BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:30:00 PDT

It's Tuesday, which means new DVDs hit shelves to fatten up your entertainment library! Trying to decide which to add to your Netflix queue? Check out these three releases.

Orphan

All right, so it's not the best horror film ever - for that, take a peek at my scary movie bracket - but who doesn't love a good spook just in time for Halloween? In Orphan, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as parents who adopt a destructive little girl with a huge secret. The movie borders on ridiculous, but if you like to laugh during your fright flicks, it's got a bit of dark humor and over-the-top slasher scenes. Bonus features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending - which should be good for keeping things fresh, seeing as how the big twist has already been spoiled by pretty much anyone who's seen it.

55%

See two more new releases when you

read more. Nothing Like the Holidays If you're feeling anti-Orphan, then perhaps a Christmas-themed ensemble film is more your speed. Nothing Like the Holidays follows a large, boisterous Puerto Rican-American family as they gather at their parents' home, and the obligatory love-hate relationships ensue. The storyline is a little stale, so I wasn't a fan when the movie first came out - but it may be a solid rental to get into the pre-holiday spirit and for the actors. (Alfred Molina and Freddy Rodriguez are particularly good as father and son.) There's also a bonus blooper real. 49%
Whatever Works Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David stars in Woody Allen's story of a crabby New Yorker who takes in a young Southern runaway named Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood). Putting aside the somewhat unsettling older man and much younger woman relationship, the real joy to be had is from the bit character parts. Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. turn in hilarious performances as Melodie's parents, and dreamy Henry Cavill of The Tudors plays a love interest. If you can get beyond David doing his tiring, whiny Allen schtick, they make the film worth checking out. 48%

Nothing Like the Holidays: The Fruitcake of the Holiday Movie Season

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:30:52 PST

The Christmas dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays really is like a fruitcake: Seasonal, obligatory and cliche. It's unoriginal in its presentation, but then again, it is the holidays and someone put in the effort to make it, so a part of you appreciates it a little. You just don't want to taste it ever again. And maybe another part of you is the teeniest bit resentful that you were given something so forgettable.

Having said all that, there are some refreshing aspects to this particular sweet-sour overbaked good. The plot relies heavily on that tiresome declaration of "look how totally wacky and loud we are but we are also so loving!" But at least this time it's a Puerto Rican-American family, an ethnic group that's pretty severely underrepresented in mainstream film. The adult children in the Rodriguez family are gathering together at their parents' Chicago home for Christmas, including big-time New York City lawyer Mauricio (John Leguizamo) and his Jewish fish-out-of-water wife Sarah (Debra Messing), aspiring Hollywood actress Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), and soldier Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) who is just now returning from Iraq. A circle of extra players surrounds the group: cousin Johnny (Luis Guzmán), family friend with a history of gangster life Ozzy (Jay Hernandez), and Jesse's old flame (the one that got away) Marissa (Melonie Diaz) - along with her son and new boyfriend. For more on why there's just nothing like the holidays,

read more. The familial relationships are equal parts tension and love, anger and sweetness, cruelty and warmth. Emotions run high all the time and everyone's got some kind of drama going on. Sarah feels unfairly pressured to have kids, Roxanna fears her fledgling career in TV and film will never take off, and Ozzy is filled with rage toward the recently-sprung-from-prison guy who killed his brother. Jesse's storyline is the most intriguing, largely due to Freddy Rodriguez's wonderful onscreen charisma: Trying to adapt to civilian life again, he wonders what his purpose is and desperately wants to be with Marissa. Finally, there's the ridiculously lame plotline of the parents: Edy (the magnificent teddy-bear-dad Alfred Molina) is hiding something, Anna (Elizabeth Peña) thinks he's cheating on her and thus wants a divorce, leading the kids to think this is their last Christmas together. All these storylines get knitted together in one big tangly ball of mess, which doesn't give any one character the space to grow beyond the one-dimensional stereotype he or she is given. The actors try mightily to counter this, however, and at times they succeed. These are heavyweight actors who are way above this material, and if there's a reason to see this movie at all, it's them. Their determination to be a part of this story is admirable, and in certain scenes they even manage to add some flavor to an otherwise bland Christmas offering. Overall, though, I'd say you can pass on this dessert - at least until it's re-gifted on TV during next year's holiday season. Source

Movie Preview: Nothing Like the Holidays

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:30:24 PDT

Sure, when I first saw the poster and description for Nothing Like the Holidays, I kinda groaned inside. Nothing like another reheated family holiday flick! And yet, now that I've watched the trailer, I'm charmed by this new take on an old genre.

For one thing, the film focuses on a Latino family, which is unusual (embarrassingly so) in both film and television. For another thing, the cast is fantastic. John Leguizamo has already won me over (being one of my favorite actors ever helps), as has another favorite of mine, Alfred Molina. In addition there's the lovable Debra Messing and (ready, Getty Girls?) the winsome Freddy Rodriguez.

The movie's description goes like this: "A Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago face what may be their last Christmas together." It starts out seeming tamely cute/funny, and then moves into some more poignant territory. Nothing Like the Holidays opens Nov. 21, and to watch the trailer,

Be Mine: 15 Healthy and Hearty Valentine's Day Delights

Angelica Marden — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:16:10 PST

Decadent, high-calorie, sugary Valentine's Day treats aren't the only way to celebrate the holiday of love. Here are 15 adorable suggestions for chocolate-free, heart-shaped recipes to inspire smiles from your dinner date - no added sugar or creamy filling required. Because nothing says "you have my heart" like a wholesome meal made with love.

Source: Flickr User gail_thepinkpeppercorn

Doutzen, Adriana, and Lindsay Give Us a Lesson in Valentine's Dressing 101

Hannah Weil — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:24:35 PST

When it comes to Valentine's dressing, there are of course the cliches: minidresses and heels, red and pink, and some slinky lingerie. While we're all reaching for some unexpected twist on the look, a quick chat - even just a glimpse of the girls in body-con Hervé Léger - may just be the argument to embrace the super-sexy albeit more predictable wear. We caught up with the gorgeous Victoria's Secret ambassadors Doutzen Kroes, Lindsay Ellingson, and Adriana Lima to find out exactly how some of the sexiest women on the planet prep for Valentine's Day, and now, we're newly resolved to keep it just as uncomplicated. Read on for their tips to getting the look just right, then shop our picks to channel the bombshells' V-Day 101.

Don't be afraid to wear red: "Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday so I love to get dressed up with a red dress, heels - the whole thing. I'm a little cheesy that way, but I love it." - Lindsay Ellingson
Slip something sexy underneath: "Whatever I wear, I would wear something super sexy underneath, like a lace corset or a garter slip because just knowing you have it on makes you feel confident and sexy." - Doutzen Kroes
There's nothing wrong with playing up your assets: "I haven't figured it all out yet, but it has to be something tight and sexy, like this [Hervé Léger bandage dress]." - Adriana Lima

Take a minute to digest the girls' get-sexy rules, then shop our picks to channel the same knockout style for your Valentine's date night.

Taryn Dress in Many Colors - by Ani Lee - $299.00	Riller & Fount Skipper One Shoulder Mini Dress - $158.00
ASOS Mini Strapless Dress with Sweetheart Neckline - $53.72	ASOS Midi Body-Conscious Dress With Short Sleeve - $44.76
Austin Draped Mini Dress - $368.00	ASOS Mini Dress with Frill Detail - $62.67
ASOS Mini Dress with Mesh Panels - $80.57	See By Chloe Short Sleeve Sweater Dress - $390.00
ASOS Mini Dress in Color Block - $71.62	ASOS Mini Dress with Cut Out PU Trim - $80.57
Casadei Mud Python Embossed Platform High Heels - $750.00	B Brian Atwood Consort High Heel Sandals - $325.00
GIANCARLO PAOLI High-heeled sandals - $145.00	Brian Atwood Maniac Platform Pump, Nude - $595.00
Suede and Leather Criss-Cross Colorblock Sandals - $995.00	Red Bow Bustier - $78.00
Olingerie Paula Lace - $39.39	eberjey Giovanna Bralet - $57.00
Garter Slip - $58.00	The Victoria's Secret Designer Collection Demi Push-Up Bra - $138.00
The Victoria's Secret Designer Collection Sparkle Thong - $48.00	The Victoria's Secret Designer Collection Ruffle Garterbelt - $58.00
Alice + Olivia Rosie Blouson Dress - $367.00	Rebecca Minkoff Claudia Dress - $328.00

5 Ways to Banish Postholiday Bloating

Self — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:04:38 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Feeling sluggish after the busy holiday season? You're not alone. According to a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the average American gains a pound between November and January.

But rather than wallow in the aftermath of too many cocktails and Christmas cookies, we turned to fitness expert Angela Parker, who offered these easy tips to banish postholiday bloating fast:

Sweat your ass off! Give yourself a daily 60-minute sweat session three days in a row. No walking - go running or spinning.
If you want to shrink fast, stick to egg whites, fish, chicken, and veggies.

Read on for more ways to banish postholiday bloating.

Sprout Home Inspiration of the Week: White Bouquets

Stylelist Home — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:30:41 PST

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, Stylelist Home.

One thing that I find beautiful about Winter is the calm that comes over me when I look at the fresh white snow blanketing the city, so regal, pure, and somewhat innocent. It changes the color palette of the world around you for a couple of months, which is bound to affect how you see things. Just like the seasonal weather change, my floral cravings can change accordingly. I get excited when an opportunity presents itself to create floral for a Winter wedding or a holiday arrangement where the juxtaposition of Winter whites can be explored and manipulated. I do not see it as a limited palette but instead a of study of form and texture with tonal contrast. You do not need an abundance of color to make a statement, sometimes less (color) is more. When you are creating your own floral piece or need to verbalize to a florist about what you are looking for, know that there are various shades of white. Remember the last time you painted something "white" and you were in awe of how many options there were for white? Some color chips might be completely void of pigment, but most have a hint of color, which can point to any direction in the color wheel. Selecting floral for your white bouquet can be a lot like selecting from those white paint chips. Keep in mind these hue differences when setting the tone for your arrangement.
Keep reading for more tips and gorgeous images of white bouquets!

What to Do With Your Year-End Bonus

LearnVest — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:15:06 PST

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

You’ve just been informed by your supervisor that you have a tidy bonus coming to you soon for all of your hard work this year. (And, of course, you totally deserve it.)

But whenever a large sum of money falls in your lap, you need to have a plan for it, so you don’t wake up a month or two later and realize that it’s all gone.

That’s no way to reward yourself for a job well done.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Rack up credit card debt in advance of your bonus expecting to pay it off.
Use it to treat your family and friends to oversized Christmas gifts.
Count your chickens before they hatch. Even if you’ve been told how much your bonus is, it will be taxed like regular income. Because of all the factors that play into it, don’t assume you know exactly how much will land in your account.
Plan your finances around the same bonus showing up next year.

Read on for more.

6 Quick and Easy Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Jaime Richards — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:05:07 PST

The holidays have a funny way of sneaking up, but just because it's the 11th hour, doesn't mean you can't still find amazing gifts. So if you're a bit behind on your shopping list, no fret. See six quick and easy ways you can make it all come together now.

Make Beef Tenderloin: It's the Ultimate Holiday Roast

Susannah Chen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:29:48 PST

There's no better time than the December holidays for a large, important meat roast - and in my humble opinion, there's no better roast than the beef tenderloin. I'm not the only one who believes this.

"Beef tenderloin is a special cut - it's prized because of its tenderness, yet it's incredibly lean. Because it's a solid muscle, it roasts and slices beautifully," Michaele Musel, culinary expert for Washington beef purveyor Double R Ranch, told me.

Since Michaele's prone to making holiday roasts more than once a year, I asked her to weigh in on everything tenderloin, from portion size to presentation. Here are a few things to bear in mind.

First, make sure you've got the serving size right. "A general rule of thumb for the holidays is six ounces of cooked roast per person," Michaele said. That would mean a four- to five-pound roast to feed eight to ten people, or factoring in a slightly larger amount (six to eight pounds) if you're purchasing a rib roast for the same number of guests.
Opt for a center cut beef tenderloin if you're new to the world of holiday roasts. "The center cut allows for even roasting and doneness," she explained - making it more than foolproof for a first-timer.

Keep reading for more thoughts on beef tenderloin.