BuzzSugar

Are You Ready to (School of) Rock (Again)?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:30:21 PDT

Well, Jack Black is.
Paramount is announcing today that they will move forward on a sequel to School of Rock, the 2003 comedy in which Jack Black played a substitute teacher who teaches a bunch of fifth graders how to properly rock 'n' roll.

OK, actually, it kinda sounds. . . really cute.
I'm not often excited about sequels, but this one might turn out to be pretty adorable. Variety describes the plot:

[T]itled School of Rock 2: America Rocks, [the movie] picks up with Finn leading a group of summer school students on a cross-country field trip that delves into the history of rock 'n' roll and explores the roots of blues, rap, country and other genres.

I'd really like to take that trip myself, actually.
It's definitely a cute enough premise, and screenwriter Mike White is back on board, which is good. I generally like his projects (The Good Girl, Year of the Dog, Orange County). And in all honesty, I think the students' little U.S. music tour might actually teach us some stuff.

Source

8 Chalk-Tastic Finds For Moms and Tots

Kate Stahl — Sun, 06 May 2012 04:27:00 PDT

The chalkboard trend seems like it's here to stay. Oprah enlisted New York-based artist Dana Tamahachi to create a piece of chalkboard art for her February cover this year. The Sesame Workshop just got an awesome display of chalk Sesame Street Muppets at its headquarters. And Etsy literally has thousands of chalkboard decals, labels, artworks, and more that are just a few clicks away from being yours. In honor of all things chalk, we've rounded up eight of our favorite chalk finds right now. Some are just for kids, while others are for moms and moms-to-be. Some are old-school, and others are as modern as the porous rock can be. Keep clicking to see them all.

What to TiVo: Saturday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:59:46 PDT

8:00 Titanic

8:00 CSI: NY (repeat)
9:00 CSI: Miami (repeat)
10:00 48 Hours Mystery (new)

7:00 NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup in Fort Worth

8:00 Escape Routes (new)
9:00 The Firm (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (repeat)

Meeting My Sperm Donor

The Good Men Project — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:00:50 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Ben Sommer, conceived through alternative insemination, is a young man now and tells the story of deciding to meet his donor.

I grew up in a middle-class home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with two loving parents, both of whom are women. My conception was perhaps the most organized and scientific miracle of the modern American family - my architecture, the dream of dozens of individuals conducting their work across thousands of miles.

Objectifying Ryan Gosling

I was conceived through alternative insemination. A donor submitted his sperm to the Sperm Bank of California in Oakland (TSBC). Later, it was sent to the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. Since opening its doors in 1982, TSBC has helped families without the ability to conceive on their own to birth over 2,000 children. Two thirds of those have ended up, like me, being raised in a lesbian household. TSBC is also the first sperm bank to offer a donor-identity-release program, which allows children of alternative insemination access to their donors' information when they turn 18.

I am not as much an oddity as you might think. As of 2005, some 270,000 children in the United States had same sex-parents. We are a generation that is just now beginning to come of age and able to share our stories. This is mine.

Growing up in a lesbian household was much like growing up in any other family unit, I imagine: vacations to Cape Cod, parents working late and sometimes not, play dates with a diverse group of friends.

I never gave much thought to that mysterious figure across the country. I never questioned the fact that I didn't have a father. As far as I was concerned I didn't need one. Is having two moms really all that different than having a mom and a dad? Parents are parents, right? I didn't see a difference at the time. My parents didn't either - at least at first.

They decided to conceive through a donor, in part, to avoid the complications that a third parent would bring. Asking a close male friend to donate, like some couples have done, can create unforeseen consequences. In the past, there have been custody battles between the donor and the parents raising the child. This was the case with a friend of mine, whose parents arranged donation from a male family friend. With a semi-anonymous donor like the man my parents chose, it would be clear who my parents were. And it was.

That's not to say that it was smooth sailing. "When we first learned you were going to be a boy, we really panicked," my mother told me recently. "Who's going to teach him to throw a ball? We didn't have many male friends. There was even basic stuff, like who's going to teach him to pee standing up. That doesn't come naturally."

Read the rest of the story below.

Youngest York Princess Eugenie Celebrates Her 22nd Birthday

Annie Scudder — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:39:07 PDT

You know her sister, Princess Beatrice, as the girl who wore the hat that launched a meme at the royal wedding almost a year ago. But the younger York can rock a fanciful fascinator, too. Princess Eugenie - daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and sixth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth - turns 22 today. Unlike her parents, Eugenie has been scandal free - except for that one time she reportedly went streaking while away at boarding school. But we'll let that one slide.

Although she has the very royal title Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York, Eugenie found love with everyday guy Jack Brooksbank when he was working at a restaurant and bar. Eugenie is studying art history, English literature, and politics at Newcastle University and is said to want to participate in her granny's Diamond Jubilee celebrations this Spring, along with her sister Beatrice. So we should expect to see more of her and her daring hats. Take a look at Princess Eugenie over the years now!

3 Gyms Helping Active Parents Balance Kids and Workouts

Michele Foley — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:09:55 PDT

After taking a tour of the San Francisco-based Western Athletic Club, I was impressed at all its family-friendly programs: from childcare to discounted family memberships, it caters to active adults balancing parental duties. But if you're an active parent and live outside of the Bay Area, you need a bigger-name gym. Here are three national fitness centers offering childcare, kids classes, and more!

The YMCA: When it comes to families, the YMCA has it all: affordability, childcare, and classes. For a nominal fee, members can utilize the Child Watch daycare program, up to two hours per day. Or, enroll your child in one of the Y's several kid- or teen-oriented classes - swim, dance, and gymnastics, to name a few - and get your sweat on while the kids are in class.
Life Time Fitness: Marketing itself as more of a lifestyle center than straightforward gym facility, Life Time Fitness gets families. Besides offering childcare as part of its family memberships, Life Time creates family programs involving activities like indoor rock climbing and swimming. Parents can also enroll children in fitness camps during school breaks.
The Sports Club/LA: Offered at select locations, The Sports Club/LA's For Kids Only program goes beyond basic childcare. While parents work out, children are left under the supervision of child educators to enjoy a host of creative activities. Beyond the childcare program, clubs offer classes tailored especially to children and family days where kids and parents can work out together.

Moschino Fall 2012

FabSugar — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:49:19 PST

It's always a rollicking good time to look at a Moschino show, and the Fall 2012 collection brings us a quirky mix of styles - military, ski, '60s - all filtered through the Moschino prism of color and indulgent detail. Short, flirty dresses were outfitted with feathers and abundant ruffles, capes and jackets were outfitted with military epaulettes, capes featured quilted fronts, and skirts were unabashedly mini - forget all the ladylike midi lengths we've been seeing on the runways elsewhere. Bright poppy colors on structured minis and coats harkened to the '60s. The Moschino lady is one who still loves dressing up the way she did in high school, stealing her chic mother's clothes and wearing them all at once in a jubilant mix. It's never too serious, which is why it continues to be so much fun.

Trends: Military, ski, '60s, feathers, ruffles, quilting.
Colors: Purple, royal blue, pink, red, yellow.
Key Piece: The fun dresses - one in pink ruffles, the other in blue feathers - for a party, military jackets.
Accessories: Patent-leather platform booties, quilted purses, and even really-cute fanny packs.
Who Would Wear It: Katy Perry could rock this entire collection.

Jillian Michaels's Secrets to the Strongest You . . . Ever

Health — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:43:51 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

The top trainer and life guru reveals the one question that'll get you to your goal - plus the single best workout to keep you feeling great for life.
By Alison Prato

Jillian Michaels catapulted to fame as the punishing trainer who got results on The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian. But the 38-year-old has always been just as interested in building confidence as she has in sculpting rock-hard abs.

It's no accident that her most recent book is Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life. Everything Jillian tackles - including her recent gig as a life adviser on The Doctors, her DVDs (such as her latest, Jillian Michaels Kickbox FastFix), and her intimate podcast - is meant to help the rest of us claim a healthier, happier life.

Health.com: Get the Body You Crave With Celeb-Inspired Workouts

Sitting high in the hills of Southern California, the woman who calls everybody "buddy" is surprisingly funny and self-deprecating. And as expected, she's incredibly open, talking about her tough tween years, how she stays motivated (and how you can, too), and the dream she's fighting to make a reality.

Read the interview with Jillian after the break.

12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

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

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

5 Things to Know About Joy Williams of Grammy-Winning Duo The Civil Wars

Tara Block — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:48:00 PST

If you didn't know who Joy Williams was before tonight, we guarantee you will be hearing a lot more about her in the months to come. Joy's one half of folk duo The Civil Wars with Johnny Depp lookalike John Paul White, and the first-time nominees won two Grammys tonight: best folk album and best country duo/group performance for their 2011 album Barton Hollow. They are also one of the performing groups to hit the Grammy stage tonight! Here are five things you should know about this woman who rocks (including her Taylor Swift and Adele connection!):

Hailing from Santa Cruz, CA, Joy was 17 when she signed a recording contract with Reunion Records, balancing a singing career with finishing up high school. She began her career as a contemporary Christian music artist before leaving Reunion and founding Sensibility Music with her husband. Then one of her first songs on her own label, "Charmed Life," appeared on the season finale of Grey's Anatomy in 2009.
Joy's been married since 2004, and it's not to her Civil Wars partner. Joy's happily paired up with her manager and Sensibility Music cofounder Nate Yetton.
In 2009, Joy formed The Civil Wars with John Paul White, whom she met at a songwriting session in 2008. Their first studio album, Barton Hollow, was released in 2011 and debuted at No. 1 on iTunes's album sales chart and at No. 12 on the Billboard 200. The band even opened for Adele's 2011 North American and UK concert tour.
Joy, 29, and her husband are expecting their first child in June. Joy announced the pregnancy on Twitter Friday, saying, "My baby bump & I will see you on the red carpet."
Fellow singing starlet Taylor Swift gave Joy and The Civil Wars a helping hand when she included the band's song "Poison and Wine" on her official iTunes playlist, saying, "I think this is my favorite duet. It's exquisite." And now Joy and Taylor have a song together for The Hunger Games soundtrack called "Safe and Sound." The music video debuts tomorrow!

Check out photos of Joy and The Civil Wars at the Grammys now!