PopSugar

Home Away From Home: The Madonna Inn

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:30:01 -0800

Looking for a kooky, kitschy hotel experience? Then check out San Luis Obispo's own Madonna Inn. This 51-year-old hotel is an absolutely unique experience for visitors, featuring an overwhelming pink color palette and rooms with themes including "Love Nest," "Caveman," and "Portugal."

If you're in the market for a unique wedding reception venue, the Madonna Inn can handle your reception. Fully equipped with a steak house, day spa, convention center, and bar, the Madonna Inn can supply all of your needs - especially if those needs involve gaping at the Swiss-Alps-meets-Old-West decor. One last piece of advice: don't forget to direct your male friends to the rocks and waterfall urinal if they need to take care of business - it's apparently a tourist must-see.

Take the full tour.

Rachel Bilson Is Surrounded by Studs

PopSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

Rachel Bilson ran with the studded theme with her shoes and favorite bag while out in LA on Thursday. She's already gearing up for the holidays with her shopping trips around the city, but this time around Rachel stocked up on Chanel and tea instead of office supplies. Rachel doesn't seem to be planning as far ahead when it comes to her wedding plans, but she may touch on the subject when she stars in the upcoming 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother.

To see more Rachel, just read more.

View 10 Photos ›

The Office, "The Lover": Best Lines of the Night

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Yay! Jim and Pam return from their romantic honeymoon, but there is no rest for the newlyweds at The Office. Michael crosses the line - and Pam bears the brunt of his antics, like usual - while Jim fends off a nosy Dwight. I'll admit that Pam got on my nerves this week but I was glad to have Jim back so he could one-up Dwight.

I found this week to be much more engaging than last week's post-wedding episode, and I'm pretty excited to see where the storyline is headed now that the co-workers are all together again. But before I give away any spoilers, check out my favorite quips plus a few more thoughts when you read more.

Meredith: "What'd you bring us?"
Pam: "Some candy."
Meredith: "What else?"
Pam: "That's it."
Meredith: "Ohhhh, because you spent so much on the wedding."
Poor Pam and Jim. They walk into Dunder Mifflin bearing gifts with the honeymoon glow still on their faces - until they realize they're back to working with goons again. I love the bit between Pam and Erin over the candy distribution. (Erin's such a goody-goody that she has to clear everything with Michael.) But my favorite is definitely the rum with the stuffed parrot. Mainly because watching Steve Carell talk next to a stuffed parrot holding a bottle is kind of hilarious.

Michael: "You know what? I'm going to start dating her even harder."
Pam: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Michael: "You know what that means."
So yes, Michael is dating Pam's mom, which he reveals after she gets wind of his fancy dinner reservations. I agree with Pam's initial anger - no one wants their mother to date Michael Scott, especially when he keeps using the word "lover." (Though "pickle" may be worse). However, I'm giddy over this new development, because I can't wait to see what it spawns. Pam and Jim on a date with Michael and Pam's mom? That would be a-ma-zing.

"You know, I really would've appreciated a heads up that you were into dating mothers. I would've introduced you to mine."-Dwight
Just picture Dwight's mother in your mind for a second. That's funny in itself.

"I have plenty of female friends...My aunt, but she just blocked me from IM; the woman from Quiznos."-Michael
Poor guy. I'm curious to see how Michael's new romance ends up affecting his relationship with Pam. She's got to forgive him at some point, but do you think she's overreacting? Personally, I find her complaining kind of grating. She has every right to be P.O.'d, but as the episode went on, she seems angry more out of spite than anything else.

"Did you really think I would put my primary listening device in a wooden mallard? I'm not insane."-Dwight
The mallard! I always enjoy a good Jim versus Dwight scuffle, so this was one of the highlights for me, especially when Jim tries to throw Dwight off by playing opera music or giving the wooden duck to Kelly. Then just when you think Dwight is a total idiot, he pulls out a twist, having hid a pen recorder amongst Jim's office supplies. Jim may have won the promotion, but Dwight's out to win the war.

So what'd you think about the episode? Are you on Team Pam, or were you a little annoyed by her screaming fit like I was? Weigh in below in the comments, and tell me your favorite lines of the evening!

Oh, and don't forget that you can discuss the episode in full over at The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community! Here's a topic to get you started: Ryan's fedora. Discuss.

Photo and videos courtesy of NBC

Party Fabulous: Hosting a Party For (Almost) No Reason

partysugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:50:45 -0700

Who says you need a birthday or anniversary to throw a fabulous party? Recently a friend hosted a welcome back party - for luggage! She attended a wedding on the East Coast and on the return flight her luggage was lost. After waiting nervously for three weeks, it was finally returned. It happened to be a Friday and she decided a celebration was necessary. She sent out a last-minute email inviting friends over for a party.

Trader Joe's catered and she stopped by the party supply store for a welcome back sign and balloons. The suitcase served as a centerpiece and when guests arrived they were asked to wear a luggage tag as a bracelet. I supplied the cocktail and voila, instant fiesta! It ended up being a fantastic night and reminder that one can throw a party for just about any reason.

Have you been to a party that celebrated something out of the ordinary?

View 8 Photos ›

Food Section Sampler - June 17, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:50:17 -0700

Why is America fascinated with everything the first family eats? - Chicago Tribune
Ranchers that have eliminated antibiotics may still be feeding livestock antimicrobial compounds. - San Francisco Chronicle
Mississippi catfish farms are being cannibalized by Vietnam's fish supply. - Los Angeles Times
Down-home wedding food is a sure sign of the times. - New York Times
The brothers behind the site Beer Advocate gear up for the American Craft Beer Festival. - Boston Globe
A strawberry-lime granita dessert doubles as a daiquiri, too.- Washington Post
Does a new group of fortified Frankenfoods sound too good to be true? - Wall Street Journal

Source

When Wedding Bells Include Kids

babysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:00:57 -0700

While I can appreciate adult only weddings, I do get a kick out of a sweet flower girl tossing petals and a dapper ring bearer scooting down the aisle. If the engaged couple wants to include tots in their nuptial festivities, there are a few things they can do to keep the babes blissful and enjoying the blessed event.

Try these tips to keep kiddos content:

Instead of setting the kiddie table with pristine linens, cover the top with butcher paper and place cups full of crayons on the table. The tots can doodle away whilst the adults toast to the newlyweds.
Bring bottles of bubbles so youngsters can blow spheres till their hearts content.
If it's an outdoor wedding, set out a bucket of chalk so the mini artists can create a work of art or hopscotch game on the sidewalks.

To see the rest of my list, read more.

In addition to the butcher paper, supply the babes with coloring and activity books.
Arm them with loads of books, puzzles and cards.
Stickers can go a long way - adhering them to hands or creating a picture with them.
Set out small pots of playdough for aspiring sculptors!

Keeping within a budget, the engaged couple may ask their mommy friends to help pitch in books, games, and other supplies to lighten the load. And if money is not a concern, hire a sitter to watch the munchkins. I've been to some affairs where a separate tent was set up entirely for wee ones and caretakers. It was a pleasure filled paradise for the tots and it allowed mom and pop to dance the night away while stepping away for the occasional check-in.
Source

DIY: Tissue Paper Pom Poms

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:15:42 -0700

I spotted these great Paper Pom Poms on Etsy, and thought they'd make fun décor for a bridal shower, if you have a friend getting married. But, at three for $15, I think the prices are steep. It'd be much more economical to make them yourself, seeing as they're fairly simple. I like to craft small ones for gift wrapping. To learn how, read more.

Supplies:

Tissue paper (20 inches x 30 inches). Choose one to three colors, or similar shades of the same color, to keep things from looking like a circus.
Scissors
Monofilament
Floral wire. White, if you can find it.

Here's how:

Stack four to eight the sheets of paper on top of one another, depending on you puffy you want them to be.
Now, fold the sheets into 1.5-inch accordion folds, all the way across.
Prune the ends of the tissue into round shapes, to give them a petal-like look.
Cut about a foot and a half length of floral wire.
Wrap the wire around the center of the folded tissue and secure it by twisting.
Now the fun part! Pull apart each layer, separating it from the center one piece at a time.
Measure the length you'd like to hang your pom pom from and cut a piece of monofilament accordingly.
Knot the monofilament to the floral wire and hang!
Repeat until you've created a pom pom fantasyland. The more, the merrier!

Be sure to check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here!

Build Your Own Energy Bar With YouBar.com

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0800

I'm a fan of energy bars for pre- or post-workout snacks, but with this whole peanut butter salmonella scare, it worries me that some of my favorite bars have been recalled. If you've been a little nervous too, then you'll love YouBar.com. You choose the ingredients to build your own energy bar, so you know it's safe and a mix of all your favorite ingredients. You choose a base, such as almond or cashew butter. Then you choose a protein if you want, such as soy. Then you get to choose up to two kinds of seeds or nuts, like hempseed, flaxseed, or sunflower seeds. Then choose up to two fruits, including goji berries, dried apricots, or dried cherries. Then pick a sweetener, such as clover honey, and up to four seasonings such as cocoa, cinnamon, peppermint oil, or ginger. Then finish by choosing up to two grains, such as rice cereal or granola.

After your have created your perfect bar, the site supplies the nutritional info on your YouBar. Plus, you can name your bar anything you want, and when you receive them in the mail, the wrapper has the name you've chosen. Cute, huh? They cost about $3 a bar, so a case of 13 costs $39. Not only is it a brilliant snack idea, but would also make a great gift or wedding favor.

Reminds me of Me & Goji customized cereal.

Come Party With Me: Wedding - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:28:33 -0700

A couple of weeks ago I planned an engagement party for my friend Elena, and this week, the saga continues with her wedding. During the process, I'll feature my tips and ideas on how to host a fabulous wedding, so interpret them to your own liking. Elena and her fiancé are hosting a destination wedding in Lake Tahoe. Both the ceremony and reception will take place at a friend's house that overlooks the lake. The wedding isn't until October '09, so we have plenty of time to make and send the invitations. Elena's colors are orange and fuchsia with wood and khaki accents. To see how I made these earthy, elegant invites, read more.

You will need the following supplies to make similar invites:

Three envelopes of the same size
cardstock in two different colors
decorative paper
colored printer paper
glue stick
scissors - regular and scalloped edged
ribbon
branch-shaped hole punch
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Create a new document in Microsoft Word. Write out the details of the wedding. The wording on an invite is very important. Since Elena and Sean are hosting the wedding themselves, their parents' names are not included in the text. I used Edwardian Script ITC in size 16 to write the following message:

Elena Rebecca Osterreicher
And
Sean Gary Trapp
Invite you to join them at a ceremony that celebrates love and joy.
The exchange of their wedding vows.

Saturday, the 11^th of October, 2009
At 4:00 in the afternoon.

The Carousel Estate
West Shore, Lake Tahoe, California

Dinner and dancing to follow.

Print out on plain paper and check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure the bride approves of the text. Print out on the colored paper and set aside.

Since the wedding is a destination wedding, the invite includes information on where to stay and a schedule of possible activities to attend during the big weekend. A map explaining the exact location of the wedding is also important. Write the details out as clearly as possible. Here's what mine say:

Places to Sleep

The Sunnyside Resort
(530) 583-7200
http://www.sunnysideresort.com

Plumpjack Inn
530-583-1576
http://www.plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com

Granlibakken Resort
877-552-6301
http://www.granlibakken.com/

Please join us at one or all of these events!

Arrival Dinner
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Moody’s Bistro and Lounge
8:00 p.m.

Boating Barbeque
Friday, October 10, 2008
Disembarks at 11a.m.
From the West Shore dock

Rehearsal Dinner
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Carousel Estate
7:00 p.m.

Day-After Brunch
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Plumpjack Inn
10:30 a.m.

I will attend: __ Arrival Dinner __ Boating Barbeque
__ Rehearsal Dinner __ Day After Brunch
__ Wedding Ceremony
Carnivore or Vegetarian?

Print out on plain paper and check for errors. When satisfied with the wording, print out on the colored paper. Set aside.
Carefully, remove the upper half of two of the envelopes to make a sleeve.

Seal the third envelope and cover with the decorative paper. Line the inside of the side panels with the decorative paper and set aside. Turn over the sealed and covered envelope and glue the top flaps of the two other envelopes to the back. You are creating a three-piece folding panel.
Cut the cardstock down to 1/4 of an inch smaller than the folded-closed invite. You need three pieces. One for the center and two for the sides. To add depth I used pink cardstock for the outer panels and orange for the main center panel.

With the scalloped scissors, cut the text pages out. These should be roughly 1/4 of an inch smaller than the colored-cardstock pieces.
Mount the text on to the colored cardstock with the glue. Set aside to dry.

With the branch-shaped hole punch, punch out a bunch of branches on the remaining colored cardstock. Open the hole puncher and empty the cut-out branches onto your work space.

Glue to the text/cardstock in an attractive pattern. I put them on the edges of each part of the invite.
Glue the center text cardstock to the middle panel of the invite. Slide the map and schedule cardstock into the side sleeves. Fold to close.
Glue a few more branches to the front, if desired. Tie closed with the ribbon, forming a pretty bow. Set aside.

Line the inside of another envelope with decorative paper. Slide the folded invite inside and send addressed in your best handwriting.

For more fabulous wedding ideas check out IDoSugar!

View 42 Photos ›

How To Plan a Wedding Shower With Online Tools

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:00:35 -0700

Planning parties has become infinitely easier with the advent of the Internet. I've shown you online tools for planning your wedding and your registry, but there's also a ton of help on the Internet for planning a wedding shower!

Whether you're the one getting married or a friend of the bride and groom throwing the party, trust me - online planning is where it's at.

Online party planning site My Punch Bowl can help you plan your party, with ideas and advice for every step of the way.

To see the rest of the tips, just read more.

Since the wedding shower is not quite the big, formal event a wedding is, I think email invitations are perfectly acceptable (not to mention eco and ultra-convenient). My favorite, of course, is eVite. They have a few pages of wedding-themed invitations that would be great for a shower, and you can always design your own.
Whatever theme or color scheme you're going for, Pearl River Mart and Plum Party are my favorite online party retailers - they have a ton of awesome party favors and decorations, and supply products in bulk.
Don't let anyone get lost! If you're using eVite, Google Maps is already integrated, but if not, you can email the Map or get the embed code for the map and embed it in your invitation.
After the party, remind people how much fun they had and upload your photos to a free photo site like Picasa, where a free account gets you 1GB of storage.

And don't forget to write your toast! This is the one thing that shouldn't come from Google.

To see more of our wedding coverage, be sure to check out IDoSugar!

Source