BuzzSugar

Do You Talk to Your Pet?

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:15:12 PDT

While I obviously know North can't help me decide what to eat for dinner, I still love the way he cocks his head to the side when I talk to him. Even though I sometimes chat him up, I can't say I have long, one-sided discussions with him . . . unlike Amanda Lorber on the MTV show, The Paper.

Don't you think her Westie, Gaby, has the most priceless expressions?! It's almost like the pooch is actually listening . . . but still, doesn't really care what's being said. However, it turns out she was actually speaking to her dog in order to not appear to be addressing the camera:

"I was always very hyperaware of the cameras being there," Lorber said. "I don't really talk to my dog all that much, that's so that I'm not looking directly at the camera. I didn't want to look like I was talking to myself, so we figured out I could talk to my dog."

How about you – do you chat it up with your pet even if no cameras are rolling?

My New Favorite Geek Show: The Paper

GeekSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:30:07 PDT

As much as I alternately love and loathe new reality shows, I didn't want to get into MTV's The Paper. But after one episode, I was powerless - not only is the show itself well-produced, edited, and so entertaining, I can't help but empathize with the newspaper geeks because I was one in high school too!

But, times are no longer like my high school days - the MTV class has a room full of eMacs, and the students have the hottest phones. Plucky yet beleaguered editor-in-chief Amanda Lorber started the school year with a nose job and a new iPhone (and my heart broke a little for her when her date texted his way out of Homecoming).

It warms my old journalism heart to see the kids sitting at their monitors, slaving over stories, and wordsmithing their ways to their future. I just know these nerds are going to be my future colleagues, so keep on geekin' on, Paper kids!

Photos courtesy of MTV

MTV's The Paper: All the Drama That's Fit to Air

GiggleSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:00:00 PDT

The Paper is one of the new shows in MTV's teenybopper reality show lineup. I initially thought the program would serve as an enticing way to get young peeps enthused about a nonathletic, extracurricular activity - one that promotes civic awareness, community involvement, and writing proficiency. I should have known better. The show mainly focuses on the quirkiness of the paper's editor in chief and how nearly everyone under her can't stand her, constantly undermine her, and want to overthrow her. The value of teamwork? Oh, that's been edited out, natch.

TV Tonight: The Paper

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:30:23 PDT

In high school, I was a class-A newspaper nerd, trolling the halls with a notepad in hand, hoping for a bit of scandal from the drama department or an expose on why Frisbee was no longer allowed in gym class. Even so, I doubt I'd be any match for the kids of The Paper, MTV's newest reality series. The show, which premieres tonight after The Hills, follows a crew of teens at a south Florida high school as they battle to become editor in chief of The Circuit.

I loved the idea when it was first announced, and I admit I've gotten a little thrill every time I've seen the ads for the show - especially when Amanda, the catalyst for much of the bickering on the staff, declares in no uncertain terms that "journalists are the most important people in the world." These kids don't look like out-and-out geeks, but they're not the perfectly polished specimens of The Hills, either. They seem shockingly normal, caught up less in fame and more in the everyday dramas of popularity and personality that were such a big part of the teenage experience for so many of us.

MTV's last foray into a journalism-based series, I'm From Rolling Stone, didn't work out so well - but I have higher hopes for The Paper. After all, very few people can relate to being music journalists, but who can't relate to the awkwardness of high school?

Are you interested in checking out The Paper when it premieres tonight? To check out a preview, just

MTV Plans Reality Show for Teenage Newspaper Nerds

BuzzSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:15:07 PDT

Well, this just warms the cockles of my teenage-journalism-nerd heart. MTV is filming a documentary series about a high school newspaper that will air early next year.

The series is set at Cypress Bay High School in Florida, behind the scenes of the award-winning newspaper The Circuit. MTV is filming eight episodes, and lest you non-nerdy types wonder how there will possibly be enough drama to fill eight episodes, I can assure you that high school newspapers have plenty of backstabbing, catfighting and bad-decision-making to go around. Or maybe that was just my high school paper.

Interesting tidbit: MTV is shying away from calling this a "reality series," because they insist they didn't set anything up - they found this group of kids and are filming as-is (though the network did post a casting notice last year). Instead they're calling it a "docu-series." Apparently, we've reached the point where reality TV is officially classified as not real.

Source

10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Elaena's Fairy-Tale Princess and the Pea Pajama Party

Lisa Horten — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:32:26 PDT

While scoping out this incredibly imaginative and whimsical little girl's birthday party based upon the story The Princess and the Pea, "budget" is the last word that comes to mind. But crafty mom Beca, who blogs and sells her printable papers at My Paper Lily, says that she did it all on her own - right down to sewing pillows and sleep masks for the little guests.

Click through and enjoy the whimsy and fun of Elaena's supersweet second birthday celebration!

Source: My Paper Lily

5 Things to Keep in a Plastic Folder When You're on a Trip

SavvySugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:43:48 PDT

I wouldn't dream of traveling without my trusty plastic folder! Be it for business or pleasure, I recycle the same one, slightly larger than a standard piece of paper that I've used since my college days. Mine's hot pink so it stands out in my travel tote amid magazines and other goodies and extra sturdy with a Velcro flap so things stay in better than pocketed, paper alternatives.

While there are some obvious things to go inside - such as flight checkins - I pack quite a few items, each with a very useful purpose:

Confirm everything - Bring a record of flight, hotel, and car rental in this folder. To save the environment, only print the official flight one (and do double-sided whenever possible) or simply create a word doc on one page with all addresses, phone numbers and confirmation codes where applicable.
Take the notes - While it's easy to rely a bit too heavily on smart phones (and the numbers and notes stored within), still jot down some personal details of things to do. If you want to be extra prepped, color code the printout pages for easy finding.

Learn how to organize the trip while you're on it to save time (and headaches!) afterwards and

Hold it together - Depending on the length of a journey, toss in a few paper clips and a business-sized envelope as well. Group all small receipts together for expensing and checking the budget later.
Get ready to write - If I had a dollar every time someone near me asked to borrow my pen (especially on international flights with forms that need to be filled out before landing), I'd have money to buy a new purse all together! Sure, many times there's a pen in your bag but save the digging and keep one instantly available inside the folder.
Keep the worries at bay - Extra passport photos and copies of important documents can also be stashed inside in case of emergency. If checking bags, you can write out an inventory of what's inside your suitcase - before you roll your eyes, this can help when planning how to pack lighter and picking out outfits once you're there.
Bring it back - Having this folder also makes it easier to bring back a postcard or other reminders of the trip like a menu from a new restaurant or a clipping from the local magazine.

Source

Weigh in on These Weird Wedding Products

Tara Block — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:46 PDT

We thought we'd seen everything when it came to types of wedding-related goods, but apparently not! For Winter brides looking to stay cozy on their big day, Ugg Australia has released a wedding collection. We never thought we'd see wedding Uggs, but then again, we were also surprised to see wedding Toms. But as weird as the sheepskin bridal shoes may seem, they are far from the strangest wedding product out there. With toilet paper or beer koozies, companies have gotten very creative with their wedding paraphernalia. Check out these offbeat gifts, decorations, and accessories and tell us: do you find them funny and festive, or just plain tacky? Weigh in now!

Comic Book Cardboard Cutout? 8 Bags That Keep You Guessing

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:17:00 PDT

Real or not real? JumpFromPaper handbags look like they've literally jumped out of a graphic novel or comic book. It may look 2D from the front, but that's all optical illusion! The bags are no cardboard cutout - it's a roomy haven for laptops, tablets, headphones, or just, you know, your everyday needs. The bags are currently preorder only, but the company promises a shipment to the US in June. Prepare to be wowed with the crazy, cool designs.