Purple - The Missing Colour

It is no surprise that as the holidays come around, the colour of choice is most often green and red. As the leaves turn shades of golden reds and oranges, we pull out our cranberry and hunter green turtlenecks, air them out and don their holiday auras. You'll see silver and gold quite often and more commonly offerings of blue, but it does get tedious over the years. So, this holiday season, dare to be different, put aside that shimmery golden tank and red velvet skirt, march on to your local Marks and Spencer and find something purple. Fulfill that palette once and for all.

Belly Buttons

Sometimes the most concealed part of the body can be really sexy. You could cover ever part of your body and show off the belly button and still be sexy. Check out this poem by Dean Blehert.
_________________

Just out of the pool,
her smooth belly gleaming.
As she dries her hair,
the belly button looks right at me,
saying not a word.
_________________

Dean Blehert
dblehert@earthlink.net
poems and paintings at
www.blehert.com
We decorate time
with each other.

Fashion Sense

So my mother-in-law got wind of my blog and did not take kindly to my last entry. She even proceed to ground me last night and confiscated all my InStyle magazines from my house... ah well, I guess my fashion sense just doesn't make up for my impudent, impetuous, presumputous sense of tact.

Chic at 50+

My mother-in-law was invited to a fundraiser last weekend and was quite nervous that she would look too old for the young crowd. She asked me to look in her closet and asked for my advice on clothes without having to go out an buy a whole new outfit. At first it was a daunting task, as everything looked too casual or conservative, but my eye caught on black, aligator print textured pants. That was it. Then, to find the top, I need to find something that would coordinate by not conflict, so we went with a black tailored form-fitting shirt, not too tight, not too loose, just perfect. Worked out really great. She accessorized with chunky colored bracelet and chunky earnings. You would never have known she was a senior citizen.

Hip Shopping Mall

There's a quaint little shopping place that popped up recently, say about 2 or so years now. This new place is in the heart of Pasadena, California on the famous Colorado Blvd, home of the New Year's Rose Parade.

There's a 14 theatre movie theatre, with all the latest ammenities and wonderfully ergonic chairs and a real big wide-screen. It's so well engineered that you could get one of the nose-bleed corner chairs and still enjoy the film without having to swivel your head left and right every 5 seconds to take in the movie.

Shopping is a blast. There's of course Macy's and DSW shoe warehouse. Dining is fabulous, you can get everything from your fast food mexican to posh 5 star dining.

This new shopping district is called the Paseo Colorado Mall.

Coach Bags

Coach has got the cutest line of bags these days. For around $168, you can get a cute hobo bag in almost any spring colour combination, delightful stripes or in their signature fabric. Their signature fabric comes in two styles, the mini-signature pattern where the coach logo is a small print similar to Gucci or Fendi, or the classic signature fabric, which a larger bolder design. Not on Coach's website is the latest in their classic signature fabric which comes in multi-tones, rather than the standard two-toned pattern. You can check out their bags at http://www.coach.com, or head on into Saks or your nearest Coach store, where the hardest problem you'll have is deciding... pink or blue?

Diamonds

I love diamonds. When they have the right cut, they just sparkle, no matter if the other c's are lower in quality. I especially love the campaign that A Diamond Is Forever is running. Check it out at http://www.adiamondisforever.com

My favourite campaign is the Right-Hand Ring Campaign. Here's a quote:

YOUR LEFT HAND SAYS "WE." YOUR RIGHT HAND SAYS "ME." YOUR LEFT HAND ROCKS THE CRADLE. YOUR RIGHT HAND RULES THE WORLD. WOMEN OF THE WORLD, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

Oh yeah!

Candy Stripes on the Beach

Shopping for bathing suits in the winter can be quite a steal, if you look in the right places. I found a cute candy stripe 2-piece by Esprit. Usually stripes is not a good idea since horizontal lines can make you look wider than you like, but this particular style was done quite smartly. It alternates shades of pink with red, white and black stripes. The stripes are vertical rather than horizontal and the trim is diagonal to give a shapely illusion. I tried to find it online for you, I don't see it. However, if you're up for some German, you can check out the Esprit online store for casual browsing: http://www.esprit-online-shop.com/index_uk.htm

Jeans That Are Trying Too Hard

I remember many years ago... many, many years ago, people were saying jeans are just a fad and will go away. Years later, they take on all shapes and forms, making slacks and trousers look like they're going out of style.

You can have stone washed jeans, faded jeans, white-washed jeans, green colored jeans, white jeans, strategically torn jeans, bell-bottom jeans, boot-cut jean, low rise jeans, boyfriend jeans and the list goes on. Yet with all this variety of jeans, a girl just can seem to get a pair of jeans with the right fit no matter how hard she looks. They're too short, they flare too much, the waist is too big, the waist is too low, the crotch is too low, the hips too tight, too many flowers, great fit, horrible colour, blech. And if you find a jean you love, they discontinue it. So you decide to buy 2, and find out they don't make all jeans exactly the same and the one you just happen to not try on, doesn't fit. Discount stores, Retails Stores, Thrift Stores, Garage Sales, Outlet stores, High-End Brand Name stores and even Catalogue and TV shopping, as is popular in the US, all share one thing in common: jeans that try too hard.

Conspiracy Against My Religion

While it's no secret to my friends that I am a member of the Church of Scientology. I don't believe I mentioned it here in a post on my blog, which I wanted to keep mostly about my viewpoints of all things feminine, and also post some links that are about my religion. However, while browsing around and reading up on the effects of Aspartame (because my cousin, a diabetic, is growing dependent on aspartame), I found this great website on conspiracies: http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~hubbca/conspiracy.htm. I feel now, I should "come out of the closet" and write a post directly about my struggle with the opposition against my religion.

This website features a whole section on the conspiracy against my religion (http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~hubbca/scientology.htm)as a concerted effort to suppress the population by eliminating groups like Scientologists, whose purpose is to help man improve conditions in his life. The website opens with a quote from an article by James P. Carter, MD, Dr PH.

"The Church of Scientology was on the "hit-list" of the AMA's [American Medical Association's] Co-ordinating Committee on Health Information (CCHI). From documents obtained during disclosure in the case of the chiropractors versus the AMA, the CCHI engaged in covert activities designed to eliminate or neutralise the efforts of Scientology and the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, whom the AMA considered to be working against their interests."

The article later documents the efforts of groups like Time magazine to squash the Church because of the Church's efforts to raise public awareness and expose the crimes of psychiatry and the drug industry.

The author further states "Although I am not a follower of Scientology, my observations of Scientology members would have me agree with Marvin Bordelon, President of the American Conference on Religious Movements: 'The Scientologists we are privileged to know are sincere, dedicated human beings, who are striving hard for the betterment of all'.

"I would also agree with the Reverend Dean M. Kelley, Counselor on Religious Liberty for the National Council on Churches, when he said, "I have found them [Scientologists] to be earnest, enterprising, public-spirited and committed people". Bravo to them for taking on legal drug merchants."

In all my encounters, I've got to say this about the website: Finally, somebody understands!

A religious scholar once said on the radio that a new religion generally takes 100 years to become accepted. Scientology has been in existance since the early 50's and so is half way there. Yet, sometimes, I feel that we are getting nowhere. The media continues or tries to crucify us with lies or convenient misrepresentations. Our struggles continue to be struggles, however, they are now at a different degree. To see an investigator such as the author of this website spend the time to document and make public what we Scientologists have been struggling against the past few decades, brings me great joy and comfort. Our presence obviously is beginning to show if an investigator from Australia (I believe) can see through the propaganda the obvious hidden agenda of these corporate institutions. This makes me truly feel "we're half way there".

Season of White

Last year, I decided to visit Hong Kong. I visited Hong Kong the summer before the hand over to China and I figured it was time to go back and check things out. I was very pleased to see that the communist regime has not suffocated the fashion sense of Hong Kong citizens.

While I was there I found a one of a kind cream coloured coat. At the time I felt it was an extravagance, out of date and very Jackie Kennedy. I bought it anyway. Then earlier this year, I saw a pair of white pants on sale and thought, who the heck would wear white pants other than little old ladies and nurses. I bought them anyway. Then I was browsing around in a department store and found a fluffy scarf in a sort of muted white. Same thought again, what respectable business person would wear a fluffly scarf that should be use to make a child's toy. I bought it anyway.

Now, there's snow and frost on the ground and all the shop and store displays are showing off cream and muted white tones in their fashion trends. Many manequinns were dress in off-white pants, cream over-coats and get this fluffly snowy-white scarves. So, my buy-on-a-whim turned out into quite a trend this Season of White. So, the next time you see something on sale you're not sure is in season, buy it anyway, it will one day be in style.

Christmas Shopping Gone Me

I did a bit of damage today doing Christmas shopping. First, I decided to go to the mall to get my glasses fixed, unfortunately, the doctor wasn't available, so I decided to do some Christmas shopping.

First, I headed off to buy a watch for my daddy. Then, I decided to use up my Victoria's Secret coupons and bought 1 panty for $12.00 just so I can get a free one. So I essentially paid 6 bucks for a panty, when I otherwise would've had to pay $12. If I didn't love retail so much, I would just be quite annoyed. Heck, what am I saying? I'm quite annoyed. That's why I always by retail on sale or special, like buy 1 get 1 free.

Anyway, after that, my cousin took me to see the cute doggies in display by the pet store. They were too adorable.

Then, we went hunting for a mango flavoured lip gloss for his girlfriend. We settled on the pretty smelling Lancome Juicy Tubes. He got two. While he was paying, I wandered over to the eye shadow section and got myself entraptured by the multitude of new colours this season. The lovely sales rep happily tried on colours for me, which looked fabulous, so, I bought all them for myself. Bill came up to more than it should, given that Christmas is about giving others not myself.

That's my downfall: retail. Unless I exercise magnanimous discipline, my Christmas shopping always become ME.

Power Shopping

I had to do some power shopping for a gentleman friend of mine, which was quite brilliant. We were visiting San Francisco and he forgot to bring a suit for an event we needed attend over the weekend. So, it was recommended that we check out the Macy's Mens Store to buy Zaq a casual suit.

It was quite a sight: a whole 5 story building just for Men's clothing. We were able to find Zaq a great light tan coloured microfibre sport jacket, white shirt, navy slacks, gold/blue irridescent tie, echo shoes and a belt in an hour. It was purrrr-fect.

The light tan colour brought out the natural sun bleached highlights in his hair. The gold/blue irridescence of his tie shimmered and brought out his fair complexion and enhanced his blue eyes depending the direction of light that bounced off his tie. His shoes and belt matched uncanny-ly and added rich colour to the outfit.

So you see, women do not necessarily take forever when they shop. They can get a job done effeciently and more importantly, FASHIONABLY!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Wednesday night was definately the sexiest night of television. The Victoria's Secret Fashion show really was a night of beautiful women and fancy lingerie. How many girls would like to wear a million dollar bra? I dunno, but I sure would like to be the one.

The thing that I liked the most was that I didn't find the fashion show degrading at all. Sure it was Women strutting in lingerie, but the colors and the streamers and the sparkles were actually aesthetic and was practically ART.

What I got out of it most was that women were not being glorified as "bodies" and "sex objects". Rather they were being magnified for their beauty and grace. They were being represented as inspirational muses that bring awe, adoration, reason to live and reason to make yourself and your own life beautiful.

It strengthened me to believe that no matter how bad your day went, or how bad you think your complexion looks, you can still be beautiful and that you can make the decision to be one of them. Because in the end, you are just as beautiful in your own right.

Boots

Boots are such a great accessory to have. They can dress up any outfit and create a delectable look. Today, I wore simple khakis and a white shirt with sneakers. I needed to dress up for a night on the town, so I switched from my sneakers and zipped up a 3" heeled boot, threw on a scarf and I was all set for a dinner and a movie. Just love it!

Happy Halloween

Happy Happy Halloween. It's the season of orange and black. Creepy crawlys. Black nail polish. Bright red lips and smokey eyes. You can go extreme and do the black lip color, white face and super black mascara and eye liners. For the office, I would recommend festive socks and jewelry. Go orange and black in your wardrobe. And paint on some cat eyes. Mreow!

Winter Time is Here

Winter Time is here and the warm and fuzzy fashion is town. Faux fur boots. Suede Leather jackets. Sexy knits. Riots of autumn and winter colours on the shelves. Scarves and mittens flying. Hats galore.

It's a lovely time of year with the festive holidays and lots of parties to go to, each must have a different outfit. So lots of great shopping to do and excuses to have around.

Joyeaux Noel!

Nail Colour

I found my latest favourite nail colour. It is called "Gladioli" by Essie. It's a pinkish nude colour with an opal finish and just sheer enough to see the with tips of your nails giving the illusion of a natural french manicure at the price of a regular manicure.

On the toes, I got "St Lucia Lilac" also by Essie. They don't quite tickle me pink like Gladioli. As a matter of fact, I'm of the opinion they paint me gray. hhhmmm.

Lipstick

I've been looking for the longest time to get just the right icy pink glossy look. I still have not found it. I was first turned onto the look by Laurie Dhue when she was reporting on the bombings in Iraq. Since then, I've searched high and far to duplicate her look but to no avail.

Nevertheless, I've decided to switch altogether and find a rich glossy red, which I found. I first tried the Maybelline Wetshine lipstick in Cranberry Wave, which is nice, but it just doesn't have that high glossy shine that's been the rave these days. I did find the answer in a Neutrogena Moisture Shine gloss in Flirt. I also tried out the same gloss in Tickled. I doesn't have as much colour but it certainly gives you the glossy look.

Look of the Govenor

I hope everyone watched the Arnold's acceptance speech for govenor, because that's a good lesson on suits. His suite created an excellent effect of making him look like the man for the job. He certainly didn't look like the Terminator or like he did on the twins. The simple black suit toned down that fact that he's former Mr. Universe and gave him an All-American look. He didn't look intimidating, rather he looked fatherly and inviting. He looked like he could get the job done and wants from the bottom of his heart to make Cal-ee-fohnia the best state of the best country in the world!