BuzzSugar

Wedding Music: Slow Songs for Everyone

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:30:03 -0700

When planning a wedding, most brides spend a lot of time hunting down one perfect song that captures their relationship with their new husband for the first dance of the night. Another big chunk of time and energy goes into finding the music for walking down the aisle. I've helped many friends with this search, and we always end up with a whole pile of songs that are not necessarily appropriate for the bride and groom alone but are no less romantic and beautiful.

Instead of discarding the leftover slow jams, why not sprinkle a couple in between blocks of the faster-paced fare during the reception? After all, weddings are the only times nowadays that those of us not in high school get to dress up and slow-dance together.

I've compiled a few of my favorite slowish songs that are romantic and universal but usually don't make it onto the "our song" lists. What are some of your favorite romantic songs to sway with a date to? To see my playlist, read more

For more wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com

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An Indie Wedding: An Alternative Approach to Reception Music

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:30:30 -0700

If your music collection is stuffed with indie rock staples, you don't have to put them aside while planning your wedding playlist. Mainstream dance tunes just aren't every couple's style, and there are plenty of indie songs with a good beat that will get the crowd grooving.

Don't be afraid to wander off the proverbial beaten path when compiling your reception playlist. If this is the kind of music you and your fiance enjoy most, it will have more meaning. Just because Sinatra didn't croon it (or Timbaland didn't produce it) doesn't mean it's not wedding-appropriate or fun.

I put together a playlist of good reception songs from smaller artists - including some tunes that are pretty and others that are straight-up fun to dance to. Whether you're looking to go all indie or just want to sprinkle in something a little different between your oldies and your retro tunes, these songs are a good start. Are there any indie bands or songs you'd love to hear at a wedding? To check out my playlist, read more.

For more wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com

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Wedding Music: Getting Down to the '70s and '80s

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:30:53 -0700

I've already talked about general guidelines for choosing your wedding reception "playlist" and suggested a few oldies but goodies, so now it's time to get the party going like they're doing in the picture above. Ha! And what better decades in music history to get folks off their feet and dancing than the '70s and the '80s? From big hair bands to men in tight, tight jeans - these years produced some highly danceable tunes. Plus, if your DJ just can't conceive of a wedding without "YMCA" you'll have a handful of other, not-so-grating anthems from that time period to load'em up with.

To see a handful of the songs that I've loved dancing to at weddings, read more.

For more wedding season coverage from the Sugar network, check out IDoSugar.

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Wedding Music: The Oldies-But-Goodies Reception

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:30:47 -0700

Yesterday I gave you some tips on planning your wedding reception music, which can be a challenging task when you try to appease everyone's musical tastes. You and your friends might have a different perception than your grandparents of what constitutes fun dance music - perhaps more "Golddigger" and less "String of Pearls." Yet if you truly want to make the oldsters happy and have a fabulous, danceable playlist (even for people who don't know how to jitterbug), check out my Oldies-But-Goodies Reception playlist.

From The Temptations to Sinatra to Louis Armstrong, you'll be able to shake your moneymaker and make your great aunts smile, so to take a listen, read more.

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P.L.O.W. - Take a Walk For Love

FitSugar — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

This sunny Spring weather has definitely lifted my spirits, and it's a time for many people to rekindle old romances, and find new ones as well. So take a long relaxing stroll in the sunshine with someone special, and enjoy these sentimental songs about love. This playlist is about 45 minutes long so if you walk the entire time at a moderate pace (3 mph), you'll end up burning 155 calories.

To hear the 12-song playlist read more.

Engagement Songs

Total Time: 46:31

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Natalie Coughlin: From the Olympics to DWTS

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:50:41 -0700

Last season on Dancing With the Stars, we saw gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson win gold, and this year we're watching Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin compete on land.

She made it through the first week, dancing a salsa with Alec Mazo and wowed us last night with her quick step. Although busy dancing and rehearsing, Natalie took time out of her day to answer a few questions on topics ranging from Pilates to her opinion on the ban on high-tech swimsuits.

To learn what Natalie has to say, just read more.

FitSugar: I have read that you do Pilates. How does this method of exercise help your swimming? Since it is somewhat dance-based, do you think it will help you on DWTS?
Natalie Coughlin: Pilates is an awesome cross-training exercise for any sport because it focuses on functional movement. It relies on strength along with flexibility, which is perfect for both swimming and dance. My two favorite pieces of equipment are the Balanced Body Exo Chair and Pilates Arc. I personally own both, and they make a nice addition to my home gym.

FS: I loved your "I'm a runner" piece in Runner's World. Do you still run regularly? Do you ever participate in road races? Were you able to run before your wedding ceremony?
NC: My first and only road race was the H2O Audio Surf Monkey last month, which was a 5K run on a mixture of sand, cobbled rock, and pier. It was so much fun, although I had no idea how to run on sand or cobbled rock! A few days before my wedding, I got a little overzealous with my running and ended up straining my right obliques, which forced me to take a bit of a break. Oops! I still love running, but I'm currently spending five to six-plus hours dancing every day, so I'm taking a break. I don't think it would be a good idea to add any unnecessary stress to my feet or legs.

FS:Your swimming career has spanned two Olympics, and you're planning to compete in 2012 - how do you maintain focus in training over those four-year periods?
NC: My focus is constantly evolving. I took three months off immediately following the Athens Games and returned to competition with a series of two-day meets throughout the world. The short format of the meets along with the world travel kept me motivated and interested in swimming. After Beijing, I needed a much longer break both mentally and physically because I have been competing for 21 years now! Dancing With the Stars is providing me with an amazing competitive outlet in something so different than my sport.

FSWhat's your favorite core exercise?
NC: I use the TRX suspension system for strength training and I absolutely love the atomic push-up because it's a killer exercise that works your entire core and upper body.

FS: Is your running playlist different from your swimming playlist? If so, how?
NC: Nope! They're usually the same, but it changes depending on my mood. It can be anything from pop, rock, alternative, to hip-hop . . . and H2O Audio's new Interval lets me listen to multiple playlists in the water or while I'm out on a run.

FS: Swimming can be hard on the skin and hair. What are your go-to beauty products postswim?
NC: Oh dear! I love products . . . Pureology for my hair, Kinesys sunscreen for my face/body preswimming, Palmer's Cocoa Butter for my body post-swimming, and Oil of Olay SPF 15 for my face.

FS: How do you feel about the ban on high-tech swimsuits?
NC: I think it's a good idea because our sport can now get back to the swimming and eliminate the distraction of "who are you wearing?" Eliminating zippers and legs is strange because both have been a part of many of the suits for over a decade. Either way, I'm happy.

Website of the Day: Flavor Tunes

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:04:46 -0700

I love a good party, but for me, what truly makes a memorable bash is the selection of tunes blasting from the stereo. I know, most of us feel helpless when we go to a party or event and the music gets increasingly painful with every song. . . but there's hope! I've already told you about iTunes DJ, which allows you to select playlist songs from your iPhone, and now there's a site called Flavor Tunes, which makes it easy to collaborate with others on a party playlist! All you have to do is create a free online account and send out online invites to those who you want to help build your online streaming jukebox. Your friends can then help you create the most amazing playlist ever. From wedding songs to girls-night-out songs to Summer songs, there's already some on the site to choose from!

Have a great website you want to share with geeksugar readers? Share it when you read more.

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

P.L.O.W. – Shiny Shiny Diamonds

FitSugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:00:00 -0700

To help wrap up engagement week, I thought I would make a playlist full of diamond songs, plus a tune by everyone's favorite Diamond – Neil, that's for you mom! It is a fairly mellow music mix but should still help you get your heart rate up. This playlist would be a great musical accompaniment for a stress relieving power walk or a planning walk, because why would you want to plan sitting down?

To hear the playlist just click the right arrow after you read more.

Total PLOW = 34:25

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com!

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The How-To Lounge: Honeymooning at Home

DearSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Though the idea of spending the week after your wedding exploring Mayan ruins, eating real Italian pizza, or lounging in the Caribbean is fantasy worthy, for many newlyweds the reality is that such extravagant (and expensive) honeymoons just aren't possible. But fortunately, there's still plenty of just-married fun to be had without a plane ticket or months of planning. To see my ideas for honeymooning at home please read more.

Probably the most obvious possibility is to plan a weekend away that doesn't involve an airport or a $400 per night hotel room. Keep your driving distance to no more than half a day to cut down on extra costs and give you the most time possible to enjoy your time away.
A great play on the weekend away, but even less demanding, is a simple day trip to a nearby locale. Try a big city adventure, a low-key romp through a small town, or find a nearby lake you can spend some hours sunning on the shore.
Pack up the car, make a few playlists on your iPod, and hit the open highway - or better yet, the back roads! An old-fashioned road trip can mean serious fun. Come up with a general itinerary, but don't let a schedule dictate your trip. To keep things truly authentic and conveniently cheap, eat at local spots and stay at roadside motels.
If you really can't take time off or just don't have any extra funds, take turns doing something special for each other each day for a week. It can be a homemade meal, a thoughtful card, or just doing all the cleaning while the other relaxes on the couch. Not only is it a great way to show each other how much you care, but it's also a great pattern to get into at the beginning of a marriage.
Or, just stay in the comfort of your own home, but make it count! Rent all the movies you've been wanting to see, order you favorite take-out food, and pick up a bottle of massage oil. For a few days, make it just about relaxing and spending time with each other.

Most importantly, just make sure the days after your wedding are a chance to celebrate your newlywed status!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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Sugar Shout Out: Wrapping Up Wedding Week 2

PopSugar — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 06:17:43 -0700

Fun Trend: Geeky Wedding Cakes
Wedding Playlist: Rollicking Reception Songs
How to find the perfect wedding cake
Check out all the latest wedding gown trends
Take a Break from Wedding Planning: Workout!
How to seat guests at your wedding
Beaner wants to know: How Long Should an Engagement Be?
For the bride on a budget: Toliet Paper Wedding Gowns