Your Ticket to the Fashion World

If you are interested in fashion, homemade items, or unique things for great prices, you have probably heard of Etsy. This is a website that you can use to sell great things online. Users can sell their homemade and unique products on Etsy, to help bring in a little bit of money to the home. If you are crafty or enjoy making your own clothes, you may find that Etsy is a great option for you.

Starting a business of any kind can be difficult and frustrating. Even though Etsy makes selling your products easy, you may find that there are other aspects of the business that are a little more difficult. For example, you may find that it is not as easy as you would have thought to come up with a business name. Many people want to come up with something unique. If this is the case for you, you may have to brainstorm a little.

You will also find that you have to have a little bit of money to get started. If you are making products, you will need the materials to make them. There are a few options for trying to get your capital. You could save up for a little while to get the money you need, before you start your business. Trying to get a business loan is another option, though it is one that is most likely going to be stressful and frustrating. Getting a payday loan through a company like Payday One is a way that many people go. This will give you the money to get started right away.

Once you have your business name and your money to get started, you will need to set up your Etsy store. Follow their instructions, and then start marketing your store and your products. Tell your friends, put your store on your Facebook page, and promote it as much as possible. You’ll find yourself getting sales quickly!

Fashion Don’ts

When fashion fads hit, they either miss or hit hard, but even popular fads may be dire fashion mistakes. Asking an honest male friend or relative may open your eyes to some real fashion faux pas. So just what do guys think of some of the worst female styles?

Crocs. They’re ugly shoes with holes. Yes they’re comfortable, but they’re not winning any fashion awards. Unless you work retail and are required to stand on your feet all day, you shouldn’t own a pair of crocs. You probably shouldn’t own them even then.

Words on the seat of your pants. There is no good reason to have “sexy,” “pink,” “girly,” or “juicy” written in glitter on your backside…unless you’re twelve.

Self-advertising. T-shirts with “hottie,” “princess,” “brunettes do it better,” or any misspelled form of “sexi” are dead giveaways that you are anything but what your shirt claims. Teenagers often make this mistake, but if you’re over the age of eighteen there’s really no excuse. Plain or vintage print t-shirts are much sexier options.

Ugg boots. Women adore them. Guys hate them. A poll of men on match.com revealed that men actually think “ugg” is short for “ugly.” Maybe the fad has been around too long.

Gigantic sunglasses. UV protection is important, but so is not looking like a giant insect. Choose frames that fit and flatter your face, not make you look obnoxious.

Red lipstick. Very few women can pull off a scarlet hue. Deep red is unnatural and unflattering for nearly all skin tones, plus it makes your teeth look yellow. Bright red lips can highlight blemishes and make a light skin tone look ruddy. Choose a more natural nude or pink shade for lighter skin tones and a bronze for darker complexions. For an even more natural look, go with a tinted lip-gloss or subtle lip stain.

Skincare Basics

Determining your skin type is the first step in finding the perfect skin care regimen. Not knowing your personal skin type can mean using products not suitable for your skin, which can lead to dryness, breakouts, or greasy skin. There are five basic skin types that are based on the amount of oils your skin produces.

Type 1: Oily. If you have noticeable pores and your skin is prone to blemishes, you probably have oily skin. This is especially true if you notice a lot of shine.

Type 2: Combination or Normal. This skin type comes with dryness of the cheeks but an oily t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Combination skin is smooth and even with medium-size pores.

Type 3: Sensitive. Delicate, find pores are typical of sensitive skin. If your face flushes easily and is prone to broken capillaries, you probably have sensitive skin.

Type 4: Dry. Your skin probably feels tight after cleansing. Dry skin tends to flake, have red patches and finer wrinkles. Darker skin tones may appear dull or ashy.

Type 5: Aging or Damaged. Slack skin tone, visible wrinkles, and leathery texture are all signs of aging or sun-damaged skin. Broken capillaries are also common.

When you determine your skin type, follow a basic four-step skincare regimen.

Step 1: Cleanse. Based on your skin type, select a cleanser formulated for your needs. Avoid soap on your face since it can dry skin out. Cleansing once a day before bed is the best way to keep your skin’s natural oils intact. In the morning, splash your face with lukewarm water.

Step 2: Exfoliate. Once a week, exfoliate with a microdermabrasion, chemical peel, or scrub.

Step 3: Moisturize. No matter your skin type, moisturize daily.

Step 4: Sunscreen. The leading cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so prevent them before they form. You can choose a moisturizer with UV protection to simplify your routine, or apply special sunscreen.

Beyonce’s Influence on Fashion

Beyonce has been a hit on the music scene since 1997 when she was in the music group Destiny’s Child. Her music style is R&B with a bit of pop mixed in. In 2001, Beyonce broke off from Destiny’s Child and went solo because of conflicts within the group. She has since released three solo albums and is currently working on her fourth, which is sure to be a hit.

In 2006, Beyonce married Jay-Z, a rap artist that she had been working collaboratively with on a couple of songs. The whole relationship had been rather private as they were rarely seen in public together. The wedding took place in New York City without a paparazzi affair and was announced to the public during a concert where Beyonce was sporting her new ring.

R&B music is not the only thing that Beyonce has influenced. Fashion is also one of her interests. Celebrities always make a mark with their outfits, so it is no surprise that Beyonce has used her influence to make a statement. Every time Beyonce is seen in public, she is wearing tasteful clothing from her line, Dereon.

The official name for her clothing line is House of Dereon and it was named after her grandmother who had some influence in Beyonce’s passion for clothing. The clothing line has been quite successful and features mostly outerwear and sportswear. Dereon also sells other apparel, as well as jewelry and fashion accessories. You can learn more about Beyonce’s fashion line on her website, or check it out at one of her concerts. The ideas truly are unique and breathtaking.

Beyonce has always used her taste of style to make her music videos better, yet she has quite a different style when she is not in a concert or creating a music video. You’ll have to take a look at her whole line to understand what Beyonce has contributed to the fashion world.

Choosing Clothing for Your Man

A man's dress shirt
Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to buying t-shirts for men, whether it’s your boyfriend, husband, father or brother, you can never go wrong because they’re easy to move around in and are practical. They work on casual days, and can even be dressed with a nice pair of jeans and a blazer for evening outings.

Replacing the Overly Worn Shirt

If the man in your life wears the same t-shirt repeatedly, this tells you that he is most comfortable in this type of shirt. If he has worn the t-shirt across many years, even decades, it is very likely an ideal piece of clothing that allows him to function freely. From your perspective, it might be time to replace the shirt. Maybe it has some holes in it. Or maybe the colors are faded. It could also be that it just screams a message from too many decades ago. Buying a t-shirt for your man is a great way to give him a gift that he will use.

Choosing T-Shirts for Men

When it comes to buying a t-shirt for a man, the options are plentiful. You might like how your man looks in a polo t-shirt. It has a collar and exudes a casual look. Your special guy will still be comfortable and be able to move about freely. Polo t-shirts come in a wide range of colors. You can go with the dark colors of black, brown or grey. Or if you prefer to see him in more vibrant colors, you might try green, yellow or red.

Choosing the Right Cut

Also take a close look to see if your man prefers crew neck or V-neck t-shirts. Some men prefer the crew neck. Others are partial to V-neck t-shirts because they are less limiting and/or conform to a particular style.

Thrift Store Fashion Adventure

Being fashionable while on a budget can be nearly impossible if only retail store sales are considered. A far less expensive route to fashion is using thrift stores and consignment shops.

Romancing the Thrift Store

Think of thrift store shopping as an adventure. They are out there, so find out where they are first. They may be hidden in a strip mall or some odd part of town. They may be lurking in nearby cities as well. Their names could be familiar or something completely strange and even exotic. First find out where the treasures may lay, then plot out a course to obtain the jewels among stones.

How about Lunch?

A fun part of the thrift store adventure is to plan a morning of fashion hunting followed by lunch. Perhaps some of the jewels won’t shine so brightly once considered more closely, while others could assemble themselves into a stunning outfit. So after lunch, it is time to make decisions and bring home the fashion.

Bargaining

Sometimes thrift stores will come down on their prices if asked. Consignment shops may do so too, especially if the fashion was given an asking price and a rock bottom figure. The fact of the matter is that whoever put up the clothing for consignment wants the items to move, so it never hurts to offer what may be a reasonable compromise on price.

Altering the Course of Clothing

If the bargain fashions don’t quite fit right, many dry cleaners offer minor alterations for reasonable prices. Dry cleaners are also often good at fixing broken zippers and finding matches for odd buttons.

The thrift store fashion adventure can be made into a fun outing that results in one or more complete outfits for a fraction of retail store prices, even when on sale. The fit can be tailored inexpensively at dry cleaners as well.

Adding a New Deck and Adding a New Gazebo

One of the homes that I recently bought to add to my real estate investment portfolio had a lot of work that needed to be done to it before I could put it back on the market and sell it.  The home was nothing spectacular when I purchased it but I knew it had potential.  The first thing on my agenda was to clean it out and demo some of the interior to add a second bathroom.  There was a nice patio outside that I planned on redoing as well.  It was my goal to make this was backyard patio one of the selling points of the house once it was finished.  It was large enough to fit a hot tub on and also to have a nice area to grill out and enjoy the company of friends.

Plus, the backyard was very nice as well.  It was a bit overgrown but had a lot of potential.  There was even a path that ran out to a nice small pond that would be perfect for some fish and a fountain.  While looking at the deck, I first though about just power washing it, re-staining the wood and then putting a sealer on it.  But the more I looked at it; it really needed to be replaced.  So at that point I decided to get even a bit more creative.  I decided to get my contractor to add a nice Gazebo on one end of the deck closest to the fountain and the natural path going through the yard.  It was a bit more than I first planned but in the end it was a good choice.

After all the work was done, the back yard cleaned up and the deck was finished, the place looked great.  In fact, it looked spectacular.  The home sold quickly and the new homeowners told me they bought it because of the great backyard and new deck.

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How to Wear a Scarf

Adding a scarf to your outfit is a fun and functional way to enhance your look. Scarves come in a variety of colors, patterns, fabrics and sizes. Whether you choose a scarf to keep your neck warm or just as a fashion accessory, choose a design that complements your personal style.

There are many ways to wear a scarf. One of the most popular techniques is achieved by creating a slipknot and looping the scarf around your neck. Start by folding the scarf in half to form a loop. Put the folded scarf around your neck and bring the ends together at the front of your neck. Place the two loose ends through the loop and tighten the scarf to achieve this look. Scarves worn this way will be secure and won’t fall off. Another option for wearing a scarf is to wrap it around your neck one or more times and leave the loose ends hanging over the front of your collar bone. A different variation of this style can be achieved by letting one end of the scarf lay on your back. A shorter scarf can also be worn in this style, but you may need to add a pin to secure it in place. A scarf can also be used to protect your head and hair in cold or snowy weather. Wrap the scarf once around your head and once around your neck with both loose ends hanging over the collar bone. Finish this look by tying or pinning the ends together. Finally, consider wearing your scarf as a belt for a unique look.

A scarf can be a wonderful addition to any outfit. Whether you choose to drape it, wrap it, wear it for warmth or just for style, there are a variety of options for this popular fashion accessory.

Fashion Tips for Short Women

If you are a short woman, it can be difficult to find clothes that fit properly or flatter your figure. Generally, any women under 5′ 3is considered petite and should follow a few easy fashion tips that can help lengthen your body and create the illusion of height.

1. Choose monochromatic colors or one solid shade for your entire outfit to create an illusion of length. Wearing different colors on the top and bottom will cut the body in half and make you appear shorter.

2. Wear dark colors instead of light colors, which will help lengthen your body. Dark colors are also slimming, which is an added bonus.

3. Avoid wearing Capri pants. In order to appear taller, you should choose a pant style that covers your shoes. In addition, straight pants are more flattering than flared pants on shorter women.

4. Select pants or skirts that are high waisted. This will also help lengthen the body and create an illusion of height. Pants that sit low on the hips can cut the body in half and make a woman look short.

5. Wear a thin belt with your outfit instead of a thick belt, which will also cut the body in half. Also, choose a belt that blends with your outfit instead of one that contrasts in color. Avoid anything with busy patterns or bright details.

6. Choose a shoe that blends with your outfit. Although heels can help increase your height, it is not nessasary to wear the highest heel you can find. Instead, choose something with a medium heel height and make sure it blends well with your outfit.

7. If you want to wear a pattern, avoid horizontal stripes. These can make you look shorter than you really are. However, vertical stripes can be very flattering for short women and help make you look taller.

Fitness Advice for Women over 40

When a woman hits the age of forty, her chances of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporos, heart disease, arthritis and obesity rise significantly. However, a proper diet combined with physical fitness can help to keep you in shape as you get older. Three important areas of fitness include core strengthening, cardiovascular exercise and weight training.

First, core strengthening can be achieved through Yoga or Pilates programs. These types of exercise will strengthen the body while also improving balance. It also incorporates stretching techniques that will help maintain joints. Many local gyms and community centers offer Yoga and Pilates classes.

Next, cardiovascular exercise is an important part of physical fitness that will help prevent heart disease and other medical conditions triggered by obesity. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day. This can be achieved by walking or jogging, dancing or even housework. Anything that raises the pulse can be considered cardiovascular exercise.

Finally, weight training should play a key role in the physical fitness program for women over the age of 40. Lifting weights has many benefits such as building muscle, increasing bone density, improved posture, adding strength and toning the body. Muscle also increase the body’s metabolism which allows women to burn calories at a faster rate. It isn’t necessary to join a gym for weight training because it can easily be achieved with simple hand weights available at most stores.

In addition to reducing a woman’s chances for developing a variety of health conditions, physical fitness can have many other benefits for women over the age of 40. Women who consistently exercise can reduce the hot flashes associated with menopause. They can also minimize joint pain, lower their stress and anxiety levels, ease symptoms of depression and even help women to sleep more soundly.