Today's Obsessions

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• 10 Great Blogs to Inspire You …
• 7 Reasons I Loved Dragon Age: Origins …
• 9 Cute Hairpieces for Your Little Princess …
• 7 Fabulous Art Galleries …
• 7 Tips on Introducing your Pet to your Newborn …
• 7 Colorful Pick-Me-Ups You Can Buy Any Time …
• 7 Ways To Liven Up News Channels …
• 7 Etiquette Tips for a First Date. …
• 9 Housewarming Gift Ideas …
• 7 College Classes You Love To Hate …
• Happy birthday, Alex and Mandy!

10 Great Blogs to Inspire You … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 10:46 AM PDT Do you need a little inspiration in life? If you are tired of the same routine day in and day out, try using the internet to find some fresh ideas. Whether you are into crafting, parenting, photography, or home decorating, you can find lots of great ideas online. Check out these 10 great blogs to inspire you and make a list of projects to try this week. 1. The Nesting Place This blog is written by a self taught home decorating guru in Charlotte, NC who writes under the handle of "The Nester". She shares pictures of all her decorating projects and gives you simple tips to makeover your home with little to no money invested. If your home needs a facelift, you will love all the advice you find at the Nesting Place. 2. A Place Called Simplicity When you visit Linny's blog, you will feel right at home as you read her post and marvel at her story. The pastor's wife is mother to ten children (with one more on the way) adopted from all over the world. Read as one miracle after another unfolds for her family as they recover from a tragic house fire and travel through international adoptions. 3. The Idea Room If you have always wanted to be one of the crafty girls, but you just didn't know how to get started, you will love the Idea Room! It is full of great projects, giveaways, and reviews of the latest products crafters need.

7 Reasons I Loved Dragon Age: Origins … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 10:44 AM PDT I'm a fan of RPGs, and I recently finished the Dragon Age: Origins game and started the new one, Dragon Age II. I loved the Dragon Age: Origins, so Dragon Age II is going to have to be pretty outstanding to keep up the tradition and win me over from the Final Fantasy crowd. Is it really that good, you ask? Yes! Here are 7 reasons I loved Dragon Age: Origins. 1. The plot I really liked the plot and story line in Dragon Age: Origins. I chose to be a warrior, so I was Aeden, the Grey Warden, on a quest to defeat the darkspawn that have overrun Ferelden. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and it definitely held my interest and made me want to keep playing. 2. The side quests While I loved the main plot line (defeating darkspawn), there are plenty of side quests that captured my interest and got me hooked even more. Some are long and take lots of time to complete (like the Urn of Ashes quest) while others are super-quick to do… but all are interesting, and add another sort of depth to Dragon Age: Origins. 3. The characters While some may think it's formulaic and tired, I liked the range of characters in Dragon Age: Origins. There are warriors, rogues, mages, and more, from several tribes. Dwarves, golems, mages, templars, humans, and elves all work together and war amongst each other, with lots of history… it makes for another interesting level to Dragon Age.

9 Cute Hairpieces for Your Little Princess … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 10:37 AM PDT Not all girls like hairpieces and fuzzy, pinkish stuff, that for sure, but from what I've seen, a lot of them does so, if your has girl started expressing interest in cute hair pieces and colorful hair accessories, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of those out there. I like seeing these on kids but I'm also for letting kids act and look their own age so these sweet, totally cute hairpieces I'm about to show today won't be do "grown-up" or "fancy" but fit for a child instead. So, here they are and hope you'll like them: 1. Cat and Pumpkin Snap Clips Price: $2.09 at gymboree.com This set of four interesting Halloween-themed clips is going to keep her hair stylishly in place while trick-or-treating and remind her that Halloween isn't too far away, in other months of the year. It's a cool present you might wish to slip in her bag of treats during this holiday, plus it's not expensive at all which is great for your budget and a good way to show her that unique, fun and cute hairpieces don't have to cost a fortune. 2. Bow Headband Price: $3.68 at gymboree.com This sweet huge bow decorated headband reminds me of old times and pictures of rich, blue-blooded, perfectly styled ladies and their cute little girls dressed in ruffled white dresses. It also reminds me of ballerinas and weddings and it's something I'd definitely get for my girl, if I ever get blessed with one, of course. Hope your little princess will like it too! 3. Grosgrain Butterfly Clip Price: $3.15 at gymboree.com Awww, how adorable! Now this cute, two-toned clip isn't overly elegant or something a mom would make her daughter wear for family celebrations and reunions, it's a simple and yet very original, girly and totally cute hairpiece your pride and joy could wear to school or anywhere she pleases.

7 Fabulous Art Galleries … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 10:08 AM PDT Art galleries are some of my favourite places to visit, especially when I'm in another country. It can be educational or just sheer pleasure. As a frequent visitor and art lover I know pretty much what I like to see and tend to head straight for the parts of a gallery where I know the impressionists and post impressionists will be. Generally though, art should stir the senses and shake the soul and here are 7 fabulous art galleries that will do just that. 1. The National Gallery, London, England Image source: venere.com Situated on one side of Trafalgar square you get a double cultural hit when you visit the National. It houses the national collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is open, free of charge 361 days a year. I like it here because it has a good collection of impressionists, a few Van Gogh's and none of that modern art that just confuses me. 2. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy Image source: img1.liveinternet.ru Italy's fabulous art gallery is the Uffizi. Although it does contain art from other periods, the main focus of the paintings and sculptures at the Uffizi is Medieval and Renaissance. There are thousands of works of art at the Uffizi. 3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Photo Credit: tysonwilliams.com A truly global collection featuring works from all ages from all continents. There is naturally a spectacular collection of American art. The Met is especially well renowned for special exhibitions.

7 Tips on Introducing your Pet to your Newborn … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 09:30 AM PDT Bringing home a new baby isn't only going to cause a difference in your personal life, but it will also have an affect on your pet. Cats and dogs will often accept a new member of the family relatively easy, unless they were the only ones receiving your constant attention before you brought home your newborn. The following 7 tips on introducing your pet to your newborn might make the adjustment to having a baby in the house much easier on everyone. 7. Prepare your pet for the newborn's arrival Play tapes or CDs with baby noises on them to prepare your pet for the sounds your newborn will make. Dogs and cats tend to be curious about new things in the house and a baby not only looks different, but he sounds different too. Besides introducing your pet to the sounds a newborn makes, you might want to help the animal get used to you caring for another being as well. Carry a doll around the house and treat it like a living being. Talk to it, rock it, and watch your pet's reaction. 6. Allow pets to check out the nursery If you've recently been spending a lot of time on the nursery, your pet is probably wondering what all the hubbub is about. Let him check things out and sniff around the room to see what's going on. Animals are curious about all changes, even if it is only a minor adjustment such as a baby bed being moved into your bedroom. Give him time to look things over and reassure him that this change is a good one. 5. Watch for any behavioral changes in your pet Pets often retaliate to drastic changes they don't agree with by either urinating on or chewing up items to get your attention. It could be a pair of shoes, an item that belongs to the new baby, or maybe just a fresh pee puddle in the middle of the living room. Since your pet can't verbally explain the feelings he is having about this new addition to the family, watch out for changes in his behavior.

7 Colorful Pick-Me-Ups You Can Buy Any Time … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT Sometimes, I get into really bad moods. There’s nothing wrong, exactly, just this feeling of general malaise that brings me down. I hate that feeling, but the truth of the matter is that sometimes retail therapy really is the best medicine. I don’t mean that you have to max out your credit card making huge purchases. I mean sometimes just buying some small, bright, shiny thing can make you happy. Here are some colorful pick-me-ups you can buy any time that always make me happy. 1. Pretty Shoes Price: $45.00 at zappos.com A cute pair of shoes will always brighten my day. You don’t have to spend a fortune, either; when it comes to colorful pick-me-ups you can buy any time, there are lots of places where you can buy shoes on the cheap. Here’s one, Payless is another; heck, I’ve even been known to pick up a pair at Target. It doesn’t matter whether they’re heels or sandals or sneakers, either, as long as they make you feel good. 2. A Cute Bag Price: $58.00 at zappos.com Bright colors make me feel better than anything else, and bags always look nice in bright colors. Right now I carry a hot pink bag with a gorgeous fleur de lis motif that the Better Half bought me for Christmas, and every time I look at it, it makes me smile. If you’re feeling down, pick out a bag you might not normally buy, something bold and dazzling. 3. A New Journal Price: $6.00 at amazon.com Not all of the colorful pick-me-ups you can buy any time are wearable. This one will do more than pick you up – it will lift you up. Pick out a colorful journal in which you can jot down your thoughts, because then you’ll get a pick-me-up every time you actually pick it up!

7 Ways To Liven Up News Channels … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 08:45 AM PDT Today there are literally hundreds of news channels offering us insights into the latest goings on in their region. Some are national channels, some are international and others are local. Through it all, they all contain one common characteristic, they aren't that interesting. Here are different ways to liven up news channels. 1. Report, don't comment Some of the bigger channels have forgotten that their role as journalists is report the news and not comment on it. These channels follow the belief that Americans don't need to think for themselves, they will tell us what to think. That is simply unacceptable. We don't need the commentary on the news; just report it in an unbiased manner. 2. Maintain a conversational style Anchors can make or break a news show. Stoic and stiff newsreaders who tell us the news rather that talk to us about it can really put the audience off. Instead, adopting a conversational style using words that we all regularly adopt in our discussions would be a great way to liven up news channels. 3. Introduce a few lighthearted news stories While news channels have an obligation to report serious, earth shattering stories, it helps to include a few lighthearted ones in the show perhaps towards the end. At least then we are inclined to continue to watch the episode as opposed to getting depressed and opting for change in channel.

7 Etiquette Tips for a First Date. … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 08:27 AM PDT For those of you that have a first date coming up soon, there are some rules that you should follow in order to make it go smooth and set a good example of yourself. Let me give you 7 etiquette tips for a first date … 7. Arrive on Time You should always make that first impression count. Therefore, if you have a date, it is important to make sure you arrive on time. If you arrive late, then this is definitely not going to be a good first impression and it could lead to something you didn't want. So, you should definitely include this in your etiquette tips for a first date. 6. Do Not Use Your Phone Unless you are a doctor who is on call, there is no reason for you to use that phone during your date. So, if you are able to, turn the phone off while the date is in progress. If you sit there chatting on the phone in front of your date, they may think you are not interested in them, even if you are. 5. Dress Nicely You should dress nicely. Of course, you should put your best dress on, but don't overdo it. Make sure you still maintain your style and don't try to dress like something you aren't.

9 Housewarming Gift Ideas … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 08:17 AM PDT Choosing a housewarming gift is one of those things in life that can either be incredibly easy or incredibly difficult. When choosing a suitable housewarming gift, think of practical items that people may not initially buy for themselves. Of course, you'll have to take the recipient's personality and tastes into account when choosing a gift. Below are just a few housewarming gift ideas that you may want to take inspiration from. 1. Jonathan Adler Elephant Salt and Pepper Shakers Price: $48.00 at shop.nordstrom.com These salt and pepper shakers are both decorative and functional. The stylised elephant shapes are modern and playful. They are made from glazed stoneware and have a matte finish. They also come in colorful packaging, which is an added bonus! 2. Complete Confectionist Recipe Card Set Price: $16.99 at modcloth.com These cards are a great way to display recipes. They feature room for ingredients on the front and directions on the back. They come in a set of 20 and can be housed in the metal recipe stand. This recipe card set would be well suited to both the seasoned homemaker, and those moving out of home for the first time. 3. Michael Aram Olive Branch Cheese Board Price: $99.00 at barneys.com This decorative cheese board would make a great gift, especially if your recipient enjoys entertaining. This cheeseboard is made from black granite and features an oxidised bronze handle. It also comes with a cheese knife. The handles on both the board and cheese knife are styled in the shape of foliage.

7 College Classes You Love To Hate … Posted: 10 Apr 2011 07:54 AM PDT College is supposed to be a fun time. In a way, it's the calm before the storm of real life. At least that's what the movies make us think. It's really not. College can be a fun time, but to balance that fun, it is also a stress filled pressuring time in your life, as well. The reason it becomes so stressful at time is largely due to the following college classes you love to hate. 1. Foreign Language Photo Credit: altpers Unless you're a foreign language major or you anticipate going into a field where you will have to be fluent, there is absolutely no reason why you would ever need this course. It's ridiculous that so many majors require multiple semesters of it. That's like getting a job at a car parts factory and having to take a training course in cleaning teeth. 2. Stats Photo Credit: inju Ugh… I hate stats so much. There will never be a time in my life where I will need to learn how to compute statistical percentages long hand. Unless the sky falls and I find myself in a post apocalyptic wasteland, I will ALWAYS have a computer, and in that case I will have much bigger problems than figuring statistics. This is definitely a college class you love to hate. Double ugh! 3. WR Courses Photo Credit: Helen in Wales Courses that require you to write things that you don't care about are really hard to grasp. There is no reason to write a ten-page essay on the effects of the Magic Bullet Theory or anything else of that nature. If you can't write well enough to express yourself by college age, you should think back to your high school at what you creative writing teacher taught you.

Happy birthday, Alex and Mandy! Posted: 10 Apr 2011 05:29 AM PDT Today is a birthday shared by “Beastly” hottie Alex Pettyfer and actress and singer Mandy Moore. Pettyfer turns 20 today, and his third movie release of the year, “Now,” is due out this October. Moore is turning 26 today, and on the heels of her success as the voice of Rapunzel in Disney’s “Tangled,” she’s starring in a movie called “Falling Slowly,” which is in post-production right now. Happy birthday, Alex and Mandy! Have a marvelous day, and another fantastic year!

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