Today's Obsessions

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• 8 Ways to Get Your Toes Ready for Spring …
• 7 Stylish Neutral Clothes …
• 8 Reasons To Take An Interest In Politics …
• 7 Signs You’re Co-Dependent …
• 7 High Paying Careers Ideal for Women …
• 7 Things I Like to Do During the Day …
• 7 Secrets to Better Friendships …
• 8 Modern Albums You Should Listen To …
• 9 Something Corporate Songs that Move Me …
• 8 Facts on the Solar System …
• 9 Adorable Must-Have Jumpsuits …
• 7 Sports Ideal For Women …
• 8 Ways to Prepare for Bad Weather …
• 7 Beautiful Tiffany Flatware Patterns …
• Kelly Clarkston’s New Album Delayed…
• 10 Cute Gifts Under $20 for the Cat Lover …
• Happy Birthday, Mia and Rob!
• PerfumeStory.com for Your Perfume Needs …

8 Ways to Get Your Toes Ready for Spring … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:53 AM PDT No lie, my feet are in bad shape. I’m not talking about corns or anything like that, but I don’t pay a lot of attention to my toenails in winter, since I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing open toed shoes most of the time (okay, ever – not even with tights; too cold!), and the skin is so dry. Still, I’ve seen sunshine outside for the last three days, so maybe spring really is on its way, you know? In which case, it’s time to get my tootsies back in order – and here are 8 ways you can get your toes ready for spring too! 1. Moisturize Photo Credit: jewelboxofsad First and foremost, you have to start up a good moisturizing regimen for your feet. You need to lotion them up like you would your hands and your face. Sometimes, when my skin gets really dry, especially on the heel, I use either Vaseline or milk based body butters and just slather it on, then pull on a clean, white cotton sock so it can soak in properly. 2. Exfoliate Photo Credit: blackcurrent1 Your feet and toes are actually a lot like your face, because you have to take care of their skin. It’s important to exfoliate your feet so you can get rid of all that dead skin. This will also help you eliminate any of the calluses that built up over the winter months – always a good thing. 3. Clean Up Your Nails Photo Credit: sciencephoto.com You have to take good care of your toenails as well, especially when you’re going to be showing them off in flip flops and things. Keeping them clean is really important – and something you can sometimes forget when your feet are always bundled up in socks. You can use a cuticle stick to get up under your toenails and clean them out really easily.

7 Stylish Neutral Clothes … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:53 AM PDT Neutral dressing is a trend that is suited to all seasons. Neutral colours such as white, beige, black, and grey are a great way for building up your wardrobe. You can base your outfits around darker colours in the winter months, and keep it fresh and light in the summer months. Personally, lighter neutrals are my favourites. Below are just a few pieces of clothing that I think make the most of this trend. 1. Kain Sybil Silk Blouse Price: $160.00 at net-a-porter.com The sheerness of this shirt makes for a bright and breezy look. Layer this over a singlet or tank dress. I really like the features such as the turned up cuff and seam detail. This would look great with skinny leg pants and accessorised with a long drop necklace. 2. Topshop Cap Twist Sleeve Silk Shirt Price: $70.00 at us.topshop.com This button down silk shirt is a great staple piece. It features cap-twist sleeves and a front pocket. The tan colour would look great with denim and white pieces of clothing. If you want to channel a preppy aesthetic, try buttoning it up right to the collar. Otherwise keep the collar unbuttoned for a more casual look. 3. Topshop Ivory Silk Midi Dress by Boutique Price: $175.00 at us.topshop.com This dress is all about simple and understated luxury. It features a button down bodice, collar, and front pocket. I love the longer length of this dress. Play up your girly side and accessorise with a headband and dainty ballet flats or toughen it up with a leather jacket and lace-up boots.

8 Reasons To Take An Interest In Politics … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:11 AM PDT Mention the word 'politics' to many people and they'll start to yawn. It doesn't appear to be the most interesting topic, does it? Plus there is a lot of cynicism regarding politicians and the true extent of their commitment to public service. However, while most of us wouldn't want to become politically active ourself, it's still worth taking an interest in the subject. Here are some reasons why. 1. Hard-Won Democracy I know it sounds a cliché, but women really did have to fight for the vote. In many countries, women are second-class citizens, and even men may be bullied into voting for a certain party or intimidated into not voting at all. So however flawed our own systems may be, we should be appreciative of our right to vote. 2. Awareness We ought to be aware of the issues that concern us and others. Why? Because of many reasons, one of which is that forewarned is forearmed. In the day of social networking and fast communications, it is easy to mount a rapid campaign in favour of or against political decisions, or promoting a cause. 3. Don't Vote? Don't Complain! Are you one of those people who grumbles about political decisions, yet never bothers to vote? I know quite a few of them! Well, how can you complain about the government if you didn't even vote against them? It doesn't take much time and happens only rarely, so make your vote count.

7 Signs You’re Co-Dependent … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:05 AM PDT Co-dependency is a term that's thrown about a lot but it's also one that a lot of us don't fully understand. The simplest way to explain what it means is as an addiction to feeling needed. Girls, we all like to feel we're important to the people in our lives, but co-dependency goes a lot further than that – in fact it's at the root of many dysfunctional relationships. Personalities are co-dependent to varying degrees. The condition can manifest simply as a desire to play 'Miss Fix-it' in the lives of all your friends or it can be far more serious and cause people to enable the problems of others just so they continue to feel needed. Here's a list of seven classic symptoms of co-dependency; if you think you have a few of them yourselves, ladies, it might be time to pay that urge to be needed a little more attention … 1. Compulsive Caretaking Co-dependent personalities have a tendency to engage in behaviour that, from the outside, seems motherly. They tend to look after their partners in a way that is sometimes called stifling or smothering, and they constantly put themselves in the position of the shoulder to cry on with their friends. Now girls, there's nothing wrong with treating the people in your life to a little TLC, but when taking on the role of care taker begins to affect your relationships in a bad way, you might want to reconsider your behaviour. 2. Rejection Complex In situations where people don't need their help, the co-dependent personality feels and exaggerated sense of hurt. Co-dependency revolves around the longing to be needed in the lives of others, and an outright declaration of independence from a loved one will come across as a profound rejection.

7 High Paying Careers Ideal for Women … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:04 AM PDT Women make up almost 50% of the workforce in America. Yet, we find that women do not get paid at par with men. However, more and more women are seeking out jobs that pay them higher salaries than others. Here are some of the high paying careers ideal for women. 1. Chief Executive Officer While only about a quarter of the CEO's in America are women, more and more women are entering businesses and reaching for the top rung of the ladder. They earn approximately 75% of the salary that men earn in the same positions. Experts believe that it is now becoming easier for women to become CEO's rather than specializing in fields like law and medicine. 2. Pharmacist This has become one of the high paying careers ideal for women. Almost half the pharmacists in America are now women and they earn over 75% of the salary that men earn in the same position. 3. Lawyers Once a field dominated by men, more and more women are now entering law schools and becoming lawyers. More than 50% students in law colleges are now women. Currently, over a third of the country's lawyers are women and they earn almost 75% of the salary earned by men in the same position.

7 Things I Like to Do During the Day … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 10:44 AM PDT There is a big difference between what I like to do and what I have to do, so this list includes 7 things I like to do during the day. If I was able to do whatever I want during the day, then the list below would be very accurate. However, with work, kids, pets, and random unexpected events, my days include more things that have to be done and less that I actually want to do. 7. Start the day with a good cup of coffee It seems that my day never truly starts until my first cup of coffee. I don’t drink the high end espresso stuff or anything like that, so it isn’t as if I’m needing a kick-start to get going. It might simply be a mental thing with me. I feel that that first cup of coffee is like the starting gun and it seems to clear my head enough to allow me to put the day’s events in order of importance. 6. Wrap up in a blanket and read an entire book I have yet to finish a book all the way through in one sitting in the past 10 years. My son was 6 the last time I read a book from cover to cover all in the same day. I could totally go for a day of reading something that I haven’t written myself! 5. Take the canoe out for a spin on the lake My husband and I haven’t been canoing since the end of last summer. Now that spring is nearly hear and the ice and snow seem to be gone, taking the canoe out on the lake sounds like an excellent way to spend the day.

7 Secrets to Better Friendships … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 10:33 AM PDT We all want and need friends. Most of us long for a group of loved ones that are there through thick and thin like on the hit TV show “FRIENDS”. The truth is that maintaining friendships takes a lot of time, energy, and persistence. Sadly, the current mentality of our society is that everything is disposable and replaceable. This type of thinking makes it nearly impossible to make and keep deep-rooted relationships among friends. Following is a list of factors that encourage healthy, real friendships… 1. Be Real Honesty is critical to a good, healthy friendship; a real friend is one with whom you can simply be yourself. Faking who you are will not bring you friends, and it won’t make your relationships with them deep or rewarding. 2. No Gossip Gossip is a friendship killer. Don’t talk about someone and then expect them to be your friend. Likewise, if you know someone’s gossiping about you, then be aware, they’re not your friend, either. And, for the record, “gossip” is any unflattering talk of someone you wouldn’t want them to know you said… don’t do it! 3. Be Vulnerable Opening up about yourself exposes you to hurt, it leaves you vulnerable. Real friends love you regardless of what they know about you. Furthermore, they keep your secrets. On the flip side of that, be there for your friends when they’re vulnerable, too.

8 Modern Albums You Should Listen To … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:44 AM PDT Music is such a subjective thing. Everyone will have different opinions on what makes an album truly special. There are just so many genres and bands to choose from! That said, there are always going to be a few albums that stand out above the rest. The following are just a few modern albums that, in my opinion, everyone should take the time to listen to. 1. OK Computer by Radiohead Price: $7.99 at music.barnesandnoble.com OK Computer was the third studio album from alternative rock band Radiohead. This album can be credited with expanding the band's popularity. It's often referred to as a concept album. Notable songs on the album include 'Paranoid Android', 'Karma Police', and 'No Surprises'. 2. Is This It by The Strokes Price: $7.99 at music.barnesandnoble.com The Strokes brought garage-rock back to the fore of the music scene with this album. Released in 2001, it played a big part in shaping the direction of music in the 2000s. It's no surprise then that this album frequently appears on many "best of" lists. This album is full of jangly guitars and toe-tapping good tunes. 3. Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers Price: $14.05 at music.barnesandnoble.com This album is notable as it marked a shift in the band's sound and musical direction. As such, it appears to be more melodic than previous albums. It also marked the return of John Frusciante as the band's guitarist. Hit singles included 'Californication', 'Scar Tissue', and 'Around the World'.

9 Something Corporate Songs that Move Me … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:41 AM PDT Something Corporate is one of my favorite bands ever. I love Jack’s Mannequin, Andrew McMahon’s solo project, as well, but it’s SoCo who stole my heart. Andrew’s voice is musical, it is so raw and vulnerable and clear and pure. His poetry is phenomenal, and his lyrics are inspiring. Here are 9 Something Corporate Songs that move me – sometimes to tears. 1. "Walking By" This was the first SoCo song I ever heard, and it’s still one of my favorites. To say why would probably be to quote the whole song. Both the lyrics and the tone are absolutely breathtaking. This song is so moving, I can’t hear it without getting shivers. And let’s just say that the phrase "firefly stare" has worked its way into my writing more than once. 2. "Konstantine" This song is unquestionably epic, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. It makes me want to be a girl like Konstantine – looking beautiful, standing there in my underwear. Well, maybe not necessarily that scenario, but you get what I mean, right? 3. "As You Sleep" This song is the most beautiful lullaby I’ve ever heard in my entire life. I love when it’s just Andrew and his piano. This song makes my heart ache, every single time I hear it. Is there any wonder? "In the car, the radio leaves me searching for your star / a constellation of frustration driving hard / singing my thoughts back to me, like watching heartache on TV." Oh sigh.

8 Facts on the Solar System … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:33 AM PDT When I walk outside at night, I can't help but to stop and gaze up at the stars. Every now and then, when the timing is right, you will come across a shooting star. There is just something about the Solar System that has always interested me – it's mysterious to say the least. I mean, it's so big and there's so much that there is to discover. Is there other life forms in Outer Space? Is there another planet just like Earth with humans like you and I? There are so many questions that I ask myself when I look at the stars. Below, I am going to give you 8 facts on the Solar System … 8. Earth The distance from the sun is ninety three million miles. Yes, that is a long way from the hot planet we call the sun. I would definitely like to keep it this way. 7. Biggest and Smallest The biggest plant is Jupiter, while the littlest planet is Pluto. 6. Solar System is Bigger Than You Think The Solar System is much bigger than you think. Apart from the Sun and the planets, the Solar System has one hundred and sixty nine moons. You see, there is much more to the Solar System than what meets the eye and this is why I have always found it mysterious.

9 Adorable Must-Have Jumpsuits … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:15 AM PDT Neutral, colorful, casual or sexy – jumpsuits have found its way onto the runways and into our hearts and closets. They are practical, comfy, enable us to get dressed quickly and spend more time accessorizing or doing our hair and makeup. Perfect, huh? Well, we can't speak about perfection without checking out these 9 fabulous ones: 1. Pleated Bust Jumpsuit by ASOS Price: $89.65 at asos.com Elegance – checked! Style – checked! This sweet, feminine jumpsuit is definitely selling like hot cakes and I really hope they are going to put it on their must-re-stock-soon list. I'm waiting in the line for it too, just so you know! 2. Bandeau Leopard Print Jumpsuit by ASOS Price: $53.79 at asos.com Party animals will sure love to have this one in their wardrobe! Now, in case you're looking at it thinking, "Oh, I could definitely work this one" I honestly envy you for having such a great figure and so much confidence. It's so sexy and it literally demands attention so once you hit the club wearing this one, there would be no doubt about who is the queen of the club. 3. Blurred Animal Print Jumpsuit by Warehouse Price: $98.62 at asos.com For all others (including me) who looked at this previous one thinking, "Oh, there's no way I could ever find enough courage to wear it", here's one you can definitely work like a pro! Seriously! Soft, blurred animal print like this is appropriate for day wear too, plus, it's not so freaking tight and brutally honest so you're allowed to keep those little imperfections for yourself.

7 Sports Ideal For Women … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:08 AM PDT While it is true that there ought to equality in opportunities for men and women in the world of sports, there is no denying that some sports are better suited to one group than the other. It is also important to avoid the trap of being used in a sexist fashion; for instance, women boxing being promoted as a lure to attract an audience after a men's boxing game. Let's look at some sports ideal for women. 1. Tennis Women have had a long list of achievements when it comes to tennis. Women's tennis is just as popular as men's tennis and women tennis players have been held in very high regard in the world of sports. Tennis is certainly one of the sports ideal for women. 2. Golf While equally popular amongst both genders, golf is certainly one of the sports ideal for women. Women derive just as many health benefits from golf as men and find it equally pleasurable. Increasing number of women's championships are providing greater opportunities for women to shine in this sport. 3. Cycling Cycling was once considered a sign of the liberated woman. Even today, cycling is certainly one of the sports where women can achieve great glory and fame. Given the increasing number of cycling competitions around the world, women stand to gain a lot from this sport.

8 Ways to Prepare for Bad Weather … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 08:58 AM PDT Winter in Michigan… wait, EVERY season in Michigan can spell a disastrous storm, so everyone who lives here has to be prepared for hours or days without power, and sometimes even just being snowed in. But no matter where you live, you ought to be prepared, right? So read through this list, check your pantry and kitchen drawer, and read through this list of 7 ways to prepare for bad weather. 1. Gather candles and matches and flashlights If a storm knocks the power out, you're going to want to have candles, matches, and flashlights ready for lighting so you don't have to go fumbling around in the dark to look for them. I keep a supply in a plastic bin on a shelf in the garage for storms only, and I make sure it's stocked well a few times a year. 2. Charge cell phones Since most of us don't have land lines anymore, if we plan to be in touch, we'll need to make sure our cell phones are fully charged before a storm hits — and that we don't use them for anything other than making important calls, since we don't know how long the power will stay out, or when we'll be able to charge them again. No worries! No-one ever died from not texting. Truly. You'll be fine. 3. Fill your tank If you drive an electric car or gas-electric hybrid, make sure your car is changed before the storm, so you can still get around. If you drive a traditional fossil-fuels car, fill the gas tank before the storm (and be prepared to pay extra for gas).

7 Beautiful Tiffany Flatware Patterns … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 07:17 AM PDT Every ten or fifteen years, I pass down my current "good" flatware and find a new pattern. It's almost time for a new set, so I've been searching for a new one, and I started at Tiffany… well, they do a lot more than jewelry! And their flatware is classic! Here are 7 beautiful Tiffany flatware patterns… 1. Elsa Peretti® Padova™ Price: $4,150.00 at tiffany.com This 32-piece set of silverware is named for a city in Italy, where designer Elsa Peretti crafted this design. It features six each of a standard five-piece place setting, plus one serving fork and one serving spoon. The design is sleek and streamlined, with an elegant swoopy loop at the end of each piece. 2. Tiffany Chrysanthemum Place Setting Price: $100.00 to $150.00 each piece at tiffany.com Each piece of this four-piece place setting is crafted of shining sterling silver, with an intricate patterns on the stems of blooming chrysanthemums and leaves. I like the idea of purchasing each piece as you need them to build your set over time. The set includes a salad fork, dinner fork, teaspoon, and dinner knife. 3. Tiffany Audubon Place Setting Price: $100.00 to $150.00 each piece at tiffany.com Celebrate the majesty and diversity of our feathered friends with this rich silverware, in, of course, sterling silver. Start with a basic set of four place settings, then add a new piece every once in a while until you have service for six to eight. These are my favorite!

Kelly Clarkston’s New Album Delayed… Posted: 18 Mar 2011 06:54 AM PDT If you’re a fan of the adorable, incredibly talented Kelly Clarkston, and are waiting (im)patiently for her new album, you’re going to have to wait just a little bit longer. On her Facebook page, Clarkston, pictured here, looking divine at the 2009 AMAs, announced that, though she’s finished with her 5th album, it won’t be released until September. On Tuesday, she said: I recently found out that my album won’t be coming out until September ….the album has been recorded but I can’t release it until then. I realize that is a long time but that’s the best time to release it apparently so I’m sorry for the wait but I promise you it sounds great! Of all of the wonderful American Idols that the show has produced, Clarkston is one of my favorites, right at the top with Taylor Swift. She’s so talented, and so curvy and gorgeous, I’m among her fans that can’t wait until fall for her new album!

10 Cute Gifts Under $20 for the Cat Lover … Posted: 18 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT I love giving just-because gifts. You know, gifts that do not require special occasions. If you feel the same and you want to give a certain cat lover friend something soon, I hope that these cute gifts under $20 for the cat lover will help you. 1. Wine Charms Price: $15.00 at amazon You know what I would do with these? Remove the charms and use them for making my own jewelry. You can’t hate me for doing that; I don’t drink wine and I can never stop my hands from re-fashioning anything that can be used for making jewelry. 2. Cat in the Hat Wall Clock Price: $17.99 at amazon A list of cute gifts $20 for the cat lover should include anything that has the Cat in the Hat in it. Even if you are not a huge fan of cats but you love Dr. Seuss, this is a wall clock that deserves a spot on your wall. Perhaps place it in your child’s room? Or in your small library or reading nook? 3. Purrrrfect Top Price: $8.90 at forever21 I am pretty sure I need this in my closet. Not only is the print too adorable to resist, the fact that this is a raglan shirt makes it even more perfect. And don’t forget the gray color! And the unbeatable price! 4. Cat and Mouse Top Price: $12.90 at forever21 This racer back top features a cat saying “Meow do you do?” and a mouse that says “Squeak to meet you.” How adorable is that? This will be your go-to top for casual days or for meeting cute boys (who also love cats). 5.  The Cutest Sneeze in the World Postcard Set Price: $9.99 at modcloth This product got 34 positive reviews on ModCloth. If that is not enough reason to include it on a list of cute gifts under $20 for the cat lover, I don’t know what is. According to one of the people who bought this set of postcards, it is advisable to buy two sets. One will be for giving away and the other for keeping to yourself.

Happy Birthday, Mia and Rob! Posted: 18 Mar 2011 04:03 AM PDT When I was a surly teenager, I had two posters hanging in my locker: one of heart-throb Rob Lowe and the other of soccer super-star Mia Hamm. I had no idea they shared a March 18th birthday! I know I’m dating myself by admitting to being long-time fans of both… but can you blame me? Mia Hamm, 39, inspired millions of little girls, making sports accessible to them. She was one of only a handful of female sports figures, and she was gorgeous and articulate to boot. And Rob Lowe… he was a bad boy hottie, and really, he still is, even at 47. Oh, eye candy! Happy birthday, Mia and Rob!

PerfumeStory.com for Your Perfume Needs … Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:44 PM PDT One of the best things about the Internet is online shopping and one of my favorite things to buy online is perfume! Sometimes I still can’t get over how convenient it is to simply choose, add to shopping cart and check out. The only downside (besides the fact that it is addictive as hell!) is with the plethora of stores offering great deals on perfumes, how do you pick the best deal? It’s simple really. You visit PerfumeStory.com and let them work their magic for you. PerfumeStory.com is US’ largest perfume & fragrance price comparison website that gives you the rare chance to compare perfume prices from all major perfume retailers so you don’t have to tear your hair out alternating between browser windows, trying to figure out the best deal. You simply hit a search for the perfume you’re looking for and let PerfumeStory.com come up with a list of different stores where it is available along with the prices, very conveniently arranged from lowest to highest. Pick the best deal from the list and voila! No more overpriced perfume! Another great thing about PerfumeStory.com is every time you hit a search, you also get a list of websites that offer discount coupons. Extra savings? Yes, please! Lastly, I guarantee that you will find any perfume you want here on PerfumeStory.com. I can’t stress how important it is to compare prices before buying anything online, let alone perfumes, especially considering how many stores mark up their prices and how naive most of us are. I have hit a search for some of my favorite perfumes on PerfumeStory.com and compared their prices to websites that I usually buy from without a second thought (mostly because I’m lazy) and I was aghast at the price difference! Needless to say, I will only be sticking to Perfumestory.com from now on for all my perfume needs.  And so should you! This post was sponsored by the awesome website I’ve just reviewed – PerfumeStory.com.

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