The Original AppleSac Laptop Case

If you're into eco laptop bags you'll probably love the The Original AppleSac, $29.99, a burlap and polyester sherpa fleece case that makes your ungreen Apple a little more green.

I love the juxtaposition of the earthy AppleSac with a high tech computer, and the fact that the case cleverly disguises your computer instead of calling out the fact that you are carrying a $1,500 machine.

If you're looking for something with a little more color, check out the company's chocolate brown ColcaSac case, which is made of heavy 18.5 oz basketweave canvas, or the Peony Lace case, which is made of pretty reversible Peony Lace fabric.

Midday Muse: Sail Away, Sleepyhead

While I think that my bed's pretty darn comfortable, this one is on another comfort level altogether.


Float by Design Mobel, designed by David Trubridge is the first winner of Design Mobel's annual Challenging How We Sleep contest. This past May, Float was voted by the public as best piece of bedroom furniture in the New Zealand competition.

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Do You Love a Little Kate Walsh?

Kate Walsh picked up some peanuts and smokes stopping off to get gas in LA yesterday afternoon. I don't always love Miss Kate, but the red hot shoes are sassy in a good way (and Private Practice is, sigh, growing on me). Maybe I'll rekindle my love for Addison after all, but only if Kate stops talking about herself so much. Moving on, do you love Kate or is she a total bore? Let us know who you love, who you wish there was more of, and who you never want to take again — all you have to do is take this short little survey and tell us what we're doing right (and how to improve). Your input is greatly, greatly appreciated!

Ikat Napkins & Placemats

It kind of cracks me up that Ballard Designs refers to their discounted inventory as part of an "Estate Sale." I'm sure their "estate" is a steel-walled warehouse in Ohio somewhere. But, since they're selling steals like these Ikat Napkins ($25) and Placemats ($40), I couldn't care less where they've been storing their goods. I love the grosgrain ribbon details and the blue and raspberry color schemes. They're also are totally scratching my ikat itch.

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Hollywood Awards Afflecks, Travolta, Hairspray and More

The Affleck brothers were the men of the hour at last night's Hollywood Film Festival's Hollywood Awards. Brad Pitt handed Casey Affleck the award for Breakthrough Actor of the Year (an honor bestowed on one Miss Lindsay Lohan last year) while Ben walked away with one the Breakthrough Director of the Year. That's the second year in a row on this stage for Ben (last year he won Supporting Actor), but it must have been that much sweeter to share the press room with Casey. John Travolta also walked away with this year's Supporting Actor statue and shared the Ensemble win with the rest of his Hairspray cast. Meanwhile, CZJ didn't go home with any honors, but yowza on the dress. Let Award Season begin!

Scrambled Eggs Two Ways — Beginner & Expert

Scrambled eggs are one of the world's simplest recipes. Once you've mastered the technique of cooking plain scrambled eggs, the possibilities of flavor combinations are endless. For best results, don't over-beat the eggs, and cook in a heavy nonstick or well-seasoned pan to prevent sticking. Be sure to use the correct size pan, since cooking too few eggs in an oversized pan will result in burning.

Are You My Mother?

Multi-gazillionaire Leona Helmsley made the news in August when she left $12 million dollars to her dog, Trouble, in her will. At my last count, more than 20 states have legalized such provisions, changing pet owners into pet guardians, and making it possible to will animals money and leave plans for their care. Regardless of any legal terminology or considerations, many people use varying parental titles in relation to their pets. I admit that buying myself a new outfit on Mother's Day and calling it a present from my dog could be a tad over the top, yet I don't consider myself that crazy to call myself North's "mama" ... but is it just me? I'm curious how you feel.
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Wireless WildCharger Gadget Charger Now Available

Most of you were really excited when I introduced you to the WildCharger Wireless Charger this past summer and now, after a long wait, the device is finally available to consumers.

The WildCharger pad and its device adapters offer a neat wire-free power solution and aim to cure the madness of cords, chargers, adapters and congested outlets by offering a single pad that does it all.

The company has launched with adapters for Motorola RAZR cell phones as well as the iPod Nano. They plan on also releasing adapters for Blackberrys and smart phones this winter.

How Well Do You Know Brunch?

I always look forward to Sundays because they are also brunch days. It's usually the only day a week when I go out for a late breakfast and gobble up all kinds of fancy food. The only problem is that it's too hard to choose what to order. Pancakes or French Toast? An omelet or a scramble? And don't even get me started on Bloody Marys!

Are you a brunch lover too? Take this quiz and test your brunch food knowledge.

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Paris and Fab Enjoy the Last of LA Fashion Week

Paris Hilton enjoyed her VIP perch at the Petro Zillia Spring 2008 show finishing off LA Fashion Week on Thursday. She certainly looks happy to be there for her old friend Petro as he showed off his newest line. Fab's got all the hot runway looks from the show for you to see, but even more exciting, they've been racking up the Celebrity Sightings while in LA for Fashion Week. They even spotted Paris in this very front row.

Cate Brings Elizabeth to Rome

Cate Blanchett took Elizabeth: The Golden Age abroad Friday for the Rome Film Festival. First stop for Cate was a photocall for the film where she glowed in blue and gold. Cate then took her look up a notch to walk the red carpet in a dress that made her standout but not necessarily in a good way. Cate has been reflecting on bringing her famous character back to the big screen and while in Rome admitted the role would have been pretty difficult to turn down. She said, "It would have been perverse to refuse to play in the sequel. It's undeniable that Elizabeth I is an extraordinary woman in history."
We're happy Cate came back as Elizabeth even if the sequal wasn't as good as the first.

Beautiful Ladies in Black for Hugo Boss

Kristin Davis took a break from filming SatC to be one of the few who wasn't wearing all black to the Hugo Boss event in NYC last night. Julianne Moore and Maggie Gyllenhaal looked beautiful in all black. Maggie's hair was my favorite part of her look with those great wavy curls. According to Bella's original poll, most of you will be thrilled to see that Julianne is a redhead again. The most surprising appearance of the evening was by Kate Winslet. The actress is not usually a part of the NY party scene so I was excited to see one of our favorite actresses looking fab in her LBD.

Bic Pen Vase

You've heard of blown glass, but how about blown plastic? These Giffin' Termeer Daisy vases ($19) are made from upcycled Bic pens that are heated until their plastic becomes malleable, and then blown into a bulbous shape.

The List

You all gave me loads of great advice for the latest Open House, Secrets for Moving In, to pass along to my closest confidant. There was a lot to work with here, so I took the liberty of paraphrasing a bit, and adding some tips of my own. I've divided your thoughts into several different categories: pre-moving, cleaning, moving, painting, decorating, befriending neighbors, and studio-related tips.

Pre-move:

• Stay organized during your packing phase. Mark your boxes well, and label them with what room they're going in ahead of time. - Queen Lizzy
• Check out your new place thoroughly. Look for bad paint jobs, missing items, scuffs and other marks. Take an extra look at the kitchen and bathroom, and other high traffic places. Make sure all your light fixtures and appliances work properly.- sweetpeabrina

For more tips, read more

Nine Words Women Use

This list is floating around the Internet, and I just had to share it with all of you women out there! Whoever wrote this sure got it right!

The nine words women use:

1. FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4 GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5. LOUD SIGH
This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6. THAT'S OK
This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. THANKS
A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome.

8. WHATEVER
Is a women's way of saying #@!% YOU!

9. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I GOT IT
Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3.

Since I know you have said each one of these nine words at least once, tell me which number is your all time favorite response!

Fendi Runway Bash on Great Wall of China

The shows never stop! LA Fashion Week isn't the only runway extravaganza currently in the works.

Fendi is currently throwing a four day long party in Beijing, set to culminate on Friday night with the first ever fashion show staged on the Great Wall of China. The runway presentation is a reshowing of the Fendi Fall 2007 collection, and Kate Bosworth and her model boyfriend James Rousseau are said to be in attendance for the bound to be breathtaking spectacle.

The Miyabi Line of DS Lite Cases From Vis-a-Vis

It's not everyday you see DS Lite cases that look like these. Simple yet sophisticated—the perfect case to wrap around your DS. Featured on ds fanboy, these fabric Miyabi cases by Vis-a-Vis come in a variety of colors and patterns with a sturdy clasp for extra security. What's great about this case is the fact that you can still use your DS while it's inside it. I wonder if it could also double as a mini cell phone or iPod holder? Scroll down to check out more designs!

What Happens With Cameron Stays in Costume

Cameron Diaz showed off adorable summer and fall looks on the set of What Happens in Vegas in NYC yesterday. We first saw her more business-y pencil skirt look at the end of August, so I bet Cameron was a little less stoked to be wearing it around Manhattan in the much chillier mid-October weather. No matter the temperature or location, Cameron looks every bit the gorgeous California girl. Last we saw her rumored gentleman caller, Bradley Cooper, he was filming back in LA, but I'm sure Cam has found enough fun to keep her busy in NYC. There's plenty of mischief a girl can get into in that city all by herself.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day, so I knew I'd have to find a fabulous chocolate cupcake to use as Cupcake of the Week. Luckily my search didn't take too long — there are a lot of amazing cupcakes out there! — and I soon found these Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes from flickr user ciao chow. Aren't they lovely?

Google Docs Mobile Goes Live

Usually when I need to access my Google docs on the fly I pull out my iPhone and navigate my way to my Gmail account.

Google is now offering Google Docs Mobile which will make accessing my docs that much easier. To view your Google docs on your cell phone, just point your browser to http://docs.google.com/m and all your docs should appear if you have Google set-up on your phone. And yes, I am a "to-do" list crazy person!

via Google Blogoscoped

Ryan Gosling Melts Our Hearts

Ryan Gosling is GQ's cover boy this month to promote his new movie Lars and the Real Girl (more on that later). In the interview he made us love him even more with his ridiculously sweet revelation about his relationship with his ex, Rachel McAdams. He said,

“I mean, God bless The Notebook. It introduced me to one of the great loves of my life. But people do Rachel and me a disservice by assuming we were anything like the people in that movie. Rachel and my love story is a hell of a lot more romantic than that.”

Now if only they would reunite in real life and maybe even on screen to share that amazing love story with the world. It only seems fair to all of us fans who are heartbroken about their breakup. It's a good thing we can keep watching this over and over again to remember the good old days.

5G iPods hacked to run updated interface

It looks like those 5G and 5.5G iPods owners out there that have been feeling a little envious of the iPod classic's slick new interface now have at least one option at their disposal to give their player a bit of a facelift, although it seems that only the most fearless need apply. While it doesn't go so far as to add the much-vaunted Cover Flow, the newly-released and entirely unofficial firmware hack (which ironically requires the Windows-only iPodWizard software) does seem to mimic most of the features in the latest interface, including the split screen design, and the revised now playing screen. Not surprisingly, a number of users have reported that the hack has bricked their precious iPods, so you may want to reconsider your distaste for you iPod's current interface -- at least until all the kinks are worked out.

[Via iLounge]

The U.K. Government Examines the Impact of Wi-Fi on Health

With some studies saying that WiFi is dangerous and others saying that it is harmless, the U.K. government's Health Protection Agency (HPA) is taking matters into their own hands by carrying out an in-depth study into how wireless networks are being used. The HPA has already indicated that the signals used on Wi-Fi networks were very low power and well within guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP).

Considering not too long ago the BBC reported that there was no evidence to suggest a link between the use of Wi-Fi and damage to health, this new research should prove to be interesting.

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Cute, Recycled Kitchen Magnets

I love these magnets ($18 for a set of six) from Etsy seller Maiasauramade. Each magnet in this set of six features a one-of-a-kind, handmade collage. For durability, each paper collage is sealed with several layers of mod podge, then sprayed with an acrylic sealer. On the site, Maiasauramade writes, "when my second son started going through jars of baby food like gangbusters, I looked at all the lids and thought there must be something I could do with them. Magnets seemed like the perfect solution." I have to agree.

Do You Take Paris More Seriously Now?

You guys decided that you were still sick of Paris when she got out of jail, but she's been trying to change her image in the past few months. Next up, she's headed to Rwanda to take her philanthropic efforts to a new level.

Paris recognizes that this is a big undertaking and admitted to Newsweek that she's scared, saying, "I've heard it's really dangerous, I've never been on a trip like this before." So tell us, do you take Paris more seriously now?

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Posh and Cruz Leave London

It's so hard to avoid the word cute when we see these adorable pictures of Cruz Beckham taking flight with his cool mom. Victoria and her son were seen this weekend at Heathrow Airport on their way back to the states. David has been busy playing with their other boys but cute Cruz got to spend some quality polo time with Posh. Too bad he doesn't have someone to carry his bag like Victoria does. In case you missed it, check out the sneak peek pics of Posh on Ugly Betty by clicking here.

Satellite Bowl

One of the adjectives I use to describe my taste in home décor is modern, but sometimes I just can't wrap my brain around the contemporary accessories and other home accents I see. Take this Satellite Bowl ($64), which is a circle of lacquered wooden spokes, for example. I don't think I will ever get far enough beyond my traditional décor upbringing to be able to look a bunch of sticks as a bowl—even if the MOMA Store sells it. And yes, maybe that's the point the designer is trying to make, but I just can't. What do you think?

Music Phone Motorola U9

Apparently the RAZR2 isn't the only hot new phone from Motorola. The company has revealed the MOTO U9, which aims to make music a "multi-sensory experience and lets consumers rock out and look good." The phone features Stereo Bluetooth, CrystalTalk Technology, external touch sensitive music controls and animated screensavers that appear on the external display. Like the iPhone the MOTO U9 allows one-touch access to your library and pauses music as calls come through. I like the shape and the function ain't bad either. Pricing details have not been announced.

Jailbird Paris to visit 24 star

A-list wild-child Paris Hilton has reportedly told friends she wants to visit beleaguered 24 star Keifer Sutherland during his time in jail.

Sutherland was sentenced to 48 days in jail after breaching a probation period he received for driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to a friend, Hilton believes she can make the television actor’s time more bearable, thanks to her own experience in jail.

Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail on May 5 this year after a string of driving-related offences.

She told Hollywood reporter Barbara Walters in an interview during her incarceration that the experience had taught her to no longer act like a “dumb blonde” and swore to change her pardying ways.

Hilton is reportedly interested in trying to create a TV show from the experience.

PETA RULE

Sunday Dinner: Roast Chicken Drumsticks with Garlic

Sometimes you need a great dinner for your family, but only have a little bit of a time to put it together. On days like those, the idea of putting a full roast chicken on the table seems a bit daunting. However, with a little shortcut — replacing a full roast with just drumsticks — you can cut out the excess roasting time and have dinner on the table in 30 minutes. To get the recipe for a quick Sunday dinner, read more

Garnet Hill Pedestal Table

In many homes, I often find that there are a couple of corners or square feet of space that are just plain lonely, from which there's notably something missing. An accent table is a foolproof option for this mini-dilemma, but I'd hate to spend big bucks on something that is just an "accent" and not quite a necessity. So for those of you with an empty nook in your home, I present you with the Garnet Hill Pedestal Table ($34), our Steal of the Day. This cheerful wooden table comes in cool turquoise or sunny yellow, and would raise the spirits of any sad corner.

Music Tube iPod Speaker

Waterproof speakers have long been a hot novelty geek item: They're fun, can handle a little spray from the shower or pool and allow you to enjoy your music in unusual places.

I've noticed recently that most speakers for use in the shower rely on a shampoo bottle-inspired design and this one from Nova is no exception. According to Gizmodo, it was designed to stand free or hang on a hook.

What do you think of the look? Would you use it in your shower?

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Jennifer & Jamie Are Still Reigning Over The Kingdom

After going fancy in Paris and London, Jennifer and Jamie ditched their formal wear for a photocall in Berlin for The Kingdom. This marks the fourth country these two have hit in the last week and we can't even imagine how exhausted they must be. At least they probably got lots of quality bonding time in together, although we know Jennifer would rather be with her family or in her hometown.

John Harrington iPod Shuffle: Geeky or Geek Chic?

Designer John Harrington is known for his jewelry, but he is making his mark in the luxury shuffle market with a Diamond shuffle that costs $600. The device is laser etched with Harrington's signature "Renaissance" motif and set with five diamonds. He calls it the "ultimate fashion accessory for the person who has everything." It's certainly less outrageous than the $10,000 shuffle dipped in gold or the $20,000 shuffle covered in gold and diamonds, but it's far from understated. Do you think decking out your devices in gems is geeky, or geek chic?

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 Offers Video Recording

This hot off the press news from The Boy Genius Report is kinda a big deal in my world. Research In Motion (the big wigs of BlackBerry) have just announced that the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 features an updated visual interface and lots of wonderful new features. The new and improved Pearl comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera that includes video recording capabilities—something my iPhone doesn't even have! You can even choose which resolution you want to capture your video with for easy sharing via MMS. Also included is the built-in GPS—our BlackBerry prayers have certainly been answered! For more info, click here.

WTF?! Victoria Beckham Impersonator?

I've being eyeing a blonde with a jagged bob who wears tight ass dresses and puckers a definitive pout. Oh Posh. Wait a second...that's not the Victoria Beckham we all know and love!

At first I thought it was a mere coincidence, but this red dress incident was the last straw that prompted me to do some research. I quickly learned that the Posh wannabe is Chanelle Hayes, a 19-year-old who was a contestant on UK's "Big Brother." Side note: she has reportedly hooked up with David Beckham lookalike Calum Best. Hmmm! This chick really wants Victoria's life, doesn't she? She dresses like her, has her hair style, walks like her, poses like her...hell, she probably even talks like her. I don't know about you, but even though imitation is the best form of flattery, this would creep me out. Do you agree?

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Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural essential oil, an antiseptic, antibacterial, it fights off various fungi as well as many different types of germs. It is commonly referred to as Australian tea tree oil, and by it's latin name, Melaleuca alternifolia.

There is a multitude of first-aid and household uses for tea tree oils. Treatments include fighting athletes foot, fighting off cold and flu symptoms, oral thrush, cold sores, toothaches, gum infections, ringworm, head lice, nail infections, body odor, mosquito bites, cuts, abrasions, and sunburn. (Whew!) It can be used as a natural spot treatment for blemishes, which is why you'll see it in so many acne treatments.

As you can see, tea tree oil is a versatile healer as well as a soothing and effective disinfectant. It can reach the lower layers of skin and it promotes sweating. This is helpful when you body is trying to ward off infection. Stay tuned this week for my series on products containing tea tree oil!

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Ten Signs That You are WAY Outside of Your Comfort Zone

1. You second guess your decisions.
2. Your critics, once easily ignored, suddenly rent way more head space than they deserve.
3. Your old plan of action may now seem overly simplistic.
4. Formerly non-existent “What If’s” suddenly spring to mind. A lot.
5. Before you got outside of your comfort zone, all you could think about was getting your goal, but once outside of it, all you can think about is what will happen if you don’t reach your goal.
6. You become a textbook example of the infamous “Impostor Syndrome“.
7. Words start rearranging themselves in your head - for example, the phrase “I can do this!” somehow becomes “Can I do this?”
8. You sometimes wonder WTF to do next.
9. “Positive Thinking” suddenly doesn’t quite seem so, well, “realistic” as it used to
10. Digg Trolls magically appear to be more intelligent than they really are.
    

Direct Satellite TV

There are many local cable services, but none is as good as Direct Satellite TV.

What makes Direct Satellite TV so special?

They do not only offer exclusive concerts and events, they also have the Fox Reality Network, which shows re-runs of about every reality show that has ever been produced. But that´s not all. They also have behind-the-scenes stuff, deleted scenes, and new interviews with the actors and actresses.

If you're still using standard cable instead of satellite TV, then direct satellite TV might cause you to switch.

One of the biggest advantages of direct satellite TV is the quality of the picture, which is way better than the picture quality of standard cable TV. The reason for this is that the images and the sound are received digitally and later reconstructed by a receiver. The difference between cable and satellite could also be as dramatic as the difference between a VCR and a DVD player.
Another big selling point of direct satellite TV is the variety of channels. You can receive everything from educational channels to sports channels, and even music channels. With direct satellite TV you can also join the HDTV revolution, since many channels are provided in high-definition.

No matter what provider or package you have now, you owe it to yourself to check out the link above and find out what all Direct TV has to offer you!

Panasonic's TH-50PZ700U plasma becomes 'best ever tested'

While we've seen Consumer Reports take a gander at a number of HDTVs before, it's been a tick (or maybe "forever" is more fitting) since it's seen "the best flat screen ever tested." Believe it or not, Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ700U plasma was actually the recipient of such sensational praise, and such luxuries as the 1080p resolution (oooh) and its ability to "reproduce the finest details, rich vibrant colors and deep blacks" (aaah) apparently set it way ahead of the pack. Additionally, the screen was so impressive that reviewers actually stated that it "lent an almost three-dimensional look to images," which we figured was only possible with a pair of truly gaudy glasses. Welp, guess we all know which HDTV you're getting next, eh?

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Sony's PRS-505 eBook reader now on sale

That was snappy. Just hours after hearing that Sony's PRS-505 eBook reader would be available "this month" for $300, the outfit is now selling the product right in its own webstore. For $299.99 (to be precise), users can snap up the Digital Book in silver or dark blue, and you'll even get 100 Connect eBook Classic titles (and two lines of engraving, if you wish) gratis with the purchase. As for the estimated ship date? Tomorrow.

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Fashion 101

Pizza Margherita Two Ways — Beginner & Expert

Eating a perfectly cooked pizza margherita at an outdoor cafe on the streets of Naples is a luxury that I am lucky enough to have experienced. However, just because you won't be heading to Southern Italy anytime soon doesn't mean you can't enjoy a deliciously simple pizza. I've found two stimulating recipes: one for the novice cook, and another for the foodie elitist. However, both recipes require the best quality ingredients you can find. Once you have mastered the pizza margherita, use these recipes as a base for more creative pizzas.

NEL Dog Bench

This NEL-designed furniture can be used as a side table, stool, bench, bookshelf, magazine rack, newspaper holder, or as bookends. I can't decide if it's more abstract modern irony or rural craft fair corniness.

Cameron Plays The Field, But Not Just With Ashton

Cameron and Ashton are still hard at work on the set of What Happens In Vegas in NYC. It looks like their characters are having fun wrestling and goofing around, but off-set Cameron has a different man to get playful and flirty with. Apparently she and Bradley Cooper were getting close over the weekend on dates, at parties and football games. Page Six reports:

They dined at Asia de Cuba at Morgans Hotel Saturday night and then hit the "SNL" after-party at Primehouse on Park Avenue South. One onlooker told us the twosome "were very close and lovey. Something is definitely going on, and it's clear they are more than just friends."They were also spotted on the sidelines at the Giants game on Sunday, along with team owner Steve Tisch, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

We knew that Cameron was keeping her options open, and now that John is out of the picture, sounds like she and Bradley are heating things up. This girl obviously has no problem finding a date, but it will be interesting to see whether or not she's ready to get serious again.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

More than 20 years ago, the month of October was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and the importance of early detection. As we all know, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States and according to the American Cancer Society, it's estimated that about 178,480 women in the US will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007. With so many people affected by this disease, it's important to raise awareness and become as educated as possible. There are so many great resources out there and here are just a few websites to help you locate any information you might need.

• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: More than just one month a year, the NBCAM has a website with breaking news on breast cancer, lists of patient services, and basic as well as detailed information on the disease.

• American Cancer Society: The ACS is dedicated to educating women on how to reduce their risk of developing the disease and finding the best options for treating breast cancer. They believe in early detection and recommend that all women over 40 receive an annual mammogram. The ACS website is loaded with information and they have 24 hour telephone service to offer the comfort of live support and to answer questions about cancer, link callers with resources in their communities, and provide information on local events (1-800-ACS-2345).

Trend Alert: Pears

Maybe it's just because pears are in season here in sunny California, or because I'm still drooling over YumSugar's bubbly pear cupcakes, but I can't seem to get pears off my mind lately. They seem to be everywhere I look these days, and I'm loving it.



Did you know that there are 30 different species of pears in the world? Well, there are, and there are even more home décor items related to the crisp fruit out there right now. From trays and casseroles to handmade pillows, sophisticated pear interpretations are popping up in every category of the shelter market. I'm not talking about Art 101 style still-life paintings of apples and pears organized nicely in a bowl, but updated, modern silhouettes of the fruit as well shabby-chic renditions.

I've trend-spotted more pear finds than would be sane to buy, so click the images below and let me know which is your fruit-bearing fave.

Crockpot Pork Roast

Although summer is over and fall is kicking in, there's still a lot of sunlight each day. During this time of year, where the weather is still nice — at least it is here! — but hearty fall flavors are calling your name, do yourself a favor and make a crockpot meal. Cooking with a crockpot — or slow cooker as it's also known — means that a filling meal will be waiting for you after a full day of playing outdoors. So gather up your ingredients, stick them in the crockpot and enjoy your day!

Did Letterman Go Too Far With The Paris/Jail Jokes?

Paris Hilton visited the Late Show With David Letterman on Friday night and the interview didn't go as planned for the heiress. She was there to promote her new fragrance Can Can and talk about Repo! The Genetic Opera, but Dave just wanted to ask about jail. Paris stayed good natured even though she very clearly wanted to change the subject. She eventually pouted until she got her way, but not before Dave got in a few good jabs. Watch it below and let us know — do you think Letterman crossed the line with Paris?