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Spotted: Steve and Laurene Jobs at Apple!

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:01:54 -0700

Yes, after the new MacBook Pros, new MacBook Airs, and new MacBooks were announced at the Apple Event in Cupertino yesterday, who else, but none other than Laurene Powell Jobs, decided to sit down on a bench right next to me. As she chatted away on her sleek white iPhone, I instantly knew it was her - especially after our "Geek Love: Tech Giants and Their Ladies" story which featured her and her hubby looking oh-so-adorable. Within a few minutes, Steve decided to join his blond beauty for some one-on-one time, which I'm guessing turned into a lunch date or a ride home together. All together now, ahhhh!

To see more pics of Laurene chatting on her iPhone before Steve joined her, just read more.

Business Minded: Love Your Job

SavvySugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:27:04 -0800

We're merely four days from the Oscars which means it's time for another career tip from Hollywood's women that aren't scared to work it. Glamour got Lauren Zalaznick, president of Bravo and Oxygen network, to talk about her success - we have Lauren to partially thank for our Project Runway addiction!

Lauren's philosophy is simple enough but at the same time poignant: "The happier you are at work, the better you will be. Recognizing what makes you satisfied usually coincides with other people recognizing you are doing a good job."

Padma Lakshmi weighed in on Lauren as a role model, and it sounds like she's never daydreamed of asking Lauren to pack her knives and go. Padma said, "Lauren listens to my concerns. There will be times when she doesn't agree with me, and she'll say, 'We don't see your role like that.' A lot of people try to placate talent. Lauren's not like that."

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90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:12 -0800

This week's CW drama block may have its share of cool guest stars like N.E.R.D. and Samantha Ronson, but, on the whole, it's a total mess. On the one hand, you've got the unstable girls of 90210 having emotional breakdowns at the drop of a hat; on the other, the Melrose Place residents are busy sneaking around to cover up their crimes. Personally, I was a bit annoyed by all the over-the-topness - especially you, Annie. Oh, and you, Ivy. But hey, at least it gives us a few surprising moments.

Ready to dissect each show and decide which packed more punch? (Warning: major spoilers!) Take a peek at my arguments and then weigh in with your own when you read more.

90210 point: Sasha is officially a nut job. First she tells Dixon that she's pregnant, but when Debbie gets wind of it, she questions Sasha even further to catch her in her baby lies. But the best part? When Debbie says the line, "It starts with you're not pregnant, and it ends with stay away from my son." Oh, snap! Congrats Debbie, you just went up a notch on the list of cool TV moms. Sasha backs off, telling Dixon she had a "miscarriage."
Melrose Place counterpoint: Did David kill Sydney? They sure try to make it seem that way. David tells Ella that he was blackout drunk that night after finding out that Syd was sleeping with his father - and then he has a flashback where he wakes up with blood all over himself and a knife in his hand. I gasped a little over the big reveal, but I'm not entirely convinced that David wasn't set up by someone else.

90210 point: Annie is getting in way over her head with Jasper, and unfortunately, she seems much too insecure to dig herself out. When Navid hears that Jasper is a dealer, he tells Annie and she confronts Jasper about it. Jasper wigs out, making Annie cry and beg forgiveness. Later, we see Jasper selling drugs to someone, so we know the rumors are true. For more on his buyer, keep reading.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Jonah makes out with Kendra, the hot movie producer, literally within the first five minutes of the episode. (That didn't take long.) He stops things from going further, but when he comes clean to Riley, he gets on her case again for her kiss with Auggie. She apologizes profusely, but the damage has already been done. By the end of the episode, I was thinking, Wait, did they actually just break up?! I don't think so, but if you stuck around for next week's promo, things do not look good for the engaged couple.

90210 point: Jen is back, throwing around her prima donna wicked attitude. She walks in on Ryan during his date with the bartender from the previous episode and goes into attack mode with the verbal jabs. ("You look older closer up.") Ryan is actually turned on by her jealousy, and the two become exclusive. But what I can't understand is why, after he knows that she lies, does he actually trust her story about Liam coming on to her? He totally buys it!
Melrose Place counterpoint: Auggie finally gives his a-hole boss Marcello a piece of his mind, er, fists. Marcello passes off one of Auggie's recipes as his own, and then he makes a few lewd comments about Riley - and you know how Auggie feels about Riley. He starts swinging, knocking Marcello out. Back at the apartment later, Violet shows up, and in a moment of what I can only blame on Auggie's emotional distress, the two finally knock boots. I'm guessing this means we'll be seeing Violet's worst kind of crazy very soon (right before she and Auggie say sayonara).

90210 point: Adrianna is inching closer to her previous life of drug use. It starts when she plays a song asking for Navid's forgiveness. (So cheesy!) He turns her down, so she continues sulking in bed, sobbing. Silver and Naomi want her to go to a meeting so she can stay clean, and with due concern - at the end of the episode, we see her buying from none other than Jasper.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Ella's squeaky-clean client, Jessie, is hospitalized with major cocaine in his system, so she begs Lauren to write a fake report citing an allergy as the cause of his stay. Lauren refuses. (Anyone else confused about why Lauren continues to take the high road, despite her side prostitution gig?) Ella then discovers a wad of cash in Lauren's room and realizes her Pretty Woman secret. Of course Lauren denies the accusations, but no matter - Ella decides to let her star take the fall anyway and promises to never question Lauren again.

90210 had way more melodramatic outbursts, but those ladies were so crazy that it kind of turned me off. (You girls give women a bad name. Even Violet seemed normal this week compared to you.) So I'm giving this week to Melrose by default: I was genuinely shocked at David's bloody flashback and the fact that Jonah has suddenly broken out of his perfect-fiance persona. I expect scandal from someone like Auggie or Ella, but from Jonah? Come on!

Do you disagree? Were you actually loving all of the melodrama on 90210?

Don't forget that you can also keep the conversation going over in the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community. Check it out!

Photos courtesy of The CW

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Both 90210 and Melrose Place felt like they were building up to something big this week. It didn't make for a particularly juicy two-hour block, but I cannot wait to see exactly what happens in the coming episodes as each carefully placed plot point starts to unravel. (You just know Jen's scheming is about to blow up in Naomi's face - and don't even get me started on nut-job Violet! They're going to have to kill her off soon if she keeps acting this cuckoo.)

Which show do you think had the most drama? I know my pick for the week, so check out my argument and see if you agree when you read more.

90210 point: Jen is such a snake in the grass. She talks smack about Naomi - even going so far as to say "You couldn't even keep your little high school James Dean happy" about Liam. Then she backpedals and pretends to be Naomi's best friend to weasel money out of her.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Can we say psycho? First, Violet tries on Auggie's clothes while he's out of town, and then she makes Michael her new mark, going to the hospital with a fake heart attack and getting him to drop trou outside the bar. Oh, and let's not forget the clincher: She shows up to his house by posing as the new babysitter and blackmails him.

90210 point: Adrianna is such an idiot, even she said so. She breaks up with Navid because of her wandering eye for Teddy, but after a quick frolic on the beach (barf!) set to the tune of "You're a Dream to Me," Teddy breaks the news that he wasn't looking for a relationship. By the time Adrianna realizes the mistake she's made, Navid knows about her kisses with Teddy and tells her that he doesn't want anything to do with her. Hurtful, but deserved.
Melrose Place counterpoint: The hooker lifestyle is quickly getting more out of control for Lauren. When she takes a job on board a party boat with a few other "girls," her neighbor David shows up, forcing her to make a quick escape - and putting her on very thin ice with her madam. Anyone else think the writers are starting to put her and David together romantically? Ella is going to be pissed!

90210 point: Mark gets jealous of Jasper, and tells Annie that Jasper pulled a knife on someone at his old school. As a result, Annie starts blowing Jasper off, and instead accepts a date with Mark, which quickly escalates into borderline rape. Jasper swoops in to break it up and denies the knife rumor - but whaddyaknow, he just happens to have a blade on him so he can stab Mark's car tires.
Melrose Place counterpoint: An art deal goes wrong fast with David, so he gets beat up by multiple guys and has to go to the hospital. His nurse? Lauren, naturally. I swear these two will be knocking boots any minute now.

90210 point: Silver starts to rekindle her relationship with her mom - that is, until Kelly butts in and tells her mom to stay away from Silver because she's bipolar. (Kind of mean for Kelly, wasn't it?) In other Kelly news, Harry obviously has feelings for the teach. He drinks too much at the bar, and accidentally says her name - instead of his wife's.
Melrose Place counterpoint: Prepare for a Riley-Ella face-off. Did you see the death stare Ella gave her when Riley became the new model for the jeans line?

Alright, so I'm giving this week's round to 90210. While Violet is certifiably insane, she really was the only shocker on Melrose. But on 90210, you've got Jen and Jasper keeping things interesting. Do you agree with my assessment? Which one caused you to do a TiVo rewind?

Want to keep talking about the episode? Check out the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community!

Photos courtesy of The CW

Where the Wild Things Are: A Passionate Ode to Childhood

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:30:00 -0700

There's been a bit of a controversy over how to market Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. Is it for kids? Adults? Adult hipsters?

The answer is anyone who wants to feel what it's like to be a child, and not in the fun-loving, no-responsibilities way. As adults, we tend to forget the insecurity and fears we had as kids, which the film's young character Max is in the throes of. There's just enough exposition before the fantasy begins: Max has a single mom (Catherine Keener) and an older sister who has recently outgrown him. His first few acts at home show his innocence and the savage emotions under the surface. He knows it as being "wild."

Where the Wild Things Are isn't a heavy-handed allegory, or an edgy children's movie; it's a loyal tribute to the way kids think and feel. To see what else I thought of the film, just read more.

Max reaches the world of the wild things after throwing a particularly heinous fit, prompting his mother to yell, "You're out of control!" After running away, Max finds himself on a boat that finally brings him to a strange land. This is where the wild things are. The creatures Jonze has created are aesthetic wonders: creepy, hostile, and huggable at once. These aren't Jim Henson's Muppets, but real characters, led by Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini). The rest of the group is comprised of Lauren Ambrose as aloof KW, Catherine O'Hara as prickly Judith, Paul Dano as timid Alexander, Chris Cooper as Douglas, and Forest Whitaker as Ira.

Each creature has a fully realized personality, with flaws and varying temperaments; their faces are so emotive and their dialogue so human that their scenes with Max are as real as those with his mother. This group is not easily classified as friend or foe - they're dysfunctional in their relationships and don't always treat each other well. One of the most successful elements of the movie is the dialogue of the wild things, which is rooted in Max's head.

In many ways, screenwriter Dave Eggers's job was tougher than Spike Jonze's, because it's imperative to remember the way children think. Max's interactions with Carol and his new clan are made up of the kind of things a kid would hear from his parents and peers and then internalize. In fact, in the wild world, Max declares himself king to bring order, and he summons up speeches from the authority figures that he's pulling away from in his real life. Naturally, he's too young to recognize how his subverted position is significant.

Max's relationship with Carol is most telling. As the de facto leader of the group who can't handle sadness, loneliness, or jealousy, he acts out as a mirror of Max while still being his own character. The richness of Carol and the creature cast stays with you; when Max has to say goodbye to his friends, your heart breaks.

Jonze impressed me with his non-conformity; in another movie, Max would have demonstrated the grand lessons he learned from his time on the island, but in this one, he doesn't have to learn anything. He just gets to feel and experience and appreciate his emotionally fragmented new friends. It's devastating as a viewer, especially if you can put yourself back in that childlike place when your feelings were so raw and simple.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Meh. Maybe I'm still feeling down on the Tuesday night double-header after last week, but the latest episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place seemed irksome. Really Sasha, did you actually take Dixon back after learning he's in high school?! Come on. And then there's the whole Lauren prostitution storyline that, to me, is feeling a little tired already. Still, leave it to The CW to give us several salacious plot points! Let's dissect them, shall we?

Check out my list of big moments from both shows, and then tell me which one you think deserves the award for this week's drama queen when you read more.

90210 point: Naomi finds out that her grades aren't good enough to get into her dream college, so she fakes being a tree-hugger to woo the dean's son into dating her. How hilarious was it to see her on a bike with a helmet and a Sigg bottle?!
Melrose Place counterpoint: David and Jonah's friendship gets tested when Jonah is accused of stealing a necklace. Jonah believes that David might have taken it, confronts him, and a nervous David denies, denies, denies. Then the jewelry miraculously reappears...

90210 point: Teddy and hottie classmate Jasmine double date with Navid and Adrianna. After an icky spit-swapping battle between the couples. Adrianna and Teddy confront each other in the hallway and start a mini makeout sesh of their own.
MP counterpoint: Violet is trying to get between Auggie and well, anyone. When she realizes that he's friends with a female bartender at the restaurant, Violet plants money in her purse so the poor girl gets fired. Looks like Violet is going to take over her job so she can sink her claws more into Auggie.

90210 point: Dixon loses his cover when Sasha runs into his mom at the nail salon. He spends the rest of the episode trying to win her back - and succeeds. I'm only further convinced that Sasha is an idiot. First, she doesn't realize that Dixon's only 17, and then she still sleeps with him knowing the truth? Oh, Sasha, this will not end well for you.
MP counterpoint: Lauren gets into her new call girl career and enters into an agreement with her madam. (Hello, did you see that crazy pimp hair?!) Then Lauren does a striptease for a client that was a bit borderline porno. I actually wanted to shower afterward.

90210 point: Silver bolts after seeing her mother at Adrianna's AA meeting. Later, her mom tries to give her a car to make amends, so Silver shows up to AA - then gets up in front of the room and tells her mother to stay away from her. Ouch. What's even worse: We later learn that Jackie has cancer.
MP counterpoint: We learn a whole lot more about Ella, like that she hired a P.I. to break into Sydney's apartment on the night of her murder to find evidence that Sydney was trying to ruin her career. With her alibi ruined, it seems she may just end up in handcuffs very soon.

Okay, this one goes to Melrose Place. Even though Dixon and Teddy both make solid cases for 90210, Lauren's impromptu bedroom dance was one of the racier things I've seen on TV in a while. What do you think? Does 90210 deserve more credit?

Can't get enough 90210? Check out the 90210 Superfans group in the Buzz Community!

Photos courtesy of The CW

Before and After: Lauren's Retro-Modern Kitchen

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:03 -0700

Craftster member Lauren is an amazing crafter, but she's been taking a hiatus from personal craft projects to work on a much bigger one: making over her new house.

Lauren writes, "We bought our house in mid-August and have been going to town on every inch of it. It is a 1931 cottage style 1 1/2 story house that we fell in love with on the very first round of showings. We have mostly completed the house in just one month, but the kitchen was the first to be finished to completion."

To see the great improvement Lauren made on her kitchen, read more.

Lauren, who says she loves retro kitchen decor, has done a great job integrating '50s-style items with a more modern look. I love her use of pattern and color, from the curtains to the wallpaper and cupboard inlays. The cupboards look super fresh thanks to the new coats of paint, and I love the scalloped edging over the sink. Her use of accents is spot-on, too. What a nice update!

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Before and After: A Goodwill Chair

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:18 -0700

Su Casa member Leahlarocco spotted this grungy old chair at Goodwill on sale for $7. There was nothing pretty about the upholstery or even the finish (it's basically an office chair), but she saw potential in it. She decided to paint the frame with Ralph Lauren silver metallic paint, and reupholster it with a $3 Waverly fabric and some charming blue trim. The finished product is a far cry from her Goodwill find, feminine and full of personality. Want to see it? Then read more.

Cute, right? I'm really impressed with her re-upholstery job! Have you made over any furniture or thrift-store finds in your home? Add photos and details to our Su Casa group!

Savvy Read: In Cheap We Trust

SavvySugar — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:30:30 -0700

You can never have too many books on your reading list, and this suggestion might bring some variety to those you've already cracked open. Former reporter for Reuters and Newsday Lauren Weber just published her book In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue, which focuses on the evolution of thrift, from the Puritans to the freegans. She keeps the text fresh by including personal anecdotes - she describes her economist father as "compulsively cheap" and admits that once he tried to ration toilet paper.

Lauren chatted with The New York Times about how she embraces the word cheap because living within her means has allowed her the freedom to never stay in a job that she didn't love. That's pretty powerful. The author is a pro at budget traveling and swears by public transportation and street food while she's on a trip.

I like that Lauren speaks from experience and keeps her topic from seeming stale by including her own stories. In Cheap We Trust is on my list as the next book to get me through my commute.

Do You Think Lauren's Comments About Heidi Were Out of Line?

PopSugar — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

We've already heard a little from Lauren Conrad's interview in the August issue of Harper's Bazaar, but she went on to share a few more thoughts about Heidi Montag. Regarding Heidi's upcoming spread in Playboy, LC made a sly dig at her boob job and said,

"They're not going to pay for themselves. . . Everyone makes those choices and wants to do different things. I just don't have any interest in showing my body in something like that. That's a little personal."

Despite LC's contention that she wants more privacy now that she's done with The Hills, her choice of words was bound to stir up trouble. So, tell us - do you think her comments were out of line?