BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 2/22

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:29:46 PST

It's no coincidence: The West Wing character Matt Santos actually was based on Barack Obama, writes The Guardian.
Variety reports that Amazon.com will produce its first movie, The Stolen Child, based on the fantasy novel by Keith Donahue.
Zap2It writes about a new Lifetime movie titled Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal which will star Tatum O'Neal and Jenna Dewan.
TV Guide reports that Joshua Jackson won't appear on Grey's Anatomy after all.
According to Billboard, World Peace One, a not-for-profit global peace advocacy group, is hoping to bring top talent like U2, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, and Justin Timberlake to its series of international concerts, set to begin May 17.
Daniel Henney and Lost's Dominic Monaghan are the latest additions to the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, writes Variety.
Jesse L. Martin is out and Anthony Anderson is in at Law & Order, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Guess that's bad news for K-Ville.

Why Everyone (Even 20-Somethings) Should Make a Will

Business Insider — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:15:44 PDT

Getting a will is not just for those who are on the cusp of retiring. People of all ages should consider writing one, says Business Insider. Here's why.

Despite the well-known fact that everyone alive today will kick the bucket at one point or another, nearly 60 percent of Americans admitted in a 2011 poll conducted by online legal service Rocket Lawyer that they didn't have a will.

In fact, one-third said they'd rather do their taxes, get a root canal, or give up sex for a month than lay out their dying wishes in black and white.

All right, let's not get out of hand now.

Making a will these days is easier than ever, and if you've been putting it off simply because it seems daunting, then you could be making a big mistake.

"You do it for your family's [future]," says Rocket Lawyer founder Charley Moore. "[A will] enables you to start thinking about issues like whether you have the right insurance coverage, life insurance, and ways of replacing your lost income."

Whether you're 22 years old and just ran your umpteenth marathon or you're ready to retire, laying out an estate plan should definitely be near the top of your to-do list.

It's one of the three most important documents every adult should have.

Here are the other two, according to Moore:

A living will: Also called an advanced healthcare directive, a living will is where you lay out all the nuts and bolts of your end-of-life care. If you wind up in a coma or unresponsive in the hospital, then a living will can help your family decide how to handle your medical treatment.

Durable power of attorney: Choose an attorney you trust to administer your estate after your death, says Moore. He or she will be objective (unlike family members), and their entire job is to follow your wishes.

Read on for more.

Two Ikea Outdoor Chairs I'm Longing For - but They're Not Available in the United States!

Elka Karl — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:44:28 PST

Two new outdoor chairs have made their ways to Ikeas around the world, but they haven't landed in US stores yet. While I'm not contemplating a trip across the northern border into Canada quite yet, I am eager to see these chairs stocked in the US. And at least one will be, since it's already listed on the website (just without availability at this time).
While the Hogsten may not have the most graceful name, this gorgeous chair is a total looker. Made from woven plastic rattan, it has an organic look, but its plastic exterior means it is very, very low maintenance and quite durable - an absolute must for outdoor furniture. You can also purchase the matching footstool, which is equally cute. The Hogsten is currently available at a few Canadian Ikea stores, according to the website.

Keep clicking to check out my other favorite outdoor chair from Ikea.

10 Ways to Make a Good Day More Likely

SavvySugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:05:41 PST

You may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but that doesn't mean you have to adopt a negative attitude. Sometimes bad days seem inevitable - you miss the bus, arrive late to work, then forget a major deadline - but just a few tweaks to your everyday routine can set you up for better, happier days. Hoping to have a joyful Spring? Check out 10 simple ways to make a good day more likely:

Set multiple alarms. It's hard to be satisfied when you're tired and groggy, so do yourself a favor by going to bed at a decent hour. More importantly, though, be sure to set several alarms so that your day gets off to a prompt, panic-free start.
Eat a healthy breakfast. If you're hungry, it's not a good day. Period. Easy solution? Allow yourself enough time each morning to sit down and enjoy a filling, nutritious meal. Pack healthy snacks to make sure you have plenty of energy throughout the day.
Look good, be comfortable. If you dress well and feel positive about your appearance, you're more likely to channel your best self. Your attitude will shift, if only slightly: "The rain is terrible, but at least my sweater is cute."
Have a plan. Avoid any hectic moments or anxious breakdowns by giving yourself a daily schedule. If you're able to prep the night before, you'll feel much more relaxed as you tackle your daily responsibilities.
Chat with loved ones. Engaging with the people you care about, be it in person or over the phone, can do wonders for your attitude. Even a five-minute conversation with your pal will be enough to lighten your spirit and leave you energized.

Read on for more ways to improve your days.

Cat Cora Offers Up Oscars Party Tips and Details on Future Projects

Susannah Chen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:39:49 PST

Nearly as big as the highly anticipated Oscars on Feb. 26 is Elton John's AIDS Foundation Oscars party, hosted annually by the musician and his husband, David Furnish.

Guests at this year's fête will be fed courtesy of Cat Cora, who'll be pulling out all the stops with an all-out global-inspired menu. I spoke to the Iron Chef about what she's making for this bash (and her tips for hosting your own Oscars viewing party at home!), as well as what's in the pipeline for her this year (hint: it involves several restaurant openings and a new show on Bravo!).

YumSugar: What's on the menu for this year's Oscars party?
Cat Cora: We're going to do a fantastic Italian salad - a tricolore, with arugula, some beautiful endive, and radicchio, composed with a pureed pistachio vinaigrette - just to start off nice and light. Then we're going to offer a baby tomato and bocconcini salad with a Bloody Mary vinaigrette, sesame-encrusted lamb meatballs, a filet tenderloin of beef, and a really good sea bass choice. We'll finish things off with a silky chocolate dessert or a pear and apple tartlet. It's going to be really over-the-top.

YS: Who are you most excited to run into?

Find out the answer - and more on Oscar-night party planning - when you keep reading.

Sundance Snapshot: Your Sister's Sister Puts the Fun in Family Dysfunction

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

Director Lynn Shelton made her Sundance premiere with Humpday, and she returned to the festival this year with Your Sister's Sister. The film has a tiny cast - in fact, most of the scenes are between just three actors - but this little indie is one of the most memorable films I caught at the festival. Here's why:

Who's behind it? Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Mark Duplass make up the cast. Lynn Shelton (who also directed Duplass in Humpday) is behind the camera.
What's it about? Duplass plays Jack, a guy who's on a bit of a downward spiral a year after losing his brother. Jack's still close friends with his brother's ex, Iris (Blunt), who suggests that Jack spend some time in solitude at her father's rustic lakeside cabin. When Jack arrives at the cabin, he's surprised to find Iris's sister, Hannah (DeWitt), and when Iris pops up for a visit, a very tangled web is woven between the three characters over the course of a few days.
What did I think? This is a little gem of a film; all three actors turn in nuanced performances, making the complicated relationships between the three feel incredibly authentic. Duplass gets most of the laughs as Jack bumbles to keep the peace between Iris and Hannah, but it's Blunt and DeWitt that really shine as siblings that love each other through and through, but can't help pushing each other's buttons. The Seattle cabin setting also adds extra charm, and really makes the audience feel like you're trapped in the conundrum between the characters, isolated away from the rest of the world.

The Vampire Diaries "Our Town": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:15:48 PST

After last week's epic kiss, this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries is almost a little disappointing, except that so many other crazy non-Elena/Damon things happen. It's Caroline's birthday, but it's not all cake and tequila shots with her friends, and Stefan tries his hardest to be a baddie but just ends up looking like a jerk.

On the Damon and Elena front, she's still feeling bad for having Jeremy sent away, and Bonnie has some harsh words for the already guilty-feeling Elena. I'm ready to get down into it, so if you are too, let's deconstruct it into the good, the bad, and the bloody after the break.

6 Mistakes You're Making on Your Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:07:07 PST

Yoga is supposed to be all about serenity and bliss, but there's no way you'll feel relaxed and at peace with the world if you're making these major no-nos on the mat.

Not connecting breath with movements: For every movement in your yoga practice, there is a breath pattern that goes along with it. For example, to start a Sun Salutation, you inhale to raise your arms up, and exhale to fold forward. Connecting your breath to your movements gives your yoga practice a sense of fluidity. This not only helps create a sense of calm, but the breath keeps you mindful, focused, and aware of each movement, which can help prevent injuries and improve balance.
Keeping your belly soft: Proper breathing in yoga involves bringing your breath into your chest, feeling your ribs expand and deflate with each breath. You can do this by drawing your navel in toward your spine and keeping your abs engaged, so when you inhale, you see your chest fill up rather than your belly. Aside from helping you breathe properly (which will help you with the first no-no), keeping your belly engaged also protects your lower back, which can prevent pain or injury.
Tensing when unnecessary: Clenched toes, scrunched shoulders (as shown above), and white knuckles aren't exactly the picture of relaxation, are they? I realize some challenging poses takes every ounce of strength and attention to hold for five breaths, but make sure to constantly scan your body for unnecessary areas of tightness. Make a conscious effort to relax the muscles that don't need to be working overtime.

Continue reading to find out what else you're doing wrong on your yoga mat.

The Best Time Investments You Can Make

LearnVest — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:15:57 PST

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

We all agree that time is more valuable than money.

At least, that’s what we say.

Then we turn around and spend hours watching bad TV we’re not even that interested in. Or 45 minutes on the phone with customer service fighting a $5 charge. Or years in a relationship or friendship we stopped feeling fulfilled by long ago.

But I’m convinced it’s not for a lack of good intent that we often end up treating time as our most fungible asset. (Hey, there’s plenty more where that came from, right? Well, not really . . . ) I think we simply get too busy to think about it, or don’t think we have the resources to make more time in our lives. We do have the resources, though. All it takes is a fresh look at how we really spend our days, hours and moments.

I’ve been thinking about time as a tangible asset not unlike money in many ways, and about ways to invest our time to yield higher returns - better memories, more hours well spent, even minutes that nourish us instead of fly by. After much research, experience and reflection, below are what I found to be the seven best investments you can make with your time. Think of these as blue-chip time investments that can’t go wrong - and that will yield high dividends for a more fulfilled life.

1. Invest in “Life-Extending” Time

Investing time in caring for your health is an obvious one that will certainly yield you more time, literally - in days, months, if not years tacked on to your life. Yet we often take our health for granted until we experience a wake-up call. Proactively invest your time in your health by eating well, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and regularly seeing your doctors. Invest heartily in those non-physical markers of well-being as well: emotional, mental and spiritual health - you will reap many hours of well-lived life from them. Learn the habits of the Blue Zone people, from the regions in the world where people live the longest. Some common lifestyle traits they share? Building in natural movement and activity, lowering stress and being part of a faith-based community.

Read on for more great time investments.

One-Stop Shop For Every Kind of Techie in Your Life (YAY!)

Sponsor — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:00:22 PST

Let's face it. We are living in a digital world, and the people on your holiday gift list are digital girls (and boys). That means they're only wishing for one thing: gadgets to further their lives of techie luxury, of course! Enter the Seagate fleet of storage devices (and the gift of peace of mind!). Check out the GoFlex Satellite, GoFlex Home, GoFlex Slim, and GoFlex for Mac in the slideshow!