GeekSugar

New App Lets You See the World in a Whole New Way

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:33:23 PDT

Obviously, I'm all about apps. Apps that help me take better photos, look better, and even find a cab in New York (it's possible). So if I had an app that turned my phone into a virtual Looking Glass - that let me see anything from apartments for rent to how high a building is just by holding up my phone to the horizon - I'd be all over it. I'm sure you will share my enthusiasm when I tell you that this type of technology is totally within our reach with an app called Layar.

Layar allows you to see things like apartment rentals, ratings on restaurants, available jobs, and where you can go to get medical care within your preferred provider network, all just by holding up your phone in video mode. Points of interest pop up as you scroll from building to building. Really, it's kinda hard to explain this "augmented reality," so I will allow the video demo to take care of that.

To see more about how this groundbreaking new app works, just

I'd Take My "Looking Glass" With Me Everywhere

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:29 PDT

I have come to realize how handy it is to have an iPhone attached to my hip at all times. Because of its fast Internet and cool apps, I can find almost anything, anytime, anywhere. But realistically, as awesome as it is, my iPhone can't tell me absolutely everything. It certainly can't show me how to get to my three o'clock meeting via a 3D-floor plan, scan objects for fingerprints, and wirelessly transfer photos from my computer.

But if this picture into the future above is any indication, we might be able to learn things we never have before with something called a "Looking Glass" – similar to the "Magical Windows" discussed months ago – which seems to be a mobile computer complete with a camera, scanner, touch screen, WiFi accessibility, and photo analysis - all in one sleek device in a form we all know and (most of us) love.

View 3 Photos ›

To see why I would be the first on my block to pick up my own "Looking Glass", read more. Just imagine sitting down to lunch with the girls, and whipping out your "Looking Glass" to find out how many calories are in that basket of onion rings, or holding up the device to the stars, and having it tell you what constellations are in your sky. Amazing, right? I thought so, too. Here's to the future. Source

Cool Idea: Put a Modern Spin on Grocery-Store Roses

Angela Swinderman Elias — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:18:41 PST

We've all received the readily available red roses and baby's breath bouquet at some point in our lives. While the romantic gesture of gifting flowers is always appreciated, the slightly dated look of this combination is often not. The divide and conquer strategy applies perfectly to this situation. With a little snipping and the right vessel, this tired arrangement can actually look chic and surprisingly modern.

To achieve the look, snip the stems off of the roses and cluster them tightly together in a cylinder-shaped, clear glass vase. For even more drama, add a votive candle so that light bounces off of the glass and water. The effect is undeniably sexy and completely unexpected.

L.A.M.B. Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:20 PST

Inspired by the "1960s rogue girl with a Japanese street sensibility," Gwen Stefani chose to show off her latest L.A.M.B designs against a collage of black-and-white New York City street snaps and closeup shots of girls getting their eye makeup done, all while Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" boomed overhead. Each look seemed to reflect a moment in Gwen's iconic style evolution. Case in point: her "Hey Baby" houndstooth print made a serious comeback, landing on everything from sporty totes to bomber jackets; her "Sweet Escape" moto-edged attire popped up in zippered jacquard jackets; and those Clueless-worthy platforms? That's just a classic Gwen staple. While the outerwear was athletic and tough, the attention to feminine details was also spot on. Look to the Peter Pan collars, sexy Morgenthal Frederics cat-eye glasses, impeccably pleated circle skirts, and sheer knee-high nylons for proof of Gwen's girlier side. No matter how you spin it, this is an ultra-wearable lineup of '90s-cool gear with a hint of retro and a pop of graphic-print modernity.

Trends: Houndstooth print, pleated skirts, sportswear-inspired outerwear, and Peter Pan collars.
Colors: A dark, cool palette - red, black, gray, and ecru - with surprise pops of neon yellow.
Key Piece: The gray pleated circle skirt paired with a sweet collared top makes a sexy take on schoolgirl classics.
Accessories: Sporty tote bags, cat-eye secretary glasses, knee-high nylons, and '90s-style chunky platforms.
Who Would Wear It: The girl with a sportier fierce edge when it comes to dress, like Rihanna.

Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Morning Workout

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:50:47 PST

If you work or go to school full time, getting your sweat on in the wee hours of the morn is probably the only time you can fit it in. Kudos to you for resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and skip out. Make setting your alarm and pulling yourself out of bed worth all the effort and avoid these morning exercise mistakes.

Not eating: It's super early, but you need to eat in order to fuel your workout. Munch on something small while you're getting ready, like half a banana or half a piece of toast with a little peanut butter. You'll not only avoid the gnawing hunger pangs, but you'll also have an extra pep in your step to exercise harder or longer than you would on an empty stomach. When you get home, you can enjoy your usual breakfast, which is always something to look forward to.
Loading up on fiber: While it's important to eat a little something, you don't want to load up on bulky fiber that can make you feel too full or upset your stomach.
Not hydrating: Aside from food, you also need water. Definitely don't down half a gallon before you hit the gym because too much water can cause cramping, but make sure you sip a short glass of H2O while enjoying your small snack.
Not laying your outfit out the night before: You don't have oodles of time in the morning, so don't take away from your exercise time by scrambling to find your missing sock. Plan your outfit before you go to bed so you can just slip it on and go.

Keep reading for more morning exercise mistakes to avoid.

Would You Want to be as Successful as Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg?

Emily Co — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:34:15 PST

Many of us look up to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg as a role model because she's one of the most successful female business leaders of our time. She's consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the most powerful women in the world and she's estimated to be worth a cool $1.6 billion. She's the face of women trying to crack the glass ceiling, and with so many glowing praises showered on Sandberg, I was surprised to see career blogger Penelope Trunk make the bold statement that "very few women want to be Sandberg." Trunk explains:

"Sandberg wants to be a role model for women who want big, exciting careers. But here’s the problem: women don't want to be Sandberg. It’s no coincidence that the number one woman on the list of self-made millionaires is Oprah. She has no kids and no husband. She’s fascinating, nice, and smart. But few of us would really enjoy her life.

Sandberg and Oprah represent extreme choices in life. The things they give up are not things that most women would want to give up in exchange for the wild career success they could have . . . You can't have small kids and a startup if you want to see your kids."

Everyone has a different definition of what it means to "make it." In fact, success for many women doesn't mean climbing the corporate ladder; it's having a good work-life balance, according to a More magazine survey. The Facebook executive may be one of the wealthiest women around, but her intensive job may leave her with less time to spend with her two kids and husband. What about you - would you want to be as successful as Sheryl Sandberg?

Get the Look of Famous Four-Eyed Geeks

GeekSugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:06:04 PST

Geeky glasses are becoming a hot trend, especially big 80s style plastic lenses. Here's a quick shout out to geeky celebs we love who were sporting the four-eyed look way before it became cool. Clark Kent, Rivers Cuomo, and Zooey Deschanel sport the classic horn-rimmed eyeglasses that were popular back in the 1910s to 20s. In retro 80s fashion, Michael Cera pulls off semi-square clear frames. Liz Lemon makes 60s cat eye glasses look sassy. Anne Hathaway glams square oversized tortoise shell glasses. Whether you're looking for a new pair or want to look gooberish on purpose, browse through our geek-certified collection.From left to right: Brandon Routh as Clark Kent, Michael Cera, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day, Tina Fay as Liz Lemon, and Anne Hathaway.

How Often Do You Compare Yourself Financially to Others?

valeriekw — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:55:45 PST

Ever find yourself comparing your finances to other people? OnSugar blogger Beauty and the Budget talks about this dangerous habit.

In a society where everyone wants to keep up with the Kardashians, it's hard not to covet a fancy lifestyle - success, money, material possessions. When you find yourself in a financial rut, it's easy to compare yourself to others. Even if you don't give a hoot about the Kardashians, you might be comparing yourself to other people you know, and that could be a dangerous habit.

Because I've dealt with financial hardships for the majority of my life, I've practically based my entire life around this entire ideology that just about everyone has more than me. In high school, all of my friends had nice cars, and I didn't even have a car - I shared an old beater with my mom. While my friends' parents took them on shopping sprees, I had to work for anything I wanted. But through it all, I gained integrity and learned the value of hard work. That's not saying that my high-school friends aren't hardworking - they really are! It's just that I had to work a little bit harder to get what I wanted.

Even now, as I struggle to find the perfect job that will kick-start my fashion-career aspirations, I face financial hardships through student-loan debt. And let me tell you, making a few dollars over minimum wage at my current job it isn't easy!

When you get down about your finances or feel like you don't have enough, you have to remember that it could be worse. As a self-proclaimed "glass half empty" pessimist, I can assure you that the idea that things could actually get any worse doesn't seem possible. But in all honesty, we have it pretty good as Americans. Just look around you. Not only do we have food on the table, we also have cell phones and iPods, and if you're reading this article, you've got a laptop and an Internet connection, too. When I reflect on those tumultuous times growing up, and even now, I realize that I never actually needed for anything. Aside from financial difficulties, all of my needs are met daily. I just sometimes can't get the things I want, which leads me to comparing myself to others.

What about you - how often do you compare yourself to others?

Want to see more? Start following OnSugar blog Beauty and the Budget or start your own OnSugar blog for a chance to be featured on the PopSugar network.

Weekend DIY Projects

Angela Swinderman Elias — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:00:29 PST

Now that the rainy season is upon us in San Francisco, I'm buckling down to focus my energy into some postponed DIY projects this weekend. Since it doesn't look like it will clear up until the middle of next week, I'm going to see if I can slip in more than one. I was thrilled to find tutorials for stealing the look of products that are trending now, like block-printed fabrics, gold-dipped accessories, and glass lamp bases. If you're stuck indoors this weekend like I am, check out the gallery to get inspiration for your own DIY weekend!

Link Time: Karlie Kloss Does de la Renta, Daphne Will Display Again, and More

FabSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:41:07 PST

Karlie Kloss stars in Oscar de la Renta's Spring '12 campaign - Styleite
Fashion's Night Out is confirmed for Sept. 6 - The Cut
Hedi Slimane's ode to Los Angeles - The Daily Beast
Celebrity style deconstructed: Rachel Bilson - The Budget Fashionista
Seven glasses that complete your nerd-chic look - Stylelist
Fashion Forward winners are announced - Style.com
Florence Welch sports a statement-making Kenzo suit - Red Carpet Fashion Awards
Propel your look from bleak to chic with one simple handbag hold - The Fashion Spot
The right way to pack a weekend bag - Real Simple
Get a first look at Emily Blunt's onscreen wedding dress - InStyle
Rachel Zoe goes for a fully structured look at a great price - Purse Blog
David Beckham says baby Harper's wardrobe is already ridiculous - HuffPo Style
Daphne Guinness will be a window display again - Fashionista

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