GeekSugar

Best Online Calendars For the New Year

GeekSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:30:41 PST

If you hope to be more organized this year I suggest you spend some time selecting an online calendar that can easily sync with your gadgetry and life.

Though relatively unknown Famundo has received a lot of attention lately for being a great option for families. They call themselves a "family hub" and hope to replace your wall calendar, address book, filing cabinet, fridge magnets and yellow sticky notes. Famundo offers Outlook synchronization, a list maker and even a family library for storing your documents, photos, bookmarks and other personal information.
You all know I am a die hard fan of the free shareable Google calendar, which makes it easy to keep track of birthdays, schedules, dates and appointments. I couldn't live without its invitations feature, which allows you to send invites to friends and family.
Real Simple recently sang the praises of Which Time so I checked it out and am pretty impressed with its set up. It seems like a simpler version of Google Cal or Famundo and takes style points from iCal. The calendars can be downloaded or accessed from the web.

6 Dishes to Pack For a Picnic

YumSugar — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:54:58 PDT

Summer is approaching, which means it's time for relaxing outdoor picnics! Packing for a picnic is no easy task; to make sure you don't pull a soggy, sloppy mess out of your basket when the time comes, it's essential to choose foods that pack well, can be made ahead, and benefit from sitting for a few hours or overnight. These six dishes all fit the bill; bring them along on your next picnic!

Greek Salad Bites	Homemade Potato Chips	Muffuletta
Fruit Salad With Mint	Berry-Rosé Sangria	Peanut Butter-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

16 Memorial Day Discounts to Look Out For

Emily Co — Sun, 27 May 2012 00:21:20 PDT

As always, when it's time for a holiday weekend, everyone's looking forward to the extra day off - as well as the sales and discounts. Memorial Day is no different. Although we've given you the lowdown on which products you should keep an eye out for, here are a couple of great sales going on:

Amazon: Up to 60 percent off select women's, men's, and children's clothing.
Macy's: 15 percent off and free shipping with the code MEMDAY.
Pottery Barn: Save up to 60 percent on hundreds of items, such as umbrellas, lanterns, outdoor rugs, and more.
West Elm: Extra 15 percent off sales items with the promo code MEMDAY12.
Nordstrom: Nordstorm's half yearly sale on women's and children's items.
Bloomingdale's: Bloomingdale's Big Brown Sale offers discounts ranging from 20 to 65 percent.
REI: Save up to 30 percent on clothing and outdoor and sports gear.
Ikea: Deduct your restaurant charges when you purchase over $100 worth of home furnishings.
Quiznos: Small Sub, regular fountain drink, and chips combo for $2.99 if you show this coupon.
Tumi: Up to 40 percent off select items.
Sears: Over 300 Memorial Day deals.
JC Penney: Free shipping if you use the promo code JCPSHIP.
Puma: 30 percent discount if you use the code PUMASAVE30. Also, for every $50 spent between now and May 31, you get $25 to spend during the month of June.
Best Buy: 10 to 25 percent off major appliances.
Kohl's: Up to 75 percent off select home items, and if you use the promo code SUMMER20, then you get 20 percent off.
Ralph Lauren: Free shipping with promo code MAYFS12 and 25 percent off select sale items.
Perry Ellis: 40 percent off all online purchases with the code PEMEMORIAL40.

Men in Black 3: A Return to (Alien Life) Form

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:29:01 PDT

I saw the original Men in Black movie so long ago that my memories of the film might as well have been zapped with a neuralyzer (that's the memory-erasing device the guys use in the movie, for those of you who are also having trouble recalling the original). What I did retain is that the film was funny, fresh, and silly and that it didn't hold up very well for the 2002 sequel. With that in mind, I had low expectations for Men in Black 3, but the newest installment is just as much fun as the original, and it actually benefits from the 15-year time lapse.

The script for the film is one of its biggest assets and truly sets Men in Black 3 apart from its predecessors. The aliens are still alive and ickier than ever now that they're in 3D, but the story is more focused on the friendship between J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) and how it has evolved over the years. We learn early on that K has been keeping a secret from J all these years, and the mystery drives a wedge between the partners. Meanwhile, a treacherous alien named Boris the Animal (played to hilarious perfection by Flight of the Conchords's Jemaine Clement) breaks out of maximum-security prison and goes back in time to get revenge on K, who arrested him back in the '60s. The day that K had Boris locked up is the key to K's secret, so J heads on a mission back in time to save K and learn the truth.

To see why Men in Black 3 is so much fun, just

Will Smith hasn't been in a movie since 2008's Seven Pounds, and I didn't realize I missed him until I found myself giggling all the way through Men in Black 3. His shtick is still the same (he's one-liners still consistent of dialogue like "Where did you come from? Planet damn?"), but you can't help but love Agent J as he bumbles through the '60s, desperately trying to sell his story to people who don't recognize him - or believe him. You can tell that Smith feels completely comfortable in the role, and in the signature suit, which still looks perfect on him, as he hasn't aged a day.

Tommy Lee Jones is ever the reliable curmudgeon, but the film mines extra laughs when J travels to the '60s and meets a much younger version of his partner, played by Josh Brolin. Brolin looks enough like Jones to pass for him, but it's really his studied delivery and mannerisms that sell the performance. We also get some insight into how K has evolved over the years (he's always had a penchant for cowboy music, but he also used to be a bit of a dreamer), giving the film an extra layer to the enjoyable banter between J and K.

I'm not usually one to gush about 3D, but the special effects really come to life in Men in Black 3 in a way they never did in the first two movies. Not only do the aliens look creepier than ever, but the cartoonish feel of the film is taken to the next level with the 3D aspect, especially with the time-travel thrill-ride element. Much like with the 3D movies from my youth, I found myself shrinking in my seat just to avoid being too close to the alien goo, blood, breath, and beyond. Combined with the welcome return of Will Smith, you've got yourself a fun, mindless blockbuster.

Photos courtesy of Sony

10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Meet the Euro Pop Princesses of the '60s: Yé-Yé Girls

Tara Block — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:52:29 PDT

Are the yé-yé girls having resurgence? First there was Megan's infamous Mad Men song and dance number, and now they've come up again in Wes Anderson's latest film Moonrise Kingdom. In the film - set in 1965, a year before this season of Mad Men - Suzy Bishop is one half of the lovesick preteen couple at the center of the movie. While her style is clearly fashioned after the yé-yé girls, Suzy's interest in the pop singers is brought up at one point when she shows her love interest, Sam Shakusky, her favorite album, Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles by yé-yé girl Françoise Hardy. Later in the movie, Sam and Suzy have a very entertaining dance scene on the beach in their underwear to her song "Le Temps de l'Amour" ("The Time of Love").

Derived from "yeah! yeah!", the yé-yé movement was comprised of female pop singers from France, Québec, Italy, and Spain. The themes and lyrics of the songs, often written by men like Serge Gainsbourg, were deceptively innocent, as the girls beamed sexy naiveté. One not-so-innocent song Serge wrote for yé-yé singer France Gall was "Les Sucettes" ("Lollipops"), which was really referring to oral sex. It included the line, "Annie loves lollipops, aniseed lollipops, when the sweet liquid runs down Annie's throat, she is in paradise." Learn more about France and other popular yé-yé girls like Françoise Hardy, Sylvie Vartan, and Sheila.

Video: See Beyoncé Sing in Public For the First Time in Almost a Year!

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:50:51 PDT

click here to watch live

Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, and More: Engaged Celebs and the Dresses They Should Wear

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:12:21 PDT

We just heard the news that Keira Knightley and James Righton are engaged - and obviously we are already conjuring up images of the British beauty in something ultraromantic and lace-infused. Now that these celeb couples have put a ring on it, it's time to match up the season's most beautiful wedding dresses to each soon-to-be blushing bride. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's how to scout the absolute best gowns for any and every occasion. With betrothed beauties like Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, and Jessica Biel keeping us on our toes about setting the date, we thought we'd get a head start on which designer dresses, like Vera Wang, Marchesa, and Oscar de la Renta, we hope to see them wearing on their big day and why. Don't forget to let us know your celeb wedding dress picks, too. First up? Newly engaged couple (and certainly a wedding we can't wait for) Keira Knightley and James Righton!

Jennifer Garner Sticks Close to Seraphina as Violet Finishes Up Her First School Year

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:38:17 PDT

Jennifer Garner gave 3-year-old Seraphina Affleck a piggyback ride into the Brentwood Mart yesterday. The girls picked up a gift and coffee to go and then headed on their way. Later in the day, Jen spent one-on-one time with her eldest daughter, Violet, after school. Jen's been on a break from acting since giving birth to Samuel earlier this year, though she's making her debut on the Internet in a new short film. Jen stars with Alfred Molina in the Youtube feature Serena. Their 12-minute film documents a complicated relationship between a serial liar, played by Garner, and her priest, Molina.

Ben Affleck and Jen have a few more months to enjoy time at home with the family, including baby Samuel, before they return to work this Fall. He's starring in and directing the CIA thriller Argo, due out in October, and Jen shares the big screen with Joel Edgerton in Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green, which is set for release in August.

See Angelina's Jewelry Collab With Robert Procop (aka the Man Behind Her Engagement Ring) Before It Hits the Road

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:40:52 PDT

The latest baubles from Angelina Jolie's Style of Jolie collection with jeweler Robert Procop (yes, the man behind her gorgeous engagement ring) are about to hit the road in two pop-up showcases in Monaco from July 15 to Aug. 15, before they launch at select boutiques in September. Since the collaboration debuted in late 2010, you could only get your hands on the baubles by private appointment. This time around, you'll find yourself face-to-face with one stunning emerald necklace, bold citrine tablet earrings, and maybe - if you time it right - even Jolie's engagement ring, which is expected to visit the showcase with Brad Pitt sometime this Summer. The bonus? These creations have a do-good twist. Like all of her Style of Jolie pieces to have debuted since the collaboration's launch, all proceeds from the line will benefit Angelina's charitable foundation, the Education Partnership For Children of Conflict. With decadent jewels on display, and for a great cause no less, we can only hope to see more from this very cool partnership.