BuzzSugar

Buzz Blabber: The Chuck Finale Divides Fans

BuzzSugar — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

Popular TV shows brought mixed emotions to commenters this week. From saying goodbye to Chuck to the new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries, we pulled together some of your reactions to get the full scoop. It's time to get caught up on the talk of the town this week!

The end of Chuck brought mixed reviews

"I am satisfied with the episode in general, but as a finale not so much. Seems more like a season finale that begs for more. I think the producers left the door open for possible other projects with Chuck. I certainly hope so. Chuck was pretty much the few show I have been watching on NBC these days. Chuck is one of few bright spots in a sea of vampire shows and comedies." - txcheng
"Nope, it sucked as a finale. Very disappointed." - Miss Senorita
"I actually really liked the finale - the second half, at least. I feel like loose ends were tied up in a way that was not final (hopefully leaving it open for a movie/comic book series/web series/SOMETHING!) - Morgan and Alex together, Casey going after Gertrude (but not until he hugged Chuck like a brother!), Ellie and Awesome leaving to start the next chapter in their lives in Chicago, and Chuck and Sarah well on their way to being together again." - limelindsey

To see more buzzed-about topics, just

"Great episode, as usual! I hope the mother is worse than Klaus, it will bring more action to the show. He was like a little boy in front of her, a boy who just behaved and is waiting for punishment. And please dear writers, don't kill him now, I love Joseph Morgan." - shaimas

"I still think it's Tyler who's killing all those people. Didn't Klaus mention at one episode that he will kill everyone that Elena loves if he didn't get what he wanted? And he's mysteriously absent in this episode." - CiaoBella01

"I did not like the 'I forgive you' act, I hope there is more to the story regarding the original witch. Damon should have answered Elena's phone call in the woods scene. I love this show!" - fashionaza

Grey's Anatomy delights some fans but disappoints others in the alternate reality

"I wasn't expecting to like this episode as much as I did. I actually kinda loved it. I also loved the mentions of Preston Burke, Izzie and George. It was kinda implied that George still died, but was just the John Doe to everyone (since Alex said he failed the boards and then was never heard of again)." - dreamalittledream
"I was very disappointed. . ." -Brandy R.
"This episode was so trippy. That's the only thing I can think of! Cristina's hair was awful (straight hair and bangs on her face just does not look right!) Some of the pairings made sense, but Owen and Callie? That didn't make any sense to me. Bailey made sense as, if you remember, she had to learn how to speak up before Grey's started; Ellis was so strong when she was a doctor (from what we do know from flashbacks), so I imagine Bailey would have stayed the way she was (with the hair to boot.)" - ellenora

Photo courtesy of NBC

Umbrella Stands: Options to Buy and a Smart DIY

Angela Swinderman Elias — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:51:43 PST

Now that the rainy season is finally upon us in San Francisco, I'm remembering why umbrella stands become so essential this time of year. Since most are located by the front door, I think it's a great way to introduce the style of your home. I've pulled together a roundup of some of the statement umbrella stands I have my eye on, as well as a clever tutorial for turning a stock stand into a customized standout for your home.

Chevron prints are still everywhere, and this Hand Painted Chevron Stripe with Red Interior Umbrella Stand (price upon request, second to the left, bottom) comes in eight different shades of lacquer.

I think rope brings texture and warmth to everything, and this Rope Twist Umbrella Stand ($525, right of chevron stand) is no exception. Instead of just wrapping rope around a traditional cylinder shape, this one has a lasso-like look that makes it sculptural.

This Zontik Umbrella Holder ($350, left of chevron stand) reminds me of the Elsa Peretti Bean designs from Tiffany & Co. It's super mod, but the gold shade gives it a glamorous edge.

Find out how Jenny from Little Green Notebook turned her admiration for Leontine Linens monograms into a chic umbrella stand DIY project. The addition of the black and white umbrella stand instantly tied in the entryway with her living room, which has graphic black and white striped drapes.

Click on the rest of the umbrella stands to shop directly!

7 Tips to Wake Up and Get Out of Bed Fast

Emily Co — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:05:15 PST

You're late to work, again. No matter how much you reason with yourself, your lateness is probably due to the fact that you couldn't get out of bed. It's always unpleasant to drag yourself out of bed, so here are some tips to help you wake up alert and get you out of bed quickly:

Assess your health. Your drowsiness in the morning might be health-related. Perhaps you need a better diet and exercise plan or maybe you have sleep apnea. If you've been doing everything right, go to a doctor for an expert opinion.
Coffee on your bedside table. This is for extreme cases, but leaving some coffee or another caffeinated drink like Mountain Dew on your bedside table might be a good way to get yourself out of bed.
Place your alarm clock strategically. If you place your alarm clock across the room or outside your door, this might force you walk to the clock to shut it off.

Read on for more tips.

5 Reasons You're Late - and How to Avoid Them

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:16:09 PST

Punctuality is a crucial part of professionalism and making positive first impressions. While we've heard some ridiculous excuses for being late, tardiness is usually caused by something more mundane. If you regularly find yourself racing the clock, take a step back and assess what's causing you to run behind.

Alarm problems. Either it didn't go off, you set it for the wrong time, or you slept right through it - whatever the case, turn around your alarm troubles by spending some extra time planning your sleep schedule. Make sure you're getting seven to eight hours of shut-eye each night and guarantee a smooth morning by setting two or three alarms. Struggle to get out of bed in the morning? Place your alarm on the other side of the room so that you're forced to get up to turn it off.
Getting ready gets chaotic. Where's your purse? Your keys? Did you leave that shirt at the dry cleaner? These stressful moments are easily avoidable. Prep for your morning the night before and make a list of everything you need to grab before heading out the door. And be honest with yourself - if it takes you 15 minutes to do your hair, don't allot five.

Keep reading for more tips on timeliness.

Real Talk With TV Broke Girl Beth Behrs

LearnVest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:59:07 PST

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

Since when is being broke funny?

Since CBS released its new sitcom 2 Broke Girls, in which actress Beth Behrs plays a recently humbled heiress, Caroline, who moves to Brooklyn to hide out after her father loses their family fortune in a Ponzi scheme.

Caroline winds up living with her perpetually poor fellow waitress, Max, played by Kat Dennings, and the two hatch a plan to save their wages and start a cupcake business.

Recession-era cupcake businesses have been all the rage lately (see: Bridesmaids), but shows addressing personal finances - or lack thereof - with humor and honesty is something we don’t see very often. Caroline and Max manage to plan for their future while hustling for their present - and survive on a shoestring with admirable grace. We love that these characters live richly, even on a tight salary: After all, that's what LearnVest is all about.

And, of course, any show where the leading ladies discuss interest rates is right up our alley.

Check out our exclusive talk with Behrs on her penny-pinching past, her first pair of Louboutins - and why she still chooses to live with a roommate in real life. It turns out that we can learn something from celebs about money.

LearnVest: As a 26-year-old in Hollywood, how much of Caroline and Max’s financial struggle can you relate to?

Beth Behrs: Literally up until we shot the pilot, I was working as a nanny five days a week and then as a bartender and concierge at The Geffen Playhouse on the weekends. So, I can definitely relate to being broke, right out of college and working tons of odd jobs to just pay the rent.

Real-life waitress stories and more from Behrs.

Keira Knightley Compares and Contrasts Costars Jude Law and Michael Fassbender

Allie Merriam — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:12:00 PST

Keira Knightley stars as patient-turned-psychiatrist Sabina Spielrein in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, which expands into theaters across the country this week. The film came out in limited release last Fall, and quickly earned notoriety for the racy sex scenes Keira shares with her hot costar Michael Fassbender, who plays Carl Jung.

Yesterday, Keira spoke about working with both Michael and David. Keira shared excitement for the critical acclaim Michael's earned for another daring performance in Shame, a movie she liked quite a bit. She also spoke about her other upcoming projects, Seeking a Friend at the End of the World, the directorial debut from Lorene Scafaria featuring Steve Carell, and a remake of Anna Karenina. The later film sees Keira paired up with director Joe Wright for the third time, after Atonement and Pride & Prejudice, as well as leading man Jude Law. Keira said:

On having reservations about the spanking scenes in DM: "I was 95% going to say yes as soon as my agent said, 'Look, David Cronenberg is going to offer you a film.' . . . I did have reservations about the masochistic scenes. I actually spoke to him about it and said, 'I love the script, but I'm not sure I can do this because of these scenes. I'm not quite sure I want to go there.' And he said, 'If that stops you playing the part, that would be a tragedy so let's just take them out.' And I thought that was an amazing thing for him offer. We just talked and talked, and once he's made it clear he didn't want it to be voyeuristic and sexy, he wanted them to be kind of more clinical, I thought I might as well go for it."
On similarities between Jude and Michael: "No! No. Jude's a proper actor - he's wonderful to work with. He's a proper actor, I mean they all are . . . Michael works in a much more muscular way. Everything turns into muscle memory. He works a script, and works a script. Jude does a lot of theater so he comes from the preparation side - like a rehearsal room. He's really open to it, and he asks a lot of questions on that day. He's just phenomenal. So no there aren't any similarities, but they're all very good actors."
On first-time director Lorene: "She's just fab - she's great. She's completely the reason I think everybody signed up to do the movie. The script was wonderful. It was one of the best scripts I've ever read. The dialogue was brilliant, and the concept behind it was amazing. I haven't seen the finished article yet. I'm seeing it [today] so that's really exciting. She's an amazing woman, an amazing talent. On set, to think it was her first film - you'd never have guessed it. She was so cool, she knew exactly what she wanted, she was unbelievably fast, she was completely amazing. So hopefully it will work!"
On what she's excited to see succeed during award season: "I was really excited about Shame, because given the nature of it and the subject matter of it, quite often those ones get passed by. I think Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady. That performance was amazing. That was very good. I haven't seen The Artist yet, but I'm really looking forward to seeing that."

To read Keira's thoughts on Michael in Shame, working with the "lovely" Steve Carell, and wrapping Anna Karenina, just keep reading.

12 Ways to Incorporate Barn Doors in Your Home

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:20:11 PST

Barn doors are definitely trending right now, and there are so many ways to introduce them into a space. The finish of the doors can easily take them from the farm to an urban loft - and the actual doors are just half of the allure. With all of the gorgeous hardware options available, it's almost like choosing a piece of jewelry or a handbag. Depending on how utilitarian you'd like the finished product to be, you could choose anything from sleek chrome to chunky iron. I pulled together a range of inspiring photos that will spark ideas for how you might be able to pull this look off in your home.

Fresh Start Resolution: Master Time Management

SavvySugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:53:00 PST

It's a New Year and a new you! We're detailing 12 helpful tips to start off the year right, whether it be to advance your career or increase your financial cushion. We've already given you advice on kicking your daily deal habit, quitting your caffeine addiction, and reassessing your savings account; here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

Managing your time not only allows you to be more productive but also frees up precious minutes for you to spend however you'd like. To make 2012 your most organized, exciting year yet, adopt these five helpful habits.

Consider your to-do list a schedule. A simple checklist is a great start, but it's important to gauge the time frame for each item, too. Mark each of your tasks with an estimated start and finish time, taking into account any variables that may slow you down. Next, think of ways to make your schedule more exciting. Drawn to color? Use highlighters to create categories. Need some incentives? Brainstorm a mini reward for each task completed, like a phone date with your best friend or a new song download.
Plan ahead and be thorough. It's smart to lay out your exercise gear the night before a morning workout, but take it one step further by filling your water bottle, charging your iPod, packing your purse, and leaving your gym shoes by the door. Other ideas: fill out forms online before appointments and use your phone to snap screenshots of maps or directions. Small steps like these will have a huge payoff, adding several minutes for you to fill as you please.

Read on for more time management tips .

Michelle Williams's Beaded Dress Inspires Feminine Details

Elka Karl — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:21:52 PST

Over the weekend, Michelle Williams glowed at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in an elaborately beaded dress. Her frock's beading recalled an earlier era that embraced handmade detailing. Similarly, these home decor baubles and details, which reflect Williams's dress in spirit and style, create a hand-hewn look when added to furniture or rooms of your home. Why not create a special look at your home with some of these accents?

To turn your bedroom door into more than an entry point, switch out a plain doorknob with this Emtek Georgetown Crystal Knob ($110, middle, far right). With an oil-rubbed bronze plate and a clear glass knob, it will add antique finish to even the most ho-hum door.

I've found a number of knobs that you can add to a dresser or cabinet drawers. It's amazing how a few little knobs can make a major change to the look of a dresser. My favorite is the Cloisonne Chrysanthemum Pull ($10). Its enamel detailing reflects the flower it's named after and exudes an Arts and Crafts-era charm. I can imagine it on a turn-of-the-century oak dresser, or dressing up a white Ikea Hemnes dresser.

There are plenty of other great finds in my roundup, from napkin rings to wall hooks. Keep clicking to explore them all!

Free and Inexpensive Ways to Treat Yourself

OnSugar Blog — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:05:49 PST

Sometimes we just need a break! OnSugar blogger Everyday Baby Steps shares free and inexpensive ways to treat yourself.

The other day I wrote about how my new hairstyle has improved my outlook. I also mentioned that I'm fortunate enough to blog for a wonderful local hair salon, and I'm able to trade my writing services for hair and beauty treatments. It's an awesome exchange! Even if you're not lucky enough to have your hairstylist on retainer, there are still tons of ways to treat and pamper yourself, as well as your family, without spending a ton of money. These are tough economic times. Throughout my working life, I've had various periods of ups and downs with my finances. The times when I was the least happy were the ones in which I constantly denied myself. Living in a mindset of lack or want is not healthy. It's no good for you, and it's no good for your loved ones. So I'm going to get you started with a list of things you can do to add some fun and pampering to your life without spending the big bucks that so many of us just don't have right now.

Health and Beauty

Going to the salon and buying beauty products can really take a chunk out of your budget. Consider these ways of pampering yourself on the cheap.