BuzzSugar

What Will William Shatner Name His My Little Pony?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:32:46 PDT

This AP story first caught my eye because the headline is so funny - especially with the image of a My Little Pony: "Sunshine, rainbows, James Spader?"

Sunshine, rainbows, James Spader, indeed. Apparently, cast members of Boston Legal (does this TV show choice seems random to you, too?) will design My Little Ponies to be auctioned off for the Give Kids The World charity "as part of a celebration of the toy's 25th anniversary." Who else is designing ponies? To find out,

read more. Spader and his costars on the show, Candice Bergen and William Shatner will contribute designs, along with a smattering of others: LeAnn Rimes, Deborah Gibson (another iconic presence from my youth!), actor Danny Aiello, Spanish illustrator Catalina Estrada, "New York graffiti artist-turned-designer Claw Money and Japanese manga artist Junko Mizuno." The AP goes on to explain My Little Ponies:

The pastel-colored ponies - with names like Rainbow Dash and Daybreak - usually sport decorations on their hind quarters, often of hearts, balloons or stars. The celebrities and artists were given blank, 18-inch versions of the usually 4-inch-tall ponies to decorate, Hasbro spokesman Dan Benkwitt said.

Did you used to play with My Little Ponies? What do you think will end up on Shatner's pony's hind quarters? And finally, I must note here that, upon reading this news, CitizenSugar (who gets to Sugar HQ way earlier than any of the rest of us) quipped: "I hear the NIH classified ponies as the key to 'whinny-ing' the war on illness!" Ha. Ha ha. Boston Legal photo copyright 2008 ABC, Inc., and source

Would You Want to be as Successful as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg?

Emily Co — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:34:15 PST

Many of us look up to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg as a role model because she's one of the most successful female business leaders of our time. She's consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the most powerful women in the world and she's estimated to be worth a cool $1.6 billion. She's the face of women trying to crack the glass ceiling, and with so many glowing praises showered on Sandberg, I was surprised to see career blogger Penelope Trunk make the bold statement that "very few women want to be Sandberg." Trunk explains:

"Sandberg wants to be a role model for women who want big, exciting careers. But here’s the problem: women don't want to be Sandberg. It’s no coincidence that the number one woman on the list of self-made millionaires is Oprah. She has no kids and no husband. She’s fascinating, nice, and smart. But few of us would really enjoy her life.

Sandberg and Oprah represent extreme choices in life. The things they give up are not things that most women would want to give up in exchange for the wild career success they could have . . . You can't have small kids and a startup if you want to see your kids."

Everyone has a different definition of what it means to "make it." In fact, success for many women doesn't mean climbing the corporate ladder; it's having a good work-life balance, according to a More magazine survey. The Facebook executive may be one of the wealthiest women around, but her intensive job may leave her with less time to spend with her two kids and husband. What about you - would you want to be as successful as Sheryl Sandberg?

Lauren Bush: How Busy Women Can Find Time to Give Back

Emily Co — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:54:57 PST

Privileged and beautiful, Lauren Bush, the niece of former President George W. Bush, is also a big philanthropist. TrèsSugar recently sat down with Bush for an interview, in which the model spilled the deets about FEED, a project she founded to fight world hunger. Bush gave advice on how busy women can find the time to give back:

"I feel lucky that I've been able to integrate giving back into my job, so it's all one in the same, which is not necessarily the case for most. But most companies do offer opportunities to volunteer or encourage that to some extent, and if they don't, it's a thing to push for. It can be this overwhelming thing to be like, 'I need to find the cause that I'm so passionate about. I need to jump headfirst.' And at some point people might do that, but in the meantime, just dabble and learn and find small things you can do. Like my brother - this isn't small; it's actually quite huge - but he's a Big Brother. And it's changed his life, changed this little kid's life. And it's just the coolest thing. It's a big time commitment to open your life up to a kid, but he loves it. You don't always need to start your own, and nor should most people."

It's always good to start small and to be realistic about your time commitments. You need to pick activities that are doable because giving back should always feel fulfilling and not like something that you feel obligated to do.

Detachment Trailer: Adrien Brody Tackles Tough Questions

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

In Detachment, Adrien Brody stars as Henry Barthes, a substitute teacher who moves around a lot, never staying in a place long enough to develop any true connection or emotional attachment to the student body, the administration, or anyone, for that matter. At his newest school, Henry finds that the unmotivated students have completely burnt out the faculty. When Henry unexpectedly becomes a beacon of light to a few of the kids, he begins to come to grips with the world around him.

Even from the short trailer, you can tell that Brody is going to give one powerful performance. He's not the only one to look forward to; the film has a recognizable supporting cast with the likes of Marcia Gay Harden, Bryan Cranston, and Christina Hendricks. Detachment looks like an intense and poignant story, so to check out the trailer, just keep reading.

Lauren Bush Shares Relationship Advice and Thoughts On Giving Back

Annie Scudder — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:50:27 PST

Lauren Bush is much more than a pretty face and famous last name. This past weekend at Pixar Animation Studios, Lauren spoke about giving back creatively at the Intersection Event, a conference on innovation.

Before her panel, I caught up with the newlywed model and founder of FEED, a project to fight world hunger in conjunction with UN World Food Programme. She shared her relationship advice, as well as the issue she hopes women will pay more attention to and details about her upcoming FEED back. Read our interview below.

TrèsSugar: How have your relationship and career priorities changed with age?
Lauren Bush: "It's been a flow to this point. I don't think there's a perfect science to it. Maybe there is and in that case I'd love to know. I don't have kids yet, therefore I can travel more easily perhaps. I think it's about doing what you love. FEED for me is like my arm. It's like second nature. I feel like I'm in this rare awesome position where getting up to go to work isn't really work, it's exciting. If you find something you love, it melds naturally. To be an entrepreneur is all consuming. And lucky enough, my husband was an entrepreneur himself, is very entrepreneurial, so he just gets it. It's also about surrounding yourself with people who will support your passion."

TS: What piece of relationship advice would you share with young women?
LB: "Don't sweat the small stuff."

TS: Who are your female role models?
LB: There are more women now than when we started five years ago that I can look to. Sheryl Sandberg (the COO) from Facebook. I saw her speak and she's so inspiring. Also, Somali Moms, a foundation in Cambodia with this amazing woman. And Christie Brinkley and what she's been doing with Every Mother Counts is really inspiring.

Keep reading to find out about more about FEED and its newest bag.

Final Exam Tips For Mom Students

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:27:15 PST

Need to cram for an exam? Whether you're a mom or just a full-time student, check out these tips that OnSugar blogger marybabysteps shared on The College Mom.

Wow, the end of the semester is actually here. Where'd the time go? I'm sure you're saying the same thing. With so much on your plate, you may be wondering how in the world you're going to find time to prepare for final exams, never mind how you'll actually manage to survive them. Trust me, mama, you can do this. Take a deep breath and consider these tips to help you get a handle on your test anxiety during this crazy time.

Schedule Study Time

I've talked about this aspect of time management, but it's especially important at finals to make sure you've set aside plenty of time for study. Write it down in your agenda or planner, and be sure to stick to it - just like any other appointment. You'll find that you're far less stressed if you know you've got the time set aside.

Break It Down

Decide which subjects are most difficult and tackle those first in your study session when your energy level is highest. Also keep in mind that it's impossible to study absolutely everything. Decide which topics are most likely to be on the exams and focus on those. Often professors will provide you with study guides. Take a moment to review the study guides, highlighting the topics that are toughest for you. Breaking things down always makes them seem less overwhelming.

More tips after the break.

OnSugar Blog: Audrey's Big Score

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:14:09 PST

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and MiaFT is one of them. This is an excerpt from one of the latest posts on her Baby Love blog.

So this is what Audrey is going to get this year for Christmas! Yes, I went a little overboard, but I couldn't help myself!

So let me give you a rundown of all of her loot. As you can see, I hit the Disney Store...hard! I bought her both nightgowns for Snow White and Belle, as well as the Animators' dolls. I also bought the Mrs. Potts tea set, from Beauty and the Beast, as well as the movie itself. It's her new favorite. I recorded it recently, and she is in love!

How cute is the little red rocking horse....I mean, moose? She saw that at Ikea and we literally had to tear her off kicking and screaming. She is going to love it! I'm sure she'll be on it all Christmas Day.

I also shopped at Buy Buy Baby and got some great stuff! The cutest Melissa and Doug clock puzzle. What a great toy! On this one little toy she can learn about numbers, shapes, colors, and time. I challenge you to find a more educational toy. I also picked up the Melissa and Doug mailbox. She is always fascinated by the mailboxes we pass on the street. I think she'll love having her own! I picked up a cute little Wizard of Oz book, which is kind of for me since it still is my favorite movie ever. Oh and I got her a VTech digital camera. Yes, you read that right, a digital camera. It is only $40, so don't think I'm crazy. But it is built kid-proof, and can actually take pictures and videos. I am looking forward to seeing the world through her little eyes!

Finally, I stopped at Kohl's. I got a little fish tank lamp. She is in love with fish (since her Nemo phase) and it will be much easier than getting a real fish tank that would have to be cleaned. While I was there, I also picked up their Nancy Tillman hardcover books. They are part of Kohl's Cares. They only cost $5 each and 100 percent of the profits will support kids' health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. It's a great deal, and it helps others. And books make the best gifts!

Christmas is really for the kids, and I can't wait to see her smiling face on Christmas Day! I guess now I have to start shopping for everyone else on my list...

Want to see more? Start following Baby Love or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just may feature your content on our site!

Holiday Wish Lists: Practical or Tacky?

LearnVest — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:15:58 PST

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

Ah, the wish list.

It made a lovely debut when we were little, often addressed to a certain Mr. Claus. It had a good run for a few years, but retired itself in adulthood as the stuff of kids and dreams (with the exception of weddings and babies, when they take on the adult guise of “registry”).

And now that we are adults, wish lists (outside of those socially acceptable registries) are at best silly and at worst mercenary, right? That’s what many think.

Are We Becoming More Mercenary?

A recent New York Times story discussed the recent trend of the wish list-it’s back, along with more mercenary attitudes towards gift-giving, like a desire for gift cards instead of actual gifts. (According to the story, for the last five years, gift cards have been the most requested gift, according to National Retail Foundation surveys.) A study released earlier this year showed that people who receive gifts they had requested actually derive more pleasure from them and appreciate them more.

Read on for more on wishlists.

Lil Links: Jennifer Garner Is Enjoying Her Last Trimester

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:32:43 PST

Jennifer Garner went for some prenatal pampering with her own mom - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Photos of kids smoking are beautifully disturbing - The Stir
How to throw a kid-friendly holiday party - Celebrity Baby Blog
A reality check about miscarriages - FitPregnancy
15 superfoods for kids - Parenting
How to avoid pregnancy regret - The Bump
What I forgot to teach my kids - Momformation
An iPad app that gives tots a safe view of the world – Tecca.com
A doll for modern, health-conscious girls - Fit Bottomed Mamas

5 Ways Spending Less Will Create More Happiness

LearnVest — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:15:49 PST

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

Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote an op-ed piece about the “Haimish Line.” The Haimish Line is an invisible line sometimes crossed when you go from spending less to spending more - in doing so, Brooks contends, you often sacrifice warmth and connection to attain luxury and space. According to Brooks, “haimish” is a Yiddish word that suggests “warmth, domesticity and unpretentious conviviality.”

An exclusive, white-tablecloth, four-star restaurant where servers disappear and diners are on their Blackberries would be north of the Haimish Line. A small, casual diner on the corner bustling with loud conversations from neighborhood folks talking over each other would be south of the Haimish Line. A new dorm building with a shiny, new, unused lounge would be north of the Haimish Line; the well-worn lounge of ratty furniture that students veer toward would be staunchly planted south of the Haimish Line. The Haimish Line even slices across neighborhoods: densely packed urban neighborhoods where kids run home from school and and people have stoop conversations versus spread-out suburbs of isolated living in separate homes and cars.

Brooks advises that we learn to spend our money well and stay south of the Haimish Line.

I found this essay so compelling because money often buys privacy, space, exclusivity and “luxury”-all of which are the very opposite of “unpretentious conviviality.” In America, the picture of success is a bigger house (where the family is more spread out), moving to the suburbs (with more distance between neighbors), a nicer car (to be more vigilant about spills in), and flying first class (ok, so some things are not worth getting all concerned about “the Haimish Line” over).

Read on for ways to spend less and create happiness.