BellaSugar

Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:23 -0700

No matter how many times I see a caviar night cream or a diamond-encrusted lip gloss, I still experience sticker shock. Of course, there are an abundance of beauty items that don't cost and arm and a leg, and for that I am grateful. But when it comes to the asking price of the following beauty items compared to price tags of some similar-sounding products, can you guess which ones are more expensive? (And can you guess how much I am fantasizing about this coconut cupcake, too?)
Source: Flickr User Michael Q.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Pretty as a package? Some perfumes and compacts have such lovely bottles that you may be more charmed by their looks than the actual purpose of the item. I've gathered some beautiful beauty items to compare with similar adornments for your home and body. Can you spot the cheaper item in these luxe duos? Test yourself and start this quiz!

Question 1 of 5

Which is more expensive?

Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:34 -0800

I firmly believe that many pricey products are worth their, uh, price - but did you ever stop to think what else you could be getting for the same dollar amount? Well, that's just what I did when I set out to see whether one bottle of really nice polish costs more than the entire collection from another brand and other like comparisons. It was fun for me to hunt out these makeup items, but the results are definitely not made up. Take the quiz and see how much (hypothetical) bang you can get for your (hypothetical) bucks.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:01:03 -0800

I'm often amazed at the high cost of certain beauty products. A $200 haircut? The frugal gal in me can't help but start formulation scenarios as to what else I could do with that kind of dough. Fifteen pairs of shoes at Payless. Eighty-seven boxes of whole wheat pasta, perhaps. You get the point. So, let's test your knowledge. Can you guess which is more expensive?

Source

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:01:35 -0800

Trudge, trudge, sludge, sludge. The economy may still be suffering, but it has to eventually get better, right? I put on my rose-colored glasses and spotted items that are still flying around in my fantasies. Take the latest Which Is More Expensive? quiz . . . and continue to dream big.

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Bella Quiz: Which Is More Expensive?

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:04 -0800

In these tight economic times, most people are cutting back on their spending, but companies continue releasing over-the-top items. Welcome to the third Which Is More Expensive? quiz, where your knowledge of just how pricey beauty products can get is tested. Think of it as The Price Is Right, only without the prizes. Or Bob Barker.

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The Pros and Cons of Buying Topshop Online

Fab Community — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:22 -0800

Check out what Emily EMS has to say about her online Topshop experience in our 24/7 Go-To Fashion Guide group.

I always knew they existed - I have seen their chic dresses, sexy heels and cool tops. I am talking about Topshop. I got even more excited when I found out they opened a store in NYC, although I live in Denver, Colorado. I must say, things come around a lot slower around here, and don't get me wrong, there are nice stores here, but it's not to the point where they satisfy my fashion cravings.

This is when the beauty of online shopping comes in handy. My friend Sophie loves to shop online. She says that it's the best because she can buy things anytime, even at two in the morning, not have to worry about driving to the mall, (and not finding anything at the mall!), and in most cases, there's no sales tax, a small shipping fee, and usually, the return and exchanges are easy.

I must say, I was never comfortable with buying clothes online. Shoes and bags, I'm OK with. With clothes, things are different simply because every brand has slightly different sizing and all. Topshop was no exception. It's from the UK, and I know sometimes the equivalent of those sizes can be confusing - look at H&M!

One day, as I was looking through tons of pictures as always - new trends, jackets and coats for Fall and Winter. And there it was. I fell in love with this striped knit jacket from Topshop. I looked at the price, and fell in love with it even more - it's only $80!

I had to go to the store - but wait, there is no Topshop here in Denver! As I envied those folks in NYC, I went online. I quickly navigated myself to look for the jacket and there it was! I want, I want! Pause. What is my size?

Suddenly, I was lost. I usually wear a 2 or 4, depending on the brand. I also have jackets and tops that run rather small or large. While all those thoughts kept going around my head, I looked up on the sizing chart. Hmm . . . I think I am 4, but I don't want it to be too tight since it's a knit jacket . . . oh well, let's just order 6 in case, and if it didn't fit, I'd just exchange it. Before placing an order, it suddenly dawned on me that in case this size didn't work out, I better check on the return policy. Just in case. I'm not sure if that was a sign of something, but I looked. And I discovered many things I did not know. At first, I did not know Topshop's merchandise all ship out from UK. Thus, $15 shipping charge makes sense. Then I realized another thing. What if I wanted to return or exchange something? Sure, you can either return it in person at their stores but that is not my option. According to their website, if you wanted to return or exchange an item, you have to ship it back to their UK warehouse at your own expense. Hmmm . . .

Now I'm determined to make my purchase more "oops wrong size" free. I certainly don't want to go through with shipping the item back and forth till I get it right. It's not only time consuming, but also could end up being costly. I carefully studied the sizing chart, I realized, I needed some real people's opinions. Of course, the chart gives you the idea to narrow down which size you could possibly be, but just in case, to double check it, I did my own research.

I googled the "Topshop sizing review" and voilà! There were a few out there, but one forum was particularly helpful - Facebook. People with the same problems come together and discuss the sizing. Some argue Topshop's sizing runs smaller. Others disagree.

In the end, I ended up getting a 6 - I figured if it's bigger rather than smaller, I could live with it. I haven't gotten the jacket just yet, because I just ordered yesterday, but I'll keep you posted on the sizing. I must say the forum, like the one Facebook, did help me tremendously, sometimes a sizing chart won't do justice. Real people's opinions really do count.

So will I shop online again? Yeah, sure. But do some research beforehand, and read the fine print in case you don't like it, or it's too small or too big, or it's not what I thought it would be, or whatever the reason may be. As for me, for now, I'm waiting and hoping that all the research and reading will pay off.

There are already a bunch of groups you can join and explore, and please - start some new ones! Here's a helpful guide to creating in case you need some clarification.

Consumer Reports: How to Make Pricey Appliances Last

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:28 -0800

The cost of maintaining a home and appliances is often a major deterrent for those debating whether to rent or purchase a home. The unexpected expense of fixing leaky gutters and broken dishwashers can be budget breaking if it comes at the wrong time of month. Not to mention it's a huge pain. Consumer Reports has put together a great guide for how to extend the useful life of appliances and pricey goodies. Obviously, the key is maintenance and keeping a watchful eye on appliances so they don't break down unexpectedly and leave you in a pricey pinch. Consumer Reports suggests:

Cell phones
Don't stow in your car's glove compartment during the summer. Otherwise, batteries may overheat, possibly ruining the phone. If you've been known to drop your cell phone, treat it to a protective case.

Clothes dryers
Clean the lint filter after each use and the entire air duct yearly. If your dryer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable new model. But don't expect much gain in performance or efficiency, since dryer technology hasn't changed much.

Clothes washers
Don't overload. If your washer breaks, think about replacing it if repairs will cost more than half the price of a comparable model. If you're replacing, consider a high-efficiency washer, which should save money over time. Also consider a front-loader, which is less punishing to clothes than a top-loader.

Dishwashers
Check the filter regularly and remove any debris.

To see additional suggestions and reminders, read more.

Hardwood floors
Dust mop or vacuum weekly. Wipe up wet spills pronto.

Kitchen knives
Keep them out of the dishwasher and store them in a wooden knife block or individual plastic shields.

Laptop computers
Set them on a hard, flat surface rather than a soft one such as a bed or carpet, which can block airflow and cause them to overheat.

LCD TVs
Clean the screen gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth, ideally a microfiber one. Avoid commercial cleaners and paper towels, which can scratch the screen.

Mattresses
Rotate periodically. Try not to sit on the edge. Buy a washable, protective cover. And pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed air out for 20 minutes or so each morning.

Visit the Consumer Reports website for more tips on making your pricey goods last.

Are Working Moms Making Women Less Attractive Hires?

babysugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:20 -0800

There's hardly a more exciting time in someone's life than when they discover they are willfully pregnant. Most mamas-to-be want to scream it from the mountain tops but there's usually one ear they'd like to shield - their boss's. Many women try to hide their expectant status until it is blatantly obvious to co-workers and their higher-ups because they don't know how their news will be received. Before she can give a due date, employers' minds are ticking: Who can replace her? Will she come back? Do we even need her? While those are all valid questions, it is often up to the childbearing woman to make those decisions, which is why some are wondering if motherhood is making women more unemployable.

The Vogue UK Editor Alexandra Shulman has sparked a debate that will leave many moms angry and others nodding their heads in agreement. Worried about Britain's maternity leave laws, she believes new mothers may be doing themselves a disservice if they take a year-long leave and then expect to return to the same benefits as before but with lower professional expectations. British designer Anya Hindmarch supports her view. She quips:

If we are not careful (and I speak as a mother and an employer), maternity leave and benefits will become too biased towards the mother and not considerate enough for the employer... In which case, it can start to work against women as it becomes too complicated and expensive to employ them. To me, it shouts of shooting ourselves in the foot.

Do you believe that longer maternity leave and flexible work schedules are working against women in the workplace?

Country Shines Bright and Taylor Cleans Up at the CMAs!

Molly — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Last night we gave you a taste of the CMA Awards, and now here's the whole set! For the younger women, it was all about the shine on the red carpet from Taylor Swift's typical beautiful sparkly gown to Carrie Underwood's mirrored number. Carrie was one of the hosts of the night along with Brad Paisley, so once she stepped inside it was all about the costume changes for her. Nicole Kidman had nothing but love for her husband Keith Urban, who was a nominee. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw always look classic together and this was no exception.

Taylor kicked off the show with a wild performance of "Forever and Always" where she threw around her long blond hair as she sang. There were no semi-subtle kisses for Taylor Lautner this time, but the two have a lot to celebrate next time they see each other - she won the biggest award of the night, Entertainer of the Year! She also won for female vocalist of the year, album of the year and music video of the year for "Love Story." Carrie Underwood walked away empty handed, but she and Brad Paisley did a great job hosting the show which included a few jokes at the expense of Kanye West. Kid Rock and Dave Matthews Band were also among the performers at the fun country-filled award show.

For TONS more photos from the CMA Awards just read more.

View 50 Photos ›

Images include: Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Naomi Judd, Kellie Pickler, Kimberly Williams, Darius Rucker, Kid Rock