Society

I grew up in California, not far from San Francisco. We’d all pile into our huge Chevrolet station wagon a few times a year and drive across the Bay to spend a day sightseeing. Now, I go back when I can to visit friends, and there are always so many fun things to do and see… here’s my list of the top seven things to do the next time you’re in San Francisco!

1. Ride a streetcar

What better way to take in the sights of San Francisco than on a cable car? They’ve been the standard of public transportation on the city’s hilly roads since the late 1800’s, and they’re still in operation all across the city today.

2. Visit Chinatown

Do you know where the largest China Town is outside of Asia? Why, it’s right in San Francisco, and it’s the perfect place to experience a taste of Chinese culture, food, and art. And shopping! If you’re visiting San Francisco, plan to spend a day in China Town. It’s amazing!

3. Check out the bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge has been featured in dozens of films and TV shows since it was completed in 1937. You might wonder why it’s such a big deal… until you see it in person. It’s huge, gorgeous, breath-taking, and suddenly you understand what makes it such a landmark.

Irrespective of how successful your relationship ends up being, the start is supposed to be one of the best times and something you reminisce about for years… but I always find my friends worrying about doing something wrong rather then dreaming of the next date. Do you do the same? It’s such hard work knowing what to do, so I’ve decided it’s time there was a guide! Here’s my top twelve tips for starting new relationships!

1. Are you ready?

Photo Credit: * D i e g o *

If you’ve just had a breakup, it can be easy to want someone else’s arms to cuddle up in. But remember, it’s just a rebound and won’t lead to a healthy relationship-, so make sure you are feeling good about yourself and ready for a new relationship before you start!

2. Numbers

Photo Credit: Sick Little Monkey

Common friends are a great way to meet eligible men. Extend your friendship circle. It can be easy to think that you don’t know anyone, but if you utilize your friends and contacts you’ll find a whole new friendship circle. Whether you just make lots of friends or end up finding Mr. Right, it’s a surprisingly easy way to meet new people!

3. Blind Dates

Photo Credit: alvin lamucho ©

How many people do you dismiss because of what they look like or what they are doing, without even talking to them? Blind dates are the perfect way to talk to people you would usually dismiss, or just to meet new people. Give everyone a chance, and see where it leads. He may just end up being the man of your dreams!

1. The Glamourai

Chic and beautiful and (insert any positive adjective here), The Glamourai is one of the fashion blogs out there that has inspired other girls to start their own fashion blogs or to be more expressive and daring when it comes to dressing up. Of course, it does not hurt that Kelly is one beautiful girl with legs any girl would want. I have to tell you something, though, what I covet is her creative bone. She has fun DIYs and amazing jewelry and wraps (for sale).

Oh no, you’ve moved, or had a falling out with your hair dresser about a lousy cut and color combination! Have no fear, another perfect salon is near. You ladies just need to know how to find it. Luckily you have me to light your way in finding a great beauty salon! Here are 10 ways how…

1. Find a stylist, then the salon

Photo Credit: Nic Temby

Sometimes it’s better to find a beautician before you find the salon they work in. Know someone who always has amazing hair? Find out the name of their stylist and try them out. Then, either commit to the salon or move along.

2. Business cards

Photo Credit: Liz Maybury

There are always business cards floating around. Someone hands you one and you throw it in your wallet, people leave them places, why not take advantage? Take a look at the cards and if you find one that’s interesting with a cute logo design, stop in. Just remember, you don’t have to commit right away.

3. Hop around:

Photo Credit: gullevek

Finding a beauty salon is like dating — sometimes it is perfectly okay to just try out a few at once. Stop in and get an eyebrow wax at one place, get a manicure at another. If you find yourself liking one place more than another, then try out more things there and soon enough you’ll have what you’re looking for.

Red lipstick has always been a hit, but it’s done wrong so much that it can be too scary to try. Done right, though, it can look gorgeous, and be the extra finishing touch to complete your look for that first date or for a fun night partying it up with the girls or for a quiet dinner with your sweetheart . Here is my fast and easy guide to getting it right!

1. Maintenance

Photo Credit: pyza*

Brush your teeth and do it right. Not only will this get rid of bad breath but will also help keep your teeth sparkling white. If you need to, use a whitener. It’s just not a pretty sight to see red lipstick with unattractive teeth.

2. Choose a shade

Photo Credit: Co®tex™

Different shades of red suit different people so don’t just buy the first red lippie you see! Experiment with different shades and see what suits you best. Also, different occasions and  places require different shades. A bright red may just not be appropriate as work makeup.

3. Vaseline

Photo Credit: TheDamnMushroom

Apply a small amount of Vaseline around your lips. Try not to go over the edge, or to use too much! If you find it hard to apply, use a cotton bud lightly dipped in. This will help soothe chapped lips and also help the lipstick stick on better.

Before I get started, let me type a quick disclaimer: this is most certainly NOT a list of nutritious, low calorie snacks that will satisfy your sweet cravings. This is a list of my favorite guilty pleasures, sweet treats that I know are bad for me, but I don’t care. See how many of these you love, too, for occasional indulgences!

1. Lindt Lindor Truffles

Photo Credit: chocolate_soul

These are far and away my favorite guilty pleasure, a stiff shell of chocolate with a creamy filling inside. You might be wondering if three of these little truffles are enough. Bear in mind they’re so rich, so very exquisite, that indeed, three pieces is enough to share! Choose from milk chocolate (red wrapper), dark chocolate (blue), raspberry (pink), hazelnut (brown) white chocolate (yellow), mint (green), peanut butter (orange), or extra dark chocolate (black).

2. Ghirardelli Luxe Milk Chocolate Crisp Bar

Photo Credit: ghirardelli.com
Almost three ounces of the silkiest, smoothest milk chocolate with the crunch of crispy rice. Who says fine chocolate has to be imported? Order online or find in grocery and organic foods stores across the U.S. Yum!

3. Raffaello

Photo Credit: ♥ he@rt ♥

These are so good, they’re almost pornographic and ought to be delivered to your door in a discreet brown wrapper. If you love coconut, then there is no better treat in the world. Close the blinds, turn down the lights, and indulge alone or with your sweetheart on a romantic night in!

Every woman at some point in her life has had to switch beauticians, maybe because of a move, a lousy haircut, a bad eyebrow pluck. So we all know how hard it is to find that perfect match. Here are some signs that will let you know that you’ve found the right one!

1. You’re Comfortable

Photo Credit: themexican

It doesn’t matter where the salon is or what it looks like, you have to be comfortable once you’re inside. If you can’t talk to the person that’s supposed to be making you more beautiful then they aren’t the person you should be going to. Comfort and communication are important for any successful relationship, including the one you have with your beautician.

2. They Understand

Photo Credit: Todd Keith

Sometimes you know exactly what you want but you just CAN’T put it into words. This is where the understanding comes in. If the person that’s fixing you all up can’t understand your wild hand gestures and barely-there descriptions then you’re going to have a problem. You don’t want to end up having to cope with a bad haircut.

3. Their Workspace is Clean

Photo Credit: lisa scheer

A workspace tells a whole lot about a person. If they’re messy and unorganized, so is their workspace. So next time you’re sitting in the chair, take a look around. If it’s clean, you’re in pretty good hands, and your beautician will care for you just as well as they care for the place where they work!

My family lives in Washington State, in the capitol, Olympia, but the nearest airport is in Seattle, an hour or so north. It’s a gorgeous city, surrounded by mountains, spread out at night like a tapestry of glittering jewels. Naturally, a city this dazzling has a host of attractions, things you simply must do when you’re there. Here are my favorites…

1. Go up in the Needle

What better way to view this beautiful city than high above it? Ride the elevator to the observation deck at 520 feet, or have dinner at the revolving SkyCity Restaurant at 500 feet. Be sure to be a complete tourist, and buy a smashed penny, or at least a pencil sharpener in the share of the Space Needle…

2. Go to the Market

It’s basically an overgrown farmer’s market, right? Wrong! Pike Place Market may have started out that way, back in 1907, but it’s now known as the “soul of Seattle.” There you can buy your fresh produce and meats and all sort of treats, but you can also participate in special events, like the BBQ competition, Seattle Cheese Festival, and the “Evening of Hope” gala.

3. See the Falls

The Seattle Waterfall Garden is tiny, tucked away in a corner of the city. You could live there for years and not know it exists, but there it is, an oasis of peace and quiet in a bustling city. Bring a book, drink a cup of the coffee you can find on every street corner, and close your eyes, just listen to the falls.

I was shocked when I heard the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spilt rumors. While the couple are fiercely protesting media reports that they have visited divorce lawyers, their families have refused to back up their “togetherness,” and the two haven’t been seen together looking their usual loved-up selves for quite some time. It got me thinking about which celebrity couples are still going strong, and here are my top twelve!

1. Beyonce and Jay Z

Photo Credit: williamswest

They made a combined $162 million last year, 25 million people google them a year, and they look so cute together. Not to mention being together for seven years, and married for two! They don’t talk about their relationship in public, and neither is involved in dodgy nightclubs or celebrity scandals... they are just perfect! I can see a long future for these two, and they definitely deserve it!

2. David and Victoria Beckham

Photo Credit: NIMONY

These two have been together for a huge twelve years and married for ten. Both David and Victoria Beckham are the ultimate style icons.  They have three gorgeous sons, and rumour has it they are trying for a girl, and they move all around the world for each other. Despite being plagued by affair rumours since 2004, they have coped well, and don’t look likely to split any time soon!

3. Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady

Photo Credit: pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Apart from being one of the cutest couples around, these two have been together since 2006 and tied the knot at a small ceremony at Saint Monica last year. Neither has been married before, and they are surprisingly private and low-key. They have that contentment about them that makes it seem like they will last forever!

Detroit may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of fun places to visit in the Midwest, but there are dozens of attractions and activities within the city, and in the suburbs. It’s known as Motown, The Motor City, and Hockeytown! Here’s my list of fun stuff to do while you’re here…

1. Catch a Game

Detroit may be home to the abysmally bad Lions NFL team, but we also have the Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers to make up for it. The Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers both play in state-of-the-art, gorgeous parks right in the heart of downtown Detroit, and the Pistons play in the suburbs, so depending on the season, catch a game! Right now it’s the perfect time to see the Wings, so order tickets, grab an ice cold beer, and enjoy the game!

2. Enjoy a Meal

Detroit has a number of historic mansions, but The Whitney is, in my view, the most stunning. It was once a private residence, built by a local lumber baron, but now it’s a top-notch restaurant and attraction. If you can, visit during Christmas, when the Whitney is decorated for the holiday season, and is at its most exquisite. Dine downstairs, then go upstairs to the GhostBar and enjoy cocktails and live music.

3. Check out Belle Isle

An island? In the middle of the city? Why, yes! Belle Isle is a small island, reachable by a bridge, in the Detroit River. It’s perfect for summertime picnics, and the zoo is small but lovely. During the winter, Bell Isle has several indoor cultural events, too! Perfect for some winter fun!