Today’s topic: glasses.

There’s this trend at school where everyone wears 3D glasses stolen from the movies. You know those giant, black ones? Yeah, so they pop out the lenses, and pretend they’re “nerd” glasses. Seriously? Kids watch WAYYY TOO many movies these days. They think those glasses auto-magically make them smart.

Wait…if nerds are smart, then why pick on them? Because if you’re not a nerd, then you’re stupid or something? I don’t get it, people say nerds are stupid and pick on them and stuff, and then pretend to be nerds and think dressing up like a nerd will make them smart.

Thanks for the compliment.

Ryan

Like some people, I’m a pretty big fan of Twitter. Like a far greater number of people, I’m not a very big fan of doing laundry.

Let me share a story that manages to connect the two.

When I started college, one of the many new things I had to get used to was doing laundry. I’ve since gotten over it really being any sort of a hassle, but somewhere along the line, I managed to draw a new personal tradition out of it. For whatever reason, every time I’ve done laundry, I tweeted something about it that included the word “fucking.” Now, granted, this is not a very nice word. Most people should not say this word or should at least take some care in using it because a) most people don’t find it particularly amusing, and b) that pesky roughly age 13-17 demographic finds it entirely too amusing. But I felt like the daunting task of having to do laundry did something to deserve it. Sorting colors, waiting for a dryer to open up, swiping your ID or procuring an obscene amount of quarters. Not pleasant stuff. Of course, now it’s just funny. Especially in how a few of my friends have adopted this habit as well. I can earnestly say that nothing warms my heart in quite the same way as seeing someone else tweet something along the lines of “Time to do some fucking laundry! #fuckinglaundry”

Yes, that’s right. It even has its own hashtag now. It’s perfectly acceptable either to throw it in at the end, or to just incorporate it into your tweet, like one of my friends did rather expertly with “What time is it? #fuckinglaundry time!” Those are the rules. Either syntax is perfectly acceptable! Why would I tell you that they’re the rules? Because this is obviously a thing that needs to catch on on a larger scale! True, my blog doesn’t really get enough traffic (at least outside of you know what) to start a social revolution (Twitter revolution?), but it’s as good a place as any to get the word out! Or, worst case scenario, to share an amusing anecdote to serve as a filler post.

Now go. You know what you must do. Unless you don’t have twitter, then you should maybe click on a bunch more of my posts and bump up my stats a little bit to make me feel better.

Imagine a world without the delete button. As humans, we’re programmed to color within the lines and erase whenever necessary. Rarely are we applauded when the final product reveals the process.  Today we’re showcasing two works that defy this train of thought and prove true beauty is a never ending stream of consciousness. In a recent collaboration with the home goods giant, Maharam, Hella Jongerius of the Netherlands, has stitched this intricately imperfect pillow.  Using a similar technique, Jessica Rankin, of Sydney, Australia incorporates language into her creative exhibitions.  Be it pattern, dialect or unconventional theory, we’re excited to see future works from both Jongerius and Rankin, as their experimental formulas are a breath of fresh air in a world of standardized assembly lines.

Moving Kitchen by Joongho Choi

Moving Kitchen is a nifty little concept by South Korean designer Joongho Choi. The sleek looking portable mini-appliance can be moved anywhere around the house or even out to the garden – basically anywhere it is needed – by simply wheeling it around.

The product is full of hidden surprises all neatly compacted into the smallest footprint. It features an induction hob and pull out tables on both sides providing adequate preparation surfaces and dining areas. It also features two separate drawers and a small cupboard for the storage of crockery, cutlery and pans.

Moving Kitchen

Question to you ladies out there, do you sometimes feel less of a woman if you dress in a male type of clothing? Obviously in SL you can get away with wearing almost anything and not be “judged” and that is why I love it so much, but in my RL I do unfortunately feel less attractive and almost “looked down upon” as I trundle the streets with my hooded top, jeans and trainers on lol. Maybe this is indicative about me and my mental state of mind .. lol…. rather than society as whole; but either way I have decided to take a stand – and make myself feel better in the process :b – by going all “manly” in todays blog.

“Plaid is Back” and “Trepid” by MYTH

MYTH has been around in SL for approximately a year and has become known amongst some circles as the place to go for high quality, reasonably priced casual clothing with a kind of 50’s-esque feel about them. Of course I have been a fan since day one as you all know I have a penchant for watching designers grow and develop throughout their time in SL (no… I am not a stalker btw :b). Actually, it is a little ironic as I have just remembered that one of my very first pieces purchased from Ms Pinazzo was a male shirt and waistcoat combo lol – lawd things have not changed as much as I thought.

Anyway, what you see me wearing above (whilst doing hard manual farm work :b) is the “PLAID IS BACK” shirt in pink. Available in male and female versions, and I have it on good authority that the only difference is the size of the prim cuffs and collar, this shirt is is a lovely mix of  traditional autumn/winter work wear with a huge blast of color. It is ideal for cheering yourself up on cold winter days, but team it up with the TREPID jeans (again, available in male and female version) and you have on your hands a little winner. I am all for bargain shopping but this entire outfit costs only L$300 and will see you through till next summer as the jeans are that perfect colour which can be worn in any season. This coupled with the fact that the detailing is simple and sufficient means that there should be no avatar out there complaining they have no clothes to chill out and relax in over the coming months.

Grab you fella/gal and head down to MYTH – I want to see matching couples every where

Price:  L$150 for shirt     L$150 for jeans

Colours:  shirt only – pink, green, blue, black, yello, teal, red purple

STORE  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prestigio%20Creations/53/54/23

Casual Happiness – Emerald x

Smells of cinnamon and pine are filling the air, candy canes and lights are stalking store shelves, and familiar feelings of just how to save money this holiday season are quickly creeping back. The holidays, though joyous and festive, can also be stressful and this year’s economy is still a looming feature. But, there are tricks to the trade! Decorating does not have to break the bank. There are many ways to get in the spirit and keep your change.

Scents are one of the first signs of the season. I know Christmas is coming when I smell orange, cloves, cranberries, cinnamon and pine. These essentials can all be purchased at your grocery store and make for beautiful home decorating ideas.

Oranges and cloves: Buy six to eight large oranges and use a toothpick to poke holes all over each orange. Stick cloves in each hole, find a clear glass, shallow bowl, arrange and you have a perfect center piece.

Pomegranates in pots: Holiday cheer can extend outdoors too, greet guest with plentiful pots! Plant small pine trees in door-side pots and cover dirt with an array of pomegranates and cranberries. Cut the pomegranates in half and place the cut-side up to expose the bright red seeds.   The pots showcase nature’s own red and green flare.

Glitter and glue: Break out the crafts! Strap on your boots and go pick a few pinecones from the backyard. If you don’t have any, your local OFC sells large pinecones by the bag. Lay down some wax paper and cover the cone in Elmer’s glue. Sprinkle with silver and gold glitter until the pinecone is covered. After they dry, you can make another center piece by filling a pretty glass bowl with the cones or tie satin ribbon to the ends and use as filler ornaments on your tree.

Old lights: If you have old lights (the big bulbs, for your house) that are out of commission, take the colored ones off the strand and fill a long, clear vase with the bulbs. Top it off with a few small round colored ornaments and use as a side table decoration. Be creative with your decorating, these season is about warmth, light and togetherness!

 This post was written by guest blogger Kelsey, special to the Event Services team.

Hey all, it’s been a while – been working on my Senior Thesis recently. Anyway, I was doing some early shopping the other day for potential Christmas gifts for my mother at Department 56, whose products she avidly collects. Don’t worry, I’m not spoiling any surprises on my blog here – I’ve bought her the same thing every Christmas since I had my own money to spend, so she knows what to expect by now!

For those of you who don’t know, Department 56 is a collectible product line of approximately 1:48 scale model porcelain houses, shops, churches, and other largely Christmas-themed, hand-painted village buildings – each outfitted with an interior electric light to give off a warm Thomas Kincaidesque holiday glow from the inside. Along with their flagship line of buildings, Dept. 56 offers a whole array of accessories including fences, shrubs, lampposts, and, of course, porcelain people to populate your quaint miniature town.

Like most collectible product lines (Hummel, Beanie Babies, etc.), Dept. 56 cultivates a huge amount of brand loyalty. No self-respecting collecter (and certainly not my mother) would have  another brand’s miniature homes polluting their Dept. 56 display -  in the same way that a Pop Art collector would not be content with a fake Warhol for their collection, even though the forgery may be cheaper and indistinguishable from the original.

The psychology and sociology of collectors and collecting could be the subject of an entire college course (in fact, I have taken this course) – but suffice it to say, Dept 56 fans, who are almost exclusively middle-aged and elderly women, are willing to pay top dollar for the real product. I can assure you, as a frequent gift-purchaser, this is not a cheap hobby to support.

48 Daughtry St - $85 new.

So, comes the inevitable question, why? Well, let’s take it from one of the thousands of doting Dept 56 fan websites:

“We all like to dream and imagine what would be if…..

With your Dept 56 collections you can bring some of that imagination to life. For instance, what would you have been doing if you could have lived back in the wintery times of Dickens? Which shops would you have liked to visit (or own)? Where would you have liked to live?

Or how about if you lived in New England. What would you have liked to do there? Fish, watch the sea, skate,???

Your collections allow you to display some of your dreams and desires.”

It seems the main themes here are an outlet for imagination and a degree of escapism. The Dept 56. hobbyist can, to quote a recent movie, “build a place where only the things you want to happen will happen.” In the real world, Christmas is expensive and stressful, shopping budgets are tight, the weather is bitter, and snow banks are muddy and grey – but in your own little Christmas village, all is warm, peaceful, picturesque, and cared for.

Real Christmas

Model Christmas

In essence, it is playing dolls for adult women. But before we feminize this trend, let’s remember one of the nation’s largest adult male hobbies : model trains. Is this so different? Carefully detailed, expensively acquired, lovingly displayed miniature worlds – masculinized, of course, with the addition of things like muscular steam engines and gritty coal hoppers – but no less idealized, often set in a simpler, more peaceful, time and place. There are never drunken transients sleeping on the benches of model train stations. And even traditional boy’s toys, from Lego towns to toy soldiers, follow this trend of an ideal miniature world at your control.

HO-scale model train layout

Why then, do so many seem to need to collect, build, and care for a miniature world? Is it some sort of God complex, the love of power over those smaller than you? Perhaps, at some level, it goes back to the idea of escapism: while you are never completely in control of life’s events, and bad things happen to good people, at least in your own little village you can make sure that everything happens just as it should.

- Og neeeej, det er ikke skoene .. Selvom de er SUPER fede, så vil jeg altså ikke skrive om dem .. I har allerede set dem, og at poste dem her, ville bare være ret kedeligt ikke .. Men jeg syntes dog alligevel lige vi skal vende vores næser mod den lækre kollektion, for strik-delene er nu klar til salg på Topshops hjemmeside .. Der er ikke meget at vælge imellem men det er jo alligevel lækkert med lidt nyt til at stille shoppesulten .. Som sagt er kollektionen gennemgående strik, og jeg ELSKER jo strik . Altså seriøst, jeg skal bare se at strikket halstørklæde og så kaster jeg mig skrigende over det .. Dvs. at jeg allerede er over strikke-fied denne vinter (men lidt mere kan man vel altid klemme ind!)

Louise Goldin for Topshop

Desværre er kollektion ikke drengevenlig, og jeg kan ikke engang lyve det til værende unisex over for mandslingen, så jeg må heller holde grabberne væk .. Men du kan jo stadig spurte hen til Topshop’s Webshop og sætter kløerne i de lækre strikdele (der er også nogle super svedige leggings!) lige HER! ..

Og nu skal jeg altså til at spise mad .. Du ved NU! Mmmhm!

Ladies, Lane Bryant is slashing prices on select items by 40% a day before their in-store sale! Make sure that you take advantage!

Click here to shop Lane Bryant.

As the bodies and body image of women has begun to shift, I think it’s safe to say that “plus sized” is no longer a dirty word in the minds of intelligent, stylish women. However, we too have some fashion principles we ought to follow in order to maximize our curves and minimize our faux pas. Here are a few pearls of wisdom that I have picked up over time as a size 14 stunner.

Prints are a Plus: Those mini-polka dots may not be doing you any favors after all. When plus-sized women where teenst patterns, we actually look larger and oftentimes much more frumpy. Due to our size, we have the ability to carry off larger prints without them swallowing us whole. So, go for that skirt with the large floral print or the blouse with the artsy stripes! But, some style rules still apply; be sure to steer clear of horizontal stripes. Also, work with color-black will always be a great hue to have, but the rest of the spectrum could use some love too.

Show Your Stuff: Think that a boatneck top will minimize your large chest? Think again. High necklines will make you look a bit too busty and take away from that fantastic figure. Just think about it: there are women who will pay thousands of dollars to have a cup size that you have naturally! So, toss those boatnecks and stock up on v-neck and scoop neck tops.

Tailor-Made: When gaping button holes or waistlines attack, simply buy  the item to fit the largest part of you and then find a skilled tailor that will snip away the difference. Sure, it is an extra financial investment, but wearing clothing that fits you perfectly without any peek-a-boo action will make it worth every penny.

Cutting It Close: Although fashion magazines seems to constantly recommend a-line skits for larger hips and derrieres, don’t completely write off pencil skits. When paired with waist-defining tops, they can actually create a knockout hourglass figure. Just add a pair of killer heels to show off those gorgeous calves and you’re golden.

Stretch the Imagination: Stretch materials such as jersey are our friends as they skim over curves and smooth unsightly bulges. But, they do not give you license to buy clothes two sizes too small in hopes that it will magically fit. Buy stretch clothes in your size and let the material work its magic.

Dopo pagine di contenuti sul sito e di post sul blog per raccontare questo innovativo modo di fare investimenti e ottenere prestiti per realizzare passioni e progetti, la decisione di girare un video dedicato alle piccole imprese al femminile. 

E ora che si fa?  

 Si chiama Arianna Chieli (giornalista, mamma, donna che lavora e autrice di l’apprendista) e le si affida il servizio assieme ad Alessandro Di Lecce (riprese e montaggio).  Poi si va alla ricerca di 5 amiche (fortuna che conosco donne in gamba) e si chiede loro di raccontare cosa farebbero se avessero a disposizione del denaro da investire su loro stesse. Lidia, Semira, Francesca, Elvira e Chiara ci suggeriscono 5 belle idee, 5 idee che speriamo possano essere uno spunto per altre donne (ma sì, anche per gli uomini) che cercano la giusta occasione per costruirsi un lavoro su misura, un lavoro che permetta loro di conciliare il mondo professionale con le proprie ambizioni private.

Puuuuuuuuuha klokken er tidligt, og jeg har allerede været oppe i en halv time . Jeg er jo et kæmpe A-menneske (think like NOT!) og jeg er altid frisk om morgenen (AGAIN NOT!), så det er intet problem . Ej det er lidt aparte for mig at være stået så tidligt op, men det fungere ret godt for jer, for så har jeg jo haft tid og overskud til at lave et indlæg jer imens i stadig lå og sov – Ja det håber jeg fandme i gør, for alt andet er umenneskeligt!

I love my bedz, og derfor kan jeg heller ikke overskue at rejse mig herfra, men hvis jeg skulle snige mig ud i bad, og derefter med en masse tøj på, så ville jeg gå helt amok i en kæmpe bunke Helmut Lang-tøj .. Helmut Lang har i lang tid været en lover off mine, men SU’en rækker altså ikke lige til at skulle rende i brand-fab tøj hver dag, så jeg bliver inspireret, as in MEGET inspireret ..

Helmut Lang clothes

I would die, hvis jeg vågnede op i morgen og der bare var fyldt op over det hele med Helmut Lang tøj, så hvis du sidder med 3 millioner, og du ikke vidste hvor de skulle fyres af kunne du jo lige drible forbi Le Garconne og købe dig fattig i Helmut Lang til mig!

Those lucky enough to be in or around the London area December 7th will have priority access to Rosalind Keep’s Trompe L’Oeil collection.

The new designer’s collection is a collaboration with high-street retailer Oasis and its gorgeous minimalist concept is already a rising trend on the catwalk: designer Mary Katrantzou infamously spear-headed the trend for both her A/W 2009/2010 and S/S 2010 collection.

While I’m not sure if Ms. Keep plans to make this statement her trademark, she’s having fun with the concept for meantime and it looks like a jackpot.

If you are an ecommerce entrepreneur, you understand how important it is to have Google’s approval!

There is a saying that you will hear/see many times on the internet: “If you don’t exist on Google, you don’t exist.”

This is so true. To have a successful, thriving high-traffic and high- sales online store, you absolutely must be prominently featured in Google search.

Internet retail research has shown that very few consumers will go past the first page of a search. The closer you are to the top of the page, the better off you are!

So, what can you do to make Google like you and want to put you first?

Here are some pointers to making your ecommerce website more popular with the Google search engine:

• Instead of trying to work out or try some complicated, never-fail formula for SEO, write your content so that it will flow smoothly for the reader. This doesn’t mean forget about SEO, it simply means don’t make it the be-all and end-all of your content. Google likes it when you don’t overdo the SEO stuff!
• Ask your friends and/or relatives if they genuinely like the content you are writing for the web. If they like it, there is an excellent chance that Google will like it, too.
• Update your content frequently. This is one of the most effective ways you can get in Google’s good books! Google loves fresh content, so if you supply it, you are helping your website be a favorite with this search giant.
• Have a blog for your ecommerce business and share valuable, informative content with readers so that you build up a solid base of followers who read your blog posts. Google likes popular, influential websites that have lots of friends and followers.
• Use SEO with SMO, or Social Media Optimization. Google responds very well to websites who are adept at combining these two things.

The more favorably your ecommerce website is viewed by Google, the more successful it will be!

So, make sure that you schedule time at least every week or so to keep your website up to speed and keeping Google happy!

- Drop Ship Access

The site trendwatching.com has identified top 10 consumer trends for 2010.  They include:

Urbany   (F)luxury and Mass Mingling

http://trendwatching.com/briefing/

$251,000 To $300,000 Showing Trends For October

In October 2004 We Had 12 Showings For A Weekly Average Of 2.7 Giving A Per Listing Average Of 2.4.

For October 2005 There Were 27 Showings Which Translated Into A HUGE INCREASE Of 125.0% To Gave A Weekly Average Of 6.1 At 5.4 Showings Per Listing.

October 2006 Had A WHOPPING 844.4% More Showings Compared To The Previous Year For A Total Of 255 Showings, Giving A Weekly Average Of 57.6 At 4.5 Showings Per Listing.

2007 Gave Us A 186 Showings In The Tenth Month Compared To The Previous Year. This Represented A Weekly Average Of 42.0 And 3.3 Showings Per Listing.

The Number Of Showings For October 2008 Was 193 Which Resulted In A Weekly Average Of 43.6 Meaning That Each Listing Got An Average Of 2.3 Visits.

192 Showings Was Recorded In The Tenth Month Of 2009. This Translated To A Weekly Average Of 43.4 Showings At 2.9 Per Listing.

Jeg er jo en sucker for H&M, og som jeg også tidligere har ytret mig, er jeg rigtigt glad for de lækre tiltag de er begyndt at tage . Lige for tiden syntes jeg at man ser en masse spændende tin dukke frem, og jeg var jo også inde og tjekke deres S/S10 kollektion ud, hvilket jeg lige så godt kan fortælle jer i skal glæde jer til . Lige nu har jeg leget lidt med deres webshop og jeg er faldet over en masse lækre sager .. Jeg har fundet mine yndlingssko frem til jer ..

H&M Shoes

Fra øverst og ned koster støvlerne 349,- , 349 og 599 ,- De kan findes i H&M’s webshop HER!

Støvletter er altid en lækker sag når man bare skal være lidt casual, og kan altid dresse et par jeans op, men de kan selvfølgelig også bruges til finere brug . Jeg er personligt helt vild med de nederste (kroko er jo også en kærlighed af mine!) .. De er selvfølgelig også til en lækker pris, da H&M jo er vores allesammens lover!

Another web-wine interactive experience. This time a concept from Dutch start up 94wines which involves a line of colour coded and numbered wines that you can customise with your own digital content.

The concept works by repackaging French wines with varietals differentiated by bottle colour and number rather than its vintage, region or producer. As part of the interactive experience users create a profile on the website which establishes what styles of wine they like and dislike which allows the site to recommend wines from the companies lineup. The use of colours and numbers makes the experience simple and different, while the use of profiling helps customers to explore new wines and guide their purchases.

The site allows for social media with users able to rate, review and share their favourite wines (ever so useful for buying presents this festive season). Customers can go a step further and upload a text, photo or video file to the site and 94wines will deliver the message via a QR code printed on the bottle. There’s even an iPhone app for searching the catalogue, uploading A great mix of technology and discovery. Bringing web services into the real world. Wines are priced between €5.99- €9.99

http://www.94wines.com/en-US/Default.aspx

Selbstverständlich kommt man auch bei La Esperanza nicht am “Must Have” der Saison vorbei. Der einfachste Weg für die modebegeisterte Frau ist nämlich nicht, den Kleiderschrank des eigenen Kerls nach möglichst abgetragenen Jeans zu durchwühlen und dem geilen Teil dann auch noch mit der Schere zuleibe zu rücken, mit dem Ziel sie auch noch “bootcut” hinzubekommen.

Auch in den Stores von La Esperanza hält man topaktuelle Boyfriend-Jeans zum Ausleihen oder Direktkauf bereit.

Foto: sxc.hu

Legerer Sitz , große aufgesetzte Taschen und ein leichtes Abrutschen auf der Hüfte vermitteln den Eindruck, dass man(n) mit einer solchen Frau durch dick und dünn gehen kann. Eine abenteuerlustige und unkomplizierte Begleiterin wünscht sich doch jeder.

Selbstverständlich sind die Jeans in vielen Waschungen und Styles auch ganz unkompliziert mit einem eleganten Blazer kombinierbar. Verstärkt wird ein lebenslustiges Auftreten selbstredend eher durch ein Herrenhemd als Oberteil.

Wo es die La Esperanza Boyfriend-Jeans überall gibt, erfahren Sie hier.

www.laesperanza.at

Come i calzini, anche i guanti tendono a perdere il proprio compagno. Per arginare il problema e promuovere il riciclo anche in questo campo, il gruppo ambientalista no profit Green Thing ha avuto una brillante idea. Glove Love è un progetto anti-spreco che si occupa di trovare e riappaiare guanti single (della stessa misura, non sempre dello stesso colore). Green Thing raccoglie i guanti single, provvede al lavaggio, seleziona un nuovo partner per ognuno e li rivende per 5 sterline, in collaborazione con LovelyCompanies.com, sul sito dothegreenthing.com/shop. Gli acquirenti possono solamente indicare la loro taglia. Il paio che riceveranno è una sorpresa: “Warm your hands and warm your heart, knowing that you have done a little bit to help the environment. And made two lonely gloves very happy”. Fra i supporters vip di questa iniziativa figurano, per esempio, le attrici Eva Green ed Emma Thompson.

via bigthink

in attempt to keep up with the craze, bittersweets presents the baby vampire ring:

cute.