BuzzSugar

Mattel Plans More Toy-Inspired Movies

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:31:54 PST

The Transformers movie clearly turned out to be massively successful for the Hasbro toy company, and talk of a sequel swiftly followed the first movie's release. Then a G.I. Joe movie went into development, followed by a deal with Universal to make at least four movies based on Hasbro products, including Ouija, Candyland and Battleship, among others.

Not to be outdone, rival toy company Mattel got to work on a live-action "300-style" He-Man movie (with rumors of Brad Pitt taking the main role) and now there are a few more toy-inspired projects on the way. Apparently the company hopes to make an action film based on Hot Wheels, and at long last, Barbie will get her very own live-action feature film (though, as we all know, it's not exactly easy to find real women with the Barbie doll's measurements, or those who walk only on their tiptoes).

Obviously these projects are done with the intention of selling more toys, but do you think there's anything cool or interesting about them? And what kind of character will Barbie be?

Source and source

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 4-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:33:43 PST

By 4 years old, tots know what they like, and they're already forming their own wish lists for the holidays. Chances are that many of the items on that list are the hottest toys of the season - including the LeapFrog LeapPad and the VTech InnoTab, Lalaloopsy, and Hot Wheels Wall Tracks. If mama's looking for a few new ideas, we've got her covered. Check out our favorite finds for these preschoolers!

The Orb Factory's StoryCraft The Frog Prince ($20) allows for creative storytelling, as tots add shapes and jewels to a 10-page story book about the Frog Prince fairy tale. LeapFrog keeps expanding its popular Tag reading system to do more than just teach tots to read. The LeapFrog Solar System Adventure Pack ($14) uses the Tag stylus to teach lil ones about the solar system - exploring planets and educating tots about life beyond Earth. Exercise doesn't feel like a chore with Diggin's Wobble Deck ($45), which plays music and games while tots try to balance on the board. Mini American Idol fans will love First Act's Voice Rockrz Mic ($25) that not only changes the singer's voice, but provides drumrolls and applause. Kids will rule the neighborhood with Fisher Price's Power Wheels Stinger XT ($250), a motorized car with room for two.

13 Signs You’re Too Busy

LearnVest — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:15:38 PDT

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

There’s busy.

Then there’s too busy.

Busy is running from one appointment to the next. Too busy is running over someone on your way to the next appointment (physically, vehicularly, whatever). Busy is leaving your cell phone behind at the grocery store. Too busy is leaving your kid behind at the grocery store.

And then there’s the biggest of all ironies-we want to cut back, but frankly, we just don’t have the time to figure out how to do it.

Sound familiar? Well, we’re here to do an intervention-a time intervention. Today, we’ll help you figure out if your life is starting to burst at the seams when it comes to your time. If it is, you need a wake-up call to reset priorities, because there is no shakier foundation for healthy, balanced living (and healthy, balanced money management) than not having the space and breathing room that time provides in our lives.

If you’ve crossed over the line into too busy, you’ll need to reset your foundation: Maybe it means taking a day off from work to reassess your life priorities. Maybe it means evaluating what your time is worth and outsourcing chores like housekeeping or laundry. Maybe it means taking a break from social engagements for a little while to focus on building the right foundation.

Here are 13 signs that you might need a time overhaul in your life-and easy tips on how to get started, today.

You Spend a Good Amount of Time Worrying About Your Time

If your time is preoccupied with, well, your time, you might be: endlessly cycling through your to-do list in your head, spending a lot of time arranging and rearranging your schedule, or wishing throughout the day that you had more time.

If you've worried about your schedule or wished you had more time more than three times a day, you need a break from time itself as a stressor in your life.

Try this: Take a mental break. Remove one thing from your schedule for today that is the least important-it might be putting off doing the laundry or postponing a work call. Spend that time instead totally luxuriating in something in the present moment (like eating a macaron or listening to your favorite song) and not thinking about your schedule, or future plans, at all.

Read on for more.

Beyond-Neutral Eye Shadow Looks to Try Right Now

Jaime Richards — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:10:00 PDT

Summer is practically here, so why not try out an eye shadow look that's different than the same old neutral color scheme? So show a little more skin, sport a new warm-weathered hairstyle, and wow everyone you know with a brightly-colored eye makeup palette. To see five breaking-away-from-the-norm looks, just keep reading.

Ryan Gosling Handles His Cars and Sexy Ladies Carey Mulligan and Christina Hendricks in Drive Trailer

Molly Goodson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:12:39 PDT

Carey Mulligan brought Drive to Comic-Con yesterday, where she helped debut a sneak peek and the first trailer for the action-packed indie film. Unfortunately Ryan Gosling wasn't able to make the trek to San Diego, though he was a hot topic of conversation and we get to see his brooding, handsome face in the red band preview. Ryan stars as a stunt driver who moonlights behind the wheel in high speed getaways, but things get complicated when he falls in love with a young mother, Carey, who he has to protect when a heist goes wrong. Ryan's character isn't big on words, though we're not complaining when it means getting a passionate and dangerous elevator kiss with Carey. The movie also stars Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, and Ron Perlman.

To watch the trailer, just

Kellan Returns to LA With a Smile Following His Loved-Up NYC Vacation With AnnaLynne

Allie Merriam — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:11:22 PDT

Kellan Lutz touched down at LAX yesterday afternoon and wheeled his carry-on out to his car. He's back on the West Coast following a stay in NYC, where Kellan Lutz was spotted kissing AnnaLynne McCord during a sweet walk around the Soho neighborhood. He visited her while she's in the Big Apple appearing in the play Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which she's in until May 29. The couple definitely seems to be on again despite a rumored split last year. She accompanied him on a recent visit to the Canadian set of Breaking Dawn, and was even Kellan's date to his brother Brandon's recent wedding. He's got promotional duties to handle now for his movie Love Wedding Marriage. There are some hot Kellan Lutz shirtless scenes in the film that hits theaters in the US early next month.

10 of Today's Hottest Jobs

Kiplinger — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:15:12 PDT

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

Believe it or not, even with the unemployment rate stubbornly high and many industries reluctant to staff up, there are employers out there who still can’t find enough qualified applicants. Some are offering six-figure salaries to the right job seekers. The trick, of course, is unearthing these hidden opportunities.

We started by asking CareerBuilder to mine its vast employment database to identify promising occupations that are experiencing an under-supply of qualified applicants relative to the number of available jobs. The resulting ratio is a good indicator of hiring demand - the lower the ratio, the greater the need for applicants. A ratio of 10.0, for example, means there are ten job seekers for every open position. A ratio of 0.5 means there are two open positions for every job seeker.

We also took a hard look at pay and growth prospects, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Annual salary ranges reflect the rates in the 25th and 75th percentiles. Ten-year growth projections are based on BLS's expected change in the number of positions between 2008 and 2018. Finally, we filtered our choices to represent a range of industries and educational requirements. Check out our list of ten of today’s hottest jobs.

1. Nurse Practitioner

Hiring demand: 0.25 active job seekers for every open position

Annual salary range: $52,980-$79,020

10-year growth projection: 22%

Job description: A picture of health. The first baby-boomers are reaching retirement age at a time when there’s a shortage of primary-care physicians. Nurses are needed to close the gap. They perform many duties, from medical histories to disease management, previously handled by doctors. While hospitals are the largest employers of nurses, the fastest growth - and best pay - can be found in physicians’ offices. At minimum, you’ll need to complete a formal training program. Some nursing positions call for an associate’s, bachelor’s or even master’s degree.

Read on for more hot jobs.

Highest and Lowest Calorie Foods at the Fair

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:46:34 PDT

Hooray for Ferris wheels and funnel cake! Hitting the local fair was always the highlight of my Summer as a kid. Who doesn't love eating an entire bag of cotton candy and then riding the Tilt-a-Whirl eight times in a row? Whether you're visiting the fair this Summer with your own kids or to bring out the kid in you, you'll probably want to know which foods are calorie bombs and which you can feel good about indulging in.

Highest Calorie Fair Foods:

Funnel cake: 760 calories
Cheese steak sandwich: 690 calories
Nachos with cheese (20 chips with 2 oz. of cheese): 551 calories
Deep-fried Twinkie: 425 calories
Seasoned curly fries: 424 calories
Soft pretzel: 389 calories
Churro: 326 calories
Hot dog with bun and ketchup: 315 calories

To see what foods are under 300 calories keep reading.

3 Tax Benefits For Going Green

Emily Co — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:00:40 PDT

Going green will give you more green during tax time. If you are attempting to improve the environment, or just cut the cost of your personal energy use, the tax law may provide a tax benefit for your good citizenship. Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, shares some potential benefits for energy-savers:

Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. This is a credit for making qualifying improvements that increase the heating and cooling efficiency of your primary residence. A maximum $1,500 credit is available for 2009 and 2010 combined. While the credit has been extended to 2011, it is subject to a $500 lifetime maximum and other limitations. The credit is scheduled to expire after 2011.

There are two categories of property that qualify. 1) Qualified energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, windows, exterior doors, storm windows, and metal roofs. 2) Residential energy property expenditures such as furnaces, hot water boilers, and central air conditioners. Each type of property has specific energy saving requirements. For a complete list of eligible property and requirements, go to www.energystar.gov. Energy-saving home improvements or appliances that do not improve the home's heating and cooling efficiency (dishwashers, clothes dryers, etc.) do not qualify for this credit.

To learn what other tax benefits you get for being green, read on.

8 Germiest Public Places to Avoid

Prevention — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:06:02 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Excerpt from The List Maker’s Get-Healthy Guide, By the Editors of Prevention

Avoid touching these surfaces in public places to stay healthy.

An average adult can touch as many as 30 objects within a minute, including germ-harboring, high-traffic surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, phone receivers, and remote controls. At home, you do all that you can to keep the germs at bay. But what happens when you step out the door to go to dinner, do some grocery shopping, or visit the doctor's office? Know where germs are most likely to lurk, as you'll find out here.

1. Restaurant menus
Have you ever seen anyone wash off a menu? Probably not. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Virology reported that cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be handling the menus - and passing their germs on to you. Never let a menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands after you place your order. Or use antibacterial wipes.

2. Lemon wedges
According to a 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges perched on the rims of restaurant glasses contain disease-causing microbes. When the researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants, they found 25 different microorganisms lingering on the 76 lemons that they secured, including E. coli and other fecal bacteria. Tell your server that you'd prefer your beverage sans fruit. Why risk it?

3. Condiment dispensers
It's the rare eatery that regularly bleaches its condiment containers. And the reality is that many people don't wash their hands before eating, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD. So while you may be diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries. Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of the condiment bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help; napkins are porous, so microorganisms can pass right through, Reynolds says.

Keep reading for more germy spots to avoid!