BuzzSugar

Julia Stiles' Bell Jar

PopSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:52:04 PDT

Elle hosted a VIP dinner at The Box in NY for Julia Stiles' and her new film Raving which she wrote, directed and stars in along with Zooey Deschanel. It's screening at the Tribeca Film Festival where Julia plans to showcase her talent beyond just acting. She also just announced her latest challenge - she's bringing the bestselling book The Bell Jar to the big screen. We love Julia in the Bourne flicks and she obviously has grown a lot since 10 Things I Hate About You.

For more pics of Julia and her (random!) dinner guests Moby and Vanessa Carlton just

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Julia Stiles Cast in The Bell Jar

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:32:17 PDT

Julia Stiles has been cast to play the main character in The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood, a woman whose depression leads her to undergo electroshock therapy and attempt suicide. However, the production team - of which Stiles is also a part - seem to want to veer away from anything too sad.

According to Variety:

Book has many dark overtones, but Rattray said the project will emphasize some of the more uplifting elements.

"Esther Greenwood has a strong outlook on life, and we're really looking to bring out the humor in the character," she said. "We don't want to do a depressing descent into the world of suicide."

To find out why I'm not completely thrilled about this,

To be honest, this movie news made me cringe when I first read it. The Bell Jar is sensitive territory for obvious reasons. And until recently when Stiles made her own short film starring Zooey Deschanel (which will screen at the Tribeca Film Festival, by the way) I could not take her very seriously.

Yet apparently Stiles has "been seeking to bring a new version [of The Bell Jar] to the screen for several years" which makes me think this is not something Stiles is just doing for the heck of it. Besides, the reality of the matter is, I can't imagine anyone in the role of Esther Greenwood, so Stiles may as well be the one.

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A Classic High Tea Shower

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:42:49 PDT

"During college, I spent a rainy month in London. Without a real purpose for being there, I aimlessly strolled through museums, read The Bell Jar in Hyde Park, saw American Psycho in a fancy movie theater, and as many West End shows as I could. But despite the great surroundings, I was lonely, lost. I found great comfort in the ritual of the afternoon tea," says Annie Campbell of Après Fête.

This British tradition was the inspiration for the classic high tea shower that Annie hosted for her friend, Frannie, prior to the birth of her baby girl. Click through to see how Annie pulled together this very proper tea-time affair.

9 Ways Vodka Can Help You Save Money

Emily Co — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:22:38 PDT

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not going to save by drinking vodka! However, the liquor actually has a couple of household uses that will come in handy. Not to mention, you won't be splashing unnecessary money on products and you'll be doing the environment some good because it's less toxic. Invest in a bottle of cheap vodka to stretch your dollar in these ways:

Clean Your Clothes: First, do a spot test on the piece of clothing just to be on the safe side. If the material stays in the same condition, spray vodka on the outfit. It'll keep your clothes fresh in between laundry loads and kill any lingering odors. The liquor is also a good stain remover, so dab some on stubborn stains before throwing your clothes into the washer.
Get Rid of Mold: Spray it on the mold in your bathroom, and after letting it soak in for a good while, wipe it clean. The alcohol will kill the mold.
Air Freshener: Make a one part vodka and three parts water solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Start spraying away to get rid of any odor in the room.
Prevent Flowers From Wilting: Add a few drops of vodka into your flower vase to preserve your lovely bouquet. Vodka lengthens the life of the blooms because it inhibits ethylene production, which is what helps the plant mature, according to the Scientific American.
Repel Insects: Use vodka as an ingredient for a bug repellent. DIYlife.com recommends to mix it with apple cider vinegar and drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil. Spray it on yourself or areas you don't want bugs to come crawling, such as your patio furniture.
Polish and Shine: Take a piece of cloth, wet it with vodka, and clean your eyeglasses with it. Alternatively, you can also mix it with some water, then spray the liquid on windows and mirrors to make them shine. So long, Windex!
Glue Remover: Remove the sticky residue left from peeling the label off jars by rubbing the leftover glue with a soft cloth soaked in vodka. You can also use this to dissolve the sticky residue that Band-Aids leave on your skin.
Preserve Razor Blades: After shaving, leave your blades in vodka for a while to disinfect and prevent them from rusting.
Treat Dandruff: Mix one cup vodka with two teaspoons crushed rosemary, then strain the mixture through a coffee cup filter and let it sit for two days before applying it to your head and letting the solution dry.

Remember, getting an inexpensive brand is key - you don't want to shill out big bucks and waste money on something you'll be wiping your windows with!

Source: Flickr User Darwin Bell

Another Homemade Pizza

Yum Community — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:22:31 PDT

Homemade pizza is in heavy dinner rotation around here; we love it! So does Lauren; she recently shared a newfound technique for dealing with difficult dough.

I have been alternating between Trader Joe's pizza dough and another brand. Every time I had used the wheat Trader Joe's pizza dough it was always a disaster: first the dough isn't as easy to stretch and no matter what I tried, flour or cornmeal, the dough inevitably stuck. This time I tried parchment paper underneath while baking. To my surprise it worked like a charm, I always pre-bake my crust before adding the toppings. This veggie pizza was a combination of mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, tomato, fresh mozzarella, a touch of jarred vodka cream sauce, and purple basil! Delicious and now I don't have to give up the wheat crust.

Do you make pizza? Upload your photos to the community!

Functional and Fantastic Designs From Niels Cosman

Elka Karl — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:00:07 PDT

While in New York last week, I stopped by the Chelsea Art Museum to check out Model Citizens, a design exhibition featuring the work of over 100 emerging and independent designers. With work ranging from furniture to jewelry to textiles, there was a lot to take in. One of my favorite designers from this year, Niels Cosman, was actually featured in the show's pop-up shop, selling three of his designs (which will also be available online soon). Brooklyn-based Cosman currently teaches at RISD's glass department, where he also received a masters in industrial design.

My favorite of Cosman's designs were the Acorn Pods. These small bell jars are the perfect spot to display small treasures, such as a favorite necklace or small keepsake. Cosman blows each glass dome freehand, and the turned wooden bases are made from scrap wood.

Also not to be missed were his Stampo cups. Named after the Italian glassblowing technique mezzostamp, meaning partially molded, Cosman notes that "each cup is given a good kick in the bottom, leaving the impression of a boot print." Each cup is formed by hand and available in a variety of colors.

Keep reading for one more perfect design for the parents in the audience!

Invite a Cloche to Your Wedding

Elka Karl — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:00:11 PDT

Cloches, also called bell jars, were originally developed by the French to protect early growing garden plants from frost. Today, the cloche has moved far beyond the garden. Cloches are often employed in kitchens as an elegant way to protect food, such as cheese or butter. They're also quite common as a decorating element. I've recently seen cloches used in a number of weddings in innovative ways. From table runners to floral arrangements, cloches are a perfect way to enhance your wedding's look.

How to Roast Red Peppers

partysugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:58:32 PDT

Roasted red bell peppers are a great addition to salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and antipasto platters. I love to make my own at home, jar them and have them on hand for whenever one strikes my fancy. Large red bell peppers are sweet, not spicy and can be found in grocery stores year-round - although their peak season (when they are the cheapest) is from May until August. Here how to roast them:

Start by washing the peppers and removing the stickers. Next you can either char them on high heat on a gas range stove by placing them directly onto the grates, or roast them in the oven (which is what I like to do). Use tongs to turn the pepper to blacken on all sides. Cook on the grill the same way.
If roasting in the oven, preheat to 450°F. Arrange the peppers on a cookie sheet and roast in the oven, turning every 15 minutes until done (about 30 minutes).
Whatever technique you use to blacken the peppers, once they are done, place in a covered bowl or brown paper bag. As the steam from the peppers condenses, the skin becomes easier to peel off.
Once the peppers have cooled, carefully peel off the blackened skin and discard. You can do this with your fingers or a sharp paring knife. Pull or cut off the top of the pepper and squeeze gently to remove the seeds.

Never rinse or wash the peppers, as the water will diminish the smoky flavor. When the skins and seeds have been removed, cover the peppers in oil, adding garlic slices or herbs if desired, and refrigerate for up to two weeks.