LilSugar

Texts and Tunes: Spring Into Reading

babysugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PDT

Since today is the first day of Spring, I thought I'd suggest some cheery, floral laden books for your tot's library.

To see a few of our family faves,

Runway Trend to Try Now: Leather Opera Gloves and Dresses

Marisa Tom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:50:35 PST

Along with the fabulous Fall '12 outerwear we've been seeing, there's another emerging trend that's high up on our "coveted style" list. Luckily, this one doesn't require us to wait to emulate its ultra-cool proportions. We're talking about the leather opera-length glove-and-dress look, of course. As seen at Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Rachel Zoe, Carolina Herrera, Rag & Bone, and Yigal Azrouël, this ladylike pairing strikes up a nuanced and nostalgic feel with all the right attention to stylish detail. Simply put, designers have injected their Fall '12 collections with a totally refreshed spin on a retro classic look. It's a quick Spring styling coup - just accent flirtier floral print dresses with long Winter gloves, or take notes straight from the runway on how to pull of this easy, elegant dressing matchup in darker color combos. Click through the widget below and shop your favorite gloved pairings now.

From left to right: Carolina Herrera, Rachel Zoe, and Diane von Furstenberg

12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

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

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding

Kiplinger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:14:10 PST

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

Political theater over whether or not to extend the 2% payroll tax holiday has overshadowed the fact that most workers can do more to reduce the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks than anything cooked up in Washington.

The power-to-the-people ploy? Using a W-4 form to put an end to overwithholding from your paychecks. First, let's set the stage. Even as anti-Washington sentiment rises to a fever pitch, most middle-class Americans continue to allow the government to claim more than its share every single payday. The proof: In 2011, 109 million of the 145 million individual tax returns filed called for refunds. That's 75%. The average refund last year: $2,913. That's significantly more than even the highest-paid worker gets from a 2% payroll tax holiday.

Yes, we love our tax refunds. But we ask this simple question of those of you who get refunds year after year: Doesn't it make more sense to get your money when you earn it?

If you agree with us that the answer is a resounding "yes," we have good news. Unlike stubbornly high unemployment, it's easy to fix overwithholding. All you have to do is file a revised Form W-4 with your employer. The information on that little form determines how much federal income tax is withheld from your checks. The more "allowances" you claim on the W-4, the less income tax will be withheld.

Read on for more.

So Sweet! Candies iPhone Cases at Opening Ceremony

Kelly Schwarze — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:12:07 PST

Purveyors of all things chic and of-the-moment, Opening Ceremony has released its latest Spring import, and we're already craving more! iPhone cases from Japanese company Candies are making their adorable US debut. Candies creates all their cases from 100 percent natural silicone, free of nasty chemicals - good for you and Mother Earth.

Check out the range of cases including wheeled skate decks, cuddly cartoons, and bright graphics in the gallery.

Eat Up These Hearty Stews While It's Still Cold Outside

Camilla Salem — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:09:31 PST

Although this Winter season has been rather strange, with all of the fluctuations in weather and temperature (it feels like Spring here today), it's still a great time of year to eat up hearty stews. The best part of stews is that the ingredients cook together for a long time so that all of the flavors meld and the end result is truly satisfying. We're always on the lookout for new combinations of flavors, textures, and ingredients, but here are some of our favorite tried-and-true recipes.

Oven-Baked Cioppino	Chicken Moqueca Baiana	Irish Beef Stout Stew
Crock-Pot Chili	Vegetable Tagine	Navarin of Lamb

Pamela Love Fall 2012

Noria Morales — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:14:56 PST

Standing in front of industrial pipes and exposed lights, models at Pamela Love's Fall 2012 collection were dressed up like steelworkers, complete with smudged faces and undone overalls. They were also draped in sculptural, geometric jewelry that referenced architectural beams, and the deco-inspired shapes brought to mind the post-Depression '30s. The raw, masculine setting added a toughness to the collection, but imagine how good these will look with a flowy white dress come Spring.

Trends: Architectural details, deco, arm bands.
Key Piece: We loved the statement necklaces.
Who Would Wear It: Pamela Love is having a moment, and we see downtown cool girls eating this up - think Erin Wasson, Cara Delevingne, and Zoe Kravitz.

Sugar Shout Out: See Siku the Polar Bear's First Snow Day!

Katie Henry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:55:34 PST

Source: Hilmer & Koch for Scandinavian Wildlife Park

House Comes to an End After Eight Seasons

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:19:02 PST

Rumors have been circulating for a while now, but now it's official: Fox is canceling House at the end of the current season. The Hugh Laurie medical drama has run for eight seasons, but has lost steam lately, due in part to Lisa Edelstein's exit from the series. House will wrap up with its final episodes later this Spring; will you be sad to see it go?
Photo courtesy of Fox

Runway to Reality: Spring's Sporty-Chic Trend Under $150

Brittney Stephens — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:16:36 PST

From Isabel Marant's cool, colorful layers to Alexander Wang's perennial sporty-girl swagger, the runways were rife with easy, athletic pieces in hyperchromatic hues - playing the perfect juxtaposition for Spring's otherwise sweet, feminine fare. Fluid racerback tanks and bikini tops were paired under flouro mesh tees at Rag & Bone, and there was no shortage of slick, skintight knits on Wang's runway. It's a youthful, confident look that doesn't skimp on the sex appeal - and luckily, you can achieve the sporty-chic trend for Spring without breaking the bank or a sweat. Click through the widget below to shop our under-$150 picks now.

3.1 Phillip Lim Cotton shorts - $125.00	Splendid Neon Yellow Vintage Whisper Racerback Top - $95.00
MICHAEL Michael Kors Zip Anorak - $150.00	Lisa Marie Fernandez Elisa neoprene racer-back dress - Sold Out
Deena & Ozzy Crosswire Flatform Sandal - $59.00	Zip Front Jersey Skirt - $50.00
ASOS Mini Dress With Stripe Mesh - $62.67	Mesh-Inset Hacci Top - $19.99
Dear Marlene Bikini Bottoms - $118.00	Neoprene Crossbody Bag - $70.00
Neoprene Circle Skirt by Boutique - $140.00	Cord and Chain Bangle - $38.00
Pamir Petal Combo - $129.00	Ponte Side Stripe Leggings - $36.00
Scratch Windbreak Jacket - $89.00	Viscose Blend Lightweight Color Block Tank - $115.00
Nooka Unisex ZUB-ZIRC-NG-20 Zub Zirc Neon Green PolyurethaneWatch - $130.00	Short Pippa Skirt - $44.00
Long anorak - $109.90	Sporty Suede Colorblock Wedge Ankle Boots - $130.00
BB Dakota Naple Twill Blazer - Sold Out	BDG Fitted Baseball Tee - $34.00
Splendid Sahara cotton-jersey shorts - $72.00	ASOS Runner Short in Chair Print - $44.76
VPL Insertion stretch-cotton soft-cup bra - $95.00	Forever 21 Storm Flap Windbreaker Jacket - $34.80
T By Alexander Wang Sport Mesh Long Sleeve Tee - $120.00	J. Renee Clutch - $99.00
ASOS BLACK Neoprene High Neck Shift Dress - $152.19	ASOS Shorts with sporty Detailing - $35.81
Forever 21 Colorblocked Sandals - $12.80	UO Colorblock Bustier Bikini - $42.00

Oasis Placement Lace Dress - $116.38	TOUCH - Long leather gloves - $99.90
Easton Pearson Striped cotton and lace dress - $855.00	Peachoo + Krejberg Long leather glove - $599.00
Bluebell paisley maxidress - $225.00	Rosie - $146.00
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Pannier printed cotton dress - $710.00	Barneys New York Long Mixed Gloves - $129.00
Valentino Lace detail crepe de chine dress - $3,490.00	CAROLINA AMATO Opera-Length Leather Gloves - $288.00
Love 21 Billowy Layered Dress - $29.80	Barneys New York Long Cable Knit Gloves - $275.00
Single Victoria Belted Dress - $210.00	Forzieri Women's Silk Lined Black Italian Leather Long Gloves - $126.00
Dkny Agnes Floral Slip Dress - $295.00	Club Monaco Catherine Long Gloves - $99.00