BuzzSugar

Would You Let Mr. Jay and Ms. J Give You a Makeover?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:00:48 PDT

Have you heard? Mr. Jay and Ms. J of America's Next Top Model are getting their own spinoff! Then again, we shouldn't call Operation Fabulous a spinoff because as Jay Manuel puts it, "This is a new series that is a separate world from Model
and will really help women try to elevate their lives."

Regardless of how we categorize it, it's clearly a makeover show that raises an urgent question: Would you give these two free reign over your style?

Photos courtesy of The CW

The Secret to Spending Less

Kiplinger — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:32:25 PDT

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

Economists view the Commerce Department's report today that consumer spending rose in July as encouraging - considering consumer spending accounts for about 70% of the nation's economic activity. You might say it's a good thing Americans aren't pinching their pennies quite so much.

Some of that spending came at the expense of saving, though. The personal savings rate as a percentage of income fell to 5% in July from 5.5% in June. Considering many Americans' savings have taken a hit from stock market gyrations or have been drained to help them get through a job loss, it's worth looking at your spending to see whether you need to cut back to boost your savings.

I've found that one of the best ways to reduce spending is to avoid temptation. The fact that I live in a small town probably makes this a little easier for me than for big-city dwellers, who can't walk down the street without passing a multitude of stores, restaurants and entertainment options. (Plus, smaller cities tend to have a lower cost of living - and in our top ten picks for best value cites, there's a lot to do at affordable prices). But even in the boonies where I am, we still can hear the siren song of daily deal sites, social media and e-mail alerts from retailers.

For more on how to spend less, read on.

3 Reasons Why You Should Take a Second Look at the Kobo

Leta Shy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:10:59 PDT

Remember the Kobo? The Borders-backed ereader never reached the popularity heights of the Kindle or the Nook, but it's always been a reasonable (and cheaper) option for the eink screen lover. And now it's getting even cheaper - with 200 Borders stores closing because of the company's bankruptcy, many have spotted the ereader offered at a price of $60, half off the $120 tag advertised on its website.

While the low price is only available in some stores that are well on their way out, even the regularly priced units can be found for around $100. And although the Kobo lacks some features that its competitors have, if you're in the market for an ereader and haven't decided which one to get, now's the time to check out the Kobo's features. Thinking about getting a Nook or a Kindle? Check out three great reasons to give a fabulously priced Kobo a second look after the break.

25 Ways to Waste Your Money

Kiplinger — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:15:53 PST

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

Has your budget sprung a leak?

Nearly everyone has spending holes. And as with other kinds of leaks, you may have hardly noticed them. But those small drips can quickly add up to big bucks. The trick is to find the holes and plug them so you can keep more money in your pocket. That extra cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck.

Here are 25 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, then look for ways to plug your own leaks:

1. Carrying a balance. Debt is a shackle that holds you back. For instance, if you have a $1,000 balance on a credit card that charges an 18% rate, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.

2. Overspending on gas and oil for your car. There’s no need to spring for premium fuel if the manufacturer says regular is just fine. You should also check to make sure your tires are optimally inflated to get the best gas mileage. And are you still paying for an oil change every 3,000 miles? Many models nowadays can last 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes, and some even have built-in sensors to tell you when it’s time to change the oil. Check your manual to find the best time for your car’s routine maintenance.

3. Keeping unhealthy habits. Smoking costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. It significantly increases the cost of life and health insurance. And you'll pay more for homeowners and auto insurance. Add in various other expenses, and the true cost of smoking adds up dramatically over a lifetime - $86,000 for a 24-year-old woman over a lifetime and $183,000 for a 24-year-old man over a lifetime, according to The Price of Smoking (The MIT Press).

Another habit to quit: indoor tanning. There is now a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. As with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning - which the World Health Organization lists among the worst-known carcinogens - is higher than just the price you pay each time you go to the salon.

Read on to find out what other budget leaks you should avoid.

Pasta Amatriciana From Muir Glen Vine Dining Tour Dinner at Corner Table

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:33:07 PST

The best way to enjoy tomatoes in the middle of Winter is to use a canned product like those by Muir Glen.

Recently, OnSugar blog FreshTart attended a Muir Glen tomato demo; here she shares the experience.

It's no secret that Corner Table Restaurant is one of my favorite spots in town - I wouldn't have chosen to spend my birthday dinner there several weeks ago if it weren't. So when I received an invitation for a promotional cooking demonstration and dinner at Corner Table, for the Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour, I was happy to accept.

I suspect that local foods advocate and chef/owner Scott Pampuch was well aware that he'd raise a few eyebrows when he signed on for the tour. Even though Muir Glen - a division of General Mills - is locally owned, the tomatoes are grown in California.

For those of you who pay attention to where your food comes from, buy the highest quality food you can afford, shop farmers markets and local co-ops when you can, and happily eat canned organic California tomatoes in the middle of a Minnesota winter - I'm with you. I received a few cans of tomatoes as a parting gift after the dinner, but it's not like I don't have a cupboard full of - as it turns out - Muir Glen tomatoes anyhow.

I do not have, however, the Muir Glen Reserve tomatoes, a limited-edition variety available only online, which The Vine Dining Tour specifically promotes. Pampuch and four other national chefs toured the 3-acre field where the tomatoes are grown, picked at peak ripeness, and canned within hours.

Keep reading for more of her photos and recipes.

Enter to Win a Hermès Kelly Bag!

FabSugar — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:28:01 PST

Last year we partnered with our friends over at Portero.com to give away a fabulous Birkin. This year, we're teaming up with them again, as well as our pals at The Zoe Report and our very own ShopStyle to bring you the iconic and always coveted Hermès Kelly. The Kelly bag, named after a photo of Princess Grace Kelly carrying the then-named sac à dépêches bag in Life magazine, takes over 18 hours of work to create by a single artisan. Our Kelly is a gorgeous preowned and certified 32 cm. box calf Kelly Bag with Gold Hardware in classic black - timeless, always chic, and guaranteed to match any outfit. Ladies, this is the bag you will be passing along for generations to come.

To enter to win, all you have to do is sign up below for PopSugar's emails as well as our trusted partners' (Portero.com, The Zoe Report, and ShopStyle). Just enter your email below and you will be automatically entered for all of the emails. Hermès Kelly - classic, gorgeous, unreal. Here are the official rules.

Just enter your email address below!*

*Alternative method of entry: FabSugar's Win a Hermes Kelly Bag Giveaway: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest runs from 12:00am PDT on Monday, October 18, 2010 to 11:59pm PST on Sunday, November 14, 2010. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by November 14, 2010 and received not later than 11:59 pm PST on November 17, 2010. Drawing will take on or about November 18, 2010. Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents physically residing in the fifty (50) United States of America and the District of Columbia, excluding the state of Rhode Island, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Prize is one (1) Hermès 32cm Black Box Calf Kelly Bag with Gold Hardware (Retail Value: $4,700). The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Major restrictions may apply to the use, availability, or receipt of the prizes. To enter, you can (i) sign up for the Portero.com email, The Zoe Report email, ShopStyle.com email, and PopSugar Daily, PopSugar Network, and PopSugar's FreshGuide emails or (ii) send a 3” x 5” index card on which your [name, complete address, city, state, zip code, home phone number (including area code), date of birth, and email address (if any)] handwritten and mail to: “FabSugar Win A Hermès Kelly Bag Giveaway”, Sugar Publishing, Inc., 111 Sutter Street, 8th Floor Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104. For complete rules (the "Official Rules"), including detailed entry instructions, go here. Entry constitutes your full and unconditional agreement to the Official Rules. sponsored by Sugar Publishing, Inc. (owner and operator of FabSugar.com and Shopstyle.com), having an address of 111 Sutter Street, 8th Floor Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104, Rachel Zoe Digital Media, and Portero, Inc. (owner and operator of Portero.com), having an address of 154 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013.

From the Community: 8 Easy Ways to Rev Up Metabolism

Fit Community — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:15:14 PDT

Looking for ways to speed up your metabolism and shed a few pounds this Summer? FitSugar reader eNutritionist has eight suggestions on how you can do just that; she shared this post in our Diet and Fitness Tips community group.

Whether you're trying to lose weight, or you just want to maintain a sleek physique for the Summer, boosting your metabolism is an effective way to burn extra calories. In this article I have put together a few diet and exercise tips to rev up your metabolism, so you can burn fat faster and look fabulous in the sunshine!

Power breakfasts - Always eat a healthy breakfast. After going 10-12 hours overnight without food, your energy reserves are low so your body, and perhaps more importantly, your brain, needs fuel. When you skip breakfast your metabolism slows to conserve energy and this can actually make it more difficult to maintain weight. Many studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight than people who don't; they're also more inclined to eat less during the course of the day. Like any other meal, a balanced breakfast should include foods from each of the major food groups: some protein, a reasonable amount of complex carbohydrates, and a little fat. These three nutrients will help stave off hunger pangs and keep blood sugar levels balanced until lunch. It's also a good time to get at least two servings of fruit. For instance, one small glass of fruit juice or a sliced banana and some raisins sprinkled over your cereal. If you can tick off two servings at breakfast you are providing your body with a good boost of vitamins and minerals and are well on target to reaching your "five a day."
Eat little and often - As strange as it may sound, eating frequently can actually help you lose weight. This is because our bodies can burn calories from digesting and absorbing food. Grazing on small, regular snacks throughout the day can help keep your metabolic rate elevated for up to two to three hours after eating. Ideally, snacks should be spaced around your breakfast, lunch and dinner to help balance blood sugars and sustain energy levels. Healthy snacking options include a handful of plain nuts and seeds, natural yogurt with mixed fruit, raw vegetable sticks with hummus, a slice of rye bread topped with low fat cottage cheese, or rice cakes with almond butter. Aim to have two to three small healthy snacks a day at two to three hour intervals for a calorie burning boost.

See even more tips after the break!