BuzzSugar

The Wire Gets a Hip-Hop Heavy Soundtrack

BuzzSugar — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:00:04 PST

The Wire, the gritty HBO series that returns for its fifth and final season in January, has been renowned for its unflinching portrayal of Baltimore. Now, that faithfulness to its setting is expanding to a soundtrack stuffed with music from the show's five years - including several tracks from underground Baltimore hip hop and club artists.

The soundtrack, ...And All the Pieces Matter, will be released Jan. 8, two days after the show's season premiere. So far, it sounds like a great selection of songs, with the Baltimore tracks joining "The Body of an American" by the Pogues, "I Feel Alright" by Steve Earle, and "Fast Train" by Solomon Burke. The album will include a booklet of essays by hip-hop journalists and author (and Wire writer) George Pelecanos.

I might be most excited about getting to hear all the versions of the show's theme song ("Way Down in the Hole" by Tom Waits) together. Each season has had a different rendition of the song, including a group of Baltimore teens who recorded the theme for the education-focused fourth season. In fact, their take on the song might be my favorite; you can check it out over here.

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Designer Suki Cheema Thinks Spring With His Indonesia Collection

Elka Karl — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:34:27 PDT

Designer Suki Cheema is renowned for his intuitive, in-depth understanding of pattern, textiles, and printmaking, which has landed him positions with Calvin Kelin, Ralph Lauren, and Diane von Furstenberg. In fact, it was Diane von Furstenberg who inspired Suki to follow his dreams of launching his own line. With SUKI CHEEMA, an exclusive collection of home and personal accessories, Suki marries his love of art, textiles, and travel. The line includes throw pillows, quilts, rugs, tabletop items, handbags, and more, all featuring hand silk-screened prints and embroidery techniques that are centuries old.

I recently caught up with Suki to discuss his latest collection, Indonesia and found out his thoughts on printmaking and pattern, Spring decorating, and inspirations.
CasaSugar: What inspired the Indonesia collection specifically?

Suki Cheema: A trip to Indonesia some time ago. I was most inspired by the Batik designs from Java. Batik is unique to Indonesia and is one of its most traditional art forms. It has a special place in the culture and history of the people. My color choices for the collection were also influenced by Indonesia. You will see lots of indigo and shades of blue throughout the collection with pops of scarlet and other bright colors.
CS: How did you develop the patterns for this collection?

SC: During my trip I collected lots of batik fabrics and took photographs of everything that caught my eye. I like to take inspiration from traditional things and give them a modern twist, which is exactly what I did for this collection. I play with the scales and dimensions of patterns and reform things so that the inspiration is just that and not a literal interpretation.

Keep reading to find out more about the SUKI CHEEMA collection and to see more of the line

Fifty Shades of Grey, Fight Club, and the Complications of Male Dominance

The Good Men Project — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:00:55 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Clarisse Thorn sees nothing new in eroticized images of male dominance and violence, but she sees plenty that's thought-provoking.

Much is being made of the highly successful S&M erotica novel 50 Shades of Grey. People are blaming feminism for making women into submissives, blaming feminism for preventing women from being submissives, blaming women for having sexual desires at all, and a whole lot of other boring and typical stuff that comes up in any conversation about women and S&M. News flash: it’s not the feminist revolution that is "causing" women to have fantasies of submission. S&M fantasies have been around since the beginning of time. (And the 1950s S&M-sensation book, The Story of O, was much better written than 50 Shades of Grey.)

Top 10 Reasons to Use Condoms

As an S&M writer, I hear a lot of allegations about how "all" (or "almost all") women are sexually submissive and how this must Mean Something. This is echoed in the coverage of 50 Shades of Grey, in which everyone is demanding to know What It All Means About Women. I wrote a piece a while back called Inherent Female Submission: The Wrong Question, in which I took on a lot of this stuff. But there’s another submerged question here - about men. There’s plenty of talk and stereotypes about how men are inherently violent, or more aggressive than women, or "the dominant sex."

Keep reading below.

How to Snack Right in the Morning

Leta Shy — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:33:00 PDT

As we all know, there's a right way and a wrong way to snack. It matters less whether you do it and more about why you snack. If you're hungry, snacking can help you stick to your diet overall, but if you're snacking for other reasons - you're bored or emotional, for example - snacking can be synonymous with diet sabotage.

This is especially true when it comes to midmorning snacking. A recent study found that overweight people who snacked between breakfast and lunch ended up eating more and losing less weight than the participants who didn't snack in the morning, possibly because people who snacked between breakfast and lunch weren't actually doing so because they were hungry.

If you're an early riser or if you don't eat much for breakfast, a midmorning snack can be the difference between staying on track at lunch and gorging on anything in sight. Stop any stomach grumbling with the above midmorning snacks (and more!) after the break.

How Your Wardrobe Reveals Your Personality

LearnVest — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:15:13 PDT

Your clothes reveal a lot about who you are as a person. LearnVest shares how psychology affects the way we dress and what our clothing styles mean.

It’s no news that your wardrobe says a lot about you.

What you wear can inform passersby of your type of employment, as well as your ambitions, emotions, and spending habits.

And now it’s even launched a whole new type of psychology.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner literally wrote the book on this phenomenon, which she calls the “psychology of dress.” In You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You, she explains not only how psychology determines our clothing choices, but also how to overcome key psychological issues your wardrobe might be bringing to light in your everyday life, or even at work.

“Shopping and spending behaviors often come from internal motivations such as emotions, experiences, and culture,” says Dr. Baumgartner. “You look at shopping or storing behaviors, even putting together outfits, and people think of it as fluff. But any behavior is rooted in something deeper. I look at the deeper meaning of choices, just like I would in therapy.”

We spoke with her to figure out why clothes are so revealing (of our personalities, that is), what messages they’re sending and how you can use your wardrobe to change how others perceive you - and even how you think about yourself.

How We Use Clothing as an Aid . . . and a Weapon

Americans rely on clothing as an economic and social indicator because there aren’t official marks of rank such as a caste system or aristocracy, says Dr. Baumgartner.

“When you don’t have a specific system, people come up with their own,” she explains. It’s what “helps you figure out where you fit in. Especially now, with the economy, with people losing status, maintaining a sense of who we are becomes even more important. Our clothes help place us where we think we want to be. ”

She cites the Real Housewives TV series as an example: “Look at the way they focus on money. When they fight, they use logos and designers as a way to put each other down. They’re using clothes and accessories both as a tool to know where they fit in and as a weapon against others.”

Read on for more.

Ashley Judd Calls Out Attacks on Her Appearance as Sexism

Tara Block — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:30:00 PDT

While some women - celebrities and otherwise - may not be able to find the right words to fight back against mean-spirited comments about their appearance, when Ashley Judd was hit with remarks that attacked her "puffy" face and weight gain, she had a great response. During the last month or so, Ashley has been in the public eye for her swollen-looking face that some have concluded must mean she's getting plastic surgery done. But the sad reality is it's really a side effect from the steroid medications she's been taking for illness. Ashley Judd wrote a piece on The Daily Beast that took the rebuttal to a whole new, feminist - and empowered - level. In the smart essay, she takes on the naysayers by pointing out how our culture's obsession with women's outer looks are a misogynistic attack on our sex. Here are some of our favorite points:

For women, it's all about the outward appearance: "We are described and detailed, our faces and bodies analyzed and picked apart, our worth ascertained and ascribed based on the reduction of personhood to simple physical objectification. Our voices, our personhood, our potential, and our accomplishments are regularly minimized and muted."
Sexism against women comes from both sexes: "Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it."
Striving for beauty is a lose-lose situation: "I ask especially how we can leverage strong female-to-female alliances to confront and change that there is no winning here as women. It doesn't actually matter if we are aging naturally, or resorting to surgical assistance. We experience brutal criticism. "
This constant critique of women's appearance affects more than we realize: "It affects each and every one of us, in multiple and nefarious ways: our self-image, how we show up in our relationships and at work, our sense of our worth, value, and potential as human beings."

Brad Meltzer Talks About His New Heroes For My Daughter

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:11:19 PDT

"Where's my book?" In the two years since Brad Meltzer released Heroes For My Son, that's what the New York Times best-selling author has heard over and over from his daughter. Now, just a month before Mother's Day, Brad reaches out to his daughter and mothers everywhere with Heroes For My Daughter.

In his new book, the father of three profiles 56 people who he believes are worthy of the hero title. The collection of biographies and photographs spans Amelia Earhart and Lucille Ball to Mahatma Gandhi and Judy Blume. He's also introducing a line of inspirational clothing pieces featuring caricatures of the heroes. I recently spoke with the author about the new book; here's what he had to say.

LilSugar: Are there any crossovers between the heroes you picked for your son and the ones you have selected for your daughter?
Brad Meltzer: I did 50 brand-new heroes for my daughter. But there were six heroes that I felt were worth repeating from Heroes For My Son - a sort of hall of fame that I felt needed to be there for my daughter: Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Lucille Ball. Plus, I again included my mom. C'mon. It's my mom!

LS: What were the criteria you used to make your selections? What did it take for them to "make the cut"?
BM: To pick a hero, it's like the Supreme Court definition of pornography: you know it when you see it. But in the book, there's one thing every hero has in common. They all had to do this: help someone. Some people help thousands of people directly, like Marie Curie or Susan B. Anthony. Others help us by inspiring us, like Amelia Earhart. But you do have to help someone.

It’s the dream that links every single hero I picked for her. As I now often tell my daughter Lila, no matter what stage of life you're in, when you want something - no matter how impossible it seems - you need to fight for it. When you believe in something, fight for it. And when you see injustice, fight harder than you've ever fought before.

Keep reading for more about Brad's picks, including some little-known facts about the heroes.

20 of the Prettiest Pastels, Prints, Peplum, and Lace to Wear on Easter

Hannah Weil — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:30:24 PDT

Like Jessica Hart for H&M we're after only the prettiest trends to get our look just right this Easter. We hunted down the season's best takes on pastel hues and floral prints to dress up our dresses, skirts, and pants, then sought out the loveliest of ladylike frocks and tweedy jackets to finish the look. We're even making room for floral jeans in this batch - so no matter where your Easter plans are taking you, rest assured we've got you covered. The best part? These pieces are not only made for the holiday, but each plays perfectly to Spring's biggest trends so you can easily wear them on Easter Sunday, then right on into the rest of the season. Click on to shop all of our favorite finds for the holiday and beyond.

4 Additions For the Perfect Trail Mix

Leta Shy — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:00:56 PDT

A good trail mix can be the perfect snack; no matter what you're craving, whether it's salty or sweet, a few handfuls can keep you satisfied and full. But there's a right way and a wrong way to make trail mix if you want it to be good for your body. Here are four additions to make your trail mix tasty and healthy.

Chocolate: Eat chocolate - lose weight? That's what some people are saying, now that a new study found that people who eat chocolate regularly (at least twice a week) tend to weigh less than people who don't indulge on a regular basis. It may be because polyphenols in chocolate increase metabolism, or it may just be that people who eat small amounts of chocolate regularly curb cravings so they don't indulge in an unhealthier dessert. Either way, we already know that dark chocolate has other heart-healthy benefits, so add a few pieces to your trail mix if you're craving something sweet.
Superfruit: Add a dash of antioxidants by including dried superfruits in your trail mix. Dried fruit packs a punch when it comes to disease-fighting compounds. Goldenberries, for example, are a good dose of vitamin A, which is crucial for healthy eyes, skin, and teeth and may help improve organ function. Dried goji berries or cranberries are another good option for their health benefits, which include better immune and urinary system functioning and disease-fighting. Make sure to look for varieties containing no added sugar.

Read on for more healthy trail mix additions.

Everything You Need to Consider When Decorating an Entryway

Laura Marie Given — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:07:02 PDT

Entryways tend to be smaller, but that doesn't make them any less important - after all, the foyer is a guest's first impression of your home. For that reason, it's worth your time to design an entryway that nicely reflects your style. Not sure where to start? Follow these quick tips to create a foyer that's both functional and well-decorated year-round:

Go with a statement piece. The easiest way to have a major impact is to choose a unique focal point that visitors will notice right away. A gorgeous mirror is a practical pick, since it allows you to have one last look-over before walking out the door. Other ideas include a large work of art, a striking armoire, or a colorful chair.
Consider your storage options. Are you regularly grabbing keys, hats, or gloves as you leave? Choose a piece of furniture that suits your habits, whether that's a tall chest of drawers or a tiny table to hold your essentials. If you live in a climate with four seasons, think about your Winter storage needs before making any purchases.
Don't forget seating. A chair of some kind is crucial for practical reasons - putting on shoes, waiting guests - but don't choose just any chair: pick one that embodies your personal style. Since there's little else to coordinate with, this is a great place to indulge your creativity and buy a chair that perfectly represents your taste.
Set the mood with lighting. A chandelier strikes a much different note than, say, a table lamp. Since you're dealing with a smaller space, every piece of furniture matters, so pick one that says something. For a fun, eclectic look, try a stark contrast, like a gold, contemporary floor lamp with a rustic wooden table.
Leave space for extras. Don't crowd your foyer with unnecessary knickknacks because you'll need that space for all those random items that you end up tossing aside as soon as you walk in. Prevent a mess before it starts by leaving ample room for everyday accessories.
Make simple seasonal swaps. As the months change, so does your decor. The easiest, neatest way to transition your entryway? Rather than adding to the space, trade pieces - one in, one out. Some examples: a Winter boot tray, a Spring umbrella rack, or a Summer picnic basket. That way you don't have to add extra clutter, just exchange your pieces for other, more seasonally appropriate items.

Do you have any tips for decorating a foyer? Share them in the comments!

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