PopSugar

More Seniors Are Taking the Plunge Into Tech

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:17:24 -0800

I may have a game-loving gramps, but he doesn't really venture into the Internet without a little assistance. I'll cut him a break since he's in his eighties, but a recent study shows that more and more seniors are taking the plunge into Facebook, blogs, and tech in general than ever before. Stats show that the senior population (age 65 and over) that uses the Internet has tripled since 2005.

Back in the day, it used to be nearly impossible for the older set to get a handle on tech, but it seems that as times progress and technology is a little easier to grasp, senior citizens aren't afraid to jump in and get their feet wet online. Even if your dad still needs help with his WiFi, you can give him props for at least having an email address. Do the seniors in your life use technology? Share your hilarious family stories with us in our Funny Tech Stories group, or brag about how quickly they got the hang of Twitter below!

Ask Savvy: Recruiter Asked For My Facebook, Should I Send It?

SavvySugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:30:17 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I was considering applying for a job in the online social media industry, but got turned off when I noticed the listing asks for a cover letter, resume, writing and blog samples, and a Facebook page link. I'm fully aware that employers use Facebook and Google to research candidates, but I don't like the fact that they want to scope me out before they meet me. I'm smart, qualified, have relevant experience and I have a fairly normal Facebook, but would feel funny sharing it with a potential employer. Do you think my application will get put to the bottom of the pile if I don't play the networking game with the recruiter?

Savvy says: Oh! The modern dilemma! To see why you should share if you dare, read more.

For those of us who hunted for jobs pre-social networking a recruiter asking for a Facebook link or online profile may seem odd. Especially given we hear stories like the one about the girl who tweeted herself out of a job or tales of recruiters judging applicants based on drunken photos on Flickr, Facebook, Myspace or even Google Image.

The chance of being selected or rejected based on your photo seems harsh, but if you are applying for a social media industry job the recruiter may just want to know how active you are online. If you really don't have anything to hide (think lingerie parties or pukey pics), and already use Facebook as a networking tool, then play with your privacy settings so that the hiring manager can't see anything you don't want them to, find a professional profile photo (or a cute pic of your puppy or favorite beach) and send her the link. Recent studies show your online reputation could actually help you get a job, so spend some time cleaning up your Internet act and just click send. If you still feel Facebook shy, you might consider sending a link to your Linkedin account to reaffirm your professionalism, but show you are comfortable networking online.

All that being said, if you don't feel comfortable sharing, then don't. It's your right to keep your private life private and if your resume and cover letter impress, you'll still get a call from the recruiter. I can't imagine anyone in her right mind would fault you for not sharing your Facebook.

Note: This advice is tailored specifically for this reader who is applying for an Internet job. I do not recommend sending a link to your profile unless you are applying for a position where your Internet activity counts as experience or expertise. A good hiring manager will know how to use Google to find all the pics, status updates and online profiles you have ever set up if her heart desires.

Photo courtesy of FX

Does It Make You Happier to Use Facebook, YouTube at Work?

GeekSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:33:08 -0700

It doesn't take a study to know that it's a bummer when your work blocks certain websites, but it is true - last year, British researchers found that employees became demoralized when their workplace put limitations on personal Internet surfing. Likewise, a recent study showed that people who were allowed to take mini Internet breaks to update their status on Facebook or Twitter, watch a funny video on YouTube, or play an online game actually makes you a better employee.

"Short and unobtrusive breaks, such as a quick surf of the Internet, enables the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total net concentration for a days' work, and as a result, increased productivity," he said.

I hear that. The nature of my job lets me look at whatever hot viral video is out there, and encourages me to update my Twitter, but I even need little non-geeksugar related Internet breaks to refresh me.

What about you? If you're allowed to surf any website you want at work, does it make you a happier employee? And if you're not allowed to take little e-Breaks, do you think it would make you happier?

Source

Lego Indiana Jones DS Review: So Addictive!

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:30:38 -0700

I've been playing Lego Indiana Jones non stop for the past week - in the car, on the train, and every spare second I have at home. It's really that addicting, and that much fun! When I first heard about the Lego series of games, I laughed it off thinking it couldn't really hold my attention. But after playing Lego Star Wars on the GameCube at a pal's house, I was hooked! It's a game that's not too hard, not too easy, and totally worth picking up.

In this puzzle game, you play as Dr. Jones, making your way through the jungles of South America to the mountains of India, collecting goodies and beating your adversaries in each movie themed section. To learn more about this game, see some screen shots and to find out what my favorite console is to play it on, just .

From the start of this game, you'll have characters that you switch back and forth between to help you along the way, like playing as Indy to whip swing across a river of lava, and then switching to Short Round to squeeze through a tight entryway. How does the Lego theme come into play you ask? Well, Indiana can build platforms, bridges, and other helpful things out of Legos once he finds a hidden pile. And besides, seeing Indiana as a Lego man is pretty funny, especially when his head pops off!

Although you can choose between a number of consoles to play Lego Indiana Jones, playing on the DS is particularly fun. The magic of the DS comes alive while playing, and all of its features are utilized: you can use the microphone to blow out candles, blow up rafts to cross streams, and use the touch screen to activate your tools along the way. The graphics are surprisingly good, and I could see everything I needed to see without squinting. Plus, replay value is high with this title, since you'll never be able to find all the hidden treasures in your first try.

Overall, I think Lego Indiana Jones is a great game to play anytime, anywhere; and the $30 I spent for the DS version was the best money I've spent in a long time! What's more, the Lego fun won't stop here. There's a Lego Batman coming in September - surely to be added to the top of your Fall game wish lists!

Lego Indiana Jones is out now! Pick it up online.

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Source

Lindsay, America and Samantha on Set While LL Gets Graphic

Molly — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:02:00 -0700

Lindsay Lohan was in uniform and hard at work on Ugly Betty in NY yesterday with both her costar America Ferrera and lady Samantha Ronson by her side on set. Lindsay and America may not be BFFs on TV considering how LL's character treated Betty in the season finale, but luckily in real life the two girls have no need to battle since they're both favorites with spots - Lohan at No. 32, America No. 65 - on this year's PopSugar100! If you're as excited as we are to see Lindsay playing a funny role you'll also love the news that she's coming soon in video game form. Clueless, Pretty in Pink and, yup, Mean Girls games are all on their way, which I cannot wait to see.

To see more of the girls on set just read more

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Source, Splash News Online and Pacific Coast News Online

Geeky Girl We Love: Ingrid Diaz of Play Girlz

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:04:19 -0700

Last month we featured some of the cutest geeky couples and bachelors in the blogoshere, which left many of you wondering - what about the women? Fear not my fine friends, we were just saving the best for last. March is Women's History Month so I figured there was no better way to celebrate than to highlight some of the smartest, most creative and successful women on the internet.

Ingrid Diaz is one of those women that proves geek is chic while bashing the misnomer that girls can't love video games and celebrity gossip. She's the co-editor of Play-Girlz, a fun site that "proudly shows that gaming isn't just a guy sport," and the editor of Grey's Anatomy News and Top Model Gossip. Besides being a great ying/yang combo, Diaz is pretty hilarious and not afraid to admit she likes to frighten the neighbors by singing loudly and off-key while she plays video games. She's also the first geeky gal to admit she thinks Bill Gates is sexy...or maybe that was her joking again... For the full interview, read more

Geeksugar: Tell the geeksugar fans how you became a blogger.
Ingrid: Hmm. A little about myself. Well, I’m a level 70 human mage. Currently fire/frost specced, though this changes … Oh. You meant the “real” me. Ahem. Well, my professional career began at the ripe age of eight when I became the President of the Nintendo club on my street. It came complete with uniforms (white t-shirts with Nintendo logo patches expertly stitched on by un-talented eight-year-old hands…) Then came the obsessive collecting of video game consoles whenever they’d come out.
Then came the moment a couple of years ago when I was offered the chance to get paid for my video gaming obsessions. A good friend of mine, Erin Harvey, emailed me out of the blue and said, “Hey you want to write on this video games blog with me?” and I was like “Hm. Write about video games? For money? Let me contemplate this deeply and in the lotus position…” and then I had a phone meeting with Jeremy Wright of b5media and Play Girlz was born.

Geeksugar: The most obvious question: So many people think girls aren’t gamers or geeks – what do you say to them?
Ingrid: Well I probably wouldn’t say anything. I’d email them, or IM them, or send in-game tells with disapproving emotes. And then it’s likely that I’d challenge them to a “friendly” PvP duel, pwn them, and then do a little victory dance … and then I’d do my nails.

Geeksugar: What are your three favorite video games?
Ingrid: World of Warcraft, SingStar (I like to frighten the neighbors by singing loudly and off-key), and Grand Theft Auto (I like stealing cars… in the game … not in real life … erm…)

Geeksugar: How many hours are you online everyday?
Ingrid: Depends on the day, but usually anywhere from 12-18.

Geeksugar: Your first computer was a ...
Ingrid: Desperate attempt by a 10-year-old to create a super computer out of duct tape, construction paper, and a series of other household items that didn’t work out quite the way she’d planned. She was then forced to turn it into a space ship (this didn’t work out very well either…) My first working computer a Texas Instrument something or other that only had a chess game on it. I played a lot of chess.

Geeksugar: What is your favorite thing about your job? What is your favorite thing about the sites?
Ingrid: It gives me a chance to re-label all of my dorky, geeky, and previously known as “procrastinating activities” as “working.”

Geeksugar: Any funny stories about being a blogger?
Ingrid: Noooo … this is a very serious business. SERIOUS. No laughing allowed. *whispers* This conversation isn’t bugged, is it?

Geeksugar: How many blogs are in your RSS reader?
Ingrid: Uh… 543. I have an unhealthy addiction to the subscription button…

Geeksugar: What are some of your non-geeky hobbies?
Ingrid: Um. Er. Hrm. I like to juggle … that’s not geeky, is it? Oh! I like shop! …. Online. Hm.

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top 5 sexiest male geeks in the world?
Ingrid: Marshall on Alias, Bill Gates (so sexy), and the Lone Gunmen on X-Files (does that count as 3?)

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top 5 sexiest female geeks in the world?
Ingrid: Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brennan from Bones, Oracle on Birds of Prey, Elphaba on Wicked, and Abby on NCIS.

Geeksugar: Name a blogger you admire and tell us why.
Ingrid: Caitlin R. Kiernan. Well, she’s not really a professional blogger per say, since she’s actually a fiction author, but her online journal is a must-read for me. I love her style and her beliefs about writing and I’ve always found her to be a big inspiration. Her books are awesome if you’re into dark fantasy type stories.

Geeksugar: How do you feel about being called a “geek”?
Ingrid: I feel warm and fuzzy inside. I love it. It’s so much better than being told I’m “normal.” What a dreadful tragedy that would be.

Geeksugar: What is the geekiest thing about yourself?
Ingrid: After much contemplating and running it through my super computer (still made out of duct tape and construction paper) I have calculated that the geekiest thing about me is 7.82.

Geeksugar: Anything else you want to share?
Ingrid: Gum. I have gum. Would you like some?

Check out our other interviews with geeky girls.

Mario Kart Wii Review: Another First Place Finish

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:30:00 -0700

I don't have to tell you that I'm a big time Nintendo fan, what with my DS always in tow, and all my Super Mario Bros paraphernalia that litters my bookshelves . . . oh, well, you probably haven't seen that, have you? Anyway, yesterday afternoon, the Nintendo stork dropped a sweet little box on my desk, and I didn't even have time to tell you since I literally "raced" home (get it - raced?) and started playing my copy of Mario Kart Wii! Yes, racing fans, I got the scoop on one of the hottest games to hit the shelves this Spring, and I just had to test it right away. Who wouldn't? As you might be able to tell, I was totally stoked to get the chance to play MKW early, since there is a special place in my heart for racers. But seriously, Mario Kart Wii is just as fun as you'd imagined.

When I first opened the box, the first thing I noticed was that the Wii Wheel was smaller than I expected, but still fits nicely into your hands. It might even fit into your eight year old's hands, if you'd let them have a turn, that is! But unfortunately, the pack only comes with one wheel, so you should keep an eye out for additional ones so you can play nicely with others. After popping in the disk, inserting my Wiimote into the wheel, and doing a little Mario jig, I was ready to race. Isn't it funny how starting up a new Wii game for the first time always brings out the kid in you? To find out more about Mario Kart Wii, and to see more pics, just read more

The great thing about Mario Kart - and the Wii altogether - is that it brings back fond memories of your old favorites. From the Super NES to the DS, you've probably raced all of the tracks before, just not quite like this. Plus, there are some really awesome new tracks that took me more than a few tries just to get through without falling off the sides! And the Wii Wheel? It's actually very responsive and smooth. I didn't experience any problems or bugs the whole time I played.

The best part about the game is that you can choose from a variety of cars and now bikes, plus even a stroller for when you are playing Baby Mario or Baby Peach. Not just any stroller though, this thing has power! Another cool feature is the online play. Race live on the wireless connection, and play against other racers' "ghost" cars to take the top spot around the world in timed trials. There were only a few active when I took it on, but I'm sure the online play will become one of the best (and one of my favorite) features of the game.

So hold tight! Mario Kart Wii comes out Sunday, April 27, and I definitely recommend adding this title to your Wii Library. Next up? Wii Fit, of course!

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Catching Up With Emmanuelle Chriqui

PopSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:45:00 -0700

Last year we had the opportunity to interview the fabulous Emmanuelle Chriqui, and we were lucky enough to chat with the actress again this week. She's been super busy promoting You Don't Mess With The Zohan all over LA, including a stop by Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday night. We got the scoop on everything from working with big names in Hollywood, to returning to Entourage, to being a big environmentalist. She was also nice enough to share a few of her fashion and beauty secrets, so be sure to head over to Fab and Bella to check it out. Here's a preview of what she had to say:

On working with Adam Sandler: "Oh my God, he is so incredible. I can’t say enough good things about Adam, he constantly impresses me. He is the most grounded, real person ever. It’s the weirdest thing, and to kind of be as iconic as he is, he never loses what his priorities are - like his family and friends, being a good person and it’s amazing to see that in Hollywood. You kind of wish everybody was like that. "
On being green: "I am a huge environmentalist, and I drive a Prius. I’m a part of the Environmental Media Association, and I think it is the coolest thing in the world to be green. I really do, I think it is especially important for young people to just sort of jump on that bandwagon because this is our world, we have the chance to save it or kill it. I just think it is majorly important. It is something I am passionate about - it's not uncool to be green. It is the opposite!"

To read the full interview where Emmanuelle talks about working on Cadillac Records, the boys of Entourage and lots more, just read more.

PopSugar: Adam Sandler's not the only big name you are working with these days. Tell us about Cadillac Records?
Emmanuelle: I am so excited about that movie. Just because it was a script that I read that I totally fell in love with. It’s just an amazing story about musical history that shaped everything - music as we know it today. And of course working with Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright was ridiculous, I would have paid to do that movie!

PS: How about Patriotville?
Emmanuelle: We did a re-shoot on Patriotville, I’m actually really grateful for it because we got to fine tune a lot of things. I haven’t seen the new version yet, but apparently they are pretty happy so hopefully that will be something that will be coming out in the future.

PS: Do you like doing the more comedic role or like the dramatic stuff better?
Emmanuelle: You know, I love them both, they are such different experiences, but ultimately both totally exhilarating. I think what it is is when you work with someone who is at the top of their game, whatever their game is, it is just an amazing experience -like working with Sandler and Rob Schneider and John Turturro who are seasoned comedians, it is so amazing as an actor when you feel like you have to step up your game, like you are being challenged just by the company your holding. It’s just awesome.

PS: Do you miss the TV work or do you really like the movies right now?
Emmanuelle: I love the movie stuff, my dream was also to be doing film, but having said that, Entourage was not only the thing that totally changed the direction in my career, but you know I miss the show. I miss the guys. I’m going to be going back for one episode this season. It remains sort of open between E and Sloan - who knows what is going to happen. But like I just think cable shows, generally speaking, are not like regular television, and working with HBO and Entourage - a critically acclaimed show - you know, that show always felt like making a movie. We were always on location. And even in the way that they had premieres for the show, it always felt like it was more of a movie than a TV show.

PS: Do you keep in touch with the boys at all?
Emmanuelle: Yeah, well, in particular Kevin Connelly who is truly one of my best friends. We talk all the time. They are like my brothers. You know, the other day, it was really funny - I had a meeting in Beverly Hills and as I was leaving I saw this film crew and I was like, "Oh I wonder if that is Entourage?" And then I saw our prop master and it was! And then I see Kevin standing at the curb and was like, “Kevin! Hey!” So I walk over and it was like the sweetest thing, like one by one all the boys came over and said hello. It was just like a family, truly like a family. And you know, even though I am not a regular on the show, I never feel like, “Oh what is she doing here?” It's always like, "Oh yay!" It’s just a really nice thing.

PS: They seem like really nice guys, but you know, it's nice to hear that they actually are.
Emmanuelle: Yeah, they are, they are really amazing.

Thanks to adorable Emmanuelle for taking the time to talk to us again. We can't wait to check out her upcoming films and are already excited for her return to Entourage!

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Splash News Online

Andrea Owens of Think Geek: Geeky Girl We Love

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 07:00:01 -0700

ThinkGeek has long been a go-to destination for geek shoppers online, so when I was introduced to one of their Merchandising Assistants and she immediately divulged she is a geeksugar fan, I realized we were a match made in heaven.

Andrea Owens, who describes herself as "laid back, high strung, random, a little bit crazy, fun, and a little bit of an organizing control freak," had always been a fan of Thinkgeek and had joked it would be so awesome to work there. After moving to Virginia, she checked the website to look at a gift for her husband noticed they were hiring. Needless to say, that was a match made in heaven.

These days Andrea's job consists of monitoring ThinkGeek's stock of current products, ordering stock, researching (can you imagine how much fun that is?), and the best part, product testing. What's the seemingly perfect geek job really like and what makes Andrea so geek chic? Check out my interview with her!read more

Geeksugar: What is day to day life like at ThinkGeek headquarters?
Andrea: We're a really small operation. When I started there were just 13 people and now there are 19 of us to do just about everything. Most of the year is pretty laid back. Come September we begin preparations for the holiday season and things start to get a little nuts. Hours get longer, people get crazier, and there is too much to do for us to keep track of. The good thing is that when things are crazy we're still mostly pretty relaxed. You'll usually find someone in the halls playing with an R/C toy or a cube weapon. Recently one of my office pals has decided it's funny to shoot a suction cup dart from a blow gun at my office window at 8:30 AM. That could wake the dead! Most people think our office is full of toys and caffeine, and it usually is. (And sometimes there's cake, pudding, and pie!)

Geeksugar: Tell me a little about the team...what percentage are actual geeks?
Andrea: Honestly, most of us would call ourselves a geek of some sort or another. We have coder geeks, gadget/tech geeks, Rennfest geeks, Star Wars/Star Trek/Dr. Who/Potter fans. We have a great mix. There's only one or two that might say they weren't geeks at all. We're a happy little geek family.

Geeksugar: How many hours are you online everyday?
Andrea: Usual schedule is check a few of the important websites before work, email, weather. I am mostly online all eight hours I am at work. Then at home I catch up on personal blogs and friends for a bit. A lot less time online now since I have kicked the Warcraft addiction!

Geeksugar: Your first computer was a ...
Andrea: An Apple IIc, but it was my brothers so I didn’t have it all to myself. My first machine that was all mine was a piece of junk HP, just for the usual school work, IRC, and games. After that I started moving to custom built desktops. Now I get by with a custom box with dual 19” LCDs and a Dell laptop for when I am sitting on the couch.

Geeksugar: What are three things you guys sell that you really want/had to buy?
Andrea: Just three? That is completely unfair. My house is completely filled with ThinkGeek stuff. I can’t help it. Okay back on topic… Three huh? Hmmm. Okay the Nabaztag, Pleo (he is coming soon!!!), and the Sun Jar are my current wants. Just for fun three of my haves, Laser Stars Projector, a small collection of Giant Plush Microbes (Great gifts! Give someone Syphilis!), and an assortment of Japanese toys.

Geeksugar: What is your favorite thing about your job? What is your favorite thing about ThinkGeek?
Andrea: The work environment!! It’s a laid back environment, folks are pretty mellow. Any other place I have worked it always felt like work, what fun is that. Doing product testing on the latest gadgets and toys is tons of fun. We also bring our dogs to the office (sometimes a cat or two) which provide a much needed distraction at times. There are some of us who don't wear shoes in the office! It makes doing the work part much easier to deal with.

Geeksugar: What are five of your favorite websites?
Andrea: Okay, five sites I'm at at least 3 or more times in a day. All of the Sugar sites. It's true, I spend way too much time here! ThinkGeek, of course. My LiveJournal, Engadget, Akihabara News, and right now Etsy is my new obsession.

Geeksugar: Do you use an RSS reader? If so, many feeds do you subscribe to?
Andrea: I read a few. I'm always looking for new ones. Currently I have National Geographic News, Wired News, Mental Floss' feed for the stuff that's a little more adult. For my daily cute fix I have Cute Overload, I Can Has Cheezburger, Stuff On My Cat, and Stuff On My Mutt.

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top three sexiest male geeks in the world?
Andrea: Masi Oka, completely adorable. Alton Brown, he's just awesome. John Fraizer from ThinkGeek. He said he would fire me if I didn't say that, but I don't know that he has that authority. Best not to test it.

Geeksugar: Who do you think are the top three sexiest female geeks in the world?
Andrea: Kari Byron from the Mythbusters, cute, artsy, and geeky for the experiments she does. For the anime geek in me, Lain. The last one is always hard to pick. I'm gonna cheat though and say girl gamers are hot. I've known too many awesome gaming females to just pick one. It's completely not a cop out either.

Geeksugar: How do you feel about being called a “geek”?
Andrea: I'm totally cool with it. It feels different being called a geek now than it when I was in school. Back in school it felt like it was meant as an insult but I was well used to being different from everyone else. Now it feels like there's more respect with it. It feels more like something I earned with the years of IRC, BBS, online journals, webcams, history obsession, and gaming. Now it's cool to be a bit of a geek.

Geeksugar: What is the geekiest thing about yourself?
Andrea: I don't know, maybe the anti social behavior. Maybe that I'm planning on getting a tattoo of a cupcake and one of Slimey from Sesame Street. Others in the room are saying that it's my crazy ability to recall song lyrics and other useless things. I think the geekiest thing though is my life long history/anthropology obsession. As far back as I can remember I have loved the past, other cultures, and dead things. Maybe that's a little goth though. I actually remember telling people that I wanted to be an Egyptologist and it baffled them.

Geeksugar: Anything else you want to share?
Andrea: I love the word whomp. I chew my fingers when I'm nervous. I met my husband on LiveJournal. I had the hardest time with the sexy geek questions, really, I did. Chinchillas have 60 hairs per hair follicle. Everyone should buy Rocking With Hawking! I love that shirt!

PopSugar Exclusive Interview with Lauren Conrad

PopSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:05:58 -0700

When we caught up with Lauren Conrad, the sunny California starlet was relaxing in her home we all know so well from The Hills. Lauren was friendly and down to earth, which was just what we expected from the everyday girl gone famous who we've watched grow up over the past five years. She stopped mid-sentence to ask Lo what music they've been listening to and walked over to her fridge - around boxes from her basement flooding that morning! - to look in and tell us what was inside. With a hit show, fashion collection, and growing resume, this girl from the small town of Laguna Beach has grown up, landing her at the number 25 spot on the 2008 PopSugar 100. We talked about the highlights of this year and other fun things like fashion, food, fitness, friends, and cute Chloe.

PopSugar: Can you describe some of the highlights of your past year?
Lauren Conrad: I would say the biggest highlight is the launch of my line. I also bought my own house, which was exciting. The show is going really well, that’s nothing new but that’s been kind of exciting.

PS: We just read recently that you thought Laguna Beach was going to be a one-time documentary?
LC: Yeah when they originally asked us to do it it was called the “Unrestricted High School Project” and I thought it was just one episode. They said they were really interested in the fact that we had all grown up together in a small town and we were all really a close-knit group of people, and they wanted to do a small documentary on a group of friends, so that was kind of what we signed up for. It’s funny, you see the little pilots that they showed us initially and it looks nothing like the end of the show.

PS: Wow really? And when did they say, "We are going to make this a full-blown TV series"?
LC: We all signed up to do this little pilot that no one has ever seen except for us - I don’t even know what they did with it. They showed it to us and we were like, "Oh this looks great" and then they said, "It got picked up" so that is when they started shooting and it kind of became what it has and no one really realized what it was until we all got sent the first episode, right before it aired!

PS: What has it been like for the show to have become so successful?
LC: I think I have been pretty lucky that it happened gradually because the mood kind of started out pretty small and then it slowly got bigger, I mean none of us were really expecting it, it was crazy for us then, and since then it slowly escalated, but since it has been slowly it has been kind of nice. It allowed us time to process it.

PS: Was there ever a time when you woke up and were like, "Whoa, this is all happening to me?"
LC: Yeah, I think we had just graduated and the first season had just began airing and I was at a game with a couple of my guy friends and a little girl saw my friend Stephen and pulled out her inhaler. I think it was at that moment - it really freaked me out too, I was like I think we might have signed up for something bigger than we thought!
PS: [Laughs] Did she recover?
LC: Yeah she did she was fine, but I mean it was weird to see someone have that sort of reaction to someone you have known your whole life.

PS: So going back through this past year do you think there are any lessons you have learned or something that you’re going to take away?
LC: I think that in the past year I have really gotten a chance to see who my true friends are and who is going to be there for me, you know, no matter what? Like Lo is one of my best friends from high school, and Audrina obviously has always been there for me, and I think that when it gets to a point when it's almost too much that’s when those people are there for you.

PS: If you could go back to a year ago and tell yourself some advice, what would it be?
LC: It would be that I’m never going to please everybody so I should just give up now [laughs]. I mean you can waste so much energy trying to make everyone happy, but at the end of the day it's impossible to please everyone, so you just need to focus on what makes you happy.

PS: What does sort of a typical day look like for you?
LC: They are all kind of different, this week is crazy because we have a photo shoot every single day. Except Wednesday I am not the model, I’m shooting my resort lookbook and I have to be there all day, so those are actually even longer, it's almost more work when you are not the model - it's like an 11 or 12 hour day. I mean normally we film a few days out of the week and other days we are kind of doing other stuff, just the other things we work on in our lives, we keep pretty busy.

PS: So the interview we talked about with Laguna Beach being a documentary, because of the editing, you also said you are actually a lot happier than the show makes you look? So we are wondering what are the things we are missing out on as viewers that make you happy?
LC: It’s not like the Real World, in that show they put a bunch of people in a house with tons of booze and see what happens. In The Hills, if one of us has too much to drink, they drive us home. So that’s the difference, they don’t want us to get smashed on camera, they don’t want us to be train wreaks, they focus on the parts of our lives that are actually more interesting.

PS: Have you ever come across anyone in all of your nights out that made you really starstruck? Any fun celebrities?
LC: Actually yeah, I met Marc Jacobs when we were filming and I got so nervous when I saw him that I didn’t really know what to do, but I was trying to act cool, but I didn’t even stand up to shake his hand, I actually came off a little bit too cold, like I didn’t really care and I felt kind of bad. I get really starstruck over really random people and designers.

PS: George Clooney or Brad Pitt?
LC: Better with age.
PS: Matt Damon or Ben Affleck?
LC: I don’t know! I like Matt Damon more I think.
PS: Katie Holmes or Victoria Beckham?
LC: Frowns! You don’t see them smile!
PS: Dawson’s Creek, The OC or Gossip Girl?
LC: Gossip Girl! I love it.
PS: Do you prefer bags or shoes?
LC: Oh, shoes!

PS: Are you a Mac girl or a PC girl?
LC: Both actually, mostly PC but I like Mac to edit photos or art
PS: Sit-ups or push-ups?
LC: I hate them both! But probably sit-ups
Project Runway or America’s Next Top Model?
LC: Project Runway.
PS: Heels or flats?
LC: Heels
PS: Karl or Mark?
LC: Karl!
PS: Frozen yogurt or ice cream?
LC: Ice cream - if you’re going to do it go all the way!
PS: Real tan or fake tan?
LC: Fake tan - but a good one, not orange. It's better for your skin since everyone is going to get skin cancer
PS: High fashion or low fashion?
LC: High fashion
PS: Lip gloss or lipstick?
LC: Lip gloss
PS: What do you have on your iPod right now?
LC: I love MGMT, the Kooks, M.I.A. "Paper Planes", The Orion Experience "Obsessed With You".
PS: What is the last book you read?
LC: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Have you read it?
PS: No, I haven’t
LC: It’s really vulgar but a lot of my guy friends were frat guys so I get the humor.
PS: What is your favorite TV show?
LC: Gossip Girl.
PS: What are some of your guilty pleasures TV wise?
LC: I don’t really watch that much TV, but I will wait until whole seasons are over and then download the whole thing on iTunes because I’m really impatient. I just started watching Greek and I used to be obsessed with Grey's Anatomy, but it’s kind of dying for me. I mostly end up watching Sex and the City reruns actually.

PS: Do you ever Google your dates?
LC: Yeah, all of them! But I don’t believe everything I read though. I Google pictures to see ex-girlfriends and stuff [laughs].
PS: Do you have any dating advice?
LC: Probably just have fun with it, I never take dates too seriously. Oh and I don’t kiss on a first date.

PS: What is your favorite cocktail?
LC: Depends where, I have a favorite cocktail at every place.
PS: Do you go with the specialty drinks at every bar?
LC: Yeah, I like to try a lot of different things everywhere we go. I’ll usually order whatever their specialty drink is with vodka, but for an everyday drink I usually just drink vodka and soda water.

PS: If we opened your fridge right now what would we find?
LC: I can actually tell you, I’m just wandering around my house right now. It’s filled with boxes because my basement flooded this morning. There's leftover grilled vegetables, berries, and vitamins… yeah that is pretty much it! We don’t have too much in there because it goes bad. We have berries and such to snack on, but if we are really hungry there are tons of restaurants all around us.

PS: How’s Chloe?
LC: Chloe actually just got back from puppy boot camp because she wasn’t learning anything, but now she is. She still eats everything but she is good!
PS: Do you enjoy having a puppy?
LC: Yeah, she is great. She just eats my shoes. She has eaten a couple pairs literally out of the box too! I never even got to wear them.

PS: What is your favorite perfume?
LC: I have a lot of different perfumes, but I really like Dior Miss Cherie, or Marc Jacobs. I also wear Michael Kors and for everyday I wear Kai, which is a sort of gardenia scent.
PS: Do you have any interest in doing your own perfume?
LC: Not really. I think it’s kind of weird to want to smell like someone, but I don’t know - it could be fun to do like a line of them, not just a personal scent.

PS: Do you ever look back on a hair or makeup style and think, “What was I thinking?”
LC: Most of them, yeah! I used to have bleached blonde hair - Lo and I both - and we burned all of the pictures. They were really bad!
PS: So they won’t end up online?
LC: I think a few of are, but all the personal ones we got rid of.

PS: Do you have any Summer must have items?
LC: Sunscreen. I use a lot less of everything during the Summer - less makeup and almost no hair products. Summer is a little more natural I feel like. I think good bikinis because it's summer!

PS: We've seen you going to the gym a lot lately.
LC: Yeah I started again, its really hurting me!
PS: What is your routine at the gym?
LC: I just started doing more kickboxing which is really fun, and the way [my trainer] does it it's like a full body workout. Like squat, lunge, squat, lunge, or lower punches. It’s really like a full body workout, but I do a half hour of kickboxing and then he has me just do weights. We also do running most days and Chloe likes it.

PS: If you could finish this sentence, “I can’t live without my…..”
LC: I can’t live without my friends.

PS: Do you have the premiere date of The Hills?
LC: Yeah, it’s in August sometime, they haven’t told me. A Monday in mid-August!

PS: Our readers are dying to know what happens this season!
LC: I haven’t seen any of it yet, but I kind of know what happens because I was there [laughs]. There is actually a lot of good stuff coming up which, luckily, has not been reported on. We are making a big effort to hide it - it's kind of weird, we can’t really talk about things that are happening on the show. Normally everyone already knows what happens, but this season most of it has stayed pretty quiet. Obviously some of the stuff has been reported on, but a lot of it is only half the story, so the show kind of clarifies things sometimes.

PS: Are you going to be at New York Fashion Week in September? Working or for fun?
LC: Yeah, right now I am planning on it, but I never know for sure. Kelly [Cutrone] hasn’t told us whether we are working yet or not. I will either have to go out with Kelly or I will just go out to see some of the shows.

Lauren also told us about her fun 4th of July and how busy life has been after returning from her recent break. She sounds happy and excited to have the opportunity to be living out her dreams all while trying to keep her newfound fame in perspective. After talking to the starlet, we're happy to report she still seems like that sweet girl from Laguna Beach High School, but certainly a bit wiser.

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Source and Flynet