BuzzSugar

Link Time - Blake Lively Signs On to Play a Hick

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:30:02 PST

Blake Lively signs on for the indie coming-of-age film Hick - The Wrap
Preview all the songs from next week's episode of Glee! - TV Squad
Why you should see Blue Valentine - Moviefone
Moby shares his five favorite films - Rotten Tomatoes
Why Adrianne Palicki shouldn't play Wonder Woman - TV.com
Kiefer Sutherland may be heading back to TV - Zap2it
Steve Carell in talks for Great Hope Springs with Meryl Streep - The Playlist
Lone Star's James Wolk heads to Georgetown for ABC - Vulture
Shane Black in final negotiations to direct Iron Man 3 - MTV.com
Mary Elizabeth Winstead joins Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as Mary Todd - EW.com
Find out why Inception could take home the best picture Oscar - GeekSugar

Sisters of DC Cupcakes Share Valentine's Day Baking Tips and Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:16:28 PST

What's sugar and spice and everything nice? Cupcakes! And no one knows more about our obsession with the lil confections than Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis, co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of TLC's DC Cupcakes. The sisters, who learned their kitchen skills from their grandmother ("We followed her around the kitchen and always begged to help"), have been known to bake up to 10,000 lil cakes a day, much to the delight of the patrons who line the block of their Washington DC store. The duo - who just opened their first outpost in New York City - gave me a few minutes of their time to discuss their tasty desserts.

LilSugar: Cupcakes have moved from kiddie birthday party staple to a favorite of adults and kids alike. But kids aren't always willing to try new flavors. Which are most popular with kids?
Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis: Our Vanilla Birthday (vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), Chocolate Birthday (chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), and Milk Chocolate Birthday (vanilla cupcake with milk chocolate buttercream and rainbow bobbles) are the most popular with kids. We think it's the color rainbow bobbles!

LS: Moms are busy; what shortcuts can you recommend to making delicious, beautiful cupcakes without spending the whole day baking and decorating them?
SL and KK: Try to keep a stash of baking staples - butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, all purpose flour, baking soda/powder, salt, and cocoa powder/chocolate on hand in your kitchen at all times and you can make almost any flavor! Our recipes are very simple - we don’t use cake flour or pastry flour - just all purpose - we find that works best. Also, we're big fans of chocolate ganache icing. It's so easy - just two ingredients - chocolate chips and heavy cream. You just melt them down (two cups of chips to one cup of cream), and dip your cupcakes in and you've got a super fast and unbelievably delicious frosting.

LS: Do you ever make "healthy" cupcakes for those who want to skip some of the sugar? If so, what goes into it?
SL and KK: We have a carrot cake cupcake, which has fresh carrots and fresh apples grated in it. We skip the walnuts, to save on calories, and it's a light and delicious cupcake!

The new season of DC Cupcakes begins on Feb. 25, but if you're looking to create their Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes for Valentine's Day,

Georgetown Cupcake's Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
From Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis, co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake

Ingredients

For the cupcakes 1 1/4 cups flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, sifted 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 tablespoons (4 ounces) European-style unsalted butter, such as Plugra brand, at room temperature 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 large eggs, at room temperature 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, preferably Madagascar bourbon 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature 1/2 cup Valrhona cocoa powder, sifted (or another good-quality cocoa powder) For the ganache frosting 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup Callebaut semisweet chocolate chips (6.4 ounces; or other good-quality semisweet chocolate chips)

Directions
For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 baking cups, and a second pan with 6 baking cups. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on medium speed until fluffy. Stop to add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition. Combine the vanilla extract and milk in a large liquid measuring cup. Reduce the speed to low. Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one-third of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated. Add another one-third of the flour mixture, followed by one-third of the milk mixture. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined. Add the cocoa powder, beating (on low speed) just until incorporated. Use a standard-size ice cream scoop to fill each cupcake paper with batter, so that the wells are two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes (start checking at 15 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. For the ganache frosting: Lay a large piece of wax paper on the work surface. Combine the heavy cream and chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or two of water and place over medium-low heat. Place the bowl over the saucepan and let the mixture melt, stirring until it is shiny and smooth. Remove the bowl of chocolate ganache from the saucepan; let it cool slightly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Working with 1 cupcake at a time, carefully dip each cupcake top in the warm ganache, twisting your wrist as needed to make sure the cupcake top gets completely coated. To prevent drips, quickly turn the cupcake right side up and place on the wax paper. Allow the ganache to set for 5 minutes before serving. (If the cupcakes are dipped once, you'll have about 1/2 cup of ganache left over.)

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Drew Barrymore and Her Fiancé Premiere Big Miracle Together

Allie Merriam — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:45:46 PST

Drew Barrymore brought fiancé Will Kopelman along last night for a Washington DC premiere of her new movie Big Miracle that benefited the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. They held hands and posed for photos for their first public event as an engaged duo, which took place at the AMC Loews Georgetown 14. Drew went down to the capital after a day of press in NYC. She kicked things off at Good Morning America, talking about both the feel-good film and her upcoming nuptials. Drew's still "daydreaming" about the wedding and hasn't yet set any plans in stone. She and Will have only been engaged for one month, as he popped the question over the holidays during their vacation in Idaho. Her nearly four-carat ring was on display last night, and she paired the jewelry with a Ports 1961 gown.

Cupcake Transporting Tip: Add a Lollipop Stick

Susannah Chen — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:07:20 PDT

When a surprise shipment of lava fudge cupcakes arrived yesterday from Georgetown Cupcake, the first thing I noticed were the lollipop sticks in each treat. "What are those for?" I wondered aloud. Katie reassured me that they served a grand purpose: to prevent the icing top of the cupcakes from smudging against their packaging while en route.

Because I usually transport cupcakes in boxes, I'd never thought to do the same - but each dessert was flawless and untouched, even after a cross-country road trip. Brilliant! This won't set you back much, either. Fifty sticks are an affordable $2 online, and a disposable cupcake carrier is only a few bucks from a local bakery. How do you keep cupcakes smear free?

Michelle Williams's Beaded Dress Inspires Feminine Details

Elka Karl — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:21:52 PST

Over the weekend, Michelle Williams glowed at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in an elaborately beaded dress. Her frock's beading recalled an earlier era that embraced handmade detailing. Similarly, these home decor baubles and details, which reflect Williams's dress in spirit and style, create a hand-hewn look when added to furniture or rooms of your home. Why not create a special look at your home with some of these accents?

To turn your bedroom door into more than an entry point, switch out a plain doorknob with this Emtek Georgetown Crystal Knob ($110, middle, far right). With an oil-rubbed bronze plate and a clear glass knob, it will add antique finish to even the most ho-hum door.

I've found a number of knobs that you can add to a dresser or cabinet drawers. It's amazing how a few little knobs can make a major change to the look of a dresser. My favorite is the Cloisonne Chrysanthemum Pull ($10). Its enamel detailing reflects the flower it's named after and exudes an Arts and Crafts-era charm. I can imagine it on a turn-of-the-century oak dresser, or dressing up a white Ikea Hemnes dresser.

There are plenty of other great finds in my roundup, from napkin rings to wall hooks. Keep clicking to explore them all!

Smart & Funny Bradley Cooper Is People's Sexiest Man Alive

Annie Scudder — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:34:09 PST

Bradley Cooper is People's Sexiest Man Alive! The 36-year-old actor is the trifecta of sexy - he's handsome, funny, and smart! Before he starred in classics like Wedding Crashers or The Hangover, Bradley graduated with a degree in English from Georgetown University. We were convinced of his premiere sexiest when we learned he speaks fluent French, after watching him give an interview on French TV. To top it all off, he's close to his mother! After winning this year's prize, Bradley told People, "First thing I thought was, 'My mother is going to be so happy.'" Look at some of Bradley Cooper's sexiest moments!

Bradley Cooper Is People's Sexiest Man Alive 2011!

Molly Goodson — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:52:18 PST

Big congrats to Bradley Cooper, People's Sexiest Man Alive 2011! Last year's winner, Ryan Reynolds, is passing on the crown to yet another handsome, lovable, funny guy. In his typically humble manner, Bradley played it cool about his own good looks saying, "I think it's really cool that a guy who doesn't look like a model can have this [title]. I think I'm a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying."

Bradley, who was recently rumored to be dating Jennifer Lopez but swears he's currently single, has had a pretty great 2011 career-wise. Not only was The Hangover Part II a huge hit, but he cemented his leading-man status with the success of Limitless. Not only is he sexy, but he's smart, too - the Georgetown grad is fluent in French. Plus, the first thing he thought when he earned the Sexiest Man Alive title? "My mother is going to be so happy." Aw!

Also honored in the issue are such guys as Ryan Gosling, The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Aniston's man Justin Theroux, and Chris Evans to name a few. To celebrate, Très is looking back at Bradley Cooper's sexiest moments, so enjoy! Check out a few of the magazine's hot photos, and let us know if you agree with this year's pick.

Decorating Ideas to Steal From West Elm's Georgetown Pop-Up

Mandy Harris — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:36:13 PDT

If you've ever been inside one of West Elm's stores, you know how inspiring they can be. From the products to the staging, it's enough to make you want to buy everything in sight. Tomorrow, the chain is bringing that inspiration to our nation's capital with its first-ever pop-up shop in Georgetown. Check out the slideshow for a sneak peek of what's in store, along with plenty of decorating ideas to steal.

Source

Is There Such a Thing as a "Useless" College Degree?

Emily Co — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:32:40 PDT

What your major is in college has a high chance of dictating what your future salary will be like. A recent study by Georgetown University found that there is a strong correlation between the choice of undergraduate major and their earning potential. Anthony Carnevale, director of Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce, says that although a bachelor's degree is important, "It's almost three to four times more important what you take."

It's common knowledge that a college degree will earn you more than a high school degree - in fact, the study quotes graduates earning 84 percent more over a lifetime. However, it's pretty eye-opening to learn that over that the research revealed that the majors with the highest earning potential have a salary that is 300 percent higher than the majors that earn the lowest wages.

But does getting a low salary mean a major is "useless"? The Daily Beast recently created a list of the most worthless college degrees, and I cringed when I saw my major, journalism, at the top of the list. Although some may deem that degree as "worthless," I feel that majoring in it gave me a really rich educational experience that has helped shape my motivation and drive to succeed. However in hindsight, I would've loved to double major in a more stable field such as computer science, just as a job security blanket. Do you believe that some degrees are useless?

Sugar Shout Out: See Mila Kunis's Standout-Style Moments!

PopSugar — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:55:00 PDT