The keyword for finding cheap but fun shopping totes
If you’re searching for a shopping tote that’s more colorful than these basic grocery totes, but still inexpensive, then I have a keyword for you:
Advice »
In this section:Learning layering from the masters
Layer upon layer is the code by which Tokyo women live!
We are just coming out of the cold, sometimes snowy winter, so outerwear is on show outdoors most of the time. But when coats come off indoors — and on warmer early spring days — layers are the key.
How to save money on ‘real’ jewelry
Costume jewelry has been chic since Coco Chanel made it so, but sometimes there’s no substitute for real gemstone jewelry. If you’d like to pick some up for much less than usual, here’s how.
Hint: It’s all about timing — and March is my favorite time to hit the jewelry counters.
The skinny on stripes: horizontal help
So far, I’ve explained the basics of using stripes and lines to flatter your figure and shown you ways to use vertical lines to look taller and slimmer.
Now I’ll show you how to use horizontal lines to make your figure look fabulous.
How to look chic, despite summer heat
Since I’ve been a Floridian all my life, I know a thing or two about dressing for even triple-digit temperatures.
Fortunately, those temps are still a ways off even here — but with spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about warm-weather purchases that will keep on working as the temperatures rise.
The Fabulous! Festival for February
It’s shaping up to be a fabulous February. If you don’t believe me, just check out the featured posts at this month’s edition of The Fabulous! Festival, hosted at All About Appearances.
From fashion faux pas to female centric art, there’s plenty of interesting reads.
Bloggers: The Fabulous! Festival is a great way to introduce your writing to new readers. If you’d like to participate in and/or host an upcoming edition of The Fabulous! Festival, here’s what you need to know.
Cheap Valentine’s Day gift ideas for him: quality time together
At the beginning of this gift guide series, I said that there were three basic things that would make great Valentine’s Day gifts for your sweetie. I’ve already covered the first two, food and fun, by giving you some gift ideas under $20. However, I’ve saved the best idea for last.
The last gift idea isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s quite priceless — and something that only you can give.
You guessed it, the best gift that you can give is yourself!
Now, you could always just wrap yourself up in a bow or some sexy lingerie, but remember that there is more to you than that. So, step away from the computer for a few hours and show him how much you care by giving him your undivided attention.
Sounds simple, right? For some people, it is. But if you’re out of practice, here’s a few tips:
- Tell him ahead of time to reserve some time. Surprises can be fun, but you don’t want him to feel anxious.
- Go with the flow, but plan possible activities that the two of you will enjoy doing together like going to a park.
- Get out of the house if there are too many distractions, even if you just go for a walk.
- Explore his hobbies. He’ll likely love the opportunity to show off a bit.
- Relax, be positive, get silly. There will be plenty of time to solve problems later.
- Be comfortable with silence. It doesn’t reflect poorly on your or your relationship if you have nothing to say.
- Enjoy yourself! While this is intended as a gift for him, you should both enjoy spending time together.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to spend quality time with your sweetie. Start practicing now and make it a habit!
Love yourself this Valentine’s Day
A loving relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever have. After all, if you don’t honor and understand your own soul, how can you expect a significant other to cherish and adore you?
So romance the most important person this Valentine’s Day and beyond, with beauty, pampering and love. It all starts with a great night in, or a solitary weekend retreat.
Be a bathing beauty
Begin with a candle-lit soak in the tub with some sublimely-scented bath product, such as Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Honey Bath, to leave you silky and smelling good enough to eat. Turn up some soulful tunes and savor the warm water while you anticipate the pampering to come.
Indulge your body
Once you’re done, slather your locks with some eggy-yellow Aesop rose hair moisturizing masque which tames even my frizz and smells divine. Pull your hair back into a bun and smooth some creme brulee body souffle over your arms and legs before bundling yourself up into something cozy yet chic, like a cashmere mesh sweater over silk pajama pants. Don’t forget to anoint your feet and wrap them up in some cashmere knee-high socks for all-over warmth.
Set up your surroundings
There’s nothing like a vase of roses to fill your home with dreamy scent, but around Valentine’s Day these don’t represent the best use of your cash. Be smart and light some scented candles instead to create a perfumed pleasure zone and a gorgeous glow.
Try some sweet treats
Orgasmically-good organic dark chocolate makes for indulgent nibbles, and the flavor is so intense you’ll find a little goes a long way. I’m currently torn between Dagoba’s raspberry and rosehips and the utterly divine lavender and blueberry with cocoa nibs, both packed with so many powerful polyphenols they’re practically health food. You’ll probably be sated for the rest of the night so just keep some sparkling water on hand to accompany, although some new season strawberries wouldn’t go astray either. Either way, it’s a light meal which will leave you feeling fabulous.
Sip some tea
A pot of jasmine pearl tea is pretty, or else experiment with some flavoured and fruity herbals or white tea blends in a favorite mug.
Let the festivities begin
Decide between watching a DVD or immersing yourself into a great book, but whichever you choose, commit your full focus to one so as to extract the purest pleasure.
I’d happily curl up with Sex and the City, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Before Sunrise or Before Sunset anytime, but sometimes only female-friendly reads are the best tools to nourish your mind and spirit.
* Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach – because sometimes we need gentle reminders of how to nurture happiness
* The Life Organizer by Jennifer Louden – prioritize your time and create the life you’ve always wanted
* A Room of One’s Own – this classic by Virginia Woolf reminds us to use our brilliant, female minds
* Live your best life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews and Inspiration from O – uplifting reads for when only Oprah will do
* Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead But Gutsy Girls Do by Kate White – for a gentle, yet empowering boost
* Living Out Loud: Activities to Fuel a Creative Life by Keri Smith – infectious and crafty fun
* Hip Tranquil Chick by Kimberly Wilson - a yummy manifesto for self-care and self-knowledge
Or devour some great fiction: Possession by A.S. Byatt – a smart, literary romance. Atonement by Ian McEwan – for a good cry in private. Or anything by Colette for a reminder of the importance of pleasure and independence, such as The Vagabond or the sassy Claudine series.
From all of us here at The Bargain Queens, have a passion-filled Valentine’s Day!
The skinny on stripes and other lines: slimming verticals
In a recent advice post, I explained the basics when it comes to using stripes and other lines to look thinner, taller, and generally balance out your figure. Now, I’m going to give you more examples that you can use.
Here I focus on verticals, a great place to start since they’re the easiest to use.
Ways to create and extend those thinning vertical lines
We love vertical lines because they are the easiest to work with and are generally more flattering than horizontals. However, you don’t have to go around looking like a caged canary.
While stripes are certainly a form of line and are sometimes a perfectly good choice, there are many ways to create vertical lines. And in fact, there is something to be said about more subtle choices that create an illusion without revealing the trick behind it.
To lengthen your entire body
- Dress monochromatically. The reason this oft-said advice works is because it makes your outfit one large vertical line.
- For the same reason, dresses can be lengthening if they’re all one color or pattern — even if they’re white.
- Long coats create a long vertical line where they button.
To lengthen your legs
- Wear shoes that match your pants, or your skin tone if you’re wearing a skirt. It will make your legs look longer.
- Or, wear black shoes with black stockings — especially if paired with a black skirt.
- Gym pants often have a vertical stripe down the side. It’s definitely a lengthening vertical.
- Wear your pants to just the slightest bit above the ground to make your legs look longer.
- Side slits in skirts lengthen the look of your your legs.
- If they lay straight, pleats can be lengthening.
- Subtle pinstripes can be lengthening on skirts and pants.
- While they can easily look dowdy, long skirts and dresses can be lengthening, especially if they’re long enough to hide the fact that you’re wearing heels.
To lengthen your torso
- Button up shirts can be flattering because a line is created down the center.
- Long necklaces and thin scarves create vertical lines.
- Jackets and cardigans create vertical lines.
- Pinstripes are also flattering on blouses.
- Choosing cable knit sweaters is a great way to balance out the extra volume of a sweater.
- Even just adding vents on a jacket can help lengthen and break up the horizontals of an otherwise boxy jacket.
To lengthen your neck
- V-necklines extend the line of your neck, making it look longer and thinner.
Check back soon
Now that you’ve mastered vertical lines, don’t forget to check back soon for my next post in this series which will be on those pesky horizontals.
Cheap Valentine’s Day gift ideas for him: bring out his inner child
Girls aren’t the only ones who just want to have fun. Guys love toys, whether they’re simple classics or high tech gadgets.
Of course, those high tech gadgets can easily cost big bucks. And unless you’re a fellow geek, all those numbers and acronyms can be a bit intimidating. That’s why I suggest appealing to his inner child directly. And don’t be surprised if he marvels at how well you understand him!
Look at these fun toys you can get him for less than $20… they all ship internationally, too!
Combine food and fun with a Marshmallow assault rifle (click on Geek Toys). The list price is $39.99, but they’re now available for $14.99! At that price, you may want to get several.
If watching TV with my husband and our friends has taught me anything, it’s that guys love explosions. Of course, if the idea of giving your guy TNT makes you a tad nervous, you’re definitely not alone. Fortunately, this Great geysers kit (click on Geek Toys) gives new meaning to the phrase “bottle rocket”. For just $14.99, it packs plenty of power without the need for anything that could burn your home down.
Likewise, this Zero Fog Blaster (click on Geek Toys) is a safer alternative for the guys that like playing with smoke rings. Instead of smelly smoke, though, it creates rotating rings of fog. It’s $19.99.
Looking for another way to encourage some harmless, clean fun? Check out this Airzooka Air Gun (also under Geek Toys). It’s just $12.99 and never needs reloading.
If you’re still unsure what to get, remember that guys like to shop, too. He’s sure to love a gift certificate to a fun site like ThinkGeek. In addition to the toys above, they carry lots of other toys, gadgets, and fun books.
Or, give him a gift certificate to Amazon.com. They’re sure to find something there, and you can send a gift certificate to his email inbox at any time if you need a last minute gift.
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