BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:30:47 PST

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. It's a pretty light week for new releases, but in addition to the picks below, you can also snag a new collection from Ghostface Killah and the soundtrack to Revolutionary Road. Here are today's selections:

Whoa, "Womanizer": If Britney Spears's "Womanizer" is always stuck in your head, you might want to consider picking up a remix EP that's out on iTunes today. The EP includes five different versions of the song, including some that are very club-y and others that are almost dreamy. At first listen, I most enjoy the Kaskade mix, and I couldn't help but bob my head during the Benny Benassi mix.

The greatest gift of all: If you enjoyed Stephen Colbert's tongue-in-cheek take on the holiday special, then you might want to get yourself over to iTunes this week, where Colbert's "Another Christmas Song" is free this week. The opening song from the special is old-fashioned and jazzy but with a good dose of holiday sarcasm mixed in ("The manger’s on fire/The holly’s a-glow/Hear the baby Jesus cryin’ ho ho ho").

I've got one more for you, so just

read more. Time to pretend: The Pretenders get credit for longevity (and the enduring coolness of lead singer Chrissie Hynde), and I'm curious to hear them reflect on their career and new album in this new iTunes Originals recording. The release is a mix of interview clips and intimate recordings, including new versions of tracks from this year's Break Up the Concrete and classics like "Talk of the Town." You have to buy the whole thing to hear the interview clips, but each song is available separately.

Buzz Gift Guide: Best of 2008 For Gals

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:30:45 PST

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I sifted through the stacks (er, Web pages) of music, DVDs, and books to find some of the best 2008 has to offer dudes. Today I will share with you some 2008 entertainment gift ideas for the ladies.

It's no secret how much I love Jenny Lewis and I will be spreading the gospel this year by handing out her newest album Acid Tongue to my girlfriends (or at least including her songs on the mix CDs I'll make this holiday season). I'll also be giving out Aimee Mann's newest album, as I think it's pretty awesome.

It was a good year for books: I read both The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum and Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and would definitely recommend them. In the movies department, might I suggest the hilarious Baby Mama or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on DVD?

Since I watch more TV than most people I know, I use the holidays to not-so-subtly suggest to friends what I know they would love, like 30 Rock or Greek. And many of my friends have grown to love Lipstick Jungle, so it would be a treat for them to receive the show's first season on DVD.

A couple more ideas below, so have fun scrolling on through.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:30:45 PDT

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. In addition to the songs and albums below ,you can also download the new Oasis and Deerhoof albums.

Six years in the making: Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde may be 57 years old, but her voice still sounds amazingly intact. That's a huge part of why most critics are giving this new album the thumbs-up. Are you ready to rock? Then download "Boots of Chinese Plastic" and the title track, "Break Up the Concrete."

Hip-hop with an accent: The Streets is one British guy named Mike Skinner whose rhythms and rhymes I've been enjoying for years now. I was surprised to find he has a new album out today, and from what I've heard so far, I'm really digging it. These new songs are sunnier than he usually is, and I'm thinking about adding "The Escapist" and "I Love You More (Than You Like Me)" to my collection.

One more after the jump, so

read more. Song writing: Rachael Yamagata's new album is a double-disc set that starts out with pretty but sad break-up songs and ends with catchy but angry break-up songs. I'm loving the whole thing so far, but if you just want a taste, I recommend the melancholy "Elephants," the gorgeous "Horizon," and the hard-driving "Faster."

BuzzSugar's Must Haves For October

BuzzSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:39:47 PDT

I love the Fall and October is the best, what with the changing leaves and Halloween and all. It's also a great time of year for entertainment, so I didn't have any trouble digging up some must-have items for my list. I've included an artist who should definitely be on in the background when the weather gets cold, a funny book to read by the fire (or heater), a scary movie to watch in the safety of your own home (with candy), and very cool TV-to-DVD choices. Ready to check it out? Just hit "Start."

Song of the Day: Lily Allen Covers The Pretenders' "Don't Get Me Wrong"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:30:08 PDT

With Christina Aguilera pregnant, Jessica Simpson divorced, and Britney Spears - well, where to start? - we are in serious need of fresh young starlets. Why Lily Allen isn't soaring to the top of the charts and leading a new trend in female pop singers baffles me. She is sassy and edgy, she has a great voice, her music is insanely catchy, and the woman knows what to do with a pop song.

If you need further evidence, check out Lily's cover of The Pretenders' sunny '80s hit "Don't Get Me Wrong" (via Sterogum). Allen gives it a modern update with hip-hop undertones and surprisingly mature vocals. The track appears on a compilation celebrating the 40th anniversary of Britain's Radio 1, and it makes me long for the days when women like Chrissie Hynde ruled the pop charts. I say, gimme more of Lily and the like. To listen,

In Defense of the Chronically Late Mom

BabyCenter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:11 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 Betsy Shaw about being late for school.

If I were to wear a scarlet letter it would be T.

T for tardy. T for turd ball. T for totally inept mother.

We are late for school with such alarming regularity it’s embarrassing. The last time we were on time, after a mini snowstorm that excited my children enough to urge them into their snowsuits and outside at 6:30 a.m., we got to school five minutes early to find it dark and empty. Delayed opening. I was apparently the only mother who didn’t get the memo.

Calling Charlie Brown…

Being late for school brings up a vicious brew of conflicting emotion in me. On the one hand I just don’t care. Life is short. Far too short to risk traumatizing your children with a bullwhip and terrorizing morning walkers and squirrels, not to mention my own white-knuckled children, speeding our way to school like Toad on a motorcar bender each weekday morning.

On the other hand I am ashamed, deeply embarrassed, to be “that mom.” All the other moms can do it, even the single ones. Why. Can’t. I? What’s wrong with me?

I complained about this once to a woman from South Carolina who I met on my Guatemala trip and she told me her school started at 7:30. She also made it clear her kids were never late.

Never late.

Keep reading for more of Betsy's reasoning for being late.

How to Throw a The Artist-Themed Oscar Viewing Party

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

The Oscars air on Sunday, Feb 26, and any movie lover already has the date penciled in. In case your plans are even grander than simply watching the show and you want to throw a viewing party for friends, then why not pick a theme based around one of the best picture nominees? I'm suggesting The Artist as inspiration, the delightful silent film that's been creating a deafening award season buzz. Here's how to pull it off.

How to decorate: All your decorations should be black and white, with art deco accents. Play The Artist movie soundtrack or big band music while guests are arriving. And if you know anyone who owns a Jack Russell Terrier, borrow him and pretend he's Uggie.
How to dress: In glam 1920s Old Hollywood garb. Think tuxes for men, and flapper dresses or diaphanous gowns and long pearls for women.
What to serve: Lots of champagne, of course, along with Manhattans and Sidecars, cocktails popular in the '20s.
How to act: Ask everyone to be as silent as possible, but expressive with their face and hands. It sounds crazy, but at least you won't have to shush anyone when the show starts.

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

6 Ways Couples Can Tell They're Financially Ready to Live Together

Business Insider — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:15:47 PST

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

Moving in together as a couple is more than deciding who gets the "good side" of the bed and finding the best spot to stash the PlayStation.

Not only will you be sharing household bills and probably setting up a joint bank account, but you'll also get up close and personal with your partner's money demons for the first time.

"A husband or wife, even a boyfriend or a girlfriend, is not a financial plan," says Dr. Taffy Wagner, CEO of Money Talk Matters. "We've seen enough drama on Court TV shows."

As a certified personal finance educator and author of Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ, Wagner's an expert on all things relationships and finances.

Before you start building a bigger closet, make sure you're both ready to merge your finances by checking for these six signs:

1. You can talk money without arguing. Per Wagner: "When you can openly discuss finances without arguing and blaming the other person when there is a financial issue," you're on the right track. "The people in this situation would also be able to discuss a financial issue and reach a viable solution that is best for the overall relationship."

Read on for more.

How to Stop Keeping Up With the Joneses

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:15:16 PST

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

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like there are many money lessons to learn from The Real Housewives.

One spent a season building a $1.8 million mansion and driving around a $1,280-per-month Escalade, only to file for bankruptcy with almost $11 million in debt.

Shortly postbankruptcy, she dropped another $60,000 on a shopping spree so she could continue to fit in with those in her social circle.

Even if you don’t end up with millions of dollars in debt - or have friends who are millionaires - trying to keep up with the Joneses (or the Gorgas, in this case) can not only make you feel lousy about yourself, but also inspire bad spending decisions. We call this phenomenon “money comparisonitis.”

How Having "Comparisonitis" Affects Us

In our own lives, the dangers of gazing enviously at the Real Housewives’ spending sprees, our neighbor’s new car, or that family down the street who can send their kids to private school are not only the fact that it makes us feel bad, but that it literally distorts our view of reality.

In other words, we look at celebrities like the Kardashians or the wealthier people we know, and we try to emulate their spending habits. “You’re not being truthful with yourself,” says Susan L. Hirshman, president of She Ltd., a consulting firm focused on enhancing women’s wealth, and the author of Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?. “As they make more money, that allows them to live a certain lifestyle.” In other words, you have to face facts and spend in accordance with your own budget, rather than feeling entitled to live a certain way just because other people do.

Read on for more.

8 Things Couples Should Consider Before Setting Up a Joint Bank Account

Business Insider — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:15:24 PST

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

When it comes to marriage or a long-term domestic partnership, the whole "what's mine is yours" idea isn't always the wisest way to approach your finances.

That doesn't mean there isn't a way to make joint bank accounts work, but Dr. Taffy Wagner, CEO of Money Talk Matters, cautions partners against ditching their financial independence altogether.

"Couples are all in love and want everything to be joint," Wagner says. "But when they automatically put all of their money in one account and one person is managing it, a lot of the time the other person has no idea what is going on."

That's no way to start the beginning of your lives together, so we asked a few experts for tips every couple should consider before merging their finances.

Sharing is caring. One way to treat a joint bank account is like a mutual money pot for household bills and other expenses, such as groceries and vacations. Financial planner Casey Weade said he and his wife maintain joint savings accounts for big budget goals like vacations, which they both contribute to equally each month. (See eight tips for drafting a budget.)

Don't ditch your own piggy bank. "Each person should have an individual account that they can use to
pamper each other or themselves without it affecting the household bills," Wagner says. "The key to their individual accounts is both would have access to each other's account if needed so there are no secrets."

Read on for more.

The Opposite of Love: Julie Buxbaum ($16.50)	Break Up the Concrete: The Pretenders ($11.99)
Acid Tongue: Jenny Lewis ($12.49)	Certain Girls: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner ($17.79)
@#%&*! Smilers: Aimee Mann ($13.99)	Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day ($12.99)
Baby Mama ($17.99)	Greek - Chapter One ($19.99)
30 Rock: Season 2 ($25.99)	Lipstick Jungle - Season One ($24.99)