t want to smell bad when you’re out there.

3.  Use disposable plastic gloves

As it can not only leave a sour odor, self-tanning products can stain your hands and nails even after excessive washing.

4.  Take a bath before applying the tanning product

In addition, exfoliate moderately.  You may have the perfect tan, but if you don’t exfoliate, deadskin cells might just flake off while you’re out there flaunting it, so, just take your precautions.

With these steps, you can look like you just came back from the beach when in reality, you just came from your bathroom.