Buying the Right Engagement Ring
Buying the Right Engagement Ring
Have you made the big decision to tie the knot with the woman of your dreams? Men are usually more agog in preparing for the big proposal “moment” than the actual wedding itself. One of the most important details that entail a big preparation is buying the engagement ring. Of course, you’d only want the perfect diamond that would thrill her no end and make her say a big loud “Yes.”
The engagement ring is as important as the manner of proposing because it becomes the focal point once you’ve popped up the question and even for days after because your bride-to-be will be showing it off to everyone. There are many factors to consider when buying the right engagement ring.
First, you have to set your budget. Knowing how much you are willing to shell out will immediately trim down your choices. Upon entering the jewelry store you can immediately ask the sales clerk to provide you engagement rings within that range of value and from there you can start your selections.
Second, it is best to educate yourself a bit on jewelry and the different characteristics that make an incredible diamond. If you aren’t confident enough to make the assessment yourself, you can ask a friend who’s quite versed with the subject. From your selections, he can suggest which ones are superior to the others.
Third, you have to find out what your fiance-to-be wants in an engagement ring. As we all know, everyone’s taste differs, more so, a man’s to a woman’s. And this you have to do without letting her know about it. You definitely can’t be too obvious and ask her on how she’d want her ring to look like. A few months before the engagement proposal, you can ask her to window shop in jewelry stores and observe the kinds of jewelry that pique her interest. If you’ve known your fiance-to-be well enough, it would be easy to gauge if she’d prefer simple designs to the elaborate ones.
Finally, ask for referrals from your friends on the best and reputable jewelry stores there are around. Check out sale dates so you can save a bit from your purchase without sacrificing what you really want. It can even be possible for you to buy the higher priced item that you set your eye on, during this period because discounts will bring it down to within your allocated budget. Some also offer package discounts when you come back to purchase your wedding rings. Check out promotional pens that shops offer as extra gifts to customers.
The engagement ring shopping process can be made relatively easy and hassle-free even for men who abhor shopping. Ready with the necessary information, your buying decision will come quicker and simpler. You can now, excitedly, go on to the next step of preparing for the engagement proposal, and pull all strings to make it as perfect as the wedding ring you have chosen. Make the engagement proposal an event to remember for everyone. Tokens similar to wedding favors may be given to mark the momentous occasion.…
The Shopping Mall Stands Tall Even in Today’s Economy
The Shopping Mall Stands Tall Even in Today’s Economy
Since the economic crash, hundreds of retail businesses have had to shutter their doors. While the economy is finally starting to get back on track it is not recovering as fast as most would hope. One area that is actually making a bit of a comeback faster than the average retailer is the local shopping mall. Gained the height of popularity in the mid 1970’s and exploded in the 1980’s as a place where people would congregate to shop and just to hang out. While the social aspects of the shopping mall played a larger part before the economic downturn, the revenue potential is what is driving their rebirth.
Most people think of a shopping mall as a place where you can go to see a national chain, but in smaller towns these mall areas are also housing the start-up businesses in a way that shields these businesses from some harsh realities. An entrepreneur needs to come up with quite a bit of capital when they purchase a stand-alone building for their business. Setting up shop in a mall means that there is already a space that has been set up for a retail business. While placement of a new business’ store front might be up to the landlord rather than the business owner, there is no worry about zoning or filling space the business is not set up for. There is also the added bonus of already having foot traffic, rather than the business needing to try and lure customers out to a remote or seedy location in town.
While the shopping mall is a great investment for businesses, there are plenty of positives for the consumer as well. Less overhead for the business when it comes to leasing a stand-alone business as well as employing their own security force and a host of other items can mean lower prices for the customers. There is also an added bonus of less time and effort spent shopping because of the massive number of stores that are all housed in the same place. Going to a shopping mall means that if you cannot find what you are looking for in one store, you do not have to drive across town to continue the search. The world’s best malls are worrying less about having competing companies and more about making sure the consumer is well represented.
The shopping mall is making its resurgence in American and across the world precisely because of these benefits. More businesses are looking to set up shop in ready-made areas and scores more shoppers are heading to these shopping districts with the intent of only doing their shopping in those areas. A shopping mall done right is a win for those on both sides of the coin. Going forward, malls could be the driving factor in speeding up an economy that is chugging along.…
Top Tips & Tricks to Caring For Your Pearls
Top Tips & Tricks to Caring For Your Pearls
Pearls are organic in nature, and require different care than their gemstone counterparts. The surfaces of pearls are quite soft, and can be easily scratched if stored incorrectly. With these tips you will learn how to care for your pearls, how to clean your pearls, and how to have your pearls last for generations to come.
Tip 1 – Last on, first off. Pearls should always be the last thing you put on when you are heading out the door, and the first thing you take off when you get home. As pearls are an organic gemstone, many things can easily break them down over time, such as perfume, hairspray, body lotions, creams, as well as some people’s natural body chemistry.
By putting your pearls on last, rather than while you are getting ready, what you are really doing is preserving your pearls, and ensuring that they truly will last for generations to come. If any of the above products, and chemicals got on your pearls every time you wore them, then you will be ensuring that your pearls will not last for very long at all- SO avoid it.
Tip 2 – Do not wear your pearls swimming or in hot tubs. Pearls do not like chemicals, and chemicals do not like them. They are not friends, and never will be, swimming pools and hot tubs are brimming with tons of chemicals, so avoid it.
Tip 3 – Make sure your pearls are knotted. By knotting your pearls, you ensure that there will be no abrasion between the pearls and that they will not rub together. Also, the best part about knotting your pearls is that if by chance your strand does break, you will not lose the entire strand, but only one pearl. It is much easier to match and replace one pearl than an entire strand. Some strands of pearls can take years, and years to put together to find enough pearls that match to make the strand. Knot your pearls – you will thank me later for that one.
Tip 4 – If you wear your pearls often, have your strand re-knotted every 1-2 years max. Again, do you love your pearls? Well then have them re-knotted to know that your pearls are safe and secure. The most common threads used are silk and polyester, silk is more preferable.
Tip 5 – How to tell if your pearls need re-knotting? If you can see a gap in between the pearls and the knots, or see that your silk thread is starting to break down, then it’s time to take them in to your jeweler or pearl company. Before you bring in or ship your pearls, count how many pearls you have on your strand and take a photo of your pearls, as well as your clasp, so you have documentation just in case you need it.
Tip 6 – Do not hang your jewelry. By hanging your necklaces, you will absolutely stretch the thread that they are strung on, which in turn will mean that you will absolutely need to go and have them restrung.
Tip 7 – Store your jewelry in a soft bag on their own, away from other gemstones that could scratch their surface, and out of direct sunlight.…
Foot Tattoos ? Getting Inked With Discretion
tattoos are the new ?must have? ? everyone wants them and you are definitely not cool if you don?t have at least one. Trouble is not everyone wants to be obvious about it and so you have to be careful about placement. One way round it is to go for a foot tattoo. tattoos for women are notoriously difficult to place appropriately bearing in mind the problems associated with skin stretching during pregnancy (and ageing) and the unfortunate social stigma of lower back tattoos leaves little choice. Foot tattoos are generally regarded as being cute, sexy and discreet. There was a reluctance among tattoo Artists to work on feet because of potential pain and fading problems but modern techniques have alleviated both of these problems.
Foot tattoos are less showy than those in other areas which is important for those who don?t want to be too obvious about their body art. Foot tattoos are perfect to show off when you want to, and cover when you need to. They are less common than those on other parts of the body though that is changing as they are particularly popular with career orientated women who seem to prefer them as they don?t compromise their professional status but still keep up with the social trends outside the workplace. Another large factor is that a skilfully designed tattoo on the foot looks good with modern shoe designs ? especially open toes and strappy sandals. Men do have foot tattoos but not as often as women, mainly because so many areas of the male body are easier to work on.
Design is important when choosing any tattoo as you will be living with it forever, you should be sure that it means something to you and you must consider how you feel about it being on public view! Foot Tattoos are ideal for small or flowing designs and you should always get guidance from the Artist who will be doing it for you. Most designs can be reduced in size if necessary and you can be sure that a good artist will only want to do a tattoo that will look good on you and reflect well on them. If you want a personal design you may have to pay a small deposit to cover the design time but you will end up with something that is unique and special.
Foot Tattoos are generally a little more painful than those on more fleshy areas of the body, for this reason some Artists are still reluctant to do them. There is little flesh over the bones in the foot so any work done on that part of the foot is likely to cause discomfort, especially if you have sensitive feet. Because blood vessels are closer to the surface they can also bleed a little more but a good artist using good equipment will minimise this.
You must be prepared to take extra care of a foot tattoo, both during the healing period and in general. They are more prone to infection which is another reason why some Artists are occasionally unwilling to do them. Your new tattoo needs to be kept clean, dry and free from any irritation whilst it heals. This means that shoes, stockings or socks are to be avoided if at all possible for at least one, and preferably two weeks after the tattoo has been done. This will give time for any swelling to go down and stop rubbing on your new artwork which would blur it or worse still, partially rub it out. If you have any pain or signs of infection in a new foot tattoo get in touch with your Doctor without delay. Even when a foot tattoo has healed well it still tends to get rubbed more by shoes and may fade more quickly that other areas. You should always use a good moisturiser and even then it may need to re-coloured. Sun block is just as important for foot tattoos as it is for those on other parts of the body.
Tattoos are far more of a fashion item now and are accepted as an art form in their own right rather than a social ?badge?. Foot tattoos are more and more becoming the choice of someone who wants a tattoo that is both different and discreet.…
Are Internet Shopping Malls Replacing Brick and Mortar Ones?
Are Internet Shopping Malls Replacing Brick and Mortar Ones?
To begin with, ecommerce has low overhead and start-up costs thanks in part to inexpensive, yet robust e-commerce software and services on the market. In a slowing economy on-line sales are still growing at triple the rate of store sales. In addition and perhaps more importantly, more and more on-line shoppers are turning to the web instead of paying for gas to go to the mall. On-line shoppers also save time; no walking from store to store price comparing, no standing in long lines to make purchases, and they can shop when ever they like because on-line business are open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Most on-line stores offer a free shipping option and many even next day shipping with a minimum purchase requirement; thereby making more easier for shoppers to purchase on-line. Another reason shoppers may prefer to shopping-on-line is because they can read other consumer reviews before they decide to make a purchase. The easy and continuity of shopping-on-line makes brick and mortar business less desirable.
As more on-line shoppers flock to the web to make purchases, more and more small business owners are opting to start an on-line business instead of brick and mortar business. There are great benefits starting an ecommerce are: low start-up costs, endless marketing possibilities, easily traceable results and access to an international audience. Statistics show that on-line ecommerce is quickly outpacing brick and mortar business. All signs indicate that on-line ecommerce business are quickly replacing brick and mortar business.…
Have It Made Your Way With Sexy Prom Dresses Designs
Designing your own prom dress can be an exciting experience! This article is going to give you some great tips so you too can be a showpiece at your prom! When you design your own prom dress there is no greater joy than wearing your own creation, and you’re also going to enjoy numerous glances filled with admiration. You can make sexy prom dresses and you don’t need a degree in fashion to be able to do it. Do you have the courage to be creative and innovative? You’ll also need to believe that you can create the best possible for yourself. When it comes to the prom, there’s probably no other occasion that focuses on the importance of a dress more. Don’t be shy, but remember to always seek advice from the experts who should include your local designer, older siblings, parents, or basically someone who is knowledgeable with materials and fabrics. If you’re looking for some guidelines to follow, read these carefully before you attempt to design your own dress.
? Make a list, along with a sketch of the accessories you’re going to need, including purse, jewelry, footwear etc.
? Take a pad of paper and pencil and sketch the designs you have in mind. Keeping in mind every detail that comes across your mental picture of the dress you want to wear on prom night and how you would design your own prom dress.
? Pickup catalogs and visit various brick-and-mortar stores as well as internet web sites until you’ve exhausted all of the resources for creating your imagined designs.
? After you have sketched sexy prom dresses until you can’t sketch anymore, and there don’t seem to be any more ideas coming forth, put them aside for a few days and ponder on them.
? Go back and look at them a few days to a week later and pick out the ones that you like the most and you definitely want to wear to the prom.
? Remember to get the opinions of others by showing them your favorite dress designs and ask them to rank from top to bottom. You may have a pleasant surprise in store as they even may pick the one that you have in mind.
? After you’ve selected the one you want, visit your tailor and show him or her the sketch, pick out your fabric, and remember to have them measure you carefully so you don’t over-purchase fabric. It can be expensive. Always be open to their professional opinion to improvise on your pattern, if necessary.
? Buy all that is required to bring your dress into reality and hand it over to your tailor and ask for a trial fit before the dress is put through the finishing process.
? Don’t purchase any accessories until your dress is done and then you can buy matching cosmetics, jewelry, footwear, purse, etc.
Here are a few ideas for design your own prom dress theme.
? Miss Hollywood shows your sense of style with a designer-inspired gown
? If you’re not into a proto-typical prom dress, opt for a cool cocktail dress
? Lady-in-waiting adds elegant trains and serious punch
? A celebrity favorite is a sheath dress and they are as comfortable as they are glamorous
? Va-Va-Voom is ultra feminine and is a great hip hugging gown
? Stemming from the summer prairies skirt rage, tiered skirts have made a serious comeback
? The little black dress is a classic, so take your cue from Audrey Hepburn
? The high and low dress has a short hem in the front and is longer in the back and is truly unique and adorable
? Sans Straps are sexy prom dresses that have become all the rage and are almost a prom staple. They will flatter your figure, and are sassy and classy all at the same time.
? And finally for the Cinderella look, a bouffant skirt with an otherwise simple top combination. This type of gown requires minimal accessories, and you’re going to have every eye on you.
You’re going to feel so excited and vibrant after your dress is completed, and it should be something that let’s you be yourself. When you design your own prom dress, there can be a great deal of satisfaction involved, and you’re going to feel confident when you go your special night.…
Fabulous Fashion Frenzy -To Pay Or Not to Pay? Save Money Shopping Online
Most fashion conscious shoppers like to keep an eye on the trends set by the rich and famous and at one time or another wish they could have that gorgeous little designer bag that they saw on the red carpet.
The dilemma is whether to pay or not to pay hundreds or even thousands when what you really need is a new dishwasher or washing machine.
With a little care, time and searching you can get both using internet shopping!
There are millions of online shopping sites in about as many countries of the world that you can think of. With a not an awful lot of time and a bit of internet searching it is possible to find the perfect bargain.
Many internet shopping sites offer a discount on registration and many also offer incentives to recommend friends to the site promising more discount if the friends make an order. You can recommend these sites to hundreds of friends just think of the savings.
Auction sites also offer the opportunity to make substantial savings if you have the patience. It can be fun if a little nerve wracking as you watch the last few seconds tick by before winning that lovely designer item that you’ve been watching for days, or equally frustrating as at the last second someone gets a good bid in and you don’t have time to make another.
Auction sites can be dangerous if you don’t keep your head though. It is recommended that before bidding for an item, you decide on your maximum spending amount and stick to it. Auction sites usually let you put in your maximum bid amount and then make higher bids for you, up to your maximum amount, if you’re outbid on a previous amount. Don’t be tempted to go higher than your maximum amount otherwise you haven’t found a bargain.
As mentioned earlier with internet shopping you can go global, shops are international and the choices are immense. You can buy Italian leather handbags direct from Tuscany, jewellery from Europe and India. Designer clothes and perfumes from France. Many sites also offer gift wrapping and delivery to other addresses making them perfect to send unusual gifts to friends and family.
There are one or two drawbacks though. You can’t try on goods so it is worth checking out any returns policy for an internet shop and postage costs can sometimes be high.
As a rule though as long as you are careful and check-out the terms and conditions and delivery rules and regulations, there is no reason why you can’t save on most items and get your sassy and snazzy items as well as the more boring but practical ones!…