BuzzSugar

The Queen's Corgis Sweep Fidos!

PetSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:00:56 PDT

Winning both the "Historical Hound" and "Best in World" awards, the Corgi stars of The Queen represented in royal fashion at The Fidos. Four of the five pooches – Anna, Poppy, Megan, Alice, and Oliver – who played the part(s) were present on the red carpet in England at yesterday's event, and are pictured above with Oscar winner, Helen Mirren. The other winners included pups from Year of the Dog ("Comedy Canine"), Shooter ("Blockbuster Bowser"), and short film, Dog Flap ("Cupcake Cinema").

These awards were produced by Toby Rose, also the producer of the prestigious Palm Dog award at the Cannes Film Festival. This event is the world's first international award ceremony exclusively for canine stars of the big screen, and marks the first time dogs have been allowed on the red carpet and into the National Film Theatre building in Southbank. Congratulations!

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:30:00 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

"Heroes" - Season 1
The first season of NBC's hit sci-fi drama "Heroes" is now available on DVD and it's extras-tacular. The show follows "ordinary" people who happen to have extraordinary powers (invisibility, regeneration, flight, mind reading, time travel, etc.). The 7-disc set features a good number of extras, including (but not limited to): audio commentaries, the 73-minute unaired original pilot episode (along with the option of commentary by Tim Kring), deleted scenes and a whole bunch of behind-the-scenes stuff, like a stunt featurette and a profile on artist Tim Sale. On the HD-DVD you can expect more interactive features, like something called a "genetic abilities test." If you missed this season when it was on TV (and then online), you can catch up with the DVDs before the second season begins September 24.

Three more new releases so

"Friday Night Lights" - Season 1
If you're not hooked on "Friday Night Lights" by the time you're through with this five-disc DVD set, you can get your money back - no joke. The set isn't nearly as loaded with special features as the "Heroes" collection, but it still includes deleted scenes from each of the season's 22 episodes as well as a "making of" featurette. I wish the special features weren't so skimpy, but I'm sure that's what's letting NBC offer the set so cheap ($19.99 most places). And besides, who needs extras when you've got some of the best writing and acting on television to occupy your time?

Year of the Dog
Molly Shannon stars in this quirky, dark indie comedy all about love, loss - and pets. Shannon plays Peggy, whose world revolves around her dog, Pencil. When he suddenly passes away, Peggy feels lost at sea and needs to find something else to consume her attention. The people in her life all have different views on how she should distract herself. Her bubbly girlfriend Layla (Regina King) pushes Peggy to start dating, while cute veterinary assistant Newt (Peter Sarsgaard) urges her to adopt a new dog. Ultimately, though, Peggy has to find her own path. Year of the Dog is extremely endearing, with Shannon turning in a surprisingly touching performance. Special features include a gag reel, a making-of featurette and some interesting interviews with Molly Shannon and writer/director Mike White. Check out my review for more of my thoughts on this movie.

Blades of Glory
This may not be a work of genius, exactly, but it's definitely worth a rent if you want a chuckle. Plus, it stars some of my favorite funny ladies: Amy Poehler and Jenna Fischer. Will Farrell plays Chazz, a male figure skater who has a falling out with his rival Jimmy, played by Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder. As a result, the two are banned from competing in the singles' category, so they join forces to compete as a figure-skating pair. For my take on this movie, check out my review.

Year of the Dog: Sweet as a Trusty Old Companion

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:00:46 PDT

There is a comfort in having an obsession, in committing oneself entirely to something. And for every obsession, there are niche communities where that obsession is shared - and at least a few people who will deem it silly. The idea that everyone needs at least one thing to pour herself into is the theme of Year of the Dog, a cute movie with plenty of heart and poignant truthfulness.

Molly Shannon plays Peggy, a secretary whose life consists mainly of caring for her dog Pencil, so when Pencil suddenly meets his mysterious demise, Peggy's life starts to unravel. She grieves helplessly, unsure of how to fill her time. Her next-door neighbor Al (John C. Reilly) takes Peggy out on a date, though Peggy is soon repelled by his fondness for hunting. Peggy's girlish friend Layla (Regina King) thinks Peggy should be as obsessed with romance and marriage as she is and pushes Peggy to keep dating. Layla's not the only one with ideas about how to distract Peggy from her loss, though, so

When veterinary assistant Newt (Peter Sarsgaard) pairs Peggy up with an abused dog, Peggy delightedly gains both a new dog and a new friend/love interest. After spending time with Newt, Peggy turns vegan and begins campaigning for animal rights. Her wish to save all animals everywhere, however, spins out of control, until she finds herself taking her young niece and nephew to a chicken slaughterhouse. Her new obsessions become all-consuming, and she must learn how to pursue her passions without losing herself completely.

Like Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon seems to understand that if she is as honest as possible, the humor and the pathos will follow, making her performance excellent almost because it's so ordinary. Everyone else does their respective things: John C. Reilly is bumbling and unaware, Sarsgaard's sleepy eyes say all he needs to say, and Regina King infuses each of her scenes with a glassy brightness. Laura Dern is perhaps most noteworthy - and funniest - as Peggy's sister-in-law, so fearful for her kids' safety that overprotecting them is her own obsession.

The movie has a comforting this-is-real-life feel to it, reminiscent of director Mike White's other successful film, The Good Girl, though thankfully Year of the Dog is far less depressing in the end. It won't knock your socks off, but sometimes, you just want to wear your fuzzy old slippers anyway.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Vantage

Movie Preview: Year of the Dog

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:28:01 PDT

It's hard to look at Molly Shannon without thinking of her Catholic schoolgirl character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, from "SNL" and Superstar. But with her latest project, Year of the Dog, she's looking to change all that. Shannon plays Peggy, whose world revolves around her dog, Pencil. When he suddenly passes away, Peggy feels lost at sea and needs to find something else to consume her attention. The people in her life all have different views on how she should distract herself. Her bubbly girlfriend Layla (Regina King) pushes Peggy to start dating, while cute veterinary assistant Newt (Peter Sarsgaard) urges her to adopt a new dog. Ultimately, though, Peggy has to find her own path.

First of all, Pencil is a hilarious name for a dog. Secondly, the movie's website is unusually cute and fun. Finally, the trailer is adorable, and the film looks like a strange, sweet indie flick. Watch for my review later this week when the movie comes out in limited release, and you can check out the trailer if you

Source

Behind the Scenes at Sundance: Portrait Gallery

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:00:58 PST

One of my favorite things about the Sundance Film Festival is the portrait studio. Between schmoozing and talking up their movies, the casts of each film pose for a series of casual yet artful shots that are inexplicably fun to look at. Maybe there's just something about seeing people like Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi, who star together in Interview, mugging like they're old friends.

I've collected my favorite pics so far from the festival films, including Smiley Face starring Anna Faris, Mandy Moore's Dedication, The Nines starring Elle Fanning and Ryan Reynolds, Year of the Dog with Molly Shannon and Peter Sarsgaard, John Cusack in Grace is Gone, Waitress with Keri Russell, and the awesome young cast of The Good Life (pictured above). To see the rest of the portraits,

View 36 Photos ›

Source

9 Ways to Earn Extra Cash When Money Is Tight

Wise Bread — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:51:58 PDT

I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money.

Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money.

Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, "10 Ways to Make Money Without a Job." After reviewing the latter post, I thought it was time to revisit the topic and let you in on a few more ways to get paid.

The ideas that Zaarly presents are perfect for the unemployed or those who just want to pad their pockets a little more. In addition, there are moonlighting jobs that I do that I thought you should know about. Thus, if you're without a steady paycheck or you just want to build up a rainy-day stash, here are some of your options.

1. Offer Experiences to Strangers

I recently learned about a new site called Vayable, which allows people with specialized knowledge and talents, local info, and time on their hands to create experiences that others can purchase. It's basically a touring and activity company without the company. Anyone can join the site and set up an experience. For instance, the Kan Brothers offer motorcycle tours of San Francisco - which include helmet rental, a drink at a local hot spot, and a city map - for two to four people at $75 per person. In New York City, Kim G. is offering a personalized painting lesson for groups of two to six for a flat rate of $300; the experience includes acrylic paints; canvas board and supplies; studio space; wine, cheese, and crackers; and Kim’s undivided attention. Consider this tip if you're interested in joining Vayable: Browse the site to see what other people in your area are offering. By creating a unique experience that no one else has established, you have a better chance of getting booked.

Read on for more.

Kristen Stewart Calls Rob's Dog Bear a "Baby"

Lauren Turner — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:20:54 PDT

Kristen Stewart calls Rob's dog Bear a "baby" - People
Julianne Hough kicks off press for Rock of Ages - Us Weekly
Listen to the last song Whitney Houston ever recorded - HuffPost Entertainment
Wild weather at Cannes cancels screenings - Hollywood Reporter
Chris Pine shows off his hot model girlfriend in Cannes - Lainey Gossip
See Kelly Clarkson's hot new look - TooFab
Looks like Kim Kardashian's the boss in her relationship with Kanye - Celebitchy
Get to know the new Mrs. Zuckerberg - The Daily Beast
LeBron James loves The Hunger Games - BuzzFeed
Find out which TV star Dave Franco's dating - The Insider
Your guide to all the Summer movies - Rotten Tomatoes
SJP and Matthew Broderick celebrate 15 years of marriage - Wonderwall
Missing actor Nick Stahl found and headed to rehab - Lifeline Live
Is Chace Crawford dating Erin Andrews? - Zap2It
Watch Jane Lynch's college commencement speech - The Frisky

What It Takes to Buy a Home

Kiplinger — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:14:47 PDT

Do you have what it takes to buy a home? Consider this exhaustive guide from Kiplinger.

Tired of renting? It could be a great time to buy your first home. In many cities, home prices have bottomed, and rents have risen. Mortgage rates are still superlow. In fact, homes haven't been as affordable since 1971. On the downside, in many cities, buyers have fewer homes from which to choose and more competition for the best houses.

In Austin, TX, newlyweds Mark and Ariane Corcoran bought their first home in March. They were renting in a popular downtown neighborhood, where they paid $1,200 a month for a 500-square-foot loft apartment, when they inherited enough money for a down payment. When they began shopping, they expected to buy a classic 1930s Austin bungalow. They found lots of prospects online but drove by most of them. "Agents are really good at taking photos that exclude what they don't want you to see, like the used-car lot out back," says Mark.

They put in an offer on a $225,000, 800-square-foot home. But after the home inspection, they realized that it needed $20,000 to $30,000 in renovations and repairs and that they'd quickly outgrow it. They walked away during the state-mandated rescission period (during which a buyer can back out for any reason and get back any earnest money deposited).

Ariane identified their next prospect within an hour after the listing appeared online. It was a newly built, 1,600-square-foot home with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a yard for the dogs. The builder asked $270,000, the couple offered $260,000, he countered, and they paid $268,000. They put down 20 percent to avoid private mortgage insurance and snagged a 30-year fixed rate of 3.75 percent from a credit union. Their monthly mortgage payment is $1,524.

Before you take the plunge, consider the answers to questions often posed by first-time buyers. Read on for what to ask yourself.

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield Do Mother's Day With Her Mom

Allie Merriam — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:39:55 PDT

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield left their NYC home with their dog yesterday to walk her mom out to a car. The happy couple said farewell to Emma's mother after the trio had a visit together in the Big Apple - see what other celebrities did on Mother's Day this year with their loved ones! Emma's currently based in NYC with her boyfriend and The Amazing Spider-Man costar Andrew, as he wraps up a Tony-nominated run in Death of a Salesman with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Andrew's due to finish up in the production early next month, which gives him and Emma a month to focus on press before their blockbuster hits theaters on July 3.

The release of the Spider-Man reboot will be huge for both Emma and Andrew's careers. Which star do you think has had a bigger past year? Make sure to show love if you're an Emma or Andrew fan in this year's PopSugar 100 - vote now in the PopSugar 100 and enter to win $2,500!