Christmas 2014 - Ultimate Gift Guide for Her

Christmas is knocking at the door and one thing you should get done is your gift shopping. It comes only once a year and it’s worth taking all the time and trouble so plan something nice for those you love. There are many possibilities especially if you’re looking for Christmas presents for women.

A sure way of winning her would be with a brand new dress from her favorite store or designer. If you don’t want to go wrong with your choice ask her to accompany you and choose something she likes. Believe me it is an easy and definite way of pleasing her.

For someone who loves to read get a rare book she’s always wanted. If you want a simpler way out pick one of her favorite authors but make sure she doesn’t already have it. If she enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes a cookbook would be a good idea or you can even sign her up for the classes she wants to attend.  

A lot of women enjoy the latest in technology and if she’s one of them then the latest gadget would make her squeal in delight. Do a little homework and understand what she really likes so you know exactly what to look for.

If she loves to travel and explore new places then plan a trip that she can take. Get to know her dream destination and plan a wonderful holiday that she will thoroughly enjoy.

For a quiet time with her alone book a place for the two of you at her favorite restaurant. Let the staff know you wish to make it extra special for her and plan some little treats and surprises throughout the evening to keep her in good humour.

A collection of photographs with family and friends is another very sentimental present that any woman will love. Carefully sieve through the stacks and pick the very best that you know will warm her heart.

A Christmas hamper with the choicest chocolate, cheese and wine is always safe and ideal if she enjoys good food.

It is actually not about the thing but the thought that she looks for in any present. So this Christmas make a little effort to scout for the perfect present. It will be worth every effort when you see her face light up with genuine joy.

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Celebrity Inspired Holiday Style

Getting your favorite celebrity look is a great dressing idea for holiday parties. Celebrities are always inspiring and especially when it's about fashion, most of us want to be like a star at the red carpet. So this holiday season, why don't you dress like your favorite celebrity? You do not require a Versace or Armani dress for that but selecting the right accessory can also turn you into the celebrity you wanted to be. Here are two DIY celebrity costume ideas to help you live the star status at the upcoming Thanksgiving feast.

Kate Middleton:

'The People's Princess' is well known for her simple yet splendid style. Kate knows the perfect way to look glamorous without spending multiple dollars. She is thrifty and never afraid of recycling her dresses and jewelry. Therefore, it is easy to dress like the princess. Choose a coatdress in blue, green or grey with matching hat and get a ring inspired by that signature blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring with a pair of pearl dangles like those worn by her at many occasions. With minimal make-up, shiny open locks and a pair of wedges, you are ready like the princess.

      

Angelina Jolie:

The modern Cleopatra of Hollywood always carries a look so classy that everyone wants to replicate. Carry the elegance with sensuality, bring out your LBD or a flowing green gown, half swept your hair and add a pair of emerald earrings to be like the party beauty. For much resemblance, you can try some temporary tattoos.

       

Dressing like your favorite celebrity is so easy and its fun too. While you will find the dress in your wardrobe or at the nearest mall, I would suggest getting fine jewelry. It is because the real gemstone jewelry always has an appraisal value and it is timeless. Not just the holiday party but you can wear it ever after. I have picked these celebrity-inspired jewels from Angara.com, which has a remarkable selection of fine gemstone jewelry. The store is also offering great discounts and exclusive free jewelry gifts for Thanksgiving Day. That ways you have a great chance to get your favorite celebrity inspired jewelry at a value found never before. 

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Celebrate a Meaningful Thanksgiving

“Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more.” The time has come again when you get a full day to thank Lord for this lovely life of human and also your loved ones who have been the inspiration of living in good and sad times.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a holiday to acknowledge the secret presence of Almighty in our lives, for a bountiful harvest before the winter season. Carrying out something meaningful keeps the spirit of the day alive. Celebrating the occasion with friends and relatives and valuing their companionship by exchanging gifts is quite evocative. However, connecting with Mother Earth and its natural elements is much more exciting.

This Thanksgiving, feel grateful for the beauty of Nature. It will indeed make a difference in your celebration. 

There are numerous ways of showing your gratitude.  You could plan a road trip to some forest or wildlife century and appreciate the golden hues of fallen leaves. Cherish the existence of birds and animals on the planet or simply take a walk on the countryside with your kids. Let your children learn the traditions and values behind celebrating the occasion.

Do some spiritual learning and meditate before in the rising light of the Sun.

Starting your day with such relaxing outdoor activities, you can arrange for a theme party in the evening. Ask your guests to arrive in demeanors that relate to the environment in one or the other way. Decorate the party hall with components found in the natural environment.

Organic colors of the spectrum are good to go in your dresses; grass green, ocean blue, sunny yellow, rosy red, snowy white can be excellent pickups. Adorning your outfit with floral and animal jewelry is also a great idea to turn up in the party.

Charming and refined jewels, consisting of nature-based designs and vivid gemstones, can be the real companions to pay tribute to our Mother Earth. You can even carry accessories related to the theme such as floral headbands and headdresses. All this will make your holiday more glorious than ever before.

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Online Shopping: The Ultimate Solution to Black Friday Mishaps

A record breaking online sales was witnessed in the last year holiday season. Every newspaper and magazine talked about the revenue that the e-commerce had mustered on the occasions of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This was indeed a win-win situation for the online retailers and the shoppers, especially on the day of Black Friday.

It is rightly said that nothing interesting is ever completely one-sided. In a similar way, no matter how exciting the occurrence of Black Friday is, its negatives come as a surprise to you when you face a dreadful situation sometimes (wish this to never happen). Being the biggest shopping calendar day, the holiday suffers from a lot of accidents on the roads. Since everyone is in a hurry to grab the most impressive deals and offers as put on the market, there is an acute probability of road accidents and other adversities in the stores. To avoid such a tragedy on this happy holiday, what else can be a better solution than buying from the virtual world?

Incredible advancement in technology and the growing sagacity among masses have outweighed online holiday sales in the last five years.  In fact, the alternative of online shopping acts as a gratuity on the occasion. You can calmly sit at your home with family and friends and shop for the whole day without any fracas and chaos.

Besides keeping away from all these issues of traffic congestion, parking and long queues at the billing section, you enjoy tons of other benefits while buying your favorite stuff from your laptop screen. Huge collection that might not be available at the local store, warm and friendly customer service, and free home delivery are some of the delightful leverages. Furthermore, you can conveniently prepare for the nearing festivals by being at home and not exhausting your holiday in going out and shopping.

So, make this year the biggest and safest shopping experience of your life; just reap the benefits of upcoming Black Friday discounts in addition to online shopping.

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Shopping in a Cybernated World

A tradition that started in the year 2005 has led to a staggered increase in digital shopping, in the last eight years. Monday has gained an altogether different dimension after the announcement of Cyber Monday in America. Where Mondays are always about the work blues, the Monday after Thanksgiving is a go-go shopping day of the year. It is a grand holiday in the United States, which is happily celebrated with laptop or desktops’ screen ;)

Right from the Monday Morning, everyone is glued to their computer screens for fetching the best deals and offers of the year. The craze of online shopping has overblown in the mind of every American. Cyber Monday sales have caught up since the day found its identity. Looking from the consumer’s point of view, the emergence of such a shopping Monday is a sensible and well-thought-out interlude form the mortar-store shopping.

With no hostility for Black Friday, Cyber Monday is just a modern way of having a good shopping time in the post-Thanksgiving weekend. However, in one or the other way, shoppers are saved from the hustles of Black Friday. It is far more secure and quick to buy your favorite things from the virtual world, rather than running across streets and local stores.

From retailer’s outlook, shopping pattern and desires of customers have changed, which in turn, have inclined them towards shopping at ease. Thus, e-commerce businesses have been greasing their elbows to make their websites appear imposing and notable. On this American holiday, they hoard their money drawers with uncountable dollars and also let the shoppers avail big-bang discounts and markdowns on their much-loved festive spending.

It is astonishing to see that every single item of your regular or occasional use is obtainable on the web planet. Starting from a designer paper bag to a precious jewel, you can purchase them all with no troubles and tiredness. And to make your purchase more prolific, you are given holidays like Cyber Monday in the year. So make this festive Monday the biggest on record and also in your wardrobe.

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Tips on How to Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and most of us are looking forward to celebrating it with great excitement and thrill. The fun can increase manifolds when you celebrate it with your friends. It is always exciting to be in group when you are about to do/watch something scary.

Let us read about some of the tips to celebrate Halloween with friends:

1. Haunted Home:

Decorate your home with the scary things and turn it to a haunted house. You can start it right away from the entrance and let your friends enjoy the scary sight.

2. Watch Scary Movies:

It is fun to watch the scary movies anytime, but when Halloween rolls on, the fun is all the more. Put off the lights and watch some of the movies that are your all-time favorite ones with your dear friends.

3. Tell Ghost Stories:

                                             

Another interesting idea to celebrate Halloween with friends is to tell and share the ghost stories. These can be personal experiences or the ones that you have heard from other friends or the families. Also, you can include the stories that you saw in TV shows like ‘America’s Most Terrifying Places’.

4. Go to a Haunted House:

No problem if you do not want to turn your own home to a haunted house. You can always go to a haunted house with friends. It will be fun to visit the place which has historical witch stories.

5. Costume Party:

The most common yet the most popular way to celebrate Halloween with friends is to enjoy a costume party. Take out/design your own dress which is scary and amusing. It is interesting to see what your friends wear for the party who dresses up the best. 

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Double-Sided Earrings: Go Trendy this Holiday Season

WOW! What an innovation. Jewelry designers have really amazed the young girls by replacing the basic earring back with a very fashionable one such that even the simplest of earrings make a statement. How impressive it is that along with the exquisite front, people are eager to take a look at the backside of your earlobe? Something very artistic and ingenious might have wrapped around; double-sided earrings have given a contemporary dimension to the category of earrings.

Image Source: Oprah.com

With studs, ear cuffs and ear climbers already ruling the red carpet, two-sided earrings have doubled the fun. This exceptionally hot new trend has brought out the chic looks of the charming celebrities like Emma Watson, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Rihana and many others. 

You can be ready for both, party and office with the same pair of earrings. And what styles, designs and shapes; they are just so captivating. This jewelry fashion is an edgy twist that gracefully adorns the front and the back sides of your earlobe. Classic pearls look classier when fitted on the two sides. They showcase a sophisticated and modern personality of the wearer.

Funky metal designs, clinching front and rear sides, provide a dapper appearance of a high school girl. There are countless designs and styles to choose from, you can be colorful with gemstones, elegant with diamonds and modish with just metals.

The cherry on the cake is that these earrings are reversible. What design you want to flaunt at what side is absolutely your choice. Only one rule to follow while donning double-sided magnetism is to pull your hair back your ears. Let others see and admire your blings from all angles and you keep counting the compliments you receive; they will be endless.

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Tips on How to Entertain Guests on Halloween

If you are throwing a Halloween party for your family and friends and are struggling over some interesting ideas which can entertain them the most, then you are reading the perfect post.

We will talk about some of the best ideas which can turn up to be the most amusing and interesting for your guests. Let’s read them:

1) You can make a small horror place at the entrance of your main home and make sure that the guests have to cross it before entering your home. You can decorate it with plastic mummies, and snakes and insects made in plastic which may drop down on the guests if they try and touch them. The place should be in complete darkness and the excitement and fear of the guests when these objects fall on them will make the start of your party a very wonderful one.

2) Next is to offer your guests the starters and the drinks in horror themed crockery. You can paint scary faces and objects on them or bring out the artist in you to design them with some scary objects. They will love having drinks and snacks in these crockery.

3) Run a pumpkin carving competition and the best one should grab a prize. Make the prize as interesting as possible to let the guests enjoy the competition. You can ponder over gifting a CD of horror movie, a Halloween costume and things like this.

4) You can ask them to turn themselves into a mummy. For the same, you can provide them with the rolls of the toilet paper. This is very economical and exciting idea to celebrate Halloween with guests.

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Tips to Dress up for Halloween Party

Hey, if you are looking forward to getting dressed up for the Halloween and are not in a mood to spend a large amount on the costumes available in the market, then you are reading the perfect post. Here, we will guide you on how to look amazingly Halloween type with the things easily available at your home! Yes, you read it correct! We are going to guide you on how to dress up for Halloween with the things at your home.

Let’s check it out:
1)    Dress:
Take out a light colored top or a t-shirt and all that you have to do is to paint a frightful object on it. Trust me, it will look beautiful and you will turn up to be the one wearing the most economical Halloween costume. You can ponder over pairing it with your skirt or jeans, which ever gives you a comfortable experience.

2)    Make Up:For the Halloween make up, you can enjoy the experience of being a bit careless. You need not get stressed for every minute detail of it. To get the desired looks, you can apply dark and bold eye liner and kohl. For the face, you can think of putting green, yellow color on the face. The easiest way will be to mix talcum powder with the food coloring agents to attain the color. Simply put that on face and you are ready for the Halloween party!

3)    Jewelry:
For the special evening, you can take out all the creepy designed jewelry from your collection. The reptile and snake designed ring, earrings, necklace, bracelets will render a fascinating look. They can be simple metal jewelry or the gemstone studded ones, but one thing is sure that they will help you look perfect for the party.

4)    Accessories:
Your accessories like footwear, bag, clutch, etc should blend perfectly with the theme and the costume. For this, you can ponder over matching their colors, or may be the ones that have color contrasting to the outfit, but looking great with them!

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Bold Jewelry for Music Concerts

Fall season is all about cozy days, crisp nights, warm tones, versatile outfits and elaborate jewelry. As we progress towards the winter season, we become more joyous and cheery with the arrival of festivities such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. In the midst of carousing, you get a chance to attend several electrifying music festivals of your much-loved artists. These music carnivals are great places to connect with your friends and even a few outsiders that become your dearest acquaintances with the course of time.

Source:http://www.cmt.com/pictures/2013-cma-music-festival-sunday-night-concert/1708714/8177989/photo.jhtml
Source:http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/music/summer-concerts-in-los-angeles-complete-la-summer-show-schedule

Thus, such events and fetes want to see you in the best of your outfits and accessories. You never know when you can be ushered in by your favorite artist on the stage, fascinated with your appearance. I believe big, bold and stylish jewelry have a high chance to make an impression on everyone around. Moreover, it appears captivating while you dangle with the rhythm and beats of the bass guitar and the bongo drums.

Source:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/208150814003259527/
Source:http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/j7szhn-l-610x610-jewels-gold-jewelry-cute-gold-chunky-necklace-necklace-beyonce-festival-music-festival-cochella-cross-white-yellow-celebrity-style-style-fashion-spring-trends-2014-trend-spring-sum.jpg

In this context, layering of necklaces, stacking of rings, mounting up bracelets are a fun to wear and watch. With earrings, you can choose your own ways. If you can manage donning sophisticated drop earrings, it’s a big thumbs-up; else you can play it safe with dainty yet lovely stud earrings. However, with the incredible modernism in the fashion industry, you can also find massive stud earrings to strike the chords of the concert.

Either opt for sleek and elegant chain necklaces and pile them up on your neck in an enchanting arrangement or choose a gigantic beaded necklace to enhance your beautiful neckline.

Accessorize your fingers with a myriad of plain metal ring rings to present a funky, chic appearance. Semi-precious stones such as amethyst, citrine, and garnet are fantastic, affordable selections to make a glistening and urbane presence in the upcoming musical gigs.

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Shop Playfully in October

The month of October has so much in its basket to offer. Neither I can wait to see my friends in the spookiest of their appearances on the Hallows eve nor can I forget to support the breast cancer campaign increasing its awareness among women. Also, my best friend’s birthday is lined up in the mid of the month. It is really so much of fun and adventure in October and I have to make a lot of preparations starting from going on a shopping voyage. 

Ah! Crazy me, I have been talking only about myself, forgot that you too must be very excited for all this festivity. Boys and girls, you need to be little tricky while shopping for the holiday season, in a sense that you don’t miss out anything significant. The second week of October has already begun and very less time is left to finalize everything.

Young girls and elderly ladies, who haven’t shown up for the breast cancer awareness drive until, should definitely shop for something new and pink to adorn and stand up for the enlightenment of the society. To delve and indulge completely, paint yourself pink from head to toe or wear a pink ribbon in the form of a chain pendant for the whole month. I had seen a cute pink sapphire chain pendant of hope on one of the online jewelry stores named Angara and you won’t believe, it is the just the right and classy emblem to inspire the world.

Trick-or-treating is yet another reason to shop frantically. Make this Halloween the funniest and brightest of all by choosing vibrant gemstone ensembles to complete your angelic or witch look. Undoubtedly, we are lucky enough to experience such a vast world of gemstones that there are Black Diamonds to complement the devilish appearance and soft pink sapphires and multicolored opals to show up in the divine fictional characters. You can earn the best praises choosing the most gleaming jewelry for the evening.

In the midst of these occasions, do not forget to buoy up your closest female friends and cousins’ happiness (if they have their birthday falling in the month). This year, make her birthday more ravishing by giving a lovely opal jewelry ensemble. There are incredibly stylish rings, earrings and necklaces of opal that you can find at legit online jewelry stores. Within the bliss of the celebration season, many of the stores have even started giving offers on their products, so just grab the most valuable pieces to cherish a dramatic October.

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Cherish Year after Year

Celebrating anniversaries by giving ring gifts to your female life partners is a custom that had been handed down from the ancient Egypt period. The royal kings of that era used to express their love and devotion towards their wife through eternal and precious jewelry items. Rings are the traditional gifts to celebrate the most pious and romantic moments of life, and they have become the most modern presents to honor each other on achieving a milestone like anniversary, being together with each other.

These ring gifts are now categorized in a separate section of Anniversary rings. Any stone and any metal can be included to be given as a present. Diamond wedding anniversary rings are the most preferred choices. However, gemstone rings have also shown a remarkable presence in this category. Colorful stones, when fitted in different styles, please every woman when she receive it as a gift of her spouse’s unsurpassed and continuously growing love. For every year anniversary, there is a distinct gemstone that holds special significance and thus, the ring is given likewise.

Gemstone anniversary rings are very unique and customized anniversary gifts, which speak volumes about your lovely past, present and future relationship. There are different styles like three, five or seven-stone, full eternity, half-eternity, multi-row, etc. in which an anniversary ring is available in the market. Usually, eternity rings are said to be just the right symbols of a husband’s sentiments and the life he has lived so far, with the support of his wife in happy and sad times. Sapphire, ruby and emerald look magnificent in the eternity fashion; in fact, sapphire anniversary rings are one of the hottest and most stately gifts ever given to a lady.

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History and Mystery of Koh-I-Noor Diamond

Koh-I-Noor diamond is undoubtedly the most famous and oldest diamonds of the world. It has a long story where it got passed from one hand to the other and finally, as on today, it belongs to the British Royal family and is part of the Crown Jewels.

Very few people know the fact that when it was discovered, Koh-I-Noor (mountain of light) was mined with its double, Dayra-E-Noor (sea of light).

It is interesting to know that this diamond was 793 carats when uncut and was mined in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its original name is said to be the Samantik Mani. It is believed that this diamond was very first talked of about 5000 years ago in a Sanskrit script. Many people believe that this ‘Samantik Mani’ and Koh-I-Noor diamond are the same stones. After this first written document about the diamond, it is not mentioned for the next 4000 years.

It came into popularity again when it came to the hands of the royal families and kings of India. Till 1304, this dazzling stone was under the possession of the kings of Malwa, but was not given this name yet. It was only after it came into the hands of the Mughal kings that it got its beautiful and meaningful name. The Mughals ruled various parts of India for more than 200 years and the diamond kept on passing from one generation to other and one ruler to the other. Shah Jahan, popularly known for building the Taj Mahal, got Kohinoor diamond encrusted to his world famous Peacock Throne.

The Mughals kept the Kohinoor with them from 1323 to 1850, and in the year 1851, Lord Dalhousie got it arranged that this was presented to Queen Victoria, the then Empress of India. In the year 1852, Prince Albert ordered the diamond to be cut, in order to increase its brilliance and the gigantic diamond was then reduced to 106 carats. It was then mounted to a tiara, along with 200 other diamonds.

This famous diamond has witnessed many wars and the bloodsheds including the one where a Mughal brother killed his own brother for power and rule.

An ancient Hindu text says that this diamond has curse associated with it and it read like this:

‘He who owns this diamond will own the world,

But will also own all its misfortunes,

Only God or a woman can wear it with impunity’.

It means that though the wearer of the stone will be so powerful that he can rule the world, yet he will also have to bear the misfortunes that this stone will bring along and it is only God or a female who can wear this stone without any ill effects of it. People believe that the Royal family of the Britain was aware of this ill effect and hence when the Kohinoor came into their possession, it has always been possessed by the wife of the male heir to the British Empire.

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Why is Diamond So Special?

The mere name of the diamond brings so many adjectives to the mind like rare, durable, beautiful, sparkling, forever, dazzling, love, engagement ring, etc. None of these praiseful words are enough to define this beautiful stone. It is one of the most beautiful and most popular stone of the gemstone kingdom and is extensively used in the jewelry industry.

Its craze is extraordinarily high among the celebs as well and this is the reason why most of the glamorous Hollywood actresses prefer a diamond engagement ring. When they proudly flaunt their rings, their fans are allured by the sparkling ring’s stunning beauty.

Besides its mesmerizing beauty, there are many other things which make this stone a very special one. It is the hardest known gem measuring 10 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a very durable stone and if due care is taken of, this can last for life and even after that. Diamond hence makes one of the best heirloom stones. Not only this but also the rarity of the gem creates interest among the people. Though new sources of the diamonds are discovered around the world, but the fact that its supply is still very limited, makes this stone a precious one.

Diamonds are also considered one of the best ways of the investment. Their prices are prone to fluctuation, but still they retain their value after years and years of usage. These all facts cause this gem to be the most loved one of all the other gems. The colored diamonds, popularly known as the fancy diamonds have become the latest heart throb of the women and they love to flaunt them in their rings, earrings, and other jewelry.

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