CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Reshaping Wood 2.0 Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:00:19 -0700

I was drooling over the dining room tables on Shop-A-Matic today when I came across this Reshaping Wood 2.0 by Jo Meesters Dining Table ($6,500) available at The Future Perfect. In a category that tends to be pretty tame, this bold yet delicate table could dominate a dinner conversation. It's like a hip, edgier take on Brocade Home. What do you think?

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Trend Alert: Reimagined Hunting Trophies

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:00:33 -0700

I'm willing to bet that most of you don't decorate with hunting trophies - those stuffed deer heads and mounted antlers typically found in lodges. I, for one, would never dream of hanging a deer head in my house. But I love that so many modern designers are reinterpreting the iconic look with antler-adorned accents.

From super-high end antler chandeliers - like the famed $1,500 fixture from The Future Perfect - to cheeky $10 wall plaques, there's a piece of hunting-inspired home decor to suit almost every style. Check out some of my favorite finds by clicking on the photos belows, and please, tell me what you think of this off-kilter look.

Help Nokia Design the Phone of the Future

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:15:49 -0700

You always have something to say about the newest phones to hit the market, so why not share your opinions on what the next phone should look like before it's even made? Nokia is asking mobile enthusiasts to weigh in on what they would want the phone of the future to look like by selecting their ideal components for each of these categories: display and interface, size and shape, materials, OS, connectivity, camera, and enhancements. Every week you can vote on your ideal setup for different categories, and once voting is complete in May, Nokia will bring the popular specs to concept artists to work their magic into a visual representation of the perfect phone.

When the concepts are finalized, you get to vote again on which phone you'd want to use. Of course, it's no guarantee that our perfect phone would be made, but it's a pretty good bet that we'd all buy one if we helped bring it to life. Crowdsourced designing? Why not?

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:00:58 -0800

I've already provided you with some movie releases, but is your iPod in need of a shot in the arm, too? These new albums feature standout tracks that should help you beef it up.

Fall into the rabbit hole: Artists collide for Almost Alice - a soundtrack inspired by Alice in Wonderland - but the mix feels all over the map. The techno beats of Metro Station's "Where's My Angel" are a miss here, along with the suggestive pop of Kerli's "Tea Party," which uses the line "nibble on my biscuits." Really. Steer clear, and instead, try Franz Ferdinand's whimsical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "The Lobster Quadrille" or Grace Potter and Nocturnals' cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" which perfectly captures trippy '60s sound.

Sensitive sunshine: After facing health issues for frontman Zach Rogue and the death of bassist Evan Farrell, Rogue Wave are putting their troubles behind them. They return with their latest Permalight, which swaps melancholy for a brighter mood. Tracks like the happily-titled "Good Morning (The Future)" feature electro-pop, and the understated but sweet "I'll Never Leave You" even includes clapping accompaniment. Download them along with "Fear Itself," where Rogue seems to hint at the band's struggles, singing "we're the only survivors." They survived - and apparently they've changed. Die-hard fans may take issue with that, but oh well, lighten up.

One more release to check out when you read more.

Little Gaga: Many comparisons have been drawn to the UK's Little Boots (aka Victoria Hesketh) and Lady Gaga. Her voice is sweeter than Gaga's, her lyrics less tongue in cheek, but Boots still captures the same fun club feel if you have a weakness for dance albums. On her debut Hands, which hits stateside today, she captures the electro-pop of Kylie Minogue with catchy tunes like "Remedy" and "New in Town," which is a great going-out track. Play it on full blast.

Geeks We Love: Veronica Belmont of Tekzilla and Ryan Block of gdgt

GeekSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:00:19 -0800

Veronica Belmont and Ryan Block may just define the idea of "Love 2.0." She's an on-screen tech wiz for Revision3's Tekzilla and a World of Warcraft expert, while he stays behind the camera lens and glued to his laptop to report on the latest and greatest gadgets for social network and tech-centric web app gdgt. There couldn't be a more perfect pairing for our geeky Valentine's Day series! Thankfully, Veronica and Ryan took a few moments out of their busy schedules to chat about love, gadgets, and how to keep it all connected despite their world travels during this installment of Geeks We Love. And seriously, can the photo get any better? I think not.

So tell us: how did you meet?
R: We actually met at a press event in SF! I was out from NY covering CTIA for Engadget, and I saw Veronica and knew I had to meet her. I was there with Peter, who helped make up a flimsy excuse to some of her co-workers in order to get me introduced.
V: I actually noticed him the second he walked in. I was there to shoot product videos for CNET along with a few of the editors. I remember joking: "Cute boy, 12 o'clock!"
R: When you're on the beat at these press events, you rarely meet anyone who can hold a conversation about anything other than technology -- let alone find your perfect woman. It was a pretty great moment.

It seems that you are both surrounded by technology 24/7. Do you think that tech brings you closer together as a couple, or creates more of a distraction?
V: I say that it brings us together. There aren't many people in the world that I feel I could relate to as well as I do with Ryan. When you're this involved with technology all the time, it's almost a lifestyle choice.
R: I think it definitely brings us together. We complement one another - we are constantly sharing all kinds of stuff about tech, gaming, and Internet culture with one another. Plus, I think only V would understand why there are a thousand gadgets (and boxes) laying around the house, cluttering up the place.

Find out what Veronica and Ryan think of the iPad, allowing electronics in the bedroom, and why they can agree that "ear mullets" are their least favorite tech trend when you read more.

Which is your favorite way to communicate - talk, text or tweet?
R: We don't really tweet at each other too much, but we do IM all day with one another.
V: Is it weird that we IM each other from across the room sometimes? When we first got together, we lived on opposite sides of the country from one another, so IMing was a regular part of our routine. We never really gave that up!
R: Yeah, I guess that's weird, but it's also kind of a joke and cliché at this point because I think everyone IMs people in the same room! I've never seen an office that didn't do that kind of thing!

Are gadgets allowed in the bedroom, or is it strictly a no-electronics zone?
R: I don't think there's such thing as a no-electronics zone. But not because we're obsessed, just because it's a normal part of our lives - we both read Kindles in bed now, you know?
V: Laptops and Kindles are allowed within reason. The only gadget I hate having around when I'm trying to sleep is his iPhone. I'm a very light sleeper, and he sometimes gets calls and text messages if anything wacky is happening on gdgt. I need my eight hours!

I know that you both travel quite a bit for your respective careers. How do you keep the romance alive during all of your tech and gaming world tours?
V: It's nice when we get to go on trips together for work, but that doesn't happen very often. We try to call and check in with each other before we go to bed, and we'll usually pick up a little present from wherever we're visiting.
R: Yeah, kind of standard stuff. I'd say generally we're able to keep in touch better than simple calls. One nice thing is that we usually go to CES together. CES is the most stressful week of the year for our part of the tech industry, so it's amazing to have each other around, to have that support system. But generally we try to keep our respective trips short - for obvious reasons!

What are some of your favorite/least favorite tech trends?
V: Bluetooth headsets. They're fine if you're multitasking around the house, but there isn't a single person on this planet that doesn't look like a tool wearing one in public. No exceptions!
R: Bluetooth headsets are pretty bad, but wow, I had no idea you were so passionate about this! However, I think calling Bluetooth headsets "Bluetooths" (i.e. "I'm wearing my Bluetooth right now.") might actually be as bad as wearing them everywhere.
V: As Ryan likes to say, they're "ear mullets."
R: I'm not sure who coined that one, but it's pretty damned good.

Veronica: If you could describe Ryan as a WoW character, what would he be?
V: We've actually had this conversation before! I've been trying to get him to play for years, but it just isn't happening. If I had to pick a character for him, it would probably be a Blood Elf paladin. I'm not especially partial to Belfs, but they're the only Horde race to have paladins (and there's no way I'd date someone that plays Alliance). Ryan is multifaceted, so putting him in just the role of a tank or healer wouldn't really fit. I tried to convince him to play as a shaman, like me, but he thought they were too hippy-dippy.
R: I was a 10th prestige, level 55 in Modern Warfare; I'm presently 1st prestige, level 57 in Modern Warfare 2. Wait, WoW? What's that?
V: OK, maybe you're more suited for tanking than I thought.
R: I class with a suppressed assault rifle, Cold Blooded Pro, and Ninja Pro, so I'm more of a stealthy type.
V: So you're a rogue. How about an undead rogue? Or a druid in cat form? They're stealthy. OK, next question.

Ryan: Are there any “game changing” gadgets out there that have you really excited about the future of tech?
R: I recently got some hands-on time with the iPad, and it's pretty exciting. Not as immediately world-changing like the iPhone felt, still very interesting. Whether you want one or not, I think gadget companies are going to push 2010 as the year of the tablet -- and the iPad is going to be out in front of that parade in a big way.

What activities do you enjoy that don’t involve technology?
R: I think we're both somewhat obsessed with discovering new places to eat, and very obsessed with coffee. We're blessed in that SF has some amazing cafés and roasteries.
V: It's hard to live in San Francisco and not fall in love with the food. The produce is so fresh, and we don't have to walk far to eat really well. We've been trying to cook more at home too, but our schedules have made it difficult to keep the fridge stocked with supplies. Plus, I always want the latest in kitchen gear that I have no idea how to use, like a really nice KitchenAid stand-mixer like the one Alton Brown has.
R: Ooh, yeah, and I would really like a sous vide immersion circulator. We're geeking out about hardware again, aren't we?

Have you ever tried to go a day without using any technology/gadgets/electronics whatsoever?
R: I think you'd have to try really hard to do that. I mean, every time you look at a clock or get in a car, you're engaging with technology. But it is nice to unplug for a bit, and we try to take mini-vacations every now and again where we can keep (relatively) offline and just enjoy the downtime.
V: I wish dinner would be a tech-free zone. Just once I'd like to eat a meal without an iPhone making an appearance!

Are there any other projects you’re working on besides gdgt, Qore, and Tekzilla?
V: I write the occasional column for MaximumPC and DoubleX, and I also co-host a science fiction and fantasy podcast/book club called The Sword and Laser. It's about as geeky as it sounds!
R: I'm way too involved with gdgt right now, but once in a blue moon I'll write something for Engadget. I've got a couple hobbies I'd like to see launched in 2010, but overall Veronica is much better about juggling lots of side projects. We'll see what I can get done!

How will you be spending Valentine’s Day?
V: We're hopefully getting out of town for the night, at least! My mom is always worried that we overwork ourselves, so for Christmas she gave us a gift certificate to a cute little inn just outside of town. No laptops allowed!
R: I'll be bringing my laptop.
V: So romantic.
R: You know you're gonna bring yours, too!

Don't miss a thing - be sure to check out the other Geeks We Love all week!

Source: Dave Schumaker

Books With Inscriptions Make Lasting Impressions

LilSugar — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:00:00 -0800

When picking the perfect baby shower gift, givers often go for something that will impress the mama-to-be and other shower guests. While a trendy stroller or designer duds may make other attendees swoon, a gift doesn't need to cost a fortune to make a big impact.

Choose a favorite children's book – be it a classic or simply one of your tot's favorite tomes – and writing a heartfelt inscription in the cover. The thoughtful gift can easily become a family heirloom and may pave the way for future birthday gifts that complete the collection of books by the same author.

Sequel News: The Fast Enchanted Code

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:29:34 -0800

One good flick deserves another, right? Franchise-happy Hollywood has a block of sequels in the works, and today's three include one that makes me groan, one that's actually fun, and one that we all saw coming.

Fifth time's a charm: The Fast and the Furious's next installment has been confirmed, with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel attached yet again. At least the title, Fast & Furious: Fast Five, is a more creative title than the fourth's. This time, Dom and Brian's characters are fugitives on the run from authorities. I bet they have the perfect getaway vehicles in mind.
Get Enchanted all over again: Disney is going full steam ahead with a sequel to the 2007 fairy tale. There's no news about the story and none of actors, like Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, are attached yet, but Variety reports that Disney "will likely try to bring [them] back." A new director has been hired, though: The Proposal's Anne Fletcher.
Da Vinci's Third Decoding: Finally, Dan Brown's latest book about Robert Langdon, The Lost Symbol, is also getting the film adaptation treatment. No shocker here, since its predecessors The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons did so well at the box office. Tom Hanks is not yet confirmed to reprise his role as Langdon, though I can't imagine he won't.

Personally, I think that The Lost Symbol's movie future was a total given, while Disney always finds a way to extend its fairy tales, and Enchanted's delightfulness almost begs for more to the story. But I'm kind of reeling that The Fast and the Furious is getting another sequel. I thought the fourth, such a close replay of the first film, was its swan song - and kind of unnecessary itself. What more can be said about these men who love fast cars? Do you want to see more of Paul and Vin, driving furiously?

Katie and Alex Plan Marriage and Babies While Peter Promotes

PopSugarUK — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:02:43 -0800

Katie Price and Alex Reid arrived in Las Vegas this morning as news broke the couple plan to wed this year. Back in the UK, Peter Andre was busy travelling the country to promote his new CD Unconditional Love Songs alongside his brother Mike. He also stopped by the ITV studios to cook a risotto on This Morning with Gino d'Acampo. Alex's win on Celebrity Big Brother has done him the world of good, and it looks like Pete is warming to him as he said: "I haven’t seen any of CBB but I’ve heard that Alex has come across really well... I hope Alex is a nice guy and that he makes Kate happy". Kate and Alex sound happier than ever and have revealed their future plans for babies and marriage to OK! Here are the highlights:

Kate on how Alex has changed her: "I wish I’d met Alex six years ago. He’s perfect in every way. He’s a proper gentleman…Every man I’ve been with, I’d never buy a house with them, never buy a car with them. But I said to Alex, forget my house, we should buy a house together."
Kate on their future: "I’m going to downsize so we can both afford it. We’ll have our joint account, whatever we earn together will go in one pot and everything will be paid out of that. It will be completely equal. So there’s no egos, who earns the most. I’ve never done that with a guy and that’s what I’m doing with Alex."
Alex on wanting to be with Kate forever: "I need Katie. I don’t need her for fame but I need her. It has been a fantastic start to the New Year and it’s going to be even more fantastic now this is happening. I actually asked Katie to marry me after my fight in September, so it’s something we’ve been discussing for some time."
Kate on whether they'll get married: "Yes. This year I will marry Alex and I’m going to have his kids…I’ll change [my name on] my passport, cheque book, everything. I want to be traditional, the way marriage is meant to be"

What do you think of Kate and Alex's plans for the future?

To see more pictures of Katie, Alex and Peter, just read more.

View 20 Photos ›

Zooey Deschanel Is With the Band

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:30:14 -0800

I've always had a bit of a girl crush on Zooey Deschanel, and not just because of her films. The actress has become a hipster darling of sorts thanks to her cute retro look and side gig with She and Him, which is why she seems perfectly cast for HBO's dramedy I'm With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie. Deschanel has signed on for the new series, based on Pamela Des Barres’s memoir about running around with musicians and movie stars in the late '60s. Des Barres has shared her experiences bedding the likes of Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, and Don Johnson, so expect to see their doppelgangers pop up during the course of the show. How fun will it be to see actors playing icons like Mick?

Deschanel may not have scored any award noms for my beloved (500) Days of Summer, but perhaps an Emmy is in her future instead. The premise sounds a bit like the story of Penny Lane, a la Almost Famous, and Deschanel definitely fits right in to the era. If I'm With the Band manages to hit a similar note - with a killer soundtrack to boot - count me in. How about you?

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Third Time May Be the Charm

LilSugar — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:30:47 -0800

A mother, a father, a son, and a daughter - what could be better? Hollywood's picture of the perfect family usually involves one child of each gender. Television and movies often perpetuate the image - you have Brenda and Brandon from the original 90210, Serena and Eric on Gossip Girl, and Ross and Monica on Friends. But a balance between the sexes isn't always in the cards. While there are countless myths about influencing the sex of a child, and science may allow parents to undergo procedures to determine a baby's gender, most parents are simply happy to have healthy children in their arms.

That doesn't always stop prying friends and family from asking about future children. When a colleague recently gave birth to her second son, the first words out of a friend's mouth were, "Now you can try for the girl!" She has been stopped by people on the street commenting how special the relationship is between a mother and daughter and someone even asked her if she was sorry she saved all of her Barbie dolls from her childhood.

If you had two boys or girls did you - or would you - have a third child in hopes of bringing a child of the opposite gender into the family?

We want to hear your shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful pregnancy and motherhood stories. Create a post and tell us all about it in our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group.