Unique Girl Gifts

With the weather getting warmer, here are some tips I found on About.com on how to dress to beat the heat.

—————————————————–

6 Style Strategies to Beat the Heat

1. Skip dark colors and opt for white or light-colored neutrals. They’ll absorb less heat.

2. If sweating is a problem, avoid solid silks or heavy linens. They’ll both show stains.

3. Opt for natural fabrics like cotton. There are synthetic, high-tech materials on the market, but it’s hard to improve on cotton, which works to wick away moisture from your skin.

4. Take advantage of open-weave fabrics like mesh or pieces made of eyelet. The looser weaves have built-in ventilation.

5. Choose relaxed silhouettes like gauze sundresses, filmy camisoles or breezy skirts. Avoid too-tight anything: it’s unbearable in the heat.

6. Lighten your load by trading a huge handbag for a smaller, lighter bag. (Click here for handbag ideas.)

Here are some great tips on girls fashion I found on talkinmince.com and how to stay up with the fashion trend throughout the year.

———————————————

Keeping Up With Trends in Girls Fashions

One of the most important things to girls is fashion, particularly if a girl is in her teens and going to college where the majority of people talks and wears the latest trends and styles everyday. Here are some suggestions and tips on girls fashion, which will help you to stay up with the fashion trend throughout the year.

The majority of designers will take out at least two collections per year, spring and fall, while the rest will introduce four; spring, summer, fall and winter. With numerous different styles and unique designs for boys, girl, men and women you will notice that first and foremost it is very challenging to stay up with every seasonal trend for one primary reason; all styles do not work for everyone.

How many times have you watched a fashion show and thought; who can wear that dress besides a model. The reality of this is that some of those styles that are shown are made specifically for modeling purposes only and the entire selection is slightly different than what you actually see on the runway. Nevertheless, the number one most important rule is to wear clothes that suit your weight, height, character and personality.

Ways To Always Dress Fashionably

Classic fashion is always in style and if you do not want to make a lot of mistakes when dressing up for a social event, you can always rely on classic clothes. Nevertheless, girls are not always interested in wearing classic clothes so, what is the best way for them to always be fashionable?

An easy way to make girls fashion work well for you is to select from an assortment of clothing that suits you best. For instance, if a specific color suits you well, you can buy a blouse and wear it with a pair of jeans or black pants, which do not have to be in the same type of collection.

An additional way to keep up with the latest girls fashion is with accessories. This way you don’t even have to keep up the latest trends. It is important that you realize both good and bad points when it comes to your own body so you can work with it and improve you best features.

No person is perfect, including gorgeous models you watch on the runway, since they all have flaws that are cautiously covered up with either make up and/or the clothing that they wear on the runway.

Hence, you can make the fashion work for you by using accessories such as a scarf, belt, shoes or hair clips. Shoes are a whole other category when it comes to girls fashion and they function on the same principals of accessories and clothes. You shouldn’t acquire a pair of shoes simply because they are in fashion but because they work to complement your personality and style.

Need help finding the right handbag for your body? Here are some great tips I found on About.com.

__________________________________________________

Choose the Right Bag for Your Body
No More Unflattering Lengths or Sizes!

You probably don’t give handbags the same scrutiny you give a pair of jeans: if a handbag is cute or fits your lifestyle then it works. But did you know that a handbag can flatter your shape almost as much as the right pair of jeans? Apply these easy steps to getting bag in proportion to your figure. It can not only knock off pounds visually (no kidding!), it’ll polish up your style in a flash.

Shapes

Try to choose a shape that is the opposite of your body type. If you are tall and thin, look for a slouchy, rounded hobo bag to compliment your figure. If you’re short and voluptuous, play off opposites by choosing a handbag that is tall and rectangular or long and sleek (like a clutch).

In general, the rounder your figure, the more structured your bag should be. That doesn’t mean that you have to carry a hard box around to counterbalance your womanly shape: rectangular or square silhouettes in soft leathers or fabrics will do the trick.

Some popular shapes:

- Tote - An open-top bag with straps or handles.
- Hobo bag - A crescent-shaped shoulder bag.
- Duffle - Tall shoulderbag, often with a wider opening on top.
- Field bag - A flap-top shoulderbag with utility-type closure (buckles, snaps, etc).
- Clutch - A small, handheld bag or a larger, geometric shape that is tucked under the arm.
- Satchel- A large, handheld bag.
- Baguette - Long and rounded shoulder bag resembling the namesake bread.
- Messenger - A large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).
- Cigar Box - A small, boxy, hard bag.
- Pouch - A soft, small bag.
- Kelly bag - A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large, structured handbag with distinctive hardware closures.

Scale

While the shape should oppose your body type for maximum flattery, the size of the bag should be in proportion to your figure. Think scale here: a woman who is 6 feet tall and a size 14 would look lost with a teensy hand-held bag. A petite size 0 would look overwhelmed by an enormous slouchy bag. A shoulder bag’s length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near.

For example, a shoulder bag that ends around the hips will play up your hip width (the eye is drawn to the bag). Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.

Tips

- Take time in a store to try on handbags in front of a mirror just like you would apparel.
- Don’t be tempted by trendy shapes that don’t suit your figure: there are plenty of great alternatives that will work.
- Think lifestyle when shopping for handbags: if you’re toting diapers and graham crackers, an artsy vintage bag won’t hold up.

———————

To find the right bag for your body, click here.

It seems like girls these days love to be pampered. No matter the occasion, you can’t go wrong with an At-home spa party. Here are some great tips I found on About.com.

—————————————————-

Some girls just love to be pampered. A day at the spa with a group of best friends is the ideal way to share girl talk and feel special together. The day could include any or all of these beauty treatments: facial, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling, massages and a special lunch if the Spa has the facility.

If your budget is limited, but this is the celebration that your daughter would love best, create a day spa in your own home. Many of the products used in spas can be purchased for home use. Set up the spa in your kitchen, and let the girls help each other out with the treatments. For a simple lunch you can serve a Chicken, Apple and Smoked Gouda Salad, bread, fruit salad, juice drinks, and brownies.

Planning Elements

First decide on your budget. This will be important since spa services can be expensive. Make reservations at spa, or purchase spa supplies for home.
Issue invitations.
Pre-order lunch at spa, or prepare lunch for spa day at home.

Party Favor Suggestion

Send the girls home with a gift bag of mini spa products will help them remember the day. You might include a small bath gel, shower puff, and an aromatherapy candle.

I found this great article on Wikihow.com that I wanted to share with my blog readers.  I hope it enlightens you as it did me.

_____________________________________

How to Love Yourself

We spend so much of our time waiting to be loved, hoping love will find us, searching, yearning for that special love. Feeling empty and lost without it. Wanting someone to give us love and fill us up. Unfortunately, that’s not usually how life works. You will draw to you exactly what you create in life, and what you believe you are worthy of. So loving yourself can create love in your life.

1.  Take a realistic evaluation of yourself. Be honest with yourself about how valuable you believe you are as a person. The way you see yourself and treat yourself is the very way others will see you and treat you. Do you see yourself as valuable, worthy of the gift of love? More importantly, do you treat yourself lovingly and as a valuable being? It’s ok to be truthful with yourself, it may not be pretty! Awareness is the first and more powerful step on the path to change!

2.  Forgive yourself if you ever believe you aren’t worthy of love. After all, there were probably things in your childhood or previous years that created that belief for you. It simply isn’t true; every being on this planet is worthy of love, after all, love is what we are here for, it’s what it’s all about. Say to yourself now; “I forgive myself for believing that I was not worthy of love.” Go look in a mirror and say it out loud to yourself, look yourself right in the eyes and say it like you mean it. Go on, I’ll wait.

3.  Post this affirmation up someplace where you will see it each and every day; “I have the courage to believe that I am worthy of love.” Read it out loud, every day, at least once, ideally at least ten times each time you notice it. Sticky notes are fabulous for affirmations.

4.  Take action and make those words real. Begin loving and valuing yourself. It is said that you cannot give away what you do not have. So, if you are not able to love and accept yourself unconditionally, how in the world are you going to love and accept anyone else unconditionally? Much less accept that love in return from them?

5.  Remember that love is not a feeling, it is a choice! Make the choice to love yourself. After all, who deserves it more? The more loving you are to yourself, the more loving you will be able to be to everyone around you. Family and friends will especially benefit from this. Make a choice to come from a place of love for yourself and for everyone who is important in your life.

6.  Think about what you need to fill that emptiness inside, that place that is longing for love. What specifically do you need? Find the answer and then give it to yourself. No one is more capable of loving you, and giving you exactly what you need than you are! When you learn how to fulfill yourself in that way, you stop searching for it outside of yourself and you suddenly begin attracting it to you! You change yourself from a sponge to a magnet! People see you radiating self love and they are drawn to you!

7.  Keep a journal. Write about your experiences, good and bad. When you write down your good experiences allow yourself to feel those good feelings again. When you remember the bad experiences, allow yourself to feel pride. Pride because you faced a challenge in your life and you are here today to write about it, which must mean you are a survivor and a fighter. Tell yourself, “I know pain, but I’ve yet to be introduced to surrender.”

Warning:

Self-love is okay, but in excess, it becomes quite the turn off when it turns into narcissism and you expect people to always notice you and your needs.

Think you’ve got healthy skin? Here’s a great article I found on About.com that I thought my blog readers would enjoy.

______________________________

What’s the Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Skin?

Whether you know it or not, the health of your skin is being judged everyday. You do it yourself when you look in the mirror for blotches and bumps. Other people are also looking at your skin to determine how attractive you are.

Is your skin healthy or unhealthy? How do you know the difference? What are the components of healthy skin? Knowing the answers to these questions is the first step in determining how you should be taking care of your skin. The following are components of healthy skin.

Even Color
Consistent color is a sign of youthful, healthy skin. Studies have shown that consistent, even skin tone is a main element of attractiveness. As a matter of fact, the consistency of skin color is considered more attractive than having a certain skin color. Examples of uneven color include:

- Blotchiness
- Spots that are dark, light or red
- Dark circles under eyes

Smooth Texture
Healthy skin looks smooth and feels smooth. If you look at healthy skin close-up, the surface is “regularly irregular.” This means that the skin is not smooth like glass but has tiny peaks around hair follicles and pores, and tiny valleys in between the peaks. These peaks and valleys are consistent throughout the skin giving it a uniform appearance. On the other hand, unhealthy skin does not have a uniform texture. Examples of texture skin problems include:

- Bumps
- Acne
- Blackheads, whiteheads
- Wrinkles
- Scars

Hydration
Healthy skin is well hydrated. The skin cells slough off but this sloughing is not noticeable. If too many skin cells slough at the same time, this creates problems that we blame on dry skin, like:

- Flaking skin
- Scaly skin

Normal Sensations
If your skin is healthy, you shouldn’t notice it or feel it unless you’re looking in the mirror. Healthy skin doesn’t have any unusual sensations. Signs of unhealthy skin sensations include:

- Itching
- Burning
- Stinging
- Pulling

Diaper Cakes have become quite popular the last few years. If you’re interested in knowing more about them, you’ll enjoy this information I found on Plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com. At Simply 4 Girls, we also carry diaper cakes. Click here to take a look at our selection.

————————————————————————

What is a Diaper Cake anyway?
A diaper cake is a wonderfully creative gift for an expectant mother. It is a collection of diapers (either disposable or cloth) rolled and stacked together to resemble a traditional tiered cake. There can be 1, 2, 3 or more tiers. The tiers of diaper cakes are also garnished with baby care items such as bibs, pacifiers, baby socks, bottles, toys, and more.

Why are they becoming so popular?
Diaper cakes are becoming quite popular for several reasons:

• They are original and creative. They give your baby shower gift a personal touch.

• They are so useful and helpful to the expectant mother. She will use every single “ingredient” on the diaper cake.

• Baby shower hostesses love them because they are a cute and impressive centerpiece for the party.

• They can be decorated to match any theme you want.

• They are a great gift at the hospital, at a baby shower, after an adoption, or anytime before or after a new baby arrives.

Ever looking for some fun craft projects to do with your kids? Here’s a great rainy day project or an “I’m bored!” project for your kids that I found on About.com.

—————————————————————

How To Make a Cookie Cutter Bird Feeder

Make these simple bird feeders for your fine feathered friends.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes

What You Need:
Bread
Cookie Cutter
Straw
Yarn

Here’s How:
1. Get a piece of bread. Harder, slate bread would work great!

2. Find a cookie cutter that fits on as much of the bread as possible.

3. Use the cookie cutter and cut a shape out of the slice of bread.

4. Use a straw to poke a small hole in the center of the bread shape.

5. String the yarn through the hole and tie a loop.

6. Hang it outside in a tree!

Tips:
1. Hang your bird feeder at the end of a smaller branch so squirrels don’t get it.

2. Work with the bird seed over newspaper to help make clean up time easier.

I found this great article written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert on how to increase the happiness in your life.  I hope my blog readers enjoy it as much as I do.

 —————————————-

One of my favorite songs is Bobby McFerrin’s refrain, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. I recently had the opportunity to observe people’s reactions when a highway was closed because of an accident ahead. As we waited, I watched as some listened to radios, a few began tossing a Frisbee, other’s seemed to be working or reading, and some opted for a quick nap. But, there were also a handful who were clearly agitated and angry. Pacing about, swearing, and upset, they decided that the best response to this event, which none of us could control, was to be very unhappy. I was reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s comment that, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” The following are my Top 10 Tips to increase happiness in your life:

1. Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.

2. Watch and read less news. As a recovering news addict, I know this can be difficult because the stock market fluctuates, politicians politic, and sports teams compete. But, most of the time, you don’t need the stress. So, just don’t watch. I think it was Henry Thoreau who noted that if you’ve ever read about a train wreck, you understand the principle and don’t need to know any more about it.

3. Practice the Attitude of Gratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for. Just thanking the many people who assist us, encourage us, teach us and open doors for us could take all day!

4. Take time. My dog has taught me much about loyalty, about noticing the sights, sounds, and smells in the yard, about being relaxed and about play. Eat when you’re hungry, nap when you need it. Get your ears scratched whenever possible!

5. Laugh everyday. Hear a joke, tell a joke, laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family and co-workers. There are very few medicines as powerful as laughter, and I don’t think you can over-dose, although it is addicting!

6. Love well. Express your affection, appreciation, friendship and warmth to those around you, and they will almost always respond in the most amazing ways! Be generous…it pays great dividends!

7. Work hard. This one comes as a bit of a surprise, but there is tremendous satisfaction in being competent, and joy in completing our assigned tasks. One of the great sources of happiness is to do work that is worthy of you, and to do it well.

8. Learn something new, everyday. To be happy, most of us must also be growing, expanding, learning and challenging ourselves. Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information.

9. Use your body as it was designed. Walk and run, stretch, throw things, and lift things. Dance! Exercise is good, but so is making love, mixing up a batch of cookies, or exchanging backrubs. You have a body and it can be either a source of joy, or a source of aches and pains. Your choice.

10: Avoid toxins. I prefer writing positives (things to do) rather than negatives (things to fear), but reality says there are negative people and there are bad chemicals, stressful noises, and unsafe places. Don’t go there! Avoid poisons whenever possible. It seems to work out better that way.

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: “Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It’s all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com
 

The Social Security Administration announced on May 10, 2008 the most popular baby names for 2007.

Although the name Elvis was not in the top 10, it did rise 85 spots. The SSA noted, “It is further proof that Elvis is not dead.” Miley is new to the girls’ list this year, entering fairly high at number 278, attributable to the popularity of teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

See if you can guess which names are most popular.

Boys:

1. Jacob

2. Michael

3. Ethan

4. Joshua

5. Daniel

6. Christopher

7. Anthony

8. William

9. Matthew

10. Andrew

Girls:

1. Emily

2. Isabella

3. Emma

4. Ava

5. Madison

6. Sophia

7. Olivia

8. Abigail

9. Hannah

10. Elizabeth

Emily has topped the list since 1996. Jacob has done so since 1999. Elizabeth returns to the top ten after a two year absence. In addition to a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2007, Jacob and Joshua are again the most popular twin’s names.

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word “maiden.” These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983). This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names: Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561).

Experts also may be surprised by the extent to which American parents are naming their daughters after spiritual and philosophical concepts. One of the most popular names for girls (rising this year to number 31) is Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backwards. The variant Neveah came in this year at number 891 and Heaven is number 263. Also represented were: Destiny (No. 41); Trinity (No. 72); Serenity (No. 126); Harmony (No. 315); Miracle (No. 461); Charity (No. 673); Journey (No. 692); Destini (No. 914); and Essence (No. 930). Cutting against this trend was Armani (No. 971).