FabSugar

Glitterati: Jennifer Fisher Jewelry

FabSugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:22:22 PDT

It's those personal touches that really matter sometimes. If you are looking for a unique jewelry idea for yourself or someone dear to you, and want to add a personalized touch, Jennifer Fisher jewelry is right up your alley. This personalized jewelry ranges from cheeky to delicate - there is something for everyone.

Here's the designer's story: Jennifer Fisher started her career in LA, working on movie sets and as a personal stylist. She got married and moved to NYC and started a life with her husband there. About two and a half years ago, Jennifer had her first child, a son named Shane. She wanted to find a great piece of jewelry to represent her family and found nothing that was “stylish” or “fashionable” enough…and nothing that could be customized as she wanted it.

This line is unique in that you can personalize each tag, which come in various sizes, with diamonds (white, brown and black), names (of family members, children, pets, etc), initials, anything you can think of. This is a great way to celebrate the family, and also makes an amazing gift.

Prices range from $120 to $820, so these can quickly become a hefty purchase. Just customize it for your budget as well!

To see more styles,

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9 Ways to Earn Extra Cash When Money Is Tight

Wise Bread — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:51:58 PDT

I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money.

Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money.

Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, "10 Ways to Make Money Without a Job." After reviewing the latter post, I thought it was time to revisit the topic and let you in on a few more ways to get paid.

The ideas that Zaarly presents are perfect for the unemployed or those who just want to pad their pockets a little more. In addition, there are moonlighting jobs that I do that I thought you should know about. Thus, if you're without a steady paycheck or you just want to build up a rainy-day stash, here are some of your options.

1. Offer Experiences to Strangers

I recently learned about a new site called Vayable, which allows people with specialized knowledge and talents, local info, and time on their hands to create experiences that others can purchase. It's basically a touring and activity company without the company. Anyone can join the site and set up an experience. For instance, the Kan Brothers offer motorcycle tours of San Francisco - which include helmet rental, a drink at a local hot spot, and a city map - for two to four people at $75 per person. In New York City, Kim G. is offering a personalized painting lesson for groups of two to six for a flat rate of $300; the experience includes acrylic paints; canvas board and supplies; studio space; wine, cheese, and crackers; and Kim’s undivided attention. Consider this tip if you're interested in joining Vayable: Browse the site to see what other people in your area are offering. By creating a unique experience that no one else has established, you have a better chance of getting booked.

Read on for more.

iWant: A Pac-Man Delicacy

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:04 PDT

We'll unapologetically wear our old-school gaming pride on our sleeves, but when the occasion calls for something a little more refined, costume baubles just don't fit the bill. To the rescue - as he always was during Summer days at the arcade - is the charming Pac-Man, who this time adds an adorable edge to a delicate, gold-filled chain ($32).

Poised to gobble up a villainous ghost, the one-inch vermeil Pac-Man charm sits center stage on the 16-inch cable chain from Etsy seller Lisa Loren. It has all the class of fine jewelry with high scores in personality.

Etiquette Expert: Don't Pinterest Your Wedding When You're Single

YourTango — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:35:45 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. Today, modern etiquette expert Anna Post advises against pinning wedding dresses until you're engaged.

Recently, we interviewed modern etiquette expert Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and she shared some valuable online-dating and social-media tips. From being authentic and genuine to keeping the initial online-dating emails to a minimum to saying "no" to sexting, she had a lot of insightful advice.

Here's one more important bit of online-etiquette advice she gave, for all you Pinterest-crazy gals out there: don't pin your fantasy wedding when you're single! We know, we know, it's tempting to look at all those gorgeous gowns, engagement rings, and wedding cakes and want to "save them for a later date, just in case," aka "gaze at longingly and obsess over" - but Post said this could turn your guy (or a potential guy) off.

"That's a lot of pressure for a guy to see," said Post, adding that she has been in a relationship for three years and has only posted one engagement ring on Pinterest - in the general jewelry section, and just because she thought it was pretty. "I still felt kind of weird about it."

Personally, I don't think there should be any kind of rule about this. It's a harmless fantasy, after all, so whatever works for you, go for it. What do you think about Pinteresting your wedding when you're single?

Written by Natalie Gontcharova for YourTango.

What's Your Sign, Beautiful? Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Jaime Richards — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:32:00 PDT

Gemini isn't just one of the funnest roller coasters ever (Cedar Point for the win), but it also happens to be the third sign of the zodiac. Personality-wise, Geminis are known for their sharp wit and curious natures. And seeing that they're the sign of the twins, Geminis are therefore known for being dual-natured and complex. Think versatility and the ability to change direction to adapt to a wide array of situations. At their worst, Geminis are tense and moody, and at their best, they're lively and charismatic. Famous Geminis include: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (naturally), Angelina Jolie, Venus Williams, Zoe Saldana, Courteney Cox, Heidi Klum, Natalie Portman, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Carey Mulligan.

To bring out your inner Gemini beauty: Deck yourself out in colors that are just as bold and bright as you, such as orange and yellow. Your focus area is your hands and arms, so try a fun polish or an oversized perfume ring as an accent. And don't be afraid to create a few paradoxes, pairing the bold with the tame and the muted with the vibrant. To find out more about the Gemini-themed products above, just keep reading.

7 Money Mistakes Women Often Make

LearnVest — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:15:55 PDT

We all make mistakes - we're all human after all. LearnVest shares some of the common money mistakes that women often make so readers will learn not to make them, too.

Some of us handle our money flawlessly, perfectly, brilliantly, all of the time.

But most of us don't.

Most of us make mistakes here and there. We make some mistakes more than others, because of our personalities, or our upbringing . . . or sometimes even our gender.

It's ridiculous, but true.

We've heard it firsthand - from our readers. In fact, we went through hundreds of reader submissions and found examples of the most common stories that cross our desks every day.

Let's be clear: Not all women make these mistakes. Not all men avoid them. But in our experience, these are a few female financial problem areas that can lead to major debt and lots of stress.

RELATED: Are You a Social Shopper?

Ever bailed out an ex? Indulged in a little more retail therapy than you meant to? Or woken up one day and realized you didn't know as much as you thought you did about managing your money? You just might recognize yourself.

Of course, if you don't, good for you. We're just saying, bad money snafus happen to good people. But read on: We'll show you the top seven mistakes women make - and what to do instead.

Feeling Guilty

"When we were together, I let my ex stay with me rent-free until he found an apartment, lent him my furniture and paid for every date because I had a job and he didn't. When I lost my job, he paid for my rent for a few months and bills, etc. Now that we're broken up, he wants me to pay him back for the rent he insisted on covering. I am still on unemployment and barely getting by. I feel so guilty because we didn't end up as the forever couple and while I can't (nor would I . . . ) calculate all of my assistance getting him settled in NYC, he can quite easily."

A 2011 study from Eversave.com found that 67% of women have felt guilt about a purchase. But that's not the only opportunity for guilt: There's also staying in a job you feel guilty about abandoning, giving someone money because you feel guilty about their situation and, oh, doing the opposite of what you want when it comes to working after having children because you feel guilty about being a good mom (more on that here).

This guilt effect might not be limited to finances, either. Some studies suggest that women are more inclined than men to feel any kind of guilt. And we'd argue, more likely to bail out their exes, too.

Read on for more.

Tori Spelling Opens Up to Us About Her Surprise Pregnancy and Her Favorite Birthday Parties

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:37:48 PDT

You may want to call her the mother of reinvention. In the public eye since she was a teenager starring her dad's hit teenage soap opera, Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling has more recently been known as an innkeeper, a reality star, a best-selling author, a boutique owner, and a jewelry designer. But the role that's giving her the most attention these days is mom. Currently pregnant with her fourth child - who was conceived just one month after Tori gave birth to daughter Hattie in October (the family includes son Liam, 5, and daughter Stella, 3) - and due in September, the busy mama is taking all of her roles in stride.

At a party celebrating the release of her first party planning book, celebraTORI, at NYC's craft shop Make Meaning yesterday, we laughed as Tori revealed that her current pregnancy was a bit of a shock. She said, "All my friends keep asking me that: 'Was it planned?' Seriously, Hattie was 1 month old. Do you think it was planned? I was up all night with feedings. I don't know how he got that . . . to make this [pointing at her baby bump]!"

We sat down with Tori to talk about one of her favorite subjects, party planning, and how this pregnancy compares with her previous ones.

LilSugar: You are known for going all out for your kids’ birthday parties. How much input do you allow them to have?
Tori Spelling: They plan the whole party with me. I have always vowed not to be that person that was like, "Oh, you want that, oh, gosh, ugh, no, that’s not going to be very chic." We just had [Liam's] SpongeBob party. He said, "I want SpongeBob," and I was like, "OK, great" [rolling her eyes], then I was like, "Well, that's cool. I can make mini-sliders and call them krabby patties. I can make these big jellyfish and fish," and I was going on and on. I [said], "OK, hold it . . . Liam, what do you want?" He looked at me and said, "Mom, I just want a piñata." I was like, "Keep it simple, stupid. What are you doing? The kid wants a piñata." And it's true, we need some cute little things at the party, but he was all about the piñata. It’s not my call - whatever they want, they get . . . within reason! I mean, budgetary reason!

LS: So Hattie’s first birthday is going to sneak up on you right around the baby’s birth! Have you thought about her party at all?
TS: Yes, for sure! I have not thought about the theme, but I have thought about what I should do. Should I plan the party before I give birth? Because am I going to be freaking out! The baby is going to be born roughly a month before her birthday. I’m going to be walking around with a newborn at my 1-year-old’s birthday party! Crazy town! She loves to dance, so that did cross my mind. When she hears music, she goes nuts! I mean, her version of dance is like jump, jump, jump! Maybe we will have Hattie’s dance party.

LS: What was your favorite party as a child?
TS: Oh, my gosh, I think it was my 8th birthday party. That's the one I talk about in the book. That’s when I got my first opportunity to plan. It was a roller-skating party, so that was really cool. My mom let me pick out my outfit, and I totally looked like I was in the movie Grease. I had the spandex, hot pink leggings or whatever they are - they are now sold at American Apparel, but when we were younger, they were hot! I had a tube top and a little tied shirt that said "Tori" in rhinestones, white roller skates with neon pink laces, and hair out to here with little clips . . . It was awesome!

Keep reading to see how Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott told the kids they were expecting again, and her favorite baby shower idea!

Danny Seo Shares His House Styling Secrets!

Guest Writer — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:03:22 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from guest writer, eco lifestyle expert, and all-around awesome guy Danny Seo.

As a former magazine editor, I produced and styled dozens of decorating and entertaining stories for a number of publications including Country Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Elle, Everyday With Rachael Ray, and InStyle. Every shoot was different than the next one in terms of style and goal, but I still stuck to my bargain basement styling secrets to pull them off. For the first time ever, I'm sharing my Top 5 tips to get that magazine look for way less right here at CasaSugar.

Goodwill, Salvation Army and Thrift Shops! Tarnished silver-plated ornate trays, milky glass bottles and vases, and vintage style plates to adorn an entire wall can be very pricey if you shop at antique stores to source them. Thrift stores - especially those in small towns across America - can be a treasure trove of unusual home decor items at a fraction of the cost. One celebrity client whose home I styled for a magazine shoot was insistent nothing from Goodwill could enter her home, so I simply wrapped my thrift store finds in tissue paper and tossed it into an Anthropologie shopping bag. She loved it. Can you believe that half the items on the dining table came from Goodwill?

Brown Thumb? Rent Plants. One way to make a patio or garden look lush and gorgeous is to rent mature palm trees and flowering bushes. If you're planning to have an outdoor party but don't want the cost of expensive plants, ask your local nursery if they'll rent them to you. At about 10 -20 percent of cost, they'll deliver the plants, set them up, and take them away after the party (or in my case, the photo shoot).

Keep reading for the rest of Danny's tips for styling your house so it looks like it's in the pages of a magazine!

Personalized Gemstone Necklaces Just For Mod Mamas

Kate Stahl — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:12:18 PDT

What better way to commemorate your new addition than a piece of jewelry? But not every mama wants an over-the-top diamond-encrusted push present (OK, not every mama can afford those diamonds) or a supertraditional photo-filled locket. The meaningful necklaces shown above let you display your love for your new babe every day in a subtle, stylish way.

From top, left:

Dogeared Create Necklace ($68 and up; shown horizontally): Add birthstone charms along with letters, numbers, zodiac signs, and more to create a totally custom, personal piece of jewelry.
Erin Gallagher's Gem Bar Mary-Catherine Necklace ($30 and up): Chicago-based designer Erin Gallagher lets you totally customize this necklace, adding birthstones, initials, or zodiac signs to represent the ones you love.
POSH Mommy Birthstone Necklace ($240): Favored by celebs like Brooke Burke and Milla Jovovich, POSH Mommy's creations come in various metals and designs. This gold vermeil necklace comes with two horizontal names, each with a birthstone.
Anna Bee Two-Square Initial Tag Necklace ($105): Two gold-filled square tags with two hand-stamped initials hang on a gold or silver chain, available in three lengths.
Luna & Stella Moon & Stars Birthstone Charm Necklace ($230 as shown): Create your own necklace in matte or polished silver or gold by adding charms with your lil one's birthstone.

10 Things You're Better Off Buying Used

Business Insider — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:15:40 PST

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

It's no secret consumers have less cash to burn these days than ever before, but there are plenty of ways to save that don't require diving headfirst into a sales bin.

For some products, there's just no point paying full-price when you can find the same quality in a second-hand or used product.

Pets

Dropping hundreds of dollars for a new pet seems almost criminal when you get down to the cold, hard facts. There are thousands of shelters in the U.S. and sadly, between 3 million and 4 million of the cuddly critters that wander into their doors each year are eventually euthanized, according to ASPCA. While you're likely to encounter more mutts than anything, those of you who won't settle for less than purebreds are in luck. About a quarter of all shelter animals are purebred.

Textbooks

Textbooks can cost upwards of $200 for some science courses and for a pre-medical student with a full class schedule that could mean dropping up to a grand on reading material - per semester. For that, we compiled the ultimate guide to scoring deals on textbooks. Not only can you snap up used books at a fraction of the retail value but you can rent them as well.

Read on for more items you can buy used.