The Beauty of Antique Lamps

Antique lamps are a special medium through which you can bring light and history into your home. There are several different kinds of antique lamps that you can choose from. As a part of your home decor, antique lamps can serve the function of bringing light, as well as adding class and style to your home.

Antique kerosene lamps are wonderful for decorating your kitchen, especially if you have a country style design. You can put them on your desk or hang one up in the bathroom. They are great for the front porch or to light up the back yard as well. The flicker of a flame adds to the beauty of an antique kerosene lamp, which makes it an excellent choice. These days, this type of lamp is primarily used for camping trips, and you can certainly use it for that. It is nice to add it to your home, however.

If you prefer another style of antique lamp, try an antique piano lamp. They can be clipped onto things like a desk and used as a reading lamp or they can light up a framed picture on a shelf or the fireplace mantel. Piano lamps can be used in the hallway or in the kitchen. The style permits antique piano lamps to be a part of just about any room of your house.

For those looking for something a little bit larger, and antique floor lamp might serve the purpose. Antique floor lamps are tall and slender. They are usually designed with special lamp shades of colored glass, frills, and brass stands. They can light up a corner, or the whole room. Antique floor lamps certainly command attention in whatever room they are in. They go best in living rooms, family rooms, dens, and hallways. It is nice to sit on an easy chair and read under an antique floor lamp.

There are many more types, sizes and styles of antique lamps, including antique crystal lamps, antique bridge lamps, and antique oil lamps. Each type has its own special features. It is all up to you how much you would like to spend on your antique lamp. Determine your budget, think about where you will put the lamp, and consider what you will use the lamp for. Once you have a good idea about these things, you can go ahead an shop for your very own antique lamp.

Blue Diamonds - Sense of Beauty

Blue diamonds are very rare and natural beauty for over many centuries. They are found in countries like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa. In India, they are found in the Kollur deposits. The famous 112-carat great blue diamond is a classic example of these diamonds, which was cut into a 45.52 carat Hope Diamond. It is extracted from the Kollur deposits.
The color of the diamond is due to the presence of a chemical element called boron. The shades of the blue diamond vary with the presence of tint of this blue color mineral. In such means, the shades of these costly stones naturally occurring are ice blue, sky blue, and ocean blue. These stones with slight tint of this blue color are ice blue diamonds. Sky blue diamonds are fairly brighter with little more tint than the ice blue diamonds. Ocean blue is the darkest of the three shades; it is deep blue with rich tint. An ice blue diamond begins with a white polished diamond and so considered very expensive.
Comparatively, ocean blue diamonds begin as a brown diamond shaped and are not as expensive as the ice blue ones, but are reasonably medium priced.


Tips to choose a blue diamond:

While purchasing the blue diamonds,

Choose how important is the originality of the color of diamond to you. These stones with original blue color are rare and highly expensive. Many diamonds are artificially treated under various temperatures and pressure conditions, though these are allowed practices and does not degrade the value of these stones.
Determine whether to get stones loose or buy them as a part of jewelry.
Caring your budget is very important. Even a small variation of shade or tint of color may cost you a fortune. Color diamonds such as blue are very costly compared to colorless diamonds. So choose the expenses carefully and then think of spending the rest in carat, size and other values of diamonds.
The next thing to remember is to decide the place where to get them. Getting them from authorized dealers will cost more than getting from a discount seller who may not provide adequate documentation.

While viewing and choosing the blue diamonds,

Choose one with "fancy" color that matches well with your taste and selection.
Choose the diamond by viewing it in various different light settings because dealers prefer atmosphere where their product is at its best. Get a mirror to your side and see it while choosing which jewelry matches your skin tone.
Compare these beautiful stones with different shapes. For example, the ones with round and square cut reflect more light than the ones with rectangular cut.


It is the brilliance of the color in that stone that determine its value. The more it is fancy, the more is its cost. These stones are the finest piece of diamonds that are very rare and stand as the eternal beauty. The diamonds purchased now will stand and grows in value over time.

Why are diamonds a girl's best friend? For the exact reasons that Marilyn Monroe, dressed in pink satin and white furs,
sang in her timeless performance years ago; these rocks don't lose their "shape," either economically or sentimentally.

Bridesmaid Dresses Made in Heaven

At last you finally agreed to be a bridesmaid! Now the head breaking situation had come.
What is the best Bridesmaid Dress out there that will really help make you stand out on her wedding day!

What a better way to flaunt it by wearing the best Bridesmaids Dresses in town!

We have picked up six designer clothes you can choose from.

The first on our list

The After Six Bridesmaids Dresses Collection is classic collection lines and the colors are stunning, more than enough for then to stand-out. You could choose from a girlish appeal dress of matte satin halter with dainty tea length with full box-pleat, or the strapless empire red hot tea-length with shirred sash. It comes with a bodice at vertical shirring, front waist and back.

The Collection of After Six Bridesmaids Dresses also offers beautiful wedding gowns with fabric in good quality and accessories for the bride and mothers to complete their look.

For the picky Bridesmaid like You!

If you are a very discerning bridesmaid, Jasmine Bridesmaids and Evening Collection is right choice. This collection is the bridesmaid's premier gowns. It has a wide variety of styles, from classic and long sleek gown, or the newest cocktail-length dress for bridesmaids, The Jasmine Collection has the latest and widest selection of styles and designs that you can try out. The Bridesmaids dresses are from latest fabrics and cut luxuriously with delicate accoutrement and dress work. Twenty-four lavish and tasteful pastels are available for you to choose from. It was made for you this much in order for you to get the right match to your accessories, eyes and hair color. Try a Jasmine now! The Jasmine Bridesmaids and Evening Collection's mission is to make each bridesmaid dazzlingly beautiful.

An exquisite Classic line of bridesmaid gowns from Mori Lee bridesmaid crafted only for you. The Mori Lee Bridesmaids and Evening Collection is timeless and classy bridesmaids dresses and contoured to compliment your own figure. The collection have wide array of styles, delicately picked colors and sizes that are customized.

It introduces the latest look and fashionable bridesmaid's dresses agree with your discerning tastes. You can be beautiful and sensational in a bridesmaid gown with high quality materials at a lower price. Only from Mori Lee Collections

The One Dress Fits All Occasions.

Aglaia Bridesmaids and Evening Collection, is about elegance and beauty. There are many bridesmaid dresses to choose from. There are many finest bridesmaid gowns Aglaia Bridesmaids and Evening Collection can offer. Get the one that suits your elegant tastes. These Bridesmaid dresses are designed to fit you. Cut from the finest fabrics with style. These dresses are bridesmaids' gowns you cannot get enough of. These can also be use over and over to other special events. This bridesmaid dress will definitely fit your friend's wedding colors yet giving you your own personal identity and fashion flair.

If you want to stand out the Aglaia Bridesmaids and Evening Collection is the right couture line for a bridesmaid like you.

The Dress that is made only for you.

The whole Tulipia Bridesmaids Collections are designer-originals. Every Bridesmaids dress is custom made to suit you style and boost your natural beauty. Each bridesmaid dress uses unique combinations of stylish elements of fabric and design.

Bead and lacework, exquisite accoutrement and lavish stone, defines Tulipia bridesmaid's gowns unique, and breathtaking, like you. Make that choice now. Get Tulipia bridesmaid dress to be part of you.

For the vibrant, beautiful character that you have, J. Valentina Evening Wear Collection is for you. They offer a wide variety of designs and styles that suit your taste in fashion.

Bridemaid dress with stunning cocktail styles, or that classy long gown that matches your hair, let the J Valentina collection be your pick. This collection is custom made bridesmaid gowns that has a fitted style and look to define your body's curvature. The design ranges from youth full sundress to classic elegant long gowns.

These Elegant and vibrant bridesmaid dresses are also pleasing to the eye, and may compliment to your own style and natural beauty.

Wrought Iron Wall Decor Ideas to Add Beauty and Style to Your Home

Iron products have been around for centuries with wrought iron being used in modern times for beautiful wrought iron wall decor. A trend in interior decorating is to bring nature inside the home which can easily be done by making use of ornamental metals such as wrought iron. Because wrought iron is sturdy and long lasting, it might be called a “best price home décor” item—a bargain at any price!

Wrought iron wall décor comes in various shapes, such as, round, square, rectangular and even in the shape of a cross. Other features of wrought iron wall decor may include intricate scrolls, swirls and leaves. Wrought iron candle wall sconces and wrought iron candelabras are also popular.

Versatility is a distinct advantage of decorating with wrought iron wall décor since it can be moved from one room to another because of its neutral color. It blends with most decorating styles with the more ornate features lending itself to the old world style and with less ornate detail used in the contemporary style.

Another advantage of decorating with wrought iron wall décor is its ability to fill wall space. It can be found in large sizes which can fill up a large wall space very nicely. A grouping of smaller pieces may also be used to fill up space. The beauty of decorating with wrought iron wall décor is that it can be used in any room of the house. It looks especially nice hung on a textured wall!

Beauty Tips for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy has always been a beautiful miracle. But now it's considered sexy, too. When Vanity Fair put Demi Moore's apparently nude, very pregnant body on the cover of their magazine in 1991, it made a lasting statement that said a woman could be both pregnant and gorgeous.

If you're not ready to show off quite that much, don't worry. Here are ten beauty tips that will help make you look and feel good while you're pregnant.

1. Show off your legs. In summer, shorts and sundresses never looked better. In winter, a mini skirt with tights and flat shoes are fashionable.

2. For a special evening out, a pair of stretch-waist black velvet pants and a swingy top looks romantic, even elegant. This is the time you can wear a nice v-neck and show off your new, voluptuous cleavage.

3. Raid your man's closet for a shirt. Roll up the sleeves and add a piece of jewelry for a feminine touch. Or not. Menswear is long and lose, perfect for pregnancy.

4. Treat yourself to a new bra. Being pregnant means your old size won't work anymore, because you can gain up to five pounds in your breasts. For most women, a bra with wide set straps that are not too thin helps give much-needed support. Not only is this important to prevent sagging, but wearing the correct size bra will make your clothes look better, too.

5. Add some highlights to your hair. All-over hair color, like dying or bleaching, is not recommended while you're pregnant, because your scalp absorbs some of the chemicals. (It can be identified in urine.) But adding highlights is safe, because the hair color is applied one-half to one inch from your scalp, so chemicals cannot get into your blood stream.

6. Keep your skin supple with pure cocoa butter. Using a natural moisturizer on your stomach and breasts is safe, and it will help prevent, or at least minimize, stretch marks. Equally important is maintaining a slow, gradual weight gain so your skin doesn't stretch too rapidly.

7. Forget those old fashioned tent tops that make you look even bigger than you are. It's now fashionable to flaunt your baby tummy, and stretchy tops and empire waists are flattering. Being pregnant is sexy!

8. Get a pair of pretty ballerina flats. In France, and around Hollywood, they're all the rage with pregnant and not-pregnant women alike. Invest in a good pair that provides arch support and is made of a breathable material like leather or canvas. A pair of shoes that has a low, wide heel (one to one-and-a-half inches) is also a good choice. Remember, you may need a larger or wider shoe size while you're pregnant, so try them on before you buy.

9. Wearing a monochrome outfit (all one color) or clothing with vertical lines creates an illusion of length and is flattering for all body types.

10. Buy a chic new handbag. It will make you look fashionable, and you don't have to worry about outgrowing it later!

And finally, everybody looks better when they're rested and healthy. Get enough sleep, exercise, and "eat clean." This is no time for unhealthy junk foods that make you feel sluggish and do your baby no good either. And remember, there are beauty advantages to being pregnant, too.

The "beauty glow" of pregnancy has science to back it up. The increased blood volume and circulation during pregnancy enhances your skin and makes it beautifully luminescent. And thanks to hormonal changes, brittle nails become stronger, and hair becomes shinier. One last thing: never underestimate the radiance that comes from being happy. Many expectant moms say they've never felt more beautiful or more alive than when they are pregnant!

Beauty Forecast - Your Inside Look at Berlin Fashion Week Spring 2009 Trends

Presenting a complete and total reflection of Spring 2009 is a heavy undertaking for any designer. Of course, runway shows provide designers with a platform to exhibit their creativity in high-end garment production and craftsmanship, but in order for a collection to standout, the designer must deliver a full, head-to-toe, complete package look. This includes great styling, accessory coordination, stunning shoes, hair and, last but not least, make-up artistry.

The model must exude the inspiration of the designers' collection and captivate the audience, fashion editors, buyers and journalist alike, which sets expectations relatively high considering a runway show lasts only 5 minutes and takes from 6 months up to a year for a designer to prepare.

Setting the make-up palette and color scheme just right is critical for any designer because it sets the tone for what is to come. The runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin provide a diverse stage to gaze upon potential beauty trends and forecast the most coveted looks to come for Spring/Summer 2009 that you may want to emulate and make your own.

There is no question that Slavna Martinovic designs for the chameleon woman, who can transform her beauty to bewitch and enchant all eyes casted on her. This season Martinovic casted a spell on the runway that was bold and mysterious. Fiery red lips of power combined with a smoky intoxicating eye looked unusually exotic and feminine. The use of jewels to outline and define the eye shape was very Gipsy meets Far East.

Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania collection is a reflection of traditional styles infused with a punk edge, resulting in a high-fashion look for a younger generation. For Spring/Summer 2009, Westwood found inspiration in the Greek antiquity period and 50s couture with a twist. The twist was certainly reflected in the make-up scheme as well as with models adorning bright cherry stained lips with a soft and natural complexion. The eyes were lightly dusted with a tint of grey/bluish shadow for a feminine but not overdone appearance.

It was a manifestation of the 1920s femme fatal at LAC ET MEL's Spring '09 runway show, where make-up artists contoured the lips to a baby doll pout reminiscent of famed American pin-up girls like Betty Grable, Greta Garbo and Clara Bow. The single most pervading beauty trend at Berlin Fashion Week was the classic yet always contemporary red lip.

Winner of the Moët& Chandon Fashion Award in 2004, Sisi Wasabi's Spring/Summer 2009 collection was surely something to be toasted to. The focus of the collection was of course Wasabi's well crafted and tailored to perfection designs. Models bore an "au-naturel" look that consisted of a reflective concealer, defined brow, a dab of mascara for definition and a nude lipstick. Each woman sent down the catwalk looked well put together and classic, proving that less is sometimes more when it comes to make-up.

There are so many wonderful things to say about Berlin-based brand Scherer González that we had to save them for last. FashionQandA.com loves everything this designer team puts their hands on. Constanze González and Paul Scherer bring such a fresh perspective to fashion that it was of course reflected in their choice of make-up as well. Prim, proper and regal defined the collection's beauty statement for the coming Spring season. Models came out with pretty pink pouts complemented by a dewy flushed check that was a combination of peachy and berry tones. The skin texture was pristine and incandescent. Make-up artists used black liner to enhance and define the eye for a prefect presentation of Spring beauty.

Cake Decorating - Wedding Style

Knowing how to decorate a cake is a very useful skill. Over the years it has been a popular hobby of many homemakers. But it has also been the occupation of many professionals. Beautifully decorated cakes are a feature of most special occasions. But there is one that requires exceptional cake decorating. Wedding planners know they have to take their brides and grooms to the best cake decorators. Some of the best decorators work from professional premises while others prefer to work from home. The proof however is in their particular decorating skills.

A wedding is a very happy occasion. It is also a very romantic occasion. In all cultures around the world a wedding is a most important event. Everything at a wedding has to be what the bride wants. Her personal taste is reflected in her choice of wedding style. Traditionally, a wedding cake would have been three or four tiers high with white icing. Nowadays, it is perfectly acceptable for a bride and a groom to have the cake of their choice. Many couples even choose to have two cakes. One would be the bride's choice and the other the groom's. She may choose a vanilla cake and he may want a chocolate. What is important is the expertise of the cake decorating. Wedding guests always make a point of admiring the cake.

It is no longer necessary to stick to a traditional style of cake decorating. Wedding cakes can be as simple as a delicate white square. Or it can be tiers of gooey chocolate fudge with strawberries. Bridal couples are allowing decorators to be more and more creative with their wedding cake designs. Very often the cake is the most talked about feature at the reception. This is much appreciated by the couple and their guests.