PopSugar

Would You Rather Eat a Candy Cane or Fudge?

partysugar — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:30:10 -0800

Source: Flickr Users LabyrinthX and jules:stonesoup

Did You Buy Any Tech on Black Friday?

GeekSugar — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:15:26 -0800

Black Friday is hyped for weeks before the actual day, which seems to come and go so quickly! I posted some of my favorite deals and tips for finding the best prices - did you use any of them?

And, if you did score any goodies this Black Friday, share your finds in the comments!

Should Dads Stay Out of the Delivery Room?

babysugar — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:00:34 -0800

My, how times have changed. Ages ago, men were expected to sit in the waiting room at the hospital. Cigar in hand, pacing the floors, they were retrieved when their wives finally gave birth to their little bundles of joy. Fast forward a few decades and the fathers are the biggest cheerleader in the room yelling, "Push honey! You can do it. You're doing great!" Just when it seems entering parenthood as a team is the norm, a French doctor claims it should be done by the woman in a solo environment. Obstetrician Michel Odent believes a male presence can complicate the labor. He said:

Having been involved for more than 50 years in childbirths in homes and hospitals in France, England and Africa, the best environment I know for an easy birth is when there is nobody around the woman in labor apart from a silent, low-profile and experienced midwife... Oxytocin is the love drug which helps the woman give birth and bond with her baby. But it is also a shy hormone and it does not come out when she is surrounded by people and technology. This is what we need to start understanding.

So what do you say - bring papa in or take him out?

Martha Stewart: Love Her or Leave Her?

partysugar — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:00:53 -0800

Martha Stewart is an ex-model, ex-con, and the ultimate do-it-yourself hostess. She's built an empire out of teaching people how to entertain, cook, and craft.

It's obvious that's she's not afraid of making waves, and she recently rocked the boat when she dissed Rachael Ray on Nightline.

Although some people don't like her, I've always been a huge fan and have nothing but admiration for Martha. How do you feel about her?

Your Two Cents: Are You Hitting the Black Friday Sales Today?

SavvySugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:00:19 -0800

It's that time of year again - though you might be too stuffed with turkey dinner to even think about moving, the promise of Black Friday discounts is pretty motivational, and usually gets me into a store or two. Last year, quite a few of you chose to stay out of the mall, but there were definitely some brave, savvy shoppers who made it a point to hit the sales. What say you this year? Are you out for a good deal or staying home to avoid the shopping madness?

Will Your Family Participate in Black Friday?

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:00:10 -0800

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, it's now time to cruise into the holiday shopping madness with Black Friday. Last year more than 80 percent of you said you skipped the sales, but the deals can be particularly great for those of us who need to stock up on seasonal goodies and presents. Will your family hit the stores today?

How Many Pieces of Pie Did You Eat Yesterday?

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:00:12 -0800

My mother is in town and she made not one, not two, but three types of pies for Thanksgiving. Being a pie lover, I had to try all three. Not full pieces mind you, but slivers. Each small slice was tasty. What about you?

Flickr User See-Ming Lee

How Long Are You Willing to Wait in a Black Friday Line?

SavvySugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:21 -0800

Sure, Black Friday's deals can't be beaten, but obviously even the best discounts come at a price on your patience. Waiting in a long line at the register is never fun, and last year most of you said the crazy lines on Black Friday are reason enough to keep you out of stores all together. But tell me, does the same hold true for you this time around - how long are you willing to wait till you're up at the register?

How Do You Prefer to Holiday Shop?

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:15:25 -0800

While perusing the news, I noticed two seemingly conflicting stories right beside each other on the same site. The headlines: "Online Retail Thriving This Holiday Season" and "A Site to Help People Shop Online Attracts Investors."

The two articles aren't actually contradictory, the first is a welcome optimistic look at the future of e-commerce with Forrester Research reporting that most online retailers turned a profit in 2008 as business continues to grow. The second article profiles a new site called Milo, which allows you to enter your location and the name of a product you're looking for, and it delivers a list of nearby retail stores where you can find the item. Milo's business model operates on the "instant gratification" theory - you don't want to wait for an item you order, you want to find it right away.

I tend to prefer a mix of online and retail store shopping, depending on the item and what's convenient. What about you?

A Tax on Cosmetic Surgery - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:07 -0800

The Senate's proposed healthcare bill includes a novel approach to enhancing funding for reform: a five percent tax increase on cosmetic surgery. Procedures like tummy tucks, face lifts, hair plugs, collagen injections, Botox, or any other non-required procedure would get hit with the increase. The tax could raise as much as $6 billion.

If you think taxing superficial wealthy people to pay for the necessary health care of the poor sounds like a perfect idea, some people, namely cosmetic surgeons, say you got it all wrong. Statistics show that one-third of people who get plastic surgery make under $30,000 and 86 percent make less than $90,000. In addition, 85 percent of procedures are paid for by credit. So the tax would hit lower income people the hardest. Then again, maybe it makes sense to make cosmetic surgery even more out of reach in order to help fund basic healthcare needs. Still, more damaging to the cosmetic tax plan is the fact that a similar tax has so far failed in New Jersey, where it costs $3 trying to figure out what counts as "cosmetic" for every dollar raised from the tax.

Do you think the "botax" is worth a try?