Life 101 – Mastering the Garage Sale

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield


Canada’s Globe and Mail did a feature on me for their weekly “Guide to Your Life.” Writer Dakshana Bascaramurty (try saying that three times fast!) interviewed me and wrote what I think is the best synopsis of my greatest garage sale tactics for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re buying or selling, here’s how you can stretch your dollar at the weekend yard sale. And grab a copy of my book, Garage Sale America (on sale at Amazon for $7.58!) It’s an adventure across America to see what $1000 can buy and it’s a truck full of fun.

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Pop Culture Pop-Up – Macy Gray Album Premier

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

After having some trouble with being herself, Macy Gray is back. It’s been ten years since her hit “I Try” and since leaving her record label and starting all over as a new artist, Gray’s newest album, The Sellout, is ready. The album won’t be released until June 22, but you can listen to the whole thing here. Hopefully, it will be more of a sellout than her early-aughts projects, “The Id,” and “The Trouble with Being Myself.” Heard of them? No, me either. Good luck on this one, Macy.

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Posted in American Fun, American Icons, Dinner Party Talk, Gossip!, Life 101, Pop Culture Pop-Up, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

American Fun – Wedding Season

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield


Shine your shoes and print out that wedding registry (before somebody else gets them the giant salad utensils). It’s June, and it’s officially wedding season. Even if you’re not the one tying the knot this summer, wedding season has something to offer everyone.

This bride had all 110 of her dance students as her bridesmaids! A Guinness Book of World Record! They did not dance to Chris Brown.

I’m loving this gorgeous Indian wedding from Better Home and Gardens.

Again, no Chris Brown. Thank goodness.
Save the dance for the reception: Like this happy couple.

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American Fun – Happy Flag Day!

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

Newscom

June 14 commemorates the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress officially adopted the American flag. It’s not a national holiday (read: we all have to work anyway) but the patriotically-inclined will be flying their stars and stripes today. And hopefully everyone is following these flag rules! Before dinner tonight, memorize some random flag facts to impress your family, and remember, no Flag Day is complete without a crochet American flag hat. Start today and maybe you’ll be done by Flag Day 2014.

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Pet Fun – Dog Days of College

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

Dilip Vishwanat for The New York Times

We all love our furry four-legged friends. (I do! Today’s deadline day on my new dog book to Grand Central!) Dogs are proven to make us happier, less depressed and maybe even live longer. But do they make us smarter? Some colleges seem to think so, and at these schools dogs rule the dorms. According to this New York Times article, Stephens College, a women’s college in New York extends a warm welcome to both students and pets. Students say having their doggies in dorms has a calming affect, makes them to laugh and eases homesickness. But are all pups ready for college life? Well, we know this one is.

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Quick Fixes – Tooth Pulling 101

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield


When I was a kid, I tied my loose tooth to a string connected to my bedroom door. One slam and it was out! This kid and his dad (who is probably going to hear a knock from child protective services) decide to extract a loose tooth by connecting it to a rocket. To watch his face as he takes his fate into his own hand and presses the launch button is priceless. I hope the tooth fairy recognizes his bravery, humor, and the fact that he is now an Internet Star!

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Dinner Party Talk – Doggie Dye Jobs

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield


Lions and Tigers and Dogs, oh my! Would you? Could you? According to the Daily Mail (where you can see Chows that are dyed to look like pandas!), apparently the latest craze in China is doggie dye doos, recrafting your pooch to look like other animals. The Chinese are quick to unleash bizarre trends, but is a multi-coloured dye job going to far? This is a mystery than can only be solved by a snack-loving, crime-fighting, pronunciation impaired hound: SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU?!

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Pet Fun – Sydney Dog Concert

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

From one of my favorite New York performance artists, Laurie Anderson, and her rock legend hubby Lou Reed comes the single greatest concert ever. Pooches of all sizes put their paws together in Sydney last weekend for–you guessed it (or maybe you didn’t)–a dog concert. Anderson describes the 20-minute piece she wrote for the pups as “an inter-species social gathering on a scale never seen before in Australia.” New York City, it’s time for a dog concert. Who’s going to sign my petition? To get you and your four-legged friend in the mood, here’s who we’re getting to do backup vocals.

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Household Tips – Be Cool (For Less!)

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

It’s the beginning of June, and we’re all starting to sweat a little. But if you find yourself reaching for the “cooler” button on your thermostat, freeze (ha.) There are tons of small changes you should make around your home to keep things cooler and save a pile of cash. I love these Commonsense Cooling ideas from Better Homes and Gardens mag. Did you know that planting a tree can save on energy costs?! And here’s a Texas home that’s super energy-efficient, saving the owners tons of money on AC costs each year. And with those wow-I-am-sitting-in-an-oven summers of Texas, that’s saying something.

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Dinner Party Talk – The Twinkie

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Bruce Littlefield

If the old adage is true and “you are what you eat…” the next time you’re biting into a Twinkie, you might consider it’s made of 37 ingredients. Dwight Eschliman has developed a talent for photographing an object as the sum of its parts. Check out GOOD’s collection of his Twinkie photographs or the book Dwight Eschliman’s 37 or so Ingredients. And remember a food is generally “healthier” and better for you with fewer ingredients, so you might want to look at the label. As for Twinkie’s, I’d say 37 ingredients, many of which are polysyllabic chemical compounds, is probably at least one too many. Enjoy your dinner!

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