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Song of the Day: Charlotte Gainsbourg, "The Songs That We Sing"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:05:04 PDT

I first became an admirer of Charlotte Gainsbourg as an actress, after her subtly naive performance in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Eyre (which I love, by the way). But it's no surprise that the actress is now turning to music: She is, after all, the spawn of legendary French singer/eccentric Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she recorded her first album, Charlotte For Ever, at the age of 13.

Now, Gainsbourg the singer is all grown-up, and her first adult solo album, 5:55, was just released in the U.S. this week. The album flicks at French tradition, with pianos and bells that call to mind gray Paris afternoons, while also feeling very modern. I particularly love this ethereal, romantic track "The Songs That We Sing," with its fluttering, insect-like strings. To listen,

Will an Agency for "Normal Sized" Models Actually Work?

Fashionista — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:58:40 PST

We're excited to bring you the best fashion finds, shopping stories, and style news from one of our favorite sites, Fashionista. Today, they're taking a closer look at the great model debate.

I'm 5'5" and a size 6, with a not-insignificant ass. I don't see many models out there who look like me. In fact, very few women-no matter what their sizes-probably see themselves reflected in the ads we're bombarded with every single day. There seem to be two distinct types of models-the traditional beanpole "straight size" fashion model, and the zaftig hourglass on the plus-size end of the spectrum.

When these two worlds collide, as they did recently in a controversial editorial that appeared in the online publication, PLUS Model Magazine (wherein a plus-size and straight size model were shown naked and embracing), one gets a sense of how emotionally charged this issue can be. Women on both sides of the scale's needle feel attacked for being too big or too small. But what about those who fall somewhere in between?

Click over to Fashionista for the rest of the story.

Why You Should Take Your Chances When Online Dating

YourTango — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:00:21 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

I'd like a large pie with extra cheese, mushrooms, sausage, and broccoli. But make sure the cheese is covering the whole pizza because I don't like baldness, and actually, why don't you hold the sausage? I'd like someone who doesn't eat processed meat.

And while you're there, make sure those mushrooms are well-educated, like maybe with a master's or PhD, and as for the broccoli, can you make sure it's a certain height because I only want it if it's tall. Could I get that to go? Thanks.

Someone recently told me that online dating was like ordering a pizza. At first I laughed at that analogy, then I cringed, and then I realized that he was right. We are all looking for that on-paper perfect mate, and since online dating sites give so much choice in the matter, we think it's our right to have everything we're looking for.

Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with wanting certain things - I did - but what if someone out there looks good but doesn't necessarily fit all of those objective criteria. What's a single to do? I'd venture to say - try 'em out anyway.

When we walk into a bar and see someone we like, that guy or girl doesn't have a chart attached to his or her forehead full of credentials, stats, and dislikes. (Wouldn't that be a pretty funny sight?!) We trust our instincts; we go with chemistry.

But online, we have so much information that it's almost too easy to discard someone simply because he is only 5'5 or she has a fondness for US Weekly rather than the latest issue of The Economist. (I'm not saying I know anyone like that . . .)

Finish reading the rest of the story on YourTango: Why You Should Take Your Chances When Online Dating

Written by Erika Ettin for YourTango.

Take It Inside: 3 (Not Boring) Treadmill Workouts

Health — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:03:47 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Tina Haupert

It’s that time of year when I take my running workouts inside to the treadmill. Or should I say dreadmill? The treadmill can be a real drag, but I find that using a plan to guide my workout keeps me on track, interested, and motivated, so the time flies by. Here are three of my favorite (read: not boring) treadmill workouts.

Health.com: Fun Ways to Get Fit Without a Gym

Walk-Jog-Sprint
This is one of my go-to workouts when I’m dreading my time on the treadmill. It keeps me guessing for a solid 45 minutes, so it’s over before I know it! And I feel like I’ve really worked hard when I’m done. I’m almost always a sweaty mess at the end!

Walk at 4.0 at 7.5 incline for 4 minutes
Jog at 6.5 at 1.0 incline for 5 minutes
Repeat walk and jog twice
Jog at 6.5 at 2.0 incline for 3 minutes
Run at 7.0 at 1.0 incline for 3 minutes
Sprint at 8.0 at 1.0 incline for 1 minute
Jog at 6.0 at 1.0 incline for 1 minute
Sprint at 8.0 at 1.0 incline for 1 minute
Run at 7.0 at 1.0 incline for 1 minute
Jog at 6.5 at 1.0 incline for 3 minutes
Cool down (walk) for 5 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

Health.com: Winter-Proof Your Run

Roll Play
Changing my speed every two minutes keeps my interest and motivation high while running on the treadmill. I covered a little over 5.5 miles in 60 minutes during this workout. There’s a walking interval from minutes 30 to 35, so this workout can easily be shortened to 35 minutes if needed.

Keep on reading for two more treadmill workouts.

Box Office: Real Steel Fights For Victory

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Boxing robots waged an admirable box office battle this weekend, even defeating a pair of ruthless politicians. Real Steel won the first place at the box office with $27.3 million, while fellow new release, political drama The Ides of March, starring Ryan Gosling and George Clooney, came in second place with a total of $10.4 million. Following them in third place was the previous box office winner, Dolphin Tale, which earned $9.2 million. Brad Pitt's baseball flick Moneyball came in No. 4 with $7.5 million, and cancer comedy 50/50, starring Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, completed the top five with 5.5 million.

Photo courtesy of DreamWorks

Have a Happy Hour: Calories in Popular Cocktails and Bar Food

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:17:58 PDT

Just how many calories are in that mojito and mozzarella stick? Check out the chart below before heading out after work so you can keep your happy hour, happy. Let's start with the drinks first and then move on to the food.

Drink	Serving Size	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)
Apple Martini	2.5 oz.	175	0	0	8.5
Budweiser Beer	12 oz.	147	0	0	10.7
Bud Light	12 oz.	110	0	0	6.6
Chardonnay	5.1 oz.	120	0	0	3.8
Cosmo	6 oz.	143	0	2	3.6
Dark and Stormy	7 oz.	162	0	19	9

To see the rest of the cocktails and a list of the calories in appetizers keep reading.

Top 10 Fish With Highest Sources of Omega-3s

Heather Dale — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:47:13 PDT

Vegans and vegetarians don't eat it. And pescatarians - who abstain from eating red meat and animal flesh - make the exception to eat it. All in all, it's hard to deny the health benefits associated with fish. Many types of fish are low in fat, high in essential heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, an excellent source of protein, and packed with vitamins and minerals. It's safe to eat fish twice a week (up to 12 ounces), but it's best to choose different types of fish so you get a variety of nutrients.

As great as fish is, it's also good to know which types of fish to consume, as nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. Expecting moms should stick to fish with mercury levels of one part per million (ppm) or lower. The rest of us can safely consume fish with mercury levels that average 5.5 ppm.

Here's a full rundown of the top 10 fish with the highest omega-3 fatty acids, the highest mercury content, and those that are on the Seafood Watch for best options for sustainability and unsustainable options that are best avoided.

Keep reading to view the top 10 fish chart!

The Secret to Spending Less

Kiplinger — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:32:25 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Economists view the Commerce Department's report today that consumer spending rose in July as encouraging - considering consumer spending accounts for about 70% of the nation's economic activity. You might say it's a good thing Americans aren't pinching their pennies quite so much.

Some of that spending came at the expense of saving, though. The personal savings rate as a percentage of income fell to 5% in July from 5.5% in June. Considering many Americans' savings have taken a hit from stock market gyrations or have been drained to help them get through a job loss, it's worth looking at your spending to see whether you need to cut back to boost your savings.

I've found that one of the best ways to reduce spending is to avoid temptation. The fact that I live in a small town probably makes this a little easier for me than for big-city dwellers, who can't walk down the street without passing a multitude of stores, restaurants and entertainment options. (Plus, smaller cities tend to have a lower cost of living - and in our top ten picks for best value cites, there's a lot to do at affordable prices). But even in the boonies where I am, we still can hear the siren song of daily deal sites, social media and e-mail alerts from retailers.

For more on how to spend less, read on.

Which Postal Service Has the Best Prices?

Emily Co — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:05:05 PDT

The United States Postal Service is in dire straits and may be forced to close this Winter if Congress doesn't take emergency action, reports the New York Times. The financial troubles of the USPS have been dragging on for some time now, but it's about to come to a head - the agency can't pay off a $5.5 billion payment meant for retirees' future health care that's due this month and is facing a possible bankruptcy.

Just like many businesses, the postal service's revenue is being threatened by the digital age. People are sending less items through conventional mail and relying on the Internet to communicate with each other. Another contributing factor to its money troubles is the "decades of contractual promises made to unionized workers, including no-layoff clauses, are increasing the post office’s costs."

With all this happening, I'm sure a lot of consumers are interested to know if the other delivery service can match up to the USPS. Here's a quick price comparison of the three postal services when mailing a one, five, 10, and 15-pound standard overnight package from San Francisco to Chicago:

Weight (in pounds)	USPS	FedEx	UPS
1	$31.60	$54.86	$57.79
5	$49.70	$77.67	$80.50
10	$73.30	$107.30	$110
15	$91.90	$136	$138.58

Although prices vary by factors such as type of package and the distance it's going to travel, USPS generally is the cheaper bet, especially for letters and packages that are lighter than two pounds. If USPS were to file for bankruptcy and start shutting more and more of its offices, it would be a loss for consumers. How often do you go to the post office?

Ways to Save on Health Food: Website Coupons

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:55:27 PDT

Every time I step foot into my local health food store, I instantly drop at least $20. I feel good knowing the food I pick up is all natural, often organic, and fresh, but jeez - why does it have to be so expensive? If you're looking to save money on your favorite healthy brands, many companies post coupons on their websites you can print out. You may need to install a program, sign up for a newsletter, or answer a short survey, but if you're looking to save some dough, it's worth the time and effort. Here's a list of some pretty good deals that are available now. If these coupons have expired, click on the website's link anyway since companies are always updating their coupons.

Food Should Taste Good: Go to the top of the website where it says "Special Offers" and click on "coupons." Join their fan club by giving some simple info and get a coupon for $1 off a bag of chips. Expires: 8/31/11
Stonyfield Farms: Once you fill out a little form including your name, birthday, and email address, you'll come upon a whole page of coupons for all of Stoneyfield Farm products. Just click on the ones you want and print. I got a coupon for $.50 off two 5.3 ounce containers of Oikos Greek Yogurt and $.50 off a half gallon of Stonyfield Organic Milk (expires: 7/1/11).
Silk: Fill out a little form including your name, email address, and a few questions, and receive coupons. Today I printed out a coupon for $.75 off a half gallon of Silk. Expires: 7/20/11

For more coupons keep reading.