BuzzSugar

How to Stop Keeping Up With the Joneses

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:15:16 PST

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

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like there are many money lessons to learn from The Real Housewives.

One spent a season building a $1.8 million mansion and driving around a $1,280-per-month Escalade, only to file for bankruptcy with almost $11 million in debt.

Shortly postbankruptcy, she dropped another $60,000 on a shopping spree so she could continue to fit in with those in her social circle.

Even if you don’t end up with millions of dollars in debt - or have friends who are millionaires - trying to keep up with the Joneses (or the Gorgas, in this case) can not only make you feel lousy about yourself, but also inspire bad spending decisions. We call this phenomenon “money comparisonitis.”

How Having "Comparisonitis" Affects Us

In our own lives, the dangers of gazing enviously at the Real Housewives’ spending sprees, our neighbor’s new car, or that family down the street who can send their kids to private school are not only the fact that it makes us feel bad, but that it literally distorts our view of reality.

In other words, we look at celebrities like the Kardashians or the wealthier people we know, and we try to emulate their spending habits. “You’re not being truthful with yourself,” says Susan L. Hirshman, president of She Ltd., a consulting firm focused on enhancing women’s wealth, and the author of Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?. “As they make more money, that allows them to live a certain lifestyle.” In other words, you have to face facts and spend in accordance with your own budget, rather than feeling entitled to live a certain way just because other people do.

Read on for more.

The Healthiest Drinks For Your Diet

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:29:33 PST

When eating healthfully, a large focus may be on what not to drink: no sugary juices, sodas, or high-calorie cocktails. But many drinks can actually help you live a healthier lifestyle. We all know that drinking enough water is essential, but find out what other drinks should also be on your OK list below, and remember to enter our healthy living giveaway for a chance to win a $500 Under Armour gift card!

Coffee: The hot drink is the perfect accompaniment to a cold morning or a drowsy afternoon, but offering you a warm pick-me-up isn't its only advantage. Coffee has been proven to help improve memory, increase endurance, and ease muscle pain. The list doesn't stop there; read more about the health benefits of coffee here.

Watch for: The benefits of coffee don't always outweigh the risks, especially if you drink too much. Drinking too much java can cause you to become anxious or jittery, disrupt your sleep patterns, develop high blood pressure, or endure regular headaches. Stay attuned to caffeine's affect on your body and, in general, don't drink more than 300 milligrams a day (the average cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine).

Red wine: All those studies about the health benefits of red wine makes me feel that much better about relaxing with a glass of Cab after work. Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol, which has been proven in studies to be beneficial to your health - everything from fighting cancer to antiaging, along with other disease-preventing benefits.

Watch for: The benefits of wine stop at one glass a day, so don't go overboard. You may be doing yourself more harm than good, especially since one glass of red wine usually runs around 127 calories. And while scientists have researched resveratrol in many lab studies, there have been few studies in humans - and let's not forget the recent news that a leading red wine researcher actually falsified data in dozens of studies on heart health and resveratrol.

Two more good-for-you drinks after the break!

Bridal Friday Link Time: A Drop-Dead Glam Wedding

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:49:00 PST

This head-to-toe sequin gown ups the glam factor at this wedding - The Wedding Chicks
Coolest idea ever: a newspaper thank-you card! - The Bride's Guide
Top wedding songs for 2012 - Equally Wed
See Barack and Michelle Obama on their wedding day! - Glamour
Fun in the snow: Winter wedding ideas - Green Wedding Shoes
Grab some popcorn and enjoy this movie-trailer-inspired wedding video - Style Me Pretty
You'll shore-ly be inspired by this nautical engagement shoot - 100 Layer Cake
Talk about a party! A Mardi Gras masquerade ball wedding in NOLA - Rock n' Roll Bride

One Sexy, One Green: Sprint Pushes Out Two New 4G LTE Phones at CES

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:04 PST

Sprint customers will soon have a wider range of choices when it comes to phone selection. The company announced two new phones at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, one with an advanced OS, the other with a green thumb. Check out the details on each of them below, and stay tuned for pricing and release date information.

Galaxy Nexus
You've heard its name before. Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is one blazing-hot phone that you should definitely keep an eye on. Coming with 4G LTE speeds and Google's Ice Cream Sandwich operating system - which boasts an all new interface, facial recognition, NFC technology, native support for Google Wallet, and lots more - the Galaxy Nexus is a tough act to follow. Not to mention its 4.65-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, and teardrop-shaped bod. Sexy.

LG Viper
The LG Viper may be eco-friendly - its casing is made of 35 percent recycled plastics and comes with an energy-efficient charger - but that doesn't mean it's boring as dirt. The Viper is a 4G LTE phone, and comes with a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, two cameras (one 5MP rear-facing and one VGA front-facing), and a nice 4-inch WVGA NOVA display. Plus, you can expand your on-board memory up to 32GB with your own microSD card.

5 Things Not to Bring to the Gym

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:03:10 PST

If you want to make the most of your gym time, there are certain things you shouldn't take with you. To stay healthy and centered during your workout, leave these five items at home:

Reading material. It's important to stay focused while you're at the gym, not only for safety reasons, but also to maximize the benefits of your workout. If you're focusing on the latest issue of your favorite magazine, you're probably not paying attention to your body. Read outside the gym to zero in on your training.
Energy drinks. Stick to zero-calorie water to stay hydrated. The amount of caffeine in different energy drinks varies, but you should steer clear while you're working out to avoid becoming lightheaded. Prefer something with a bit of flavor? Try adding electrolyte enhanced flavor packets to your water.
A plastic water bottle. Refilling and reusing old plastic water bottles can be dangerous to your health - and the environment. Go green and invest in a stainless steel option instead.

Keep reading for two more things to leave at home.

Link Time: Nina Garcia Joins Moda Operandi, Tommy Ton's Best-Dressed List, and More

FabSugar — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:53:57 PST

Nina Garcia joins Moda Operandi - The Cut
Dylan Lauren, Allegra Versace, and more famous designer daughters - HuffPo Style
The best- and worst-selling cover girls (and boys) of 2011 - FashionIndie
The year in Babyoncé - The Daily Beast
51 ways to spend your gift card - Stylelist
See the photos from Ashley Greene's DKNY campaign - InStyle
Get a first look at Iris Apfel's MAC collection - College Fashion
Buck the trend with Cambridge Satchel Company's Fluoro satchel - Bag Snob
13 slim and sexy pencil skirts to wear all Winter long - Refinery29
Tommy Ton shares his best dressed of 2011 - Style.com

7 Ways You Can Avoid Internet Fraud and Phishing Scams

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:53:32 PST

The holiday season is here and millions of Americans are heading out to tackle their last-minute shopping lists. Though doing the lions share of your shopping online can save you time, there are many dangers lurking out there on the Internet, especially where there are credit cards involved.

One recent Internet phishing scam involves Apple fans, and a so-called "Christmas Awards" program. This email-based scam sends you a message from a non-Apple email address (like rediffmail.com) asking you to download an attachment to learn more about the awards program. The attachment is a Word document, which is a red flag for downloading viruses and malware. While the download doesn't appear to host any viruses, it does say that you've won $250 million dollars and a commemorative iPhone 4S. All you need to do to claim the "prize" is hand over all of your personal and sensitive information. Don't! If you get this email, don't open it and be sure to report it to the FTC.

Stay safe while shopping this holiday - and beyond - by following these tips that will keep your personal info out of the hands of hackers.

Don't be fooled by fake log-in screens: If you're already signed into Twitter, Facebook, or your email, you won't be asked to sign in again unless you've logged out. Even if the screen looks like the normal log-in, it probably isn't.
Don't be fooled by emails: I've been asked to reply to my "banking institution" with my account log-in information before. The email is formatted to look legit, but if you check the sender's address, most likely it's from a third-party account like Gmail, Yahoo, or MSN. Be diligent and never reply to emails with your bank log-ins or passwords and always check where they are coming from first! When in doubt, call instead.
Reset your passwords often: Too often, people have some pretty lame passwords, which allow their accounts to get hacked even without a phishing scam. Make sure your passwords are tough to guess, and try to change them every few months.

See the rest of the tips after the break.

10 Surprising and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas From Sabrina Soto

Elka Karl — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:41 PST

You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to create an amazing holiday look at your house this year. Sabrina Soto, Target Style Expert for Home and HGTV Designer on The High/Low Project shows us just how easy it is to use everyday objects and materials to create a unique and beautiful holiday decorating scheme. Keep reading for her ideas!

Candy If it’s colorful, festive and/or sugar coated, then food can be one of the easiest ways to fill a pretty bowl or decorate a Christmas tree (think peppermint candy cane garland or wreath).
Food Coloring Gather a small assortment of multisized clear or glass vases and apothecaries jars, like this one, on your coffee table. Fill each with water to various levels to give the display a visual effect. Take red and green food coloring and add a few drops to the mix until you achieve your desired hue. Add a few pillar candleholders with LED Flameless candles around the cluster of vases and jars and let the glow of the candle glisten off the glass and water.
Foliage There’s no better way to bring in the spirit of the season than with some of nature’s own beauty. Pine cones are an obvious find this time of year, but don’t overlook the beautiful berries and leaves that you can gather. After a little maintenance, scattering a few along the table or getting crafty to make a wreath can bring a piece of the outdoors in this holiday.
Books The books on your shelf can serve as one of the easiest decor focal points for the holidays. There are some great ways to take your bookshelf and transform it to a work of holiday art. Start by selecting some of your favorite holiday wrapping paper in either solid, iridescent red or green and mix in patterns, like stripes. Wrap each book as if it were a present and style out the bookcase.
Wine and martini glasses The easiest way to create an elegant centerpiece is to turn the glasses upside down and they immediately become candlesticks. I recommend using LED flameless candles for safety!
Holiday Plates Plates can instantly take holiday decorating from the table right to your walls. A set of four red snowflake chargers like these from Target, would look beautiful in a scattered arrangement on a kitchen wall or leading up a staircase.
Wine Bottles These can serve as nice decorative pieces throughout the home. Remove the label and add a couple of wild berry stems or flowers for a centerpiece. Reuse the corks by carefully cutting a horizontal slit along the top and making your own placecard holders for your next dinner party with friends and family.
Rope and clothespins Holiday cards are more glamourous than ever. An easy way to display them is to create a simple garland out of rope and attaching the cards with clothespins!
Kids' Art In the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the kids are creating art, drawings and projects to celebrate the season nearly every day at school. Use their mini masterpieces and give it the attention it deserves by taking it off the fridge and placing it in matted picture frames. The colors and drawings will complement the tree, lights and trimmings.
Fruit A metallic (spray) painted pear with a decorative ribbon and tag could make such a simple, yet elegant placecard for your dining table.

Do you repurpose everyday objects for holiday decor? What do you use?

My Picks From DWR's $1,000 Giveaway

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:53 PST

It's not too late to enter our 15 Days of Holiday Giveaways $1,000 Design Within Reach Giveaway! The lucky winner will receive a $1,000 Design Within Reach gift card. Even though I can't participate in the giveaway, I'm still admiring the inventory and imagining how I would style some of my favorite items.

If I were eligible, there are several pieces that I'd buy in a heartbeat. I'd start with Davey Lighting's Oval Bulkhead Light ($350, bottom right). This lighting company is said to have designed lights that graced the decks of famed ships like the Titanic! Wouldn't it look dashing against a a dark wall? I'm thinking onyx or midnight blue.

The Almoco Flatware 5-Piece Setting ($40-$60, middle row, left) in matte black would be a great addition to any modern table setting. I would choose a tablecloth covered in jewel-tone blooms like magenta, emerald green, and deep purple. Metallic versions are offered as well!

I have a thing for crocs. They have an element of elegance, exoticism, and danger that feels exciting to me. This Lucy the Crocodile ($115, middle row, right) sculpture by David Weeks Studio for Areaware captures the beauty of the animal in a playful manner. Since the wooden material gives it a casual, organic feel, I'd glam it up by grouping it with a lucite box and colorful agate coasters on a coffee table.

To shop the rest of my picks, just click on each image.

Foreign Gay Spouses May Soon Get Green Light For Green Cards

Annie Scudder — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 02:00:36 PDT

Foreigners married to American same-sex partners cannot get green cards. But as of yesterday, they will be allowed to apply for them - an important distinction that will keep some spouses together at least temporarily.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has decided to stop denying same-sex green card applications until courts decide the uncertain future of the Defense of Marriage Act. Until now, DOMA meant that an application for permanent residency based on a same-sex marriage would be automatically denied, often leading to the deportation of the foreign spouse. Now applications will be accepted, although final decisions will be put off along with deportation.

Gay rights activists have criticized Obama for dragging his feet when it comes to change. But as of Feb. 23, his administration announced that it would no longer defend Section 3 of DOMA. Advocates say that without Section 3, there would be no ground to deny a US citizen from sponsoring a same-sex spouse.

Upon the new green card policy, the group Immigration Equality filed an application for Edwin Blesch and his South African husband Tim. Edwin, whose South African marriage is recognized in his home state New York, released this statement, which eloquently sums up the development: "Every day, we live with the very real possibility that, despite following every law and every policy of the United States, Tim will be forced to leave the country, and I will be left without my caretaker and the love of my life. Today's news gives us great relief, and great hope that we may soon be able to put that worry behind us."