Great Drapes!

Trends come and go, but when it comes to your home, the way you decorate reflects your personal style and since you have to live there, it needs to be decorated in a way that makes YOU and your family happy. There are several easy additions you can make to a room that can change the entire look altogether. Here are a few trends in drapes that will have your room looking updated and fresh with a simple window treatment.

Lace

I know it sounds 80's, but lace is back in when purchasing tops, dresses and even curtains! Not your grandmothers lace, but intricate and even sheer lace drapes that allow light to softly enter a room. Designs that vary from stripes to polka dots as well as paisleys. This is a super shabby chic look for those who want to keep their space soft and subtle.

Layers

A variety of materials and fabrics that overlap to give your window depth and contrast. Silks, sheer curtains and even heavier cottons. Colors and monochrome shades are in style this year as well. Mixing patterns and shapes are a great new look also!

Length

Incorporating different lengths of drapes has become a beautiful trend that used to be faux pas. A sheer under layer with a longer outer drape is an eye catching look for window treatments right now. No matter what you decide, go with your gut and the look that you love!

Skateboarding on a Dime

So your kid just informed you that he wants a “Penny skateboard” as a holiday gift. The first thing you’ll need to do is put aside your initial queasiness about your child riding a skateboard and the emergency room bills that may result.

Now, they don’t cost a mere “penny,” of course. But Penny skateboards from Australia (OK, the company is there, but the products are made in China) are pretty affordable on a modern, frugal budget. They start at 60 bucks for the beginner model, and top out at around $120.

But are they safe, you ask? (Here comes the queasiness again…)

First, let’s look at the specs. Penny boards are manufactured with “a secret plastic formula.”

The Penny Nickel 27” is the top model, and it features matched Custom 4” Penny trucks; smooth 59mm 78A Penny wheels; and Penny Abec 7 bearings.

Penny skateboards are throwbacks to the banana-style plastic skateboards that were popular back in the 1970s, but updated with modern-day upgrades in plastics, alloys, and composites.

The non-slip waffle top is there to provides perfect flex , and the specially formulated plastic is advertised to be extremely durable. The braided hanger trucks are custom-made by Penny.

On the practical side, Penny boards are extremely portable. A Penny board can fit in just about any locker or backpack.

And on the coolness side, Penny boards come in bright green, light blue, orange, black, purple, red, pink and yellow.

Reviews for the Penny boards are uniformly ecstatic. Satisfied customers like that the wheels give plenty of leeway for turns and carving.

The top-of-the line Nickel 27’ board provides as fast and smooth a ride as anybody could want.

Riders can do all the flips, kick flips, ollies, and other tricks they please, and with complete confidence. The cheaper models are made with the same quality plastic and hardware as the more expensive ones. Penny doesn’t skimp!

So there’s one thing, at least, that parents can feel good about in this scenario. Buy a Penny skateboard for your kid, and you are purchasing a quality product.

Plastic Surgery Positives

Years ago, I would have never thought that I would be a proponent of plastic surgery. Being in the fashion industry, I have seen good "jobs" and procedures gone wrong. Seeing people's life change overnight, sometimes not for the better, can be disheartening. On the same page, I have also witnessed firsthand, plastic surgery work to change the lives of those who almost lost theirs.

My husband was involved in an almost fatal car wreck a couple of years ago and actually had half of his face ripped off. It was a horrific accident that required hours of plastic surgery - putting my husband's face back together. Today, even though he still has a scar or two, if that plastic surgeon wouldn't have been there that night, my husband wouldn't look like himself today.

Another good friend who decided to get breast implants in Manhattan, a place known for top doctors, and came out a different person. After nursing her children for years, she just didn't look the same and it really affected her self-esteem. After a breast augmentation, she was like her old self, but better!

Out of all of the horror stories you hear, there really are positives to plastic surgery. Always look for reputable doctors and don't be afraid to ask the questions that you want answered honestly.

3 Hot Color Trends for Your Wedding Tux

The traditional wedding tux is a plain black and white. For a lot of men, this plain color combo just seems so boring. Some men want more options to express their own personality. While accessories like the vest and boutonniere give you some options for adding a bit of flair to your tux, choosing a wedding tux in a different color allows you to make a much bolder statement about your personal style.

Here are some of the hottest color trends right now for wedding tuxes:

Grey

From a light Heather grey to a dark, steel grey, when you choose a grey tux, you are creating a sophisticated and stylish look. This is a popular alternative that can suit any style of wedding, whether formal or casual. Bonus: It will still look good with most accent colors in the accessories or with bridesmaids dresses.

Brown

Brown wedding tuxes are very popular right now, and they create a very distinctive look. Brown wedding tuxes inspire a retro look that is perfect for the fashionable groom with an alternative sense of style.

White

A white wedding tux creates a bold look. White wedding tuxes are very formal, so they should not be chosen for casual weddings or settings. Very similar to the traditional black jacket tux, white tuxes are classic and formal. However, the contract they provide will allow you to create a distinctive look to stand out on your wedding day.

Choosing a different color for your wedding tux gives you the chance to stand out and to really make a personal statement. These colors are hot right now, but you should feel free to choose a color that best reflects your own personal style.

Clothes That Make Men Look Tough

I am a sucker for guys in uniform. I admit it! Anytime I see a police officer or military guy in fatigues, my knees go weak. There are many other types of uniforms though that aren't exactly "issued" but look just as good and make women swoon. These are just a few of the "outfits" that guys wear which make the ladies do a double take every time.

1) Farmers
Oh my. My husband is a country boy who grew up milking cows, riding horses and driving tractors. He wears tight fitting Levi's, cowboy boots and a Carhartt jacket - the perfect uniform for the lady who loves a tough guy who really IS tough!

2) Mechanics
From the grease on coveralls to the hands that could crush a beer can, there is just something so sexy about a guy who can make a motor run! Maybe it's the fact that it takes brains and braun to get a car going, these guys have both and look good doing it.

3) Truck Drivers
Ok, so most truck drivers that you see are not the gorgeous hunks that I am referring to. But every now and then, I see those flannel laden - trucker hat sporting babes that know how to handle a big rig - and it's a sight for sore eyes!

Have I left anyone out? Tell us what YOU think about men in uniform!

Best Shoe Gifts for the Sports Lover in Your Life

Do you have someone on your "nice" list this year who loves sports? It may be hard to figure out what to get these people since they likely already have whatever gear they need. However, there is one thing that all sports lovers need all the time: Shoes.

Sports lovers have to replace their shoes regularly to make sure their getting the cushioning and support they need for their active lifestyle. Here are some of the best shoes you can give as gifts for the sports lover in your life:

Men's Footjoy Golf Shoes

These stylish golf shoes are designed to provide the support needed on the golf course, as well as flexibility and comfort to help get through a long day on the green. Plus, they look cool! These shoes come in a number of colors and styles, so you can find the right pair for any golf lover in your life.

Vibram Five Fingers

These distinctive shoes fit your feet like a glove -- literally. The form over each individual toe, making you look like you have on a rubber foot. Though they may look a bit odd, they help to simulate the feel of being barefoot, which allows you to build the muscles in your foot. The Vibram Five Fingers are often worn for running, but they can be worn in just about any sport.

Teva Hiking Sandals

You don't need bulky boots to go hiking. These lightweight sandals provide both the support and the comfort needed to go on long hikes. Bonus: They look stylish and will keep your feet cool!

If you aren't sure what to get the sports lover in your life this holiday season, these shoes offer some great options for athletes of all types.

Aging Gracefully With Blush-ing Beauty

How I long to return to the days of my childhood when there were no wrinkles, blemishes, or dark circles surrounding my eyes. The smooth skin of childhood is a quality certainly missed these days. With age the skin changes and beauty products for skin care are necessary to enhance your skin. In order to attain a beautiful skin tone, quality skin care products are a must.

It is extremely important for me to keep my skin healthy and smooth, as I grow older each year. With chronological age comes aging skin and trying to avoid this seems impossible to do. The best way I can handle the aging is to take care of my skin by using professional skin care products. Beauty products that really do work are of utmost importance. Proper cleansers, brushes, applicators, soaps, creams, and lotions are available all throughout the market in today's society.

Blush Beauty Store offers everything I have been searching for. Proper application and quality products make my skin feel as if the clock has been turned back in time. Back to the time when my skin was blemish free and no wrinkles could be found. Looking back for me is in reality a time to look forward. With Blush Beauty products, I can look forward to having beautiful, healthy, younger looking skin. Thanks to all the products available to choose from, I can find something to help improve all of my skin flaws. To be young again, wouldn't that be wonderful? Having healthy looking skin is the first step.

My Faves:

1. BioElements Sleepwear Anti-Aging Cream (pictured above)
2. Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush
3. Glo Therapeutics Ultra 15% Vitamin C Serum

Why You Need a Newer Model HVAC System

Your heating and air conditioning system can have a big impact on your monthly electric bills (as well as other home appliances). Replacing your HVAC system and boiler unit with a newer model can do much more than improve the value of your home -- it can also save you a lot of money over time and can help you reduce your environmental impact.

Here are a couple of reasons:

Greater Efficiency

Older HVAC models and boilers are not as efficient as the newest models on the market. Some estimates are that older models have only about 60-65 percent efficiency. The improved efficiency of newer models will conserve energy, helping you to save money on your monthly electric bills and water bills, reducing your environmental impact.

Technological Advances

With the improved technology of newer HVAC and boiler models, there are many perks you can enjoy, such as the ability to use programmable thermostats that can keep your home a steady temperature. These perks are not only convenient, but they further compound the benefits of saving electricity, which saves you money and reduces the environmental impact of your home heating and cooling needs.

Your home HVAC system is an important piece of equipment that influences much more than the temperature in your home. Choosing a newer model HVAC system and other vital household equipment such as boilers (online for you DIY'er's!), can help you conserve energy, save money, and be more eco-friendly. If you haven't already changed out your older model, you should consider replacing it with a newer model HVAC today.

So You Want to Start a Restaurant...

So you want to start a restaurant? Well, nobody needs to tell you what a massive undertaking that is. You’ll be dealing with all sorts of permits, inspections and coming-up-to-code headaches in no time. But if your idea is good, it’ll all be well worth the trouble.

Just to get you started, here are some of the absolutely essential pieces of restaurant equipment you’re going to need.

First make sure you have a stainless steel sinks for food preparation, dish washing and employee hand washing. And make sure they’re well-placed in your restaurant. Remember: Germs and bacteria are not your friends, and stainless steel sinks are not their friends!

You’ve got to have a commercial ice maker. No restaurant can survive without one, especially during the hot months. What are you going to do – send an employee down to the corner convenience store to get ice every time you run out? Not likely, right?

Of course, you’ll also need commercial Refrigeration: That pretty much goes without saying, but keep in mind that you’ll need more than one kind.

We’re talking reach-in commercial freezers, reach-in commercial refrigerators, walk-in coolers and walk in freezers here. Some perishables need to be stored in bulk, and some need to be handy-on-the-spot for servers and cooks.

Unless you’re opening an Amish restaurant, you’ll need a commercial dishwasher. It doesn’t matter if your restaurant is the size of your childhood bedroom – those dishes and pots are going to pile up fast, and doing them by hand will eventually reduce somebody to tears (maybe you).

Oh yeah – since you’re in the business of cooking, you’ll need a convection oven, I highly recommend a Blodgett convection oven. You may want to also include a griddle and maybe a deep fryer too (how else are you going to make French fries?). 

Good luck, and bon appetit!

Fireproof Your Family with Fire Safety

Every year thousands of families are affected by fires in the home, and sadly, many lives are lost. Simple knowledge and actions are all it takes to help prevent fires in the home, and keep your family safe if they ever have to face one. Use these tips to fireproof your family!

Prevention is powerful!

Many fires can be prevented by using a little caution and common sense. Kitchen fires caused by grease splattering onto hot stove tops can be avoided by keeping the heat at a lower setting, and never leaving the hot oil unattended. It is very easy to get distracted while cooking and forget about the oil, and that is when a fire is most likely to happen. Make a point to turn off the stove or remove the oil if you have to leave the kitchen for even a moment.

Keep your dryer free from lint and dust, and never run the dryer while you are away from the house, or even while you are sleeping. Fires can form very easily in dryers that have lint in the machine, but by simply vacuuming the lint tray whenever you vacuum the carpets, all loose dust and debris will be cleared away.

Educate every family member, even the youngest.

As soon as children can understand and follow rules, teach them fire safety. Cover the basics, such as 'never hide from a fire', and have a plan of escape in case you ever need one. It's a good idea to draw a map of the house showing the best places to get out, and have a practice fire drill every couple of months to make sure everyone knows what to do and where to go in a fire emergency.

Keep smoke detectors outside every bedroom and on every floor of the home, and check them every 2-3 months to make sure they are working, don't wait until there is a fire to find out that the batteries are dead!

While worrying excessively won't necessarily prevent fires, arming yourself, and your family, with the knowledge they need, will help keep them safe from fires in the home.  Feld Fire has a great blog post about preventing fires in your home.  Click here to read it.