TresSugar

Are You Less Likely to Buy From Someone Beautiful?

TresSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0700

A recent study out of Australia concludes that young women are less likely to buy something if they think the sales people in the store are more beautiful than they.

Because women are "biologically competitive," says Bianca Price of the University of South Australia, these tentative shoppers perceive beautiful women as "direct social threats" even if the product has nothing to do with beauty. In the end, they would rather buy from someone "unattractive." (I wonder if this study informed the "unattractive" sales staff that they were part of some unflattering research!)

This conclusion, she continues, may contradict the success certain brands have when they get beautiful celebrities to endorse their product, but according to Price, "[w]omen may not consider celebrities a direct social threat, but they might consider the girl at their local shopping center to be one.”

So let me get this straight - women are biologically determined to be competitive with each other; women are so intimidated by beautiful women that they won't buy something from them; and if you're shopping, you're a woman, but if you're part of the sales staff, you're a "girl." I'm not buying it!

Sleep/Screw Pillowcase: Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:59 -0700

Not in the mood to get it on? Say it with sheets! These Screw Me, Silly/Dream On . . . Pillowcases ($24) from Etsy seller Crumbsonthesheets use fancy embroidery to communicate your true desires. I love that "screw me, silly" could be read as "screw me silly" without the comma. Either way, some nights, sleep wins.

Mall Rats: 10 Uses For Dead and Dying Malls

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:00:19 -0700

Empty swimming pools have always fascinated and disturbed me; they're cold, creepy holes for the better part of the year. Mall season has been coming to its end since the '90s, and more and more empty malls and shopping centers are sitting sad and stark, like inverted pools, off highways across the country.

How'd it happen? For years, developers assumed they'd make money if they built malls bigger than the last. And that assumption was correct, for a while. But they never foresaw what would happen to their big box when a bigger one was built. Now cities that house once-crowning, albeit fake, jewels struggle with lost tax revenue, vandalism and crime, and decreasing property values.

But malls don't have to go to hell. If they haven't been allowed to decay and were structurally sound to begin with (that may be a big if), then they can be retrofitted, greened, and reinhabited. Check out 10 new uses for old malls below - maybe you have something better to add!

Community college classrooms
Libraries
Parks, especially malls built on wetlands that are now environmentally protected
Senior housing
Town centers, incorporated into mixed-use streets with housing, offices, and shopping

To see the rest, read more.

Public and private offices
Community centers
Car dealerships
Nonprofit arts groups
Immigrant mom-and-pop shops

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5 Ways to Be Eco-Friendly in the Bedroom

DearSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

There's no reason why you can't show your love for your partner and the earth at the same time. Check out some of my favorite earth-friendly products you can use in the bedroom guilt-free - enjoy!

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March Must Haves

DearSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:13:05 -0800

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to put this Winter behind me! March 20th marks the first day of Spring so to get you ready for this exciting season change, I've come up with some great must haves for Spring - Enjoy!

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5 Ways to Still Pamper Yourself Without Going Broke!

DearSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Saving money is on all our minds right now, but if you're like me, the temptation to splurge keeps growing and growing. To help you tame that urge, I'm here to give you some ideas on how you can still pamper yourself, while pinching pennies at the same time. Check them out below:

If you want to treat yourself to a new top or a new pair of jeans, shop online instead of at your local boutique. Most online stores offer free shipping, full credit refunds, and many sites don't charge sales tax.
If manicures and pedicures were once part of your monthly routine, you don't necessarily have to forget about them altogether. Instead of dropping $30-plus every time you head to the salon, opt for a polish change (which is less than half the price of a full fledged mani/pedi) instead - do your filing and moisturizing at home!
Going out for dinner is a nice treat and a great way to socialize, but it can get very expensive. It's still doable, though, as many restaurants are now offering meal deals, happy hour deals, even family-style deals. Do your homework and I bet you'll be happily surprised to see that eating out is still feasible.

To see two more ideas, just read more.

Drinking always adds to the cost of eating out, so choose restaurants that don't have a corkage fee and start BYOBing it!
If travel is what you're missing most these days, check out all the fantastic deals the online travel industry is offering. Hotel prices have dipped - some are even giving away a few nights free - and airlines are offering discounted rates, especially if you fly mid-week.

Do you have any secrets up your sleeve? If so, share them with us below!

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Tip No. 2: Surviving Valentine's Day When You're Single

DearSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Since Valentine's Day is just two weeks away, I'm thrilled that Patty Brisben is back to teach us a few things about how to weather this holiday made for lovers, no matter what your relationship status is. I hope her first tip resonated with you, and if you want to see what she has to say today, simply read more.

Spoil yourself! Buy yourself that new Spring edition designer purse or shoes you've been ogling online or something else that will freshen up your wardrobe and make you feel sexy!

To see all of Patty's tips, click here.

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Front Page: Psychiatrists Ask - Is Shopaholism a Disease?

LibertySugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:00:26 -0800

While compulsive spending continues during tough times, the psychiatric world is trying to decide whether it should be considered a disease. - New York Times
Iran says it would welcome a change in its relations with the US, if it involved a withdrawal of US troops from abroad and an apology for past crimes against Iran. - Reuters
Concerns are growing that reconstruction in Gaza will be slowed down by politics. The cost of reconstruction is estimated at $2 billion. - BBC News

Despite losses, Wells Fargo has reported that that it will not ask for more bailout money. - CNN
The poor parents of Slumdog Millionaire's child stars say that their children were exploited and underpaid. - Telegraph

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Handle This: Your Friend Is Rude to the Sales Associate

DearSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:30:00 -0800

If you were put in a situation like this, how would you handle it?

You've recently become friendly with a co-worker at your new law firm. She's been incredibly welcoming and you're sure that she'll soon be a friend outside of work, too. Over the weekend, you bump into each other while perusing your neighborhood shops. You're both headed the same direction so you decide to hit the next boutique together. While flipping through the racks, you hear your co-worker ask the sales associate for help, and to your disbelief, she's treating her like a second-class citizen! She proceeds to boss her around, demanding she pull clothes for her to try on, only to leave them in a heap on the dressing room floor.

When you walked out of the store - empty handed - she acted like nothing had happened, but you are horrified by her behavior. She asks you to continue shopping with her but you just can't bear to witness her rude and disrespectful behavior again. You don't want this to affect your relationship in the office, so how would you handle it?

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Dear Poll: Are You a Last Minute Shopper?

DearSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:30:00 -0800

Some people are planners, but others leave everything to the last minute. I'm a planner; always have been and I'll probably always be one, which comes in handy during the holiday shopping season.

According to Glamour magazine, 23 percent of women polled said they shop for gifts a month in advance, but six percent admitted to waiting until the day of to get their gifts purchased, wrapped and under the tree. I think we all know how easy it is to procrastinate so tell me, are you a last minute shopper?

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