Tuesday, August 28, 2012

$150 GC & Mixed Bag Giveaway (Prizes)

How would you like to win one of these prizes? Click HERE to enter!

1 Winner of $150 Gift Code (US residents only)
  
2 Winners of GE digital Camera
Nine West Red Purse


2 Winners of $50 Paypal
PayPal home
Kenneth Cole Shoulder Bag

Sundae Sky Shoulder Bag

1 Winner of Victoria Secret Pink Tote Bag
1 Winner of Zeikos card reader/writer
 1 Winner of Hollister Long Sleeve Tee (Betty large, dark blue, v-neck)
 1 Winner of Aeropostale shirt (L size junior)

Elf 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette

 1 Winner of The Color Workshop Lipstick (3pcs)
 1 Winner of Bath & Body Work 2oz Lotion
 1 Winner of Anne Klein Jewelry Set
 6 Winners of Funbites Food Cutter

4 Winners of Swarovski ring and fashion earrings



5 Winners of Journal Pad with Pencil (5 pcs/pack)










Thursday, August 23, 2012

Ring Neck Stretcher

Another bizarre exhibit at Believe it or Not Odditorium. Women of the Padaung tribe in Burma wear heavy brass rings around their necks.
Oh, boy! I can't imagine myself wearing this kind of accessory around my neck. It looks torture! Believe it or Not, they start putting 5 rings at an early age. Women gradually stretch their necks up to 15 inches long by adding a ring annually until they reach 25 rings.

Neck rings are formed with one or more spiral metal coils of many turns worn as an ornament around the neck of an individual. In a few African and Asian cultures neck rings are worn usually to create the appearance that the neck has been stretched. Padaung (Kayan Lahwi) women of the Kayan people begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. The length of the coil is gradually increased to as much as twenty turns. The weight of the coils will eventually place sufficient pressure on the shoulder blade to cause it to deform and create an impression of a longer neck.
The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an ideal of beauty: an elongated neck. Neck rings push the collarbone and ribs down. The neck stretching is mostly illusory: the weight of the rings twists the collar bone and eventually the upper ribs at an angle 45 degrees lower than what is natural, causing the illusion of an elongated neck. The vertebrae do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the intervertebral discs absorb liquid.- wikipedia.com







Sunday, August 19, 2012

Gather Your Old Jewelry to Sell for a Profit

Every day the news is getting worse and worse as the economy keeps losing ground. Unemployment is up over 8% and the sad thing is that the price of gasoline, electricity, water, utilities and food are going up consistently. Most people are even cutting back on necessities just to survive and there is no extra work at the moment to be found, even if they wanted to work a part time job. There are other ways to make some additional money to ‘tide you over’ until things level out and one of the most innovative ways is to gather your old jewelry to sell for a profit.
The Best Jewelry to Sell
Although people assume that antique jewelry and high value watches and gems are the best items to sell, this is not always the case. What about those old silver and gold necklaces which have been broken for many years and you never got around to taking to the jeweler? Gather your old jewelry to sell for a profit by all means, but remember that you are looking for the highest price possible because you need that money. This is where it can become a bit tricky because there are a number of outlets and you want to know that you are going to get top price for your old treasures.

Steer Clear of Brick-and-Mortar Establishments
Perhaps you never thought of it in just this way, but local jewelers and pawn shops do buy used jewelry to melt down or take the stones out to reset, but they have high overhead to meet. Just as you might be having trouble raising money to pay bills and buy groceries, those shops also have to pay rent, employees and cover a multitude of other operating costs. For this reason, online resellers can usually offer the most money for your old jewelry simply because they have less overhead and can pass those savings onto you. If you want to make the highest profit when you sell gold, consider where you will reap the most money.

While everyone is hoping that the economy will pick up soon, there seems to be no end to this recession in sight and economists are projecting that it will continue to be at low levels throughout the coming year as well. Why not get the highest price you can from that old jewelry to have a nice tidy nest egg on hand for that proverbial rainy day?

Photo Source http://www.stockvault.net/photo/105802/crystal-jewelry






Saturday, August 18, 2012

Acting Auditions

Is becoming an actor your lifelong dream? Have you always believed that you are destined to become a professional actor? Before you go to various acting auditions, you must first realize that the road to fulfilling your dreams may not be that easy. It takes more that knowing how to memorize a line or being confident in front of an audience. Becoming an actor is a serious business and to be able to succeed, you must be willing to work very hard to develop your craft. Once you have decided that acting is what you want to pursue professionally, you must do what you can to prepare yourself. Learn as much as you can about the business. Talk to other actors especially those who have vast experience about acting. They can provide you with valuable insights that you can learn from. Take acting lessons not just to improve your skills but also to find what your niche is. It is through acting workshops and classes that you will be able to determine if you are suited for, let’s say, theater acting or film acting. Enhance your other skills such as singing, dancing and learning some other languages or developing another accent. Acting Auditions can provide you with the break you need and open opportunities for you. Make sure that you come well prepared to these auditions. The other skills that you have such as being able to sing or dance or maybe do a British accent can lead to other acting opportunities. Having an acting coach can also be very beneficial because you can learn a lot form their knowledge and experience. They can also help you prepare better when you go to acting auditions. You must always keep in mind that even if you were able to get a couple of good roles and have made a few movies or plays, you must still work hard in improving your craft. Your willingness to learn and to improve will help you become a great and well respected actor.






Friday, August 17, 2012

Lip Plates

One of the many interesting and weird exhibits at Ripley's Believe it Or Not is the picture below. An Ubangi woman with wooden plates on her lips. 
In my opinion, this is one of the most ridiculous fashions I've ever seen. Ubangi women put plates in their lips because it is fashionable to have lips like a broad billed duck. I can't imagine how women feel having themselves go through this tradition!
According to Wikipedia, the custom is maintained today by a few groups in Africa and Amazonia. Some scholars have argued that in Africa, labret fashion boomed because slave traders refused to purchase slaves whose appearance was not considered "pristine" for the prospective buyers.

In Africa, a lower lip plate is usually combined with the excision of the two lower front teeth, sometimes all four. Among the Sara people and Lobi a plate is also inserted into the upper lip. Other tribes, such as the Makonde, used to wear a plate in the upper lip only. In many older sources it is reported that the plate's size is a sign of social or economical importance in some tribes.

In some Amazonian tribes, young men traditionally have their lips pierced when they enter the men's house and leave the world of women. Lip plates there have important associations with oratory and singing, and the largest plates are worn by the greatest orators and war-chiefs, like the well-known environmental campaigner Chief Raoni of the Kayapo tribe.

In South America, lip plates are nearly always made from light wood. In the Pacific Northwest of North America, among the Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit, lip plates used to symbolise social maturity by indicating a girl's eligibility to be a wife. The installation of a girl's first plate was celebrated with a sumptuous feast.






Baby Shower Gifts

Do you need to buy baby shower gifts real soon but you don’t have the time to go the local mall to search through different gift shops? You can just shop for that perfect baby shower gifts online. Online gift shops have a wide selection of baby shower gifts as well as party favors, baby shower decorations and prizes for baby shower games. Aside from classic gift items, they also have customized gift items that are perfect for those looking for unique gifts to give away.






Mettler Balance Scale

For jewelry manufacturers and retailers, having high precision scales is a must. There are certain things that should be considered when one is buying a mettler balance scale, the most important of which is its precision. There are high precision meter balance scales that use the latest technology that adds to the efficiency of the scale. They are also compact, lightweight and easy to use. These scales are now available online making it more convenient for potential buyers to order for them.






Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Woolly Mammoth

This is the skeleton of Woolly Mammoth at Ripley's Believe It or Not, San Antonio.
It's gigantic! Can you imagine seeing a real mammoth?! Boy, I'll be terrified if I see a real one. I think I'll stick to watching the Ice Age movie...lol!
According to wikipedia, this animal is known from bones and frozen carcasses from northern North America and northern Eurasia with the best preserved carcasses in Siberia. They are perhaps the most well known species of mammoth.








Build a Better Bathroom for Your Kids

By Joaquin Erazo, Jr, Case Handyman and Remodeling

If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, you may want to take your children into consideration, particularly if they have their own bathroom separate from the master bath. However, kids’ bathroom ideas aren’t limited to décor; you need to take their needs into consideration when designing and remodeling the bathroom as well.
Photo Credit: themed towel holders

Smaller People: If you have several children and are planning to live in your house for a while, it pays to remodel with shorter arms and legs in mind. You can install towel bars, shelves, and cabinets at a lower height for easier reach and put more room around the toilet so parents can help children who are potty training. You may find a handheld showerhead more convenient for washing small bodies. Choose semi-gloss paint and fixtures that don’t show fingerprints. Plan for toy storage with holders in the shower or shower curtains with built-in pockets.

Design for Growth: By all means have fun by decorating with frogs and ducks or whales, but try to make this décor easy to change. When your children are ten, they may be embarrassed by frogs on the wallpaper. However, if you limit the childish décor to trashcans and shower curtains that are easily changed, you can update the look as they grow. Many manufacturers also make stick-on decals that are easy to hang on the wall and simple to remove. Remember, too, that as they grow children will need more drawer and shelf storage for things like hair dryers and acne medications, so plan accordingly.

Shared Bathrooms: If you have two children’s bedrooms next to each other, it’s great if they can be adjoined by a shared Jack and Jill bathroom with two sinks. It’s great if the décor in the bathroom is compatible with that in both bedrooms. Plus you want both children to be happy with the design choices. If need be, go with something neutral that nobody would object to.

Getting Kids Involved: Children will love to contribute to the design and remodel of their bathrooms, so you can consult them on colors and décor elements. They might even be able to contribute artwork or paint some of the tiles. However, remember that parental guidance is still important. If they want neon green, you might be able to talk them into a softer shade or substitute a Spongebob trashcan for Spongebob wallpaper.

Safety: The tub and shower should have a slip resistant surface. If you’re remodeling, think about smaller tiles on the floor; with more grout they are less slippery than bigger tiles. You can install a scald guard faucet in the tub to ensure that water doesn’t get too hot. If you have very young children, cover the bathtub faucet with something soft and put a lock on the toilet.

Themes: You can have some fun with the décor in a kid’s bathroom. However, this doesn’t mean that you are stuck with baby ducks. Think about a nautical theme, with ship-based designs and colors. Marine life is another option as is a beach theme. All of these decors can be updated to look more grown-up as the children age.

Joaquin Erazo Jr. leads all marketing, advertising, and public relations strategies for Case Remodeling and Design. His team handles all client acquisition and retention efforts for the Case brands. With an MBA from Averett University, Erazo has over 18 years of experience in senior marketing positions.






Monday, August 6, 2012

Camel Bone Carving

One of the many interesting and cool displays I saw during our Ripley's Believe It Or Not tour was a camel bone carving.
The intricate carving is really amazing!
According to my research, this beautiful piece of wonderful artwork is hand carved by hand in guangzhou, China. The title of this lovely work is blessing by Kwan Yin. In Chinese it read as Kun Yam Chi Fook. This work is an inspiration of thousands of artist and writer and writers of Chinese legend.  The artist carved 2 dragons on each of the tusk and on the center is the ancient chinese lamp accompanied by hundreds of figurine, fairies, goddess and crane. There are also temples, pagodas, trees and flowers.
The bone carving will last forever. It will only turn to a little bit yellowish naturally as time goes by and the bone ages, which makes it look more antique. This carving is made of camel bone that looks very much like ivory.









Entertainment Onboard

At our recent family vacation onboard a magnificent cruise ship, we were able to watch a live entertainment show. It was a concert of sort and hubby was specifically fascinated with the sound from the electric guitars used during the show. I jokingly told him that those musical antics were made possible by Hosa Snakes guitar center, as the guitarist can change from lead guitar mode and then back to the usual rhythm guitar. It was very good show and we all had so much fun watching it. It was indeed a entertaining show.






Fashionable Punishment

Can you imagine yourself wearing this piece of padlock in your nose?  It's definitely a fashionable punishment for me! I think it's torture.
"In imitation of a former queen, women of the Djerma tribe of southern Nigeria, wear padlocks in their noses. Bothered by his wife's gossiping, a nineteenth century chief padlocked her nose, threatening to padlock her mouth unless she curbed her chatter. Mistaking the lock for an ornamental decoration, the women of the tribe adopted the lock as a piece of jewelry, wearing them instead their traditional nose rings."







Flat Screen Stand

I wanted to buy a flat screen stand before but when I found out that some flat screens can be mounted on the wall, I opted to buy one that can save me space. Though flat screen stands can look cool and sophisticated, but with the way I have designed our interiors, wall-mounted flat screens are more appropriate and match well with it. Perhaps a flat screen stand would go better in the entertainment room where there is much bigger space. Maybe one of these days, I might buy one for the other room and complete it with some cool home theater system too.