Search Results for: blog art with a designer feel

Where To Get a Jump Start on Spring

It’s that time of the year again; time to venture out of your man or woman cave and breathe in the fresh spring air. The first signs of spring are springing up all over the country. While your favorite flowers may not have made their debut yet, you can get a jump start on the action by visiting one of the dozens of garden and flower shows taking place across the nation. Some of the most popular include: Chicago Flower & Garden Show: Runs from March 6-14 at Navy Pier. The event includes display gardens, cooking demonstrations, seminars, a marketplace … Continue reading →

Adoption Books with Great Art: You Are Special, You Were Chosen

You Are Special; You Were Chosen is a sweet little book which grew out of the bedtime story that the author’s father read to her each night. Its soft, detailed colored pencil/pastel illustrations definitely qualify it for my Adoption Books with Great Art series. The lovely pictures show diverse children and families, including siblings of different races, which I really appreciate, as that is something I have a hard time finding. Books featuring a multiracial classroom are becoming common, as are books featuring families of color—but multiracial families are still difficult to find. I almost bought a book the other … Continue reading →

Weight Loss: Feeling Self-Conscious In Your New Skin?

Bravo! You have lost some weight and are starting to feel pretty good in fewer clothes once again, but how good is good? Summer clothing season is at our heels and it is a mad rush to beat the extra poundage so that we can wear shorts for those of us who are brave enough. Wearing shorts for the ones with extra weight is sometimes intimidating. You are feeling better because you lost some weight, but you are still self-conscious because you are not a pencil. Why, oh why can’t we look really good in a little pair of shorts, … Continue reading →

Feeling Affluent

Most people who chose a frugal lifestyle do so initially out of necessity. Perhaps they decide to have one parent stay home and are reduced to one income, sometimes circumstances require them to cut back, and sometimes they just want to lead a simpler life with less stress and less formal work. Whatever the reason, frugal living can make you always concerned with saving money. In the beginning, especially, you are constantly calculating costs and values. Later, it gets a little more automatic. You know, for example, how to get the best price on bread, and you don’t even agonize … Continue reading →

Celebrity Fashion Designers—-Gimme a Break!

It’s no secret that Hollywood A-lister’s don’t have to have knowledge of fashion design (or fashion sense for that matter) to have an entire collection created in their name. These days you can buy leggings by Lindsay Lohan, jeans by Justin Timberlake, dresses by Madonna and tank tops by Jude Law’s ex-girlfriend Sienna Miller. But the latest round of celebrities turned fashion designers has me rolling my eyes in ways I didn’t think possible. Take for example Britney Spears. The reforming popwreck had custody of her two young sons stripped from her following her public meltdowns, yet she’s now in … Continue reading →

Fashionistas Turned Fashion Designers

Oh heck, why not, everyone else is doing it? That was my reaction when I learned Ashlee Simpson just got a gig at Wet Seal as a fashion designer. I wonder what big sis Jessica thinks about her copycat sibling honing in on yet another market she ventured into first? So, yes, the younger Simpson will indeed be launching a collection of T-shirts for the hip retailer. According to Wet Seal execs, Ashlee’s line will feature designs inspired by “her own personality, sense of style and album artwork.” The new collection will launch nationwide on April 22nd-—the same day Ashlee’s … Continue reading →

Are You “Martha Stewart Challenged”?

My friend is funny. She always says things that make me laugh. Her latest is her new habit of calling herself “Martha Stewart Challenged.” When she asked how I would like it if I was thus challenged, I replied, “Hey, who isn’t?” I’ve got nothing on Ms. Stewart. I just like decorating and finding new ways to do things around the house to keep from becoming bored (and boring). I don’t want to get to the point where the only things I have left to talk about with my husband are the best carpet cleaners for pet stains or just … Continue reading →

The Future for a Spare Part Baby

Yesterday, parents in Great Britain were given the right to use IVF to select a designer embryo as a ’spare parts’ baby under new laws that were published yesterday. Eventually, the laws will relax current laws on IVF clinics so that they can create ’designer’ savior siblings for the purpose of curing an older sibling. They hope that they could create a savior sibling with a perfectly matched kidney to help an older sibling with renal failure. . .for example. More immediately however, the savior siblings’ cord blood could be used to help an older sick sibling. Britain’s Human Fertilisation … Continue reading →

Fashion Potpourri: Celeb Designers, Saving the Environment and Eliminating Tooth Fuzz

CELEBRITY DESIGNERS Add Wilmer Valderrama’s name to the growing list of celeb designers. (Is there a celebrity out there who doesn’t have a fashion line these days?) The handsome actor recently launched a casual menswear line called Calavena. Valderrama says his clothing collection is made for “stylish guys looking to find trendy, fashionable pieces.” (Take note all you “un-stylish guys.”) Calavena features a premium denim line, embroidered hoodies, super-soft thermals and an entire collection of distressed tees. The actor says he wanted to design clothes for men that featured “sophisticated yet comfortable cuts.” And ladies don’t fret–Valderrama says he hasn’t … Continue reading →

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: More Painless Ways to do Our Part

Sometimes, we hardly have enough time in a day for the barest necessities. Maybe we don’t feel that we have time for extra projects. Then there are those who think the whole “green” thing is over the top, so they don’t want to go out of their way with the environmental stuff. Good news! Either way, the following options are not only painless, but some of them will even save us time and money while doing something good for the environment. It’s all good. Just Say No to Bottled Water First, it costs too much, in my opinion; it’s water. … Continue reading →