BuzzSugar

Tell Me the Book You Most Want to Read This Summer!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:30:00 PDT

I'm already celebrating Summer with the movies in my Netflix Challenge, but I also have a hankering for something literary to bide my time. With so many adaptations in the works, there are plenty of reads to pick from - so much so that I've decided to start up my book club yet again. And I'd love for you to join me!

Starting next week, I'll be cracking open a brand-new book, but I don't want this to just be one of my choosing - I'd like for you to weigh in on which story you'd like to read first, too. Whichever gets the most votes will be declared the official winner (democracy at its finest, people). If you need a refresher on what they're all about, click here; then check back, as the book club gets going!

Anna Faris Adds Chris Evans to Her List of Conquests

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:30:13 PST

Anna Faris and Chris Evans have signed on for the comedy What's Your Number?. Based on the book 20 Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak, the story follows a young woman (Faris) who hits her "number" quota (read: the total men she's slept with), and thus, revisits her ex-boyfriends to make a relationship with one of them work. Evans is presumably stepping in to play Faris's lothario neighbor who helps her on her search, but I think we can all see where this is going - she realizes she doesn't want her old loves and falls for her womanizing (but adorable!) friend instead. But hey, that's just my hypothesis.

We first heard rumblings about this project over a year ago, and since Faris's forte is funny, semi-raunchy scenes, I'm glad to see it finally come to fruition. Granted, the idea of a "number quota" is a little dumb, but I can't wait to see what guys pop up as her past loves. Hello, awesomely awkward actor cameos.

Have you read 20 Times a Lady? What do you think about Anna Faris and Chris Evans as an onscreen couple?

Anna Faris Gets More Roles - Yay!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:30:08 PST

I really love watching Anna Faris onscreen. I may not have liked House Bunny as a movie, but I was completely charmed by Faris and I would love to see her carry more films that perhaps showcase her talents even more. So - today there's good news for Faris and all of her devotees: She's got two more projects coming down the pipeline.

One is a romantic comedy adapted from Karyn Bosnak's novel 20 Times a Lady. The story follows "a woman who goes on a trek through her sexual past in an effort to find Mr. Right, exploring the idea of a person's sexual quota and whether those numbers matter."

The other is an untitled pitch from Faris herself, along with Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, and is described as "a female buddy comedy following two estranged sisters who team up to land a husband." Paramount picked up the project and Happy Madison will also produce.

Who do you think should play her sister? And are you as psyched as I am to see Faris in more starring roles?

Source

Yogini Kristin McGee Dishes on Bethenny Frankel's Fave Pose and Getting Ready For Beach Season

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:21 PDT

I was lucky enough to take a class taught by Manhattan-based yoga teacher Kristin McGee right here in San Francisco! Although one busy lady, Kristin traveled across the country to teach Vinyasa Vibes (a new offering at The Sports Club/LA), a flow-based, powerful yoga sequence enhanced by music. The most musical part of the practice? During Savasana, the class culminated in a live sax solo by Grammy-nominated musician Dave Koz. After class, Kristin and I chatted about her yoga journey, getting ready for bikini season, and what it's like working with one of her famous clients, Bethenny Frankel.

FitSugar: Some of the moves in Vinyasa Vibes are Ashtanga-influenced. Is that what your yoga teacher training background was in?
Kristin McGee: My original background was really eclectic because I started in the early '90s. I started taking [yoga] at NYU; some of my very early teachers were Jivamukti teachers who did study Ashtanga. Then I did study with Richard Freedman for a while, who is pure Ashtanga, and Cyndi Lee at OM Yoga. I wanted to get deeper into Iyengar classes and get into the alignment and the detail. Now in my practice I want to get more into Pranayama, more of the breathing, and maybe take some more Kundalini classes. I just feel like it constantly evolves.

FS: The Vinyasa Vibes class has live music during final relaxation. Can you elaborate on the experience of live music and yoga combined?
KM: In yoga practice, it’s a very intimate, immediate place. It's almost like live theater or live music where it brings you right into the moment. Music is a universal language, just like our breath is a universal breath. I think the second we're in this surrounding, in this environment with that live music and the intimacy of a live class, it brings it all together in one beautiful experience.

FS: You’ve collaborated with Bethenny Frankel on some projects. What's her favorite pose?
KM: Bethenny’s all-time favorite pose is Straddle Forward Bend because she says it feels like the weight of the world is falling off of her shoulders. Someone like Bethenny Frankel has a million things going on, and I don’t know how she does it! But I think you also noticed it in the practice tonight. Right when we finally got to that Straddle Forward Hang, it was kind of just like, "Ugh! Such a release!" You feel like you could stay there for quite a while.

Keep reading for Kristin's favorite snack before class and how to get your body ready for Summer.

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Buzz Lines: What's Your Favorite Quote From Dude, Where's My Car?

Maggie Pehanick — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

It's hard to imagine a stoner comedy called Dude, Where's My Car? would leave such a lasting impression, but with its alien strippers, space-time continuums, and incredibly persistent drive-through workers, it's become an endlessly quotable flick. Fun fact: the title of the movie itself (probably the most recited line from the film) was grabbed from a scene in cult hit The Big Lebowski, so it was probably destined for quotability from the start. What are your favorite lines from Dude, Where's My Car?

"Shibby!" - Jesse and Chester
"And then?" - Chinese Food Lady
"Dude, what does mine say?" - Chester

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox Films

8 Ways to Make Your Own Career Luck

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:15:52 PDT

People often say that you make your own luck, but how do you make your own career luck and get the job of your dreams? LearnVest shares how you can do so.

You sit next to someone on an airplane who later helps you land your dream job.

Your dentist’s daughter is a book editor, and wouldn’t you know it, she’d just love to publish your memoir.

You have a role model in your industry, and your roommate’s fiancé just so happens to be her best friend.

OK, chance doesn’t always work out as we might wish . . . but a few travel apps, a weak economy, and plenty of gumption got us thinking.

Cajoling Lady Luck may be easier than ever, with new services like Planely, a Danish start-up, and Satisfly, a Hong Kong-based start-up. Both apps connect passengers before their flights, so they can see the Facebook profiles of fellow travelers and choose seats by people they’d like to meet. Airlines like Dutch carrier KLM and Malaysia Airlines are getting in on the act with similar services of their own. Sharing and viewing this social media info is, of course, optional all around.

Read on for more.

Julie Andrews on the Importance of Princess Culture, Princess Kate, and Her Favorite Roles

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:32:56 PDT

It's hard not to become giddy when talking about Julie Andrews. The legendary actress's career spans more than 50 years, with multiple generations of families still enjoying her library of work together - from Mary Poppins to The Princess Diaries. What many people don't know is that the 76-year-old Academy Award winner is also the coauthor - with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton - of more than 20 children's books, including the just-released The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl!, part of the "Very Fairy Princess" series.

As far as meeting her in person - well as someone who can still recite virtually every line of The Sound of Music, it's a totally surreal experience. From the beautiful English accent that spoke to me from my favorite films to the fact that she still exudes the authoritativeness of the governesses she played, the experience was almost regal - which is why Andrews is perfectly cast as the spokeswoman for Disney and Target's first National Princess Week, which runs from April 22-28. I met up with the living legend, her daughter, and her granddaughter at a princess-themed tea - feather boas, scepters and all - to discuss the relevance of princesses today, working motherhood, and her favorite roles over the years.

On why playing princesses is really OK:
Julie Andrews: "My personal take on it is that they may be trying on for size what it feels like to be, say, a real lady. [It] perhaps, in some way, helps them find their own identity later in life. I do think fantasy and play of this kind - whatever it is, if you want to play at being a nurse, or if you want to play at being a florist - it's all important and should be allowed, because it would be an awfully sad place if we didn't try on those airs and have fun doing it."

On raising strong, independent, confident women in a culture saturated with princesses:
Emma Walton Hamilton: "Sometimes I think princesses are given an unfair rap. We compiled a list of over 70 contemporary princesses. In doing the research for that, I was reminded once again of the extraordinary work princesses do in the world. The charitable contributions, the causes they champion, the amount of good and service they contribute and provide. I think they're a wonderful example of being strong, feminine, and kind, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

On her favorite Disney princess:
Julie Andrews: "Mine has to be, because I've been involved with it, Cinderella. I played Cinderella when I was about 17 years old in England, and then when I came to America it was the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical they wrote for me. So for me Cinderella has always resonated. And I love the rags to riches, kind of like my own story in a little way."

Keep reading for Andrews's thoughts on Princess Kate, the state of motherhood today, and her favorite role.

Emma Stone's Amazing Ab Workout

Self — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:13:44 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

She played a frumpy reporter in The Help, but in real life, Emma Stone is the epitome of young Hollywood glamour. The 24-year-old made the transition from child actor to leading lady look effortless, but Stone puts plenty of hard work into every project she tackles, including her Pilates workout. "There's not much to chisel away at on her body, but she enjoys the feeling of flexibility and well-being," says LA-based Pilates instructor Mari Winsor, who has worked with Stone for the past year. "Whenever she's in town, she tries to come in every day."

During their hour-long sessions, the actress likes to focus her energy on firming her thighs and glutes and especially her core. "She was excited about the little lines that were created in her abs," says Winsor. "Pilates is great for creating long, sexy muscles, and we all want to feel sexy!"

Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine to get sculpted abs like Emma Stone. (Note: Oscar nomination not included!)

Get the moves after the break.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:05:00 PDT

In addition to the following releases, Into the Abyss and Sleeping Beauty are also available.

The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep won the Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in this political biopic. The film spans the life of the influential prime minister, spending a fair amount of time showing Thatcher's descent into dementia but also utilizing flashbacks to her personal life at the peak of her career. It gives great insight into the way Thatcher broke down gender barriers and the challenges she faced, making it a good pick for historians and film buffs alike. The DVD includes a making-of featurette, a look at Thatcher's husband, and a bit on the subject's historical context.

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The Darkest Hour

Starring Emile Hirsch, The Darkest Hour is an action-packed thriller that follows a group of 20-somethings as they travel to Moscow and get more than they bargained for when aliens wage an attack. The twist is that the invaders can see the humans, but not vice versa. DVD extras include a short epilogue to the film, commentary by director Chris Gorak, deleted and extended scenes, and a "Visualizing the Invasion" featurette.

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