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My friend RG Ryan has a well-written blog (and soon to be published book) that I recommend to anyone wanting something touching and entertaining to read.
Today's blog was specifically amazing: http://snapshotsatstarbucks.vox.com/library/post/you-tell-me.html
And reading it made me wonder how many of us believe in Gaurdian Angels... (this is not a religious blog... just a question of whether you believe in a protective power/soul/spirit and whether you have any cool experiences to share.)
As I commented in his blog, I was driving home from work one day when Nate was an infant, and I lost control of my car on a busy highway during rush hour, did a TOTAL 360 degree turn RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY (center lane)... I literally saw oncoming traffic coming at me when I flipped around. I squeezed my eyes shut, let go of the steering wheel and asked for God to protect me. About 2 seconds later I was completely stopped in the median of the highway, shaken up, but not a scratch on me or the car... and I have NO idea how I ended up there... not harmed in any way. It gave new meaning to that song by Carrie Underwood "Jesus take the Wheel".
I would love it if you all commented to share your thoughts and stories...
bad:
Having TTOTM* start on your first day of work at a new job......your first in 4 years.
good:
Having a previously tight skirt (that barely zipped up) suddenly be WAY loose on you......on the first day of TTOTM* when you are bloated....which means the skirt is WAAAAY loose!! woot! :)
* that time of the month
And now for something completely different..
Happy National Underwear Day!
I bet you are just sitting around in your underwear, thinking of ways to celebrate this treasured holiday?
And I'm sure you are asking yourself "How did such a holiday get created?"
Here's the scoop direct from the creators of this extravaganza..Freshpair.com
Directly from their website..
"Freshpair.com created the ultimate avenue for celebrating underwear when they came up with the concept of National Underwear Day. Freshpair President, Michael Kleinmann, believes that "underwear should no longer be merely the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, but the most important thing you wear all day." Following that credo, National Underwear Day was created as a time for everyone to feel comfortable mentioning "unmentionables," and celebrating skivvies
In 2003, Freshpair rolled out the inaugural celebration holiday, National Underwear Day. We put our models on the streets of New York in just their underwear and the Freshpair team of underwear ambassadors began collecting signatures to petition for an official day of appreciation for what lies beneath
Each year more and more people have looked forward to National Underwear Day - it's grown both in popularity and size. That first year we started with just a great idea and a slew of models. Each member of the Freshpair team took polls on underwear preference and wished New Yorkers a happy Underwear Day, having no idea the magnitude of what National Underwear Day would grow into. The event would eventually grow from its initial size into a massive fashion and media event."
Perhaps this holiday will cross over into other cherished celebrations...Boxing/Bikini Brief Day, Bastille My Bra Day, or the ever-popular Thanksgiving for Thongs Day.
For your viewing pleasure,
gratuitous video of Underwear celebration
in Times Square
I'm not sure if I should be excited by this story or freaked out...what do you think?
Getting a Pedicure from a Fish?
from International Herald Tribune
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia: Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your feet in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away.
Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the Washington D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.
"This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said.
He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary.
Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.
But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea.
"I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' Customers were quickly hooked.
Tracy Roberts, 33, heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.
"I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said.
Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off.
In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments.
Pendarvis Harshaw, an Oakland-based teen, recently sparked a slew of controversy with his public radio essay which stated that in his social circle, "sex without a condom is the new engagement ring." He said that for a generation who has grown up with safe sex education and divorced parents, the real symbol of trust, love and commitment has nothing to do with walking down the aisle; the ultimate oath is letting your guard down in the face of potentially life-long consequences. You can hear it here: http://www.youthradio.org/wtnw/wtnwcondoms.shtml
Also, recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged it had drastically underestimated the number of people becoming infected with AIDS in the United States. The CDC had been reporting 40,000 people get infected each year, but now the agency estimates the figure is 56,000—a 40 percent increase.
Increasingly, products and services are popping up to help young people in the dating scene protect themselves from catching an STD.
Founded in 2003 by Eli Dancy, the STFree card is the world’s first and only Safe Sex License which gives users the ability to prove to another individual that they are STD-free; STD test results are accessed by calling a toll free number and entering in the membership number on the front of the card. (The SSL requires two sets of numbers in order to access its stored information)
You can find out more at: http://stfree.com/
So I've been away for a little bit. Seems like I'm always taking a few days to regroup my thoughts or something. Usually when I'm a scatter brain, I don't write well so I apologize in advance for sounding crazed. I've had this thought on my mind for a while now and after a few conversations with a few different people, I decided I needed to write something about it.
For the longest time, I wondered what was wrong with me. I would get an idea of something that I wanted, I would get it, be satisfied with it for a bit, and then, out of no where, want something else. Something that in my mind, seemed better. But was it really?
I never really had the urge with material items. I am not the type to buy a new car and then wished that I got a 'better' car. I'm usually a very content girl. This happens to come up during relationships and I'm not really sure why. A few of my close friends have expressed the same concerns. I'm not sure if this is a 'woman thing' or just a 'thing' in general. Do we all go through this? Does it mean that we're not meant for monogamist relationships? Does it mean we're bored?
What is really going on with this Grass is Greener theory? Why do we crave greener pastures only to realize we enjoyed our previous lawn better?
I feel like I'm finally starting to look pregnant. I'd upload a picture, but, I don't have one. Maybe when I get home from work. Anyway... A guy on the street, completely out of no where the other day told me, "Congratulations. God bless." When I looked at him, he sort of gestured towards my stomach, and it clicked what he was meaning, and I smiled and thanked him. When I picked my brother up from the airport yesterday evening, the first time he's seen me since the wedding (a little over a month later), a surprised "whoa" escaped his mouth. And not in a mean way. But just in a "Wow you really are pregnant" type of way. Seeing myself every day, I don't think I notice how different I look to someone who has not seen me for over a month. And I don't know if it's just the particular dress I'm wearing, or if the little guy (who I will refer to from now on as Penguin, due to a conversation Argentinian and I had where he referred to him as such) had a growth spurt in the last day or two, but I really feel like I look much bigger today. Not huge, but just actually looking pregnant as opposed to eating too much lately.
They say that having a girl takes away beauty, and having a boy gives beauty. I'm not sure I buy into that. I mean, the first few months my skin was out of control (though, has thankfully calmed down and is much better now). But I think this baby has maybe helped me find some acceptance. I may not look better, but I am looking at myself better. I still have days where I get insecure about that fact that I feel like my butt and thighs are starting to look ever so slightly bigger. But overall I think this is the least critical I've ever been of how I look. And not because I'm one of those "I've never felt more like a woman than when I was pregnant" type of girls. I mean, yes, it is amazing how your body just knows what to do and this brand new little person is growing in there. But, that is a totally separate issue. What I mean is, that for the first time in a long time, I'm not criticizing myself over the fact that I am at a weight that previously would've scared the crap out of me. That I tried to put on a pair of shorts the other day to go to the gym, and I couldn't get them on. That there are pants that I know I will probably never fit into again. It's the first time I'm looking at myself, and even though I don't find it perfect, that I am happy with it. And accept it. Maybe it's because I know I can't exercise to lose weight. Or that it all serves a much higher purpose of nourishing our baby. But it is a nice feeling. And I know that some days it won't be there at all. Especially once this pregnancy is over, and I'm trying to get back in shape. But for now I'm enjoying the feeling.
That Mischa Barton is often described as a fashion "icon" has long been a source of surprise to The Fashion Police. This is, after all, a woman who has seen the inside of the Fashion Jail more often than most, although, to be fair, she's had her share of stylish moments too.
If you're amongst those who think Mischa's style is to be admired, then, you may be interested to hear that the actress has just designed a line of handbags for ASOS.com. The Coco Shoulder Bag (above left) and embossed leather bag (right) are shown above, and you'll find more images from the line under the jump. What do you think of Mischa's prowess as a handbag designer? Will you be buying?
thefashionpolice
It’s time for learn! School holidays will over soon! It is sad, but new
school year is mean new meeting, new and old friends. Hey! Don’t forget
be cool at school! The first school day is the first appearance you
have after three months. You need make it a good one, because first
impressions matter.
If you haven’t srtict school uniform then know some things:
- Keep clothes and accessories classic and simple, nothing in-your-face or over the top.
- It’s normal to be a trendy. You have to adapt the trends to your personal fashion style, or you’ll end up looking like a major trend-chaser.
- Be confident of success! If you don’t have positive, fake it. When you aren’t doubting yourself, no one else will doubt you or your dresses choices.
It’s all about hot color combinations for Back to School 2008. This fashion season, choose bright colors like fuchsia and jewel-tones and pair them up with dark hued basics for a big punch of color. Also 2008 color combinations consist of rich green with navy, fuchsia with black, turquoise with chocolate brown, red and yellow. Taking this look is easy. Just get pair of these colors up yourself or look for patterns that incorporate popular color combinations. When you choosing patterns, you can go graphic with big, bold designs like bright color blocks, batik prints, exaggerated stripes.
More about style for back to school 2008 >>
Get ready for some fabulous pumps for Fall 2008 - the overall look you want to achieve is strong & solid (we will stop short of saying "Statement" yet again!). From a variety of colors to a coss-section of interesting shapes, there will be something for everyone.
Fall/Winter 2008 also sees the welcome return of suede, in more than just basic black. Choose heather gray, soft purple, or even chocolate/cognac shades. You will also be wearing your new fall pumps with opaque tights this season (in any color you like!) - tights with suede strikes the right balance.
If you find some of the trendy sky-high heels a little too
agressive for your everyday shoe look, opt for a more menswear-inpired
pump. Something with laces and chunkier heel, which will also look great
with minimalist suits.
Navy round toed court shoes with red piping around edges. A great daytime heel height at 3.5. Fabric, 100% leather.
Black patent leather. Crescent toe.
Black suede Mary Janes with snap closure. Pewter toned double snaps at the side. Suede covered heel. Tonal stitch detailing. Padded leather insole. Rubber heel.
A platform pump adds some major glamour to any ensemble. Patent leather pump with 34 hidden platform and 4.75 covered heel. Leather sole.
