FabSugar

Fab Finding Follow-Up: Modern-Day Woodstock

FabSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:00:22 PDT

In honor of Woodstock's 40th anniversary and the new movie Taking Woodstock, I asked you to pretend we're going to a modern-day version. The hippie vibe will remain, only updated. I suggested denim cutoffs, cool sandals, tie-dye, etc. The more flamboyant the better!

I started you off with these Juicy Couture Peace Sign Stud Earrings ($52) - the peace sign is retro but the studs are modern. You all created adorable outfits, I'm impressed.

Look #1, created by Brielle, is one I can wear to Woodstock and beyond. I must have that Nanette Lepore dress!

Juicy Couture Peace Sign Stud Earrings ($52)	Miu Miu Contrast Oversized Sunglasses
Deux Lux Messanger Backpack	Lucky Peace Link Bracelet
Nanette Lepore 'Flourished' Dress	Stuart Weitzman "Gladly"

See the rest.

Come Fab Finding With Me: Modern-Day Woodstock

FabSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:00:22 PDT

In honor of Woodstock's 40th anniversary and the new movie Taking Woodstock, let's pretend we're going to a modern-day version. I wish! The hippie vibe will remain, only updated. Think denim cutoffs, cool sandals, tie-dye, etc. The more flamboyant the better!

I'll start you off with these Juicy Couture Peace Sign Stud Earrings ($52) - the peace sign is retro but the studs are modern.

Let's go Fab Finding. Be sure to come back and tell me your Fab Finds are up, or just tag your Fab Finds with Modern-Day Woodstock. Now, you can build outfits by creating a list of clothing items. We have everything you need to build outfits, and you can use your Fab Find bookmarks, too. This is an even better way to put together an entire outfit when completing your Fab Finding missions. Learn what a Fab Find is and how to make one. And here's a detailed explanation of bookmarks from geeksugar.

To see some of my favorite online stores,

Has the Peace Sign Sold Out Its Meaning?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:00:57 PDT

I remember drawing them on my notebook during the first Gulf War and not really knowing what they meant - and now the peace sign is turning the big 5-0. The famous symbol made its first official public appearance in 1958 to advocate nuclear disarmament, and has since been used to graphically support a range of efforts from economic justice to environmentalism. Nearly every altruistic group has used this iconic logo as a way to communicate the idea of universal brotherhood.

The designer of the symbol, Gerald Holtom, created the logo while in a big funk. He explains the symbol: “I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards . . .” (I never saw that until I read this, but now it makes sense!) Holtom died in 1985, and some say if he had lived this long, he might really understand the true meaning of the word “despair."

How has a simple symbol morphed from a cry for help to a price tag? To see how,

read more. In a time of conflict and relative prosperity, like many things the peace sign has become a commodity. For those with some bucks to blow advertising their quest for peace, Tiffany is hawking a platinum and diamond peace symbol pendant to celebrate the symbol's creation. The pendant holds 4.8 carats of round-cut diamonds and costs $4,000. It makes one wonder what kind of good that money could do someone whose life was really torn by war. Tiffany isn't the only company using what could be the world’s most recognizable cry for understanding to make a profit. The peace sign has adorned everything from Fendi bags to Volkswagen cards and Ed Hardy t-shirts. Of course, there are those who cry "poppycock!" After all, it’s just a symbol (and one free from copyright protection), and is free to be interpreted by anyone, from a clothing designer, jeweler, or a car manufacturer. Plus, won’t more exposure of the “brand” give it even more power? Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s British, thinks so:

Sure, it’s probably not what the hippies had in mind, for it to become a marketing campaign for a department store. But it’s a symbol of the mainstream of counter-culture ideas, of things that were part of the alternative lifestyle - like environmentalism, and organic food. Isn’t that ultimately what the hippies would have wanted?

Perhaps, though the worry remains that the only power the symbol is going to gain is purchasing power. Is the peace sign on the verge of being played out? Does a peace sign done in $4,000 worth of diamonds still mean the same thing? Source

Celebrity Style: America Ferrera

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:30:22 PDT

Each time I see America, she gets more and more gorgeous and glam. I have to give it up to the actress for looking so down to earth at MTV's TRL because so many stars dress tacky on the show. Her Zooey Peace Sign t-shirt is fashionable and philanthropic, and I love how her wide legs cover her shoes - raver style! I threw in a couple of silver accessories for a shiny finish.

Splendid Lightweight Modal Sweater - Sold Out	Citizens of Humanity Faye Wide Leg Jean - Sold Out
Soho Lab - Dishy (Black Suede Peep Toe) - Sold Out	Kooba Natasha Silver Mirror Tote - Sold Out
Rachel Leigh Silver Prad Square Bangle - Sold Out	Silver Stallion Ring - Sold Out

Source

Look of the Day: Sheer Flare

FabSugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:00:41 PST

Fab reader BrittandWhit took an updated approach to '70s style by contrasting a wide leg look with a pretty feminine top. Her baby blue bell-bottoms set a retro tone, but the addition of a flirty sheer button-up blouse, neon pink skinny belt, and peace sign scarf gave it a modern girlie twist. She wore gold statement earrings, silver bracelets, a Gucci clutch, and a black hat to complete the groovy throwback vibe.

Congrats BrittandWhit!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

6 Mistakes You're Making on Your Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:07:07 PST

Yoga is supposed to be all about serenity and bliss, but there's no way you'll feel relaxed and at peace with the world if you're making these major no-nos on the mat.

Not connecting breath with movements: For every movement in your yoga practice, there is a breath pattern that goes along with it. For example, to start a Sun Salutation, you inhale to raise your arms up, and exhale to fold forward. Connecting your breath to your movements gives your yoga practice a sense of fluidity. This not only helps create a sense of calm, but the breath keeps you mindful, focused, and aware of each movement, which can help prevent injuries and improve balance.
Keeping your belly soft: Proper breathing in yoga involves bringing your breath into your chest, feeling your ribs expand and deflate with each breath. You can do this by drawing your navel in toward your spine and keeping your abs engaged, so when you inhale, you see your chest fill up rather than your belly. Aside from helping you breathe properly (which will help you with the first no-no), keeping your belly engaged also protects your lower back, which can prevent pain or injury.
Tensing when unnecessary: Clenched toes, scrunched shoulders (as shown above), and white knuckles aren't exactly the picture of relaxation, are they? I realize some challenging poses takes every ounce of strength and attention to hold for five breaths, but make sure to constantly scan your body for unnecessary areas of tightness. Make a conscious effort to relax the muscles that don't need to be working overtime.

Continue reading to find out what else you're doing wrong on your yoga mat.

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

6 Websites and Apps For Painless Holiday Travels

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:42:40 PST

If preparing for holiday travel season makes your heart race just at the thought of busy terminals and crowded roadways, take comfort in bits of tech salvation by bookmarking these sites and apps to help prepare for the coming craziness while preserving your sanity.

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals in Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.

Check out three more apps your phone must include for this traveling season.

13 Signs You’re Too Busy

LearnVest — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:15:38 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

There’s busy.

Then there’s too busy.

Busy is running from one appointment to the next. Too busy is running over someone on your way to the next appointment (physically, vehicularly, whatever). Busy is leaving your cell phone behind at the grocery store. Too busy is leaving your kid behind at the grocery store.

And then there’s the biggest of all ironies-we want to cut back, but frankly, we just don’t have the time to figure out how to do it.

Sound familiar? Well, we’re here to do an intervention-a time intervention. Today, we’ll help you figure out if your life is starting to burst at the seams when it comes to your time. If it is, you need a wake-up call to reset priorities, because there is no shakier foundation for healthy, balanced living (and healthy, balanced money management) than not having the space and breathing room that time provides in our lives.

If you’ve crossed over the line into too busy, you’ll need to reset your foundation: Maybe it means taking a day off from work to reassess your life priorities. Maybe it means evaluating what your time is worth and outsourcing chores like housekeeping or laundry. Maybe it means taking a break from social engagements for a little while to focus on building the right foundation.

Here are 13 signs that you might need a time overhaul in your life-and easy tips on how to get started, today.

You Spend a Good Amount of Time Worrying About Your Time

If your time is preoccupied with, well, your time, you might be: endlessly cycling through your to-do list in your head, spending a lot of time arranging and rearranging your schedule, or wishing throughout the day that you had more time.

If you've worried about your schedule or wished you had more time more than three times a day, you need a break from time itself as a stressor in your life.

Try this: Take a mental break. Remove one thing from your schedule for today that is the least important-it might be putting off doing the laundry or postponing a work call. Spend that time instead totally luxuriating in something in the present moment (like eating a macaron or listening to your favorite song) and not thinking about your schedule, or future plans, at all.

Read on for more.

10 Money Moves to Make Before You Freelance

Bundle — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:15:41 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Bundle story here on Savvy!

Freelancing can be an exciting and rewarding path for many people. You get to call the shots - accept or decline assignments, enjoy greater degree of flexibility in your schedule, and develop diversified streams of income. But there are also many things that freelancers have to worry about: health insurance, invoicing, saving for retirement, etc. Here are 10 money moves you can make to ensure that your freelance career is well-positioned for success.

Have an emergency fund

Most personal finance experts recommend 3-6 months worth of living expenses stashed away, but for freelancers, it might be more prudent to aim for a bigger, 6-9 months emergency fund. Jamie Beckman, New York-based freelance writer and author of The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide, saved about seven months' worth of money in an emergency fund before she took the freelance leap. "In retrospect, I'd probably recommend saving more than that just in case," said Jamie, "I was able to get a good amount of work right off the bat, so I haven't been dependent on my savings (knock on wood!), but having a healthy financial cushion buys me peace of mind. I also have a few mutual funds that I can cash out in an emergency, but I'd rather not dip into those unless my situation is dire."

Read on for more tips for freelancers.