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1月31日
First Things First, Consider Your Furniture The secret of a small space? Seek furniture that multi-tasks. A piece that does double duty is a small space’s best friend. For instance, Ikea has a great coffee table that can be raised to dinning table height for when you’re eating dinner while watching the O.C. (not like I ever do that). Or, use a couple of cube ottomans with storage inside for a coffee table- the second ottoman can be used for extra seating when you’re having a party. Speaking of parties, my favorite small space piece of furniture is my butcher block bar cart. It can be wheeled around and used as a martini station or as a serving space during buffet-style dinners. The cart gets the most use though as an extra food preparation surface/moveable island- it has served me well in that capacity, because every apartment I’ve ever lived in has had almost no counter space! Another key point in small space design: do not fear larger pieces in a small space! It’s a myth that a small place can only accommodate small furniture. A few larger functional pieces create a cleaner less cluttered look than a bunch of small pieces: the whole "less is more" idea. A larger piece that works well in a small space is a sectional sofa: it’s a sofa, love seat and side chairs all in an efficient L-shape. So long as the larger piece is multi-purpose, like an armoire that houses all your T.V. stuff and you linens, you’re all good. Discover "Hidden" Storage Are all available spaces to store things in your apartment maxed out? If not, it’s time to use the extra space to your advantage. In my little loft I had 6’ long hall closet and only 1’ of it was being taken up by coats (I live in a warm place!), so it turned it into an office area. I put my desk in there and I added some shelves. I took off the clumsy bi-fold closet doors, and I put up a rod and added rich chartreuse tab curtains instead the doors (for easier access) and voila- my new home office! Best part, when I got sick of looking at my school work, I just closed the curtain. Look up, look way up! Is there space on top of your kitchen cabinets? Add some nice baskets, and throw in all that stuff that’s been laying around that you only use once and a while. Designer-types call this vertical storage. When choosing storage such as shelving units, go for height too- a taller bookshelf will give you more much needed storage space. Or if you always dreamed of living in a tree house (like me), go for the ultimate in vertical living: a loft bed. A loft bed allows you to have a full queen sized bed and a couch underneath. Often in a small studio apartment, you can choose a bed or a couch- it’s one or the other. Make the couch a sofa bed for extra space maximization points! Now it’s time to pretend you’re your cat-seriously! Look down at floor level there’s lots of areas for additional storage down there too! Little secret: I have a gigantic stack of magazines tucked under the sofa end table…shhh! Only my dog knows! I also hide my VCR and DVD player tucked underneath a drawer unit that houses all my movies-very stealth. Define Specific Spaces With Colour Many new condos tend to be open concept, without any defined rooms; which gives you freedom in a small space to lay things out as you please. However, visually, there can be very little definition between living spaces. Instead of using dividers to create some definition (which defeats the purpose of the open concept plan), use some colour! Don’t be afraid to go bold- visual impact will help to divide the space. Use one funky colour for the "living room," one for the "dinning room," etc. Experiment with different paint techniques like colour blocking, to ease the transition of colour between "rooms;" check out www.benjaminmoore.com for inspiration and techniques. Most of all, love your small space! Remember, a big sprawling mansion just would not be cozy! -Nik C 1月25日
Love is in the air! Hi Everyone!
Banana Smoothie
Juicy Fruit Punch with Champagne 4 fluid ounces fresh orange juice
Basil Parmesan Spread 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
DIRECTIONS:
Valentine Chicken
INGREDIENTS:
Espresso Brownies Makes 25 Brownies 1/2 cup margarine Instant espresso coffee is found in the grocery store where you find coffee. I usually don't like to make you purchase unusual ingredients, but you'll use this instant espresso often to make these incredible brownies over and over again Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x9x2-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, beat the margarine, sugar, egg, egg white and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine flour, cocoa, espresso powder and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to egg mixture, mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.Serve with raspberries of strawberries for a true delight.
1月17日
HOT PLUS SIZED DEALS
With the spring and summer seasons gearing up, shed your layers with style. Scramble to get these hot pieces while you can.
UNDERSTATED SEXY
B&LU – Campbell Top Was $29, now $19 USD
B&LU – Faye Pant with black lace trim on outer sides Was $44, now $34 USDAlso available in pink
B&LU - Jolie dress $49 USD ALDO – Qiqihar earrings Were $15, now $9.95 CDN
ALDO – Komondor bag Was $19.95, now $9.95 CDN
ALDO – Armona shoe Was $119, now $59.99 CDN Available in sizes 6-9 Also available in Gold, sizes 6-11 ($119 CDN)
CUTE YET COMMANDING
B&LU – Fallon Jacket $42 USD
B&LU – Quincy Tank Was $24, now $16 USDAlso available in pink
B&LU - Daydream Skirt $42 USD
ALDO – Lucedale earrings $15 CDN
ALDO – Shizuoka bag Was $39.95, now $19.95
PAYLESS - Kelsee Ankle Wedge $19.99 USD
SHOP ONLINE: B&LU - http://www.bandlu.com/ ALDOS - http://www.aldoshoes.com PAYLESS - http://www.paylesshoes.com 1月15日
I don’t now about you, but whenever I see an eight dollar vintage purse, even if it’s a little blah, my first instinct is to buy it. There’s something so fabulous about the shape and make of these bags. They’re not only studier than any cheap bag you can find brand new, but they are reminiscent of another era. I love vintage items because I think of how many women over time found joy and beauty in them. Certainly one thing that has always bonded us women is a firm love of our accessories! But not everyone’s style fits in with the sweet and demure purses most sold for such a bargain. They are often a little plain, made of out leather or cloth in dark colors. If you’re attracted to the bag, but find it lacking in style, here are some fun ideas to spice it up! Paint can improve almost any bag. If it’s fabric, you’ll want to get fabric paint. The end result has a softer feel and bends with the material, as opposed to acrylic paint, which may crack when bent. A good and inexpensive brand to try is DecoArt SoSoft. They have a great range of rich colors. You can paint pretty much anything you can think of, such as stripes, Pollock-like scenes, faces, bikes, sneakers… The best part about painting on bags is that just about ANYTHING will look really unique! If the bag is plastic or leather, you can even experiment with spray paint. Fun trick to try: take a bought or homemade stencil and spray paint it onto a bag! Gluing is another good option. Fabric glue is very tricky and I have went through many a bottle, only to find one brand that I approve of, Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac. It is more expensive than others, almost ten dollars a bottle, but it dries clear and holds well, without any of the stickiness that many often leave behind. But beware! Gluing on leather can be very tricky and the item may fall off. I would try super glue instead. That also goes for slick plastics. Like painting, gluing opens a world of design options! You can glue anything, old bowties, super cute buttons, shapes cut from material (be sure that the cloth isn’t too thin or the glue may show through), laminated photo images, sequins, or huge in-your-face plastic jewels. I personally love the look of a few strewn necklaces glued across the length of a bag. Very glam rock. What to avoid: Sewing on an already finished bag is really tough. Believe me, I’ve tried it. Even if you have the proper needles to sew through leather and other tough materials, it’s impossible to open a small bag wide enough to use a sewing machine to decorate. And anything but a cloth bag with a cloth lining is going to kill your fingers to hand sew. But there are a few situations where a limited amount of hand sewing can work. If you want to add on a small item, such as an embroidered alphabet letter or a new handle, you can make a few tight, well knotted stitches and the item should hold fairly well. Soooo, I took the most boring of my eight dollar purses and started to play! Check out my before picture: a cute shape and size, but hum drum, except for the fabulous octagon tab on the front and a childish looking smiling sun. The fabric (not real leather, I’m pretty sure) was super soft and thick, but a little too worn. Good basics.
I started with black paint and gave it two good thick coats and let that dry for a few hours. Lying around, sadly unused, was an adorable gold button in the shape of a shoe! I super glued it right in the center of that octagon. More sophisticated than the smiley sun and a great contrast against the black. Now here’s where I had some trouble. I loved that this bag was actually a clutch, with an extra long zipper pull that I could wrap around my wrist for a different wearing option. But I realized that I never actually used the bag, mostly because of the clutch factor. So, as much as I hated to, I decided to put two medium length handles from black sparkly cord. Hand stitching the cord took a bit of patience (tiny, tiny stitches, not my favorite thing), but it was so worth it! What I ended up with is a glam, one of a kind bag that I’ll actually use! Check out the picture and start thinking about the blah purses in your own closet. - Suzanne Nelson 1月12日
The New Year is now upon us. So I thought I would look back over 2005 at some of the women who have stood strong in Hollywood and will hopefully continue to delight us for many years to come.
Let’s start with this year’s Oscar winner for best actress, Reese Witherspoon – oh, right… the Oscar nominees haven’t been handed out yet. But who’s kidding who? If you have seen Walk the Line you know who’s going to be accepting the gold statue come Oscar night. But it is not just Reese’s growing acting talent that has her taking centre stage this year. Her sincere devotion to her husband and children and the grace under-fire dignity she has shown after paparazzi clashes have been truly inspiring. Rachel McAdams – you go, unknown Canadian girl! In the blink of an eye it seemed this talented young actress went from playing second fiddle to Lindsay Lohan in last year’s Mean Girls to headlining her own films. Red Eye and Wedding Crashers are a fine start to a promising career.Jessica Simpson’s face has graced the tabloids for months. The singer tried her hand at acting with a stint as Daisy Duke in the summer hit Dukes of Hazzard and ended her "Newlywed" status by filing for divorce from husband Nick Lachey. As one of the few celebrities to cross from music to television to film, I expect Simpson’s star is just starting to shine. Dakota Fanning hasn’t yet turned 12 and is already in the top ranks of Hollywood’s elite. Matching skills with the likes of Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, and Charlize Theron and yet somehow remaining a down-to-earth little girl is no easy feat. Her talents seem unlimited; here’s to hoping she doesn’t fall into the pre-teen wasteland that claimed Haley Joel Osment.Jennifer Aniston has had a hard year. We worried, we wondered, and finally the unthinkable happened. The fallout of the end of Brad & Jen had to be the biggest news of the year (aside from Tom and Katie, but I refuse to go there). Through it all Aniston has managed to maintain her dignity and emerge as a role model for women everywhere.
Q: Drawn to your site by the featured ad on the MSN page, I wondered in and came to love your site. I read it almost every day and I am so glad that you all are there to help. So, naturally, when I realized I had a problem I didn't know the answer to, I decided to write you! My question is concerning foundation, I have acne scars all along my cheeks and chin, and my makeup does not cover them. It seems that my foundation just sinks into the pits. I did try the Sephora makeup base that was recommended on your site, and it helped a lot, but by the end of the day, my acne scars are extremely visible. I would appreciate any help that you could give concerning the type of makeup to use. Thank you for your time! - Samantha
A: Dear Sam, When I got this email ... even though I am sick I had to research this right away for you. Ance scars are a horrible thing to deal with and we live in a society that says flawless skin is what everyone should have. It's so far from the truth ... even I have problem skin. Fortunately for me regular foundations can take care of these problems. I still recommend you use the Sephora Base for blending your foundations .. but stay away from liquid foundations they only provide sheer to medium coverage. After fishing around on the net I found Dermablend © Cosmetics and they were specifically engineered with people like yourself in mind. It's just as expensive as your higher end non drug store cosmetics but I think this stuff will work much better for you. I myself studied Special FX Makeup so I worked with similar products and I know that it does and can cover up a lot of things. I've never worked with this brand specifically but why not give it a try? nothing to loose right? I also suggest you purchase the Cover Creme Perfection Kit first to figure out which foundation colour is right for you. You may need to blend two different colours to get the perfect combination.
All Cover Creme Perfection Kits come with 3 Cover Cremes, Setting Powder, Make-up Remover, Spatula for Cover Creme Application and mini Make-up Brush for Setting Powder application; all in a Make-up Bag perfect for your Spring Collection! - Use the Remover for gentle and easy make-up removal I really hope this helps! - Nikita 1月9日
I, the editor of this site, would like to apologize to all our faithful followers out there for the lack of posts lately. With the holidays past I intended to get back to regular postings but have come down with an awful flu that I can't seem to kick ... so hopefully in due time the posts will get back to regular. This space is not stopping. Thanks for understanding. I hope you all had a safe and wonderful holiday. 12月29日
BELLE OF THE NEW YEARS’ BALL Ladies, Make a grand entrance this New Year with Autumn/Winter 05’s key trend – the floor grazing, dust sweeping, fantasy fulfilling evening gown. If like me, you are so bored of black, fret not my dahhlings. . Rich, dark, vibrant jewel colours are the toast of the town this season. Here, I shall show you the season’s hottest colour palette.The Scarlett O’ Hara Palette Range from Ruby to Raspberry to Wine
The Purple Reigns Palette Range from Grape to Aubergine to Indigo
The Green With Envy Palette Range from Apple to Jade to Teal
The Golden Girl Palette Range from Pale ivory to Gold to Copper
Finally, indulge your inner starlet with sweeping gowns of satin, velvet and chiffon. Think ol’ Hollywood glamour. Your main inspiration, Scarlett Johannson. Now go out there and make me proud girls. Oh and don’t forget to have a ball of a good time too! I shall see you in 2006 my dahhlings!! Passionately chic, Elle xo 12月21日
SEASON'S GREETINGS EVERYONE + HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The staff here at We Are Women would like to wish you all happy holidays and a happy new year! The site will be up to regular updating after the holiday season as we are all spending quality time with our loved ones. REMEMBER!! DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE - ARRIVE ALIVE! with all the holiday parties we ask that you all remember to exercise caution with your alcohol and think of it as if your friends and family are in the cars around you. Drive as if they are. CHEERS EVERYONE!
 12月16日
A Christmas Special: A Diva Laid Bare Dearest Santa, All I want this Christmas is a wardrobe ofshoulder and back baring dresses. Low key, diva-licous elegance is MY keyword, Santa darling! Eat your heart out Mariah, J-lo, Beyonce et al, there’s a new type of Diva in town and here’s her Christmas demands. Ehem… sorry Santa! I meant, wish list. The Diva's Christmas Wish List Bareback dresses Is Back this season don’t you know? So I shall proudly have them on show But should I dare not to bare A gauze of metallic lace will display mine ultimate fashion flair.
Stapless Dresses In the shades of the season That’s black, nude and peacock blue, With a sash of satin ribbon Bound to make this girl, The IT Belle of this Merry Season..
I so could make her sultry impression With tops of bustier And skirts of glittered tulle I’d be a splendid vision Of whirls and twirls!
What’s a girl without her Shoes? Jewel encrusted Jimmy Choos With all that lace trimmings and lace ups In fabrics of metallic gold and satin Ooh.. which one will she choose?
The Diva without the Bling Is this season’s Diva indeed.. Who needs all that gold and diamante When lotions and potions Is all she needs to make her shoulders shimmers With the look of the moment that proclaims ‘Come hithers!’
Passionately Chic, Elle xo 12月15日
Portable iPod Speaker Dock Review Finding the perfect speaker system for your iPod can be a daunting endeavor, so perhaps a little comparative analysis will be helpful in your search. Under $300: Bose® SoundDock™ Digital Music System Bose.com Rating: Very popular but a bit costly. (You can’t argue with a name like Bose®!)
KLIPSCH iGroove Audiophile Speaker System with Dock for iPod KLIPSCH.com Rating: Popular and competitive, slightly less costly.
Specifications • 6" H x 15" W x 6.5" D • 4.4 lb Speaker Power: 80 W total speaker power (40 W per speaker) Under $200:
Altec Lansing inMotion iM3 AltecLansing.com Rating: Popular for small size and competitive price.
Specifications • Folds to close at 5.5" H x 8" W x 1.1" D • 15 ounces
JBL On Stage™ AC Powered Speaker System MSRP: $159.95 Rating: Popular due to portability and lower price.
Specifications • 2" H x 7" D • 50 x 175 mm • 1 lb (450g) Speaker Power: 6W each Speaker Response: 80 Hz – 20kHz Impedance: > 5 kohms With online and store bargains on these speaker systems at Best Buy and Circuit City, these are sure to be fabulous gifts for your iPod-sporting family and friends! For what it’s worth, 12月13日
Throw a Great New Year’s Party
Ten Tricks and Tips to Throwing a great party. Hopefully, they help you to remain sane! Most importantly, have a great time, laugh a lot, enjoy your friends, and hopefully you have someone great to kiss at midnight. Here’s wishing you a happy New Year! - Jenna
Be a Do-It Yourself Diva & Update Your Kitchen! Paint Your Cupboards Painting your cupboards will add maximum impact for a minimum price. First, prime you cabinets with a high adhesion primer like Benjamin Moore’s "Fresh Start," this will give something for the paint to stick too, enhancing the paint’s durability. For wood cabinets, try white if you like a fresh, clean looking kitchen, or paint your cabinets black for serious drama, and a very now look. Just be aware that the wood grain will still show a bit after painting (it’s still wood after all!), epically if the cabinet is made out of a heavy grained wood like oak. For melamine cabinets (the plastic-y looking finish), prime as above and paint with a melamine paint. A charcoal colour looks very hip and modern on flat door styles. Don’t paint melamine brown- you won’t fool anyone into think its real wood! TIP: If your cabinets have hinges on the outside don’t paint over them! Instead buy new hinges that co-ordinate with your new handles.Approximate cost: around $100 for paint, $2-$4 each for new hinges
Change the Handles Handles are like jewelry to your kitchen- the right "accessory" can really dress your kitchen up. A brushed nickel finish handle works well with any style of décor, especially contemporary looks, or try matte black for a forged iron look. TIP: Unscrew your current handles and take them to the hardware store with you. Find a new handle that has the (handle) screw holes the same distance apart from your old handles. This will save you from having to fill any holes in your cabinets. Or instead of one handle, try two small knobs in the existing drilled holes, for a fun, funky look. Choose tiny glass or chrome knobs, for some classic sparkle, like a pair of diamond earrings!Approximate cost: $3-$6 per handle
New Countertops Now that your cabinets look as good as new, what about those countertops! Although new countertops are the most expensive part of the kitchen makeover, new tops will make the biggest impact to your kitchen update. Laminate countertops are an inexpensive choice. Technologies in laminate manufacturing have improved in leaps and bounds over the last couple years. Formica’s Honed and Etched Collections look just like granite, for a fraction of the cost. Get a "square underwrap" edge (similar to how real granite is usually finished) to enhance that granite look. Wilsonart has recently introduced a laminate finish called Deep Star, which is scratch resistant, even to a brillo pad! Deep Star also comes in really great up-to-date colours. Skip the laminate backsplash, or "cove," they’ll make your countertop look dated. Top off with a new tile backsplash (see below). TIP: Avoid solid colour laminates: patterns are much more forgiving to any abuse your tops will get over the years. Also, look for matte, crystal, honed or etched finishes. Stay away from shiny finishes which scratch like crazy.Approximate cost: about $500 for the average condo-sized kitchen, installed
Add a Backsplash Tiles are an inexpensive way to add texture to the overall appearance of your kitchen. A tiled backsplash also makes for easy clean up, just wipe down with a damp sponge. For a clean, classic look try white rectangular tiles laid in a subway pattern. Or try my favorite: 1" x 1" mosaic tiles in a bold colour like chartreuse or ocean blue for a mid-century modern, retro look. Put your new fabulous tiles from your countertop all the way up to your upper cabinets for maximum wow-factor. TIP: Many big hardware stores give seminars on tile laying; they show you the materials to use and how to cut and lay the tiles. You too can be a do-it yourself diva!Approximate cost: around $100 for materials Lighting and Accessories New lighting can brighten everything up; try a simple halogen track. Don’t forget to turn off the power to your kitchen when you are installing it. Installation instructions should be included in the box, or if electricity scares you (you can get zapped you know), ask a handy friend to help you out. I find most handy people will do anything for a case of beer. Splurge on some new small appliances like a new toaster or coffee maker. KitchenAid makes some very beautiful small appliances that come in a rainbow of cool colours. TIP: Like the look of stainless, but don’t have the budget for new appliances? Pick up some stainless cooking utensils (dollar stores are great for stainless kitchen stuff), and display them on your new countertop in a bamboo vase (China Town, about $2). Approximate cost: lights $40-$75, KitchenAid toaster $75-$150 depending on model You can do it, DIY diva! These little kitchen make-over tips will save you the tens of thousands of dollars it would cost you to get your kitchen entirely redone. Plus, you get the sense of pride of a job well done that you did yourself…priceless.
Need help finding your design inspiration? Ask a designer! Send us your questions here (with pictures if you can - try and keep the file size of pictures small).
12月12日
Dear Parker and Bill,
I have been involved in a relationship for a little less than 2 yrs. I really do love him. When we met he was going through a divorce so I stuck with him. needless to say he was a mess afterwards. Luckily he had no children with her. He lost all motivation and focus, so his grades went down. But with time he got better and his grades went up and started to gain motivation again. We did have problems because I wanted to spend time with him and he didn't. We've had our ups and downs but stood by eachother. Now at this point in his life he got rejected for a program he wanted to go into for a long time, and feels that he is being declined from all programs. { he wants to go into nursing now but feels that his 3.5 GPA will not get him in... which infact it will. } over the last few months it has gone down. His motivation, focus, and overall happiness is really down. Financial problems and stress from school have really gotten to him.
I try to cheer him up but it appears to just anger him even more. recently he became upset and told me that he blamed me for all of his problems..for him being declined from the programs and the lowering of his GPA. I really have no idea what to do. I don't want to loose him. We have not spoken since...3 days ago. we live seperately but close to eachother. I feel that he hates me and it hurts. What do I do now? - feeling lonely
He Says:
Dear Feeling Lonely, I hope by the time that you are reading this your are on speaking terms again or the problem has resolved itself. You sound like a woman who truly stands by and believes in her man. I suggest the you two sit down and have a heart to heart. Fix him a romantic dinner and let him know that you suuport him in his educational endeavors and his future occupational choice no matter what it is. You seem very sincere and given the past you have had together hopefully he will recognize his folly and realize you are truly behind him For him I suggest for what I and others have done in the past when we were have educational troubles. Seek help, be it the Dean of Studies or his/her equivalant. Possibly with some nose to the grind stone work and the retaking of a class or two he can get to where he needs to be. If is the nursing profession he is definitely on the right track. It is one of the most understaffed professions out there. The sign-on bonuses are of nest egg proportions. You sound like a very loving and devoted woman and I wish you and your guy the best. - Bill
She Says:
Hi Feeling Lonely, I'm not sure what Bills take on this would be but I think that its time to move on. I think deep down you know this and from what you wrote I feel that you are making up excuses for his behaviour and putting all the responsibility and guilt on yourself. You have done nothing but stand by the man you love and that is comendable. Don't let him guilt you. Let's look at the facts. This relationship started during a divorce. Already thats a bad sign. While it can work for some people I think that most would agree that a rebound phase or at least some time to ones self is beneficial before beginning a new relationship that will be healthy. I think that's maybe what he might be thinking. That he wants to explore and see what else is out there and he's trying to do this by telling you that you are ruining his life rather than just saying .. I don't want to be with you anymore. I don't understand why people are afraid to just leave a relationship when the love and passion aren't there anymore. They feel they need to have a reason so they take something small and make it into a huge deal and blame their partner for it and then leave. It's cowardly. I hope for your sake I am wrong about this. I have been before about other things. I'm just calling it like I see it. I think the best avenue is to sit down and talk to him and use words like we. Once you use words like 'you' to discribe circumstances, the lines of communication shut down, because the other person gets defensive. Ask him if he needs a break from the relationship to figure out what he wants (if you can tolerate that) and if not move on. Shed some tears, have some girlfriend movie nights and then get your sexy butt out there to meet a man who will treat you like gold. Because thats what you deserve. Love can blind us. I know. But your relationship does not sound healthy and nuturing in my opinion. You should not be blamed for his grades or ruining his dreams because in the end he's the one who must achieve these things. You know the saying if you let something you love go and it returns to you then it was meant to be. -Parker Knightly
Send us your relationship questions or questions about whatever to here. Got some other advice other than what Parker & Bill suggested? Post a comment below with your own advice! 12月10日
- Therese Shea 12月8日
"Newbie" gains, why you're gaining before losing
TV Girl Power We Are Women with all the latest news on my favorite “girl power” shows. It seems strong female leads lead to strong fan followings, as shows like Lost, Alias, and Veronica Mars have taken front and centre this winter.
12月7日
Teen sex in today's world ... After flicking aimlessly through the channels on TV at 4am I stumbled upon Sex Talk on Much Music. Finally the media is doing something positive for a change. Teen sex and sexuality is an issue that I feel needs to be talked about more. The growing rate of unplanned teen pregnancies and STD’s among youth today is reaching an all time high. Why? We have so much information these days at our disposal ... so what’s the problem? Lack of proper education in my opinion. We teach teens to be scared of sex. We talk about all the bad things that could happen. Sex is pleasurable and humans are sexual beings. Yes abstinence is a great answer, but unfortunately for most teens this is not reality. I myself was fortunate enough to have a mother that, because she is so open with what she says, had no fear of telling me all about sex. But I also give myself credit. I waited until I was 19 have sex, because I believe I was mentally ready and I still stand by my decision. This is not the case for many teens nowadays. Parents are sometimes too afraid to talk about ‘real’ sex with their kids and give some awkward talk about the birds and bees. Which for the most part is confusing and not straight forward or parents may even avoid the conversation altogether. I'm sure it's just as awkward for your child to hear. Then we have sex ed. Basically a week long class on .... nothing. You learn about the reproductive system and genitalia. WOW ... everything I wanted to know as a teen. Really .... NOT! And there was no way that anyone in class was going to stick up their hand to ask a question about oral sex ... forget that! People have been taught to be embarrassed about sex and talking about it ... why is that when people are having sex all the time? I think if people are having sex then we should be able to talk candidly about it. That's me though. I really feel that the schools need to get better sexual education programs in place. Focus on the real issues of sex. i.e. sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, abortion, gay/lesbian issues and homophobia. While I understand that some people may not agree with homosexuality, birth control, or abortion ... talking about it is not harming anyone. It is educating and informing teens of the choices that they have and helping them through a very confusing stage in their life. Knowledge is power. And it could mean a matter of life or death. I know lots of teens are online and see this blog site and I feel that I have a responsibility as a woman to tell you young ladies and men that it’s more than ok to say no and wait. Your body is important and something that should be respected. Should you make the decision to have sex, I pray that you educate yourself first and know all the risks. Because I know how lame and awkward sex ed class is in highschool, I found this great site www.scarleteen.com. Please visit it. It’s the most indepth REAL discussions on teen sex topics. I'm in my 20's and still have questions and find this site a great place to find the answers. Sex isn’t deadly. Ignorance is. For Parents: this is a great read on the scarleteen.com site and I urge you to read it. Maybe even direct your teens to the site afterwards. http://www.scarleteen.com/parents.html - Nikita
12月6日
12月5日
12月4日
Movie-Lover? Fight for your right! It’s that time of year again. Oscar nominations are just around the corner and Hollywood is serving up some of its best and brightest. Theatres are slowly filling with Academy Award contenders like Walk the Line, Pride & Prejudice, and Brokeback Mountain (great movies by the way, check them out if you get a chance). With all this cinematic excellence afoot, I got to thinking about this past summer. Am I alone in being disgusted with the shoddy remakes, inferior sequels and general garbage we’ve been forced to endure this year? From the hideous sequel to The Ring to Nicole Kidman’s "what was she thinking" stint in Bewitched, the movie industry has delivered more than its fair share of disappointments. Ladies, the time has come for us to stand-up and fight for our rights as movie-lovers. We are not only due for some quality entertainment, we should be demanding an apology from these film makers. While I do blame the money-grubbing studios, we as patrons bear some responsibility. The recent remake of horror classic The Fog did open at #1 at the box-office. Why do the studios keep making these abysmal films? Because we keep watching them! I am as guilty as the next person. I keep naively hoping that film makers will get off their lazy butts and try to improve upon the original. But as long as we continue to empty our pockets at the local Cineplex, film makers have no reason to strive for greatness – mediocrity is earning them millions! This year’s remake of the 1979 thriller The Amityville Horror had a domestic gross of over 65 million dollars – not great, but not bad considering its production costs were only 19 million. The Paris Hilton disaster House of Wax did in fact lose money, but it still brought in over 32 million – that’s a fair chunk of change for a pile of garbage and it’s only going to get worse! How much worse, you ask? Try to imagine Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan reenacting Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? "But cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that chair!" Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that; I can picture the studio execs nodding their heads and reaching for the phone… - Tanya Powers
12月3日
Considering a starter cell phone for your child or young relative? I am. Why? We live in a digital age where communication amongst one another is vital, whether it be for logistics, security, or you name it. In my case, even though I wish I could be with my kids at all times in every place, it is not always possible. But I do want to have the ability for us to communicate with one another when we are apart, hence the need to give my child a cell phone. What I don’t want: Just as I would not give my child a credit card with unlimited access to my credit, I certainly do not want to hand him/her a cell phone to generate charges for which I am responsible to pay. What I do want: The cell phone that I’m looking for should have built-in restrictions on dialing access and time limits that I can control. On top of that, the phone should be easy enough for a child under 10 years old to operate. What I found: After perusing through my "Family Circle" magazine… low and behold… a parent’s cell phone dream! (Ok, the kids will get a kick out of it, too.) The phone that I found is made by Firefly Mobile with service offered by Cingular. Pre-programmed speed dial buttons for Mom, Dad, and other important numbers right at the child’s fingertips, what more could I want? The price is right at $49.99, but I would be more receptive if I could add it to my existing cell phone service, Sprint PCS. The specifications include: · Mom and Dad dialing keys· Up to 20 programmable numbers· 850/1900 MHz - Dual-band compatibility· Incoming and outgoing call restrictions· Caller ID· Personalize: Color lights, animations and ring tones· Special 911 button· Interchangeable translucent shells· 12 fun ringtones· 7 screen colors· 5 animations· 96 x 32 pixel display with 7-color backlightWant to read a review? Following is a link to an article from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111602218.html
12月2日
Ladies, The Capital that brought you fashion icons like Carnaby Street, Twiggy and Mary Kay has re-embraced the Swingin’ 60s. So join me for a swingin’ ride into the wardrobe time capsule! Back to the future, the look is still sharp, sexy and most definitely monochromatic (that’s black & white, to you & me!!) with a certain street edge. Think Sienna Miller and Kate Moss. Let me show you how to work it!
Oversized sweaters are BIG! Be brave! Wear it as a dress. Belt up a bow with a contrasting ribbon and altogether now, say it with me, "I am God’s gift!" Or team it with the shortest mini skirt known to woman! High denier, funky tights just about stops you from being an Ice Queen. Unless you want to, of course! Be Miss Irony. Wear the highest of turtle necks with the mini of skirts. Or do an expose! Sexy shoulders revealed via bardot top. Then cover up with the skinniest of jeans. Now just prepare to watch grown men cry. The New Trousers Brave the season and go all out in this season’s new trousers- the black culottes. A striped blouse will ensure you swing in more ways than one, baby!
The two words out on the streets. Ballet pumps. Be the Swinging Goddess that you are and step out in all things metallic! Silver, bronzed and gold with laced up bows to ensure you are a step above the rest!
Apart from your divine self.. All you need are: 1. A head of sex kitten, big hair. 2. Dark kohl lined eyes. 3. Sequinned headbands- guaranteed to make you shine, night and day. 4. Knitted beret and pageboy hats. Give out that exotic, simply irresistible 60’s chick vibes! Now, All Hail to the New Swing Goddess! (That’s you!)
Till then, dahhlingss.. Passionately Chic, Elle xo Elle’s Shop Tip: Imagine wishing for RED hot luxury designer jewellery pieces for nothing. Your wish is sooo granted! The fabulous H&M and Boucheron’s world famous jewellery designer, Solange, have just launched a divine range of forty red hot jewellery pieces starting from a mere £9.99! Oooh! I’m getting hot flushes here! Shop in style and do your bid for charity! 25% of proceeds from Solange’s friendship bracelet will also go to UNICEF. Surely, there is no better cause?! |
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