I absolutely love Thanksgiving. I love the colors of autumn and the crisp fresh air that comes with Thanksgiving. I love a house full of family, the food, the smells and the mixed drinks. I love what family members start to say after a few of those mixed drinks. I love the tradition of going around the table with each person expressing what he or she is so thankful for. Sometimes I even get teary eyed.
I must admit, however, that the real reason Thanksgiving is so enjoyable is because I know the day after Thanksgiving is just mere hours away.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have two words for you: Black Friday.
If you work at a retail store on Black Friday, you probably groan at the mention of it. Waking up at around 5 a.m. after a full and hearty dinner to get the store ready for customers does put a downer on the event.
However, if you are a shopper and are thinking about buying that flat screen TV this weekend, stop. I was at Fry’s last weekend, shopping for my entertainment center when I came upon only the most gorgeous flat screen ever—50 inches, LCD and two HDMI. You can almost hear the angels singing “Hallelujah!” (I think I did in my head.)
To my chagrin, the TV was over my budget.
“Can I help you, miss?” asked the salesperson.
“Do you have anything like this that’s about $500 cheaper?” I asked hopefully.
He smiled. “We do, but it’s a 42 inch,” he said.
Then, he looked around quickly and said, “Wait for Black Friday.”
Black Friday has blow-out sales at just about any store you go to. The mall is the best. Last year Express, a clothing store in the mall, gave me a free purse when I purchased something there. Not to mention, all their clothes were ridiculously cheap that day.
According to RetailIndustry, “The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season.”
In retail charts, black once indicated profit while red indicated loss thus the name Black Friday.
The best time to do Christmas shopping is on Black Friday. This is usually known to be when most people start doing their Christmas shopping. Wal-Mart’s prices, which are already pretty affordable, get even lower. Wal-Mart has great gifts at incredible prices for just about anyone on your Christmas list. Start early in the day because Wal-Mart is known to have people who camp outside waiting for the doors to open.
Okay, so I have to be honest now. Black Friday isn’t as simple as it sounds. It’s not just about buy, buy, buy. Well, okay, it is. But, of course, it includes you being a smart shopper because there are thousands of others who want to buy, buy and buy as well. This is called competitive shopping.
Yes, “competitive shopping” is something I created, but it works remarkably well. You just have to know what you want and go get it. Don’t stop and chat. Don’t go look at other things and think what you want will still be there—especially if it’s a popular item. Just head straight for it and get it before anyone else does.
If you really want something, like that flat screen TV, head out before the sun is even up. You will definitely have a better chance of getting exactly what you want. Plus, you will be able to find a parking spot. You will be thankful afterwards.
I’m almost embarrassed to say that I’ve shopped enough to where I actually know where items will be in certain stores without having to look at the aisle numbers. As a matter of fact, if “shop-a-holic” was a real word, my name would probably be somewhere in its definition. So, beware of me.
I know that Black Friday is more than a month from now, but patience is a virtue and you’ll be rewarded by the cash you save.
Isn’t Thanksgiving just the most wonderful time of the year? Ask me again what I’m thankful for after Black Friday. . .
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Let The Gas Pass
Interestingly enough, farting can be considered a talent. Some use farting to make a living. In the early 20th century, a man known as Le Petomane performed in France using his fart to create “music.” Mr. Methane is a modern Le Petomane and is today’s “flatulist.” His talent can be heard at Heptune.com. He could probably be found on YouTube.com as well.
Producers of medical treatments for gas such as Beano and Gas-X and authors who write about farting have also earned a living. Books on farting include “The Gas We Pass; The Story of Farts” by Shinto Cho, translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum. The book is very informative and includes pictures.
With the subject of farting giving so many an income and popularity, one starts to wonder just exactly why farting is so embarrassing. Some might say it’s embarrassing because it is known to be a disgusting act and those who fart in public usually try to deny it.
Others try to cover it up by scraping their chair against the ground to make it seem like that had been the sound all along. If you try this method, be sure to hide your blush as well or you won't be able to get away with it.
Farting is not a much discussed topic. Most find it embarrassing. Some, mostly men, take pride in farting. Nonetheless, farting is natural. It’s actually your body’s way of telling you that you have a healthy digestive system. Everyone farts—your grandmother, Angelina Jolie, priests, your professors, and hopefully you.
As the great American Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Fart Proudly!”
The amount of times you’re supposed to fart is 14 times a day—not that anyone’s counting, right?
Farting occurs for many reasons. Smoking, lactose intolerance, swallowing too much air, eating certain foods and an overabundance of bacteria in the colon are some reasons why farting occurs.
If you are farting excessively, you should consult with a doctor immediately. Excessive farting may be due to serious health issues such as gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis and stomach ulcers.
The composition of farts is variable. Sometimes it is because of the air that we swallow.
According to doctors, by the time the air that we swallow gets into the large intestine, only nitrogen is left which causes chemical reactions between stomach acid and intestine fluids which then may produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a component of bacterial action and bacteria cause gas.
The odor of farts comes from sulfur, so the more sulfur-rich your diet is, the more your fart will stink—and the more people will notice.
Beans are infamous for causing farts. The reason behind this is because beans contain sugars humans can’t digest. If beans are a “must-have” in your diet and you’d like to control farting after eating it, you should try soaking them overnight in water with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Drain and rinse the beans before cooking. Apparently, doing this will give you less a chance of farting.
The way you eat and drink can cause gas as well. Not carefully chewing and chugging a drink can cause you to swallow an excess of air therefore causing farts to emerge. Also, chewing can help the digestive system break down the foods so bacteria can be prevented.
“Eating slowly and chewing food for longer allows the enzymes in saliva to break the food. The more that food is chewed, the more it is broken down for the digestive system,” MedicalNewsToday said.
We should just accept that, on most occasions, farting is good news for our bodies. So, go ahead, let it rip. It’s uncomfortable to hold it in and it and may cause a stomachache if you do.
Producers of medical treatments for gas such as Beano and Gas-X and authors who write about farting have also earned a living. Books on farting include “The Gas We Pass; The Story of Farts” by Shinto Cho, translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum. The book is very informative and includes pictures.
With the subject of farting giving so many an income and popularity, one starts to wonder just exactly why farting is so embarrassing. Some might say it’s embarrassing because it is known to be a disgusting act and those who fart in public usually try to deny it.
Others try to cover it up by scraping their chair against the ground to make it seem like that had been the sound all along. If you try this method, be sure to hide your blush as well or you won't be able to get away with it.
Farting is not a much discussed topic. Most find it embarrassing. Some, mostly men, take pride in farting. Nonetheless, farting is natural. It’s actually your body’s way of telling you that you have a healthy digestive system. Everyone farts—your grandmother, Angelina Jolie, priests, your professors, and hopefully you.
As the great American Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Fart Proudly!”
The amount of times you’re supposed to fart is 14 times a day—not that anyone’s counting, right?
Farting occurs for many reasons. Smoking, lactose intolerance, swallowing too much air, eating certain foods and an overabundance of bacteria in the colon are some reasons why farting occurs.
If you are farting excessively, you should consult with a doctor immediately. Excessive farting may be due to serious health issues such as gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis and stomach ulcers.
The composition of farts is variable. Sometimes it is because of the air that we swallow.
According to doctors, by the time the air that we swallow gets into the large intestine, only nitrogen is left which causes chemical reactions between stomach acid and intestine fluids which then may produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a component of bacterial action and bacteria cause gas.
The odor of farts comes from sulfur, so the more sulfur-rich your diet is, the more your fart will stink—and the more people will notice.
Beans are infamous for causing farts. The reason behind this is because beans contain sugars humans can’t digest. If beans are a “must-have” in your diet and you’d like to control farting after eating it, you should try soaking them overnight in water with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Drain and rinse the beans before cooking. Apparently, doing this will give you less a chance of farting.
The way you eat and drink can cause gas as well. Not carefully chewing and chugging a drink can cause you to swallow an excess of air therefore causing farts to emerge. Also, chewing can help the digestive system break down the foods so bacteria can be prevented.
“Eating slowly and chewing food for longer allows the enzymes in saliva to break the food. The more that food is chewed, the more it is broken down for the digestive system,” MedicalNewsToday said.
We should just accept that, on most occasions, farting is good news for our bodies. So, go ahead, let it rip. It’s uncomfortable to hold it in and it and may cause a stomachache if you do.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
YouTube...Whatever You Want Is Here.
Almost anything can be found on YouTube, from Paris Hilton’s sex videos to movies to self-made videos uploaded by people from all over the world.
As a member of YouTube, you can download and upload whatever you want. You have the space of 100 MB and you have the option of setting it to private or letting the world see what you’ve got.
If you’re someone who just browses through YouTube, you have the option of not being bored—probably ever. Seriously, the videos are endless. If you don’t believe me, log on to YouTube.com and type in something random in the search engine. I guarantee you something will come up. This is coming from someone who has tried it.
The good news about YouTube is you can find whatever you’re interested in on YouTube. A friend of mine watches Korean dramas on YouTube because they’re not easily found in the United States. Plus, YouTube is free, which is awesome news to college students.
I found “Thumbelina,” an animation from childhood that I still haven’t been able to find a hard copy of. It was awesome!
The bad news is those who are caught in an embarrassing situation can also be found on YouTube and can be watched repeatedly. For example, a candidate in last year’s Miss Universe pageant who slipped and fell on stage in her evening gown. She probably won’t be easily forgotten.
Or better yet, Britney Spears’ performance at this year’s MTV Awards. Boy, did she get bashed about that one. A parody of it can also be found on YouTube—and some have claimed that it’s better than the real thing. It should probably be mentioned that the one playing Spears was a man wearing a blonde wig in scandalous ensemble almost exactly matching Spears’ when she was on stage. I thought it was hilarious.
Unfortunately those who are the subject of embarrassment can’t delete the videos either.
Surprisingly, fame has come of to some of those who uploaded their self-made videos. Many garage bands have gained popularity through YouTube. Marie Digby, a girl from the bay area, did an acoustic version of the song “Umbrella” by singer Rhianna. Digby’s version can be heard playing on the radio in San Francisco. She has recruited quite a number of fans—me, included.
YouTube has been tremendously successful since it was founded in February of 2005 by three employees of PayPal. These guys either had no life or are unbelievably smart. Nonetheless, they are ranking in big bucks due to their ingenious idea of video sharing.
Last year, “Time” magazine named YouTube “the invention of the year.” Google made a wise choice and bought the great invention in October of 2006 for a whopping $1.65 million—the biggest purchase Google has made in its history. (What isn’t Google buying?)
Some professors are even using YouTube in classrooms. Recently, my professor of fashion history showed the class a clip from YouTube that some college students had made about the discovery of Pompeii and how the city looks like today.
With YouTube skyrocketing, it is not surprising to find videos that are not so entertaining. As a matter of fact, some are quite shocking, like the one with actor Will Ferrell and the toddler who was swearing after every other word. Ferrell plays the role of someone who’s renting a house while the toddler plays the landowner. She comes to collect rent and cusses while demanding the payment. Where and who are the toddler’s parents?
Also, there are horrifying videos of people abusing animals and laughing about it on YouTube. Will it ever be possible to use these video clips as evidence against those committing these crimes? We’ll see.
Well, that’s that about YouTube. Who will be the next to surprise us on YouTube? You could be the next star—just don’t get caught doing something you don’t want the world to see.
As a member of YouTube, you can download and upload whatever you want. You have the space of 100 MB and you have the option of setting it to private or letting the world see what you’ve got.
If you’re someone who just browses through YouTube, you have the option of not being bored—probably ever. Seriously, the videos are endless. If you don’t believe me, log on to YouTube.com and type in something random in the search engine. I guarantee you something will come up. This is coming from someone who has tried it.
The good news about YouTube is you can find whatever you’re interested in on YouTube. A friend of mine watches Korean dramas on YouTube because they’re not easily found in the United States. Plus, YouTube is free, which is awesome news to college students.
I found “Thumbelina,” an animation from childhood that I still haven’t been able to find a hard copy of. It was awesome!
The bad news is those who are caught in an embarrassing situation can also be found on YouTube and can be watched repeatedly. For example, a candidate in last year’s Miss Universe pageant who slipped and fell on stage in her evening gown. She probably won’t be easily forgotten.
Or better yet, Britney Spears’ performance at this year’s MTV Awards. Boy, did she get bashed about that one. A parody of it can also be found on YouTube—and some have claimed that it’s better than the real thing. It should probably be mentioned that the one playing Spears was a man wearing a blonde wig in scandalous ensemble almost exactly matching Spears’ when she was on stage. I thought it was hilarious.
Unfortunately those who are the subject of embarrassment can’t delete the videos either.
Surprisingly, fame has come of to some of those who uploaded their self-made videos. Many garage bands have gained popularity through YouTube. Marie Digby, a girl from the bay area, did an acoustic version of the song “Umbrella” by singer Rhianna. Digby’s version can be heard playing on the radio in San Francisco. She has recruited quite a number of fans—me, included.
YouTube has been tremendously successful since it was founded in February of 2005 by three employees of PayPal. These guys either had no life or are unbelievably smart. Nonetheless, they are ranking in big bucks due to their ingenious idea of video sharing.
Last year, “Time” magazine named YouTube “the invention of the year.” Google made a wise choice and bought the great invention in October of 2006 for a whopping $1.65 million—the biggest purchase Google has made in its history. (What isn’t Google buying?)
Some professors are even using YouTube in classrooms. Recently, my professor of fashion history showed the class a clip from YouTube that some college students had made about the discovery of Pompeii and how the city looks like today.
With YouTube skyrocketing, it is not surprising to find videos that are not so entertaining. As a matter of fact, some are quite shocking, like the one with actor Will Ferrell and the toddler who was swearing after every other word. Ferrell plays the role of someone who’s renting a house while the toddler plays the landowner. She comes to collect rent and cusses while demanding the payment. Where and who are the toddler’s parents?
Also, there are horrifying videos of people abusing animals and laughing about it on YouTube. Will it ever be possible to use these video clips as evidence against those committing these crimes? We’ll see.
Well, that’s that about YouTube. Who will be the next to surprise us on YouTube? You could be the next star—just don’t get caught doing something you don’t want the world to see.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Miss Fashionista
What you wear counts. No matter what you think about fashion, when it comes down to it, what you wear is important. As a matter of fact, fashion has been important all over the world for centuries. Fashion has been used in history to show status and class, it has been used in the modern era to reflect one’s personality and style and it is used to make a good first impression.
Now that cheaper stores such as Target and Forever 21 are producing trendy clothes at affordable prices, fashion is becoming somewhat of a bigger issue—especially for women. Cheap and trendy clothes make fashion more accessible therefore women are paying more attention to what they’re wearing.
The question remains of how to put all these colors, fabrics, and styles together without overdoing it and yet still let who you are shine through.
Sharon Haver, a fashion stylist and columnist, is described on FocusOnStyle.com as one who “knows what the modern-thinking woman wants—easygoing style that suits her individual needs, spiced with just the right amount of flip and wit.”
Haver has been in the fashion industry for about 20 years and is called a “beauty guru.” She makes a great fashion informer because she seems to have an eye for the latest trends, whether it is inexpensive or pricey.
Her columns give women guidance on the latest fashion and beauty tricks and how to use them in everyday wear. She uses fashion and beauty in a down-to-earth way so that all women can relate to it. Her columns empower women to boost their confidence level by looking their best. She gives advice on how to achieve the look you’re going for and how to “build a fantastic figure-flattering wardrobe.”
Haver’s experience in the fashion world has included her being a “New York-based photography fashion stylist, syndicated columnist, contributing editor, lecturer, on-air television/radio fashion expert, and founder/ style director of FocusOnStyle.com.”
Haver’s career in writing and fashion started with an advice column called “Sharon Haver’s FOCUS ON STYLE.” Scripps Howard News Service once distributed FocusOnStyle to nearly 400 daily newspapers and websites before FocusOnStyle grew into an independently operated online magazine. She now writes multiple columns for the magazine such as “StyleThing!” and “QuickFix.” The columns give news on the latest buzz in fashion and quick makeover tips. “Focus on Style” remains the anchor for the publication with about 12 million viewers annually.
“A tremendous amount of work has gone into this site, it is well developed, it is easy to navigate, and it has more interesting ideas than you can shake a stick at!” a reader said.
Macy’s is using Haver in their commercials as the “fashion guru” and also as their spokesperson for their fall advertising and marketing campaign. She has also made appearances on TV and radio shows such as Martha Stewart Living Radio, American Journal, The Montel Williams Show and more.
As a photography fashion stylist, Haver has been able to work with magazine covers and pages, catalogs, advertisements and visual imaging. Magazines Haver has done work for include Vogue Mexcio and Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. (The list continues.)
As a fashion stylist, Haver has had the opportunity to dress celebrities such as supermodel Rebecca Romijn, Elle McPhearson and Kelly Rippa.
Haver’s career in being a fashion stylist and columnist is a huge success. She is very dedicated to her fashion columns and to giving women the “know-how-to look within the framework of her own figure, budget, and lifestyle.”
Haver’s readers speak highly of her work and respond well to the advice she offers.
“If you want a spirited ‘best friend’ in the fashion business who solves all your style dilemmas, look no further than Sharon Haver,” FocusOnStyle.com wrote.
Now that cheaper stores such as Target and Forever 21 are producing trendy clothes at affordable prices, fashion is becoming somewhat of a bigger issue—especially for women. Cheap and trendy clothes make fashion more accessible therefore women are paying more attention to what they’re wearing.
The question remains of how to put all these colors, fabrics, and styles together without overdoing it and yet still let who you are shine through.
Sharon Haver, a fashion stylist and columnist, is described on FocusOnStyle.com as one who “knows what the modern-thinking woman wants—easygoing style that suits her individual needs, spiced with just the right amount of flip and wit.”
Haver has been in the fashion industry for about 20 years and is called a “beauty guru.” She makes a great fashion informer because she seems to have an eye for the latest trends, whether it is inexpensive or pricey.
Her columns give women guidance on the latest fashion and beauty tricks and how to use them in everyday wear. She uses fashion and beauty in a down-to-earth way so that all women can relate to it. Her columns empower women to boost their confidence level by looking their best. She gives advice on how to achieve the look you’re going for and how to “build a fantastic figure-flattering wardrobe.”
Haver’s experience in the fashion world has included her being a “New York-based photography fashion stylist, syndicated columnist, contributing editor, lecturer, on-air television/radio fashion expert, and founder/ style director of FocusOnStyle.com.”
Haver’s career in writing and fashion started with an advice column called “Sharon Haver’s FOCUS ON STYLE.” Scripps Howard News Service once distributed FocusOnStyle to nearly 400 daily newspapers and websites before FocusOnStyle grew into an independently operated online magazine. She now writes multiple columns for the magazine such as “StyleThing!” and “QuickFix.” The columns give news on the latest buzz in fashion and quick makeover tips. “Focus on Style” remains the anchor for the publication with about 12 million viewers annually.
“A tremendous amount of work has gone into this site, it is well developed, it is easy to navigate, and it has more interesting ideas than you can shake a stick at!” a reader said.
Macy’s is using Haver in their commercials as the “fashion guru” and also as their spokesperson for their fall advertising and marketing campaign. She has also made appearances on TV and radio shows such as Martha Stewart Living Radio, American Journal, The Montel Williams Show and more.
As a photography fashion stylist, Haver has been able to work with magazine covers and pages, catalogs, advertisements and visual imaging. Magazines Haver has done work for include Vogue Mexcio and Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. (The list continues.)
As a fashion stylist, Haver has had the opportunity to dress celebrities such as supermodel Rebecca Romijn, Elle McPhearson and Kelly Rippa.
Haver’s career in being a fashion stylist and columnist is a huge success. She is very dedicated to her fashion columns and to giving women the “know-how-to look within the framework of her own figure, budget, and lifestyle.”
Haver’s readers speak highly of her work and respond well to the advice she offers.
“If you want a spirited ‘best friend’ in the fashion business who solves all your style dilemmas, look no further than Sharon Haver,” FocusOnStyle.com wrote.
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