BuzzSugar

Does Turning a Blog Into a Book Make Sense?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:30:09 PDT

The fella behind the ubiquitous blog Stuff White People Like has published a book based on the blog. I've been interested in how this might turn out and stumbled across this review of the book in Variety:

Anyone who reads Stuff White People Like without perusing the blog it is based upon first, might well wonder what all the fuss is about. Stripped of the blog's media riffs, hyperlinks and swiped photos - its very blogginess - the tome must rely on the wit and insight of its "research findings," and there's not much of that.

This review taps into something I've been suspecting: that a blog format isn't necessarily all that translatable to books. The Fug Girls have a book out and I have to say, while I love their blog, I'm not sure I'd like it in book form.

What do you think? Are you hesitant to buy a blog in book form? Or do you think the mediums complement each other well?

Jennifer Morrison Talks About the Fairy Tale She Wants on Once Upon a Time and Emma's New Love Interest

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:34:19 PST

Jennifer Morrison plays Emma on Once Upon a Time, the show's reluctant heroine who has been chosen to break the curse of a town full of fairy-tale characters. I chatted with Morrison about the series, and I had to know how she felt about Graham's shocking death and whether we'll ever see him again. We also discussed the upcoming tales we'll get to see on the show, including the story Morrison would love to see play out. Read my interview below, and if you want to catch up with the show, you can watch episodes online here.

BuzzSugar: We were really upset when Graham died; were you sad when you found out it was going to happen?
Jennifer Morrison: Well, we knew what was coming in the story line since the beginning of the season. But all of us were upset because we love Jamie Dornan, and I thought he was just absolutely fabulous in the show. We all were very close, you know? So it felt like a huge loss, not just on the show, but just personally. We were all really close friends, and we still feel that loss. It feels weird with him not being in Vancouver with us.

Buzz: Is there any way that Dornan might return?
JM: The thing is, just because he died in reality doesn't mean that he can't return as the huntsman, because those are flashbacks. So, depending on the structure of the show, and the story we decide to tell, as far as I understand, there's room for him to exist still in fairy-tale land.

Buzz: With him gone, is Emma getting another love interest?
JM: Well, this last episode that aired, there's a stranger that comes to town, played by Eion Bailey, who is in that very last scene in that last episode that aired. I don't know for sure where they're cutting this at, but I know that there is a possibility that this stranger in town could somehow be connected to Emma at some point. Beyond that, I don't really know.

To find out what else Morrison said about the show, including the fairy tale she hopes to see on Once Upon a Time, just keep reading.

3 Things to Avoid When You're Having Your Picture Taken

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:00:06 PST

Most of us have our pictures taken pretty often. And while most people have a "good side" or a smile they tend to fall back on, it's far less common to see someone who has a makeup and hair philosophy for photos. You don't have to rush off to the bathroom to make yourself over every time someone whips out a camera, but there are a few things you'll want to steer clear of if you know you're going to be within a lens's scope. See our quick rundown on what not to do.

The Truth About the Health Benefits of Tea

Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:13:17 PST

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

Tea - does it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water.
By Kate Lowenstein

The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes - there's barely a health benefit that hasn't been credited to tea. It's true that the brew has disease-fighting antioxidants, and, as far as anyone can tell, should be great for us.

"The science is certainly promising," says David L. Katz, MD, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "But the hype goes beyond it and tends to make promises which the science can't yet deliver." (No, tea probably will not cure depression, eliminate allergies, or boost your fertility!) We talked to the experts and weighed the studies to separate the truth from the hype.

Health.com: Drink This Tea to Lose That Belly

Why tea is so hot
First, a definition: When scientists talk about tea, they mean black, green, white, or oolong teas - all of which are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal brews, like chamomile and peppermint, are not technically considered tea; they're infusions of other plants with different nutritional characteristics. If you're not sure what kind you're drinking, check the ingredients for the word "tea."

Keep reading to learn even more about tea.

25 Things to Do With Old Jeans

Wise Bread — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:46 PST

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

Recycling fabric is a powerful green living and cost saving strategy. Denim is one of the coolest fabrics to do it with. It's sturdy, gains character with age and can be acquired very inexpensively at yard sales or in your own "old clothes" closet. Some of the coolest ideas I've found?

Pot holders. In my opinion, these look far better out of used denim than the new stuff. And you can incorporate your own style via choice of trim or a patch stitched to the outside. Here's a link to some tips for making your own.
Cool quilts. You can do this in many forms. Different shades of denim patchwork options abound and are certainly sturdy and fun. Unfortunately, one of the coolest ideas I've ever seen I've been unable to find pictures of. It was done with pieced denim, but they had left on all the details like pockets, buttons, belt loops, etc. It made for a really fabulous unique quilt with a lot of attitude. If anyone has a link to a picture of one of these, please post below in the comments section.

For more ideas, read on.

House Tour: Jess and Christian's LA Hideaway

Elka Karl — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:00:04 PDT

Jess and Christian Lander, along with their cat Malcolm Jenkins (whom you'll see a lot of in this slideshow), moved into their home in Los Angeles's Koreatown over Memorial weekend in 2010. Since that time, they've been spiffing up this historical 1920s-era apartment with their own blend of bohemian, preppy-cool style. As first time homeowners, the couple are enjoying bringing their own style to the historic apartment. Jess notes, "There are lots of cool period details that pick up the slack when I haven't quite figured out what to do with a space."

Jess is currently taking a break from her work in advertising to take an epic road trip - so far she's traveled over 6,500 miles! You can check out her Flickr photos and Tumblr for her decorating inspirations and great photos. Meanwhile, Christian holds down the fort in LA while he's working on his new show Good Vibes, which premiered on MTV on Thursday. He's also the author of Stuff White People Like and Whiter Shades of Pale.

Let's take a peek at their awesome home!

10 Things Worth Paying More For

Bundle — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:15:34 PDT

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

It is better to save, than it is to spend - that's usually a winning (and smart!) mantra to live by. But there are actually some things that are worth the extra dollars in cost. Here are 10 of them.

Service. Consumers like to complain about the terrible service they get from certain companies - cell phone and cable TV providers, for example, or dry cleaners and tailors. Ever have to fight with customer service on the phone over a dispute on your cell phone bill? Ever pick up a pair of pants from the tailor only to later discover that your hemlines were uneven? Had a bad haircut? It's worth it to pay more for quality service. People who are skilled in their craft generally charge more for their expertise, and people are willing to pay for a good experience - especially if that means having a bad experience that the service provider is willing to quickly make right for you for free. That's priceless.
Direct flights. We're used to going onto sites like expedia.com or kayak.com to find the cheapest airfare for wherever we want to go, but it's often worth it to pay the extra money for a direct flight. Not only do you avoid the hassle of having to transfer planes at a layover, you save the precious time you could be spending more efficiently at your destination. I'd pay $50 or $100 more for a flight in a heartbeat if that means six extra hours with my family and friends during the holidays instead of snacking on overpriced airport food in the middle of nowhere waiting to get on the second leg of a flight.
Closet basics. There's absolutely no reason you should spend $200 on a pair of designer jeans. But a good, durable pair of jeans from a retailer like Levi's, which produces them for around $50, can last much longer than cheaper brands from big box stores. The key word here is basics: You don't want to spend a lot on whatever is "in" now, but stuff that you can wear no matter what year it is: A nice suit that will work for both a job interview or a wedding. A nice pair of shoes that can be dressed up or down. A white dress shirt you can wear to work or a night out. One nice coat to get you through many many winters. Spending money on quality basics means you'll have things to wear for a long time without ever going out of style, and that actually saves money in the long run.

Read on for more things worth paying more for.

Teeth Whitening: Going to the Dentist vs. DIY

Jaime Richards — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:05:52 PDT

"Bleaching [your teeth] is probably one of the most significant changes that you can make," says Beverly Hills-based general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Arthur Glosman. "But whenever you're going to do any type of teeth whitening, it's always best to get some kind of consultation with your dentist first." However, what are the advantages of having your dentist do it as compared to doing it yourself? While both techniques can indeed work and have their advantages, see some reasons you might get better, longer-lasting results from a professional treatment when you read more.

Anne Burrell Teams Up With Wente and Food Network to Launch Entwine

Allie Merriam — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:36:42 PDT

Anne Burrell was the guest of honor last night as the Food Network and Wente Wines unveiled their "entwines" at NYC's The Kitchen. The four varietals, which are designed to make wine more accessible to new drinkers, include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They'll retail for $12.99 and soon will be in grocery stores across the country. The bottles come equipped with pairing suggestions on the label, and the Pinot I sampled suggested, for example, guacamole! Karl Wente, who posed with Anne at the launch, said the collaboration was "a natural step that we hope will encourage Food Network viewers, as well as anyone who is wine-curious, to become as passionate about wine as they are about food." We snagged a moment with Anne to chat about her own wine preferences, as well as what she considers the perfect Summer meal. Anne said:

On how she got over her own fear of wine: "I drank a lot of it! I experienced, I tasted it, I developed my own palate and that's research, drinking wine and having fun and deciding what I like and asking questions, asking for help. When you go to a restaurant or a wine store like ask people, 'What is this wine like? And this is what I'm making for dinner, would this go well?' . . . It's fun. It doesn't have to be scary and it doesn't have to be expensive either."
On a good wine for beginners: "It depends on the time of year and where you are. Wine is clearly cheapest where it's local. So if you're in California, you can get a lot of stuff more cheaply than I can here in New York. In the summertime when it's really hot out, there are a ton of rosés and stuff that are available for $10 a bottle. So I would go to your wine store and ask and don't be embarrassed by it. Those people are in business to help you learn and sell wine. The more comfortable they make you, the more you'll want to go back there. So, it's a circular thing."
On her ideal Summer meal: "I would say grilled fish, some fresh vegetables, a little veggie salad grilled, a little lemon, a little olive oil, then whatever fish is freshest, whatever your fishmonger has. Go to the green market and see what you feel like today, a little salad, a little something. Then like maybe grilled steak, grilled meat. Then go to your wine store and tell them what you got, whether it's fish, whether it's meat, whatever - tell them what vegetables you have then ask them what they recommend."

Keep reading for more about Anne's involvement with Entwine and her favorite wines for Summer.

Kristen Stewart Shows Off Snow White and the Hunstman at Comic-Con - and We Get to See Her in Full Armor!

Shannon Vestal — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:32:00 PDT

Kristen Stewart pulled double duty at this year's Comic-Con by showing up to promote both Breaking Dawn and her next project after the Twilight series, Snow White and the Huntsman. She, her castmates Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, and Sam Claflin, plus director Rupert Sanders, took to the stage to talk about their 2012 re-imagining of the fairy tale. Producer Joe Roth promised the crowd that their take on Snow White will be a "tough, rough, active male/female picture" that's "on the scale of Lord of the Rings." While there was no footage from the film to show off yet, we did get to see images of the cast in costume and hear more about the ambitious project, including why Stewart was picked to play the fairest of them all.

The images were dark, gritty, and definitely not traditional. Claflin and Hemsworth looked like rugged soldiers in their costumes, Theron still had her blond hair but looked fierce with a high collar, clutching a scary-looking dagger. There was one picture of the dwarves, who are played by regular-sized actors like Nick Frost and Ray Winstone and made to look dwarf-szied (and there were eight - Sanders slipped that one dies in the film). The final reveal was Kristen Stewart as Snow White, and does she ever look hard-core: she's in full armor with a shield and disheveled hair. This is definitely no bedtime story.
Stewart said she liked the idea of playing Snow White because the character "doesn't let her heart cloud her mind and get in the way" of doing what she needs to do, and called her "the people's leader." Plus, it sounds like she's pumped to take on the apparently action-heavy flick - she cited "sword stuff" and "really cool weapons" as other reasons she was excited about the movie.

To find out more about the Snow White and the Huntsman panel, just