Fashion World

Be a Temptress in Your Plus Size Bridal Lingerie

2007-09-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, men or rather women longed for pencil thin figures. A plus size bridal lingerie was only for self-conscious women, who huddled to the plus size bridal lingerie counter, shying away from their lissome counterparts. Today, a voluptuous figure, with appropriate curves, buxom busts, tantalizing cleavages, and full butt are far more appealing and feminine. More and more men find the softer aspect of the flesh fascinating compared to bony elbows and legs. So woman, take pride in their bounties and be a nonchalant exhibitionist and do it with élan and pomp! They are no longer shy and ashamed of being ‘big’. Enter the world of plus size bridal lingerie!

The age old beauty of black can be tempting and lusty. Against the creamy pale of your skin, the black can be bold and yet feminine. Satin textured plus size bridal lingerie in ebony can accentuate the texture of your skin, driving your man wild with craze, wanting to rip apart the fabric and yet be toying with the sheerness of the black beauty! Black has always been the color of night, denoting dark secrets; an enigmatic color that veils the ultimate truth, that which tempts the seeker to approach his goal with much apprehension. Black also has its bit of adventure in it. Plus size bridal lingerie black satin corsets, eclipsing the radiance of your buxom bosom, can thus be truly tantalizing. Matching plus size panties that complement your wax hued thighs can simply be mesmerizing.

Ever thought of the age old usual white stain, lacy, frilly lingerie? White-the symbol of purity, virginity, has been an all time favorite amongst women for eons! Plus size bridal lingerie in white frilly, satin can be the essence of innocence. Concealing, yet concurrently revealing the obvious, this white cloak cloaks the obvious, yet leaving much to any man’s imagination, stirring up the soothing emotions of pure love. Complementing your creamy complexion, or balancing the dusky hues of your complexion, a plus size silky white sweet nothing can bare the dark secrets of your ample busts and also the hidden recesses of your body!

And ultimately to the ultimate color of passion-red! Plus size bridal lingerie in cherry red, blood red, crimson all spell nothing but delightful craze, highlighting the plus size of your combined ardor; do you still have to work at it arduously?

Just be cool and flaunt your voluptuous curves, taking pride in your womanhood, your Plus size bridal lingerie teasing and tantalizing the ultimate conqueror of these lavish bounties!

Kether Evans is an fashion consultant who writes on many clothing and fashion related topics. For more information on plus sized bridal gowns, please visit: http://plus-sized-bridal-gowns.com

Big Is Beautiful In A Plus Size Bridal Wear

2007-09-10T04:01:00.001-07:00

Henry, an ace photographer, did portfolios for professional models. His job entailed him to work with several attractive young things who were not only dressed to kill, but also women who were scantily clad! Ravishingly beautiful women, with pencil thin figures, slim arms, appropriate bust line, and slim waists occupied much of his time, behind the lens. His job demanded he make trips abroad with these sweet nothings. Henry got married to his childhood sweetheart and was offered a job as a photographer immediately.

Back home, his wife Mitchell was once a bit gloomy and apprehensive. The plump and petite Mitchell with a cheerful face was filled with apprehension. After much prompting, prodding Mitchell confided in Henry the cause of her worry. She seemed a bit insecure that Henry would leave her for a pretty looking dame with chiseled and toned body!

And what did Henry have to say? He laughed her insecurities away, for he was always excited to return home to the comfortable lap of his delicate Mitchell! The ever bubbly Mitchell who had to squeeze herself into plus size bridal wear even on her wedding day had never felt so insecure until Henry landed this job. She always felt comfortable shopping for plus size bridal wear then and never bothered about bulging hips, paunch and the dimples on her butt. She was proud to flaunt her ample bosom.

Henry noticed her sudden interest in aerobics, despite which she was unhappy. He soon realized that her lack of cheer was because her body refused to shed any fat. “I’ve never seen any model truly content with her body, but loved to watch my wife be herself, comfortable, cheerful and comforting.” He responded.

Soon, it was Mitchell’s turn to realize that Henry loved her in her plus size lingerie, as much as without them! And in no time, Mitchell became her normal self.

This story emphasizes the need for women to look their best with whatever nature has bestowed upon them. It can be very empowering to see a plus size woman, petite or large, voluptuous and curvaceous, carry herself with flair! It should not embarrass plus size women to shop for lingerie or clothes or even wedding gown. Ask a woman with scanty breasts and she will tell you the agony she goes through for the lack of such captivating feminine features.

In ancient Greece and Russia, women were normally huge and fleshy. Stories depict them as plump and sexy, with heaving bosom and bulky butts. A plus size bridal wear might have been considered the ‘in thing’ those days for the queens and royalty, in fact a fashion statement.

As time changes, the wheels of change sweep the world too. Whatever is in vogue today would become obsolete tomorrow and whatever our plus size grand mom wore is the latest fad today! Bulimia and other eating disorders may be the disease afflicting the youth of today, but tomorrow, young women would perhaps gorge themselves with healthful food for a more rounded figure.

And what use is a figure if it can’t provide the soft comfort to a man? What use is an embrace that nudges and pokes? So woman, relax and be proud of your plus size bounties and when in a shop, be proud that you’re the personification of womanhood. A true man would want a plus size body to complement his well toned, burly physique.

Kether Evans is an fashion consultant who writes on many clothing and fashion related topics. For more information on plus sized bridal gowns, please visit: http://plus-size-bridal-gowns.com

About Madonna's Vogue, Setting and Cool Sexy Costume

2007-09-10T03:38:00.001-07:00

How do you set up a setting for a music video? Imagine Madonna’s Vogue. Imagine the setting, then imagine the world and its development! For any design setting, it’s good to describe the setting and the concepts associated with that setting e.g. sophistication , elegance.. Aim to describe then the nature of the elegance and the sophistication.

The great feather fan rises and opens up the world of Vogue and the setting. And this is the world! Then quickly strike a pose. The world or setting of Madonna’s Vogue is akin to the 20s world of Hollywood permeated with Art Deco influences. Remember the unique American Hollywood designs of the era e.g Cedric Gibbons’ designs. In this world, strike a pose.

Cinematography is about creating a world and in Vogue poses are a part of that world. Vogue is a sophisticated mirror-reflected world of poses, of individuals posing. What kind of individuals? Maybe think of them as ‘posers’ , people who are striking a pose. It's all a game and the ‘posers’ must play their game of elegance and match each other in their poses.

Madonna’s Vogue is about the pose of the body ; natural and artificial poses ; However Vogue was also a 20s dance upon which the video was based. The dance was also called Performance. Thus how to you translate the Performance dance into a setting, a cinematographic setting? How do you merge this into setting and costuming? These questions won’t be answered here but in the design setting for a theatrical performance, they are important questions.

Thus Vogue or Performance is about natural poses and artificial poses too and the whole dance aims to minimise the distinction between natural and artificial poses. This is an important element in Performance. But sometimes the aim is actually to accent and emphasize the distinction.

Setting: A great feather fan rises to open up our world and our setting And this setting incorporates the development e.g. in the choreography from something formal to something less informal. This is also apparent in the costuming as well as of course the dance and its rhythm. There are more poses in the beginning and you might say that this is something natural. Posing is like a first step and grade in choreography. Poses are central to choreography and choreography in theatrical performance.

How do we materialize things in design, interior design, costume design? For example, in this video, you may want to materialize a certain ‘concept’ of eroticism as apparent in the 20s? How do you materialize the concepts of ‘eroticism? You want to materialize this concept through a variation of the Performance dance. You can imagine these as stages in the design development. And there are the design elements too.

And what are the design elements of Madonna’s Vogue? What are the elements of the setting? You can call the great feather boa or fan an element. The maid distorts in a way any sophistication and elegance that you might expect in the video. The maid also gives a glamor and eroticism to the sophisticated elegance associated with the 20s Hollywood world; This is another design element. There are also the men in tailored shirts, one with a low slouch hat ; the pillar, a man’s scarf, the general evening wear. There is also the peroxide blonde hair of Madonna. There is also her attitude. There is attitude in the video. Attitude is another intangible element in a choreographed performance and this attitude is apparent in Vogue.

We have to take into account that the video has an 80s, early 90s feel but this is not so important. What is important is the mood that is created. Yes there is the 80s feel of the costuming especially apparent in the ‘heavy and draggy’ trousers in the final dance scenes. The jackets have their pads and there are other elements of 80s costuming as well as the wide shoulders such as the general ‘power’ look as well as the slightly cropped and flared trousers Madonna wears in one of the final scenes. woolen tailored costuming associated with the 80s. However there is still a timeless elegance about the video, the performance which is useful in doing any design project. The whole has a sophisticated glamor and elegance about it and within this world, we can choreograph the dance which is a variation of Performance or Vogue.

In Vogue, seduction has a sophistication about it. The video is a seduction and this is another intangible element. Using the elements available to it which are mainly its use of the Performance dance, the other aim of the choreographed performance in Madonna’s Vogue is seduction. It aims to seduce. This world aims to seduce.

Pick Your Price

2007-09-10T03:36:00.001-07:00

While the cost of promotional conference bags can be offset by conference sponsors who pay to include their products and literature, providing bags for all of your attendees can be a pricey proposition. Whether your budget is tight or limited only by the sky, you’ll find promotional conference bags in a wide range of prices to suit any budget you need to fit.

Keep in mind, though, that the promotional value of the conference bags that you choose is high. If you’re the organizer, the quality of the bag you choose directly affects how your event is viewed, not only by the attendees but by the sponsors who have paid for exposure and image. It’s important that the quality of the promotional conference bags and other items that you choose reflect the value of your sponsors’ contributions to your event. A sponsor who contributes £20,000 to your event coffers might be understandably miffed to find his or her name plastered on a shoddy plastic bag that reflects badly on his or her firm.

Your best option is always to choose the highest quality promotional conference bags that you can afford. If your budget is limited, look for the lowest range from a high quality manufacturer rather than the highest range in a lower quality product. You can save by choosing well-made bags in a less expensive material, or with fewer pockets rather than buying poorly made promotional conference bags that offer lots and lots of little gimmicks.

What You Should Expect to Pay

Expect to pay anywhere from £2-£20 per bag depending on the choices that you make. At the low end, you’ll find quality City style bags made of polyester. The best choices travel well, are made with reinforced seams and have both a carry handle and a detachable shoulder strap. Most have at least one or two interior pockets, and many feature a zippered front pocket for easy access to important items.

At the higher range, you’ll find conference bags by such well-known names as Slazenger and Mercury made of 600D polyester with a wealth of options. Stylish and modern, they include zippered pouches, Velcro pockets and loops for holding your iPod, mobile phone and other important business musts. Padded and adjustable shoulder straps are only one of the features that make the highest range of promotional conference bags an excellent choice for those who are looking to impress clients and attendees.

Price Considerations

In addition to the cost of the bag itself, there are other considerations that will add to the price of your promotional conference bags. Most suppliers include the cost of a single print area in one color in their quoted price. Generally, you can expect to pay an extra £.20 or so per piece for each additional color, in addition to an extra setup fee for your entire order. In some cases, your choice of bag may preclude additional colors in your printed logo. If you intend to print more than one logo or on more than one surface of the bag, you can also expect to pay more for your order. Finally, if you’ve left things till the last minute, you can expect to pay a premium for an express or rush order.

To get the best price for your promotional conference bags on a budget:

Select a low-priced range of conference bags.
Confine your printing to the standard print area.
Limit your printing to one color.
Order the largest quantity you can afford to get the price discount.
Give plenty of lead time to avoid express or rush order fees.

If you require additional information on conference bags or business promotional items, promotional gifts and promotional products then check out the leading expert suppliers online where you can make massive savings.

Tina Rinaudo is one of the leading lights in the UK promotional conference bags industry. Tina is a key member of YesGifts, the UK's fastest growing online promotional items resource specialising in promotional pens, mugs, mouse mats, umbrellas, conference items and much more. For more information please visit http://www.yesgifts.co.uk

How To Meet Women In Nightclubs

2007-03-03T00:03:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-03T00:02:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:59:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:50:00.001-08:00

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?

2007-03-02T23:35:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:29:00.004-08:00

"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

2007-03-02T23:29:00.002-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:29:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:28:00.001-08:00

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?

2007-03-02T23:27:00.003-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:27:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:26:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:25:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:23:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:19:00.001-08:00

"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

2007-03-02T23:18:00.001-08:00

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!

2007-03-02T23:15:00.003-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:15:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:13:00.001-08:00

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

2007-03-02T23:12:00.001-08:00

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.

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Women: Give Yourself Gifts of Electronics - Jewelry and More

2007-03-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

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.