CasaSugar

Do You Celebrate Secretary's Day?

Diana Nguyen — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:00:06 PDT

Happy Secretary's Day, or, to be more PC, Administrative Professionals' Day! Whether you're the corporate exec or the small-business owner, today's the day to honor the backbone of your operations. Where would you be without your morning cup of joe, organized daily schedule, or human phone call screener? In fact, these days secretaries, or administrative assistants, go above and beyond the call of the filing cabinet and not only maintain your work life but, oftentimes, offer support in personal matters as well. A bouquet of flowers or a nice intimate lunch is a nice gesture to show your gratitude.

And for all you secretaries out there: how do you want to be appreciated on your day? Will you be disappointed if your boss forgets or doesn't acknowledge your work accomplishments today? Chime in below in the comments!

Found It! Sex and the City 2 Wallpaper and Secretary

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:00:00 PDT

I just posted my sneak peek of the set décor from Sex and the City 2 on Monday, and already the questions are flooding in about where to pick up the film's fabulous furnishings. Of course, there will be many more as we get a closer look at the flim, but I thought I'd respond to the first few of you who have already written in. Check out this slideshow to get the details on the décor!

Roundup: Secretary Service

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:00 PST

Secretary desks are a bit uncommon these days, but that doesn't mean they're any less useful. If your home is more bijou than sprawling, a secretary is a smart, slim, dual-purpose item that you should definitely consider. It serves both as storage and as a desk, and offers tabletop space. If office work isn't in your plans, you can use a secretary as a bar, too!

Here are a few of my favorite secretaries out there in the great wide world right now:

Source

Before and After: A Stylish Secretary

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:00:43 PST

I just came across interior designer Eddie Ross's makeover of a beautiful secretary he found at a New Jersey consignment shop, and I couldn't help but share it with you. The Chippendale style of the desk with its graphic grille and shapely top facade is very elegant, but the reddish mahogany veneer was very dated. So, Ross decided to make it over with a fresh coat of his favorite paint, Farrow & Ball's All White, and a mirror fit for behind the grille. To see the transformation,

I'm really impressed with this project. The mirror gives it a contemporary polish and the white paint makes it youthful and not so stuffy. Head over to Eddie Ross to hear the steps he took to transform this wonderful secretary.
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Love It or Hate It? Martin the Mule Secretary Desk

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:00:12 PST

French company Ibride recently gave a sneak preview of this new design, Martin, a contemporary mule-shaped secretary, at the Maison & Objet trade show in Paris. Not only does Martin's body serve as convenient storage for books and papers, but it incorporates lighting and Ethernet cords into the design, using them as a "reins" for the mule. I find it hilarious and whimsical, but obviously it's not for everyone, or every home.
Source

What's Buzzworthy: Embarrassing Movies to Watch With Parents

BuzzSugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 11:45:05 PDT

Last week I invited you all to Buzzworthy the movies you've watched with your parents (or grandparents, or in-laws) that just made you cringe, slump down in your seat, or pretend to yawn, stretch and call it a night. There were some great Buzzworthied DVDs, as well as many comments about embarrassing movie experiences. Check out some of the titles bookmarked by Buzz readers, and then a few "highlights" (if you can call them that!) from the comments section of last week's Buzzworthy challenge.

Wedding Crashers
Selected by gruaig_rua, among other commenters. gruaig_rua says, "The scene where Isla Fisher's character goes under the dinner table......cringe!!!"

Secretary
I couldn't agree more with this selection from Fab_Kitty, who writes "I love this movie, but can't think of any flick more embarrassing to watch with older family members. Be sure Grammy knows this movie isn't about a sweet Doris Day-type heroine!"

More embarrassment if you

Borat
As Mainly Obsessed says, this movie needs no explanation. It's simply NSFWWP (Not Suitable For Watching With Parents).

Eyes Wide Shut
Linda McP has this to say about her pick, "Definitely a Kubrick study-in-humanity film and definitely one that is difficult to watch with anyone...especially Mom and Dad! Keep your eyes wide OPEN and be sure you are watching with someone with whom you can have a philosophical discussion about the merits of the film afterwards."

Now for some classic stories from the comments section:

From shy_baby:
"A couple of months ago I went to the Jamie Foxx concert with my boyfriend and his parents. Talk about UNCOMFORTABLE, Jamie was so explicit with his jokes and his songs were pretty much all about sex. And to top it off he had very scantily clad dancers popping and dropping like strippers. I would have enjoyed the concert if I wasn't so concerned about how my bf's parents were feeling, LOL."

From swwonder:
"Not a movie but Sex and the City.
Oh and I watched the south park movie with my uncle, if you've seen it and heard the first song you'll get the discomfort."

From Carebear144:
"I made the mistake of watching Jarhead with my parents, and the scene where Jake Gyllenhaal is dancing around with only a Santa hat covering him up was excruciating. Also, I watched Monster's Ball with my parents, and the sex scene between Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thorton is uncomfortable enough on its own, but it was unbearable with my parents in the room!"

From spacebear:
"Meet the Fockers was so difficult to watch! Each time I laughed I thought my mom was looking at me like "how does she know that?" and the same was going on vice versa!
Unfaithful was SO uncomfortable. We didn't talk about it and when we got home my sister asked how the movie was and my mom just answered 'it was a lot of humping'"

From sigmaration:
"I once watched American Beauty with my parents... and the sex scene between Carlolyn and the real estate guy was bad enough... but then the phone rang in the middle, my mom paused the DVD, RIGHT DURING THAT SCENE.... so we all stared uncomfortably at a still shot Annette Benning with her legs splayed in the air while she was gettin' it from the real estate guy. For like 20 minutes. It was a nightmare."

Hillary Gets Kudos, the Queen Opens Parliament, and Gaudy Derby Hats Steal the Show

Laura Marie Given — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:00:57 PDT

As the weather warms up and May flowers begin to bloom, women around the world are making statements - of both the political and the fashion variety. Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earned praise for her achievements while current First Lady Michelle Obama honored military families for Mother's Day. Meanwhile, the president offered his support for gay rights, Queen Elizabeth II spoke up in Parliament, and ladies across the US brought out their finest (and silliest) hats for the Kentucky Derby. Click through the slideshow to see all that and more!

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Prince Harry Comes to America For a Big Honor

Allie Merriam — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:54:45 PDT

Prince Harry suited up in Washington DC last night to attend a gala hosted by the Atlantic Council. It was a big evening for Harry, as he accepted the Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award from the council. Prince Harry's honor was thanks to his work on behalf of veterans through his and his brother's Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was also honored.

Colin Powell presented Harry with his statue. Harry began his remarks with a joke, saying, "Generally, I obviously don't feel that I've done nearly enough to deserve." Harry got serious about the honor, though, and later said, "This award is for the guys. So many lives have been lost, and so many changed forever by the wounds that they have suffered."

Time Celebrates 100 Influential People With Hillary, Kristen, Amy, Chelsea, and More

Allie Merriam — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:40:06 PDT

Time magazine celebrated its 100 Most Influential People last night with a huge bash held inside Jazz at Lincoln Center. Honorees like Kristen Wiig, Chelsea Handler, Claire Danes, Hillary Clinton, Tilda Swinton, and Rihanna all turned out for the mingling and partying. Stephen Colbert, who also made the list, gave opening remarks. He gave shout-outs to Kristen and Spanx creator Sara Blakely. Stephen joked, "Kristen, congratulations on the Time 100. Lovely to see you. Her movie, Bridesmaids, huge success, and proved once and for all to the Hollywood boys club that women can have explosive diarrhea, too - you are a feminist icon. Brava, madam. But perhaps the most influential person on the list is here, Sara Blakely, the inventor of the Spanx . . . No one, no one has done more to control women's bodies, except maybe [Catholic] Cardinal Dolan."

It seems the jokes and good times continued for the honorees, who happily posed for photos together. A Stella McCartney-clad Kristen Wiig made the rounds talking to her funny friends like Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Louis CK, and Aubrey Plaza. Rihanna hit the red carpet in a pink Marchesa gown before changing to perform on stage, while Claire Danes donned Lanvin to hang out backstage. Secretary of State Clinton may have been the most popular, though, as she shook hands and said hello to NY Knicks player Jeremy Lin, Amy, Chelsea, Harvey Weinstein, Barbara Walters, Matt Lauer, Tyra Banks, and more!