haddenqhawkinsons 123 blog

How To Tackle A Major Wardrobe Makeover - Part One

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S4UluVPv5GI/AAAAAAAAAmc/McnQlqZXabY/s1600-h/1131743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S4UluVPv5GI/AAAAAAAAAmc/McnQlqZXabY/s320/1131743.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />A lot of my wardrobe over the years has been supplied by my mother over the years and since she was never taught the art of compiling a wardrobe, bless her, shopping was always a haphazard affair of randomly bought pieces that never quite fit together. As I got older I always craved a well put together wardrobe and look but didn't know how to go about it. Since discovering the world of blogging last year I tapped in to a world of amazing knowledge and ideas which has fueled my wardrobe revolution.<br /><br />As of yet I have made small gradual changes and at this point feel that while I have definitely made progress there is still much to be desired. I am now in a more independent place money, taste and lifestyle wise where i can take control of my wardrobe and not be overshadowed by my families tastes and monetary constraints.<br /><br />Thus I have come up with my own plan to create the ultimate wardrobe:<br /><br />INSPIRATION<br /><br />ACTION<br /><br />REFLECTION<br /><br />Theses are the three steps that I am taking on my wardrobe revolution journey :)<br /><br />Firstly, and most importantly is INSPIRATION and it is everywhere!<br /><br />Places to find it:<br /> - <b>people watching:</b> I work in a charming little boutique and as a result I get to see a lot of different tastes and styles which I love. Its a constant stream of inspiration. It also helps me to define my own aesthetic because when I look at what overs are wearing more importantly HOW they are wearing it I always find myself thinking either that I love that or thats new and interesting or I hate that. So, go for coffee or lunch somewhere there is a lot of people traffic and watch them go by, if you are really studious take a notebook and jot down ideas or even more adventurous, your camera and take a few snap shots.<br /><br /> - <b>magazines:</b> I used to buy loads and loads but know I buy two each month that i read cover to cover and that have fun and interesting fashion spreads in them. I'm always cutting out pics of clothes I like and more specifically looks that I like and I pinpoint the elements of the look that I love and how I could recreate the look and feel.<br /><br /> - <b>blogs and websites:</b> there is a wealth of info out there on creating your perfect wardrobe. I think that each person mode of attach has some good points and so for me when I read those articles I take out certain elements that make sense to me and I use them. That way I find a unique method tailored to my needs. There are also a lot of bloggers who do outfit posts as well as runway looks which are all great places to look.<br /><br /> - <b>celebrities:</b> I love to look to celebrities for inspiration. They often sport what I call a "complete look" and this always helps me to draw my outfit, hair, make up and jewelry together. Also, celebrities are always spotted in various looks from casual to red carpet which is also helpful.<br /><br />Where do you get wardrobe inspiration from? What are your favourite looks? Leave a comment :)<br /><br /><i>*eLLa*</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><br /><br />

How To Tackle A Major Wardrobe Makeover - Part One

A lot of my wardrobe over the years has been supplied by my mother over the years and since she was never taught the art of compiling a wardrobe, bless her, shopping was always a haphazard affair of randomly bought pieces that never quite fit together. As I got older I always craved a well put toget…

24Feb2010

Long Distance Relationships

<span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S397w3lWAhI/AAAAAAAAAmU/uLkV0yUMKws/s1600-h/tumblr_kq0x17iCyS1qzlohyo1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S397w3lWAhI/AAAAAAAAAmU/uLkV0yUMKws/s320/tumblr_kq0x17iCyS1qzlohyo1_500_large.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I have been in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend for more years than I can count! I won't sugar-coat it for you - it's not easy, and there may be times where you just want to call it quits. I wouldn't advise you to get yourself into this situation unless there's absolutely no viable alternative; and you shouldn't even <em>consider</em> it if your relationship is still quite young! Distance will break apart relationships that weren't meant to last, but will have the opposite effect on partners that should definitely be together (ever heard the phrase, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder?")<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">If you do decide to take the plunge, here are my tips for enduring the distance:<br /></span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Talk to each other every day. It might be hard, but you should touch base with each other at least once a day, even if it's only for a few minutes. If you really, <em>really</em> don't have time, or if the time difference is too awkward, at least send each other an e-mail every day. It can be just a quick one: the point of this is to make sure you are in each other's thoughts, even when you're not physically together. Skype is an amazing way to stay in touch - I don't know what I'd do without it!<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Go on a date, once a week. Yes, I know you can't both get into the same car and drive to a movie, but you can still do things together! <a href="http://www.lovingfromadistance.com/thingsforldrcouplestodo.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Here</span></a> is a great list of things you can do together from a distance. Even if your date means chatting to each other online, the key is that you are spending time together. In some ways, long distance relationships can make you closer, because you are forced to talk to each other much more than you may be used to.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Try to see each other as often as possible. It might be once a year; it might be once a month: see each other as often as time/budget permits.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Trust your partner. Jealousy may arise during long separations, but trust is essential to maintaining your relationship. If you develop feelings for someone else, don't hide them. Discuss it with your partner. Sometimes it may just be a case of displacing emotions for your loved one onto someone who is nearby, and your partner may be feeling the same way. If you can identify this, you can stop yourself from making a mistake.<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I hope this helps those of you considering a long distance relationship!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">xx Leia<br /></span></span>

Long Distance Relationships

I have been in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend for more years than I can count! I won't sugar-coat it for you - it's not easy, and there may be times where you just want to call it quits. I wouldn't advise you to get yourself into this situation unless there's absolutely no viable alt…

19Feb2010

How was your day.......

<div style="text-align: center;">A quick peak into my day....... :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xP5bvJmbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/eEW98aCdYsA/s1600-h/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xP5bvJmbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/eEW98aCdYsA/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQlM1_eGI/AAAAAAAAAls/H64QRAydavw/s1600-h/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQlM1_eGI/AAAAAAAAAls/H64QRAydavw/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xRBiD4P_I/AAAAAAAAAl8/adR32U1EliM/s1600-h/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xRBiD4P_I/AAAAAAAAAl8/adR32U1EliM/s320/IMG_1115.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQM1PQGXI/AAAAAAAAAlk/vlJTkP7lqs8/s1600-h/IMG_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQM1PQGXI/AAAAAAAAAlk/vlJTkP7lqs8/s320/IMG_1114.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xPGU8xUJI/AAAAAAAAAlE/guYSa8PA-aQ/s1600-h/IMG_1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xPGU8xUJI/AAAAAAAAAlE/guYSa8PA-aQ/s320/IMG_1116.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQzq5NfAI/AAAAAAAAAl0/E9A0TyVaE7U/s1600-h/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xQzq5NfAI/AAAAAAAAAl0/E9A0TyVaE7U/s320/IMG_1118.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xRMruHoGI/AAAAAAAAAmE/foqacrQ5t3Q/s1600-h/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xRMruHoGI/AAAAAAAAAmE/foqacrQ5t3Q/s320/IMG_1124.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xPl5D9oRI/AAAAAAAAAlU/1AHCqgB6tMg/s1600-h/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3xPl5D9oRI/AAAAAAAAAlU/1AHCqgB6tMg/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How was your day?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*eLLa*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

How was your day.......

A quick peak into my day....... :)How was your day?*eLLa*…

17Feb2010

Romantic Movies for the Chick Flick Hater

<span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3sBQSJUYfI/AAAAAAAAAk8/PnMUtBobOi4/s1600-h/VM._SY400_SX600__0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3sBQSJUYfI/AAAAAAAAAk8/PnMUtBobOi4/s320/VM._SY400_SX600__0.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Guest Post for the Valentines Day Blog Carnival by Vanessa of Chicken Soup for the Dorky Soul<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I have never seen <em>The Notebook</em>.  I know some of you are flailing around in confusion at that statement, but it's true.  In fact, I never <em>want</em> to see it.  There are few things that make me feel more like vomiting than a gooshy, squishy, girly movie.  I can't stand when the guy loses the girl and then in a series of crazy antics and emotional ups and downs, he gets her back and they live happily ever after.  Or when the guy and the girls are neighbors and one loves the other but the other loves some douche/douchette and the entire movie revolves around how they find out they were meant for each other all along.  I really, really hate when a movie shows love as something that happens between some modern-day princess and a white knight who acts all flowery for the sake of making her happy.  Chick flicks represent, to me, everything that I've never wanted romance to be.  Sure, I like when my boyfriend brings me flowers and writes me love notes, but the moments in which I really know I love him are the ones spent making fun of each other in public and shouting obscenities at each other as we play a violent video games in our pajamas.  And sure, I like some romance in my movies, but the totally over-the-top stuff?  Not for me.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">If you're like me and you don't like the typical chick flick or romantic comedy, you might find yourself a little lost for ideas on what movie to snuggle up with this Valentine's Day—or on any date night, for that matter.  Well, fortunately for you, I have a few ideas of movies that incorporate romance just enough to make you go "awww!" and cuddle closer, but not in a way that makes you get sick in the toilet.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Science of Sleep<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">This is my absolute favorite movie ever.  It's the story of a strange dude—aka Gael Garcia Bernal, who is a serious cutie— that comes to live in France and falls in love with his neighbor.  He's an inventor and a dreamer—literally.  Bernal's character, Stephane, seems to have an odd condition that blurs the line between reality and dream, which leads to tons of interesting, charming interludes in the film.  Science of Sleep is wonderfully clever, and is definitely one of those movies you tend to see more than once if you want to savor everything properly (if you're into analyzing movies, this one will keep be a joy to watch).  It's perfectly romantic without ever being saccharine.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>House of Flying Daggers<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">This is another one of my favorite films of all time.  House of Flying Daggers is a martial arts movie starring the incomparable Ziyi Zhang as Mei, a blind exotic dancer—or so everyone thinks at first.  The government believes she has connections to the infamous House of Flying Daggers, so they send two officers after her in order to infiltrate the rebel group.  Of course, a sort of love triangle forms, but that's all I'm sharing about the plot.  The martial arts amazing, the music is beautiful, and the cinematography is breathtaking.  Even if you're not into love stories, this movie is totally worth watching based on its aesthetic value alone.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>V for Vendetta<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">There's nothing like the love between a crazy dude bent on blowing up Parliament and a bald Natalie Portman.  I mean, spoiler alert.  I mean, she doesn't shave her head and still look drop dead gorgeous.  More or less, the plot follows V trying to overthrow a fascist government and his relationship with Evey Hammond, a woman he pulls from the clutches of said fascist government.  It's all very tense with lots of explosions and plot twists, and the best part is you're really rooting for this vigilante bent on destruction for the sake of the people.  It's hard, of course, not to be distracted by the at-times-subtle romance between V and Evey.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>The Princess Bride<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I don't think this movie honestly needs much explanation.  While the plot essentially revolves around a love story, the film is full of laughs and crazy characters—and not to mention parody.  The Princess Bride is, if anything, a satirization of adventures and romances, and you'll be sure to be entertained just thinking about how ridiculous and formulaic the genuine articles are.  <br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Star Wars Movies<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">And by "Star Wars Movies," I particularly mean the prequels, since we're talking about romance.  Yes, yes, I know the prequels get a lot of flack, but I refuse to deny that I found myself cooing girlishly during some of the love scenes between Anakin and Padme.  Star Wars is great as a romance because it's definitely not too romantic at all.  The sub-plot is there, but mostly there are crazy-looking aliens, badass droids (*cough*Grievous*cough*), and epic lightsaber battles to focus on.  I'm sure a lot of you will be skeptical of this choice because of how nerdy it is, but if you give it a watch, you may be pleasantly surprised.  <br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What movies would you add to this list?<br /></strong></span></span>

Romantic Movies for the Chick Flick Hater

Guest Post for the Valentines Day Blog Carnival by Vanessa of Chicken Soup for the Dorky SoulI have never seen The Notebook. I know some of you are flailing around in confusion at that statement, but it's true. In fact, I never want to see it. There are few things that make me feel more like vomi…

17Feb2010

Lesson in love from “The Break-Up”

<span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3r_83qjyEI/AAAAAAAAAk0/TJprzmVmMlU/s1600-h/the-break-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3r_83qjyEI/AAAAAAAAAk0/TJprzmVmMlU/s320/the-break-up.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>Guest post for the Valentines Day Blog Carnival by the lovely <a href="http://theglamourousgradstudent.blogspot.com/2007/06/about.html">A</a> of <a href="http://theglamourousgradstudent.blogspot.com/">The Glamourous Grad Student</a>.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />The Break-Up, with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, was on TV today. It starts out so cute, with the opening-credits montage of "happy times" photos. Then the relationship implodes so catastrophically it's hard to take it seriously. You want to slap these people with a really big fish...<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Brooke</strong>: What are these? [holds up a bag with 3 lemons] </em></span><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Gary</strong>: You asked for lemons. What my baby wants my baby gets. </em></span><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Brooke</strong>: There are 3 lemons. I asked for 12. Baby wanted 12. </em></span><br /><br />The chip that becomes a crack that becomes a shattered train-wreck of a relationship is Gary bringing Brooke home insufficient lemons for her centerpiece. This snowballs into a list of complaints about Gary not doing dishes or wearing a belt that matches his pants, and not taking her to the ballet... The fact is, men and women, while equal, are also very, very different. You can't expect your man to be a man, and also have all the same interests, habits and style instincts that you do. Having said that, Gary was an inconsiderate slob at the start of the movie so Brooke did have some pretty legit complaints too.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>Lesson? Men ≠ Women. Get used to it.</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Gary</strong>: Is that how you want to play it Brooke? Because I can play it like that. I can play it like Lionel Richie, "All night long."</em></span><br /><br />Brooke decides the best way to get what she wants is to kick Gary out of their bedroom, get him voted out of their bowling team and beaten up, all with the aim of putting him in a bad place mentally so he'll start thinking about what he's done. That<em> never</em> works!! Naturally, he just starts one-upping her. At this point in the movie you start wondering were either of them really cut out for an adult relationship... The closest they come to any sort of couples counseling is their realtor sitting them down to decide what happens to the condo. When you've been in a relationship long enough to buy property together, the grown-up thing to do is work on it together. "Playing it" any other way is just childish.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>Lesson? Mindgames ≠ Mature. Don't go there.</strong></span><br /><br /><strong><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em>Brooke</em></span></strong><em>: I take care of everything. And I just don't feel like you appreciate any of it. I don't feel you appreciate me. All I want is to know, is for you to show me that you care. </em><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Gary</strong>: Why didn't you just say that to me" </em></span><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Brooke</strong>: I tried. I've tried. </em></span><br /><span style="color: #993399;"><em><strong>Gary</strong>: Never like that, you might have said some things that meant to imply that, but I'm not a mind reader...<br /><br /></em></span><span style="color: black;">'Nuff said.</span><span style="color: #993399;"><em><br /><br /></em></span><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>Lesson? Communication = No Bloody Problem In The First Place!!</strong></span></span>

Lesson in love from “The Break-Up”

Guest post for the Valentines Day Blog Carnival by the lovely A of The Glamourous Grad Student.The Break-Up, with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, was on TV today. It starts out so cute, with the opening-credits montage of "happy times" photos. Then the relationship implodes so catastrophically it…

15Feb2010

Happy Valentines Day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpDwwK-DI/AAAAAAAAAjU/-hW6kqZrxPc/s1600-h/390567920_cc2acef52d_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpDwwK-DI/AAAAAAAAAjU/-hW6kqZrxPc/s320/390567920_cc2acef52d_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpF2rOTOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/BJmLr8im3ho/s1600-h/2263376464_43e412a019_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpF2rOTOI/AAAAAAAAAjc/BJmLr8im3ho/s320/2263376464_43e412a019_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpH8dUUkI/AAAAAAAAAjk/GwMmjFm1etI/s1600-h/2268784405_7bcf74373e_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpH8dUUkI/AAAAAAAAAjk/GwMmjFm1etI/s320/2268784405_7bcf74373e_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpJhkaBEI/AAAAAAAAAjs/JXlHE5OAHxI/s1600-h/2536530761_8a443d6e11_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpJhkaBEI/AAAAAAAAAjs/JXlHE5OAHxI/s320/2536530761_8a443d6e11_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpLMrc9zI/AAAAAAAAAj0/HR8rP3kzONo/s1600-h/3047247912_8f4f02cdff_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpLMrc9zI/AAAAAAAAAj0/HR8rP3kzONo/s320/3047247912_8f4f02cdff_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpNSacUII/AAAAAAAAAj8/I4eyyGnYmoo/s1600-h/3232629768_4a8dea7beb_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpNSacUII/AAAAAAAAAj8/I4eyyGnYmoo/s320/3232629768_4a8dea7beb_large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpPTV8MGI/AAAAAAAAAkE/2IBvS1Cgcw8/s1600-h/20080706070644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpPTV8MGI/AAAAAAAAAkE/2IBvS1Cgcw8/s320/20080706070644.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpRYOHY1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/gilRuUauU7s/s1600-h/20081021084427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpRYOHY1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/gilRuUauU7s/s320/20081021084427.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpTbVCyvI/AAAAAAAAAkU/g8Ey8caEZts/s1600-h/20090211064902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpTbVCyvI/AAAAAAAAAkU/g8Ey8caEZts/s320/20090211064902.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpW1HatfI/AAAAAAAAAkc/1oZoyWYIXyI/s1600-h/20090216181015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpW1HatfI/AAAAAAAAAkc/1oZoyWYIXyI/s320/20090216181015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpZe6FhoI/AAAAAAAAAkk/PK3gb-i_v4Q/s1600-h/20090819081838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3ZpZe6FhoI/AAAAAAAAAkk/PK3gb-i_v4Q/s320/20090819081838.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Valentines day :) Hope you are having a fabulous day with your loved ones whether it be your boyfriend or your best friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*hugs*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eLLa</div>

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines day :) Hope you are having a fabulous day with your loved ones whether it be your boyfriend or your best friend.*hugs*eLLa…

14Feb2010

How To Get Over A Break Up

<span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3atz2C-h9I/AAAAAAAAAks/sKYaGjrpm00/s1600-h/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3atz2C-h9I/AAAAAAAAAks/sKYaGjrpm00/s320/heart.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>Guest Post entry for Valentine's Day Carnival by the every lovely <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/13714179408766699953">Sarah Von</a> of <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/">Yes and Yes</a>.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em>From reading your blog, I know that you recently went through a bad break up, and I'm currently in that situation. While it's not bad in the sense that we're not talking and hate each other, it's bad in the sense that it hurts every second of every day, and as much as I would rather be with him, he decided that we would be better off apart. How have you been surviving the break up, and getting through it to the other side? How you have been doing it and what has helped you?<br /><br /></em>Oh friend. I am flattered that you think I could write a 'how-to' post on this, but <strong>I think this piece should be more accurately titled "How to turn the corner after a break up, stop crying in the bathroom at work, and begin to enjoy your life again (but still sometimes cry when you hear that one song)"<br /><br /></strong>But that's a really long title for a blog post.<br /><br />That said, I'm happy to share the things that I've been doing that have helped me get through this messy, mopey time.<br /><br /><strong>Remove the ex from your life (at least for a while)<br /></strong>The truly mutual, friendly break up is a rare bird - usually someone's feelings are bound to be hurt. If you were the injured party, I think it's particularly important to distance yourself for a bit. If you hang out with the ex all the time, you may find yourself trying to be your best, most charming self in an effort to make them see the error of their ways and run back to you. And if you genuinely enjoy each other's company and really like hanging out with each other ... well, that's not going to help anybody get over anybody.<br /><br />It's really, really hard to take this step and you might even worry that you're hurting this person. Just tell them that you're not trying to be malicious or hurtful and that someday you'd like to be friends, but right now you need some distance for your mental health. Then defriend the emmeffer.<br /><br /><strong>Be 100% honest with yourself about any issues that you had with your ex or the relationship<br /></strong>We all make compromises in relationships and no relationship is perfect - common knowledge, right? But sometimes when we're in the thick of things, we downplay how much something means to us in an effort to keep the peace ... there's not really any point in obsessing over his love for bad Science Fiction is there? But now that you're not together anymore, be honest with yourself about the things that didn't work for <em>you </em>in the relationship. They might not have been huge issues, but have a good think on them and be thankful that you don't have to deal with them anymore.<br /><br /><strong>Put yourself on a dating hiatus<br /></strong>If you just got out of a relationship, especially a long term one, being single feels like visiting a foreign country. And as tempting as it is to hook up with the first applicant for the position of boyfriend, it's probably a bad idea. You're not ready for it and you might end up hurting a lovely, unsuspecting person who just wants to love you.<br /><br />If you feel weird about being single, view it as a 'dating diet' ... none of that high calorie hooking up and number-swapping for you! Only heaping helpings of girlfriends, fun, and go-nowhere flirting! I've even allotted a specific end-date to my dating diet (Sept 1) to make it seem more fun ... as though I'll immediately begin making out with a delicious gentleman at the strike of midnight on August 31st.<br /><br /><strong>Have heaps of fun with your friends<br /></strong>Now that you're single you probably have heaps more time to spend with all the amazing people in your life. Also, view this time as an opportunity for your friends to go to bat for you - don't be afraid to bawl your little eyes out over beer/cheese/bacon cupcakes. Or around the bonfire. Or at the coffeeshop. Or all of the above. You've helped them through their dramas, they will help you get through this.<br /><br />But it doesn't have to be all weeping and yelling about how "you were too good for him anyway!" <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/2009/05/30-new-things-drive-in-movie.html"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Go to the drive in</span></a>, or the zoo, or <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/2009/07/30-new-things-get-my-tarot-cards-read.html"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">the tarot card reader</span></a>. Road trip and skinny dip and make popsicles. Do so many fun things that you're too busy to think about whats-their-name.<br /><br /><strong>Make a new plan<br /></strong>If you were in a long term relationship, there's a good chance that this person played into your plans for the future. Maybe you were going to go to your second choice school to be closer to them, or live in the city instead of the mountains. Maybe you were going to work part time because they could support you. But things are different now and doesn't everything feel better if you have a plan? Sit down with a cup of tea and a journal and think about what <em>you </em>really want to do, now that you don't have anyone else to consider. The sky's the limit!<br /><br /><strong>Make some changes<br /></strong>A new flat. A new haircut. A new wardrobe. The change in your relationship status might not feel so completely overwhelming when it's part of a hurricane of changes in your life. I think it also really helps to mix things up a bit so you're not constantly surrounded with the sweater you wore on your first date, the book he gave you for your birthday and couch where you first made out. Besides - this is a totally sanctioned excuse for shopping!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Take care of yourself</strong><br />It is incredibly, incredibly tempting to devolve into a sweats-wearing, ice cream-snarfing, SATC-viewing mess, but you'll feel heaps better if you look after yourself. If you're going to fanny around the house all day, at least do it in a kinomo. If you're going to pig out, do it goat cheese and baguettes. If you want to watch bad TV, do it with your friends. Don't for get to shave your legs, get some sunshine and get a bit of exercise. It might be hard to get going, but you'll be so glad you did that instead of sitting inside, listening to Jeff Buckley and eating a whole frozen pizza.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><strong>Practice the art of <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/2009/06/how-to-let-it-go.html"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">letting go</span></a></strong><br />You can't control your ex's decisions, you can only control your responses to them. Maybe they chose to end your relationship. That doesn't mean that you're not amazing and gorgeous and totally, totally loveable. It means that they weren't the right person for you right now.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>How do you get over breakups? Have you ever been through a Very Bad Breakup?</strong></span></span>

How To Get Over A Break Up

Guest Post entry for Valentine's Day Carnival by the every lovely Sarah Von of Yes and Yes.From reading your blog, I know that you recently went through a bad break up, and I'm currently in that situation. While it's not bad in the sense that we're not talking and hate each other, it's bad in the se…

13Feb2010

Women want all this, and not just on the 14th of February

<span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns="">Guest Post from the lovely <a href="http://telltaleblog.com/about/">Alexandra</a> of <a href="http://telltaleblog.com/">The Tell Tale Blog</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em>I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. I don't really like candy, let alone the kitschy heart-shaped kind, wrapped in horrible pink paper, I don't like the red+pink combo, and I hate pre-made Hallmark cards featuring a teddy bear imploring whoever to be his Valentine. V-Day… to quote the endless fountain of wisdom that is Kramer, "frankly, it sounds made up". With the risk of sounding very cliché, lovers should celebrate their love every day and not just on the 14th of the second month in the Gregorian calendar. </em><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em><br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em>I am aware that routine, a busy daily schedule, THE ECONOMY! (who doesn't blame the economy?) can make a guy feel… well… less inspired about how to show his love for his sweetheart. So guys, here's a mini-guide composed of things that just popped to mind meant to help you with better understanding your lady friend. So go on, give it a read and then proceed to being AWESOME!</em><br /></span><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDUqjvDCI/AAAAAAAAAjM/sDrxcxLcaXs/s1600-h/4323676313_a42e13c56c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDUqjvDCI/AAAAAAAAAjM/sDrxcxLcaXs/s320/4323676313_a42e13c56c.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em><br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><em><br /></em></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Listen, be present, be involved!</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Women and cats have at least one thing in common: the craving for attention. There's no denying it. All women need to be listened to, we all want at some point your whole, undivided attention. If a woman tells you this is not true, make no mistake, she is lying!</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately for Y chromosome carriers, this I-wish-to-be-the-center-of-your-universe phase is not permanent. It usually comes around when we're feeling insecure, uncertain, under the weather or in need of someone to open our souls to.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">If that happens, don't ignore us hoping it will go away. Take some time, make some tea and listen. It may be something as trivial as a stranger's spiteful remark that got to us, but it's important to know we can come to you for comfort.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Talking to our loved one induces that warm, fuzzy feeling of closeness and intimacy, something lacking in a chit-chat with our best female friend.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Pay attention</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">Most of the times "women talk" is not that hard to understand if you pay attention. Sometimes not even we know how to express what we want, but if you manage to read the signals your score just went up by 100 points! Morose doesn't mean PMS. It usually means "My day has been awful, I'd like to talk to someone". Now's the time to apply what you've learnt (see above).<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Compliment</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">If you like it, don't keep it to yourself, tell her! "You look really nice in that dress!", "Your hair smells amazing!", "You've got such sexy legs!" this is what I'm talking about. Compliments are Xanax without the side-effects.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDTM1t5XI/AAAAAAAAAjE/8R50jQnQGlo/s1600-h/4323675867_5e64e6b294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDTM1t5XI/AAAAAAAAAjE/8R50jQnQGlo/s320/4323675867_5e64e6b294.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>You don't need a reason to give flowers</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I remember one of the times I got flowers for no special reason, I was coming home from work and D was waiting for me at the tram station, with a big bouquet of white lilies. What better way to tell her that your thought flew back to her during the day than some lovely flowers? And what better thing to come home to than a smile and a hug from the man you love, offered together with some white lilies?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDSPrAyUI/AAAAAAAAAi8/PmvxxLSUymI/s1600-h/4323675683_36d221d6f3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDSPrAyUI/AAAAAAAAAi8/PmvxxLSUymI/s320/4323675683_36d221d6f3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Small favors</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">The chores are equally divided – she cooks, you do the dishes, she cleans the bedroom, you vacuum the the living room. It's perfectly cool that your relationship is not set in the 50s with the woman in the kitchen and the man reading the newspaper. But how about rewarding her for just being herself every once in a while? How about doing the laundry when it's not even laundry day? Or waking up early on Sunday morning and buying croissants for breakfast? Or preparing her a bath for when she comes back from work? Try it out and you'll see, another 100 points for you!<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Surprise!</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">I am an adept of giving small presents not just when it's a special occasion. It doesn't have to be expensive presents, just something unexpected. This just boosts up the pleasure of receiving it. Take her out for dinner on a week day; go for a walk & an ice cream after work; get her the scarf she was admiring in the window; buy a poetry book by her favorite author, and send it to her by mail without mentioning anything about it; get tickets to the movie she's been dying to see; slip a note in her pocket with a nice quote to brighten up her day… The possibilities are endless.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDQi9X2-I/AAAAAAAAAi0/GObFgZcyx6g/s1600-h/4253509891_ef9998f097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3WDQi9X2-I/AAAAAAAAAi0/GObFgZcyx6g/s320/4253509891_ef9998f097.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br /><em>There you have it! Although this was written having guys in m<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><em>ind as an audience, it can be used by chicks too. Yes ladies, go and tell your man how much you love him. Now excuse me while I go compliment D on his legs.</em></span></em></span>

Women want all this, and not just on the 14th of February

Guest Post from the lovely Alexandra of The Tell Tale BlogI'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. I don't really like candy, let alone the kitschy heart-shaped kind, wrapped in horrible pink paper, I don't like the red+pink combo, and I hate pre-made Hallmark cards featuring a teddy bear imploring whoever…

12Feb2010

Celebrate Your Love!

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""></span></span><br /><span xmlns=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Tumblr_ktewhdavvo1qzrkrxo1_500_large" src="http://whi.s3.prod.lg1x8.simplecdn.net/images/1030204/tumblr_ktewhdaVvo1qzrkrxo1_500_large.png?1258940454" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/1030204">Image</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog Carnival entry from the lovely Kim of the beautiful <a href="http://escapadeevents.wordpress.com/">Dream.Delight.Inspire </a></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether you are single or in a relationship, Valentine's Day will no doubt have an effect on you every year. Magazines hit you with lingerie spreads, telling you that in order to make your man happy you need to spend at least $200 on the latest lace and ribbon underwear set, bright red ruffled garter and thigh high fishnet stockings. Chocolate shops go crazy with heart and lip shaped chocolate, body paint sets and teddy bears holding boxes of merchandise. Gift shops fill their windows with heart shaped balloons, soft toys with "I Love You" written on them and gift baskets filled with sweet treats that make your mouth water. But what message does this send about Valentine's Day?</span> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It makes me quite sad when I hear that people refuse to celebrate it because they consider it to be an "overly commercialised Hallmark holiday". Yes, it is now, but that's not how it started. Apart from the well known St Valentine's story, some people </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in France and England believed that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which adds to the idea that Valentine's Day should be a day for romance.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was often considered a time for purification. I think Valentine's Day should be viewed simply as a day to celebrate your love in whichever way you'd like to. </span> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are currently single – use Valentine's Day to really spoil yourself. Sleep in, dance around your room listening to your favourite music, stretch, watch your favourite movie, spend hours in bed reading, write down a list of everything you love about yourself, paint your nails a bright colour, eat delicious food, bake cookies or cupcakes and decorate them, sing, go for a bike ride or roller skating, have a long bubble bath, get a facial or massage, swim in the ocean or get up to see the sunrise.</span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are in a relationship – spend the entire day doing wonderful activities together. Cook breakfast together (my favourites are French toast or pancakes) and eat in bed, have a picnic in the botanic gardens, write your lover a poem, have a meal at your favourite restaurant or eat fish and chips on the beach (depending on what hemisphere you're in), tell your partner all the things that makes them special to you, have a spa or sauna together, book massages side by side, watch the sunset with a bottle of wine, cuddle up on a beanbag with a DVD, go for a walk and explore new parts of your suburb, create a treasure hunt with little love notes and tiny presents with clues, learn a new language together via podcast or CD and laugh as you mispronounce words, plan a holiday or go for a midnight swim and enjoy hot chocolate with marshmallows when you get home.</span> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">What are you planning to do for Valentine's Day?</span><br /></em></strong></span></div><br /> </span>

Celebrate Your Love!

ImageBlog Carnival entry from the lovely Kim of the beautiful Dream.Delight.Inspire Whether you are single or in a relationship, Valentine's Day will no doubt have an effect on you every year. Magazines hit you with lingerie spreads, telling you that in order to make your man happy you need to spend…

09Feb2010

Ask me anything

Ask me anything

Now is your chance to ask me anything you ever wanted to. Just click here or type you question in the box in thr right hand column and I will answer all and any questions you have ever wanted to know about me anonymously :)Looking forward to hearing from you!*eLLa* …

09Feb2010

Unconditional Self Love - Be Your Own Valentine

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3AAyAmgcyI/AAAAAAAAAik/XizsjrKH37k/s1600-h/20090215220431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S3AAyAmgcyI/AAAAAAAAAik/XizsjrKH37k/s320/20090215220431.jpg" /></a></div>Blog Carnival entry from <a href="http://kyliejowiser.com/blog/about-kylie">Kylie</a> - her blog <a href="http://kyliejowiser.com/blog/">Hyseria</a>, is fabulous and full of really great posts that are both and fun and thought provoking.<br /><br />I'm always confused by women who get depressed if they happen to be spending Valentine's Day without a date. Why?! I say, celebrate your singlehood! Be proud that you don't need to be attached to another half to feel whole! Be grateful that you have time to work on yourself and be as fabulous as you wanna be! Don't cry. Dance. Laugh. Love.<br /><br />But this article isn't just for the single girls. Nope! Those of us in relationships forget to dish out the self lovin' too. In fact, sometimes even more so! When someone else is always telling us how pretty and smart and awesome we are, it's definitely nice, but we can sometimes learn to depend on those words, and that's not good. You've surely heard the old advice, "The most important relationship you'll ever have is the one you have with yourself." and it's true. So don't skimp on the inner romance!<br /><br />Loving yourself is crucial to being happy. If you don't love yourself fully and unconditionally, you will not feel very deserving of happiness. If you don't love yourself, you will never understand how much you have to offer the world and it will all go to waste. I've said before that it is each person's responsibility to be the best person we can possibly be... In order to do this, we need to eliminate self-hate and make it our mission to fall in love with ourselves.<br /><br />What's stopping you from loving yourself? Would you love yourself if you had more money? If you had a better body? If you had more friends? Say this out loud to yourself and you will realize how ridiculous this mindset really is. Would you ever say to your lover, "I will love you when you make more money." or "I will love you when you lose 10 pounds." Of course not! So it's unreasonable to set those kinds of conditions for yourself. You don't deserve that. Everyone needs love, and no one should have to jump through hoops to get it, especially not from themselves! There is nothing wrong with trying to better yourself, but restricting self love in order to do so is unhealthy, ineffective, and stupid. Don't subject yourself to that kind of torture! You can let the love flow and improve yourself at the same time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Celebrate yourself</span><br />Everyone is different, yet everyone is equally deserving of love. Instead of trying to be someone you're not, celebrate the little things that make you unique. Don't paint your pale skin orange with self tanner, keep it looking fantastic by liberally applying SPF and moisturizer. Don't suffer your way through business school because your family wants you to when all you want to do is make art. Make the most of what you have, don't fight it.<br /><blockquote>“<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/persons_are_judged_to_be_great_because_of_the/167511.html" target="_blank">Persons are judged to be great because of the positive qualities they possess, not because of the absence of faults.</a>”</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">See the beauty in others</span><br />When you look for beauty everywhere, it will be easier to see it in yourself. Practice makes perfect in all aspects of life, so the more you give love, the easier it will be to accept it. Make sure your family and friends know that you love them. Don't just think good things about people, tell them! No one ever tires of hearing wonderful things about themselves, so don't hold back! Making other people feel fantastic will make <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> feel fantastic and make your relationships blossom like crazy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cute out your living space</span><br />Make your house/apartment/bedroom/dorm as fabulous as possible. You should feel happy and peaceful immediately upon entering it. Your space should boost your mood and your creativity. Everyone has different preferences for how they want their home to be, but personally, my house and I get along best when I keep it clean, organized, bright, and colorful. I like flowers, pictures of people that I love, zero clutter, and fruit. Music is usually playing around here and I am pretty insane about making it smell good. I have a ridiculous stash of scented candles, insense, air fresheners and those little wax things that you put in a vaporizor that melt and smell lovely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do what you love to do</span><br />This might be the most important thing of all. Don't fill up your free time with television or facebook. These things have their place, but should not be a regular, major part of your lifestyle. Use your free time to do something you feel <span style="font-weight: bold;">good </span>about. Create somthing beautiful. Learn something new. Help others.

Unconditional Self Love - Be Your Own Valentine

Blog Carnival entry from Kylie - her blog Hyseria, is fabulous and full of really great posts that are both and fun and thought provoking.I'm always confused by women who get depressed if they happen to be spending Valentine's Day without a date. Why?! I say, celebrate your singlehood! Be proud that…

08Feb2010

Valentines Day Blog Carnival Begins

Valentines Day Blog Carnival Begins

Today is the start of the Valentines Day Blog Carnival. While I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of submissions those who did wrote some really awesome stuff :) So check back every second day to see them.…

08Feb2010

Outfit inspirations

I have in the past always been a bit shy about letting out some pf my really taste in clothing and since my mom and sister always had the same taste and I was the "odd one out" so to speak they would buy a lot of my clothes. However, in the last few years I have more and more started to buy my own stuff and wear outfits that are me. In my<a href="http://ellainspired.blogspot.com/2010/01/shopping-mantra-for-2010.html"> last post</a> I discussed my new showing approach and have been busy making lists and searching for inspiration.<br /><br />Here are a few outfits I have created with pieces I want in my ideal wardrobe :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="look image" src="http://cdn.looklet.com/static/looks/2010/02/03/10/88b858d7-2ac1-41ff-90a1-9d8d32fb17db.jpg?1" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="look image" src="http://cdn.looklet.com/static/looks/2010/01/07/13/8129081d-ea33-4da6-8c68-b0514760e429.jpg?1" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="look image" src="http://cdn.looklet.com/static/looks/2010/01/07/13/c0033647-8c04-46b9-b23c-be3a4421f5fb.jpg?1" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What look are you wanting to incorporate into your wardrobe this year?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leave a comment :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*eLLa*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Outfit inspirations

04Feb2010

Book Club - Guest Review of Confessions of a Shopaholic

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thekoolaidmom.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/confessions-of-a-shopaolic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thekoolaidmom.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/confessions-of-a-shopaolic1.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><br />For this months Book Club the lovely Leia of <a href="http://hifashionsl.blogspot.com/">HiFashion</a> reviewed the Confessions of a Shopaholic Book series:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br /><div>Book: Confessions of a Shopaholic</div><div>Author: Sophie Kinsella</div><div>Genre: Chick-lit</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overall review: 3/5 stars</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Confessions of a Shopaholic is witty, fun, and impossible to put down! It is best suited to women of all ages - preferably those who love to shop. It may teach you a thing or two about getting into debt!</div><div><br /></div><div>But as far as chick-lit goes, I wouldn't say this was a favorite. I actually prefer Sophie Kinsella's other books to the Shopaholic series. There were a few "tiny niggles" (as Kinsella would say): I wish that Rebecca Bloomwood's appearance was actually described. I had no idea what she looked like - all I knew was that she had a penchant for designer clothing! It would have been much more fun if I could picture her - after all, her best friend and boyfriend were well-portrayed. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were also a few small quirks in her writing style that bothered me (although you probably think I'm being over-analytical!) - she used the word "brightly" so many times that it started to irritate me, and Rebecca Bloomwood seemed more of an alcoholic than shopaholic! It seemed that alcohol was her cure for all of life's dramas, because some kind of drink presented itself every few pages. I'm not sure I'm happy with the kind of message this sends, especially to young readers!</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps I made a mistake watching the movie before reading the book, but I do think that for something that has so much to do with aesthetics, it is much more fun to be able to actually visualise the clothes and shoes and bags. Personally, I much preferred the movie, but if you're on vacation or need something light to read, then pick up Confessions of a Shopaholic!</div><div><br /></div><div>xx Leia</div><div><br /></div><div>Have you read the series? What where your thoughts? Do you want to review a book for next months book club? Send it in!</div><div><br /></div><div>*eLLa*</div></div>

Book Club - Guest Review of Confessions of a Shopaholic

For this months Book Club the lovely Leia of HiFashion reviewed the Confessions of a Shopaholic Book series:Book: Confessions of a ShopaholicAuthor: Sophie KinsellaGenre: Chick-litOverall review: 3/5 starsConfessions of a Shopaholic is witty, fun, and impossible to put down! It is best suited to wom…