BellaSugar

Untie Your Luxurious Side With YSL's Bow Collection

BellaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:00:56 PDT

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, YSL has just unleashed a new beauty collection featuring the bow. And since YSL often incorporated bows throughout his collections, what better way to celebrate the end of 2008 than with this tribute to such an elegant, sensual, and demure little knot? As the late Monsieur Saint Laurent once said, "One should always be tempted to untie a woman's clothes." Oh, behave!

The Bow Collection is luxury at its finest. While the prices may be steep ($19 to $90), do you think you'll treat yourself to a little splurge around the holidays?

View 7 Photos ›

For the price list, read more. Limited-edition products:

New Shades:

La Laque Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Dark Blue or Moonlight White ($19).
Golden Gloss Shimmering Lip Gloss in Golden Burgundy ($28).
Fard À Lèvres Rouge Pur Pure Lipstick in Honey Beige ($29).

Paul & Joe Pretties Things Up For Cat Ladies

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:00:15 PDT

As you may know, I'm a bit of a cat lady. (Have you met Milo and Minou?) So it's no surprise that I'm hoping dear ol' Santy Claws will bring me this Paul & Joe holiday face kit. Available in two shades, it features a sheer lipstick and swirly cheek color. But the real attraction is this achingly twee little printed makeup pouch. It's so ridiculously girlish and over-the-top that it somehow becomes slightly subversive. Paired with sleek skinny jeans and a slim black tee, it would be a little sweet, a little tough - kinda like one pretty kitty.

Paul & Joe Beauté is hard to find, though it's stocked in Anthropologie. If you see this kitty kit, I wouldn't blame you if you were to pounce on it...

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.

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince Gear Up For Their First Married Holiday

Allie Merriam — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:26:47 PST

Kate Moss and her husband Jamie Hince went out to dinner at London's Wolseley on Saturday night. Joining the couple for the meal was Jamie's bandmate from The Kills, Alison Mosshart. Kate, Jamie, and a pink-haired Alison waited outside afterward then hopped into a taxi together.

Jamie and Kate are heading into their first holiday season as a married couple, though it's their fourth since getting together back in the Fall of 2008. Their July nuptials were among our favorite celebrity weddings of 2011, and there will be more excitement for Kate and Jamie in the coming months. Construction is reportedly almost done on their new North London home, and Kate even has a special calendar all ready to hang up inside. Kate Moss got a signed 2012 calendar from Mark Wright, a British reality star she's obsessed with from the show The Only Way Is Essex.

How to Find a Holiday Job

Kiplinger — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:48:17 PST

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

This is the perfect time to look for a job because many companies are beefing up their workforces and hiring extra employees for the holiday season. Outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas is predicting that retailers will hire about the same number of seasonal workers this year as they did a year ago, when employment grew by 627,600 from October through December. That was nearly double the number of seasonal jobs that were available in 2008, when seasonal hiring hit a 26-year low of 324,900.

Retailers tend to staff up more than most other employers during the holiday season. Macy's plans to hire 78,000 seasonal employees this year (up 4% from last year), Toys"R"Us plans to hire more than 40,000 seasonal employees, and BestBuy plans to add 15,000 seasonal workers, for example.

There can even be a wide range of jobs available within retail companies. In addition to hiring sales associates, for example, Macy's is hiring people to work in the stock rooms, distribution centers, online fulfillment centers and call centers. The location of the jobs can be surprising. Macy's has three main fulfillment hubs that are more than 30 miles away from big cities, in Portland, Tenn. (near Nashville), Goodyear, Ariz. (near Phoenix) and Cheshire, Conn. (near New York City). You can find information about all of these jobs and apply online at MacysJobs.com. Toys"R"Us is also hiring seasonal workers at its nine distribution centers across the country, in addition to its retail stores. You can apply online for any of their jobs at www.ruscareers.com.

Read on for more on finding a holiday job.

Where to Go Now: Getting the Most of Your Dollar

LearnVest — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:15:59 PST

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

March is always a tough month to get through. The festivities of the holidays are over, the gleam of the new year has worn off, and the warmth of spring is not…quite…here yet.

Consider packing your suitcase and taking a spontaneous trip to one of these places that are currently offering great deals. Here are three destinations where your dollar will go far right now.

Istanbul, Turkey

No longer the undiscovered gem that it was just a few years ago, Istanbul is still under the radar for many American travelers. That’s why it is possible to experience this amazing city and its legendary hospitality for a fraction of what you’d pay in London, Paris, Rome, or any of the other more traditional European destinations.

Spring is the optimal time to visit since the mild climate is perfect for sightseeing, the tourist hoards of summer have not yet descended, rates are lower, and restaurants are not overbooked. Plus, you’ll avoid the mosquitoes that arrive around mid June.

Two airlines have direct flights to Istanbul from the U.S.: Delta (from JFK) and Turkish Airlines (from Dulles, LAX, and O’Hare). A roundtrip flight in March and April will run you around $700, a steal given that (a) many indirect flights on other airlines cost as much or more and (b) stretching the 9-hour haul into several layovers would waste valuable time exploring this historic metropolis.

One of the many beauties of Istanbul is that it’s not cluttered with hotels, but two options include the posh and pricey Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, where rates in March begin at $700 per night, and the charming Empress Zoe, where your $165 room includes a delicious buffet breakfast. (Bonus tip: Pay in cash and get a 10% discount off your room rate). Both of these properties are right smack in the middle of the historic center, a stone’s throw from the incredible Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Marmara Sea.

Check out more Spring travel recommendations after the break!

How-To: Make Your Own Perfume Solid With Tips From Mandy Aftel

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:11 PST

According to Allure, "The trend toward using natural ingredients was pioneered by perfumer and author Mandy Aftel."

Well, guess what? Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the famed perfumer in her Berkeley, CA studio. We covered everything from beautifully stanky scents to trends in the industry to advice on selecting fragrances. And when I asked her if she had any do-it-yourself ideas for holiday gifting, she definitely delivered.

In her book, Scents & Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well-Being (approximately $5), Aftel provides a "recipe" for creating your own solid perfume. While the talented perfume maker sells her Single Solids, Double Solids, and the ultra-luxe One-of-a-Kind Antique Cases on her website, you can create these thoughtful and easy gifts for your friends and loved ones on your own. Learn how to make these sweet smelling compacts when you

Stephanie Seymour Rocks Her String Bikini and Kisses Reconciled Husband in St. Barts!

Katie Henry — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 03:10:00 PST

Stephanie Seymour joined her kids for a gorgeous day of bikini time on the beach and in the surf in St. Barts yesterday. She looks incredible at 42 and showed off her famous curves in a white two-piece reminiscent of one we saw her wearing on the beach in 2008. Earlier this year Stephanie found herself in the middle of a bitter divorce with her husband Peter Brant, but since then the pair have reconciled and seem to be making the best of their holiday vacation with sons Peter and Harry and daughter Lily. While she's enjoying the tropical breezes of the Caribbean, her fellow supermodel Cindy Crawford celebrated Christmas in Mexico with her family and close pal George Clooney.

13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 PST

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.