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.…
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.…
5 Places to Shop When You Visit Singapore
5 Places to Shop When You Visit Singapore
There are many attractions in Singapore. I strongly urge you to include Singapore as one of the possible holiday destinations. Other than its cleanliness and tasty food, Singapore is also a shopper’s paradise. There are many shopping hot spots here and if you love shopping, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
If you intend to come to Singapore, try to come between May to June. This is because there is a nation-wide sale going on during this period. This nation-wide sale is known as the Great Singapore Sale (GSS). During GSS, most boutiques and shopping malls offer up to 75% discounts on their goods. How can you miss this out?
Now, let me share with you 5 places to shop when you visit Singapore:
1. Vivo City. Vivo City is located at Habour Front and it is one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore. There are many boutiques and restaurants there and I am sure that you will enjoy a great shopping experience in Vivo City. It is also very near Sentosa, an offshore island famous for its beaches and sight-seeing. You can take a cable car ride from Vivo and you will reach in less than 10 minutes time.
2. Orchard Road. I believe you have heard about Orchard Road before right? Orchard Road is the most famous shopping destination in Singapore. Along Orchard, you can find many well-known shopping malls such as Takashimaya, Tangs, HMV, & more.
3. Chinatown. Chinatown is an always-busy street with lots of old-school shopping centers and street stores. Although Chinatown is quite old-school, you can still buy lots of good stuffs there. When you are shopping at Chinatown, remember not to take the first offer. Always try to negotiate with the sellers for a better price.
4. Centre Point. Centre Point is located along Orchard Road and it is another very popular shopping center. You can find all kinds of goods there, from branded wears to electronics. If you are tired after a day of shopping, you can visit their restaurants for a good dinner.
5. Bugis Street. If you are into street wear, you must visit Bugis Street. Bugis Street is famous for its trendy and young street wear. There are a lot of stores so take your time to visit every store.
Hope to see you around in Singapore. Remember: try to come during May to June so that you will not miss the GSS.…
How To Re-Purpose Women’s Clothing Accessories
How To Re-Purpose Women’s Clothing Accessories
Women love the changing of seasons. They are a perfect excuse for shopping. Though there are only four climate seasons, there are different buying seasons within those climates. However, as the dollar gets stretched more and more, you may find it tough to create justifications for spending those hard earned bills on yet another pair of shoes. Well cheer up. There is a way to revamp that existing foot ware without breaking the bank. It is through accessorizing. I don’t mean buying a three digit priced handbag to go with your existing outfit. It is with simple little items that are overlooked in favor of the higher priced garments and bags.
You’ll usually find these items at the check out as a final point of purchase at the register. But rather than ending your shopping journey there, why not start at that point. When it comes to getting the most out of accessories, you have to think outside the box. If you have earrings, don’t just stop at your ears. Those little things not only bring attention to your lobes, they will also give pizazz to your shoes, jacket, hat, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you give a little thought, you can create styles that make you the envy of your peers. You may even have a budding career on your hands.
How many times have you run yourself ragged trying to find a particular shoe for an outfit you have only to be frustrated and no closer to a solution? Well, why not first stop at the jewelry counter and look for any clip on that your can use for shoes you already have. You can clip it to the front vamp of the shoe or hang it to the side to create a stunning look that will have people asking you where did you get those beautiful shoes. Another style trick is to take a sheer scarf and brooch. Loosely wrap the scarf around your neck as a choker; then attach the brooch to the front. You could also use a sheer scarf as a camisole for a low cut dress and put a lapel pin or brooch on it.
Another use for a scarf is to use it as a midriff wrap for a tight fitting dress, Just wrap it and pin it with a decorative accessory. To get an idea of how this works and what colors work. Just visit your book store and look through fashion magazines or go online and do a search. Many women tend to turn away from the huge hanging ornate earrings. So much so that those are usually the first to go on clearance. It’s not that they are all that unappealing, they just can’t imagine wearing that type of jewelry often enough to justify buying it. Not to mention running the risk of elongating your ear lobe holes from the weight of them. Well, take those same earrings and attached them to either side of your dress jacket and you just created a brand new item. All it takes is a little forethought to build an enviable wardrobe on a budget.…
Easy Tips on Buying Healthy Grocery Without Exceeding Your Budget
Easy Tips on Buying Healthy Grocery Without Exceeding Your Budget
Today, times are economically cold and harsh. Inflation has swallowed everything. When you go out shopping, you are shocked when you hear the man at the counter say, “Ma’am this pack of beans costs $4.99!!”Why won’t you be surprised when you used to get the same product at $1.50 and you can’t even tell him to price it down!
With food and fuel prices rocketing sky high, it becomes difficult to manage a monthly budget for your grocery shopping. Do you know what that means? When people get worried about food prices, this signifies a trouble in maintaining a healthy diet and that’s not a good sign. However, you can still save yourself from this anxiety by buying healthy and nutritious foods without exceeding your budget. Here is how you do it:
1. When you go out for grocery shopping remember to make a list of items you need, so you drive to a place where you can easily find everything you need. This saves much of your time and effort, and most importantly, you gas expenses, because you wouldn’t have to make extra trips to different convenience stores to shop for things you couldn’t find at one shop.
2. You made up your mind for shopping, made a list of items you need and you are at the store buying them. But, please buy only those products which you need, i.e. the enlisted items, nothing extra. I’ve noticed many people go shopping and come back home bringing extra food items. Well, if you want to maintain your budget, you got to stick with the original plan.
3. It’s a healthy practice to buy generic food products. Besides, they all are the same; it’s only the labels that have separated them. They come at price lower than what the ‘branded foods could cost.
4. It’s about time you subtract processed and prepared foods from your daily diet. Processed and prepared foods, including frozen items are not a very healthy, since they have numerous preservatives and other additives to prolong their shelf life and have nothing natural about them.
5. Buy bulk items, they are more economical than buying individual food packages. Besides you can reserve them to be used in future. It’s never goes to a waste. Just jar them out on in different containers and use them anytime your need calls for it.
6. Always buy fresh fruits and vegetables which are in season. Never go for preserved ones because they are injected with various chemicals which might be harmful for health in the long run.
7. Impulsive shopping is a bad habit. Always shop when you have a need or when you feel hungry. And never buy fattening or sweet products when you are hungry otherwise, you will crash your entire diet plan. Just remember, sweet items including chocolates, sweetened breads, cakes, ice-cream etc. mean extra calories and nothing else.
9. It’s better to purchase items on sale or buy from a sales coupon. Always check for expiry dates on food items on sale. It’s better to buy products which have a longer life and can be stocked up for future. But tell you what, sometimes you find generic items still being much cheaper than name brand foods. So, when buying through a sales coupon, buy items which you think will cost much low.
10. When purchasing dairy products, always buy them from local farmers’ markets. Take my word, you will get fresh products and reasonably priced, plus fewer transportation costs.
11. Shopping can be hectic. So, it’s best to keep a bottle of water with you at all times or some healthy snacks to munch on, in case you feel thirsty or hungry. This way, you wouldn’t be inclined to get yourself something from the store and what I’ve experienced is that people often go for sweet products, buy a pack of chips, or even stop by at candy vending machines. That is so not recommended.
13. If you ask me, it’s better to go for fresh fruits then buying preserved juices. Eating an apple every day and drinking plentiful water is healthier than drinking a glass of preserved juice. Take fruits rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.
14. Be less a meat-y person and more a veggie person. Foods with meat tend to be slightly pricier than meatless dishes. You can look for other sources of proteins such as beans and legumes. Go for food recipes that use meat as an ingredient or in lesser quantity such as spaghetti, casserole, or salads for that matter. They not only are pocket-friendly but nutritious too.
If you want to keep a slim waistline, then trim your food bill. Happy shopping!…