Shopping Girl: Living and Style

Summer Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:22:00 +0000

I don't know how many of you have favorite shops, but I do. I reached the point when I refuse to buy clothes - no matter how pretty - from other shops than the ones I know I like.

I hate some brands just because they are too fancy. I usually wear casual - sports - emo kind of clothes. I am slightly going towards visual kei. Anyway...

... my list comprises:

Levi's (jeans and maybe some tops)
Marks&Spencer (almost everything)
Debenhams (almost everything)
Oxxo (Turkish brand) - all kind of pants, t-shirts
Mavi (Turkish) -all
DKNY - t-shirts
Next - t-shirts, maybe jeans
LCW - t-shirts, sweaters (from kids' department)
Zara - t-shirts or sweaters (kids' department only)
Sketchers - sneakers, etc

Like I said, I have a few big "NO"s. I never buy from hypermarkets because the quality is not worth it. I don't care if my t-shirt has a good label or not - I care only about the fabric. A t-shirt - plain black - from Marks&Spencer screams quality thousands of times louder than something more expensive and with a weird cut bought from some small place.

Yesterday I paid about 60 euro - a lot probably for US - for a t-shirt and a pair of capris from M&S. Totally worth it.

How to Treat Sore and Swollen Breasts

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 17:43:00 +0000

First, let us say that I am talking about breasts which are swollen and which hurt not because of pregnancy.

I have read that some book states that the difference between the way breasts feel when one is pregnant and the way they feel before menstruation is that before you have your period your breasts are not swollen. Totally wrong. I have no idea who could come up with such an idiotic remark but, let me tell you this: half of the girls I know complain about swollen breasts before period. Including me. And trust me, I am not pregnant and I have never been pregnant; so assuming that my breasts grow one bra size because I am monthly pregnant is sick.

Anyway, another reason why your breasts can become sore and swollen is heat. If it is extremely hot outside and you have been in this heat for some time, you can get this symptom. The breasts usually hurt and become swollen on the side with the armpit. Sometimes even your arm can swell. Once, when I was on my holiday abroad, it got so bad that my arm swell until my elbow almost and when I touched my breats they felt as if I had not flesh inside, but crushed ice pieces. Sometimes the breasts also feel hot to touch. Sometimes only one breast can sweel and hurt.

How to treat this? You can use anti-inflamatory creams. What I used and some women whom I knew used was 'cataplasms' with ice cubes or crushed ice inside, placed on your breasts. I swear it helps. This was the only thing that helped me. Use the ice packs for about 10 minutes every couple of hours.

Actually, I don't know if you knew this, but ice is what stops spread the infection or the inflamation. It is used for sprained ankles or broken bones and so on, until you reach the hospital.

How To Buy Gifts (Presents)?

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:26:00 +0000

Yes, good question. I love buying gifts for people. Well, it's shopping after all and this is a great excuse.

What scares me many times is not being able to find the 'best' present. Sometimes I spend hours in shops. (Record was 2 hours spent in Toys'R'Us looking at only two shelves back and forth, so go figure!)

I never leave home without knowing what I want. Of course, you can get ideas in a shop, but sometimes you waste time instead of actually using it to choose the right gift.

How do I buy presents?

Well, you can always ask the person directly what he or she wants. It's safer. But gambling it is for fun, especially if the receiver loves it.

Some good time before the event I usually gather clues. I know what the person likes and I know her/his interests. Then I try to figure what she or he doesn't have and might want.

I usually rely on the last conversations we had.

I try never to buy clothes for women. Fat chance they fit. But if your friend has the same size as you do, then you might want to go for it, anyway.

If someone likes earrings, buy earrings and choose the style, the color, the format that matches her. If she likes books, make sure she doesn't have that already. Safest tip: go for an album or an encyclopedia of some sort that she would like and would not spend money on.

I have bought even plates for my best friend and she loved them.

Never buy useless things. Buy something that she does not have enough of. Buy something she or he could always make use of. Maybe a decoration piece which she wouldn't hide in the closet when you are not around.

In terms of perfect gift, the sky is the limit.

Buy something she can use in her home - I bought coasters and matching wine-box, for example. She bought for me a pirate book. I bought games - Dungeons and Dragons. I bought puzzles.

Cups and candles, no matter how much fun and unless asked for show no initiative. They are the kind of presents you just buy for the sake of buying. Don't do that.

I bought pops and candies when I went abroad. I bought ethnic pottery.

Once I got a very expensive elephant made of ivory. I hid it because while I liked the elephant, I hated the idea of killing elephants to make that piece. On the other hand, if you hide it, you think the poor thing was killed for nothing... So I wish I had never received that present!

I do not like flowers which have been cut. I like plants in pots only. I like presents for my cat.

Anyway, before you buy something you should do your homework. Interests are the number one clue. And rely, like I have already said, on previous conversations.

If your very good friend has told you two months ago that she would love a pair of handcuffs but does not have the guts or did not have the time to buy them, why don't you do it?

The new album of his/her favorite band is out. Grab it before he/she does and warn them if you want about it.

My Mom expressed her interests in miracles and religious issues? I bought her a book on orthodoxism.

My Dad drinks a mug of coffe in the morning but does not have his own. I got him one. He is interested in mysteries and the masons and so on... Bought him a book on that.

When I went abroad I knew he needed a new scarf: I got it a scarf and a sweater on a color that makes him look good.

My cousin loves games: the newest release in the series! And a bunch of tshirts and sweaters.

My aunt loves collection spoons. Easy present.

What do you do though when you buy something for someone you don't know much about? Classic buys: vases, crystal or expensive ornaments, Brand sets of perfumes and creams (try to pick the one you have heard a lot about and which is not too sweet or fresh). Noa and Anais Anais from Cacharel are safe buys.

So... the list is huge.

Pictures from:
thelilyshop.co.nz
www.zengyo.com

Large Butt? Pants to Wear

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:34:00 +0000

I would suggest dresses and skirts - I have a friend with a pretty impressive butt and she's a heart-breaker. She is a bit worried about her butt and she is plus-sized, but God, she knows how to dress to impress!

Anyway, we were talking about pants...

Unfortunately this year's fashion focuses on tights and straight and tight leg pants. It is something that I have also always hated. (Just like the round top shoes, but we will talk about that some other time).

The idea is the leg of the pant should be bootleg. It should also be long enough to cover a large part of the shoes (for example, it should almost reach the floor). Bootleg will create an equilibrium between up and down and your butt will look smaller. Longer legs make you look taller and that also creates the impression of a smaller butt.

You should not have any pockets on your butt.

Any pattern on your pants should be vertical, not horizontal. And never on the upper part of your leg.

Some vertical stripes can create an advantage, but you need to check that for yourself (color matters and so does the thickness of the strip and the contrast between the lines).

NEVER buy pants that have a high waistline. That is so wrong! I saw some advice given somewhere about big bums and high waistlines. A high waistline will make your butt look larger both horizontally and vertically. Instead, pick low waistlines.

Try to draw attention to your upper body. You can also place a massive accesorry around your neck, that could hang in between your boobs. Which guy will check your butt when he can stare at your boobs?

I get to see girls on the street with fat tummies and butts wearing both tights and streched tops. It is beyong vulgar! It is disgusting. Unless you plan on changing your career to becoming a prostitute, do yourself a favor and promise you will never wear this combination. That's a scream for attention: "hey guys, wanna bang me?". Don't believe me? Ask any guy with good taste.

A few days ago, at work, a girl came wearing some kind of summer-evening dress, - God knows what it was - slightly transparent. I do not know what she was trying to cover but from the side her belly was plunging out through the fabric and you could see the shape of that belly. The guy I was with pulled my sleeve and showed me that. "I saw," I said. "Don't you think it's disgusting? What was she thinking this morning when she put it on?" "I have seen plenty like this, trust me. It does not shock me anymore."

The guy was not shocked about the belly. He was shocked about the dress. Because no girl, no matter if she is a photomodel or if she is over-sized should ever wear things that look like this. Just like their clothes should never cry for desperate attention.

Large Butt? Plus Size? Choosing the Correct Swimwear

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:58:00 +0000

First, I think we should put the problem in a different way: butts with cellulite and butts without. Or else, I wouldn't see why anybody would want to cover her butt.

Anyway, I did some research on this, out of curiosity and because I know there are people out there having problems with bathing suits. My butt is okay and I still whine about the perfect swimwear. In other words, I can imagine how you might feel...

Color and Patterns

Color matters. Light colors make you look bigger, dark colors make you look smaller. It's a fact. If you choose a two piece, then pick different colors or even make use of patterns. Again, some patterns give the impression of something being smaller actually than it really is. Your eyes run along the pattern and lose the volume, but focus on the pattern. Always choose big patterns, of different colors, so a contrast can be built. In any case, do not ever pick a light color for your bottom. (Example from Jms.com where I found lots of pretty examples).

Types of Swimwear

There are two suggestions: the mixed swimwear - or the two piece - and the one-piece swimsuit.

If you go for two, you might want to prefer different colors or one pattern for up and a color for down.

If you choose the one-piece... well, it's a smart choice to hide your tummy but the ones the swimmers wear - the simple ones that is - might make you look more massive. Try not to go for men's shorts or briefs. Honestly. Go instead for swimwear that has an addon like a tennis skirt (swimdress). It covers up a lot and it's more feminine.

What NOT to Cover

Your chest area. Pick the ones with the upper part in a "V". Draw attention to your nice part if you think your butt has a problem. That is because I have hardly heard a guy complain about big boobs. ;)

Remedy for Tired Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:35:00 +0000

Well, before you buy anything, let's find out why your feet are tired or swollen. Do you sit a lot at work? Do you walk a lot at work? Do you varicose veins? As you can see, the reasons can be many.

About varicose veins we will have another post soon, since the subject is a bit trickier than the others. For tired feet and legs the solution is simple.

Massage. It helps more than you can imagine. I love rubbing my legs and my feet after a shower with cooling lotions. Stretch your legs and feet a bit, even if they are tired, because you are going to break the pattern of the repetitive movement.

Creams are also fantastic to smooth your skin and give it elasticity, thus preventing varicose veins or other inestetic 'occurences' in your skin texture.

Place your feet on a pillow or some blankets, somewhat higher than your head (and place no pillow under your head) and lie down for about 15 minutes. This also helps blood circulation and relaxes your legs.

Cellulite Serum from Body Shop: Body Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:16:00 +0000

This is my new buy and I am very happy with it: Cellulite Serum from The Body Shop. It has a minthy scent that can be felt from kilometers away and which you will love to feel on your legs in summer.

It gets absorbed in the skin very fast. You should massage the area when you apply it for better results.

You can combine it with the mask below:

Time to Buy New Cosmetics

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:19:00 +0000

Never keep cosmetics over their expiration date. Cosmetics are not healthy for your skin anywa so if you keep them over the expiration date, your skin is in big trouble. Actually, it's as bad as eating altered food I would say, only that the result of using expired cosmetics can be seen in time, not right away. Yes, cancer is one of the risks. Skin cancer would be the first on the list.

The expiration date cannot be read anymore and is all smudged? Well, it's time to calculate when you have bought this last product.

Most creams and make up removers can be used for up to two years. I mean, all the ones I had were like that. But some can last only 1 year.

Mascara can last up to three months - you will realize it because it gets harder to use (the fluid is less fluid) and can cause irritated eyes.

Anything which is a liquid foundatin can reach up to 6 months. Powders last somewhat longer.

Lipstick - in between one and two years but never more. So stop collecting and start throwing.

Lip and Eye Liners - about a year again.

Natural cosmetics are better but they last less. Makes sense, right?

Sun tanning lotions? Get rid of them after having used them this summer, even if you haven't finished them. The heat and the fact that they were opened will make them bad by next year. No point in wasting space with keeping them.

I never keep creams or lotions that have changed their aspect because of the heat - some can separate into two, like yogurt does when it goes bad. Never keep those!

I also suggest buying smaller quantities in the first place: having more of different kinds is better than having one large one that you will never finish. This goes especially for make-up products.

To summarize, everything goes bad in about a year. But that's okay. We need to shop anyway to keep in touch with the new season or with our new haircut and hair color.

Picture from: FreeMania.com

Stop Animal Testing - the New Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 17:26:00 +0000

I would like to think that the new generation cares not only about looks and good quality products, but also about ethical issues like animal testing and donating money for poor children and their education or for the tropical forest.

Anyway, here is an interesting article on animal cruelty that some should read:

http://www.stopanimaltests.com/animalTesting101.asp?c=sat0113g&gclid=CP-tp4Cj9YwCFRooEAoddXhHbw

Yes, I know: sometimes I want to close my eyes and cover my ears (like right now) and don't think about it because it hurts too much. But if I do that and you do that and we all do that, then nothing will change; theoretically I will feel better because I do not know but practically I will feel a lot worse because I do not care.

So if the new generation will not make the change possible, who will?

Sometimes you need to see so you know.

Picture: High Park Speakers

Natural Organic and Ethical Skincare and Cosmetics

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:44:00 +0000

I don't know how true this is, or in other words, to which extent is all true, but the use of cosmetics increases the risk of cancer.

Of course, we all know that if we don't take good care of our skin we will end up looking old and wrinkled. On the other hand, the use of many cosmetics leads exactly to that.

Honestly, I cannot give up make up or fragrances or cosmetics in the same way in which you cannot. So then the only choice left is to re-orient myself towards organic products, skincare and cosmetics.

Did you know that roll-ons and deodorants cause breast cancer in women? And if you shave or wax and you use these products on your irritated skin the risk increases a lot more. Theoretically and pratically you should wait up to 24 hours before using anything on irritated skin. However, we both know that this is not possible. You cannot go to work or outside stinking like a skunk, - or like a skunk's musk - can you?

So that's when you need to think about your health and refocus on buying organical ethical products (cosmetics, frangrances, make-up, skincare products in general).

Why do I keep saying ethical? Because buying something that contains natural musk is not ethical - there is no fun it cutting or injuring an animal in order to get that ingredient. Keep it good for you, but good for the animals also. Or else, what is the point? I'd rather risk and get cancer than buy a product from a company that is not against animal cruelty. Don't worry, our world is 'opening' so you can find plenty of good places from where to buy. You'll feel better and cleaner, trust me.

Here is a directory of such places: http://www.ethicaldirectory.co.uk/bodycare_cosmetics.htm.

One more here: http://www.ethicalwares.com/esse.htm.

Bet you can some in malls as well, not only online.

Actually, I am also buying from The Body Shop. It's ethical and a little more natural than the rest of the shops. And I also buy from Forever Living. I'm happy with the products.

Speaking of Jewelry - The Correct Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:18:00 +0000

For a friend's birthday I shopped from Accessorize. I like them - not as much as Meli Melo - but nevertheless, they have pretty stuff.

I got her two pairs of earrings - I loved them and she liked them also. I like bigger ones as much as I like the long and slender ones, but her face is roundish so I had to settle for the long thin ones.

The idea about jewelries is that they have to suit you. You cannot wear something massive if your tiny, in the same way in which something tiny will look horrible on a thick neck or wrist.

Color is also important. I'm talking here about the color of your hair, the color of your eyes, your complex. Basically, if you look bad in a color when you wear it chances are that color won't look good on you in a necklace or in a pair of earrings.

Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:30:00 +0000

I am pretty crazy about accessories, even if I don't always wear them. I used to love earrings and necklaces. Then bracelets. Then toe rings and normal rings and belts... And I love hats as well, only that I wear them only on holiday. I love stupid colorful things for a my hair. I rarely wear them, but I collect them I guess.

I hate yellow gold but I'm ok with white gold and silver. Not on their own though. I like best the new trendy accessories.

So I hadn't bought anything for some time until two days ago when I went shopping for a belt and I came out with a new ring and a necklace. I spent something like 35 bucks I think. Reasonable.

Can't find the ring to show you, but the necklace is from Meli Melo Paris.

The other day I bought these funny Chinese sticks for my hair:

Shopping... in General

noreply@blogger.com (Darquette) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:27:00 +0000

There is no point in trying to chat about myself and shopping, or trying to introduce myself to anybody through this post because no one would care or read. So let's chat about shopping... in general.

You have no tbe crazy about shopping to create a blog on it. I realized that I want one the moment I started making lists of things to buy on my other blogs.