BuzzSugar

New Dido Song: "Don't Believe in Love"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:29:58 PDT

A little while ago we got a taste of Dido's upcoming album, Safe Trip Home, when she was streaming a track off it, "Look No Further." I liked that one well enough, but I'm really digging this new tune, "Don't Believe in Love." There's something sultrier, almost jazzier than what you'd expect, though Dido's light, breathy voice is still at the heart of it all. It's actually a pretty cool combo: some low bass guitar, a great drumbeat and Dido's soft, sweet vocals.

You may have noticed this song in the episode of 90210 titled "The Bubble." Safe Trip Home hits shelves Nov. 18. To check out "Don't Believe in Love" and tell me what you think,

Source

Keep Kids Eco-Clean in a Dirty World

LilSugar — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:15:17 PDT

It's hard enough to keep a home clean and toxin free, but what about trips to the park, playground, and any other place kids and germs congregate?

Parents can't scrub down every public surface kids come in contact with (though some will try), but there are simple ways to mitigate the overwhelming ick factor when a child picks up a partially decomposed sandwich or drops a pacifier in a puddle. So get out there and play with these eco-friendly products that keep your kid and the environment clean.

From left:

Munchkin Arm & Hammer Pacifier Wipes ($4): Kids have numerous names for their prized possession - paci, sucker, binky - but whatever they call it, they won't leave home without it. These wipes are alcohol free and made with 100 percent food-grade ingredients to safely clean pacifiers, bottles, cups, teething toys, and anything else that's sure to get dropped.
CleanWell Disinfectant Spray + Wipes To-Go Pack ($8): CleanWell products are a favorite of eco-conscious parents; its to-go products are formulated with Thymol, a component of thyme oil, which cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes. The products are antibacterial, antiviral, and kill 99.99 percent of germs botanically on hard, nonporous surfaces. They're perfect for wiping down changing tables in less than ideal conditions!
Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer ($4): There's a lot of conflicting information about the merits of hand sanitizers. Parents understandably don't want to use products with alcohol on their tots' sensitive skin, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued warnings that hand sanitizer with less than 60 percent alcohol cannot be deemed effective. CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water to get rid of germs, but when your child has just played ring-around-the-rosie with a fire hydrant, a sink's not always nearby. If parents choose to use a sanitizer with alcohol, like Purell, it's important that kids under 5 years old rub their hands together for 15 seconds, at which point the ethanol is mostly evaporated.

How to Find Affordable, No-Fee Apartments on Craigslist

Business Insider — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:15:00 PDT

Searching for a home? Here are some great tactics for apartment hunting on Craigslist from Business Insider.

Believe it or not, I've found all of my apartments on Craigslist.

And I've never paid a broker's fee once.

I've always resented the notion of a one-month (or more) broker's fee, since in my experience, the real estate brokers showing my apartment were just making appointments.

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I was the one telling them about the closest grocery store, amenities in the building, and all the quirks of the apartment.

There are apartments on the site if you know how to wade through the crap. It just takes research, common sense, and knowing exactly what you want.

Here's what I've done to find fee-free apartments on Craigslist in Hoboken, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; the Upper West Side, NYC, and the Upper East Side, NYC:

Research, research, research! Figure out which area or areas you want to live in and really explore them. Take trips to the neighborhood during the day and at night. Assess which section is the expensive part of town, where the main street is, where the closest transportation is, and where the residential section is. Talk to people who live there as well as people who don't. Get as much information as possible from as many different people as possible.

Don't trust the pictures. Are all the shots narrow? Does the apartment look like it has many hallways but no rooms? It's probably a shoe box. Lots of pictures of the outside or only one room means that the broker/owner doesn't want you to see what's inside. Request more pictures before you take the time to see the apartment.

Read on for more.

Financial Time Line For 20-Somethings

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:15:14 PDT

While we'd like to blame the economy, Generation Y - often called the Boomerang Generation of Americans born in the '80s and '90s - have earned that snide title for their inability to land jobs after college and for commonly moving back in with the folks several years after graduation. In an effort to move away from this common trend, here's a list of goals and a realistic time line to help you move toward an independent, adult life.

Last Year of School and Graduation

While some college students apply for jobs or graduate programs during their last semester of school, you might feel overloaded if you start the search while you have a full schedule of classes, an internship, and even a part-time job. Rather than trying to juggle all of those tasks at once, focus on completing your degree. Do make use of your college career services, so you have websites and resources at hand when you are ready to seriously start the hunt.

If you have savings or financial support from your parents, go to Europe or take that dream vacation you've always wanted. It's important to take a break after graduation to decompress before jumping into a job search or a new job. Even if it's just a road trip with your friends, take the opportunity to celebrate your graduation.

Click here to read what to do during your first and second year after graduation.

Spring Cleaning: Refreshing a Pet-Friendly Home

Sara Yoo — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Thanks to cold weather and short days, it's easy to get complacent about house cleaning during those long Winter months. But now that Spring has sprung, I'm feeling recharged and ready to tackle the tasks I've largely ignored since Fall's warmer days! I won't place full blame on my pup, but for such a small member of the household, she sure contributes a lot of the mess: muddy footprints, fur everywhere, slobbery toys, and errant treat crumbs are just a few of her transgressions. So I've compiled my to-do list of must-hit spots in my Spring cleaning purge. Keep reading for my Spring tasks!

The New iPad Goes on Sale Tomorrow at 8 a.m.: Camping Tips to Keep You In Line

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:29:29 PDT

The new iPad with the fancy high definition Retina display goes on sale tomorrow, and if you didn't get your preorder in, you'll have to battle the crowds if you want a new tablet on day one. But standing outside for hours (or overnight, if you must) isn't an easy task. Should you go for it? Prepare and keep yourself entertained, hydrated, and safe with these iPad line camping tips.

Do some recon - Scope out your local Apple store, AT&T retailer, or other launch-day location and use Google Maps to pick out a prime spot, preferably with shade and/or overhead coverage.
Know when to arrive - Apple stores will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 16, while AT&T and Verizon stores have also been known to open doors early to greet tired Apple fanatics.
Bring some reading material - Load up your ereader with some books you've been meaning to tackle - you'll be in line for a while!
Keep your gadgets charged - With all these gadgets you're toting along, you're going to need some juice. Obviously, you'll be far from an outlet, unless you post it up in Starbucks while someone saves your spot. Keep your gadgets charged with a solar charger by day, so you can power them through the night.

Get the rest of our tips after the break.

Avoid Getting Hurt! Don't Make These Mistakes When Running Outdoors

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:51:48 PST

Warmer Spring weather inspires many to ditch the gym and run outside in the fresh air and on open roads. Before you make the switch from treadmill to street, avoid these common mistakes that could lead to injury.

Doing Too Much Too Soon
Between the steep hills, wind factor, uneven or slippery terrain, and not having a belt propelling you forward, running outside is harder than running on a treadmill. And since it's more taxing on your muscles, you are more prone to shin splints and other pains. Start off with shorter distances on flat roads or trails, and as your endurance improves, gradually increase your mileage and hill work. If you experience shin pain, take a few minutes to walk and stretch out your lower legs. Don't run through the pain because it may cause further injury, preventing you from running at all. When you're not running, strengthen your shins with this exercise.

Keep reading to find out other outdoor running mistakes that may cause injury.

Make the Skies a Bit Friendly With These Holiday Travel Tips For Families

BabyCenter — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:33:09 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Kristina Sauerwein about making holiday travel as smooth as possible.

No doubt you've noticed the tinsel, twinkle-light Christmas trees in stores and heard carols on the radio. Although it does seem early to get decked out for the holidays, the season is rapidly approaching and it is not too early to plan holiday air travel.

To help you avoid hassles and extra costs associated with holiday air travel, here are 10 tips from Christine Frietchen, Editor in Chief of ConsumerSearch.com, a site that helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions in everything from electronics to home and garden goods to health and beauty items to cars.

For booking air travel, start yesterday. This year is going to be tough for snagging the choice Christmas flights. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, there's already a scramble for Friday-to-Monday (or Tuesday) trips. Start looking and booking now.
Be as flexible as you can. It's hard during the holidays to be flexible, but if you can depart on Thursday, for example, instead of Friday, you can save $100 per ticket in some markets.
When booking flights with connections, be mindful of the connecting city. Winter weather in popular connecting cities like Chicago or Minneapolis can throw a big wrench in your plans. Though a nonstop flight might cost more, it could be worth it if the only connection options are dicey delay-prone cities.
Don't forget to check nearby airports. Although it can be a hassle to drive an extra 50 or 100 miles to a more distant airport, it can be worth checking. For a family, saving $50 per ticket will more than make up for the extra gas.
Check in at home. Most airlines now allow you to check in via computer or smartphone as well as print your boarding pass. If you don't need to check bags, that means you can head straight for the security screening line.

Keep reading for more holiday travel tips!

Finding "The One": 10 Tips For Safe, Savvy, and Successful Furniture Shopping on Craigslist

Elka Karl — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:00:27 PDT

See this little desk? It's the desk of my dreams. Granted, it may not be the desk of your dreams, but it's "the one" for me. This little oak arts and crafts-era slant-top desk is in nearly perfect condition and is petite and perfect for our bedroom - which means I officially have an office space to decorate after our toddler kicked me out of my old office. I couldn't be more pleased.

However, this little gem didn't just land in my lap. I spent a month combing the pages of Craigslist to find it and actually rejected half a dozen desks in person on my journey to find it. Although, I've shopped on Craigslist before, this time really taught me some great lessons that I thought were worth sharing. I also asked Twitter and Facebook friends to share some of their tips as well, which I've included in the post.

Don't be afraid to walk away. Even if it took you a half-hour to drive to the location of an item you're interested in or three subway changes. If it's not your ideal find, don't buy it. You will find that beloved object, but it may not be until after several more attempts.
Try shopping locally. For me, this meant limiting my searches to neighborhoods that were within 10 minutes driving range. I instituted this rule after two fruitless journeys that took me an hour round trip.
Try a variety of search terms. I used "secretary," "antique desk," "solid wood desk," "slant top desk," "wooden desk," and a few other terms, too. Sometimes people list items under odd search terms, so it helps to try to get creative!
If you're going to look at an item by yourself, tell a friend. Leave the address you're at and the time you should be leaving that location. If you don't text or call your friend by that time, have her call you, and if she can't get ahold of you, call the authorities. This is very, very cautious behavior in my book, but as women going solo into a stranger's home, it's better to be safe than sorry. There's rarely an incident with a potential seller, but I'm always more cautious than need be when dealing with a transaction with a stranger. And if you don't feel safe going by yourself, by all means bring a friend!
Be realistic about how much effort you're willing to put into a secondhand piece. I fell in total love with an arts and crafts-era secretary I saw a month ago and desperately wanted to buy it. The price was right, but the desk needed a leg repair and had a crack along one side. These were definitely doable repairs, but I knew myself well enough to know that I wouldn't get these repairs finished in a timely manner and I let the desk go.

Find more Craigslist shopping tips from fellow readers

Jazz Up Your Ride: 5 Accessories For the Family Car

LilSugar — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:12:24 PDT

Let's take a drive! With all of the activities kids have going on, the family car becomes like a second home. Mama spends hours a day shuffling the tots around from one extracurricular activity to the next - and searching for lost toys in between the seats! From tiny kicks on the back of your seat to junior screaming desperately for his sippy, driving with kids can be stressful. Make your car-pool drives a little more pleasant with the help of these five car accessories.

Sunshine Kids Stow 'N Go Car Seatback Organizer ($10): Sippy cups, toys, and sunglasses! Oh my! A seat back organizer keeps all of your tot's backseat belongings tidy and visible.
Kurgo Auto Tray Table ($20): Enjoy a meal, watch a movie, or play with your LEGOS! Your tots can engage in all sorts of activities while mom is driving if they have a tray table at their disposal.
Prince Lionheart Two Stage Car Seat Protection ($22): Car seats can leave depression damage and scuff marks on the backseat of your car - especially if you have leather seats! Protect them with a durable car seat cover.
SafeFit Kick Mats ($9): Kick away! Protect the back of your seat from dirty shoes with kick mats - it'll cost a lot less than having to get your car seats shampooed.
Sunshine Kids Travel Pal ($14): Road trip! Let the kids bring what they want and keep it all organized - and within reach - with a travel pal. It even has special compartments for baby's bottle or your tot's sippy!