FabSugar

Are You Watching Kell on Earth?

FabSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:22 PST

If you're used to getting your fashion fill via shows like The Hills and The City, then Kell on Earth is a large dose of reality. It tells it like it really is in the fashion world. I caught up with all four episodes this weekend and I'm hooked. I've worked with Kelly and her staff before, but to witness their everyday chaos is both entertaining and stressful. It's also nice to see the motherly side of Kelly - Ava is such a little fashionista! Tell me, are you watching the show? What do you think so far?

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The Hills Fashion Quiz: Episode 24 "Girls Night Out"

FabSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:22 PDT

Exciting times for The Hills girls abound, what with Lauren gaining new opportunities and Whitney at People's Revolution. An official job offer materialized to come aboard for her "dream job" after proving she could go from "slo-mo to fashion glow" - words from Kelly herself. The girls experienced all of the excitement of the Whitley Kros Fall '08 fashion show backstage, making sure everything went smoothly. But of course there was trouble elsewhere between Heider and Spenci, and Lauren is none too pleased with the opening gap between Audrina and Heidi. How closely were you paying attention to the fashion details?

Photos courtesy of MTV.

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The Hills Fashion Quiz: Episode 23 "Just Be Careful..."

FabSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:00:22 PDT

Perhaps this double episode thing is MTV's way of making sure that we get both the drama and the fashion. Works for me! This time we saw more of Whitney at her newish job. She seems to be pretty on the ball and unfazed by Kelly's slightly harsh personality, even winning points in a meeting by making a suggestion on possible celebrity outreach opportunities. Go Whit! Meanwhile, Lauren was feeling a little dejected by herself at Teen Vogue but it seems like we might be seeing her helping out People's Revolution soon. . . pretty exciting The Hills developments under way. Take our quiz and see how well you were paying attention to this fashion filled episode.

Photos courtesy of MTV

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Know Your Ingredients: Chia Seeds

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:49:22 PST

If you're all caught up on your healthy food trends, you're most likely aware of the chia seed revolution. The first question most people have is if the chia seeds we're supposed to eat are the same seeds we massaged into the heads of those kitschy Chia Pets. The answer? An enthusiastic "yes!" But the ingestion of these tiny black and white seeds predates the '80s Chia Pet craze; their benefits can be traced all the way back to Aztec and Mayan times. In fact, "chia" is actually the Mayan word for strength. Chock-full of omega-3s and fiber, these superfood seeds were used by ancient cultures to boost energy. Messengers from these civilizations sometimes carried a small pouch of chia seeds around with them, just to provide them with the extra push they needed during a strenuous day.

While chia seeds is actually part of the mint family, their flavor is very subtle. They can be seamlessly added into just about any recipe whether it's savory or sweet. I'm curious about your thoughts on these little guys. Are you seeing chia seeds readily available in your neighborhood? Have you tried incorporating them into recipes for a little extra crunch? Share below!

Source: Flickr User little blue hen

Did You Watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution 2?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:19:26 PDT

Britain's Naked Chef Jamie Oliver made headlines when he took his campaign stateside for the first season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, even winning a 2010 Primetime Emmy along the way. Although season one took place in Huntington, WV (onetime fattest city in America!), on season two, which debuted last night, he focuses on the schools of Los Angeles. Even though Jamie hits plenty of red tape and roadblocks, I'm still rooting for him. The most shocking part of last night's premiere was watching him fill a school bus with 57 tons of sand. Did you catch it? How do you feel this season compares to the last?

Brilliant or Baffling: Library Loans Out People

Emily Co — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:20:47 PDT

It's not just big bookstores that are feeling the bite of the ebooks revolution; libraries are feeling the pinch as well. In efforts to lure people back to them, libraries are trying to come up with creative ways to give patrons reasons to come back.

One library in Surrey, British Columbia, is experimenting with the idea of "living books," which basically are people who donate their time to share their knowledge and expertise with those who need it. These walking books will be available to you once you schedule an appointment for a 30- to 45-minute conversation with the volunteers.

Apparently, the idea of a human library can be traced back decades to Denmark, according to librarian Ravi Basi. He says, "The original concept was to break down barriers, dispel myths and shatter stereotypes. You could speak to somebody who is of a certain religion, for example; there are so many misconceptions about different religions. It could be someone with a mental illness." Ravi mentions that the type of local experts he's considering can include an astronomer, war veteran, or painter.

What do you think of this idea - brilliant or baffling?

If You Could Live in Another Era, When Would It Be?

Annie Scudder — Fri, 20 May 2011 04:00:39 PDT

If you've seen the visually pleasing trailer for Midnight in Paris, I imagine you're craving a visit. In the preview, we hear Rachel McAdams's character tell her fiancé, Gil, played by Owen Wilson, that he's in love with a fantasy - a fantasy version of Paris to be exact.

I caught a screening of Woody Allen's latest, out today, and in it we find out Gil is a very nostalgic guy, who wishes he could live back in the bohemian Paris of the 1920s. He says he was born too late, and would much rather have lived in the French capital when it was the cultural epicenter of the world, a place that attracted interesting people from all over. Meanwhile, his fiancée is very content enjoying the modern pleasures of Paris, like shopping!

Have you ever felt like you belonged in a different era? Maybe Mad Men has you wishing you lived through the glamorous 1960s and exciting cultural revolution. Or, perhaps on a trip to Florence, you dreamed about living during the Renaissance. Let us know in the comments!

The Cast of The Playboy Club Talks Bunny Costumes, Female Empowerment, and How They're Different From Mad Men

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:20:48 PDT

NBC took front and center at the Summer TCAs on Monday, with The Playboy Club as the first new series to step into the spotlight. The cast, which includes Amber Heard, Eddie Cibrian, and Jenna Dewan, joined showrunners to discuss their upcoming drama about a Playboy Club in Chicago in the 1960s. The panel fielded a lot of questions about objectifying women (they promise that it's "empowering"), explained why the show isn't particularly racy, and addressed those inevitable comparisons to Mad Men. Here are highlights:

It's hard to ignore all the fishnets and cleavage, but the cast pounded home the theme that the show is really about female empowerment. Heard, who plays the central character Maureen in the pilot, said, "Maureen by no means relies on any character, male or female, as you'll see throughout her journey, and it's empowering. This is about choice, ultimately. It was a different generation, there were different opportunities and different expectations for women. . . . It's chauvinistic to deny a woman her sexuality. If they are making the choice, then they're not being exploited."
Her costar Jenna Dewan echoed this sentiment, saying, "Once we started doing research, we realized how independent these women were at a time when jobs for women were limited. These women had a big choice and there's freedom in that. And I think you'll feel that freedom in the show."
The showrunners were pretty straightforward when asked how the show will be distinguishable from Mad Men. They said the comparison ends with the 60s setting, and also cited the musical numbers as a major difference between the two series.

To see what the cast had to say about their costumes and Eddie Cibrian's new character, just

Jamie Oliver on Food Revolution 2, Huntington a Year Later, and LA Schools

Susannah Chen — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:22:29 PDT

With Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, British culinary celebrity Jamie Oliver has made a name for himself as an advocate for healthier American eating. The show's first season, shot in obesity-stricken Huntington, WV, received critical acclaim and garnered a Primetime Emmy in 2010.

Food Revolution's second season returns to ABC April 12 at 8 p.m. The comeback takes place in Los Angeles and faces an entirely new set of challenges, including resistance from the city's public school system.

While in South Beach, Katie and I took a minute to ask the chef about season two, his troubles with the Los Angeles school system, and what he thought of Huntington losing its school funding. His surprising answers, when you read more.

Shopping With a Raised Conscience

Emily Co — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:07 PDT

If you're going to splurge on shopping, why not opt for a purchase that will not only make you look good, but will also help the underprivileged. Choose to spend your cash on retailers that are doing social good! I did a little bit of research online to see what kind of social enterprises are out there. Here is a list of some to consider:

BetterWorldBooks: According to its website, the company has provided over $9.4 million in funding for literacy and education programs around the world and has donated 4.5 million books to Books for Africa. Basically, it sells a wide variety of books (both used and new) that it gets for free from individuals and institutions. It's pretty much like Amazon.com, but doing some social good at the same time. Did I mention shipping is free?
Feelgoodz: Flip-flops that make you feel good inside and out? Count me in! Feelgoodz is a company that sells sustainably made flip-flops, which are manufactured in Thailand, then donates three percent of their yearly revenue to Ashoka.org to create microfinance, environmental, and fair trade programs in Thailand.
TOMS Shoes: For every extremely cute pair of TOMS shoes that's purchased, the company will give a pair to a child in a developing country who can't afford it.
Warby Parker: Looking for a stylish pair of glasses? Buy a pair of Warby Parker glasses, and the firm will give a pair to someone in need.
FIGS: Buy a tie as a gift for someone or for yourself from FIGS, and your purchase will ensure that an underprivileged child will receive a uniform that will enable them to attend school.

For more stores, read after the jump.