Blog For Free!
Archives
Home
2008 July
2008 June
2008 April
2008 March
2008 February
2008 January
2007 December
2007 November
2007 October
2007 September
2007 August
2007 July
2007 June
2007 May
2007 April
2007 March
2007 February
2007 January
2006 December
2006 November
2006 October
2006 September
2006 August
My Links
Squidoo Lens
MyLot
Associated Content
tBlog
My Profile
Send tMail
My tFriends
My Images
Sponsored
Blog
Disclosure Policy
| Online Backup |
| 05.31.07 (1:49 pm) [edit] |
*This is a sponsored post.I found a new site that offers online backup. I have seen this elsewhere, but that isn't stopping me from being impressed by it. The way it works is that your data is encrypted and backed up online. This is very useful if you have lots of data on your hard drive, but have a hard time with backing up your data. About a year and a half ago, my computer crashed. I mean CRASHED!!! There was no way it was going to work again, and I know how to go through safe mode and fix all that stuff, but this was one time it wasn't going to be fixed. So I decided that I had some fresh backups disks, and I was going to just zap it and start over fresh. Yeah right. My backup disks, even though I just did them, were corrupted. The data couldn't be read. I ended up getting a few folders off one disk, and everything else had to be done all over again. Since I've started blogging, this would be disastrous. I'd rather have my info stored elsewhere, so that I don't have to worry about whether the CD is going to work or not. This site can help with that. It's a great idea whose time has really come. |
| My Sweet Hubby |
| 05.31.07 (1:42 pm) [edit] |
|
This morning, completely out of the blue, my husband told me, "You know what I hate? Guys who wear a tie because they are supposed to, but they don't get the point. They always end up with these really short ties, and it looks stupid."
He was about to walk out the door, and I asked him to wait. I ran in the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and planted one heck of a kiss on him. ROFL!
I am thrilled that there is at least one man on the planet that understands ties. The fact that I'm married to that guy is even better. lol
|
| Atil Kutoglu- Patterned Skirt |
| 05.31.07 (1:38 pm) [edit] |
 This is another use of the pattern I really like from this collection, but this time in a skirt. I don't care for the pleating and the wrap skirt idea. I would have preferred a slightly longer, more flared skirt. As it is, this cut makes it look a little dowdy. |
| Atil Kutoglu- Patterned Leggings |
| 05.31.07 (1:38 pm) [edit] |
 Here's a FANTASTIC use of a pattern that I raved about elsewhere. The last time we saw it, it was on a blouse which had sleeves that were too flowy and didn't have enough shape. That is NOT a problem here. I love the look of these leggings, and I think it is a perfect look for this fabric. I especially like that the boots and coat cover most of it. If the coat had been higher or the boots shorter, it would have been a bit too much to take of this pattern. As it is, it leaves you wanting more, but glad that they aren't giving it to you. :) |
| Atil Kutoglu- Liquid Latex |
| 05.31.07 (1:36 pm) [edit] |
 Dresses should not look poured on!!!! They especially should not look poured on and shiny! It looks like someone got ahold of some liquid latex and played with it, to disastrous results. With the sleeves and skirt, there's so much potential here. They are not too tight, and it might have worked, except that they stomach and chest portion is sooooo clingy. |
| Inspirational Videos |
| 05.30.07 (4:25 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I found a site today that offers inspirational videos in the form of a DVD of the month club. Now this is a neat idea for a DVD club. I mean, say you join a Drama DVD of the month club, or a Sci-fi DVD of the month club. Most of those are films you've seen already, and in fact, you probably already own them if you are a fan of that genre. But that isn't necessarily true of inspirational videos. There is such a wide variety available, and who can't use more inspiration in their life?! This company offers a free trial, and there is a movie available starring Kirk Douglas, called "Illusion". If you are into finding inspiration from different sources, give them a try. |
| Atil Kutoglu- Cool Pattern Top |
| 05.30.07 (4:18 pm) [edit] |
 I've got to admit- I love this pattern. The ovals are very interesting, and it's the kind of print where you could do something really interesting. Unfortunately, this shirt isn't it. I don't care for the cut, especially of the sleeves. It's too flowy and there's not enough of a shape here to show off the model's curves, which would work well with the curves of the pattern. Great fabric, but it's a poor use of it. |
| Atil Kutoglu- Apron Top |
| 05.30.07 (4:17 pm) [edit] |
 The top of this reminds me of an apron. Sure, with the fabric, it's a very nice apron, but it still looks too harsh and utilitarian for anything really stylish. Either that, or it's part of a wedding outfit from one of the Star Trek series. Sorry, no. Not my favorite. |
| Ashley Isham- Twisted Dress |
| 05.30.07 (4:15 pm) [edit] |
 This dress is twisted, and I'm not just speaking metaphorically. lol The grey is an exquisite color for this style, and I'm glad that they decided to use such a simple fabric. I like all the twisting and turning of the fabric, and how it forms its own scarf. It's a cute dress, but the tights need to go. |
| Ashley Isham- Looped String |
| 05.30.07 (4:15 pm) [edit] |
 If you look very closely, you will notice that this is a looped string garment. It's done with a lot of string here, because there is very little of the underdress showing through. It's odd, and got a flapper sort of look to it. I like the high belt. It really works with this style. |
| Team Building |
| 05.29.07 (2:27 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I've worked at quite a few places over the years. Some were good experiences, and I loved being there. Even after I left, I wondered if I made the right choice in leaving, and wished I was back. Other places were backstabbing nightmares. I have had the good fortune of being married to a man who holds a decent position and provide for his family, and I've not needed to work the last few years. That has given me the luxury of working when I want to work, and as a result, I don't put up with places where the workers are constantly fighting and bickering over the most insignificant of details. Life's too short, you know? I think this comes from having a good team. Some of the places where I've worked have had a great team, and we all got along very well. One of these did not allow its employees to associate outside of work, but I cannot think of a single job where I've wanted to hang out with my co-workers more. Other places encouraged you to ONLY make friends with the people who worked there. They thought they had a great team where everyone loved each other. As soon as your back was turned, they were gossiping. I made it about 4 months in that job before I had my fill of it. (Well, if you want to be honest, I had my fill of it about a week into the experience, but I wanted to give it a fair try.) Forte is a company that offers Executive Coaching to help you build your team. They have profiles which are administered, and these profiles tell you how well a certain team member or even team is fitting in with the company. I think that working on building your team relationship is one of the most important things a company can do. If people are invested emotionally in helping your company succeed, they will do whatever they can to help it succeed. If they aren't, they are not out there promoting your brand (even if this only means that they are encouraging people NOT to work for you) like you want it to be promoted. Ignore your team, and it will cost you. |
| Ashley Isham- Ice Princess |
| 05.29.07 (2:11 pm) [edit] |
 I love this print, and I have never in my life wanted to be called an ice princess so much! lol It just looks like something fit for a very cold climate (except the whole sleeveless thing). The pleating at the top is gorgeous, but the side panels in solid white are a little disturbing in the whole scheme of things. It takes your eye away from the print and makes you focus on a solid panel. It actually adds bulk, right at her stomach. |
| Ashley Isham- Hips |
| 05.29.07 (2:09 pm) [edit] |
 This resembles a dress tried on by a woman with much bigger hips. It's like she was being fitted for it, and the tailor's chalk is still visible. And then suddenly, a much thinner woman came along and grabbed the outfit. Because that's what all ladies want is bigger hips. Right??? ;) |
| Ashley Isham- Grunge Prom |
| 05.29.07 (2:08 pm) [edit] |
 My senior year in high school was at the height of grunge. I avoided it as much as possible, but occasionally gave into it. But I did not go so far as to wear it to prom. Some people did, mostly guys. Their dates would have matched if they wore this. What a mess! |
| Ashley Isham- Green With Red |
| 05.29.07 (2:08 pm) [edit] |
 Here is another piece that incorporates the jewelry into the piece with an asymetrical style necklace. The pattern is fantastic, and it works well with the green satin underneath. There is a HUGE amount of puckering on the satin, and that's never good. Especially for having such a straight seam here, it's just careless. Better care should have been taken to do this right. A smoother look would have been much better with the style of the overall piece. |
| A Children's Book |
| 05.25.07 (9:57 am) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I just read a sweet story about how a man wrote a book for his two year old son as a present. He self-published it using Amazon.com's Booksurge. I think that's such a great present!!! The book is called Alphabet Fruit. Even though he made it for his son, it started to sell. LOL! I bet that was quite surprising! The premise of the book is that it goes through the alphabet using fruit. Now, I get the A for Apple and B for Banana, and I can even think of Xigua for X, but Y and Z have me stumped. The author is going to send me an email copy, and I can't wait to read it to my kids. |
| Aquascutum- Thick and Thin |
| 05.25.07 (9:50 am) [edit] |
 I'm never going to get behind a style like this. I could have handled having one shoulder only. I could have handled having them the same thickness. Sure, it made it a little more innovative than just your typical little black dress, but innovation must always be weighed with beauty, and this has NO beauty to it. |
| Aquascutum- Tassels |
| 05.25.07 (9:48 am) [edit] |
 Tassels are usually something that hang downwards. So I don't know how they got around the laws of gravity and made these hang to the side. But I do know that I like it. The gentle curve across the front is interesting, and I think it's a great style. I am not fond of the tassels on the shoulders however. That's a little too much and it detracts from the coolness of the tassels in front. |
| Aquascutum- Sheer Top |
| 05.25.07 (9:47 am) [edit] |
 Oh dear. I hate when they have outfits this sheer. I mean, they made the shoulders opaque, but somehow decided the naughty bits should be visible. Furthermore, the boxiness of this skirt is awful! Really, this whole outfit just doesn't serve any purpose at all. |
| I'm back |
| 05.25.07 (9:46 am) [edit] |
|
Sorry I've been away guys. A lot of you know that I'm moving back in with my husband after 4 long years of being apart due to work. Well, we're here and living together now, and trying to get the hang of having four people living in the same house. lol Things will still be a little sporadic while I'm trying to get everything done. Also, with the kids home this summer, things will slow down a bit. I still plan on writing as often as possible, and I wanted to say thanks for all your support!
|
| Stickers |
| 05.18.07 (11:20 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I found a sticker place today that has over 1000 different categories of stickers, so pretty much anything you are into is covered. Here's my favorite.  Funny, huh? They've got a really wide variety of stickers, not just according to the message, but the type. There are ones you could stick on a notebook, there are bumper stickers- whatever you want, they've got it. I truly could sit for hours just looking at the different ones. I especially love the retro page with the old-style pictures and the really messed up sayings on them. |
| Antonio Berardi- Ill Fitting |
| 05.18.07 (11:09 pm) [edit] |
 I don't care for the fit on this outfit. Those appear to be tailored pants, and the fabric doesn't look like a stretchy one. But they are skintight and if there's any tailoring, they should have made them looser in the hips. It's too form-fitting, and looks odd as a result. |
| Antonio Berardi- Geometric Top |
| 05.18.07 (11:07 pm) [edit] |
 I don't care for this top, but I really appreciate the construction and idea of it. The stitching and details are fantastic, but it just ends up looking like some something you would wear for a sport, or on the Death Star. |
| Antonio Berardi- Geometric Dress |
| 05.18.07 (11:06 pm) [edit] |
 I don't care at all for the belt, but the dress is amazing. The square neckline works really well with the pattern in the fabric. Also, I'm very glad that they used such a muted color rather than something with more color. It could have been a loud and obnoxious dress, but instead, it's a very beautiful one. |
| Antonio Berardi- Furry Dress |
| 05.18.07 (11:05 pm) [edit] |
 This is possibly the most elegant version of the furry dress that I've ever seen. By keeping the pile short, it makes it looks a little more normal and wearable. The problem is, it's still a furry dress, and therefore, still odd. |
| Self-Publishing |
| 05.17.07 (12:37 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. Some of you know about my other job as a volunteer for an online media company. One of the things that I've helped them do is publish two books (and even some DVDs). As a researcher, I look for companies that can meet their specific needs that they are looking for when they publish, but it's always with the understanding that they are self-publishing. There are three other friends that I am trying to convince to publish. One posted some of the beginning of his novel, but I recommended that he take them down. He may have thought I was lying, but I was dead serious when I told him that it was the kind of book I would own. In fact, I can think of several books right now that are similar in style. His girlfriend is also an outstanding writer, and again, I don't know if she took me seriously when I told her that she should publish a series of stories. They are very funny, and she'd have a big audience. I told a store clerk about her site and stories, and the clerk laughed. Someone who had never even read the site was sold on the idea. The third writes beautifully, and has tried to go the traditional route. I think she may have some success if she keeps at it, but it's so hard to break into. So, in case you guys ever read this entry- get to writing!!! lol Anyway, I found another site to add to my list of self-publishing companies. This one helps with every step along the way when you are trying to be your own publisher. Which is good, because I can search for the publishers, but actually getting from the words on the page to a book in my hand is not my area of expertise. |
| Antoni & Alison- Wine Stains |
| 05.17.07 (12:28 pm) [edit] |
 I suppose it's only appropriate that a fashion show that is held in a bar, where the model carries a glass of wine, has stains all over her dress. When separated from the bar setting, it's a cute, playful dress. The sleeve length is nice, and the neckline is especially flattering. |
| Antoni & Alison- Swirly Print |
| 05.17.07 (12:27 pm) [edit] |
 This is one crazy print. It reminds me of those swirl art paintings that we all made as kids. You know, the kind where you put drops of paint on a card and it's put into a machine that spins it really fast so the paint flies around the card. I think it's an interesting pattern, and even though I wouldn't wear it personally, it's a cute dress for a really bold girl. |
| Antoni & Alison- Sweet Dress |
| 05.17.07 (12:26 pm) [edit] |
 This is a very sweet dress. Perhaps too sweet. The collar is a little too cutesy for what could be a nice dress. This dress doesn't show off a lot of skin, but it manages to still look nice. |
| Antoni & Alison- Spotted |
| 05.17.07 (12:25 pm) [edit] |
 I really want to like this. The print is fantastic, and the one long sleeve with one missing sleeve can be a powerful look. Also, the seam along the waist gives it a little more interest. But there is one main change I would make. This shows off TOO much shoulder. I would bring it up on the sleeved side so that it covers more. It makes the missing shoulder really stand out, and you aren't wondering when the wardrobe malfunction will happen. |
| Maternity Clothing |
| 05.16.07 (4:32 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I had the world's most miserable pregnancies. REALLY. I had hyperemesis gravidarum (sp?), which means that the morning sickness was abnormally heavy, and it lasted the whole pregnancy. For my second one, I was on medication that they give to chemotherapy patients to help them keep some food down. With my first one, it caused my blood pressure to be so high that they induced because they were afraid of what would happen if they didn't. The second time, I told them that they could do better than that, and they were going to give me some magic pill that would make it stop. I was just kidding, but she really did. (It mostly made me question why there wasn't a magic pill the first time!) With my first one, I got the enormous pregnant belly, and my son was claustrophobic. He always shoved his feet between my ribs, and he was shifting around so much that they could have filmed a very frightening alien movie. lol My daughter was sedate. Barely any moving at all. Now it's reversed. He's calm and she's all over the place. lol But with my daughter, I barely needed the maternity clothes. Despite being a very big baby, she hid in such a way so that I didn't need maternity clothes. Anyway, thank you to my sponsor, Belly Dance Maternity, for letting this mom reminisce about a time I both hated and loved. Even if it is a few days late. ;) :D Their maternity clothing is *almost* cute enough to make me want a third. Instead, I think I'll just spoil the next friend of mine that gets pregnant! :D |
| Antoni & Alison- Smokin' Hot |
| 05.16.07 (4:22 pm) [edit] |
 I get that it's set in a bar and the designer really wants to sell this idea. But the smoking thing is not only a bad idea in this anti-smoking age, it's also pretty trashy looking. Seriously, what kind of a girl is hanging around a bar with one shoulder hanging out, walking up to you to ask for a light? |
| Antoni & Alison- Pricetag in Hair |
| 05.16.07 (4:21 pm) [edit] |
 Shiny tablecloth dress- $150 Smokes for the runway- $4.50 Forgetting to remove the pricetag from your wiglet- Priceless. |
| Antoni & Alison- Pink Elephants on Parade |
| 05.16.07 (4:20 pm) [edit] |
 Oh boy. It was pretty awful just looking at the print. But to make it into a pantsuit makes this only appropriate as pajamas. At a sleepover. When you're 12. |
| Antoni & Alison- Luggage |
| 05.16.07 (4:19 pm) [edit] |
 Never- and I mean NEVER- match your dress to your luggage!! Yes, there is such a thing as matching too well. |
| Property Abroad |
| 05.16.07 (4:15 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I found a really interesting site today that I know my husband will love. Several years ago, we considered a move to the UK. We went so far as to research tax laws in preparation of our move. We discovered that we would still owe taxes here in the US, and also in the UK, although the UK gave a certain allowance towards this. I promise you, I'm doing a lousy job explaining it, but the gist is that could be hit with double taxes. Yikes! Well, this site today seems to be saying that there are ways around it, although I'll have to have my hubby really dig in to understand it. (I'm truly incapable of getting this kind of stuff, I swear!) I find that interesting. Furthermore, just this weekend, we were talking about whether to incorporate my writing as a business. The problem is that self-employed people pay taxes one way or another, and the taxes are HIGH! I could be losing half my income to taxes. I was trying to figure out if there were legitimate ways to reduce my taxes, and I asked if setting myself up as a foreign corporation would work. My husband immediately told me that I could NOT setup a foreign bank account, unless I wanted to have a little chat with the FBI. Now, I most certainly do not. lol He is in the banking industry, and he told me that you used to be able to, but there's really not a legitimate way now. But this site sounds as if there might be legitimate ways. I don't know. Like I said, I don't understand financial talk beyond "You have XXXX dollars in your bank account." lol So I'm going to have hubby take a peek at it. It may give him some ideas, or at least might make it easier for if we ever do find some Property Abroad in the future. I want to stay legal, but geez- 50% tax rate??? I'm not Bill Gates here! lol |
| Antoni & Alison- Hearts |
| 05.16.07 (4:01 pm) [edit] |
 OH. MY. GOD. I just flashed back to the 80's. Let me set the scene for you. My mom went to the store and being a sullen 12 year old, I stayed at home. I was old enough to know that Walmart sucked, and also old enough to know that my mom wouldn't pay anything more than that. I should have at least gone with her to limit the damage, but I didn't. And I paid for it. My mom got home and showed me the "cute" sweater she bought me. "See, it's so cute. This is cool, right?" Oy. I suppose it's better than the houndstooth vest she bought me that looked like I should be dealing blackjack. Now that I've endured that horrible trip down memory lane, I must go look at some Elie Saab. Anything to get rid of the nightmares. |
| Antoni & Alison- Hairdresser's Cape |
| 05.16.07 (4:00 pm) [edit] |
 This looks like one of those capes that you see in movies, where all the women are sitting in some beauty parlor in the south, circa 1959. And the cape matches the chair that the woman is sitting on as she gossips with the stylist. As a costume for that type of setting, it's a masterpiece. As an actual outfit, it doesn't work nearly as well. |
| Antoni & Alison- Garbage |
| 05.16.07 (3:59 pm) [edit] |
 You've got to be kidding me. There's a lot of designers that go for the trashy chic, but I don't think any of them have been so blatant as to put actual garbage in their model's hair. These are the Doublemint twins from hell. |
| Antoni & Alison- Forgot Skirt |
| 05.16.07 (3:58 pm) [edit] |
 Maybe the model went partying with Britney Spears? Nah. She's wearing underwear. lol I cannot imagine how embarrassing this must be. Nor can I imagine what was going through the designer's mind. I mean, part of the staging is to set the mood for the collection you are about to see. So when you have it in a bar, you should have clothing like you might see someone wearing to a night out. And I don't know about you, but I have never once forgotten to wear pants or a skirt to the bar. Maybe she's bar hopping and she left her skirt back at the third one she visited. Whatever the case, it's a strange look given the theme the designer is trying to push. |
| Utango |
| 05.15.07 (5:13 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I stumbled onto a site today that can help you save a cool million for retirement. Now, as anyone knows, it's easier to save money for retirement the younger you are, because you have some time to let your investments grow. Also, each individual hit won't hurt as much, because retirement is years off. So this site is recruiting young people who are single, engaged, or who have been married less than 3 years. After you sign up, you shop like you normally would at your favorite stores. A cut from each of these shopping trips is invested into a retirement account. I've seen programs like this before, but they were geared towards parents saving for their kids college fund. It's free to sign up, and once you are signed up for the utango rewards program, you can save for your own retirement fund. You can earn up to $200 per year in cash back bonuses, and up to $1 million in lifetime cash payouts. Here's a link to their FAQ page, so that you can find out more about it. |
| Antoni & Alison- Cool Sweater |
| 05.15.07 (5:05 pm) [edit] |
This is a great sweater, but the pants are an absolute disaster. I love the one odd colored sleeve, and the swirl print is too cool. The necklace is even pretty fun. Just not with those pants.
|
| Antoni & Alison- Brown Caveman |
| 05.15.07 (5:04 pm) [edit] |
 This one looks very cavegirlish to me. The one shoulder strap is cute, but it's just a little too short. |
| Anne Klein- Stiff Skirt |
| 05.15.07 (5:03 pm) [edit] |
 Skirts are supposed to be delicate and feminine. They are NOT supposed to look like they were over-starched at the laundromat. If this skirt were a bit softer, the whole outfit would have been a success. But it isn't that way. |
| Anne Klein- Satiny Suit |
| 05.15.07 (5:02 pm) [edit] |
 Ohhhh, I love this. I could argue that the satin is just a little too shiny and it's just too feminine to be taken seriously. But I won't. The truth it, I just love it. It may not be the most business like suit in existence, but it is one of the lovliest. |
| Win a date with a celeb |
| 05.15.07 (11:18 am) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. No, this isn't another of my crazy contests. lol GoFish.com is running a contest where you can win a date with Mirelly Taylor from "Kiss Me Again", "Serving Sara", "Las Vegas" and "Numb3rs". This contest takes place over the next 14 weeks. The site itself allows you to watch Free videos at GoFish.com. In other words, you can see everyone sending in their videos to seduce a celeb. That's gotta be funny! I can't imagine doing something like this if I had any level of fame (which I don't, thank goodness!). I mean, sometimes it really derails! Look at Beyonce winning a date with Peta protestors. lol That was kind of a disaster all around. I just think it's begging for some sort of psycho to meet up with you. I suppose I have the attitude of Groucho Marx. I don't want to meet anyone who wants to meet me. HeeHee! But hey, who am I to judge. Submit your video, treat her to a nice dinner, and maybe she'll fall for you. There's always a possibility I suppose. I'd rather see someone very unexpected win. Maybe a grandmother from Oshkosh who thinks she looks like her granddaughter. That would be very sweet. |
| Anne Klein- Ruffled Pockets |
| 05.15.07 (11:05 am) [edit] |
 There isn't much of interest about this coat, except for the pockets. The ruffled look of them is quite retro, and very refreshing. This season has been looking to the 60's for a lot of inspiration, but this is definitely before that. I like the freshness of it, and I hope that it cycles around again soon. |
| Anne Klein- Red Coat/Black Dress |
| 05.15.07 (11:04 am) [edit] |
 This look is a little too harsh for my tastes, and it strikes me more as a high dollar dominatrix than a nicely dressed woman. |
| Anne Klein- Red Coat/Black Dress |
| 05.15.07 (11:03 am) [edit] |
|
This look is a little too harsh for my tastes, and it strikes me more as a high dollar dominatrix than a nicely dressed woman. |
| Anne Klein- Oil Rubbed Bronze |
| 05.15.07 (11:02 am) [edit] |
 Wow! What a tough, but beautiful look. This color, which I call oil rubbed bronze because it looks like hardware in the lighting section of a home improvement store, is a HOT color this year. The duster with the matching skirt is interesting, and the pattern of the shirt works well with the color. The only part I don't care for is the hat, which makes it look a little too tough. |
| The fashion of football |
| 05.14.07 (5:08 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. Here's an interesting article on the history of football uniforms, and how they've changed over the years. I never knew there were so many changes, just in the last 10-15 years! I could certainly see the changes from the old days and those wacky, but kinda cool looking helmets, but just in the last 5 years, there have been changes too. For example, the fabrics are better engineered, to be more comfortable when they are playing. Also, there are "Lineman's Cut" jerseys that hug the body and arms. Let's face it- uniforms of any kind, whether they are for delivery men or football stars, need to be both functional and get the company's name or brand across. A janitor might wear coveralls, so he doesn't get his clothing messy with harsh chemicals. A postman might wear shorts because the weather is warm. Someone playing football needs to have flexibility and stretchiness in the fabric, so it moves with him. It's pretty cool sometimes to step back from fashion and realize that different trends affect other clothing too. It's not all about what the latest style in Paris is. I often talk about a suit that people could wear to work, well, this is their work. If your office is not an office, you will need an entirely different set of clothing to match your corporate culture. Fascinating article! |
| Anne Klein- Nice Suit |
| 05.14.07 (4:59 pm) [edit] |
 This is a beautiful suit, although I like the top half better than the bottom. The top half is extremely classy, almost to the point of being overly classy. But the bottom is a little too daring when paired with the top. The leather look is not good in this case. |
| Anne Klein- Mop Hat |
| 05.14.07 (4:58 pm) [edit] |
 I can't even concentrate on the outfit (which looks like cult wear). Not with that hat. It looks like a mop head has been perched atop her head. I know why designers do this. It makes the outfit memorable. It also makes them look stupid. |
| Anne Klein- Interesting Sweater |
| 05.14.07 (4:57 pm) [edit] |
 I don't care for this sweater, but I like the idea of it. The shirring into a v-shape is interesting, even if it ultimately fails. I think it's a little too bulky around the shoulders. Why wouldn't it be? Even the thinest sweater fabric will be heavier than most other fabrics. And this one is gathered, which adds enormous volume. It's an interesting idea and a very nice color, but it's not something I would choose to wear. |
| Anne Klein- Great Sweater |
| 05.14.07 (4:56 pm) [edit] |
 What a fantastic sweater. I love the different textures combined into one piece. I love the color. I love the built in handwarmer that doesn't make it bulky in front. This is a perfect style, and my next stop is to find out how much this costs and where I can get one. :D |
| Learning to Drive |
| 05.14.07 (3:57 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. Back when I was in late middle school/early high school years, I was homeschooled. I enjoyed it very much, just as I enjoyed public school, and I'm glad for the experience. One of the things I had mixed feelings about was having my mom and dad teach me to drive. This was legal in my state, and they were a lot tougher on me than any driving ed instructor would be. lol I suppose that's a good thing. I have only one ticket in my entire driving history, and no accidents when I was driving. Some other teens aren't so lucky. There is a Rules of the Road Driver's Education DVD available, which has interactive features such as quizzes and lessons, and also 3d, Multi-angle explanations. I know for a fact that my parents would have had this if it had been out when they were teaching me. And should the worst happen, there's also a Docudent Auto Accident Kit available. Heh. Cute title for a lousy situation. It's got a camera to take pics, whistle, 6 ft. tape measure, flashlight WITH the battery, pen, and accident report form. It's one of those things that you hope you never need, but if you do, it's handy to have stashed away in your glove compartment. ESPECIALLY for teens, so they can follow all the steps properly for documenting an accident. |
| Anne Klein- Dressy, Casual Top |
| 05.14.07 (3:48 pm) [edit] |
 I ADORE this top. It's not something that is overly fussy, and you can see someone wearing it with their best ratty jeans to grab a quick coffee. But it's dressy at the same time. It strikes a perfect balance between dressy and casual, and even the color says "Take me seriously, but not too seriously." lol |
| Anne Klein- Casual Goddess Dress |
| 05.14.07 (3:47 pm) [edit] |
 I do believe this is a first. I have never seen a goddess style dress that is extremely casual. I like it. I'm not too fond of the hat or tights, especially since they match, but the dress is cute and innovative. |
| Anne Klein- Big Sleeves |
| 05.14.07 (3:46 pm) [edit] |
 Most of my loyal readers know that I won a Project Runway contest and got to meet Chloe Dao, and have an outfit designed by her. I remember the criticism of her final collection. But of them all, it had the most innovation. Well, as much as I hate to say, "I told you so," here it is. :D Aren't these sleeves so similar to those in her collection? Would I wear something like this? Probably not. Do I appreciate the innovative look? Definitely. |
| Anne Klein- Beautiful Pink Jacket |
| 05.14.07 (3:45 pm) [edit] |
 Look at how smooth this fabric is. I would love this jacket for no other reason than to just be able to feel that amazing fabric. Furthermore, the styling is top-notch. I love everything about it. Also, the black and white combo beneath the jacket is stunning, and it would be just as gorgeous without the jacket. We'll pretend she doesn't have a hat on, though. ;) |
| Love for PPP |
| 05.10.07 (3:08 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. How do I love PayPerPost? Let me count the ways? lol This is the company that hosts most of the sponsored offers you see here. They do things such as consumer generated advertising. I love them because they are the main reason why I am moving back in with my husband after 4 long years. It's finally some kind of income, but one that I can do while still spending time at home with my daughter. I started back about a year ago. I think it was the day they launched, or maybe one day later. I was on a different blog then, and I really dived in like crazy. I had to take a few days off because my mom had this accident that almost killed her, and I missed several prime days of paid opportunities. Well, they decided to disallow that particular blog network because of the way they operated. It would be like saying "no more tblog blogs allowed". Needless to say, I was not happy. But the really bad part was that I didn't have any other blogs and it takes 3 months of posts to get into the system. So I was going to be out for at least three months. I started this blog, and I was upset with them, so I still didn't go back, even after I was eligible. But I was curious. So I started peeking back in and I noticed several changes I did like. First, the company I had been using was getting seriously spammy. I hated those offers, but I also knew how much we needed the money. PPP isn't like that. It puts them up and you can take it or not. And because you can only take a maximum of three per day (which I never do), you have to decide which ones you really want and which are worth it. Also, the offers used to start at $2.50, but now they were a minimum of $5. And even better, there were occasionally ones that went for much more. It was pretty common to see $20 ones. So, I switched completely. And then the segmentation rolled out. Now, the offers I get are based on my page rank, alexa score, and technorati score. So I've got a real reason for wanting to make my blog as good as possible. On that note, you want to guess what happened to the other blog? It's still sitting out there. The whole site is a spam wasteland. I guess PPP was right. I haven't made new friends through it, because I knew a few PPPers already. But I love looking at their entries and reading their personal stories when they write their posts. It's funny how we can all get the same offer, but we all have a different take on it. |
| Andrew Gn- Great Outfit |
| 05.10.07 (2:54 pm) [edit] |
 I love the tiered gold dress, I love the huge "look at me" collar on the coat, and I love how the dress is unapologetically short. It's sexy and vicious, and it demands your attention. |
| Andrew Gn- Gold and Black |
| 05.10.07 (2:53 pm) [edit] |
 I don't care for this one. First off, gold and black have never been my favorite combination. I think that silver has a much crisper look when paired with black, and gold should be reserved for warmer colors. But mostly I just hate the shine off the fabric. It's tacky and it looks cheap. One of the worst things you can do is try to make a dressy dress out of cheap fabric. And I don't necessarily mean cheap as in inexpensive. I remember from my fabric store days that this fabric isn't that inexpensive. But it also doesn't look like it's suitable for anything but costumes. |
| Andrew Gn- Fringed |
| 05.10.07 (2:52 pm) [edit] |
 I'll admit, I don't know whether these are feathers or fringe. But I'm not sure it matters. The effect is the same either way. If it is feathers, they were meant to be used as fringe, so it's really all the same, isn't it? I don't care for the top matching as much as it does. I'd prefer some plain black under there to really bring out how unusual the coat is. |
| Lost Spoilers |
| 05.09.07 (10:36 pm) [edit] |
|
Other than the sponsored posts, I try to keep my focus on fashion. But this exception is worth it. I've got a spoiler on my other site about Lost. If you like spoilers and you like Lost, you have GOT to read it after tonight's episode. You MUST! It's just that good. :D |
| Teen Trouble |
| 05.08.07 (8:42 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. One of the hardest jobs I ever had was working at a teen group home. No seriously. It was a few years ago, and it was a difficult job. I mean, parents face a hard enough time with one or two teenagers in the house, right? I had 8. Sometimes more. And all had problems beyond your average teenager, which is a pretty bold statement, I realize. There was a child with bipolar disorder. Another talked a friend out of running away, only to do so themself. Others were cutters or homeless before they got there. All needed someone to care about them. I was sort of a sub in the homes, and so I didn't get to be there for any long term progress. But having the kids reach out to me in small ways was enough. It's funny, but one of my favorite times was homework time. These were kids that were mostly considered "stupid" by every adult in their life. They certainly were not. Some of them took a little longer to learn, but that's why we were there. To help them. It was amazing to see them finally get a problem that stumped them. I'm not lying when I say that it was a hard job. I think perhaps it was too hard for me. I didn't stay there long. But the things I learned while I was there will stay with me forever. We learned some behavior techniques for our own kids, and some methods to help for when they are teens. You want to know the biggest secret?? Be involved. Pay attention. Love them enough to be a parent. |
| Andrew Gn- Feathered Capelet |
| 05.08.07 (8:27 pm) [edit] |
 Yet again, we have a nice feathered top. I can't believe it. Two from the same designer! The color is exquisite, and it looks especially nice with the skirt. Job well done on this one. |
| Andrew Gn- Feather Jacket |
| 05.08.07 (8:25 pm) [edit] |
 For covering a jacket with feathers, this isn't half bad. Many times, designers use feathers on a jacket but put so many that it weighs it down and makes it look heavy and uncomfortable. That defeats the purpose. Even in nature, the creatures with feathers are light and fly on the wind. This outfit makes it look like that is actually possible. |
| Andrew Gn- Beautiful Skirt |
| 05.08.07 (8:24 pm) [edit] |
 There's nothing especially unique about this skirt's design. I show it merely because it's beautiful. I cannot remember the name of that fabric offhand, but it was always one of my favorites because of the way it plays with light. |
| Andrew Gn- Architectural Overcoat |
| 05.08.07 (8:24 pm) [edit] |
 This pattern has strong architectural elements to it. My long-time readers have heard me say that before, but here's a chance to explain what I mean. Sometimes, if you look closely, you can see certain elements shared between fashion and buildings. They both start with a basic foundation, upon which everything else is built. Lines, style, and the use of negative space play heavily into both. Take this for example. It's a coat with a zipper front, fur collarand 3/4 length sleeves. But that has nothing to do with the style. Near the bottom is a white pattern that has been meticulously stitched into the coat. The white comes back near the collar, and creates a sense of balance. But it's through the use of that white on bottom that the plain black top becomes the most interesting part of the outfit. Look at a triumph of architecture. Pick a building out of the New York skyline. Neither the bricks, nor steel, nor glass are interesting by themselves. But combine them and it becomes more than the sum of its parts. It's lines may be curved, but there is order and substance there. Same with this coat. |
| New Moneymaking Site |
| 05.08.07 (5:06 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I found a new moneymaking site. It's called Bloggerwave, and it sounds like it's very easy to use. We'll see how easily this post goes, and whether the service can take off. Like the others, you get your blog approved, and the offers you receive vary according to your page stats. All the offers are at least $1, but they can be for much more than that. After you get the blog approved, you get offers, and write about them. Leave it up for 30 days, and they payout. Cool, no?! |
| Amanda Wakeley- Sweater Dress |
| 05.08.07 (5:01 pm) [edit] |
 This is an unusual style of a sweater dress. Sometimes with sweaters, it's difficult to say whether they are truly a dress or just a long sweater. I have no real rule to help you determine the difference, but this covers her butt, so I say it counts. The deep v-neck with the black shirt underneath is a nice look. I also love the thick belt over the top. |
| Amanda Wakeley- Overdress |
| 05.08.07 (5:00 pm) [edit] |
 Here we have another crotch-eating dress. *shaking head* When are these designers going to learn that some fabrics don't rub up against each other very well? Okay, let's pretend that the dress is down where it should be. The black top over the black pants is a great look. But that's not what I love about it. I love that it has the overdress. The black, white, and grey really look fantastic, and the flowiness of it adds a lot to this outfit. |
| Amanda Wakeley- Multiple Belts |
| 05.08.07 (4:59 pm) [edit] |
 I didn't like the multiple belts in the 80's, and I don't like it now. It's just a silly look. Apart from that, there are a few things that could work about it. Lose the jacket and the outfit looks great, even with the belts. Keep the jacket, but make it a different color. It's two different colors of black, and it just looks careless to not match them. Keep the skirt and shirt, but lose the tights. It would elongate the look and make it sexier. It's not awful. It's just not good. |
| Amanda Wakeley- Large Collar |
| 05.08.07 (4:58 pm) [edit] |
 Again, we've got a really large collar. This one doesn't work as well as some of the others. One could argue that you need a large collar with such a large coat. But what they don't realize is that there's no reason for the coat to be that large and shapeless to begin with. |
| New Coupons for Mother's Day! |
| 05.07.07 (11:03 am) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. Okay, I found a really cool coupon to a really cool site. CouponChief.com has some of the best coupons for online stores. Here are some Diamond's International coupons. My favorite deal is for the free gift with purchase. They have a TON of coupons for this site, and they are all really spectacular deals. Now, I would use this for Mother's Day. It only makes sense. Get mom a nice piece of jewelry, get it at a good price, and get her an additional piece. In fact, if you play it right, you can give her one now and the other piece that you get for free as a birthday present or Christmas present. You'll have you're shopping done for the whole year that way. |
| Allegra Hicks- Peacock Dress |
| 05.07.07 (10:51 am) [edit] |
 I'm not too fond of the way this fabric in the skirt is behaving. It shifts strangely. I also notice that the black in the skirt is a half shade off from the black in the top. Nothing will make an outfit fail faster. Apart from those two things, it's beautiful. The belt couldn't match better, and the crisp look of the shirt really works well with a long skirt like this. |
| Allegra Hicks- Heavy Metal |
| 05.07.07 (10:50 am) [edit] |
 More of those funky arms... I don't think this is necessarily wearable, but it's quite beautiful. I just really can't picture anyone wearing this on the street. It's too intense a look. But for the runway, it's gorgeous. |
| Allegra Hicks- Green Velvet Peacock |
| 05.07.07 (10:49 am) [edit] |
 I called this one the peacock dress because it's actually green, even though it looks black. It plays with light and color in a way that most fabrics don't. Velvet does that a lot. The blue in the flower at the hem and on the sleeves is amazing, and it really works well with this. It takes two colors that are very associated with spring and makes them perfect for fall. |
| Allegra Hicks- Green Jacket |
| 05.07.07 (10:48 am) [edit] |
 One of the strangest looks, in my opinion, is when designers cut little holes in the sleeves, or make slits up the sleeves so that your arms are free of them from the elbows on. I can't figure out why they bothered to put the rest of the sleeves there, or how my elbows are supposed to stay warm. ;) Apart from that, I love this look. The skirt would look great on a heavier set woman because of the larger print. And the coat is a calmed down funky look. The silver in the boots, with the stripe right up the center is interesting, and really looks great with this outfit. |
| Marble |
| 05.03.07 (5:13 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I've always had a love for natural stone. And one of my favorites growing up was marble. I swore that I wanted marble floors, a marble fountain, and a marble fireplace. lol Okay, so my tastes have changed a little bit. I still like it, but now I'm willing to give up the marble couch look. lol I've been doing my home with an Asian theme. Originally, it was supposed to be Indian, but it kinda morphed into Chinese. I decided to make it a pan-Asian room, but so far, it's still got a lot of Chinese elements to it. So I've been really looking for some Hindu elements to put in there. I think I found it finally. And as a statue, the marble looks pretty cool. Edited to add: here's a link to a photo of the one I like. If I know my Hinduism (which I don't really), this is Lord Ganesh. It would be awesome with the new decor. |
| Alice Roi- Dangerously Sheer |
| 05.03.07 (5:08 pm) [edit] |
 Wow. Now that's some bold shirt. I adore the look, and I think the sheer portion is even nice. With the ties, it has the ability to be closed, but only a little because it would become too tight in the chest. But it's going to take one seriously confident woman with a great body to even try this. I'd love to be able to wear it, but ummmm, no. |
| Alice Roi- Blue and Cream Shirt |
| 05.03.07 (5:07 pm) [edit] |
 Hmmm. Big points for innovation, but not as many for the actual look. I love the way the shirt plays with color, but I think the periwinkle color of the blue isn't crisp enough to be paired with the skirt. The shirt has a lot of interesting aspects. It appears that it's gathered and sewn, right above the breasts. Together with the strip of cream colored fabric, this gives it a cowgirl sort of feel. One of the most interesting parts about it, for me, is the collar. It shifts from blue to cream, and then trails down and buttons lower on the shirt. This could have been a very institutional look, but I believe that was avoided. |
| Alice Roi- Awful Skirt |
| 05.03.07 (5:06 pm) [edit] |
 This skirt is very lacking in style. It appears as though they made a very large skirt, and folded it on the sides, so that it overlapped itself. Sort of a lazy way of pleating. Also, the fabric is just a little too shiny and the pattern too cutesy. Apart from that, the only bad part are the dark colored socks. They look out of place. The shoes are cute with it (although alone I would hate them), and the sweater is really gorgeous. The sweater is a good length, fabric, style, and has a good length arms for this look. |
| Alice Ritter- Tweed Dress |
| 05.03.07 (5:05 pm) [edit] |
 Tweed isn't the most comfortable fabric in existence. A lot of it has a high concentration of wool, which is probably the itchiest substance known to mankind. So they take this itchy fabric and make a dress out of it. Let's hope those aren't just tights, but a full bodysuit. Otherwise, it's just torture. |
| Designer Fabrics |
| 05.03.07 (5:02 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. I found a website today with some beautiful fabrics. Although they seem geared more towards the home decor fabric industry, there are a few lovely fashions you could make with these. For example, on the front page, there was a black and white fabric. I can just imagine the coolest coat made from this. Even if used for decor, as intended, this is a good palce to get some discount fabric. There are velvets, brocades, and silks, all from their respective countries that specialize in these fabrics. Also, almost every one of their fabrics were previously only available to designers and architects. As much as I like to beleive that I can put together a room as well as any designer, the fact is that before sites like this, I didn't have access to some of the things they did. |
| Alice Ritter- Tiered Pants |
| 05.03.07 (4:56 pm) [edit] |
 I've written about many tiered skirts, but I don't recall writing about tiered shorts until now. It takes a second glance to even make sure those are shorts, but they definitely have a cuff on them. Well, they look pretty much like I'd expect tiered shorts to look. A+ for innovation, F for wearability. |
| Alice Ritter- Pantsuit |
| 05.03.07 (4:55 pm) [edit] |
 I'm weeping at the thought of what happens if she's caught in the rain. I don't get why there's a resurgence in pantsuits. They are uncomfortable, they are not particularly pretty, and they ride up your butt. 'Course, I suppose that falls under uncomfortable. |
| Alice Ritter- Long Coat |
| 05.03.07 (4:54 pm) [edit] |
 What an amazing coat. The color is a soft bone color, the high neck gives it a classy look, the double breasted style is also distinguished, and the way the cuffs and hem flare slightly add a bit of interest. Absolutely beautiful. |
| A reminder about my contest |
| 05.03.07 (10:49 am) [edit] |
|
I wanted to remind everyone that I'm running a contest on my other site. Somebody is going to win an iPod Shuffle. Click here to see how you can win. 
|
| Saving Money on Your Mortgage |
| 05.02.07 (1:49 pm) [edit] |
|
*This is a sponsored post. The title wouldn't seem to make sense to a lot of people. I mean, how can you save money by taking out another mortgage. Simple. Say you got a variable rate mortgage, and you're looking for a fixed rate remortgage. By refinancing, you may pay a little more each month but save money over the long-term, pay less each month and spend more over the long-term, or if you've got really lousy terms on the original one, you might save money both in the short and long-term. Or what if you've got bad credit. You might be seeking a bad credit remortgage. There's a lot of financing options open today, and although some of them shouldn't be messed with, a lot are perfectly good for someone who has bad credit, but is looking to refinance. Or what if you just want some money out? Maybe you want to finance a different real estate purchase like we did, or start fixing up your home. You're going to need a remortgage. The right loan is out there, and it can cover almost anyone who needs financing. But sometimes it takes a little digging. |
| Alice Ritter- Goth Vampire |
| 05.02.07 (1:41 pm) [edit] |
 Alright, I'm doing this one piece by piece. The pants are awful. They are too shiny and too bizarre. The coat is okay, but not with this outfit. Too goth. The shirt is fantastic, but only when paired with a beautiful skirt or a better pair of pants. As it is, it went way too high on the goth scale, and the awesome-osity of this shirt got lost. Finally, yeah- I used the word awesome-osity. So?? lol |
| Alice Ritter- Brown Pantsuit |
| 05.02.07 (1:40 pm) [edit] |
 Well, it's a gathered, baggy brown pantsuit made from a patterned satin. And yet, not a single one of those words should be used in combination with the others. This outfit is absolutely laughable, and the only proper use for that fabric is on a throw pillow. |
| Alice Ritter- Baggy Shirt |
| 05.02.07 (1:38 pm) [edit] |
 This baggy shirt is just tragic. I'd prefer that it follow a woman's shape, or at the very least, not detract from it. Also, using pockets on that skirt's fabric is awful. They have no place that far down, or on that material. |
| May Birthday Recommendation |
| 05.02.07 (7:17 am) [edit] |
|
Sorry I was a day late guys. I won't complain about the day I had yesterday, but I will say that I'm glad it's over. Anyway, here we go. Sephora has a Lip Gloss Quad with some really great colors available. These are all pretty neutral, and they would look good on a wide range of women. The colors are burnt rose, rich plum, rose shimmer, and champagne shimmer. It sells for $24, which isn't so much when you realize that it's 4 lipglosses in one easy to cary tin. |
Disclosure Policy