Kids Don’t Have to Ruin Your Marriage

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If you are one of those people who grew up not sure if you’d ever want kids, and now you find yourself married to the perfect spouse and thinking children might be in your not-so-distant future, you are not alone. If you are worried that having these kids will ruin your marriage, you are not alone, either. While it will take some work, and while it will certainly change your life, having a baby doesn’t have to ruin your marriage. You just have to get a little creative about how you think of spending time together, and you have to make the most of the time you have.

After Bedtime

Remember when you were a little kid and you used to complain about having to go to bed earlier than all of the adults? There was a reason your mom and dad made you go to sleep earlier than they did. They use the after-bedtime hours as adult time. This is the time for moms and dads to watch what they want on television, or to watch a movie not suitable for children. You might be exhausted when you put your kids to sleep, but enforcing a strict bedtime is good for the child and the parents. It gives the child a sense of routine, and a good night’s sleep, while it gives the parents some quality time together in the comfort of their own home.

Hire a Babysitter

Some parents may be wary of hiring a babysitter who is not a family member, but sometimes it is necessary if you ever want to get out of the house with just the two of you. Find someone you trust by asking a trusted neighbor or by consulting online babysitting and nanny searches. These internet babysitting profiles often run background checks and allow you to interview people before hiring them, which can put your mind at ease. Hiring a babysitter can really add up, though, from a cost standpoint. If hiring a babysitter is too expensive, see if you can trade off nights with the parents of your child’s friends. You take all the kids for a night one week, and then the next week, the other parents take their turn. This can be beneficial for everyone involved, because it allows you to spend less money while still being able to have someone you trust watch your kids, and your kids get to play with their friends every week.

Schedule Date Night

Those mommy calendars are no joke. When you have little kids running around, you need to schedule every minute of every day. Before kids, you probably had spontaneous date nights all of the time, but after kids, this can be much harder than it used to be. There is no shame in scheduling a date night. Put it on the calendar, and make sure everyone knows that you and your spouse are going out of town for a night, or maybe just dinner. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it alone.

Family Cuddle Time

While it’s definitely not the same as spending time alone, having quality family time every night is important for everyone. When you spend time with your kids, talking to them and sharing stories about your days and being excited about each others projects, this can foster a sense of companionship among the family. Even if you don’t feel like talking one day, pick a favorite movie or television show and cuddle up each other with a great blanket. You’ll feel great having spent quality time together with your family.


Buzzle: Children & Family

Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland Reveals Kidney Transplant

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Sarah Hyland is only 21 years old, but she has already dealt with a life-long battle against kidney dysplasia, which is a genetic abnormality resulting in under-developed kidneys. Fortunately for Hyland, as her condition worsened, her father was found to be a suitable match. Hyland’s father donated one of his kidneys to his daughter in early April of this year, and her recovery is apparently going well.

“You know that family is going to be there for you no matter what,” Hyland said. “My Dad gave me a freakin’ kidney! But it’s also the families that you create outside your family. And you really find out what kind of people you’re friends with. It was just amazing, and it really opened my eyes to see who’s there for me and who’s not.”

News of Hyland’s kidney transplant comes in the weeks after Facebook announced a new feature intended to connect would-be organ donors with patients in need of them. Organ donation is among the most generous things that one human being can do for another, providing a quality of life that would not have been possible in the absence of a healthy organ. And while there are numerous risks involved, people make the choice every day to provide a new life to a loved one, a family member – and in many instances – perfect strangers.

In our world of fear, cynicism and me-first consumerism, organ donation is one of the areas where we can all point and feel somewhat proud that we’re members of the human race.


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Ways to Save Money on Your Pet

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The last time you were at the pet store, did you end up spending a small fortune on your furry friend? You probably went there for one or two small items, but ended up grabbing all those fun-looking, fuzzy toys on your way out, right? Well, never fear. There are plenty of ways that you can cut back on spending on your cat or dog, and the tips are a lot easier than you might think.

Toys
Cats and dogs are often like children; you buy them an expensive toy and they end up playing with the box it came in. If this is the case with your pet, go ahead and just buy him the box – metaphorically, of course. If you pay attention to your pet at play, though, you will find what makes him or her happy and what they just ignore. Some dogs, for example, really love squeaky toys but ignore ropes for tugging. Some cats love playing with ribbons but don’t like the laser lights. If your cat or dog likes a specific kind of toy, buy them a few of those but don’t buy more until they run out. If your pet likes to play with things that aren’t toys, like ribbons or socks, keep some of those handy and don’t buy toys at all.

Medication
You can save a bundle on medication for your pet by buying in bulk online. Of course, you should always see your vet before giving any medication to your furry friend, but once you get the prescription, there are a bunch of online suppliers where you can get your pet’s medication for cheap if you buy a big supply of them at a time.

Food and Treats
Food and treats for your cat or dog can be very expensive, and you usually don’t want to compromise on quality in order to save a few bucks. Lower quality pet food can be made with lots of fillers that aren’t very good for your pet’s health. Luckily, though, there are some great bargain brands. Compare the ingredient lists to price and find what works best for you and your wallet. Also, dry food is almost always cheaper – and healthier. Wet food doesn’t help your pet’s digestive tract at all, so you may want to switch to dry food if you can. There is also the option of making your pet’s food yourself. This is the healthiest way to feed your pet, after you do a little research about what is good for them to eat and what is not. However, even though this is cheaper, it can be very time-consuming.

Bedding
Bedding is a necessity, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy it from a pet store. Bedding from your local pet store can cost a lot of money, especially when you can go to your local department store and get blankets and pillows for much less. Dogs, especially, love fleece blankets, and you can always get some fleece and make your own. Similarly, you can get foam padding and make pads for crates and carriers without spending much at all.

Grooming
Grooming is a huge expense when it comes to your pet. If you feel comfortable trimming your own pet’s fur, you can absolutely do that at home. If not, there are ways to save. People usually have their pets groomed in the spring and fall, when shedding becomes intense. If you brush your pet every day, this will cut down on the number of times you have to bring him or her to the groomer.


Buzzle: Animals & Pets

Dear [Social Media, Marketing] Graduate:

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Congratulations. You’ve reached graduation.

As you tweet your way into your cap and gown, snap photos on your smartphone and capture each moment from the commencement speaker to the tossing of the caps, you inch closer and closer to the real world. When the gowns finally land on the ground, you will have been welcomed in.

You’ve been told all your life that this degree wrapped in a bow and on special paper means something. Life is your oyster, they say. Your future is before you, others repeat. Still others keep saying that now that you are a graduate, it is your turn to go out and change the world, and leave it better than your how others before you found it. That as you walk out of the stadium, building, park and auditorium, you have all the power and might in the world to change what you are about to enter into. The day is new.

Times have changed many fold since you entered into college, just a short four years ago. In that time, you’ve witnessed a recession that doesn’t seem to end, and with gridlock in our nation’s government, doesn’t seem to get any better. Marketing majors and those heading into social media see something similar: jobs are scarce, everyone claims to be a social media guru, and still others continue to claim that social media marketing brings absolutely no value. Even more judge you based upon your Klout score, as one employee found out when he interviewed .

This world you enter into: It’s not pretty.

Yet as you enter into it, there is much opportunity. As a social media marketing graduate, you’ll get to work in one of the fastest growing fields working with technology that changes by the day. The road will be anything but easy, however, beyond your job search. You’ll encounter some pretty tough managers along the way – some who have never learned social media and spend all day on Tweetdeck, without a clue as to what a Sponsored Tweet is, and others who have been in the workforce longer than Facebook was around and will ask you for advice. You’ll also encounter some pretty awesome ones too, who while being twenty years your senior can reply to a re-tweet faster than you can, know how HootSuite works and engage with you on “Follow Friday”.

The greatest lesson you’ll learn however, is the investment of people. Social media at its bottom line, beyond tweets and likes, is all about people. No matter how much you work, how many hours you sit at your desk and how many spreadsheets, campaigns and blog posts you finish, the end of the day will always be about the people you work with and those you meet on the journey to your destination. There will inevitably, always be work to be done. People on the other hand, will not always be there. Invest in people, for they add value to the work that you will be doing, day in and day out. Get to know your manager, the people you meet on social media and the people you meet at networking events. Though its never mentioned in any place in the classes you take in school, this will be the single post determining factor of your success.

So go out there, tweet it up and have fun. It’s been a tough four years (or two), and within that, you’ve conquered the midterms, homework, projects and quizzes. Go out there and make a difference, and remember what you do, always remember to pay it forward.

Happy Graduation! Best of luck in the next phase of your life!


Most Recent – Creative Writing – Voices from Yahoo!

Obama Says It’s Time to Shift Attention to Nation Building in U.S.

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It has the ring of a pre-programmed, carefully-planned sound bite and headline. And that’s because that’s exactly what it is (notice the title of this article). President Obama said in a recent re-election speech that “After more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation-building here at home.” Interesting, indeed. President Obama, while campaigning during his successful 2008 presidential bid, promised to bring troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan within one year, and to close down the Guantanamo prison. Turns out he must have known less (a lot less) about those particular issues than he thought, because American troops are still stationed overseas in the aforementioned countries and Guantanamo is still open.

It’s those two very inconvenient truths that give lie to the recent comments about turning attention back to the U.S. Presumably, the president has been trying to work on domestic issues all along – he does spend a lot of time talking about improving the country. He noted in the same speech, “That’s why I’ve called on Congress to take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt and use the other half to rebuild America.”

A better use of that money, of course, would be to reduce the federal debt, which promises to crush future generations (it’s meaningless for the youngest generations to have any “hope” at all on this front) and to sap retirement income from those who have or will soon retire. It’s also going to cause a lot of inflation that will drive up prices for the average American, but since that fact is carefully concealed, the president will never have to answer for those facts. Speaking of the need to cut spending – and Obama’s unwillingness to do anything but increase spending, Republican Senator Bob Corker noted, “The president punts on almost every tough decision.”


Buzzle: Breaking News & Reports

Best Local Restaurants of Norman, OK

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As in any bustling college town, Norman, OK is packed full of wonderful restaurants. Some, however, stand out more than others. With their great food, variety, and “local charm”, these eateries are part of the best Norman has to offer!

1. Tarahumara’s Mexican Cantina and Cafe -
Located just north of downtown, this family-owned Mexican restaurant is MUST on your next visit to Norman. Serving very authentic Mexican food, Tarahumara’s is a big time favorite of locals. The huge food portions are filling, and comforting, and the service is outstanding! It is also not uncommon on a packed Friday night, for the owner to walk through the isles singing traditional Mexican folk songs. Be prepared for at least a 20 minute wait when you go, this place is so popular that there is always a wait. Never fear though, the service is so fast you won’t have to wait long!

2. Ray’s Smokehouse BBQ -
One thing Norman has a lot of, is BBQ joints. Picking a stand-out of all the choices definitely was not easy, but Ray’s is worth a try! With their wide selection of meats and sides, Ray’s is great for any traditional BBQ lover. They also offer catering for special events. A word of advice from a local, “Make sure you try their desserts!”.

3. Pizza Shuttle -
Take it from someone who knows, this is the best delivery place in town! Offering not only any type of pizza you can dream-up, but also a variety of hot subs, sides, and desserts. Ask any student in town and they’ll also tell you that Pizza Shuttle is the cheapest delivery in town, a definite plus! With three locations across Norman, they are quick and accessible from anywhere!

4. La Baguette Bakery and Cafe -
This place has it all! From lunch entrees and quick deli sandwiches to gourmet dinners, and ohh those homemade desserts! With ever changing daily specials, La Baguette is the perfect choice for a quick soup and sandwich lunch or a cool after-hours coffee and dessert. La Baguette home makes everything in-house, and can even design a wedding cake for your special day. Even if you can’t make it for lunch or dinner, definitely make the room for dessert from La Baguette!


5. The Diner -
 This is the very definition of “hole in the wall” restaurant. Located on Main Street, right in the heard of Norman, The diner is the place to go for a big hearty breakfast or lunch. Their specials include the breakfast “mexi-scram”, or their “championship chili”, which you can order on just about anything on the menu. The Diner has also been featured on “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” with host Guy Fieri. Be prepared for a wait though, the place is small with not a lot of seating, but they pack ‘em in!

So the next time you’re in Norman, OK for a visit, make sure you stop by one of these amazing places!


Most Recent – Local – Voices from Yahoo!

Those Three Little Words: Powerful in Every Way

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There are three little words that we all long to hear, but for some they are the hardest words to say. The words seem to stick to the tongue like glue, not rolling off so easily. Some people have no problem saying those three little words. It is a mystery why these three little words carry such power. They can bring a grown man to his knees. The words have a way of melting the hardest of hearts. They have been known to move mountains. Within minutes of hearing these words, they can change the countenance in one’s face, causing a smile to linger for days.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Children mirror what their parents have modeled to them. If a parent says these words to their child, that baby will mimic those exact words. There is no greater gift than for a child to look into your eyes saying, “I love you mommy and daddy.” When he or she is playing, you may hear this little voice from another room singing out, “I love you mommy” for no apparent reason. This is their way of connecting to you. They know that there is warmth and love associated with these words. Do they really know the meaning yet? Probably not. Something deep inside their heart says this is a good thing. It is amazing how one so young is able to feel the significance of these three little words.

Expectations With the Three Little Words

Expectations are always different for each person concerning these three little words. We do not always know what those expectations are. I really believe we are winging it for the first half of our lives. We grow into adulthood, leaving our parents, who may have used these words all our lives. We now are out in the world carrying these three little words deep within our heart. We are waiting at the opportune time to be able to use them. Not that we think consciously about that moment, but they are tucked away for safekeeping.

There are those who have never heard these words. They have a deep longing to hear them. It is not something that comes so natural to their heart. They may have a hard time hearing them as well as saying them. It does not mean they do not want to say them or hear them. It is something they never heard with in their family. It might take someone very special to draw those three little words out from the hidden space within their heart.

Sharing the Three Little Words

There may come a day when one may start having feelings toward someone. The warmth, connection and emotions they feel are all too familiar but yet different. The words may roll off their tongue very easily. To the person receiving these words, it may be accepting or they may feel taken back. “I love you” means so many different things to different people.

These words may mean forever to those persons while others, it is a foreign concept and may cause them to run in the opposite direction. It is sort of as texting. The message may not always be heard the way it was sent. How does one figure out how it was meant? They have not thought how powerful these three little words are. Sometimes these words carry expectations and sometimes there is no agenda. How can this be?

The one receiving the words may think, “If you did not mean it then why did you say it.” The person that said it thinks,” I did mean it, well at the time; I just did not mean it the way you took it.” You see it gets tricky. Sometimes we all may just be thinking too hard.

Can We Say Awkward?

Do you remember your first love? You may have at least thought it was love but who can be sure? It felt right at the time. Here is an example of raw emotion using those three little words. A man meets the beautiful girl. She is on his mind all the time. He has not thought about marriage and the future. He just knows he is crazy about her. He is in the zone. It may be love but he is not sure. He has never felt this way before. They are out on a date one night and she kisses him tenderly and sparks fly. In a flash, he leans into her and says the three little words. As soon as they come out of his mouth, he is sweating and thinking to himself, did I just say that? She is surprised and does not know what to say. He feels like he has slipped up. What was he thinking? He cannot take it back. They both sit there in awkward silence. She then thinks to herself, she must say something back. She mutters the three little words right back at him. They both are staring into one another eyes, as deer caught in the headlights. They said it! We must be in love, so they think. They have no idea what love is all about. Since they have uttered the three little words, there must be something more. What will be the expectations from this encounter?

Goodbyes

The bittersweet goodbyes are the ones that tug on our heartstrings. One can never forget to say those three little words. He is leaving for a very long time. His duffel bags are sitting on the curb and you know you may never see him. You must tell him how much you love him. This moment will never come again. You hold on to him with all you might. You do not want to let him go. He tells you the three little words. You then without any hesitations tell him you love him too. You will hold those words close to your heart forever. You hear his voice saying those words when you are sad and lonely. He remembers that moment in the quiet of the night. The comfort and security of those words bring comfort to two breaking hearts. Those little words will sustain both of you in moments of darkness. I cannot stress the importance of always saying I love you when you say goodbye.

The Plan

He or she may feel it building up inside and if they do not say those three little words, they will absolutely burst into a million little pieces. How should they say it? Practicing in the mirror for hours, this poor person cannot eat or sleep. The thought of murmuring these words are almost too much. They have no thoughts about the future. Oh how they have wanted to tell their loved one for so long. Today is the day no matter what, they are going to say those three little words. This person walks slowly up to their love, tapping them on the shoulder. They turn around, looking at this nervous, love struck person.

“Hello,” the intended loved one says, with a curious look about them. They look into those big beautiful eyes, finally getting enough nerve to say those three little words.

“I love you!”

They do not wait for a response but run in the opposite direction, like their pants are on fire. They have a painted on grin the rest of the day, and have accomplished the task they set out to do. Once they get home, they begin to dream of the next meeting. Once again, they return to the mirror, practicing the three little words but this time, maybe a stolen kiss will be in the mix.

The Words Take Flight and Multitasking

Caught off guard, she has just heard those three little words for the first time. She has yearned and waited for so long to hear them. Her mind begins to multitask like crazy. What does this mean, oh my goodness! He just told me he loved me! Does this mean he wants to be with me forever? Why in the world did I say, “Thank you!” Am I the only girl? Was he just trying to make the moves on me? Will he pop the question? Am I the first one he has ever said I love you too? Did I smile too big…did I have something caught between my teeth? Why did I not say it back? Do I love him too? I have to remember to pick up the dry cleaning. He seems nice enough. He has a good job. I love him too! At least, I think I do! Oh great I just broke my nail!

It Is Never too Late for Those Three Little Words

It is never too late to say those three little words. It does not matter if the time is right or not. It does not make a difference if the words come out perfect. Right or wrong, you should just let them have their way. Let those three little words take shape into whatever will be. We tend to make things way to complicated. Just like the little child who yells out, “mommy I love you,” the little one does it without thought. Three little words need to be said more often than not. Stop analyzing the reaction. Say it and do not expect anything back. You cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. You do not know what the future may bring. Do not take the three little words so seriously, that fear keeps you from connecting. Use those three little words to reconnect to people you thought were gone forever. Three little words can forgive a multitude of sins. It is never too late.

Just Say Them!

As we grow older, it is imperative that we live each day as our last. Those three little words become more important to us than when we were young. No expectation, no agenda, we use them because we know the value and power they hold. We do not need a reason; we do not have to practice in the mirror. We do not have to expect anything in return. We just say them


Most Recent – Creative Writing – Voices from Yahoo!

Cinematography for Actors – Establishing Shot

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Before ever working on a film, I would spend hours imagining what it would be like to actually step foot onto a movie set and tackling the unforeseen challenges that lay ahead of me. While I thought I had a strong grasp on what it took to be a film actor, you could imagine my surprise that the majority of my “assumptions” were absolutely incorrect. One of my most deep-seeded assumptions was that a film scene was shot all at once using multiple cameras to capture each of the different angles. While this may be true for sitcoms and soap operas, films capture each angle one-at-a-time, which makes for a very interesting acting experience.

The establishing shot is one of the primary angles used to help establish the characters within their surroundings, and this type of angle requires very specific acting choices.

Acting in an Establishing Shot

When I first started out in acting classes for the camera, I was continually reminded that film acting was a far cry from theater or stage performance. The primary reason for this is the intimacy between yourself (the actor) and the camera (the audience). Thus acting in film requires a subtly that is not found (nor encouraged) in many other forms of acting.

The establishing shot of a scene is very unique as its primary goal is to establish all characters in a scene with their surroundings. It is almost a way to introduce the audience to the geographical location of a particular scene.

When you’re acting in this type of camera angle, you have free roam throughout the “scene” as you are not confined to a small space (like in a close-up or two-shot angle). However, this does not mean you can wander about. You still must follow your blocking and remember your movements for tighter shots.

Making wise movement choices as well as simple choices that are easy to remember is key when filming an establishing shot as you are required to mimic these movements for each additional angle.


Most Recent – Arts & Entertainment – Voices from Yahoo!

Creative Loafing and It’s Benefits

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Many of us can easily locate a person that is an expert in loafing. We encounter them in the workforce, as friends of relatives, retirees and neighbors. Many of us look down on individuals that we label as loafers. In many cases, the label takes on the context in a negative way. When I associate loafing with an individual, usually Stanley Hudson from the television show “The Office” comes to mind. This article looks at how to setup and enjoy a day of loafing. It also relates some of the benefits of loafing.

Select Your Date
A good loafer selects a date that doesn’t matter. It is a date that won’t hurt or affect others at work. If you have to stay on the job, select a task that is slow and time consuming. Make it a task that you thoroughly understand. Act like you are really engaged in the project.

Stay At Home
This is the ultimate loaf day. The only plans you make is how to make your day easier. The following will give you some ideas.

Do not shower. Standing in a shower is tiresome. Take a long hot soaking bath instead. Be in no hurry to get out of your bath.

Prepare your meals in a slow cooker. You can prep any meal in about 10 minutes. Place the cooker on low and forget for several hours.

Never answer the phone or door unless you absolutely have to. You want to give the impression that you are not at home. Keep the sounds in your home low. Turn the lights down.

Dress for comfort. Wear some old sweats and comfortable socks. Avoid in strenuous physical activity for the day.

Remove all thoughts of problems and work. This is your time and nobody else.

Return to Normal
It is very important to return as if it is a new and normal day. You had your day off. Now you need to return to your normal routine.

Benefits of Loafing
You can’t hide from your problems, but sometimes loafing gives you a chance to slowdown and examine your situations.

You feel refreshed and invigorated. Many times, this can put you in a positive frame of mind. You can refocus on tasks ahead.

Although you have responsibilities, you need to be responsible for yourself. There are many ways to do this. Loafing is one of them. Providing a day for yourself is very important in personal maintenance. The trick is to not make it a habit.


Most Recent – Lifestyle – Voices from Yahoo!

Things Women are Most Attracted to

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Judging from the advertisements that line our email, all that women are attracted to are quick-fix facials, designer handbags for less or tarot card predictions. However inaccurate/accurate that might be, we also love walking in the rain, sunsets on a beach, chocolate fudge sundae for lunch, Roman Holiday, heritage structures, Pinterest, and hand-tossed pizzas. Then there is stock trading, Top Gear, politeness, Discovery Channel, a good read on a summer afternoon … you see, one of the best things about being a woman is not feeling the pressure of bowing to stereotypes, unlike men. If a woman’s fascination with vintage clothing is classy, so are her smooth skills at changing car tires. Right now though, let’s just look at the regular delights.
Women and Shopping
Woman Shopping With women, things are obviously far from obvious, and when one has to talk about what attracts them, it doesn’t veer very far from the S-word. Yes, even a slight mention of shopping can have the most tired woman reach out for her bag, and they’re out and about in a jiffy. Although there are a few women who go to great lengths to avoid it like the plague, most of them can happily run through a week of boss-bestowed insults or unceremonious breakups, only on the hope of a weekend shopping spree.

To those of you who question the forever-lasting novelty of shopping, here’s the scientific dope – femdome’s obsession with the S-word is actually a relic of the bygone era when the men used to be hunters and the women were foragers.

Chemically speaking, shopping releases the very wonderful dopamine in the female brain that gives them a real high, akin to, well, a real high.

Women and Shoes
Woman Shoes What is it with women and their crazy ambition to own a gazillion pairs of shoes?

It would really be too easy to blame this obsession on Cinderella, but then let’s just examine what we have here, shall we? So, you slide your foot in it, the smooth satin lining inside caressing your foot as you do so. It fits you like a second skin, elevates you, and lends you that alluring strut. What’s more, it beautifies you in about five seconds, and never makes you look fat. These instant mood elevators are individually crafted for every woman, and have the power to make or break any outfit, designer or not. They can be conversation starters, inspire fetishes, and are femininity boosters. And to top it all, they can be used as weapons to shoo away unwanted attention.

Has all the above satisfactorily answered your question?

Women and Makeup
Woman Makeup This one’s easy. Makeup is that one magical thing which quite literally holds the power to transform a woman; whether the transformation is for better or worse can be discussed on another day.

To the uninitiated, makeup can simply be overwhelming. If you have to work hard to wear makeup that makes you look glamorous, you work twice as hard to wear makeup that gives you a makeup-free look. While the advocates of the natural look can have the luxury of reading the paper every morning, the wand brandishing divas are furiously donning layers of paint in order to get bigger eyes/shapely noses/sculpted cheeks, and what have you. Be it men or women, the quest for looking good has been imbibed into the human psyche quite naturally.

And this is really the reason why women should never justify their need for anything that makes them look nice, be it insect venom facials or fish pedicures.

Women and Clothing
Woman Clothing Female vanity works in mysterious ways. Stereotypes force us to believe that the female mind feels that she can never have enough LBDs/skinny or boyfriend pants. On investigating further, one feels hard-pressed to know why the men never have to justify their obsession with cars or gadgets. But the mere mention of a woman who skips dinner for a month to buy that Hermès scarf she so desires, raises instant outrage.

Coming back to women’s clothing fixation, you could connect this with the pleasurable act of preening and the desire to look good. Blame it on self-gratification, or on the desire to be noticed, flattering attire is what does it for women. On the other hand, for every woman who’s clueless about statement skirts and structured jackets, there will be another who will have these in teal and jade, with separate accessories to match for each.

It really goes without saying that every woman is different, and to classify them all as clothes hoarding loonies would be asinine.

Women and Jewelry
Woman Jewels Ah! It would be a crime not to mention Marilyn Monroe’s declaration about women’s special friendship with diamonds right at the beginning, and the rest will be self-explanatory. Not trying to cut down on words here, but is there anything else which explains a woman’s fascination with sparklers more than this song from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

Going further, nothing screams status for a woman other than these stones. And this is the weapon they choose to elevate their status among other women; not the Gucci handbag, not the Vivienne Westwood dress, not the Jimmy Choos on her feet.

Showing off is a joy we are all familiar with, gender notwithstanding. Guys, think of it as “my Aston Martin One-77″ against “your Ferrari Enzo”, and you’ll get the picture.

Women and Men
Woman and Men Okay, let me just say it. What choice do women have? Women getting attracted to men is a major natural order, and let’s stop being nasty about the hunter clan and look at reasons other than natural.

Well, umm …, there must be a few reasons. I’m sure there ought to be some reasons. Oh, right, here they are – some women choose to blame a man’s attractiveness on those fluctuating hormones, while the more serious ones claim temporary insanity.

Alright, seriously, it’s so hard to pinpoint the qualities that women find striking in a man. It could range from pheromones to facial hair (eeew, I know, but it’s true), from kindness to vulnerability, from salaries to inheritance, from commitment desires to openness … it is impossible to generalize.

To summarize, it isn’t really a good idea to break down and dissect what is really a beautiful and natural process called ‘attraction’.

When we are asked to speak of what attracts us, we usually tend to fall headfirst into the generalization trap. For scores of women who would nod in agreement to every obsession mentioned here, there will be a whole other lot turning their noses away from it. As a woman or a man, it all comes down to realizing where our happiness lies, and pursuing it without any traces of inhibition.


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