What do backyard chickens and 11 Olympic medals have in common? Natalie Coughlin, that's what. The gold medalist and world champion is gearing up for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, while cultivating a healthy interest in all things food-related. From growing vegetables in her own backyard in Lafayette, CA to her highly effective method of kitchen organization, Natalie gives us the scoop on Read more

Earlier today, we shared the first half of our interview with The Hunger Games set decorator Larry Dias. Keep reading to learn more about what went into the process of creating the set! CasaSugar: Where was the chandelier above the dining table sourced? Larry Dias: The "chandelier" was actually comprised of 50 to 60 separate fixtures from Arteriors that we arranged off site and installed into Read more

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Ben Sommer, conceived through alternative insemination, is a young man now and tells the story of deciding to meet his donor. I grew up in a middle-class home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with two loving parents, both of whom are women. My conception was perhaps the most organized and scientific miracle of Read more

Cleaning can become a time-consuming task if you leave it until the very last minute, but a little a day goes a long way, and soon you won't find yourself cringing about setting aside a few hours of your time on the weekend to put your apartment in order. I've seen a lot of checklists for people who live in houses, but not a lot for those who reside in apartments, so here's a quick schedule for Read more

Even when the product is supposedly "disposable," you can always reuse it. Wise Bread shares awesome ways to reuse these 21 disposable products. It’s said that we live in a disposable society. But the word "disposable" is a misnomer. Disposable is considered throwaway, something you use once and dump, regardless of the life that may be left in it. As a frugal shopper with a concern for the Read more

Just call her supermama. As if having a baby and launching The Honest Company weren't enough to do in one year, Jessica Alba recently announced plans to write her first book, too. The actress and mother of two — Honor, 3, and Haven, 7 months — hopes to share some of the tips and tricks she's learned about motherhood, as well as her methods for creating an eco-friendly and toxin-free Read more

Not sure how to get started on Spring cleaning? LearnVest shares the cleaning tasks you should tackle first. The phrase “Spring cleaning” evokes images of turning the house inside out, scouring every corner, and banishing every last particle of dust. But let’s be real: it’s hard to find the time for scouring, much less banishing. And your time is valuable. Keeping that in mind, we’ve Read more

Learn how to be a better contributor to your office brainstorming sessions with these tips from LearnVest. When was the last time you brainstormed? Was it over a group assignment in high school? Maybe over a particularly challenging DIY project? Or was it this week, at work? Brainstorming is a tried-and-true way many managers encourage their employees to generate ideas. The goal is to get people Read more

Photo: Camilla Salem Recently, we had the chance to spend some quality time with Italian charmer Fabio Viviani. After homemade pasta and cappuccinos for breakfast, and a series of hilarious one-liners, we grabbed a table at Casa Tua in Miami, and got to dishing. Even though he'd been out until 4 a.m. the night before, he had plenty to say about reality TV, the world of vegan cuisine, and his Read more

We're excited to present a post from guest writer, eco lifestyle expert, and all-around awesome guy Danny Seo. Today, he's here to offer some smart tips on how to use up the leftover housepaint you may be hoarding! Of all the homes I've renovated, redecorated, and organized, if there is one thing that I see hoarded over and over again are cans of old paint. Stashed away in the hall closet, Read more