Most women enjoy new additions to their wardrobe on a rather regular basis. Sooner or later, your enthusiasm for clothes shopping may wane when you shop at the mall time and time again. The fashions start to have a sameness that is uninspiring. You long for something really different, in clothes, shoes and other accessories. [...]
One fashion accessory that is just as in style as ever and can be worn by men and women with almost anything is argyle socks. These timeless socks have been around for years and do not look to be leaving the market anytime soon.
The 1960s brought an explosion of color to Great Britain after the drab and austere years of the decade before. Food rationing did not completely end until 1954 and everyone was readjusting to normal life after World War II. The young people of the 1960s who had reached their teens were ready to live it [...]
Fashion trends seem to come and go. We’ve all experienced a time where chosen attire was a bit questionable. Maybe not then, but certainly now. I was a child in the 1980s. I can still recall all the horrible ensembles adults and high school kids were wearing. Not to mention those massive hair dews. Apparently [...]
People love all types of music. They love it for background music in their homes as they are trying to relax, for cruising in their cars on a hot summer day, or for dancing in a club to that pumping rhythm. There are many types of music all around the world. However, not all types [...]
The lovely fragrance of lavender has been enjoyed for thousands of years, used to scent homes and bring relief from stubborn headaches. Aside from its many medicinal qualities, lavender is beloved simply for the sake of its scent. For this reason, lavender crafts projects are popular gift items for so many crafts enthusiasts. Here are [...]
Many women have a wonderfully close relationship with their daughters. They cradle them and sing them to sleep when they are infants and offer them a shoulder of support when they are adults facing life’s struggles.
You would think that pirates would get old after awhile, but they never do. After all, for decades they have been in the limelight. From Hollywood movie producers to costume manufacturers, everyone loves a pirate. You can see skulls and crossbones everywhere on Halloween, and some people have been known to even fly pirate flags [...]
When my best friend’s daughter told her that she was going to get married, the first thing that my friend said was, “What am I going to wear?” This may seem like an odd statement but mother of the bride outfits are not typically well-known for attractiveness. Moms can take heart in knowing that things [...]
Most of us no longer have a need for hat boxes, at least, not to carry around hats. They were originally made when women tended to wear a lot of hats, and these hats would be rather large. Putting those hats in with regular luggage would do nothing but destroy the hats, so there had [...]
If it is naughty lingerie you want, that’s what you can get at Frederick’s of Hollywood. Naughty is not all they have, although that is what many of us think of when we hear ‘Frederick’s of Hollywood’. I think of it as a slightly nastier version of Victoria’s Secret, since VS doesn’t offer crotch less [...]
What is it with fashion designers? Do they really presume that their clothing is worth as much as they stamp on the price tag? I mean think about this for a moment. It’s completely ridiculous. And what’s even more ridiculous is that people buy this stuff. Is high fashion, really high fashion? Is a pair [...]
Don’t you just love time? I mean come on, this nifty little factor that we can’t physically see, changes so many things. We go from day to night, infant to toddler, child to adult, and it flies by like the wind. Suddenly we’re pushing 40, and having a hard time grasping where the years went. [...]
How does one even comprehend the meaning of 50 years in love with one person, sharing lives together, through thick and think, through ups and downs? What token, what 50th wedding anniversary gifts can possibly convey the full meaning of love, and not sound cheesy and incomplete? It was this question which occupied my mind [...]
Juicy Couture jeans are hitting the market with a bang. We have seen them on many famous individuals like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. While the look (and the price) is not for everyone, many young ladies in the mainstream are seeking out these sought-after jeans in droves. If the trend continues, Juicy Couture jeans [...]
When I was going up, I was always considered a tomboy. Though I loved to dress up on occasion, I was more comfortable in jeans or shorts. I spent most of my time running around the neighborhood with my friends, and we are often found playing in the water of the local creek, or climbing [...]
The statement that we are a nation of consumers has never been truer than it is today. If you want merchandise there are no limits on the way you can get it. There are catalog shopping, online, shopping, online auctions, mega mall and superstore shopping and there are small shops and specialty shops. With all [...]
Have you ever thought about why some people become obsessed with something? How some people it is collecting certain items such as stamps, coins, rocks or a certain kind of figurines. Other people may become obsessed with an activity or sport or professional sports teams. There are a great number of people that spend a [...]
In shopping and fashion, the grass always seems to be greener on the other side. Some taller women with larger bone structures put together wardrobe ensembles with the hope of appearing smaller. More thin and willowy women attempt to create the appearance of curves with their clothing choices and curvier women sometimes choose styles to [...]
A few times a year, there seems to be a shift in fashions. I really don’t know much about each trend, but I see what is going on when I look at what everyone else is wearing. You never know what to buy because the trends go so quickly. Quite often you can look back [...]
Most male culture is a mystery to me. So much of how males behave and the reasons why makes no sense to me. The social behavior of males is too complex to decipher so perhaps we should just take a look at the outside and leave the inside for later.
Most home gardeners enjoy a fresh bouquet of garden flowers, gracing their home from spring through fall. From daffodils and tulips in spring, bountiful displays of summer flowers, right through fall Chrysanthemums, every room can be beautified, with a quick foray into your garden. Come winter, flowers are harder to come by, unless you purchase [...]
Henna design is often thought of as a safe and temporary alternative to tattooing. Unless removed through long and painful procedures, tattoos are permanent skin decorations. Those who wish to have body art for a special occasion or perhaps want to experiment without branding themselves permanently often turn to henna design.
If you never wore footie pajamas when you were a child, you don’t know what you are missing. There is something comforting about them for some reason, and when wearing them, you don’t have to worry about having slippers. These are something that children usually wear, but some adults love to wear them as well. [...]
I have been taking belly dancing classes for several months now, and have really started to enjoy it. I really started out on a whim. One of my friends had been taking belly dance classes for a while, and she was looking absolutely fantastic. When I asked her her secret she told me about it. [...]
There’s a new kind of retirement community in Boston, Massachusetts that just might revolutionize the way we approach senior living. Many seniors dread the day when they’ll have to sell their homes and move into some sort of assisted living or artificial retirement community. They love the neighborhoods where they live, and their first choice [...]
The subject of ladies shoes is dear to most women’s heart. There’s nothing like a new pair of shoes to cheer you up. At some point, the serial buyer of ladies shoes is sure to find several pairs in the closet which have been worn just once or twice and now are out of their [...]
Everyone loves candles, the soft light they give and the relaxing atmosphere they create. Floating candle bowls have become very popular of late and the product range available is varied. They come in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes and with differently scented candles. They are ideal for water features in the garden and [...]
For a very long time, mirrors have been used in many rooms of the home as a decorative accent. They have function in the home in bathrooms and bedrooms, as you probably know, but most have at least one more somewhere in their home that is for looks only. You can find decorative wall mirrors [...]
Depending on your age bracket, you may view body piercing differently than the next person. Some people will see someone with a pierced nose or lip and frown. They have no desire to even speak to that person. Others, will look at that same person and see them as being a creative soul who wants [...]
A lot of people who work in the retail clothing industry hate their jobs. To me, however, selling retail apparel is about the best gig I have ever had. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of drawbacks. The pay is lousy, the customers are demanding, and my boss is somewhat moody and difficult to [...]
A jewelry travel case is a must for anyone who travels regularly. It also comes in handy for people who only get away once or twice each year. Your jewels are valuable to you. They are not only expensive but in most cases they hold great sentimental value as well as monetary worth. The last [...]
My sister is a Paris Hilton wannabe. I make this statement affectionately, perhaps even admiringly. She’s a beautiful girl known for her intelligence, motivation and talent. Sadly, early in 2004, she was in a horrendous car accident and her life was reduced to ruins.
There are so many trends that come and go. Some times this is good and other times it is not. One item from the 60’s that had disappeared and now is back is the lava lamps. This is one item that could have remained lost as far as I am concerned.
The Judith Jack jewelry line is a stunning line featured almost exclusively at the finer department stores like Nordstrom. But you can find Judith Jack online, too, for reasonable prices and of choices that range from earrings to pendants and necklaces to beautiful rings. The remarkable thing about this jewelry is that it looks like [...]
When you think of Britney you probably start humming one of her many number one songs or your mind wanders to all her marital woes that seem to be on the front of every supermarket tabloid lately. But there’s another side to Ms. Spears and it allows other women to share a part of her [...]
In the fashion world, there are certain staple wardrobe items we find indispensable. Like the little black dress that goes everywhere, for day and evening wear, so are white linen pants regarded as must-haves for most women. White linen pants have been popular for decades and never go out of style.
The northeastern region of the United States is comprised of lush, green mountains that are breath-taking and mesmerizing. The state of Pennsylvania is housed within this area and there is little wonder that the makers of Pennsylvania House furniture chose this place to take root. The products that come out of the company’s factory are [...]
College dorms and the apartments of recent college graduates are notorious for looking absolutely terrible. The residents of most dorms appear to have all of the interior decorating abilities of hand grenades, and their rooms and apartments usually appear to be decorated with this speedy but unaesthetic technique. So how do you make your first [...]
Bowlers are often compared (unfairly, in my opinion) to golfers in terms of their lack of fashion sense. While I can understand how some people might not be fond of polyester bowling shirts, I don’t think they’re nearly as bad as some of the outrageous outfits I’ve seen on the golf course. At least bowlers [...]
Some of the most sought after homes in the United States are the ones that are near water. There is something peaceful and beautiful about living near the water, and there are many who would love to do so. The problem is that there is only so much land along the ocean that is available, [...]
In the beginning, it was enough to merely own a cell phone. Getting an important call when you were waiting in line at the bank or shopping it up at the grocery store made you look hip, happening, and totally in demand. Then you had to have the right kind of cell phone and the [...]
If you ask around, you’ll get a lot of different opinions about tattoos, both pro and con. Many people use tattoos to help express who they are and what they’re about, completely endorsing tattoos and what they endorse. However, you’ll also get people who are completely against tattoos and couldn’t imagine who in their right [...]
Kids are notoriously flighty, and there are always new trends coming and going. Nonetheless, there are some things that tap into childhood so effectively that they really stay there year after year. Face painting is definitely one of them. When people ask what I do for a living and I tell them that I paint [...]
When the Stones rolled into town, parents were warned to lock up their daughters. Back in 1962, when it all started, who could have guessed they would still be going strong? The wrinkles may have deepened but they are still one of the most exciting bands in the world. Their devoted following includes a lot [...]
When I was just out of high school, getting a nose piercing was something that many found shocking. Today, it is not that big of a deal for the most part, and more and more people are doing it. In fact, it may soon be just as common as having two or three earrings in [...]
Are you flashing a less than stellar grin these days? This is a topic on the minds of many Americans. A bright white set of choppers is what’s in style now. Unfortunately if you’re sporting a luster-less grin, you might get a few frowns. When did this craze begin? Well, if I remember correctly, the [...]
Women come in all different shapes and sizes and every woman can enjoy wearing pretty lingerie. Lingerie can make a woman feel wonderful, it can boost her self-esteem and it can also please the man in her life as well.
Like many of us do, I love art—paintings, sculptures, well-wrought tapestries, lithographs, and unique pieces done by great artists and artisans. My mother was a painter when we were kids, gave it up to work two jobs and raise us, and returned to her art when we were out of the house and long gone. [...]
I was never in dance growing up, though I wanted to be very badly. My mom didn’t have the time to take me to class, or I would have taken ballet. I’m not sure I would have stuck with it for very long, but at that time, that was what I wanted to do. I [...]
Looking at my Ansel Adams poster, I am reminded of my last trip to the mountains. I’m not a mountain climber – I have a serious muscular illness which prevents me from being able to properly exert my upper body strength. But still, I have always looked to the mountains with a kind of love [...]
In general, art of animals is not exactly a respected art form. Animal portraits, in fact, are looked down upon. When most people think about an animal portrait, they picture those dogs playing poker. They are widely known as the most iconic cheese ball art in the world today. Nonetheless, getting a portrait of your [...]
The pictures of Andy Warhol have revolutionized the art world. Whether you love him or hate him (and most people tend to drift towards one of these extremes,) there is just no denying that Andy Warhol pictures have shaped much of what is important in our culture today. Without the pictures of Andy Warhol, pop [...]
The world of lingerie was given a boost in 1977 when the Victoria’s Secret Company hit the stores. The lingerie and beauty products needed the right people to promote the merchandise and the company decided to hire the most beautiful models, calling them Victoria Secret Angels. In addition to stores, the merchandise is sold though [...]
Some men, who almost always wear a necktie, are practiced in this fashion art. The wearing of neckties today is becoming a less frequent activity. Lots of men no longer need to wear a tie to the office. The young man in high school may need some help in massaging that necktie into place before [...]
When I was a child my grandmother bought me a real fur coat. I loved the feel of the soft pelt but I didn’t really understand what it was made of until my parents accidentally mentioned that it was rabbit fur. It was devastating to know that I was wearing little bunnies and I wouldn’t [...]
Everyone has their likes and dislikes. Some people want to be similar to everyone else and others like to stand out in a crowd. We all have our opinions on our preferences. Some of those opinions are to agree with others and others are to disagree depending upon our personality. Fashion trends bank on people [...]
Anyone looking to spruce up his interior design scheme is well advised to consider artwork. While portraits are nice and landscape paintings are quite popular, they may not offer the interest that a still life composition can. A still life painting can add depth and interest to just about any space if it is well [...]
I just got a new pair of Nike Air Force One shoes, and I could not be happier. My custom Nike Air Force Ones are the coolest thing that I have seen in years. These ones are a special St. Patrick’s day addition, done in bright green and white. Very retro. I am tempted to [...]
Doesn’t life move quickly? I swear I was in high school just a few months back. It just all seems so recent. Yet in reality I’ve already received a notice in the mail regarding a ten year reunion. Yikes, where do the years go! Well, one thing I have noticed as I’ve aged is that [...]
It seems like having a leather interior for your vehicles used to be a symbol of status. I desperately wanted my time to come when I could afford a vehicle that had leather seats so that I too, could feel like I was somebody. Finally, my day came and I bought a gorgeous convertible with [...]
Today’s woman views her jewelry collection as a major fashion accessory. With faux jewels that look so much like the real deal at first glance, it’s possible to have a huge collection of costume jewelry that is suitable for the dressiest occasions and costumes. With the sophisticated technology in plastics and faux metals, you can [...]
Personalized items are always popular. Whether you are giving someone a nameplate for their office door or monogrammed towels they will appreciate the gesture.
Contact lenses are a way for people who regularly wear glasses to be free of the glasses and still see just as well, if not better, than with their glasses. Many years ago, contact lenses were hard and uncomfortable, often popping out unexpectedly and landing on the floor, much to the dismay of the wearer. [...]
There is something so deliciously wonderful about color and color schemes—whether for a room in a house, a website page or pages, an outfit or a wardrobe, or involved in a piece of art or craft. There is a divine joy in observing, planning, and working with color schemes as they fit aesthetically, as they [...]
As humans, we only get five senses to begin with. One thing many of us dread is losing one of those senses. We practically need them, and rely on them to survive this sometimes harsh world. However, a common sense that tends to fade in many of us is our eyesight. Although this is simply [...]
Messenger bags offer students, commuters, and anyone toting around a bunch of gear a useful alternative to the standard backpack. Messenger bags have a number of significant strengths over their two-strapped brethren, though they have some other marked disadvantages, depending on how you use the bags.
It never fails. At some point in our lives, virtually every one of us ponders some mystical drug or remedy for some random affliction. Maybe the affliction is severe like cancer, and maybe it’s more of a cosmetic issue such as hair loss. Either way, we’d love to just be able to pull a serum [...]
Magazines come and go but some favorites stay the course. People Magazine has been on the newsstands since 1974, entertaining regular readers with celebrity articles and human interest features. The weekly publication often gets the scoop on celebrity news and exclusive photographs. News of weddings, pregnancies and other news in the celebrity world appear alongside [...]
The punk rock scene in the 1970s was kick started by the 1971 formed New York Dolls. They influenced countless acts to follow, both in America and the UK, achieving cult status but less commercial success than others who had gloried in their slipstream. They were never credited with being the best musicians in the [...]
Jessica McClintock dresses are the epitome of affordable fashion that can carry you thorough just about any formal affair. When my niece mentioned that she was looking for a gown for her prom this year, I immediately suggested that she look to Jessica McClintock dresses. Following are a couple of her favorites.
Exclusive and high quality goods are the mainstay of the Italian company, Bottega Veneta. It began as a family concern in Venice in 1966, manufacturing luxury leather items. It is still mainly known for its leather goods and also for the ready to wear clothing line and accessories for men and women.
Most women have some degree of interest in style and fashion, from just wanting to stay “modern”, if not quite up to date, to those of us with more than a passing fancy, wanting to know what the latest must have items are. If you’re one with a passion for fashion, fashion magazines offer a [...]
You’ve heard of the armchair traveler? Rare is the person who loves travel and can make it a full time occupation. Although there are such lucky individuals, most of us must be satisfied with the yearly vacation. However, you can be a savvy armchair traveler who waits patiently, using the time between now and vacation [...]
Even though I am happy to see that there are many more plus sized models today, I am a little troubled at what the fashion industry considers to be plus size. I remember when I was a little girl my mother was often on a diet, and this was because she had the same condition [...]