LilSugar

Pimp Your Crib: Paint Your Life

babysugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:00:00 PDT

The days of sitting for an oil portrait may be long gone but that doesn't mean you have to forgo the beauty of a canvas hanging on your walls. The magic of the Internet and Paint Your Life allows parents to take a digitally uploaded photograph and convert it into an oil painting in just over three weeks. With a team of professional artists on staff, the company recreates your photo using the medium of your choice - oil, watercolor or charcoal - and uploads a photo of the piece for your review. After approval, the canvas is finished and you receive the portrait in the mail.

Prices start at $120 for the smallest oil painting so you may want to start working your way through Summer photos to get a head start on some holiday gifts for the grandparents.

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.

Domino Quick Fixes Launches This Spring!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:07:10 PST

Domino fans rejoice! The dearly departed shelter publication will be brought to life again through a special print edition titled Quick Fixes. Condé Nast will publish a compilation of the magazine's best home-decorating stories, highlighting tricks and tips for easy and affordable ways to dramatically change the look of your home.

Condé Nast editorial director Thomas J. Wallace noted in a press release that "this special edition of Domino is another example of Condé Nast’s objective to bring brands to life across multiple platforms, and give consumers more of what they love in new and exciting ways. Domino Quick Fixes will be a treasure trove of useful and creative information, and a must-read for any Domino fan."

Whether it's sprucing up a tired piece of furniture or breaking down the steps for more elaborate DIYs, like painting a stairwell, the publication will be full of inspiring ideas for weekend warriors. Domino Quick Fixes will be available on national newsstands from April 17 through July 16, 2012, for $11. And if that's not exciting enough, you can look forward to a second special edition scheduled for the Fall!

30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

YourTango — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:00:44 PST

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango.

Writing about love is daunting. It really is.

To paint an accurate illustration of the way I felt when I first began tackling this topic, I ask you to envision me-a skinny, uncoordinated white girl measuring all of 5'3"-facing off with Shaquille O'Neal on the basketball court.

The entire scenario is silly and farcical, and that's exactly how I felt trying to form accurate conclusions about love, a force that is much like a giant on a basketball court. It's towering and intimidating and has the capacity to undo me. The challenge was intriguing, however, so I couldn't say no.

As I started brainstorming everything I’d learned about love over the short 30 years of my life, I quickly recognized that in pondering the mysteries of love, I was actually placing myself in the company of others who had sung and written and theorized about it. As I listened to their music, read their novels, and watched their films, the insights I gained helped shape my own. They bore witness to my experiences and gave voice to feelings I couldn’t otherwise articulate.

I share some of them with you here, intermingled with musings of my own.

Make a list, but don't let it rule you. It can be helpful to make a list of things you want in a romantic partner, and it can be equally helpful to throw that list away. Love asks that we remain open, and always ready for surprise.
Love doesn't require perfection. There were so many presumptions that I'd allowed to be built into my own mind about what a wife should be. I thought she should be a show-stopping cook and a brilliant entertainer, a nonstop quick wit, a wild thing in bed, an effortless nurturer . . . but, if I can be honest, my grandmother was none of these things and she still enjoyed one of the most legendary lives and marriages that I've ever seen.
Be realistic.In generations past, there was far less talk of "compatibility" and finding the ideal soul-mate. Today we are looking for someone who accepts us as we are and fulfills our desires, and this creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both the searchers and the searched for . . . In other words, some people in our culture want too much out of a marriage partner.
Let go. The more I let people be who they are, instead of cramming them into what I need from them, the more surprised I am by their beauty and depth.
Men are not from Mars and Women are not from Venus. Contrary to popular belief, I don't buy the idea that men and women come from different planets. We both live here on Earth, and in spite of a few rudimentary differences, such as personal interests, or ways of approaching the world, I see more similarities between the sexes with every year that goes by.

Find out the other lessons when you finish reading the rest of the story on YourTango: 30 Ways I See Love Differently at Age 30

Written by Christy Krumm for YourTango.

What Are Your Colors?

Sponsor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:00:00 PST

Sometimes picking a paint color can feel like a challenge. There are so many options, and narrowing them to just a few can seem daunting. My Colortopia, a new paint and color inspiration website powered by Glidden, is here to help. Take their My Life, My Colors quiz below and get color palettes based on your personality and things you like. You just may discover that new room color you were looking for!

Looking for more inspiration? Check out MyColortopia.com for more fun color tools, inspiration, and DIY painting tips from the Colortopia Team!

Todd Oldham to Bring Kid Made Modern to Target With New Line of Art Supplies

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:04:55 PST

Art supplies and crafts collection, designed by a real-life designer, at Target prices? Sign me up! When Todd Oldham first published Kid Made Modern ($16) almost three years ago, he created a minirevolution in the world of arts and crafts. Inspired by the most influential midcentury artists - including Alexander Calder, Charles and Ray Eames, and Marimekko - he sought to teach lil ones about their creativity through 52 projects kids could do at home, everything from creating flowers out of wire (Calder) to making polka-dotted book covers using bubble wrap (Marimekko). The projects all used a combination of household items and store-bought crafting products.

This Spring the designer is expanding his drive to inspire creativity in kids through a new partnership with Target. On May 20, Target stores nationwide will introduce more than 50 Kid Made Modern art supplies and kits, all designed and tested by Oldham himself. I got a sneak peek at the line last week and can already tell you that it will be on your must-buy list! The beautifully made products - including crayons in various shapes and sizes (the pyramid one was my favorite!), board book-making kits, gorgeous wooden blocks primed for painting, and learn-to-sew kits that feature Charley Harper's gorgeous images - are all artfully packaged in recyclable boxes (many of which double as display cases) and will all be priced under $20 (talk about great birthday presents!).

Stay tuned for more details in May (including my interview with Todd as he walked me through his favorite products). Until then, take a peek at a few of the highlights from the line!

Wabi-Sabi Design Uncovered

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:26:52 PST

We've seen a lot of wabi-sabi design out there - but not a lot of explanation. If you're scratching your head wondering what wabi-sabi is, here's your chance to learn a little something new about this ancient Japanese style. While it includes an entire Japanese philosophy of living, wabi-sabi also applies to a specific design style that celebrates rustic imperfection, mismatched items, and simplicity. Wabi-sabi is a sort of yin and yang balance, because designs are simultaneously structured and simple while weathered and irregular. Accepting transience of the material world, wabi-sabi recognizes that the world is an imperfect place and that material goods wear away and change form over time.

Rather than seeking design perfection or preservation of material things, wabi-sabi submits to the ephemerality of material items. All things gradually and naturally change over time - be it a chip in a ceramic bowl, a scrape across a leather sofa, or the fading colors in a woven fabric. In the philosophy of wabi-sabi, these imperfect items are actually seen as more valuable and interesting! If this style appeals to you, learn how you can easily decorate your house with wabi-sabi design.

Listen to Jay-Z Honor His Baby Girl Blue Ivy Carter in "Glory" - and Read the Sweet Lyrics!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:10:33 PST

Jay-Z wrote a song to honor his newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter! In record time, Jay got together the lyrics and music for "Glory," which even features some audio from the little one.

In the track, Jay refers to Blue as "God's gift" and "the most beautifulest thing in the world." The new dad rapped, "Words can't describe what I'm feeling, for real." He goes on to say "my greatest creation was you." He also writes about Blue's conception in Paris, and alludes to him and wife Beyoncé Knowles having experienced a miscarriage in the past - take a listen below, and check out the full lyrics after the jump.

See the sweet lyrics when you read more.

"Failed Painter" Angelina Jolie on Defying Rules, Clint Eastwood, Defining Success

Allie Merriam — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:55:40 PST

Angelina Jolie's directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey, a love story set during the Bosnian War in the '90s, opens here in the US on Friday. She was in NYC earlier this month doing press for the film and joined her cast for a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria. Leading ladies Zana Marjanovic and Vanessa Glodjo, as well as actors Goran Kostic and Rade Serbedzija, sat with Angelina on a panel moderated by NPR's Tom Gjelten. The conversation was all about the movie, with Angelina speaking about the process of creating the script with input from survivors. She also touched on the directors she has learned from and the challenges of making a movie in a foreign language. Angelina said:

On learning about directing: "You learn from everybody. Clint Eastwood taught me a lot about working with people that you love, that you think are great people, and making a family - working with nice people, good people. He's also very fast, so I had to learn about the economy of a shoot and a budget."
On deciding to make the movie in Bosnian and English: "When you want to do a film about this subject matter, many people tell you, 'Well, you're going to have to do a lot of different things in order to get people to see this.' One of them being, English, and the other being you're going to have to cast people who people recognize. We decided to do neither."
On how she'll define success for the movie: "We had a very low budget, so we're starting at a good base. It's gonna be alright I think . . . I hope it's received as a film. I hope people see it as a piece of art as well. I hope the actors involved are recognized for being extraordinary actors. So my fingers are crossed for that."
On the importance of art themes in the film: "I think Zana and I are both failed painters. We both tried to paint. I would have loved to be a painter. This part of the world - they're artists. During the siege, a film festival started under the siege of Sarajevo! Plays were put on, art was made. It was their art that just stood stronger and stronger while they were being starved and shot at. Art is representative of the region. As a woman and an artist it was a beautiful tool to express the internal side of a character."

To read what Angelina said about her road to making the movie, using real-life stories from the cast in the plot, and finding her directorial voice, just read more.

Sandra Bullock Picks Louis Up For a Park Playdate

Lauren Turner — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:35:45 PST

Sandra Bullock and Louis layered up for a fun park day in NYC this morning. It's an exciting season for Sandra and her little guy, and she apparently plans on spoiling him with a "ridiculous" Christmas. Sandra joked that she wants the "photo ops to be really great because he’s not going to remember it, but he’ll remember it by the photos and when he’s 16 and says, ‘I hate you - you’re a horrible mother,’ I’ll go, ‘Do you see this Christmas? Do you see that I got you that life-size lion?" Louis has already received some amazing gifts this year, including a Warhol painting that Sandra's agent Kevin Huvane bought for Louis at the amfAR Inspiration Gala.

Sandra has a break to enjoy the holidays before continuing press for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which hits theaters in January. Sandra filmed the movie earlier this year with Tom Hanks, but he wasn't the only handsome costar she shared the spotlight with since she also worked on Gravity with George Clooney.