CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: Pier 1 Mirrored Two-Tier Console Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:30:14 PDT

I often forget about Pier 1 because it doesn't do e-commerce, and there isn't a store very close to me. But that's not to say the retailer doesn't have a great selection - and great bargains. This Mirrored Two-Tier Console Table ($79.98, reduced from $149.95) is completely chic and versatile, and such a great deal. It has antiqued brass legs and antique mirrors with reverse etching details. Were you to buy an original in an antique store, it could cost you $900, but why put yourself through that pain? Accent tables such as this aren't something you need to invest in; you should spend your big bucks on larger pieces like sofas, dining tables, and armoires. Got a Pier 1 near you? What are you waiting for?

Steal of the Day: Two Glamorous Sofas Under $1,000

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:00:29 PST

A sofa often comprises the largest decorating cost in a living or sitting room. Since it's also a focal point of the room and a high-traffic seating area, it's important not to just snatch up the cheapest thing you can find. Luckily, there are good-looking, even striking, sofas out there that won't cost you an arm and a leg, and that won't give you a backache either.
Take this Macy's Alexandra Sofa ($949, reduced from $1,269). Simple, handsome curves and glamorous upholstery available in sea blue, indigo, or plum make this piece not only versatile, but cheerful and stylish. And it's made of high-density foam cushioning and wire spring seating for ultimate comfort, with a hardwood frame for added durability. On sale, it comes in under $1,000, which is a good investment, but not a bankruptcy-inducing splurge.

To see an equally glam and even more affordable sofa,

The Pier 1 Carmen Sofa ($699, reduced from $999) is a great bargain to begin with. Its two plush cushions and rolled arms make it a comfortable couch, but its nailhead trim and turned wood legs give it polish and glamour. The dusty beige upholstery adapts well to many color palettes, and you can give it a kick of color with a pair of throw pillows.

Steal of the Day: Pier 1 Lamps

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:45:53 PST

Have you stopped by your local Pier 1 store lately? If not, you're in for a treat. The new Spring catalog has a great selection of stylish new products, as well as quite a number of steals. Each of these four Pier 1 lamps qualify as steals. The Teal Drum Lamp (upper left, $29, marked down from $50) is my personal favorite, though I'm also partial to the Buri Hanging Lantern (upper right, $49, marked down from $75). The Paiden Lamp (lower right, $29, marked down from $40) would look lovely in a room furnished in subdued earth tones, and the Floral Blaze Lamp ($39, marked down from $75) would be perfect in a bedroom dressed with John Robshaw linens. Check out the entire selection of lamps at Pier 1 here.

Sale Alert: Pier 1's Great Light Switch

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:30:56 PDT

Clearly, there is something major going on at Pier 1. Right now, the retailer's web site is all but empty, and I suspect it's about to unveil a drastic makeover of sorts. Meanwhile, it's hosting a sale on lamps, cleverly dubbed the Great Pier 1 Light Switch, through Sept. 9.

I haven't been paying much attention to Pier 1 lately, and apparently, it got much cooler while I wasn't looking. If these sassy lamps are any indication, I like the new direction the chain is going in. Most of the lamps featured in the Great Light Switch are also major bargains, but it looks like you can only buy them in stores. That won't stop me from getting my hands on the super-mod 24" Teal Drum Lamp for just $29!

Sale Alert: 50 % Off at Pier 1 Online

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:29:25 PDT

Wow, Pier 1 is having a crazy "moving sale" on its web site, offering up to 50 percent off on almost everything online. From now until Aug. 31 - or while supplies last - you can get some serious bargains on kitchenware, candles, rugs, and bedding.

Until today, I actually hadn't perused the Pier 1 site for a while, and I'm pleasantly surprised by some of the chic offerings. Here are a few of my picks from the sale; just click on each photo to view.

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Yummy Deals: Pier 1 - Save 50% Online Only

YumSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:47:53 PDT

Pier 1 is having a 50% off, online only sale. Some of these deals are great, but act fast, things are going out of stock quickly! I took a quick glance and picked a couple of the better items including the Trend Stemware and the Recycled Glass Platter. Scroll through to discover my other picks. And if you find something great, let us know in the comments! Sale ends August 31.

Top 10 Mistakes You Make on the Elliptical Trainer

Prevention — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:08:59 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Lisa Hoehn, Prevention

As the weather drops, more and more people head straight to one machine in their gym - the elliptical trainer. According to a 2008 report from the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, the number of users of elliptical trainers in health clubs grew sevenfold from 1997 to 2007. And while you may be proud of yourself for making it to the gym and squeezing in some cardio, taking a lackadaisical approach to your elliptical workout and casually spinning your legs while reading a magazine or watching TV isn't going to blast away those holiday cookies. Here, 10 mistakes you frequently make on the elliptical and how to fix them so you maximize calorie burn while adding fun to your ho-hum routine.

Top Workout Ideas For When the Gym Is Too Crowded

1. You’re too lazy to enter your information.
Most machines are calibrated for a 150-pound person - but personalizing your stats will help you get a more accurate calorie read. Aim to burn around 100 calories per 10 minutes, says Jennifer Cassetty, an exercise physiologist.

2. Your resistance is zero.
You might feel like a million bucks spinning at a mile a minute, but without resistance, you’re not going to see results, says Röbynn Europe, a personal trainer at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Make sure that you’re using enough resistance to push and pull through the stride. Then continue at a moderate pace until you feel like you’ve done all you can do. "You shouldn’t feel like you have even five minutes left in you when you step off," she says.

3. You're a sloucher.
Standing up straight helps to lengthen your abs, giving you a chance to engage your core and even work your upper body muscles, Cassetty says. Certified personal trainer Neal I. Pire, MA, CSCS, president of Inspire Training Systems in New Jersey, recommends hopping on a machine with an upper body component so you can engage even more muscles - and blast more fat. Can't find a machine that lets you pump your arms? Let go: some research suggests that leaning on machine armrests during exercise reduces calorie burning.

How to Buy a Cardio Machine

4. Your machine sounds like it’s going to take off.
If you can hear the purr of the machine while you’re exercising, it means that you’re going too fast without enough resistance - which means you're not getting the most calorie burn out of your time, Cassetty says. Keeping a steady, moderate pace at a resistance that forces you to use your muscles will get, and keep, your heart rate up.

Learn four more fitness mistakes after the break.

Jennifer Lopez's Passionate Afterparty With Dancer Casper Smart!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:22:47 PST

Jennifer Lopez made out with her dancer guy Casper at an AMAs afterparty - Us Weekly
Despite an injury, George Clooney keeps a football date with Stacy Keibler - People
Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta, made a dapper appearance at an LA bash - hot? - Lainey Gossip
Beyoncé said her pregnancy made it harder to breathe while performing - Huffington Post
Is Bella Swan's wedding dress the best ever on film? - The Daily Beast
Jason Segel shows (a lot of) love for Paul Rudd - TooFab
Will you watch the big-screen version of Dr. Who? - Rotten Tomatoes
Will a Jersey Shore producer have another hit with VH1's Mama Drama? - Hollywood Reporter
Chelsea Handler clears up her single status with Piers Morgan - Wonderwall
Kelly Ripa has moved into Regis's chair on Live - Lifeline Live
Lady Gaga to receive a special award - Zap2It
What do you think of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer's new look? - Celebitchy

Paris Hilton on How 1 Night Changed Her Entire Life

Annie Scudder — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:45:58 PDT

Retiring the baby voice recognized across the world, a grownup 30-year-old Paris Hilton got serious about her sex tape last night with Piers Morgan. It's any daughter's nightmare to discuss a sex tape on national television with your mother sitting next to you, but since 1 Night in Paris helped Paris rise to fame in the first place, she's had to deal with it in public since 2004. Kathy Hilton cried as Paris talked about feeling betrayed by the ex she says released the tape and changed the public's perception of her forever. She says everyone has since viewed her as a slut when she really isn't.

In the years following the tape's debut, Paris has definitely made a lot of money off her image as the sexy party-girl heiress. It may not be all that she really is, but it seemed like who she wanted us to believe she was. Watch this interview and tell me, do you think Paris made the most of her scandal? Or do you think she could have gone a different direction like Kim Kardashian, the other socialite who found her way to fame with the help of sex tape that now feels like a footnote to the dominating Kardashian-family brand?

Su Casa: KatyHarper's Finished Living Room

Casa Community — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:00:00 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member KatyHarper from the Su Casa group:

My husband and I have just moved into our new house, and I've finally finished decorating (for now, at least). The living room presented a bit of a challenge at first, because it's long and narrow. It's completely open to the dining room and kitchen, which is what I wanted. These rooms have a mix of new items, antiques, Ikea stuff, TJ Maxx stuff, random finds, family hand-me-downs, and so forth. I like it, because it feels collected - which it is. I hate it when rooms feel like you walked into a Rooms To Go and shouted, "I'll take it all!"

Trusty Husband and I got new furniture for this room, since the furniture we both had before wouldn't fit. Since the space is so narrow, I had to go with a glass coffee table (from Overstock) so it wouldn't visually take up much space. The oriental rug was my mom's, and I love the teals and rusty oranges in it. The throw pillows are from World Market, Pier 1, and TJ Maxx - I love combining colors and patterns - that ikat pillow is my fave. Our couch came from Haverty's, and the leather chairs are World Market. My mom gave me the framed palm prints a few years ago, and they're one of my favorite things I own.

Continue reading to see more of KatyHarper's home!