GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Make Me Super

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:27:35 PDT

I know I've posted sites like this before, where you can put your head in a dancing body like we did with Elf Yourself, but trust me when I say, Make Me Super takes the cake! Upload a pic of yourself, use the easy head resizer to get it just the way you want it and bam! Make Me Super will whip up a sweet vid of you getting your super hero on. . . It's magical and will have you LOLing. You can share the video with friends, upload the super-hero pic of yourself, or buy hilarious paraphernalia with your super self all over them!

To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group,

read more.
I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post.”
Give your story a “Title.”
Fill in the “Body” with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click “Next."
Choose the audience for your story to “Website of the Day” in the drop-down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to “Technology and Gadgets.”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click “I’m done” to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Whitney's Chris D'Elia Has Funny Answers For Your V-Day Questions

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:37:26 PST

You asked, and Whitney's Chris D'Elia answered your Valentine's Day and relationship questions. The standup comedian, who says he's seeing a special someone ("she's super"), took our reader questions on the topic of love and dating in time for Feb. 14. So if you're looking for a guy's perspective before Valentine's Day, take some advice from Chris, who plays Whitney Cummings's hot boyfriend on the NBC Wednesday-night comedy.

What can I get my boyfriend for Valentine's Day that he will actually like?

Chris: I mean, I don't know many guys who like the romantic stuff. So I honestly think Valentine's Day is mostly for girls. I don't expect anything if I have a girlfriend, but I think a nice card with something sweet in it usually makes me feel good and important.

If you're in a new relationship on Valentine's Day, what can you suggest that won't freak out the guy?

Chris: I think if it's a new relationship, you have to let the dude handle it. Even if you're like, "Oh my God I didn't get you anything because I didn't want to freak you out," then that's so cute. It's like she respects you to not want to blow it, but she also wants you to be the man.

What is the most romantic breakfast item you can think of?

Chris: I don't even know what's romantic about any breakfast item? When I think about eggs, like that's so unromantic. I think there's just no romantic breakfast items. I guess if it's in bed, that's romantic. I used to do breakfast in bed for a girl on Valentine's Day, and she liked that. She ate it up. Literally.

I'm single and I hate Valentine's Day. Any advice for getting through it as a single girl?

Chris: Yeah, you don't hate Valentine's Day. I think you're not being honest with yourself. There's no way you don't like Valentine's Day. There's no way! You secretly like it. You just have to realize that. You need to come to terms with it.

In light of it being Valentine's Day, if a girl likes a guy and he hasn't picked up on her hints, can she ask him out?

Chris: For me, I have to be the aggressor. I don't like it when girls ask me out. But I know that there are guys who are very shy who would like that. I think that it's a case-by-case basis. But I would say, normally if the guy's not asking you out or hovering around you, he's not interested. Like if a guy's talking to you, he's interested. If he's looking at you and you're not even talking to him, that's a huge thing.

Can girls and guys be friends? Keep reading for Chris's answer!

Handy Everyday Gmail Tips and Tricks

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:01:03 PST

If you've moved to Gmail recently (congratulations!), it's possible that you could get overwhelmed with all of the options, settings, and possibilities at your fingertips. We've got a ton of tips to share, but let's start with a few basic and handy tips that you could use every day. Check them out below!

Make voice calls - You can easily make voice calls in Gmail on the cheap. In the "Chat" section, just click the "Call Phone" button and enter the digits. You'll then be able to make free calls to landlines the US and Canada, and for super cheap you can call cell phones and landlines worldwide.
Search with options - If you haven't discovered the "Show Search Options" link to the right of the Gmail search bar, you're in for a treat. Clicking it reveals a host of helpful options, including the ability to search by sender, date, attachment, subject, and more. It's extremely helpful if you are less than diligent about labeling and filing emails in your inbox.
Use rich text signatures - Tired of those boring text-only signatures or canned responses coming from your Gmail account? Take note: Gmail supports rich text signatures! Add links, colors, images, or formatting to your Gmail account signature, or any other account you've set up to send from Gmail. It's super easy to set up - just head to your settings page, scroll down to the Signature section, and design away!
Use keyboard shortcuts - First, enable keyboard shortcuts in your Settings menu. Then, use these fast and easy keyboard shortcuts to navigate!

See the rest of the list after the break.

Sisters of DC Cupcakes Share Valentine's Day Baking Tips and Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:16:28 PST

What's sugar and spice and everything nice? Cupcakes! And no one knows more about our obsession with the lil confections than Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis, co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of TLC's DC Cupcakes. The sisters, who learned their kitchen skills from their grandmother ("We followed her around the kitchen and always begged to help"), have been known to bake up to 10,000 lil cakes a day, much to the delight of the patrons who line the block of their Washington DC store. The duo - who just opened their first outpost in New York City - gave me a few minutes of their time to discuss their tasty desserts.

LilSugar: Cupcakes have moved from kiddie birthday party staple to a favorite of adults and kids alike. But kids aren't always willing to try new flavors. Which are most popular with kids?
Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis: Our Vanilla Birthday (vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), Chocolate Birthday (chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), and Milk Chocolate Birthday (vanilla cupcake with milk chocolate buttercream and rainbow bobbles) are the most popular with kids. We think it's the color rainbow bobbles!

LS: Moms are busy; what shortcuts can you recommend to making delicious, beautiful cupcakes without spending the whole day baking and decorating them?
SL and KK: Try to keep a stash of baking staples - butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, all purpose flour, baking soda/powder, salt, and cocoa powder/chocolate on hand in your kitchen at all times and you can make almost any flavor! Our recipes are very simple - we don’t use cake flour or pastry flour - just all purpose - we find that works best. Also, we're big fans of chocolate ganache icing. It's so easy - just two ingredients - chocolate chips and heavy cream. You just melt them down (two cups of chips to one cup of cream), and dip your cupcakes in and you've got a super fast and unbelievably delicious frosting.

LS: Do you ever make "healthy" cupcakes for those who want to skip some of the sugar? If so, what goes into it?
SL and KK: We have a carrot cake cupcake, which has fresh carrots and fresh apples grated in it. We skip the walnuts, to save on calories, and it's a light and delicious cupcake!

The new season of DC Cupcakes begins on Feb. 25, but if you're looking to create their Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes for Valentine's Day,

Gisele Bundchen Hits the Runway For Alexander Wang at NYFW

Lauren Turner — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:25:42 PST

Gisele Bundchen got back to her modeling ways at NY Fashion Week tonight. She walked the runway at the Alexander Wang show and met up with pals Karolina Kurkova, Shalom Harlow, and Carmen Kass backstage. Gisele shared that designer Alexander Wang "asked me and I'm very happy I was able to be here." She was in the spotlight during the Fashion Week festivities after making headlines last week for her comments following the Super Bowl. Gisele dropped an f-bomb after the big game, expressing her frustration at the Patriots' loss against the Giants.

Tone Your Middle With the Kettlebell Windmill

Susi May — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:27:14 PST

Swinging kettlebells around at the gym makes me feel like a super toughie. But I do love the sassy feeling I get doing slow and controlled windmills, a move I just learned from my Equinox trainer Lauren. Like most kettlebell moves, this is a full-body exercise, but the work is at your waist, toning the obliques and stretching the sides of the torso. The shoulders and arms are worked nicely, too.

If you're a beginner, try this exercise with no weights. Once you feel familiar with the sequence, add one five-pound dumbbell into the mix, holding the weight in the hand that remains held above the head. When you're ready, progress to using a set of four-kilogram (8.8 pounds) kettlebells.

Start toning your love handles now; bikini season is right around the corner.

A Reader Recipe: Vegetarian Ancho Chili

Fit Community — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:07:10 PST

Here's a healthy chili recipe from FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle - it's a perfect dish for Super Bowl Sunday, which she posted in our Healthy Recipe community group.

As you start to think about your menu for the Super Bowl, consider this vegetarian ancho chili. The ancho chiles add a nice smokiness without being too hot, though you could certainly dial up the heat by adding a few more. For each chili you add, make sure to incorporate one additional cup of vegetable stock to the pot. And don’t forget the good-for-you garnishes. The addition of some crunchy bell peppers, creamy avocado, juicy corn kernels, and scallions really made this chili come together for me.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

6 Secrets to Bargain Hunting

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:04 PST

This past weekend, a friend and I spent a glorious Saturday afternoon being shown around by a frugal fashionista who gave us a crash course in bargain hunting. I think I must have squealed a few times over the amazing finds I spotted in consignment stores and little neighborhood shops. I found a BCBG dress for just $25 when it originally price was over $200, and to top it all off, it was in great condition. I didn't buy much this time, but I did pick up some valuable tips from my shopping trip. Here they are:

High and Low: There is a mix of high- and low- end consignment stores so remember to check out both. On my little bargain excursion, I saw pieces from Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg at about 80 to 90 percent off at a higher-end store and found some great basic pieces at the low-end store. Mix and match it up, just like you would with your outfit!
Check the Tags: If you're super iffy about wearing something that's used, check the tags to see if it's new. Some stores get their clothes from wholesalers who have some clothes left over or from shops that need to get rid of some stock to make space for the new arrivals.

Read on for more tips.

The Vampire Diaries "The Ties That Bind": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:56:35 PST

It's a family reunion for Bonnie and her estranged mother on this week's The Vampire Diaries, but their meeting is less than magic (I'm sorry, I had to). They need her to open up one of Klaus's sealed coffins, but like most things on this show, they have to get through a bit of sticky business first. Meanwhile, Tyler recruits someone to help free him of his sire bond to Klaus so he can be with Caroline again, and Elena gets something off of her chest.

Even though there were no hot makeouts this week and not much major happened, it's still another entertaining episode with a lot going on. Ready to discuss? To get to the good, the bad, and the bloody, just keep reading.

Umbrella Stands: Options to Buy and a Smart DIY

Angela Swinderman Elias — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:51:43 PST

Now that the rainy season is finally upon us in San Francisco, I'm remembering why umbrella stands become so essential this time of year. Since most are located by the front door, I think it's a great way to introduce the style of your home. I've pulled together a roundup of some of the statement umbrella stands I have my eye on, as well as a clever tutorial for turning a stock stand into a customized standout for your home.

Chevron prints are still everywhere, and this Hand Painted Chevron Stripe with Red Interior Umbrella Stand (price upon request, second to the left, bottom) comes in eight different shades of lacquer.

I think rope brings texture and warmth to everything, and this Rope Twist Umbrella Stand ($525, right of chevron stand) is no exception. Instead of just wrapping rope around a traditional cylinder shape, this one has a lasso-like look that makes it sculptural.

This Zontik Umbrella Holder ($350, left of chevron stand) reminds me of the Elsa Peretti Bean designs from Tiffany & Co. It's super mod, but the gold shade gives it a glamorous edge.

Find out how Jenny from Little Green Notebook turned her admiration for Leontine Linens monograms into a chic umbrella stand DIY project. The addition of the black and white umbrella stand instantly tied in the entryway with her living room, which has graphic black and white striped drapes.

Click on the rest of the umbrella stands to shop directly!