How To Meet Women In Nightclubs

Nightclubs. For the inexperienced male or one lacking in onfidence, nightclubs can be one of the most intimidating settings. Now add the extra variable of wanting to meet women there, it adds fuel to the fear fire. For some men, all they know is the nightclub scene and think that is the best place to hook up and meet women. For others it's an unknown place with bizarre social rules. For others it's a place they've never been to and prefer to stay away from.

If you want to learn how to meet women in nightclubs then you have to understand both the reality and the fantasy elements of nightclubs. The fantasy part is that men know that nightclubs, especially the "hot" ones, have more attractive women in one place then almost any other public venue. Some nightclubs actually go out of their way to keep the female to male ratio as close to 50/50 as possible because they know if there are more women there, then more male patrons will come.

Nightclubs can be a lot of fun because there's drinking, dancing, and meeting new people.Now let's take a look at the reality of meeting women in nightclubs. A woman spends an average of 2 hours getting ready before going out to a nightclub.

Why? There are several reasons for this but a very common one is that they know there are going to be other attractive women there and they know they have to look their very best if they are going to get any attention from men. Men typically go to nightclubs to hook up, whereas women typically go to nightclubs to have fun with their girlfriends and to seek validation from men. There's a small percentage of women that go to nightclubs to hook up with that "hot" guy, but most women don't go there for that.

There's another thing to think about when going to nightclubs to meet women. About 8 out of every 10 women that go there are not what I would call long-term relationship material. Many of the women that go to nightclubs are going there to seek validation, to get their egos stroked, are in their partying phase, and generally would not make a suitable long term mate. You've got to keep that in mind when you set out for a night out.

I've met some fantastic women at nightclubs because I've learned how to sort out the freaks, the flakes, and the attention whores.A major mistake men make when they want to meet women in nightclubs is they go there with an agenda. That agenda is usually to get laid, hook up, or find a girlfriend.

The problem with that mindset is that it leads to needy and sometimes desperate behavior. I see a lot of men walk in to a nightclub and their main focus is to scope out the talent. They need to learn how to be more subtle about it. Another needy behavior is walking up to a woman and offering to buy her a drink. Wait a cotton-pickin' minute....she hasn't even done anything to deserve a free drink yet.

I never buy a woman that I've just met a drink, she has to earn it first by having a two-way interaction with me. So when I walk up to her and approach her it might be as simple as saying "Hi, my name is

Rod and yours is?"

I'm qualfying her to see if she is interesting enough for me to stick around. Men generally do it the other way around where they try to impress her or bribe her with an offer of a free drink. Women know this and the really hot ones even come up with lame rules such as "we never pay for drinks". I've dated many attractive women ranging from college coeds to corporate women and most of them had similar rules.

An attractive woman knows she can go out at night and never have to pay for a drink or even pay to gain entrance. To meet women in nightclubs you must learn how to stand out. A powerful way to stand out is to do your research before you go to any nightclub.

Find out who owns the nightclubs, read reviews about it online on sites like Yelp.com, and when you do go, show up early and get to know the door people and the rest of the staff. I've gone out to new nightclubs and even by my second visit I already have people calling me by my name because I gave them a large tip, bothered to learn their name, and even invited them over my apartment for a "happy hour" or mixer.

When the staff knows you it makes a big impression on the women there because it naturally increases your social status. They assume you're somebody important.

The #1 thing you can do in a nightclub setting is to go there with two goals in mind: to have fun and to meet new people. It really is that simple. When you show up, grab your beverage of choice, walk around the nightclub once or twice just to see what's going on, and then find a spot and get ready to mingle.

One technique you can use is while you're walking around the nightclub is to make a few comments to different groups of girls. You can even ask them how they're doing and if they're having fun. Once they give you their answers you can say "Great!" and then walk away, leaving them wondering who you are. It sets it up nicely to talk to them later.

 

Getting the Pointe: A Violinist Pursues Her Dream of Dancing Ballet

My sagging sock feet slip on the waxy buffed linoleum as I awkwardly shuffle my way past a gaggle of giggling girls in baby pink tutus. I'm wearing my yoga clothes, which have sadly not seen a yoga mat in two years, and my long mane of hair is reluctantly tied back in a girlie ponytail.

I feel ridiculous. I'm a thirty-year-old woman enrolled in a ballet class with teenage girls.

The seven-year-olds clear out and any moment now I'll be greeted by perfectly straight white smiles perched on top of perfectly young, toned bodies in lululemon spandex. Slouching in my slouch socks I catch my nervous reflection in the enormous wall of mirrors glaring back at me. Socks are not the only things that are sagging in this gal; my body has seen nine long months of pregnancy, two years of nursing and a several years skipping the morning make-up routine to chase after an active son.

I came here today to begin something I yearned to do almost twenty years ago.

I grew up the oldest child of a single mother who struggled to put food on the table. My best friend's family was well-off and put their children through whatever after school activities and summer camps their hearts desired. Among riding lessons, piano lessons, flute ensemble and painting class, Meghan excelled in ballet and violin.

She played beginning Suzuki "Twinkle Twinkle" variations and tears of yearning welled up in my eyes. She performed simple dance routines on the glossy hardwood floor of her living room set to orchestral music on the hi-fi and I applauded her every move. Sometimes she allowed me to wear her old ballet slippers and a flowing black skirt as I mimicked her clumsily.

A passionate fan of classical music since birth [and a typical pre-teen girl], I became enamoured with both violin and ballet and begged my mother to send me to classes. Sadly finances forbade it completely and I was relegated to the audience to watch and admire Meghan.

When I was twelve my mother was seriously injured at the shipyard where she painted oil tankers. She received a very modest cash settlement to take care of the doctor's bills and time off work. In her first position to pay for a class, my mother said I could take up one activity: ballet classes for a year or the purchase of a violin.

Ballet or violin? My maturity and insight in the decision took my mother by surprise. I chose violin knowing I could play violin for a lifetime as opposed to the very short careers of performing ballerinas. One thousand dollars of my mother's pain money funded my first violin, a Karl Knilling German factory fiddle made in 1989.

We certainly couldn't afford private lessons but that didn't stop me living and breathing violin. I took the city bus downtown and brought home as many sheet music scores and audio tapes as the public library would allow. We moved so I could attend school where orchestra was offered. Practicing three to five hours a day, I quickly advanced to the concertmaster position and soon started ensembles of my own.

Music college and several orchestras later I find myself married with a child and the owner of a violin business. Life had zoomed past and I never again looked back on my desire to dance ballet.

It was New Year's Eve at Grandma's house and my six-year-old son was doing his usual dance after supper routine, this time heightened by the vast quantities of Christmas candy he had consumed. On a whim I put on the John Travolta film "Staying Alive," thinking my son would appreciate the modern dance sequences and I'd enjoy a jaunt down memory lane with the classic flick.

The movie rocked Ryan's world. He was copying the moves with amazing accuracy, the spins and leaps and beaming ear to ear. The dancing he saw on the screen illuminated a whole new level of appreciation for dance and confirmed a fervent desire in his heart to dance.

My mother watched with adoration and I felt a deep pride: I'd helped him find something he loved. Heck, anyone could enroll their kids in a hundred activities, but it's far more meaningful when it's something their heart aches for. I'd even go as far to say that when you get something too easily it's not as sacred. I'd been waiting for this moment to come and was more than willing to support him in it.

A week later Ryan was enrolled in the winter semester of ballet for 6 year olds. He was the only boy in the class, but that didn't faze him. Surrounded by pink flowing fairies my child looked like a ninja in his black sweats and dragon T-shirt. He started late in the year but was keeping up well and particularly enjoying the theatrics of the class.

For four weeks I peeked through the doors of the waiting room and watched Ryan's class alone while other parents ran errands with the spare 45 minutes. One session I was, as usual, copying the class' movements from behind the door when another parent asked, "you're a dancer too?"

It hit me like a load of ballet shoes. "Me, a dancer?" I thought. It had never occurred to me to take up dance as an adult. "Why the heck not," I told myself. "I just turned thirty years old, dammit, and I can take ballet classes if I want to!"

So here I am in the Shuswap Dance ballet studio waiting to make an ass of myself. My inner twelve-year-old got me here, but the sensible 30-year-old thinks I'm nuts. "Should I run now and spare myself the embarrassment?"

My classmates enter the room. Normal looking teenage girls in sweats and T-shirts, no makeup, no perfect figures. Not the prima pink ballerinas I expected. Just some young ladies who want to learn to dance. (Phew, I won't need to buy anything pink!)

Our instructor, Carolyn Wonacott, starts us out skipping around the room... backwards. I'm tripping on myself and getting in everyone's way: making a complete ass of myself as expected. But I' laughing and having the time of my life. Carolyn blasts Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean" as we practice twirling around the room, dizzy and giddy.

My muscles are protesting from the sudden activity as if to say, "what did we do to you to deserve this sudden onslaught of torture?" The pliés (I'm sure which literally translates to "pain in le ass") are killer, but they make me feel like a graceful dancer so I forge on. I know I'll feel this tomorrow but continue to bend deeper into the stretch.

"I'm a dancer," I snicker.

I learn that my class performs more than just ballet. We work on a jazzy swing number and next break into a chirpy hip-hop number by, er, Brittney who? I'm an old matron who listens to CBC news radio; completely out of touch with 21st Century pop culture. The girls fill me in on the singer's recent head shaving and suspected drug addiction and we move on. I try my best to copy their moves and fail miserably to keep up but know I'll get it eventually.

The class ends and I head upstairs to buy my first set of dancing shoes. I'm tired, far more tired than I'd expected I'd be, but I feel a warm glow in my bones as I slip on various slippers and shoes. I settle on a cozy pair of jazz shoes and receive encouragement from Carolyn. We both know I'll never dance with the Royal Ballet and may not make it on to pointe shoes. I don't mind. I'm just fulfilling a promise to myself and it feels great.

I wear the shoes all the time, eagerly awaiting the next class. I lace up my adorable little black shoes and stretch my toes into the lovely pointe shape I've admired for so many years. A feeling of pride and accomplishment washes over me.

I have learned that I can do anything I set my mind to. This was a gift that my mother passed on to me: the gift of learning to really want something and having the desire and tenacity to make it happen.

And this time around I'll have my handsome son as a dance partner.

**Rhiannon Schmitt (nee Nachbaur) is an award-winning classical violinist/fiddler and music teacher operates Fiddleheads Violin School & Shop. She shop has also won several distinguished business awards and offers beginner to professional level instruments, accessories and supplies with exceptional personal service: http://www.fiddleheads.ca

 

If You Can Make Her Laugh She is All Yours

Make her wild about you

One of the best things a man can do to get a woman’s attention is to make her laugh. When you ask a woman what she looks for in a man one of the first things that come out of her mouth is that the guy should have a sense of humor. So it’s no surprise that one of the very best seduction techniques you can use to attract women is laughter.

I must admit, at first, I didn’t realize how true this was. I just thought sense of humor was what all women responded with when asked, “What do you look for in a guy?” As I studied the best ways to seduce women over the years, however, I found laughter to be one the best ways to get into a woman’s pants.

Step your game up

How many times are you going to tell her that you own an S-class Mercedes Benz? Are you really going to keep telling her that you earn a six-figure salary? If that’s your way of seducing women then you are in big trouble. You are only going to attract gold diggers this way. Working on your sense of humor is a much better way to seduce women than trying to impress her with materialistic things. Women know what you have; you don’t have to throw it in their faces all the time. On the other hand, when you can make a woman laugh, you are stimulating her mind and turning her on by the second.

In fact, I have used laughter to seduce gorgeous, young women many times without fail. They always end up calling me and telling me that they would love nothing more than to “hang out” because they enjoy my company. So please, close your wallets and open your eyes… the key to a women’s heart is through laughter.

You must work on your sense of humor

Luckily, I’m a guy who has a natural high sense of humor. And women are helplessly drawn to me because of it. I have a fantastic sex life simply because I have the ability to make women laugh and have a good time. And at the end of the day, that is all a woman wants: a guy that can make her feel good. If you can make her feel liberated and forget about the stress that she might have by making her laugh, you are well on your into her pants.

But what if you are not so lucky? What if you aren’t naturally funny? What if you have absolutely no sense of humor? Do you consider yourself a boring individual? Don’t worry. I have a solution. You should practice your sense of humor by first being opportunistic. What do I mean by this? I am merely suggesting that you strike when the moment presents it self—no need to force jokes. When you see something that you find a bit odd, for example, why not use a little bit of sarcasm? Say, for instance, you see a grossly overweight man in Burger King ordering everything on the menu, you can say to your date “I can see his diet is going extremely well.” Now I am not one to bash people in public, but if you say something like this low enough so that only she hears you, she will have a great laugh out of it.

Nobody said you have to become Richard Pryor or Jim Carey to be considered funny. All you need is a little sense of humor and that can be the difference between a girl saying, “I guess I’ll see you around” and “Hey, want to come inside for a drink, Hun?” at the end of a date… if you know what I mean.

Girls can’t get enough

In order to be recognized as funny you need to be consistently hilarious. As you practice and work on your sense of humor it will quickly become second nature. One thing you will realize is that being funny is all about timing. You have to know what to say and when to say, or it wont be funny at all.

You should also take note that what is funny to one woman may not be funny to another. So do not feel discouraged if she doesn’t find your jokes that funny. Just keep working at it.

Something else you should beware of is aiming your jokes at the woman who you are trying to seduce. Girls are really sensitive and self-conscious about their looks; if you tease women in the attempt to make them laugh, they may feel offended by your joke. Yes, some women will laugh it off; but I found that most women don’t like being teased. I think this is due to the fact that most women subconsciously have low self-esteem. She loves when you make her laugh… just don’t do it at her expense.

Learn how to seduce women with exclusive secrets tips and strategies that few men use. Gain the upper hand and get any woman you desire with ease. Seducing women is something that has to be learned and I show you exactly how. For part 2 of this article, as well other important seduction methods, please visit http://www.show-me-how-to-get-laid.com/ Chris Walker is the owner of all said material in this article. You can distribute his material on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis, while he retains full rights to his work. You can use his article as long as you do not change any of the content without his permission.

 

Spoil Your Boys with Designer Clothing

Designer clothing used to be an exclusive privilege of adults, but that has changed. With the deluge of advertising and publicity offered by television, designer clothing has come in demand by younger and younger children. Everyone wants to look good and feel special regardless of age.

Clothing designers and manufacturers have responded to this growing demand. They have also in a sense fueled the demand by targeted advertising and promotion campaigns. It is potentially a huge market for them that one can expect they will fully leverage and exploit.

Designer clothing tends to lend a sense of elegance to a personal clothing style. One has to realize that the days of boys generally being happy with wearing just anything that covers the body are over. So are the days of milking cows and carrying in the sack of coal. Social and peer pressure have sensitized many boys to the need to look good and make a good impression.

In general, boys do not tend to be too fussy about the specific label; they are more just pursuing the elegance that designer clothing gives them, and the furtive glances they get from the girls when they wear those garments. They also love that extra boost of self-confidence it gives them.

Ambient and simple colors are the in thing nowadays. The flashy studded leather look is so 60's and 70's, and your boys would probably rather die than be seen in something from yester year. Hence, it is important to clothe your boys with what is in fashion, keeping in mind that the chosen clothing also has to fit well and compliment the teenager's body style.

Designer clothing for boys includes the basics of the typical top and bottom, or shirt and pants. In addition, it also extends to other garments like sweaters, jackets, bands, neck-scarves, caps, skull-caps, and much more.

Nowadays these special pieces of clothing can easily be found and ordered online. Your boy would probably not particularly like it to spend an afternoon with mom in a clothing store, but he most likely wouldn't mind, and might even be thrilled, to spend a few hours one evening browsing designer clothing websites and picking out what he likes.

One of the more popular designer clothing for boys is khaki. Khaki has been in fashion for more than 10 years, but recently this trend has been growing rapidly. Labels such as Abercrombie and Fitch, PDI, Giordano, Seed, Prada, Crocodile, and Camel have all produced fantastic khaki garments that feel as light as feather and don't hug your legs at all. They are also available in many colors such as khaki brown, beige, white, black, purple, gray, and many more.

Designer clothing might be more expensive, but the durability makes up for the higher price. The old adage is true; you get what you pay for. You love and treasure your precious boys. Treat them with some designer clothing this year and see how they glow when that special girl throws them a look and a smile.

Pierre Perissel has a trendy fashion information column on TheFashionPro.com, a site dedicated to providing you with your fashion needs and that allows you to air your views on and rate the fashion choices of celebrities.

 

When Is A Divorce Not A Divorce?

I am no expert but my article isn’t rocket science either!

It’s just my opinion and mine only so remember this, God has given me some insight to divorce as I am divorced!

I write this in disarray and write this in pain, as church’s and Christians are way out of line letting/permitting some couples to divorce over hurting of each others feelings and emotions!

I have a good friend who said to me as I was separated from my wife “We will never do that me and my girl.” But the sad news is they divorced over him watching too much TV and having a distorted over imaginative sex drive. Well they got divorced just after a month or so being married. A year latter!

So this is how divorce upsets God.

Two people telling God that they love each other and then saying to God” sorry God I made a mistake or you should of told me that the other partner was not suited to me “

What went wrong from love to hate in this I mean especially emotionless? Especially in the form of a divided love or love being pushed in as lust form!

The bible says not to put lust in a wedding or marriage.

I am witness and guilty of such a crime

So when does it become a crime?

How does it being legally compromising a marriage?

Guys a sex organ is not the decider of whom you should choose as a wife.

Nor girls a man who can fix your kitchen cupboard is not a candidate for stability!

You know books have been written on what kind of relationship is “the norm” or what is not.

But they lack spiritual content and Sigmund fraud as I call him; he got booed of the stage when he said that people are sexual beings and then went on to prove it.

The term comes from a Greek word spirit being or the term emotion elating to the term psychology!

But does not explain the social or ethical and quarantines the Holy Spirit's promptings And does damage to what God says about love in the true sense!

Love is faithfully devoted to the other person’s wellbeing and making the other person not only feel comfy but knows that they are loved! If you look at two old people who are in a lounge room not saying a word in front of a TV and one knitting and the other reading a book and they know that the other person loves and cares for them and will not have to prove it by buying expensive gifts or doing anything to prove it!

“Love is faithful and knows no wrong.”

Well if that is the case why do we as humans in any part kid ourselves. Basically we are all wanton and self indulgent and not only westernized but over proud of our selves. We think the other person should serve me the one in need!

Well?

It is the case and we need to put the other person in the picture or love in perspective you don’t need them and they don’t need you. We need to be whole as a single person and marry another whole single person, not find our wholeness as a couple as we are lacking when we are single. If you are not stable as a single person you are not going to be stable as a married one, you are simply going to have a co-dependent marriage.

One time when my wife went out for the day for the first time away from me for a day when she got home I said all you care about is you.

Well I was really wrong and out of line and out of place!

Any way this is just the past but it stays in my memory and I see it clearly and better than when it first happened all those twelve years ago!

The next time it happened I went out and had a blast with my friend as well and it was good!

You know I have that mentality today about the woman I love now if I can tell you she is nice and sweet but I am not going to marry her if I can’t live without her!

In this I mean she is not the main reason for me to want to marry her I want a woman who loves God way more than me as this woman must do just that and do it effectively and I must do that to!

I must still go out and evangelize and worship God and tell people about Jesus and not put the main focus on her but Put God in Number one place of my life that is how we should be doing it!

Even if you are not a Christian it is very important to at least do what you were doing before you met the person that you loved!

Like if you play sport don’t give up all sport just to please him or her but include the partner in it as well

My wife used to love watching me ride motor bike and she thought me as her hero and she was proud of me as I was a good motor enthusiast.

And if I get the chance to do so again I would love to ride a bike again!

I don’t know if you can remarry again after you get divorced as I am in a place of protection and grace as I won’t bother me if I stayed single and just hung out as a big kid.

Many people get married a lot over and over again like it is their religion like reincarnation hoping this time they got it right but the Bible calls it adultery for both Sadly their hurt little inner child or ego intention to be like the guys or girls in the circle but if they knew were going in to a burning house would you go and follow knowing that you would end up dead?

Well if the answer is no why do you lower your agenda and make your self an apostate to the Lord and to the written word of God?

I read in the Bible that one can divorce for being unfaithful but no where does it say you can re-marry without it being adultery to your former partner.

Ask your self this if you loved your partner so much why would you do this to them and making them vulnerable enough to sin and get married again and devoid the covenant with you and God through Jesus blood shed for you at Calvary?

Anyway I am asking one this if you loved the person so much why would you fall out of love with them?

This is no IQ test but a heart felt cry no don’t end up like the heathen who have knowledge and don’t obey it!

Read John 3 the whole chapter in the Bible in a King James Bible if possible and see what it says for your self .

I will not ramble on but just love you in Christ may God bless you!

Kind regards from Yianni

Yianni heads up an online prayer site where strangers can request a free prayer via email or a personal prophecy from God and he can be also contacted at http://www.online-prayer.net

 

7 Bold Reasons Why Men Shouldn't Cheat Their Wives

 "What is the next step that a man can do if his wife cannot satisfy his sexual needs?" asked by A.

At first I thought A was asking about how to boost his sexuality with proper nutrition and food, but when I further read the question, I got a shock. Well, it seems now it is the problem of a wife. Nevertheless, I am writing on behalf of A before writing on the 2 golden keys that a wife should have to keep their marriage vibrant.

To have huge sexual appetite is not a sin nor something to be shy of. One should never underestimate the power of sex. Sex is part of our everyday life like food is to all of us. Have a look at what I have to say for the above asked question. Since it is a question asked, at least this friend A is considering what to do and not involved in anything yet. Luckily he is also asking on behalf of another friend. But I am in no position to influence him in any order. I respect a person's choice. My only advice is to read through my 7 bold reasons why man shouldn't cheat their wives before making any decision. Your own decision is still your best decision.

[1] MQ to consider

What is this? It is Moral Quotient. All of us have to be aware of the importance of MQ in the family. MQ is a skill to do things correct and right. MQ is a skill that all of us should possess. I always sum up this quotient as how one should do things right and proper. 'Do not do to others that you don't like others to do unto you" It is a saying of a wise sage, Confucius..

Understand the verse, read the verse, memorize the verse. If one doesn't allow his spouse, the wife to cheat on him, he should also not cheat at the first place. Will you be hurt if your wife cheated you too when you are at home while she went travelling?

[2] Not fair to the wife

It is not fair to the wife who stays at home to look after the children while her husband cheats her on business trips. Cheating hurts just anyone, especially the fairer sex. The proper wife who have to always stay at home to look after the family are not aware of being cheated. But if we look at things at a closer range, all of us will be angered by such deeds. If you have a father who always cheat on your mother, how will you feel? If you have a beloved daughter and she is always cheated by her husband, how will you feel?

[3] Invite troubles

All of us should be responsible for what we do. All of us have to be aware that a secret will not be a secret forever. Sometimes after a husband cheated his wife overseas, he brought back herpes and had his wife infected. I personally knew of a case where her husband cheated on her on a business trip to Peking and brought back a horrible sex disease. She only found out through her pregnancy of her third child because the doctor told her that her baby was diseased and have to be aborted.

It was double shock for her. She cried her eyes swollen and I personally comforted her during her abortion which was such a disgraceful and inhuman act. I sympathized her but couldn't do anything. She was terribly upset and suffered mentally and emotionally too. She lost her baby just because of her husband's unfaithfulness. A night of betrayal have caused enough hurt and dismays not worth to mention.

[4] Beware of AIDS

Do you know the amount of people dying of AIDS? Or do you know how AIDS have caused miseries and anguish for many affected patients? Are you only looking at your own selfish needs and never understood the cries and pleads of untold women in distress? AIDS are in rampant in so many countries. Look out for more details from the net.

[5] Forbidden fruit once tasted will be difficult to rid.

The sins and temptations of flesh are not easily erased. It will be easily addicted. Bad influence brings bad results. Prevention is better than cure. As I always mention on the case of Samson. His night of sensual pleasure caused him lifetime imprisonment and eventually death. He regretted but was too late. He sacrificed his precious life for just that night's pleasure. Temporary pleasure is just so shortlived. Temporary pleasure have to be paid a hundredfold. Sometimes, we are no better than mere animals who know no morals and no self discipline.

[6] When you buy sex, you are also encouraging this profession

When there is demand, there is supply. Demand comes first. Too many young girls are now influenced by the comfort of light and easy earned money. Once known as the oldest profession is now a popular profession. Sad to say, where can we find peace of mind for our sisters and our daughters? What is our younger generations lacking of? Why the lost of control of youngsters nowadays? Why are these naive, innocent and nice girls not able to do things proper? Where is their MQ? What have gone wrong to all of us? Who to blame? The lure of .....?

[7] Pass the test

Sometimes it is a pre-set trap from your spouse. Humans should learn to pass this test, a temptation of flesh. We shouldn't only emphasize on this physical act of love, we should learn more about the 95% meaning of LOVE.. Learn more on God's love, parental love, fraternal love, spouse's love, friendships, partnerships, comradeships and patriotic love too. It is rather on one's concept towards how one looks at love and marriage. No one can help if he or she is unwilling to change. Yes, no one, except you yourself.

Understand the law of harvest, understand the law of love. Guilt and regret and remorse will eat up one's conscience. You lose, but actually win! You thought you win, but actually lose terribly. If you have decided to cheat, go ahead, but if you have decided not to, I salute you. I salute you because to resist such a temptation is easier said than done. But if all of us can keep to our concept of having one partner for life, you will actually gain more love, more affection, more admiration, more respect, more happiness, more trust from your partner, from your friends and from your family. That is what I should say to sum up this article.

Lucy Wong is a health and nutrition consultant. Her interest in health related issues include the development of mental health. She is also keen in sharing Multiple Qs, she is also an educator and has written many articles on this subject in her personal column under "alternative health" in http://submitarticles.biz Read more about mental health articles in her personal column and discover the secrets of maintaining good mental health.

 

 

Tea For Two Or Twenty? Great Suggestions For Your Bridal Shower

There seems to be a new trend as far as bridal showers are concerned. Contrary to the usual luncheon or early-evening affair, girls these days prefer gathering for a full-on tea party in the afternoon.

Irrespective of whether it's a traditional high-tea service or an off-the-wall "Mad Hatter" party with surprises and games, it is a wonderful way to spend quality time with your friends to celebrate your forthcoming wedding. What you need then is a memento or favor which captures the fun of this special party for your guests.

Once you decide on a bridal shower tea party, you need a little gift for every guest who has been invited. Bridal shower favors for a tea party can be anything, it’s fun to go through the options and find just the right one that suits you.

Edible Favors

The most obvious favor for a bridal shower tea party is tea itself, either in a tea bag or as a loose blend. They can be personalized with your name and the date and location of the party. Similarly, hot chocolate packets or coffee beans can be packed in a trendy pouch with the specifics of the event and the bride's name.

As a sweetener to the party, offer guests decorated sugar cubes or personalized jars of honey. Sugar cubes are available in a wide variety of assortments (purses, floral, and shoes, or monograms, to name a few) and attractive packaging. Heart shaped sugar tablets are also available. Packaged in a glass vial, these are topped with cork stoppers.

Petits fours in the form of gift boxes, or teapot shaped sugar cookies, flowers, hearts, or hats make delicious and pretty gifts.

Traditional Favors

Personalized teacups and saucers or demitasse cups and saucers are good gifts which your guests can use or decorate their homes with.

Linen, either hankies or napkins, are very classy mementos and appropriate for such tea parties.

Tea infusers, especially heart shaped and tied with a pretty ribbon, are a practical gesture that your guests will appreciate.

Place-card holders in the shape of teapots, wedding cakes, flowers or chairs, are charming and useful.

Cards indicating the afternoon's recipes are favorable. You can add a heart-shaped cookie cutter as a special favor.

Whimsical Favors

Trinket boxes or hand-painted teapots are ideal as collectibles that you could gift your friends. Stuff them with mint or tea for a taste of exotica!

Hand fans (made from bamboo or sandalwood) or even parasols can be a terrific gift, especially for hot afternoons.

In order to celebrate your wedding to its fullest, it's necessary to share your good cheer with your friends. A sure recipe for a successful bridal shower tea includes a cleverly thought-out favor, something your friends will take home and cherish those loving moments for a long time.

Finding the right unique tea party wedding favor can sometimes be a difficult task. Your wedding shower deserves a unique and inexpensive, yet elegant touch. Visit hqweddingfavors.com for more innovative ideas for your next tea event.

 

The Appeal Of Paranormal Romance books

More books are sold in the romance category than any other category in fiction. Within the romance genre, paranormal romance is the most popular subgenre. While regular romances feature romantic heros who are larger than life men who are everything a woman could ever want, paranormal romances feature romantic heros who often have fangs and claws. Vampire, werewolves, shape shifters and men who aren't anything like the men around us are the dream guys heroines swoon over, and whom the reader falls for. So what gives?

As little girls, we were brought up on fairy tales. Cinderella meets Prince Charming who swoops her of her feet and they marry and live happily ever after. Snow White runs away from the wicked stepmother, takes care of seven drawfs, bites a poisoned apple as is awakened by kiss from Prince Charming who marries her and they live happily ever after. Sleeping Beauty sleeps in an enchanted castle guarded by the wicked witch until Prince Charming rescues her, marries her and the live happily every after. That's what little girls are brought up to believe. Then they grow up and reality hits. Hard.

The little girl grows up into a fine young woman. She meets fine young men who woo her, charm her and break her heart. Disillusion sets in.

Maybe she gets far enough in a relationship for it to end up in marriage. The Prince Charming who won her heart turns out to be a bully, or even a wife beater. They set up home together and she ends up as his slave. Serving him and his buddies beer, and snacks while they mess up the house. She cooks and cleans for a husband who yells at her. Domestic abuse. Wife bashing. Verbal abuse. All these are swept under the carpet while she puts up a brave front for the world to see.

Then there are cases where Prince Charming sets off to charm other women instead. Instead of a faithful husband, she ends up with a faithless womanizer that leaves her stranded, who strips away her self worth as he goes for a younger, prettier woman.

Barna Research Group conducted a poll in 1999. Seems that in U.S., 25% of the adults would experience one divorce in a lifetime. That excludes those who stick on in loveless marriages.

Is there any wonder why many women get disillusioned by the classic fairy tale romance. Imagination is a form of escape. Books offer an escape from the current unpleasantness in life. To some women, classic romances are hard to swallow. Not after all they've been through. What they've seen of the men around them. In paranormal romances, these men aren't like the regular men. Many are of a different species altogether. That could be the appeal of paranormal romances. They are far enough from regular men to make the happily ever after ending plausible. These heros typically yearn for their one and only soulmate, forsaking all others, forever. They pair up and stay in love for life. Something that is so rare in the real world.

Another appeal of the paranormal romance that gives it a broader appeal than classic romances is the fantasy element in it. Why is Harry Potter so popular? How about Lord Of The Rings? Or even Narnia? It is the fantasy element which draws the reader into a new world. Through this element, paranormal romance books gain a fan base beyond the regular romance novel. One new series that can be considered paranormal romance is the SFX fantasy series. The first book, Warrior Girl. This starts off with a chase scene where the protaganist, Sarah runs flees from one supernatural horror to another. Along the way, she meets Jake, a warrior chief with many amazing powers. A sweet romance develops. This is one of the stories that appeals to both romance readers and fantasy readers alike.

Read more about this new paranormal romance series at http://www.sfxfantasy.com

 

 

25 Percent of All Women Carry HPV

A recent study conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease control concluded that 1 in 4 women carry the cervical cancer virus. The first study to test a broad range of women in America found that the statistics support the vaccination of young girls, as well as older, college age women.

According to an article from HealthDay, “The CDC currently recommends that the vaccine be routinely given to girls 11 and 12 years of age to help prevent infection with the sexually transmitted virus. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also recommends Gardasil for use in girls beginning at age 9 -- at the provider's discretion -- and in young women up to the age of 26.”

Dr. Eileen Dunne, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC said, “It's important for people to know that this is a highly prevalent infection, that sexually active women are likely to acquire this infection, and that it is important to have regular cervical cancer screenings at this point as currently recommended. There's also [CDC] recommendations for using the HPV vaccine to prevent certain types of HPV.”

According to the study, the number of women infected with the virus rose steadily throughout adolescence and peaked during college years (20-24 years old). Almost half (44%) of the women examined during their peak years tested positive for the virus. After 24, the rate of infection slowly declined as the women’s age increased.

The study tested more than 2,000 American women aging 14 to 59. Researchers reiterated that the study results do not calculate the lifetime risk of a woman ever contracting the virus.

For more related articles or to subscribe to our feed please visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering from an online no prescription pharmacy.

Tim Edwards is the author of many health related articles as well as the owner of a consumer advocacy website. Visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering medication from online with no prescription.

 

Are You Ready for the Prom Night?

For many high school seniors, particularly the girls, the biggest activity they look forward to during their last year in high school besides Graduation is Prom Night. It's considered to be the mother of all dress up parties and it is the night to put on the most glamorous dress and shoes, and get hair and make-up done. If a girl loves dressing up and being girly, Prom night is every girls' dream. In fact, girls look forward to this night all year long and go as far as to begin shopping for the perfect dress months in advance. Hence, one can only imagine the disappointment if the ultimate nightmare occurs - seeing another girl wearing the exact same dress at Prom night!

To avoid this, a good place to look for one of kind dresses is at vintage shops...it can be surprising the number of decent quality prom dresses available at cheap prices. Huge chain vintage stores such as Cross Roads and Buffalo Exchange can be found in larger cities or if you live near Los Angeles, there are various other vintage stores that provide a great collection of prom dresses such as the very popular Wasteland on Melrose Avenue. Many vintage stores carry dresses by well-liked brand names, so you can wear designer, one of a kind dresses for a fraction of the price. And because they are inexpensive, more money can be spent on matching shoes, jewelry, and handbags.

Or an alternate route you can take is splurging on a nice brand new designer dress that you purchase from boutiques such as Betsey Johnson, rather than mass chain retail stores or department stores. The clothes that many boutiques carry vary from store location to store location and because they do not make many of the same dresses (as they are in limited quantity), there is less of a chance that more than one person will have the same dress. Plus, designer boutiques carry dresses that are unique so they will be sure to stand out, if not catch many people's attention. In addition, because the dress is costly and made of good quality you will no only look, but will feel beautiful in it - the dress will be memorable to yourself as well as others. It is nice if you have a decent amount of money left over for shoes and accessories, but even if you do not, your dress alone will stand out and look gorgeous that other people will probably hardly notice what shoes you are wearing (if you are wearing a long dress, people can hardly see what kind of shoes you have on anyway) and could careless whether the jewelry is real or fake (if they can even tell the difference to begin with).

In the end, the prom dress shopping experience is what you feel comfortable with and what fits your personality the most. Whether you go for an expensive designer dress from a boutique or a unique find at a vintage store or even a conservative dress found anywhere else, it is all about what makes you look and feel beautiful. It is the night many girls look forward to the most during their teenage high school years, so might as well go all out and take the time to look for that perfect dress.

Bishara writes about how to look unique on your prom night. Visit: Prom Dresses

 

6 Quick And Easy Tips For Picking Up Younger Women

One of the biggest problems guys face is trying to pick up women in various age categories. Many men think using the same techniques and routines on different aged girls will get them the same positive results.

Unfortunately, this rarely works!

Instead of trying to use the same routine over and over, you should follow a system that's based on their specific age. This is especially true if you want to pick up younger women.

Now if you're interested in younger women (Ages 18-24) you should create a plan of attack which is specific to this age bracket.

In the next few paragraphs, I'll provide a system for picking up younger women. Primarily you can use these techniques to pick up young women when they're working at their job or place of employment.

Here we go…

1- Know where to find younger women

It's obvious, to pick up younger women, you have to go where they work.

This means frequenting spots like the beach, bars/clubs which cater to youthful crowd, coffee shops, and trendy retail stores. What's interesting is many of these places hire younger women to work there, so if you've got a pretty good routine, you can easily pick them up.

2- Be mature

There is one weak spot which all younger women have- they ALL want to feel like a mature adult.

Think about it…

These type of women are in the position where they want to have more independence. Either they're in high school, college or new to the 'real world', these women want to prove themselves and act like a real adult.

Therefore, if you want to pick up a younger girl, you have to be a mature person. Since she's looking to transform into a mature adult, you could be the guy who matches her desired outcome.

3- Treat her with respect

In addition to being a mature influence, you should treat a younger woman with respect. Since she wants to exert her independence, you want to treat her like and adult and not like a little girl.

When you're talking to her at her job, ask about her personal life and get her talking about the things she finds interesting. My advice is to keep the conversations lighthearted and fun, while avoiding the 'interview' like questions.

In other words, you want to focus on her needs and personality. Since you're probably one of the first guys to treat her with respect and maturity, you'll probably start to develop some attraction.

4- Cultivate a friendship

For a couple of weeks, start frequenting the spots where she works and strike up a conversation every time you see her. If she works in a service environment, make sure tip well and be a fun guy to be around.

In other words, make her look forward to seeing you whenever you arrive at her workplace.

5- Go for the date

After you've created a fun environment, try asking her out on a date. What you want to do is structure the date request in a manner where there is actually no way she can say no.

So if you want to ask her out for drinks. Say something like, "We should grab drinks sometime, let me get your number". What I like about this technique is you're never actually giving her a chance to say no.

In addition, by asking her on a date this way you're acting in a confident manner, which attracts women!

6- Get her alone

Now when you go out on the date, continue to be lighthearted and fun. Use your seduction techniques to build attraction and rapport.

If all goes well, you'll easily be able to seduce her and make things more physical.

Picking up younger women isn't a difficult thing to do. Just remember you have to fit a certain role and be the right kind of person. If you follow the 6 steps I've outlined in this article, you should easily meet and attract a lot of younger women in to your life.

Want to know the secrets to seducing women? If so, take a look at Scott Patterson's Free eBook where you'll learn a guaranteed step-by-step system for approaching, attracting and seducing ANY woman.

 

Live Nude Girls Unite

In the fall of 1999, the old fashioned sign for the Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington displayed: LIVE! NUDE! GIRLS! UNITE! At first glance one might think it was going to be a show of sex workers dancing for a curious audience. The line of people gathered in the front of the theater to buy their tickets wrapped around the corner. Some came from as far away as California and Alaska to view a rough cut video filmed, produced, and directed by a stripper from the Lusty Lady in San Francisco. Julia Quiery helped the Lusty Lady become the first unionized strip club in the country and she wanted others to know how it was done.

On a daily basis for four years Julia Quiery and other women at the Lusty Lady were subjected to racism; only one woman of color could be on stage at the same time, and it was a given that “busty blondes” were the most popular dancers. There were scheduling issues that led to employee financial difficulties; each dancer could only work 16 hours a week and no more than two shows in a row. Exploitation was lurking behind every corner. The peep show booths were one way, so the dancers couldn’t see if the person watching them had a camera. Some women ended up on the Internet, others in low class porn movies.

Confronted with dancers' concerns about the photographs and subsequent demands that the one-way mirrors be removed, the theater initially responded by dismissing dancer concerns as frivolous. Upset dancers approached the Service Employees International Union. Once they were able to convince union representatives they were serious in their desire to form a union, organizing began in earnest.

After a year of union organizing, and five months of often bitter contract negotiations, the Exotic Dancers Union Employees provided what the dancers asked for. The contract guaranteed work shifts for the 70-75 dancers, protection against arbitrary discipline and termination, automatic hourly wage increases, sick days, a contracted procedure for pursuing grievances against management, and removal of one-way mirrors from peep show booths. Thirty cashiers and janitors won increased wages and improved health benefits.

Working with the Lusty Lady dancers was definitely an eye-opening experience for people at SEIU, according to Batey. "Before we began organizing at the Lusty," she says, "people had no knowledge of the demographics of the dancers. We found that there were lots of college students, women who were well-educated politically as well as academically, who were articulate feminists, who were concerned about the larger issues, who addressed issues from a societal viewpoint."

In an election in August of 1997, employees at the Lusty Lady voted overwhelmingly for union representation. The theater responded by engaging the legal services of a law firm widely known for effectively and aggressively fighting unions. Negotiations preceded slowly, much to the frustration of the SEIU and the dancers, as the opposing lawyers designated five separate attorneys as their negotiating representatives.

When the theater fired one dancer (Summer, a single mother), allegedly to intimidate other dancers, the women responded angrily with a wildcat strike and protest outside the theater. A management lockout of all dancers for two-and-a-half days hurt the protesters financially, but failed to end the protest or break the unity of the dancers. Finally the theater relented, rehired the fired dancer, and began negotiating with the union seriously.

According to Batey, there has been an outpouring of interested response from the national press, including The New York Times, The Economist, Associated Press, and United Press International. Batey notes that since contract ratification, Lusty owners have been cooperative with the union and seem anxious to re-educate their managers in the whys and wherefores of the new industrial order. Show managers who couldn't believe that they are now required to give union representatives the opportunity to talk with each new person hired have been reminded that this is indeed part of the new contract. An interim grievance procedure provided for in the contract has been working well, according to Batey, and the first post-ratification meeting to deal with grievances was reciently scheduled -- at the theater's initiative, which Batey also sees as a good sign. Federal mediators were being brought in to train both management and employees on the nuts and bolts of the new contractual arrangement, also at the theater's request.

While the Lusty Lady contract may be the first contemporary labor agreement in the U.S. to cover strippers, it is unlikely to be the last. Before the San Francisco contract vote -- indeed, even before the dancers had voted in favor of union representation -- the Lusty Lady's other theater in Seattle had taken note of the changing labor landscape. The theater began encouraging dancers to attend company-sponsored employee meetings on paid company time. Non-union employee representatives elected at these meetings were recognized by theater management as spokeswomen for the group, presumably to show dancers that the theater was interested in being responsive to their concerns and to discourage them from unionizing.

Following ratification of the San Francisco contract, members of the San Francisco organizing committee traveled to Seattle where they met with Lusty Lady dancers. They explained to them for the first time, from the dancers' perspective, what the new union and contract were about, and how the new agreement would affect dancers in Seattle. In particular, they assured the Seattle dancers that the traditional arrangement, under which dancers could travel back and forth between the two theaters, working at both, would be maintained. Seattle theater management responded to the visit from the San Francisco organizers with an immediate, unsolicited, dollar-an-hour pay increase for all dancers. A controversial theater policy requiring dancers with tattoos or piercing to cover their body decorations while performing was also revoked.

San Francisco dancers at the Market Street Cinema and New Century Theaters have reportedly approached SEIU about possible union representation, and Batey says she has heard of possible union organizing of strippers in Houston, Texas, as well.

First I would like to say a personal thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. My interests vary from character sketches, slivers of insight into my life, stories about animals and nature, and more. If you have an interesting idea for a story, but can't seem to get your ideas to fit into form, please contact me and we can work on your story together. I love to brainstorm, and talk-story with people who also appreciate the craft of writing. You can get more insight into who I am and what I like to do on my web-site: http://www.myspace.com/teefrog Or to brainstorm story ides please write to: flute_harmony@hotmail.com

 

Performance Appraisals: Nightmares or Sweet Dreams

Some managers think of performance appraisal meetings and recollections of torn Achilles' heels or root canals immediately surface. They're sort of "been there, don't want to go again" situations. The more it can be put off, the better.

Study after study shows that both managers and employees are very dissatisfied with performance appraisals and often view them as a necessary evil to get over with quickly. Here are seven strategies to turn performance management from a nightmare into a sweet, or at least tolerable, dream.

1. Prepare for the appraisal meeting. Give yourself adequate time to review an employee´s file, complete an evaluation of their performance and outline topics for the session. It´s also a good idea to note some talking points and do a mental walk-through of the meeting.

The employee also needs to prepare in advance. Ask the person to assess his or her performance.  Suggest that she also jot down concerns, questions and opinions regarding her work and suggestions for improving it.

2. Explain the reason for the meeting.  When you begin the appraisal session, state the purpose of the meeting in straightforward terms. No matter how often employees have been through appraisals, they may not understand how their work is being judged, why it is being evaluated or what the performance appraisal is for. Reassure the employee that your role as manager is to help them succeed in their job and identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement.

3. Remain positive.  Avoid using judgmental phrases and words like "poor performance" or "weakness." You are there, however, to suggest ways that an employee can improve their work and discuss causes of below-average performance. Express your concerns in concrete terms and use detailed examples.

4. Ask questions.  Your discussion should be guided by open and closed questioning techniques. Closed questions, which tend to elicit a "yes" or "no" response, require specific answers. Open questions encourage a general discussion and usually begin with "could," "would," "how," "what" or "why." Use open questions at the beginning of the appraisal to stimulate discussion and closed questions at the end to summarize.

5. Foster productive and open communication.  In general, when you reflect the employee´s thoughts, they feel understood and acknowledged.  But be prepared for negative reactions. When you talk with an employee about poor performance or inappropriate behavior, they may deny, blame, fall silent, respond abusively or display an emotional outburst, such as crying. If the appraisal session deteriorates, terminate it and reschedule the meeting.

6. Suggest improvements. During the appraisal, discuss any areas in need of improvement and offer specific, realistic and concrete suggestions and solutions. Be prepared to sell your improvement suggestions to the employee - they may not be receptive to your ideas. Together you and the employee should develop a plan to correct any problems.

7. Close the interview.  Summarize the major points and be sure to end on a positive, encouraging and upbeat note - even when the employee is very troubled or deficient. If you can´t provide the employee with immediate feedback, follow up as soon as you can and finalize the appraisal in a timely fashion.

Work SMARTER, not harder.  Make sure your  performance appraisal meetings get RESULTS.

Marcia Zidle, the ‘people smarts’ coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ­ to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report “61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers”. Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ­ resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ­ fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.

 

Dressing for Hot Weather

If the thought of hot temperatures and baring your skin makes you cringe and want to hide; breath easier. There are several fashion tips that will you keep cool and looking great great.

1. Instead of wearing shorts and T-shirts to beat the heat, wear light dresses and flirty skirts. The best skirts are flared and knee length. Choose them in linen, cotton or rayon. If you have a selection of summer dresses, getting dressed is a snap and you will always look great with little effort. Always wear pumps with knee-length dresses and skirts. The wrong shoes will spoil your look - be careful. Kitten-heeled pumps are a great choice and come in many styles. They are not too high, comfortable and give the leg a longer look.

2. If you are not sure about wearing florals, don't worry. Add a print bag or use a flower on your lapel as an accent. If you wear prints in dresses or skirts, keep the print in proportion to your figure. A large print will make you appear larger.

3. Buy a few white T-shirts to wear with jeans and choose a finer fabric to wear with suits for a more professional look. When you wear whites pay attention to your undergarments - avoid lacy bras - choose to wear nudes, they will not show under white. White is great with black - mix it up with black or white sandals and a black or white purse or accessorizing with polka dots.

4. Bring out the bright colours. Add fuchsia, yellow and lime green to spice up an outfit. It's probably better to keep some colours, like lime green away from your face. If you are not sure how the colour will look on you put it near your face and look in the mirror. If it makes you look sick wear it as a bottom or choose the same colour in a lighter shade. Pairing bright colours with white will also be a winning combination. A word of caution when you are matching colours, don't wear a pink necklace and earrings to match pink shoes. The distance between them is too great and will ruin your look. A pink blouse and pink shoes is better.

5. If you want to wear tank tops and don't want to go braless (no one should) choose a top with straps that are wide enough to hide a bra strap. Or, try a top that has a built in bra.

Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type. Visit her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her e-book Image Makeovers and get How to Build a Wardrobe and Style Consultations free.

 

"Go With What You Love" - Roots of Art by Rosie

"Go with what you love" is her familiar advice for budding entrepreneurs.

Maria "Rosie" Hernandez, the 31-year-old founder of Roots by Art, gave me that advice. She knows about fashion-forward styles.

More importantly, she knows how to combine art & jewelry.

Rosie has been around art studios, design lessons and getting creative all her life. She loves going shopping, but still she prefers making her own pillows, home decor and obviously: her jewelry.

Everywhere I go people ask me where I got my jewelry and I love the feeling of being the best walking advertisement.

I think people like her jewelry because is different and fun to wear. She is not afraid to mix quality and creativity.

Now she is bringing her art to the next level. "you need to see my new jewelry website," Rosie told me a couple of weeks ago.

Since then, the company Web site (www.rootsofart.com) has been flooded with comments and questions.

"Keep in touch, we will have creativity & good taste for a while!"

 

Gemstone Jewelry Secrets Revealed

The mystery and magic of colored gemstones has been an integral aspect or the "Lore" of most cultures for many centuries. Here is what noted gemstone experts Antoinette L. Matlins and A.C. Bonanno have to say on the matter.

"The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. For our ancestors, the blue of sapphire produced visions of the heavens; the red of ruby was a reminder of the very essence of life. By Roman times, rings containing colored gems were prized symbols of power-and the most powerful wore rings on every joint of every finger!

Since ancient times, colored stones have been thought to possess innate magical powers and the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. According to legend, emeralds are good for the eyes; yellow stones cure jaundice; red stones stop the flow of blood. At one time it was believed that a ruby worn by a man indicated command, nobility, lordship, and vengeance; worn by a woman, however, it indicated pride, obstinacy, haughtiness. A blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts; on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance. The emerald signified for a man joyousness, transitory hope, and the decline of friendship; for woman, unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change.

Colored gems, because of the magical powers associated with them, achieved extensive use as talismans and amulets; as predictors of the future; as therapeutic aids; and as essential elements to many religious practices-pagan, Hebrew, and Christian."

Gemstones 101

Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in the laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, {name of manufacturer} - created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.

Gemstones may be measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is the carat, which is equal to one-fifth 91/5^th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, the size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 millimeters).

Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Many gemstones are treated in some way. The effects of some treatments may lessen or change over time and some treated stones may require special care. Some enhancements also affect the value of a stone, when measured against a comparable untreated stone.

Jewelers should tell you whether the gemstone you’re considering has been treated when: the treatment is not permanent; the treated stone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone.

Some common treatments that you may be told about and their effects include:

* Heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone’s clarity.

* Irradiation can add more color to colored diamonds, certain other gemstones and pearls.

* Impregnating some gems with colorless oils, wax or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve the gemstones' clarity and appearance.

* Fracture filling hides cracks or fractures in gems by injecting colorless plastic or glass into the cracks and improves the gemstones' appearance and durability.

* Diffusion treatment adds color to the surface of colorless gems; the center of the stone remains colorless.

* Dyeing adds color and improves color uniformity in some gemstones and pearls.

* Bleaching lightens and whitens dome gems, Including jade and pearls.

In this day and age, gemstones are generally worn for their natural beauty or as a fashion statement, but there are many that "buy-in" to the mythical and mystical symbolisms of gems as well. Whatever a persons reason, the world of gems today offers an almost endless choice. Many new gems have been discovered and are widely available in reds, blues, greens and many unusual shades as well. Enjoy!

For more information or to browse our selection of beautiful jewelry and gemstones besure to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

 

Shake It Off - Then Shake It Up!

The young boy looked up at his mother with eyes expressing a sense of nervous fear. He never looked forward to this day since told by his father that the family would be moving to a new town. The day had quickly arrived to begin attending his new school.

Three months prior to this day, the young boy sat down next to his father as he explained with compassion a new community and a new home. “Son, this will be so exciting for you! You will be attending a new school, and meet many new friends.” The young lad looked up at his father and smiled, to acknowledge his father’s sentiment. Besides, the first day at a new school would be a distant three months away.

The young boy entered his new classroom and immediately felt the stares upon him. During class recess, the boys criticized his clothes and the way he talked. He tried desperately to become friends by attempting to change that he was, based on the criticism he received from the other boys. He began wearing clothes like the others and practiced speaking in the same manner the other boys were.

Eventually the young boy’s title of ‘new student’ subsided and became a part of the group, but for some reason he felt something was not right within. He felt an empowering emptiness as if he had lost something of vital importance. He could not understand why he did not feel a true sense of happiness. By following the criticism from the boys at his school, he had changed everything on the outside in order to be a part of the group. Why did he have this feeling of emptiness within?

Just as the young boy, so very often in life one may receive criticism in some form or fashion. An individual or group of individuals may criticize the way you dress or the way you speak. You may not share the same ideals in life, or receive criticism for a goal you are reaching to achieve. Of course, in life we are given the gift of choice – to change your outside to follow the criticism, or to listen within and understand you are unique like no other, with a purpose in life like no other.

Once you begin to ‘shake off’ the criticism around you, you will ‘shake up’ amazing abilities and achievements in your life path. Prepare yourself to accept that the more you achieve happiness and purpose within, those with negative energy within will attempt to place you back ‘in the group’.

After some time, the young boy understood why he felt so empty inside. By accepting to be like the others because of criticism, he had become what they were – empty inside.

‘Shake it Off’ – then ‘Shake it Up’ in your life!

Rick Hayes is the founder of LifesGift, Inc. - an association that supports his consultation and speaking engagement services. As a Paranormal Communications Consultant with unique abilities, Rick consults on a daily basis with those that have questions regarding life and life-after. As a speaker and lecturer, Rick has shared his thoughts with inspiration and enthusiasm to thousands since 2003. Ricks speaking invitations range from a small organization group of 15 members to major events and conventions attended by thousands. Rick's wide range of topics is designed to accommodate each speaking invitation. As a published author, his books include 'Stepping Stones- Thoughts Along Life's Path' (ISBN#0-9765434-1-9) and 'You're Not Crazy, You Have A Ghost' (ISBN# 0-9765434-0-0). Rick's bi-weekly article 'Rick's LifeNotes' appears on the LifesGift website and has appeared on numerous print and online publications. Rick is a media favorite and has appeared on television, radio, and print media. For more information, contact Rhonda at LifesGift or visit http://www.lifesgiftseminars.com

 

The Importance and Benefits of Bodyweight Training

Every activity we do, sport related or not, centers around using and controlling our own bodyweight in order to perform specific tasks. This may also involve the use of an implement and sometimes it may not. The same is true when it comes to strength and conditioning. You will see people training in all kinds of ways using weights, machines, stability balls, medicine balls, pulleys, etc. How often do you see someone training by strictly using bodyweight resistance? With the exception of push ups, pull ups, and some kind of crunch you don’t see it too often.

Many people have the perception that if they aren’t holding a weight, using a stability ball, medicine ball, a machine or using some type of implement when training that they aren’t doing a productive workout. Ironically, almost all the other standard strength training exercises do utilize bodyweight albeit with the use of a barbell, dumbbell, or any one of the modalities mentioned above. Those are examples of loading the body with external resistance, hence the term external loading. Loading the body internally, internal loading, is the true essence of bodyweight training and should precede external loading. In other words we MUST be able to handle our own bodyweight before adding any resistance.

Obviously the most important question regarding the use of bodyweight training prior to adding any external resistance is, Why and for how long should it be done? The answer to this question ultimately comes down to the ability of the individual to be able to control their own body utilizing basic skill movements.

Bodyweight training trains the body to be more stable, especially at the joints. Since bodyweight training trains major muscle groups in an integrated fashion it allows you to train multiple joints at once, which is how the body really operates in our environment. Bodyweight training allows you to train the 3 key areas in need of stability and they include the deep abdominals, the hip joint (most importantly the hip rotators), and the scapula (shoulder blade) stabilizers.

If a person can’t control their own bodyweight how can we expect them to control their own bodyweight with a weight in their hand or on their back? The duration of how long to train with bodyweight will vary from person to person. Some people can control their own weight from day one utilizing the basic skill movements and thus can go on to training with different forms of external resistance. The other extreme is that of an individual who can’t even control themselves performing these same basic movements.

The ultimate goal is to be able to transfer the strength and power from training to your environment where it can be used. Whether you are a football player wanting to use the strength and size that you’ve developed by weight training to out muscle your opponent or you are a recreational athlete looking to improve your performance without become injured, exercises utilizing your bodyweight will build the foundation upon which these goals can be accomplished. In order to achieve this one must be able to control their own bodyweight so eventually added resistance can be used.

To see bodyweight exercise examples and learn more about bodyweight training and why it is important visit http://www.achievingbodiesfitness.com Chaney Weiner is a performance enhancement specialist and motivational coach. He has created a unique system of training that incorporates fitness training along with reprogramming the mind for success that helps both men and women change their bodies to look, feel, and perform better faster than ever before. Visit http://www.achievingbodiesfitness.com to receive your free copy of “The 24 Best Motivational Fat Loss Tips”

 

How To Hire A Professional Makeup Artist For Your Wedding Or Private Event

Hiring a makeup artist to come on location for weddings or special events has become the latest addition to wedding services.

Most women have a trusted stylist they see on a regular basis. On occasion when styling is only needed and their regular stylist is unavailable, they will usually let someone else style their hair. As for makeup it is a different story. Most women who are not public figures or celebrities do not have a personal professional makeup artist in their rolodex. When a special occasion arises, most do not have a clue on where to find one or even the process in hiring one. They began to ask around or search the internet, or find themselves at a cosmetic counter where they may leave with products they did not want in the first place. In the beauty industry, new makeup artists emerge everyday. Some work at cosmetic counters, some sell for cosmetic lines and others who work in Fashion and Entertainment. Then you have the more extreme artist that work in Special effects, creating monsters and transforming stars into some our most hated Villains and loveable characters. Oh I forgot the artist who did nice makeup on their sister for prom who now is a makeup artist.

There is a major difference in finding someone to do your makeup, and booking a professional makeup artist. Most professional makeup artist have gone to school and most are licensed esthetician or facial specialist. Some makeup artist started from the ground up working for years with hands on training servicing the public. Brides and private events are not their only clients. They make a living without any side jobs working in areas of production, film, television, print and runway. They understand skin types and facial bone structure. They know the proper sanitation and sterilization for their tools, how to prevent contamination of there products, and how not to transfer germs from one client to another. They understand the importance of facial contouring and shading which is used to change eye shapes, correct noses, create cheeks bones etc... They understand skin tones and usage of the right color pigmentation that will match your complexion on the spot, without error, no matter how light or dark your skin may be.

When a professional makeup artist arrives, their main concern will not be to sell you products. If they sell a product that you want to buy, then that is just business and your happy. However, the goal will be to give you a perfect even complexion while enhancing your best features and hiding imperfection. Remember, shopping for a makeup artist with the cheapest price is not a good idea. Good quality makeup and talent cost. The cheaper the price, the cheaper the products and skill quality, you will get what you pay for. Your search should be base on the best artist with the best work that can do the job, even if you have to save for it. A good photo is timeless, look at the makeup in old photo's of Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayward, Elizabeth Taylor timeless or what? Do your home work and hire smart. Check credentials; ask if they carry a professional license to perform the services you will need. A licensed hair stylist will either be a full cosmetologist, or carry some sort of license to touch your hair. Hiring a licensed professional protects you, and secures you that the person you’re hiring has the proper training and skills. Would you hire an unlicensed plastic surgeon? No, you check credentials, years of experiences and you want to see a lot of work they have done in the past.

Check the States Department of Business and Professional regulations to search the license number or name of the person you’re hiring. In the State of Florida it is Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations.

Make them back up the years of experience they are claiming and charging you for. Ask questions; ask to see their work and more work. Trials for hair styling are essential and should be for both client and artist to collaborate. Trials for makeup should be your choice to do and not a suggestion from the artist. A professional artist does not need a trial to do beauty makeup. In production we can not do trials, we are presented with ideas and it is our job as the artist to produce. Do not get caught up in advertisement words, the proof is in the WORK! A makeup artist who has had been in the industry for years, licensed or not, will have a portfolio and a website filled with there actual work (not bought stock photo's). When a makeup artist is consider for a job any where else in this profession, without the proper creativity, skills, license, resume and images to show, they will not be hired.

Lisa Merritt Lee owner of Alluring Faces in Miami Florida is a professional makeup artist, hair stylist and photographer. Lisa is a seventeen year veteran in the beauty industry currently working in the south florida area. View her work or ask her a question at http://alluringfaces.com

 

Jewelry - 2007 Oscar Earrings - The All Important Item of Jewelry

Why are earrings the most important item of jewelry? By important I mean the piece of jewelry that will do the most for your appearance. As with all jewelry it should blend with your overall attraction. You don’t want the first comment to be about your great jewelry and then you come in second. Your overall look is what needs to be fabulous, then after the comments of how stunning you look, they can notice your cool jewelry. Later we will look at what style of earrings the stars wore to the Oscars.

Earrings are what frames your face, along with hair, if the colour and style of your earrings are right they will be like two spotlights adding a glow to your face, making it brighter and more alive. Earrings with a decoration on the front of the post, covering the pierced hole, has the reflected light starting from the right point. Earrings with a shepherd hook usually start from a lower aspect and part of the effect can be lost. Also with the shepherd hook if the earring is heavy it shows up the drag on the lobe, these earrings are probably better suited for lighter more casual wear.

Looking at the Oscars 2007. On the Red Carpet almost all of the earrings that the stars wore were decorated from the front of the post, very few were shepherd hook earrings. Most earrings at the Oscars were quite elaborate but not overly so. Some like Nicole Kidman only wore tiny studs. I only saw one star, where the first thing that stood out was her jewelry, the rest were very tasteful.

More Earrings from the Oscars 2007

Cate Blanchett – black stone on the lobe with a larger stone dropped from the first

Emily Blunt – Stud earrings

Gwyneth Paltrow – Stone on the lobe with a large elaborate diamond shaped drop

Helen Mirren – Medium button style

Jennifer Hudson – Long drop earring with the piercing covered

Jennifer Lopez – Long drop earring with the piercing covered

Nicole Kidman – Tiny stud

Penelope Cruz – Large flower shaped button style

Portia de Rossi – A short drop from a smaller stone on the lobe

Jada Pinkett Smith – Large diamond shaped drop from a covered piercing

Maggie Gyllenhaal – A medium retro hoop with a filigree decorated boat at the bottom of the hoop – piercing was exposed.

Rachel Weisz – Stud earring

Kate Winslett – an elaborate button style

My vote goes to Penelope Cruz for making her earrings work for her, there are some photos on my Blog, the link is below, go and leave your comment.

Earrings have a long history and date back to the earliest of times. From ancient countries the earrings recovered have nearly all been a variation of the hoop earring, a style that has remained popular to this day. In Cyprus, from the middle of the 2nd Millennium BC, the popular earrings were painted terracotta in the form of stylised nude females. Earlobes were pierced 2 or 3 times and large terracotta hoops suspended from them.

In Ancient Egypt jewels were an important part of the culture, worn by men, women and children. They also used jewelry to adorn statues. There were various hoop styles among the earrings. Earlobe piercing was evident, and the wearing of very heavy earrings from an early age caused the earlobes to be extremely elongated and deformed.

From the late 4th Century BC, earrings were becoming more elaborate in design. The earrings often had suspended pendants and chains. Filigree, granulation, leaf, rosettes and doves were all used to decorate the boat or lower half of the hoop.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance earrings were in decline due to the fashion of high collars and a headdress that often covered the ears. It was not until centuries later, about the 1530s that earrings began to emerge again, this was again due to the change in hair and headdress styles. The newly emerging earrings were in the form of plain gold hoops with a pearl drop.

Then in the 17th century earrings started to make a real comeback. By the middle of the 17th century earrings were an essential item. The designs became more complex and interesting. They used ruby, pearls, emeralds and enamel in floral motifs.

18th and 19th centuries saw beautiful and elaborate designs, often using semi-precious stones. They also used diamonds and pearls and very intricate goldsmith techniques.

Early in the 20th century around 1910 to 1930 Art Deco style was popular. At this time ear piercing began to be thought of as barbaric, and clamping earrings to the earlobe with a screw fitting became popular.

1947 saw the feminine new look by Dior. This set the scene for earring design to come to the fore in a new and creative way.

In the 1970s earring design become larger and more varied. The ever popular hoops were back in demand, with many of the hoops decorated with precious gemstones.

In the late 1970s ear piercing started to make a comeback and was popular again. This trend has continued up until today when almost every woman, a large number of men and children have their earlobes pierced once or many times.

Now, as seen at the Oscars, styles are very diverse from studs to shoulder dusters. Fortunately for us we do not have to pay as much for beautiful earrings as the stars do. With today’s technology the quality of man-made gemstones is very good. Resulting in beautiful and much more economical earrings, and other jewelry. Good quality inexpensive jewelry can look as good as the expensive items. For example the cubic zirconia which is made from minerals, resembles the much more expensive diamond. Cubic zirconia is not quite as hard as a diamond but it can be cut and faceted in the same beautiful designs that a diamond can be cut in. Cubic zirconia can be colored to resemble ruby, emerald, sapphire or any other stone. Another cost cutting technique is to quality plate Sterling Silver with 18k Gold. This gives the benefits of gold at a Sterling Silver price. The choice is yours, try all styles and see which does the best for you. Enjoy your earrings and look fabulous.

The Home of Original Fashion, Jewelry, Health & Fitness Articles Jewelry for Fashion & Gifts Visit our BLOG

 

Women: Give Yourself Gifts of Electronics - Jewelry and More

As women, our children come first, then our mates, then our family members and friends. We're often consumed with making sure the needs of those around us are met. In the process, we often neglect to treat ourselves to the same largesse we shower on others. But unless we take care of ourselves, we won't have anything left over for those around us.

When it comes to shopping, we often bustle around town, picking up groceries, computer supplies, pet supplies, and dry cleaning. When it comes time to give gifts, we put thought and love into our selections. But perhaps it's time to take a moment and give ourselves a gift - something we might be longing for, but we wouldn't dream of splurging on.

When I recently got together with a group of friends, we started talking about what we'd like to splurge on. Several women mentioned personal electronics, like iPods, cell phones, and headsets. One friend said she'd been dragging around a battered suitcase for years, and would really like a nice set of luggage. Another said she'd really like beautiful jewelry - a set of pearl earrings or a necklace.

Then we talked about why we don't simply go ahead and spring for our heart's desire. Many of us felt guilty when we considered spending money on ourselves. One friend said that she's purchased personal electronics for her husband, son, and daughter, but she couldn't justify buying herself an iPod. Two women who were sporting new fragrances said that they justified buying the fragrances because they figured their husbands would get enjoyment out of them as well. The friend with the battered suitcase said she'd always wait until she could find luggage on sale, go and look at it, but would never buy.

The sense that we're all waiting - whether for the perfect sale, to receive what we want as a gift, or for everyone else to get what they want first - seemed to be the common thread among us. In the days after our get together, I gave this a lot of serious thought. In a sense, I thought, we're all putting our desires "on hold," waiting until something or someone gave us permission to buy more than groceries, computer supplies, pet supplies, and gifts for others.

While none of us are wealthy, none of us are overwhelmed by debt or engaged in an epic battle to make ends meet. There's no reason why we can't buy that special something we've had our eyes on - whether it's personal electronics, luggage, phones, or jewelry. I came to the conclusion that, ultimately, we have to realize that we deserve to have nice things, and then give ourselves permission to buy them for ourselves. After all, life's far too short to spend our lives waiting.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about electronics.

 

 

Spoil Your Boys with Designer Clothing

Designer clothing used to be an exclusive privilege of adults, but that has changed. With the deluge of advertising and publicity offered by television, designer clothing has come in demand by younger and younger children. Everyone wants to look good and feel special regardless of age.

Clothing designers and manufacturers have responded to this growing demand. They have also in a sense fueled the demand by targeted advertising and promotion campaigns. It is potentially a huge market for them that one can expect they will fully leverage and exploit.

Designer clothing tends to lend a sense of elegance to a personal clothing style. One has to realize that the days of boys generally being happy with wearing just anything that covers the body are over. So are the days of milking cows and carrying in the sack of coal. Social and peer pressure have sensitized many boys to the need to look good and make a good impression.

In general, boys do not tend to be too fussy about the specific label; they are more just pursuing the elegance that designer clothing gives them, and the furtive glances they get from the girls when they wear those garments. They also love that extra boost of self-confidence it gives them.

Ambient and simple colors are the in thing nowadays. The flashy studded leather look is so 60's and 70's, and your boys would probably rather die than be seen in something from yester year. Hence, it is important to clothe your boys with what is in fashion, keeping in mind that the chosen clothing also has to fit well and compliment the teenager's body style.

Designer clothing for boys includes the basics of the typical top and bottom, or shirt and pants. In addition, it also extends to other garments like sweaters, jackets, bands, neck-scarves, caps, skull-caps, and much more.

Nowadays these special pieces of clothing can easily be found and ordered online. Your boy would probably not particularly like it to spend an afternoon with mom in a clothing store, but he most likely wouldn't mind, and might even be thrilled, to spend a few hours one evening browsing designer clothing websites and picking out what he likes.

One of the more popular designer clothing for boys is khaki. Khaki has been in fashion for more than 10 years, but recently this trend has been growing rapidly. Labels such as Abercrombie and Fitch, PDI, Giordano, Seed, Prada, Crocodile, and Camel have all produced fantastic khaki garments that feel as light as feather and don't hug your legs at all. They are also available in many colors such as khaki brown, beige, white, black, purple, gray, and many more.

Designer clothing might be more expensive, but the durability makes up for the higher price. The old adage is true; you get what you pay for. You love and treasure your precious boys. Treat them with some designer clothing this year and see how they glow when that special girl throws them a look and a smile.

Pierre Perissel has a trendy fashion information column on TheFashionPro.com, a site dedicated to providing you with your fashion needs and that allows you to air your views on and rate the fashion choices of celebrities.

 

 

Dress Hints From Fashion Magazines

Fashion magazines are of the utmost importance to any woman who is interested in dress.

In studying any fashion magazine, consider each figure separately. If two or more materials are used in its development, strive to determine particularly why they are employed. Proper regard for such details is valuable, for it will serve to point out to you why certain materials are required for certain styles.

Strive not to be like the woman who went to a dressmaker and said, "I want a pannier skirt. I want a little puff sleeve, but I want it in soft, clinging crepe, because I am very fond of that material. I think it is beautiful. The softness appeals to me."

Then you will not have to be informed, as this woman was, that "crepe was designed by the manufacturer for clinging garments and is rarely adapted to the fluffy style of the pannier skirt and puff sleeves."

Of course, taffetas, organdies, and crisp batistes are suitable for such styles, and a mental picture of a pannier skirt of crepe and another one of taffeta will show you instantly why fabrics must be designed to suit styles and styles to suit materials.

COLOR SUGGESTIONS FROM FASHION PLATES

When you have studied individual designs enough to be able to note instantly what kind of pattern is required, as well as what kind of material is best suited to the design, and can harmoniously adapt color to the lines of the garment and fabric used, you will be able to conceive pleasing results.

It is true that the fashion people cannot produce in their fashion plates an absolute likeness of the color the textile manufacturer gives us in fabrics; nor can they give an absolutely true outline of a garment as it will appear when developed in material. However, when you understand lines you will be able to get suggestions from the color plates shown in fashion magazines and elsewhere, and with this knowledge of lines you will be able to give prominence to the color that will bring out the garment to the best advantage, to use successfully the soft, silent tones or tints where only a suggestion or variation of color is desired; also, you will be able to choose a fabric that will successfully carry out the lines suggested by a fashion drawing.

INTERPRETING FASHIONS

A number of excellent fashion magazines that have no pattern service are published merely to suggest style tendencies and color and fabric combinations.

If you know patterns and have studied lines, such magazines will be invaluable to you, for you can get from them ideas and suggestions that you can incorporate in your garments.

In many cases, you may apply them more successfully than the artist has done in his drawings, because you can bring out the practicability of the garment, adapt it to the material, and give the harmonious outline that suits you.

Some of the ultra fashion books contain seemingly grotesque styles, their general make-up and their silhouette appearing impossible from a practical standpoint when their development is considered in the fabric and for the human figure.

The designs in these same magazines, how-ever, are worthy of consideration, for they contain in them illusive, impractical, but artistic, even clever, ideas that may be utilized in the production of original and pleasing garments, provided you have developed a sense of originality or initiative in dress.

For example, in some of these seemingly freakish models may be found an attractive collar or a suggestion for a cuff, a finish for the waist line, or a front closing, any one of which is particularly pleasing, and if you have an eye for the fitness of style and line to fabrics and their correct color development, you can work these around in such a way as to get results that express individuality and good taste.

Modifications of these seemingly freakish modes often result, too, in the creation of garments that are decidedly distinctive and original, but still of a style that is in harmony with the original.

"Dress Hints From Fashion Magazines" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/1920s-dresses.html

 

Seeing That Ex-lover

Have you ever fallen for someone where you thought they were "the one"? Even if it was for a slight instance and then it did not work out. Even worse, have you ever fallen for someone who just ended up crushing you, and leaving you in a state of confusion and bitterness?

Well, why is it? that sometimes after having gone through so much turmoil and pain, that life keeps putting that person right in front of us, as if trying to mock our emotions.

My story is quite similar to many other women and men out there, a story of rejection, pain and just mere chaos. It was only a few years ago and yet everyday I can remember the feelings that I felt, and the memories that I experienced. I must say, it is not easy. It was hard enough to get over the person, especially since I had to see them everyday. Avoidance and ignoring them can work so much, but after awhile I was forced to interact and "talk" to them. Nothing is ever the same, but once you "move on" or think you have, why is it that life will just by some coincidence or maybe even on purpose put them right in front of you? and make you question yourself-Am I really over them? Is this a sign that it can work? Could there be a future for us? Could he love me back? and the questions go on, but at the end of these questions you go back to your old state of feeling confused and bitter. You end up feeling...chaotic. For the question still lies-Am I EVER going to get over them? or will they still keep popping into my life no matter how far I want to get away from them?

Some days can be good, the days where you feel-"Yes, I'm totally over them, I even like someone else", but other days, well, they feel quite awful- "Why, was I so stupid? Why did I fall for them in the first place? and why the hell can't I get over them?".

I personally spent the last year distancing myself from "this person". Yes, I talked to him less, we could have been friends but I would not let myself open up to him again-it would have caused too much pain. I even managed to be a safe distance away from him, enough to forget my feelings for him and start liking someone else. I was pleased in the last month when I realised every party I went to, he could never attend-to me it was a sign telling me "you never have to worry about him again". And then, in a split second, that changed. Yesterday, whilst walking down the road, I saw him, surrounded by girls, all delirious to be given attention by him. I would have normally pulled of a smile-sometimes pretending you are happy and "over it" can make you actually believe it yourself- but I did not, instead I froze and a big lump arose in my throat and I began questioning my feelings for him. He saw me after a while of staring at him, I waved the kind of wave the queen waves; very stone-like and forced. Then I walked away feeling ill by what had just happened which was a total of nothing in the physical world and yet everything had been stirred in my emotional being.

So this made me think after a long time, why is it that life curses us with images of people we wish to forget? and I think the answer is, because it knows it's going to stir us, move us and make us feel human again. It wants to prove to us that "hey, you are not an island after all, you are a person".

In that note, I think what life does is give us a chance to go and tell them, "that person", "the one" or "the person" you thought was "the one", that you did actually love them, and that they did actually crush you when they hurt you, or did not love you back or even just tricked you. Since sometimes it is good to spill it all out and yell and shout and tell them how you felt-no matter how much it kills your pride- because afterwards..maybe..just maybe.. you won't have to keep questioning yourself when you see them again.

Anoush Jebejian

 

 

The Art of Being Crabby

I wish that I could say that I am feeling fabulous and “outta site” and full of positive thoughts and feelings right now, but I happen to be an honest person (sometimes to my detriment) and I can’t lie well. So how am I REALLY feeling, you ask? CRABBY. I’m being visited by my dear and old friend, PMS, and she’s making me feel murderous one minute, and pathetically weep-into-a-hankie sad the next. I’m guessing that wherever you are on the female hormone continuum, you can relate to what I’m talking about. As I write this, I would laugh at a button I have on my desk in front of me (but my present mood doesn’t tolerate happiness, let alone a wee chuckle) that says, “PMS- Harness The Energy”. So that’s exactly what I’m doing by writing this article. And perhaps I can make at least one of you laugh which would be great…

As a woman-centred therapist, I feel that it is my duty to empower and uplift women and to encourage them to become all they dream of being. And I truly believe that us gals cannot be fully empowered and uplifted unless we feel totally free to feel whatever we need to feel at any given moment and to not be ashamed about it. As girls, we learn that ‘good girls don’t get angry’, and that it is somehow “unfeminine” for us to get mad and express it. I wish I could say that this is changing with our younger generation, but sadly, from the work that I do, I see countless young women killing themselves in various ways; internalizing their rage and taking it out on themselves instead of getting mad at society or people in their lives who have controlled, manipulated, violated, and/or abused them. What do I feel when I hear these stories? MAD!

I wish desperately that more of us could embrace our ‘inner crab’ and let her out when she needs to say something, stand up for something/someone, or express the pain that’s underneath her anger. I have come to learn that ‘the inner crab’ is very wise indeed and can help us lead happier, healthier, and more balanced lives once we learn to tune into her and take her advice.

I don’t know about you, but as a young woman, whenever I expressed crabbiness or anger, I was immediately shut down by the adults in my life. I was shamed and called, “moody”, “disagreeable”, “unladylike”, or “uncooperative”.

It didn’t stop there either. Still, as a woman, I get called names any time I’m not “nice” or “compliant” and it really makes me mad. In fact, the more I get judged for being crabby, the crabbier I become. Same for many women I know. So what’s the solution?

EMBRACE YOUR INNER CRAB AND LISTEN TO WHAT SHE IS TELLING YOU!

Often, when we’re crabby, it’s a sign that someone has crossed a personal boundary we have. This can be a good thing because sometimes we are unaware of our boundaries until they are crossed. Once we know our boundaries, we can enforce them and stop letting people walk all over us, and thus, become less crabby in the long run because we won’t be feeling so resentful so much of the time.

Plus, when we stop fighting feeling crabby, and just let ourselves feel as crabby as we want, the feeling usually goes away much faster because it’s been given the airtime and release it needed. Sometimes we’re crabby because of certain circumstances in our lives and sometimes it’s just raging hormones and there ain’t a lot we can do about it. The thing to remember is that feelings are just feelings and they don’t last forever. If you’re in such a crabby mood that you can’t see it ending, remind yourself that ‘this too shall pass’ and that you’ll feel better soon.

But while you’re riding the waves of crabbiness, try one or some, or all of the following to get through to the other side where rainbows and pots of gold await you…

Esther’s Top 5 Tips to Embracing Your Inner Crab

1. Go with it and stop fighting how you’re feeling

2. Follow these two important rules while you’re in the throws of crabbiness: don’t hurt yourself or anyone/thing else.

3. Let your anger out in healthy ways like: intense exercise, shouting in your car with the windows rolled up (not when you’re driving), punching pillows, writing all the vicious thoughts you’re having out on paper and destroying them afterwards, “venting” to a caring person who realises that it’s healthy to let off some steam once in a while.

4. After you’ve let out your anger, nurture yourself by doing nice things like having a bath, petting an animal, getting a massage, or doing some yoga and/or meditation.

5. You’ll probably move into feeling sad and weepy after you’ve released your anger, as sadness is often what is beneath the surface of our crabbiness. Let yourself have a good cry- let it out. You’ll feel a whole lot lighter and freer afterwards.

Esther Kane, MSW, Registered Clinical Counsellor, is the author of “Dump That Chump: A Ten-Step Plan for Ending Bad Relationships and Attracting the Fabulous Partner You Deserve (http://www.dumpthatchump.com), and “What Your Mama Can’t or Won’t Teach You: Grown Women’s Stories of Their Teen Years (http://www.guidebooktowomanhood.com). Sign up for her free monthly e-zine, Women’s Community Counsellor, to uplift and inspire women at: http://www.estherkane.com. Please consider this article for publication in your newsletter or website. Permission is granted to reprint for free with resource box and byline intact. Please send me a copy of your publication if you choose to include my article.

 

How To Naturally Get Bigger And Firmer Breasts

More than ever, women are opting for natural ways to enhance their breasts. Women who find themselves wanting bigger and firmer breasts without resorting to surgery often find effective solutions in the modern and effective natural breast enhancement treatments that are now available.

Most women who try methods like push up bras and implant surgery often end up disappointed. Breast implants are unnatural and can leak and cause other problems, and push-ups and padded bras are only a temporary solution.

For women who want permanent results, beyond the simple solution of a pushup bra, the herbal supplements on the market combine special ingredients to enhance the breast to become larger and firmer, more shapely and sensitive.

However knowing that women who desire a little more cleavage and fullness are looking for a natural solution, a lot of companies have popped up promising their products will wonder wonders. One way to make a good decision is to not trust companies whose websites look fake or cheap as if they were put together in 5 minutes.

Try to compare different natural breast enhancement websites with only original and several testimonial pictures and texts. Make sure you can also find a list of the ingredients on their website. A company who does not list its ingredients is not confident that their product really works.

As natural breast enhancement supplements will work differently for each woman, you should only purchase from a company with a solid money back guarantee.

And a sure way to find out if a natural breast enhancement product is worth your time, do a search on the product and see if it is highly and positively reviewed on product review websites. Start enjoying a higher confidence and all-natural results from an inexpensive and guaranteed natural breast enhancement solution today. Sandra Richardson is a nutritionist who writes about women's health issues. If you found the above helpful, click the link to read more about natural breast enhancement at her website, http://www.herbalmedstore.com

 

Personality and Fashion

Personality is the outward expression of that indefinable quality known as "individuality." Personality we can develop—can really create. How? By making it express in the fullest sense our highest and best aspirations.

Personality carries great responsibilities, because we expect it to represent us as individuals. We should therefore clothe our personality with honest thoughts, high ideals, and lofty purposes; and to enable it to forge ahead—to permit us to reach the pinnacles of our aspirations—we should clothe its dwelling place—our body—with agreeable and proper raiment, raiment that will not hamper it but stimulate it to guide our pursuits, to make friends and success for us.

Your individual characteristics should dominate you, your ideas, your attitude toward life and toward those with whom you come in contact.

Your clothes help you to express your innermost thoughts, your kindliness, your good feeling toward all about you. This should be sufficient reason for knowing your good and bad points and understanding yourself well enough to bring out the charm you possess or to cultivate charm if you feel that you lack this invaluable quality.

You should never be satisfied to be a nonentity in intellect, in understanding, or in friendship. You should express your personality in these things, and, in doing this, one of the greatest aids is dressing yourself appropriately, becomingly, and with individuality.

Sometimes, women misinterpret the worth whileness of individuality in attire and resort to freakish costuming. We may be grateful for the infrequency of such mistakes, for there are few women—yes, very few—who do not desire to dress in the most becoming way possible, and who will not, with aid and encouragement, persevere until capable of dressing in a distinctive, beautiful way.

It is my desire in this book to give you authentic and definite information that will enable you to distinguish between what is worth while and what is not, and so help you to select such materials, colors, and designs for your garments that they will harmonize with your individuality and environment.

The experience of designers and creators of wearing apparel has demonstrated that harmonious dress is simply the result of a proper knowledge of color, basic motifs of design, the kind of fabric to employ for a given purpose, and the lines of the human figure. Therefore, instead of being perplexing, harmonious dress —distinctive dress—is simply the result of good judgment used in selecting colors and fabrics and choosing and adapting styles that, in motifs of design, suit the lines and proportions of your figure.

To be clothed in garments that in every way bring out your best points and in no way emphasize any of your defects should be your aim. There are comparatively few women who can afford to be richly dressed; yet, no woman, no matter what her station in life may be, can afford to be shabbily dressed.

Next to your ability—and some claim before it—comes your personal appearance.

Your clothes are your visiting cards—your cards of admission, so to speak—and you cannot afford to be tabooed because of being untidy or dressed unbecomingly.

A really well-dressed woman is never conspicuous nor uncomfortable no matter where she may be. To be well dressed, however, does not necessarily mean that you must be extravagantly dressed; it does mean, though, that you must understand dress harmony—how to adapt prevailing styles to harmonize with your personality and to conform to it.

"Personality and Fashion" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion

 

Singleness-10 Tips to Living a Great Life as a Single Woman

On any given day the divorce rate averages between 50-60% in the United States. When you add in the number of women who stay in emotionally dead relationships and relationships that are physically or emotionally abusive, it’s clear that only a small percentage of women are satisfied with their significant other. I’ve had significant relationships, but most of my adult life I’ve been a single woman. I’m not opposed to finding a new man or entering a new relationship in the future, but there are things about being single that I love and would hate to give up. If you struggle with singleness, the following tips can change your life by building your self-esteem, and increasing your financial and emotional security.

1. Get your work life in order. This does not mean you need to take a job you hate for a big fat paycheck; instead it means the opposite. Find something you love to do and do it to the best of your ability. Find ways to maximize income from doing what you love to do. Look for people you can love and support on their journey and people who will love and support you on yours. (Consider joining a support group, if you don’t have friends or relatives who believe in and affirm you).

2. Take care of your health. Women are bombarded with erroneous images and statistics about health. Grocery stores, billboards and television sets show scantily clad anorexic women selling everything from coffee to diapers. 16 year old models are used to sell anti-wrinkle cream. It’s absolutely ridiculous. I have always been a large, athletic, active woman. A few years ago, I was deeply concerned about my weight. According to medical charts I was between 40 and 50 LBs overweight. At my annual physical, I brought this up to my doctor. Her response shocked me. She said, “You have the blood pressure of an athlete, don’t worry about it”. So my advice-find a sport you love and do it 3 to 5 times a week. It could be water aerobics, dancing, karate or vigorous walking. Find a food plan that works well for your body. I eat mostly unprocessed organic foods including lots of fresh vegetables, some fruit, some dairy and some protein. I still like sweets so I allow them, but only in small quantities. By maintaining optimal health, you’ll have optimal energy, lower medical bills and be more likely to have a better outlook on life. I exercise almost every day. When I don’t, I’m prone to low energy and low grade depression.

3. Take care of your finances. Stay out of debt at all costs. There are so many creative ways to live well on very little money, provided you don’t fall prey to advertisements or the desire to “keep up with the Jones’”. There many books which provide excellent information on how to get out of debt and increase prosperity. If you’re able to purchase a home and it makes financial sense, do so. Don’t wait for Mr. Right. Even if, or when he comes along, he’ll probably admire your financial savvy. Think about joining a financial investment group, or taking a class on the stock market at your local community college. Pay off your debts and start saving money.

4. Feed your maternal instincts. If you really want a child and you have the finances to support yourself and the child, and you have a large, loving supportive network of family and friends, adopt a child or apply to become a foster parent. If you don’t have the money or don’t feel like you can handle being a single parent look for volunteer opportunities that will meet your maternal needs. You can be someone’s emotional mother regardless of your age, income or location. Many children with biological parents need more maternal support from the community.

5. Nourish your need for touch. The desire for sex and or to be touched is normal and natural. Some people feel fine about casual sexual relationships. I’m not one of them, and yet I’m a physical vibrant woman. The need to be touched is critical to survival. It is very helpful to schedule routine massages, and establish friendships where friendly hugs or kisses are expected and normal. I also love animals and share my home and heart with several pets. There’s nothing as comforting as a cat sleeping on my lap while I read a good book.

6. Live in the moment as much as possible. One of the biggest challenges a single woman faces, is that we often project into the future. We think, “If I’m single now, I’ll always be single”. This may or may not be true, but in either case, we miss out on the gifts this present moment has to offer. According to Buddha’s second noble truth, all suffering comes from desire and our inability to accept our circumstances. Once we embrace the present moment, the richness of life and the endless possibilities of joy are obvious.

7. Learn a quick comeback for relatives or negative self talk. If you’re sick of hearing someone say, “…poor thing, so pretty and still single”, or some such similar comment, find a truth or a joke that you can use as a quick, automatic response. For example, think about the advantages of being single. “I love my solitude,” or a kind joke, “well you already married uncle Clyde”. This eventually gets the point across and it helps you maintain your good feelings about your independence.

8. Look for the advantages of being single or the disadvantages of being married. I have a wide circle of friends and do not have to look far. Several of my girl friends married men who developed severe health problems. My friends now spend their time and money taking care of their partner. This has crippled their finances and creativity. On my worst day, I would not trade places with them. Another dear friend of mine is married to a man, who like herself is very opinionated and outspoken. They have horrific verbal spats. Company is no deterrent to this couple, and I’ve overheard plenty. These dear friends always make up, and appear to have a good marriage, but this is not what I’d want. As a single women I have 100% control over where I go, what I do, who I see, when I get home, how much money I spent and what I’ll do with my time. I can put my pajamas on at 5pm or stay out all night. I love that.

9. Make and keep a good circle of friends. Some single women I know form travel groups, investment clubs, or are included in couples functions. It’s important to give and receive love and maintain friendships regardless of whether you have a significant relationship or not. Learning to be a better friend and staying connected with people you care about is an important part of life’s journey.

10. Keep your mind active. Whether or not you are in a relationship, it’s as important to exercise your brain as it is your body. Watch science or nature shows, take a class, join a study group, or find some way to keep fascinated about life. The world is an incredible place; there is so much to learn, be and do. By keeping your mind active, you’ll experience more of the joy of being alive. Additionally, if you’re continually learning, people will find you interesting, your self-esteem will remain healthy, you’ll meet new people, perhaps increase your health or finances, or circle of friendship and support.

Once you learn to be happy in your singleness, you may or may not choose to share your life with another. If you learn to be economically and emotionally responsible for your own health and well being, you’re more likely to enjoy life whether you are single or not. If you choose a partner, it will be from a place of strength rather than need. Once you learn how to lovingly care for yourself, it’s easier to avoid a partner who would bring you down or cause you emotional, physical or financial harm. In the long run, it won’t matter whether you marry, have a lover or live alone. You will be living your life joyfully.

Kate Garvey is the author of "The Low Risk Guide for Real Estate Investing" and "Aging, Death and Euthanasia-A Guide for People with Pets". Kate provides free pet care tips on her website http://www.kategarvey.net She helps individuals and business with their writing needs.

 

The Appeal Of Paranormal Romance books

More books are sold in the romance category than any other category in fiction. Within the romance genre, paranormal romance is the most popular subgenre. While regular romances feature romantic heros who are larger than life men who are everything a woman could ever want, paranormal romances feature romantic heros who often have fangs and claws. Vampire, werewolves, shape shifters and men who aren't anything like the men around us are the dream guys heroines swoon over, and whom the reader falls for. So what gives?

As little girls, we were brought up on fairy tales. Cinderella meets Prince Charming who swoops her of her feet and they marry and live happily ever after. Snow White runs away from the wicked stepmother, takes care of seven drawfs, bites a poisoned apple as is awakened by kiss from Prince Charming who marries her and they live happily ever after. Sleeping Beauty sleeps in an enchanted castle guarded by the wicked witch until Prince Charming rescues her, marries her and the live happily every after. That's what little girls are brought up to believe. Then they grow up and reality hits. Hard.

The little girl grows up into a fine young woman. She meets fine young men who woo her, charm her and break her heart. Disillusion sets in.

Maybe she gets far enough in a relationship for it to end up in marriage. The Prince Charming who won her heart turns out to be a bully, or even a wife beater. They set up home together and she ends up as his slave. Serving him and his buddies beer, and snacks while they mess up the house. She cooks and cleans for a husband who yells at her. Domestic abuse. Wife bashing. Verbal abuse. All these are swept under the carpet while she puts up a brave front for the world to see.

Then there are cases where Prince Charming sets off to charm other women instead. Instead of a faithful husband, she ends up with a faithless womanizer that leaves her stranded, who strips away her self worth as he goes for a younger, prettier woman.

Barna Research Group conducted a poll in 1999. Seems that in U.S., 25% of the adults would experience one divorce in a lifetime. That excludes those who stick on in loveless marriages.

Is there any wonder why many women get disillusioned by the classic fairy tale romance. Imagination is a form of escape. Books offer an escape from the current unpleasantness in life. To some women, classic romances are hard to swallow. Not after all they've been through. What they've seen of the men around them. In paranormal romances, these men aren't like the regular men. Many are of a different species altogether. That could be the appeal of paranormal romances. They are far enough from regular men to make the happily ever after ending plausible. These heros typically yearn for their one and only soulmate, forsaking all others, forever. They pair up and stay in love for life. Something that is so rare in the real world.

Another appeal of the paranormal romance that gives it a broader appeal than classic romances is the fantasy element in it. Why is Harry Potter so popular? How about Lord Of The Rings? Or even Narnia? It is the fantasy element which draws the reader into a new world. Through this element, paranormal romance books gain a fan base beyond the regular romance novel. One new series that can be considered paranormal romance is the SFX fantasy series. The first book, Warrior Girl. This starts off with a chase scene where the protaganist, Sarah runs flees from one supernatural horror to another. Along the way, she meets Jake, a warrior chief with many amazing powers. A sweet romance develops. This is one of the stories that appeals to both romance readers and fantasy readers alike.

Read more about this new paranormal romance series at http://www.sfxfantasy.com

 

What Came First?

This is an age-old question and there is no answer to it. The most common version refers to egg and chicken but in a general sense it pertains to cause and effect. In the normal way of thinking the cause is supposed to precede the effect; hence the idea of causation is closely related to the concept of time. If we follow the causation chain, either we get into a never-ending cycle as in the case of chicken and egg, or we get to a dead end as in the case of creation. The only way to resolve the problem is to have a clear and better understanding of the cause and effect relationship.

There are plenty of examples in nature that can help in this regard. Let us consider the tiny seed that can grow into a huge tree. The tree is potentially there in the seed even though it has to go through a long process of growth before that potential is realized. Eventually the tree produces the fruit that in turn gives the seed. So the seed is also potentially there in the tree throughout that process. From this point of view we can say that the seed and tree are not really different; they are essentially the same one transforming into the other. The cause becomes the effect that again becomes the cause.

As stated earlier is inherently related to space-time. The cause is supposed to precede the effect. However, in a continuous cyclic process there is no beginning and no end; in other words beginning and end are not special points. On a circle (or a sphere) there is no beginning and no end; in fact they are the same. However, we tend to consider time as a linear, unidirectional process because the phenomenal world is embedded in space-time. As Einstein put it: ‘---- the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.’ Long before the theory of relativity Vedanta had propounded the theory of maya that is the sum total of space, time, and causation. The word maya is often translated as illusion although the two concepts are essentially different. If one transcends space-time the illusion vanishes.

The causation principle has been one of the important concepts in Vedanta philosophy. A special term is used for this, which can be translated as ‘transformation theory’ (the Sanskrit word is vivartavaad, there is no exact English equivalent for vivart and transformation comes closest; vaad corresponds to theory). Gold can be transformed into ornaments of different shapes and sizes, but it essentially remains gold; the ornament can be melted back to simple gold anytime. In the same way the cause and effect or the same, the change in the external form does not affect the essence. Applied to creation this means that the Ultimate Reality is the universal consciousness and the universe is only a transformed (manifested) appearance of that reality.

It may be noted that quantum physics also has shown that there can be effects without cause. Virtual particles can appear and disappear in the quantum void, i.e. the energy transforms into particles and back spontaneously. Essentially this is equivalent to saying that the cause and the effect are one, since energy and particle are equivalent.

Getting back to our question, we can now see that it becomes meaningless because there is only one thing that is always there. There is no distinction to be made between first and second. In essence egg is the same thing as chicken and chicken is the same thing as egg.

Dr. D. R. Sharma is a retired professor with electrical engineering and physics background. He mainains a website http://www.cosmosebooks.com devoted mainly to philosophy and science.

 

 

Choosing Wisdom and Understanding for a Life Goal Over Success and Money

Many people who are unsuccessful and may never accomplish anything in their life say that they are the better man. Often they say that successful people, rich people or famous people are lesser than they, for they do not possess wisdom. Indeed they believe that their life goal to achieve wisdom and understanding is a more worthy pursuit. Wisdom is a worthwhile calling, no doubt about it, but are these people using this as a copout?

After all, why not choose both or all, for instance Fame, Wealth and Wisdom or perhaps just Wisdom, Wealth and Understanding? When people say something like I chose wisdom and understanding as my life goals rather than living well? Indeed, that is a chose, but no one is forcing you to choose only one thing in life.

You know this is a good point of contention of choosing wisdom over wealth, but as Collins said in "Built to Last" it is not always "WISE" to choose one over the other but rather both. And I say to that Stanford Professor and those who use such excuses; perhaps take even "The Third Way" because linear thought provides linear results and my idea of linear is lining up 1000 ducks and shooting thru them with a single high-powered rifle.

I do not wish to choose "one in the hand for two in the bush" or even killing "two birds with one boulder" on said bush? No, not for me, I wish to have the wisdom of unlimited thought and will take the 1,000; 10,000 or 1 million birds at once. Folks should stop this linear thought, it is a defeating way to look at stuff, and besides Luck goes to the doers who are thinkers and not the thinkers who are not doers. Enough said; Do Both and All; do not resort to choosing one over the other.

Expand you horizons. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

 

Good Taste in Dress

When you have learned what type of garment is most becoming to you, how to select styles, and how to combine materials, you will be able to dress distinctively, in good taste, and much more economically than your neighbor who has not taken time to study the principles of dress and what it means in the way of adornment, developing ideals, and ultimate economy.

Women who know but little about sewing often marvel at the woman who at a glance can tell from the material just what style would be best suited to that material, or who, when she sees a person, can say quickly and with authority what kind of dress that person should wear to bring out her individual type of beauty.

Ability in this direction is usually attributed to cleverness or unusual talent; however, you who understand dress harmony can acquire such ability. With a thorough understanding of line, material, and color you will be able to determine instantly the fitness of certain lines to certain types, and you can broaden your knowledge by carefully observing individuals and styles and the way in which individuals adapt certain styles to themselves.

GETTING IDEAS FROM GOOD AND BAD DRESSERS

The true artist does not mar nor disfigure the surface he wishes to decorate; rather, he works with one thought in mind—beauty of the whole. The dressmaker or home woman who makes really beautiful garments must have not only the qualifications of a designer, but the artistic sense of the artist—must understand line and its relation to color and the individual.

An excellent way in which you may acquire a broad, practical knowledge of good line is to observe carefully and discriminately the women who wear really distinctive clothes and those who wear really ordinary clothes.

Women in dowdy clothes rarely show evidence of style or thought of design, nor do they show any regard for the essentials of correct dress; thus they teach the observer to avoid any such condition in making up garments.

Women who wear really good garments will serve other women as an inspiration to better dressing, and their costumes will suggest possibilities in other fabrics, colors, and designs.

To achieve distinctiveness in dress, never overlook the opportunity of going where good clothes are to be seen—receptions, parties, club meetings, in fact, all places where different kinds of costumes are worn. Study the suitability of the garment for the occasion. Study closely the accessories of the costume, and note how they bring out or detract from the costume itself; then, in matters regarding your own dress or the dress of others, you will be able to suggest little touches that will enhance the beauty of a costume and add materially to its attractiveness.

The theater is an excellent field of inspiration for constructive development in good dressing, not only from the point of correct and pleasing line and color in dress, but as an expression of character or type and appropriateness of environment and occasion.

A successful actress, as I have said before, not infrequently owes a large measure of her success to a close and intelligent study of dress.

Far-seeing theater managers demand a strict adherence to the best in prevailing and historical modes, knowing that, even when not fully understood by all their public, the natural feeling of pleasure and satisfaction obtained from the presentation of correct costuming has much to do with the ultimate success of their production.

It is frequently said that the church-going women folk evidence splendid taste in dress, and that the clothes they wear are excellent style criterions, because they are appropriate for the majority.

A prominent New York designer made a practice of attending a Fifth Avenue church to study the styles of the women in attendance. It may perchance seem irreverent to consider fashion in connection with church. But how many times at Sunday dinner, when the text of the sermon has been discussed, does not some member of the family say, "Did you notice what a pretty dress or hat Miss or Mrs. So and So had on this morning?"

"The artisan hurries through his work to get his dinner; the artist hurries through his dinner to get to his work," is a saying that may well be applied directly to women in their relation to the important subject of clothes.

You will study clothes and admire or criticize them according to your taste and your knowledge of what clothes express.

READY-TO-WEAR GARMENTS AS AN AID

Ready-to-wear garments are also worthy of study in developing good taste in dress.

Such garments are constructed as nearly as manufacturers can plan to please the masses of women, in the majority of cases being hurriedly made and without much regard for workmanship. Rather than durability or practicability of the garment, it is the general outline—the style effect—they strive for, and it is for this reason that the dressmaker or the woman who makes her own clothes should observe such garments carefully.

Oftentimes ready-to-wear garments display a smartness produced by the carefully careless way they are put together, a smartness that is often lost—killed, as it were—by the woman who sews too carefully and too well. It is well to remember this, and learn from ready-to-wear garments, when making clothes for yourself, to strive occasionally for effect rather than perfection in workmanship. When both qualities are attained in a garment, namely, style and good workmanship, the triumph is complete.

"Good Taste in Dress" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/1920s-dresses.html

 

Personality and Fashion

Personality is the outward expression of that indefinable quality known as "individuality." Personality we can develop—can really create. How? By making it express in the fullest sense our highest and best aspirations.

Personality carries great responsibilities, because we expect it to represent us as individuals. We should therefore clothe our personality with honest thoughts, high ideals, and lofty purposes; and to enable it to forge ahead—to permit us to reach the pinnacles of our aspirations—we should clothe its dwelling place—our body—with agreeable and proper raiment, raiment that will not hamper it but stimulate it to guide our pursuits, to make friends and success for us.

Your individual characteristics should dominate you, your ideas, your attitude toward life and toward those with whom you come in contact.

Your clothes help you to express your innermost thoughts, your kindliness, your good feeling toward all about you. This should be sufficient reason for knowing your good and bad points and understanding yourself well enough to bring out the charm you possess or to cultivate charm if you feel that you lack this invaluable quality.

You should never be satisfied to be a nonentity in intellect, in understanding, or in friendship. You should express your personality in these things, and, in doing this, one of the greatest aids is dressing yourself appropriately, becomingly, and with individuality.

Sometimes, women misinterpret the worth whileness of individuality in attire and resort to freakish costuming. We may be grateful for the infrequency of such mistakes, for there are few women—yes, very few—who do not desire to dress in the most becoming way possible, and who will not, with aid and encouragement, persevere until capable of dressing in a distinctive, beautiful way.

It is my desire in this book to give you authentic and definite information that will enable you to distinguish between what is worth while and what is not, and so help you to select such materials, colors, and designs for your garments that they will harmonize with your individuality and environment.

The experience of designers and creators of wearing apparel has demonstrated that harmonious dress is simply the result of a proper knowledge of color, basic motifs of design, the kind of fabric to employ for a given purpose, and the lines of the human figure. Therefore, instead of being perplexing, harmonious dress —distinctive dress—is simply the result of good judgment used in selecting colors and fabrics and choosing and adapting styles that, in motifs of design, suit the lines and proportions of your figure.

To be clothed in garments that in every way bring out your best points and in no way emphasize any of your defects should be your aim. There are comparatively few women who can afford to be richly dressed; yet, no woman, no matter what her station in life may be, can afford to be shabbily dressed.

Next to your ability—and some claim before it—comes your personal appearance.

Your clothes are your visiting cards—your cards of admission, so to speak—and you cannot afford to be tabooed because of being untidy or dressed unbecomingly.

A really well-dressed woman is never conspicuous nor uncomfortable no matter where she may be. To be well dressed, however, does not necessarily mean that you must be extravagantly dressed; it does mean, though, that you must understand dress harmony—how to adapt prevailing styles to harmonize with your personality and to conform to it.

"Personality and Fashion" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion

 

Developing Your Own Fashion Style

Your style is important. Ask yourself every time you buy anything, every time you make anything, or have anything made: Is it in accord with my style? Does it meet the requirements of correct dress for me?

If you live in a little city or a village and suddenly found yourself on Fifth Avenue in New York City, would you feel conspicuous in your clothes? If friends from the fashion centers of America were coming to visit you, would you feel out of place in your costume? You should not. You have the same opportunity to be correctly dressed as any other woman if you will study and persevere toward perfection in dress.

We must realize that we have a style of our own and that we are of a particular type. This is recognized by every fashion authority in the country, and by every fashion publication, for if all women were to adhere to one fashion, one fashion only would be shown in the fashion books instead of twenty, thirty, or fifty different designs.

Look through any fashion book today and you will find round-and-round and up-and-down lines in the same issue—all with the idea of helping women to clothe themselves correctly and of giving suggestions that will help them individually to find appropriate styles.

Establishing a style for yourself and then perfecting it—be it in hats, gloves, shoes, dresses, or suits—will prove economical, and it will not be long before a degree of perfection will be acquired.

A prominent New York business woman, who is one of the most distinctively dressed women that I know, wears the smartest suits and hats and always severely tailor-made gowns. And her neckwear, usually a jabot or a stock, is so smart that you would never for a minute question whether it is authoritatively fashionable. She always wears high shoes on the street, and usually they have light-colored tops, because she is tall and the light tops of the shoes help to break the appearance of height.

One day, this young woman came to visit me. I could not refrain from remarking about the completeness of her costume. I said, "If I saw your shadow, I should know that it was you by the harmony that your silhouette expresses and the very way you carry yourself."

She said, "Do you know that remarks like yours are what caused me to persevere in acquiring my style of dressing? I used to think I wanted loose, floppy clothes in which I could relax and be just as free and comfortable as if I were in negligee. Once, when in a ferry boat crossing New York harbor, I saw sitting opposite me a line of crumpled-up women apparently enjoying their slovenly posture. Not one of them expressed dignity or pride in her personal appearance. Not one of the women on that boat, I thought, was unusual or had any desire to know better. I then took a little self-inventory. I was ashamed of myself, because I realized I was not very much better dressed than the other women on the boat. I sat up straight and determined right then and there that I would acquire a style becoming and practical for me and would express that style in the most attractive and agreeable way that I could. And that resolution has helped me more than I can say."

She was frank enough to tell me that she attributed a great part of her success to having wakened up, to having made herself trim and having kept herself so. She always plans to have one good suit or one good dress—just as good as she possibly can afford; she procures a garment that she has to respect, and that will make her "dress up to fit."

She said, "If I put on a shabby dress, I will allow my shoes to be shabby and will be careless about my personal grooming; but when I have a dress that I have to be particular about, I always have my hair, my shoes, my gloves, my corset—everything—Just right for it, and I always look very much better."

Living up to your clothes, creating a style, and being equal to an intelligent expression of it are worth many dollars to a woman who wants to be a success in business, in the home, or in social life.

"Developing Your Own Fashion Style" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion

 

Acquiring Good Taste in Dress

In the development and use of good taste in dress, you must always be progressive—always on the alert for new things, new color combinations, new lines, and always ready to make use of new ideas as they are given out.

The manufacturer, the designer of styles, the fashion authorities, all do their best to produce new and attractive ideas in style, color, and fabric, and if you would keep abreast of the times, take the new ideas that are offered and make the most of them; apply them to your needs in a way that is practical and serviceable. And here again is the necessity for a knowledge broad and flexible enough to enable one to take the sometimes seemingly impossible and successfully develop it.

When you are about to develop a new garment and you desire inspiration from prevailing style motifs, first ascertain from what this motif is derived—whether it is from an established or basic principle of design, pure in line and true in its relation to the lines of the figure, or whether it is a whimsical or erratic striving for something new and different in design without proper regard for its purpose, which is, or should be, that of clothing the human form comfortably and artistically. If the design cannot measure up to such points, there is no reason for its acceptance.

Next, determine the time and intensity of the present vogue of the style motif; that is, the period of its first appearance and the interest or popularity it has developed or is enjoying. For example, indications of the style motif come slowly, notwithstanding many opinions to the contrary. If you believe that style changes are effected overnight, you lack a proper knowledge of what constitutes style. You are confusing style with fashion.

Style is the motif, the treatment, the design, the entire ensemble, as it were, of the garment, which includes design, material, color, and workmanship; fashion is the popularity of a certain style, the common trend, the rage, as it may be called, the last term it would seem being fit when certain periods of women's dress are reflected on.

If you desire style rather than fashion, examine the newest silhouette or outline. For example, if wide, flaring skirts, natural waist-line effects, and full sleeves are at the height of popular favor, search until you find a changing tendency, which will invariably be a decrease in skirt widths, the moving of the waist line, and a changing of sleeve outlines. If, on the other hand, the narrow skirt and general appearance of slimness is the silhouette preeminent, you may rest assured that a change in the other direction is inevitable.

Fashion moves like a pendulum, and you will never be dressed in faulty style or entirely out of fashion if you anticipate, after a correct analysis of current modes, what will most surely follow.

It is to your advantage, then, not only to keep up with the prevailing fashions, but to keep as far as possible abreast of the popular mode. By this study of style and fashion, along with the proper knowledge and appreciation of your needs, it is not unreasonable to assert that you may always be dressed in good style and in fashion, for the life of every garment chosen will be materially prolonged and greater satisfaction and comfort, as well as practical economy, will most surely result.

Learn to buy materials that are good, practical, durable, and beautiful; avoid eccentricities, and choose lines that are in accord with your type of figure. Then your gown or suit will be agreeably appropriate for two years rather than for six months.

To be constantly awake to new things does not mean that everything must be adopted; it means that through your thorough knowledge of lines, color, and fabrics, you will be able to discard the bad and choose only the things that will give satisfactory results and be pleasing and serviceable.

To know dress well is to keep growing. You cannot afford to feel satisfied that you know all there is to be known about clothes. You must remember that many persons are devoting hours of earnest effort each day in bringing out the very best things in fabrics, style, and color, and that these people, as they are experts in their lines, can give you many good ideas and help you achieve your desires by aiding you in keeping you informed on the ever-changing problems of dress.

Always work for a happy medium, and never allow yourself to get into a rut regarding your clothes. It is well to keep style and color constantly in mind, never losing sight of yourself, for few are ideal in face or figure and all frequently require modified styles to bring out their charm or individual beauty.

Individual development of style is one thing that makes the clever individual's interpretation superior to ready-to-wear garments, and when consideration is given to the durability or lasting qualities of a garment that is carefully made by one who understands dress, such garments are so much superior to ready-to-wear garments that there is no comparison.

Regard dress and its correct use and development as an art, just as the musician or the painter considers his work an art. Strive to have your dresses creations—harmonious pictures.

Such dresses may be created by a combination of certain factors that produce a oneness of effect, a harmoniously pleasing result; and as you develop a garment you will be satisfied or dissatisfied with the result according to the ideal you have set for your work and to the amount of thought and effort that you have put into it.

There is always great opportunity for the woman who is willing to give plenty of study and earnest effort and thought to the designing and making of her clothes.

Many of our greatest creators of fashion in an effort to get a desired effect labor over a certain gown or suit for seemingly unreasonable lengths of time. Surrounded by yards of chiffon, silks, laces, and similar materials from which they can get inspiration, their every thought, in fact, their whole being, centers upon the creation in mind, and they gradually develop the thought, the effect they want, and with this done the details, the general construction, and the finishing of the garment itself seem of minor importance.

Beautiful dresses, those which stand out most prominently in fashion's history, are developed by the bringing together of certain fabrics and certain colors; and, in striving to get harmony out of their combinations, there are developed suitable lines that in many instances make striking creations.

Such effects are often produced during the development of a gown—nothing cut and dried about it; all inspired work is work of love, and in the creating of clothes, the inspiration must be supplemented by a knowledge of color combinations, fabric combinations, and lines.

Such garments are, as a rule, creations in every sense of the word—a work of art—for they are generally artistic and harmonious. There is life to such garments. They are usually strong in line and show evidence of development by a master hand. Only by such devotion, by a full appreciation of all the elements of garment construction, and a continual striving for the beautiful, are these creations possible.

The woman making dresses for herself must have studied dress principles enough to support her own ideals.

From what has been said you will readily see that the development of good taste in line, color, material, and suitability as to color combination of material and to style of the garment are arrived at only by diligent study of the artistic and practical relation of one to the other; then application and the determination to apply them to yourself are the mediums through which excellent results are expressed. Sustained work, conscientious study, and a pride in achievement will bring forth results that spasmodic effort never can.

You may not always be satisfied with your result, even though you have put a great amount of labor, conscientious thought, and honest effort into the production of a garment. When it is completed you will see where certain things that would improve it might have gone into the gown. Strive to have each new garment an improvement on the last by incorporating in it the good points missing in the one before.

And as you go on and develop clothes for yourself, and, as I have suggested, dress up your friends by planning in your mind what they should wear and why they should wear certain things, you will acquire not only the correct principles of dress, but the high ideals of dress—ideals that will put dress and its mission in the high position it should have in your mind.

Your consideration about dress, your correct adherence to the principles and the carrying out of your ideals, will make your friends and acquaintances take notice of you and will invariably awaken in them a desire for the right kind of clothes.

So, you see, it is an endless chain, for if you will lay the foundation for the understanding of dress, as in any other subject, you will have a following and an opportunity to do much toward helping American women to be distinctively clothed.

"Acquiring Good Taste in Dress" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion

 

Sources of Fashion Information

If you are anxious to know the right thing regarding matters of dress, pay strict attention also to the fashion notes given in the various magazines and newspapers.

Even advertisements pertaining to garments, materials, and so on will help you in acquiring a knowledge of the kind of material suited to your lines and your type, and will bring about a successful, harmonious development of the newest and best styles.

If the fashion notes or advertisements suggest some fabric and color with which you are not familiar, go to the store where they may be seen and observe them closely. Especially is this plan a good one for you to adopt in your effort to become familiar with new fabrics, particularly the coloring, weight, and texture.

If a reliable store is not accessible, a letter, with a self-addressed and stamped envelope, will usually bring samples to you from a first-class merchandise house in a few days. The names given in fashion books regarding materials and colors are generally authentic, and you can, by asking for them by name, receive just the samples desired.

Right here I want to caution you about the buying of bargain materials. Nothing is a bargain that cannot be used to advantage.

In order to buy materials intelligently, it is absolutely necessary to keep pace with style tendencies. For instance, when styles are bouffant, fluffy, and airy, it means that crepe de Chine, soft, clinging crepes, and the like are to be avoided. At such times, merchants throughout the country who have such materials on hand do not, as a rule, wish to carry them in stock until another season, and invariably put them on sale at a great reduction in price.

If, at the time of these sales, you have occasion to use such materials for some specific purpose, you can usually pick up bargains, and it is well to do so; however, if you can afford only a few dresses and wish always to appear smart, give considerable thought to your purchases in order to make sure that the materials selected will fill your needs.

If a dress is made up in a style that is in keeping with the mode of the day, but of material that is not in keeping, it will immediately be marked as a poor attempt at smartness.

In many cases, new styles call for new fabrics, and those which a person has been accustomed to using will be absolutely out of the question, no amount of effort being possible to make them assume any semblance of the prevailing mode.

With such thoughts in mind, you should think carefully before you purchase material at the bargain counter, because it is possible that you will tie up your money in material that is not up to date and will encounter no end of difficulty in trying to reproduce the new styles with it.

Any person whose allowance for clothes is limited should always endeavor to spend every dollar to the best advantage.

"Sources of Fashion Information" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion

 

Dress Hints From Fashion Magazines

Fashion magazines are of the utmost importance to any woman who is interested in dress.

In studying any fashion magazine, consider each figure separately. If two or more materials are used in its development, strive to determine particularly why they are employed. Proper regard for such details is valuable, for it will serve to point out to you why certain materials are required for certain styles.

Strive not to be like the woman who went to a dressmaker and said, "I want a pannier skirt. I want a little puff sleeve, but I want it in soft, clinging crepe, because I am very fond of that material. I think it is beautiful. The softness appeals to me."

Then you will not have to be informed, as this woman was, that "crepe was designed by the manufacturer for clinging garments and is rarely adapted to the fluffy style of the pannier skirt and puff sleeves."

Of course, taffetas, organdies, and crisp batistes are suitable for such styles, and a mental picture of a pannier skirt of crepe and another one of taffeta will show you instantly why fabrics must be designed to suit styles and styles to suit materials.

COLOR SUGGESTIONS FROM FASHION PLATES

When you have studied individual designs enough to be able to note instantly what kind of pattern is required, as well as what kind of material is best suited to the design, and can harmoniously adapt color to the lines of the garment and fabric used, you will be able to conceive pleasing results.

It is true that the fashion people cannot produce in their fashion plates an absolute likeness of the color the textile manufacturer gives us in fabrics; nor can they give an absolutely true outline of a garment as it will appear when developed in material. However, when you understand lines you will be able to get suggestions from the color plates shown in fashion magazines and elsewhere, and with this knowledge of lines you will be able to give prominence to the color that will bring out the garment to the best advantage, to use successfully the soft, silent tones or tints where only a suggestion or variation of color is desired; also, you will be able to choose a fabric that will successfully carry out the lines suggested by a fashion drawing.

INTERPRETING FASHIONS

A number of excellent fashion magazines that have no pattern service are published merely to suggest style tendencies and color and fabric combinations.

If you know patterns and have studied lines, such magazines will be invaluable to you, for you can get from them ideas and suggestions that you can incorporate in your garments.

In many cases, you may apply them more successfully than the artist has done in his drawings, because you can bring out the practicability of the garment, adapt it to the material, and give the harmonious outline that suits you.

Some of the ultra fashion books contain seemingly grotesque styles, their general make-up and their silhouette appearing impossible from a practical standpoint when their development is considered in the fabric and for the human figure.

The designs in these same magazines, how-ever, are worthy of consideration, for they contain in them illusive, impractical, but artistic, even clever, ideas that may be utilized in the production of original and pleasing garments, provided you have developed a sense of originality or initiative in dress.

For example, in some of these seemingly freakish models may be found an attractive collar or a suggestion for a cuff, a finish for the waist line, or a front closing, any one of which is particularly pleasing, and if you have an eye for the fitness of style and line to fabrics and their correct color development, you can work these around in such a way as to get results that express individuality and good taste.

Modifications of these seemingly freakish modes often result, too, in the creation of garments that are decidedly distinctive and original, but still of a style that is in harmony with the original.

"Dress Hints From Fashion Magazines" is taken from a 1918 publication "Secrets of Distinctive Dress". The information is timeless and just as applicable today as it was back then. To learn more about 1920's ladies fashions we invite you to visit http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/1920s-dresses.html

 

Hot Hairstyles - The Look For 2007

The look for 2007 is the short crop and the good news is there is a style to suit all women.

Why is the short crop so popular? It’s sexy, stylish and the ultimate hairstyle for today’s busy women and more than that it’s also a liberating cut lets look at it in more detail.

Short hair has been popular since the 1920’s when it was the height of fashion and it had a massive revival in the sixties when Twiggy launched millions of imitators with her distinctive look.

The short cut then was seen as a statement of liberation and freedom and that is happening again today.

Today’s women are busy and the short crop is the ultimate time saver as well as looking great.

More women than ever are using short hair as a statement having after life changing events such as a divorce or career move to make a statement of liberation.

A good example was Kylie Mynogue the singer who was forced to have a short cut after her cancer scare.

When she appeared in front of the cameras she looked great with a new short crop looking stylish and defiant.

The short crops rise came at the end of 2006 setting the mood for it to be the hot hairstyle look of 2007.

The catwalks featured it and the glossy magazines followed as more models took up the look.

As we turn into 2007 it’s the look to have and there is one for everyone

While an oval face is perfect for a short cut, however with the variety of styles there is a cut for everyone and your hairdresser can advice you on the best way cut for you.

So its short, cute, stylish, sexy and the ultimate in convenience for today’s busy women – That’s why the short crop is the hot new hairstyle for 2007.

Get More FREE Style PDF's, Video's & Articles For more FREE fashion articles, video's, PDF style and fashion reports and all you need to know about fashion & style visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

 

For the Uptown Girl!

Samsung presents a phone that characterizes class and style. The X830 Blush Pink is crafted for a woman with refined aesthetic sensibilities. The color, a frosted pink, bears the semblance of soft blushing cheeks. A fashion accessory, with a rotating flap and a circular control pad, the appeal of the phone lies in both its aspect and serviceability.

Yes, the Samsung X830 Blush Pink is a smart phone with chockablock features. The handset is sleek, 84x30x20 mm in dimension, and sits light at just 72 grams on your palm or pocket. It comes with the multiple frequencies of GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. The delicately framed Blush Pink wields the power of GPRS and EDGE to accelerate data transfer.

While you live a special moment of your life, a built in 1.3 mega pixel camera with video recording facility, stores it for that nostalgic moment in future life. The X830 Blush Pink eases sharing of pictures, music, style secrets et al in the vicinity via Bluetooth and USB 2.0. The handset is configured to receive and forward, create and send multimedia messages.

A memory store of 1GB, and a thousand entry phone book facilitates the expanding list of friends and associates. And when dire need or sheer desire to prolong that interesting conversation appears, one can avail the three hour talk-time. The stand-by time of 120 hrs implies less charging.

The Samsung X830 Blush Pink stands swanky with its nuanced music functionality. It makes you tango to the tunes of Mp3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, and the WMA player technologies. Polyphonic and Mp3 ringtones constitute the corpus of iPod-like Blush Pink.

The modish ensemble is geared to rivet all attention on you as you switch it to the flight mode while airborne. So prepare to blush all pink as you can't help getting noticed with the Samsung X830 Blush Pink.

Samsung X830 Blush (Pink)

Mobile Phone Deals

 

Brazilian Wax - For a Clean Convenient and Sensuous Look

Waxing is more popular than ever among women as it is clean allows the wearing of revealing under garments without the embarrassment and is considered sensuous by both men and women.

Let’s look at exactly what it involves, the advantages and the disadvantages.

Many famous people today have had the Brazilian wax and this has made it a fashion statement that more and more women are trying, but it’s not new and it’s not just a fashion statement- there are many advantages to the Brazilian Wax.

While Brazilian waxing is popular today and has grown in popularity since the late eighties it is not new.

Women were waxing thousands of years ago in the ancient civilizations of India, Greece and Persia.

What is it?

The term 'Brazilian Waxing' refers to partial genital hair removal which leaving a strip of hair or landing strip but also refers to total genital hair removal.

Advantages

The advantages are that you can:

1. Wear revealing clothes without embarrassment.

2. You feel clean and it’s very hygienic.

3. Many people the look is extremely sensuous. Men Love it and women often say oral sex is more satisfying.

4. It only takes around 30 minutes to do

5. As it is now so popular as a beauty treatment the cost is relatively cheap

So are there any disadvantages?

Firstly like doing your nails you will have to go back regularly every month or so. The major perceived disadvantages are the embarrassment and the pain.

Embarrassing?

Not really, your waxer has seen it all before it’s really like seeing your doctor.

While you do have the your hair removed by wax the pain is no where nearly as bad as most women think it will be and as you have further treatments the pain diminishes.

If you are worried about having a Brazilian wax, try and have the less severe Bikini wax first and see how you feel.

Make sure that you pick a reputable therapist and get some testimonials.

Brazilian waxing is more popular than ever and women today are finding out what women knew thousands of years ago there are great advantages to waxing Brazilian.

MORE ON BIKINI AND BRAZILIAN WAXING & BEAUTY HERE On all aspects of beauty womens interests and more on Brazilian Wax visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

 

Stress Relief Through the Creation of Beaded Jewelry?

Want to know a great way of fighting stress? Experts will tell you... it's stringing beads.

For women, the mechanical work of putting small beads into a string has some very relaxing and even therapeutic effects. If you are one of those women leading very stressful lives, you can benefit a lot if you make your own beaded jewelry. Stringing beads and making beaded jewelry could be a very way to fight stress fight stress well also helps unleash your creativity. Besides, wearing something that you made yourself could give you such pride and joy so go ahead and start making your own beaded jewelry. The first thing that you will need to do to get started is to go out and shop for some materials for your beaded jewelry. There are many shops that are selling beads and other materials that can help you get started. You may choose to start with those inexpensive beads so that you will not waste a lot of money while you are still learning how to make different beaded jewelry designs.

How to Get Started

Now, if you cannot think of a good beaded jewelry design to start with, you better buy a book or some magazines about fashion jewelry designing. You don’t really have to ready everything in the book if you don’t want to. You can just select those designs that look cool and are easy to follow then start working. You must always remember that making beaded jewelry is supposed to be a stress free activity so does not drive yourself too hard. Just take your time to learn and do not push yourself to achieve anything overnight.

Once you have made some simple beaded jewelry designs, you can try one of those more challenging designs in your book. If you want to, you can start making your own designs so that you will have something that is uniquely yours. Designing your own beaded jewelry could be very challenging and fun. Besides, being able to come up with your own designs could give you a good sense of achievement so give it a try. Who knows, you might suddenly discover your talents for designing beaded jewelry. Note that there has been many women who dabbled into beaded jewelry making to help them relax and later on found out that they do have talent for creating some really outstanding jewelry designs and end up setting up their own beaded jewelry business.

Johannes Garrido is the author of Jewelry-101.info- http://Jewelry-101.info - Get Top Quality Jewelry Information. Visit the site now and Shop at Our Jewelry Store Jewelry Store.

 

 

The Classy Charm of Vintage Jewelry

Nostalgia abounds for items from historical periods where craftsmanship seemed to abound in quality versus the items crafted today. Jewelry, Cars, and other items of the past seem to be made more carefully and more attention paid the quality of the details. Long production lines were unheard of while the cars moved quickly to finish. The hands of a skilled jeweler crafted these works of art, not the production line manufacturing jewelry assembly lines of today.

Vintage jewelry has the characteristics of the fine pieces of jewelry from the past. These pieces of vintage jewelry could actually be from estate sales of old jewelry or vintage jewelry could be replicas of these fine pieces from the past. The pieces have images that incorporate fascinating figures that were so popular years ago. There are pins that were often worn as part of the fashion statements of the past. These pins were made to be worn on the lapel of a beautiful suit worthy of princesses and duchesses. They have pooches with eyes of emeralds or lips of red rhinestones. The bracelets might look like snakes with scales made from a precious material. A barrette for the hair might be a horsefly with emerald green wings.

Vintage Jewelry Comes from Great Estate Sales

The daily newspapers have numerous ads that give details on the latest estate sales where people can show up to buy wonderful treasures that the owners no longer want. The items at these sales are often the property of older people who just recently died. Their heirs either do not appreciate the styles that their parents enjoyed or just do not want to be bothered with the things their parents left behind. These sales often have great examples of vintage jewelry for sale. These pieces are often handmade by skilled craftsmen that no longer exist.

People can read the information in the newspapers and track down the estate sale, or they can find out about the outlets that sent others to these sales to find the treasures left behind from days gone by. Some of the fine department stores have special sections for vintage jewelry. At some stores, this vintage jewelry is authentic, but at others some of the pieces are authentic copies of vintage jewelry. The prices vary quite a bit for the pieces of vintage jewelry. Shoppers at the estate sales may find some incredible bargains. Vintage jewelry, the copies and the originals, are usually fascinating pieces of adornment.

Johannes Garrido is the author of http://Jewelry-101.info - Get Top Quality Jewelry Information. Visit the site now and Shop at Jewelry Store.

 

Famous Female Cigar Smokers

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s a man’s world.” While this may be true for some areas - professional football, construction sites, Y chromosomes - it’s certainly not true for everything; sometimes you have to look a little close to discover the girl inside the hobby.

Cigars, for instance, may seem like a male past time. This is particularly true when it comes to Hollywood. >From Groucho Marx to the Rat Pack, from Milton Berle to George Burns, many famous cigar smokers are men. But, adorning the wrappers with lipstick residue, not all famous cigar smokers are male. Lighting up in a celebration of all things made of sugar and spice and everything nice, more and more Hollywood women are securing roles as cigar loving dames.

Linda Evangelista: A Canadian Supermodel, Evangelista is known as one of the pioneers of the 1980’s and 1990’s fashion industry. Part of a group known as “The Trinity” - along with Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell - Evangelista is credited as being one of the sparks that ignited the world’s obsession with modeling. She is well known both for her cigar smoking and her dramatic hairstyles. In 1995, she became the first women to be featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado.

Demi Moore: Originally known for her roles in teen-targeted movies, Moore has become one of the leading actresses in Hollywood. >From movies such as Ghost and G.I. Jane, she has made a name for herself onscreen. Off screen, she has been the source of controversy on more the one occasion. Whether it is for posing nude during her pregnancy or for her marriage to a much younger man, Moore has found herself the target of the tabloids. But, she has muddled through with grace and perseverance, refusing to apologize for her choices. An avid cigar smoker for years, she was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1996.

Sharon Stone: Lauded and ridiculed for performances, Stone has received everything from a Golden Globe to a Razzie. A former fashion model turned Star Search winner turned actress and producer, she has been in the spotlight for decades. She turned heads when she modeled nude for Playboy in 1990 and turned heads again when she (nearly modeling nude) shot an infamous scene from the film Basic Instinct in 1992. Though there is some media speculation that she is no longer a smoker, Stone was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 2004.

Susan Lucci: Originally known for her role on All My Children, Lucci eventually became infamous for being a lady who could not catch a Daytime Emmy break. Between 1978 and 1998, she was nominated for 18 awards, but failed to win any. This made her the butt of the joke among some members of the media. Finally, in 1999, the joke ended when she won a long awaited Day Time Emmy. She has also appeared in a variety of primetime TV shows and made-for-television movies. She made an appearance on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1999.

Gina Gershon: Appearing in a slug of television shows, including Ellen, Just Shoot Me, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Ugly Betty, Gershon has done a bit of everything. She has appeared on movies as well as Broadway productions. She attended Beverly Hills High School with Lenny Kravitz, and has been linked to John Cusack and Owen Wilson. Gerson had bit parts in many notable 1980’s films as well as larger parts in some cult classics. She was featured on the cover of Cigar Aficionado in 1998.

These are certainly not the only women in Hollywood who know how to treat themselves to a stick of luxury. The movie and television industry, like life itself, is full of females discovering a past time that was once synonymous with being male. As more and more women, throwing down their inferior cigarettes in a fit of rage, turn to stogies, the male stigmatism the cigar industry once harbored will begin to fade away... like a puff of smoke.

Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.whatsknottolove.com. At home in a design firm in Denver, Colorado, she writes articles specific to the finer things in life.