Sunday, February 17, 2008

Little White Dresses LWDs

Little White Dresses -- LWDs. It's a fashion statement, much like the Little Black Dress, that can be worn for all seasons -- not just for weddings.

I've been a fan of the Little Black Dress aka LBD for far too many years to count. To me, a Little White Dress aka LWD is another trendy item to include in your wardrobe. What's that you ask, "White, how can that be?" Yes, you see that the LWD has quietly gained in popularity, thanks in part to a host of celebrities.

A LWD can be a good alternative to the LBD. What's cool about wearing a LWD is that you can accessorize however you like! Oh, there is one caveat though, please do not wear a LWD to a wedding unless, of course, you ARE the bride.

Well, you'll find that I devoted an entire Squidoo lens to the LWD. In my lens, the first of its kind on Squidoo, I gave you more information on how trendy the LWD is today, along with showcasing some great fashion choices!

Little Black Dresses LBDs

Little Black Dresses -- LBDs. Looking for a perfect little black dress? I'm a style fashionista and self-appointed "Queen of the Little Black Dresses!" My hubby would strongly agree with this as he's always telling me, "You need to live in New York City so that you can wear all those fancy clothes!" The little black dress [LBD] was my fashion staple fashion LONG before it became a fashion trend and LONG before people were blogging about it. I've even designed a few of my own little black dresses over the years. Say, do you know who is responsible for popularizing the LBD???

Nowadays, the little black dress is a fashion staple and often referred to as simply LBD. Every fashion-conscious woman needs at least one LBD in her wardrobe. If you're looking for that perfect LBD, I can help you!

I authored the first Official Little Black Dress Squidoo Lens! In that lens, I showcased several of the most fashionable, stylish, and trendy little black dresses available today. Whilst that lens might be history today, I am still into Little Black Dresses. Stay tuned to hear more!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Sweethearts heart-shaped candy

Sweethearts: A heart-shaped candy for Valentine's Day! Also known as Conversation Hearts; they're popular in the UK as Love Hearts!

Sweethearts are small heart-shaped candies with a peak selling season around Valentine's Day. To me, they are THE candy for this holiday. Each heart is printed with a message such as "Be Mine", "Kiss Me", "Call Me", and "Miss You". New sayings are added every year and others are taken away (ergo, witness the removal of "Fax Me"). Sweethearts are made by the New England Confectionery Company, or NECCO.

I remember giving and receiving these sweet candies when I was a child! It's really cool that the Sweethearts remain as a Valentine's Day tradition to this day!

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays -- for the obvious reasons AND particularly because it is the very day that my hubby and I celebrate our anniversary! Ah ... how romantic can you get? Want to learn more about these and find some cool Valentine's Day gifts? Why be sure to check out my article on Sweethearts. I H-E-A-R-T ... Valentine's Day and Sweethearts !

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Funk for your Trunk Luggage Tags

Funk for your Trunk aka Luggage Tags! Trendy and Colorful Luggage Tags, IDs, and Whatnots that will make your Luggage STAND OUT from the rest!

Get a funky luggage tag at Amazon!

Have you ever noticed, when you are standing there at the luggage carousel in some large international airport that all the luggage looks the same? Hey, why does everybody have a BLACK bag? Has there ever been the time when you've had to wrestle your bag away from some other weary traveler who thought your bag was his? Well, I can honestly report that this has happened to me only one time--and I have red luggage!

Lately, I've been searching for new luggage tags, IDs, belts and other such accessories and am totally amazed at the variety available! There are classic and funky, chic, neon, leather, and some whimsical and funny to name just a few! I even found a Hermes orange leather luggage tag on eBay selling for $444.00! Wow--that's more than I want to pay for a suitcase.

Well, I think a luggage tag--for us women--can be like a handbag! As luggage tags can be very affordable, why not have a variety so that you can customize your luggage to reflect how you feel, what you're wearing, or where you're traveling? For example, if you are going on an island-hopper vacation, how about the luggage tag shown here? I authored the original Squidoo lens on luggage tags and IDs, you know?

Replace Your Suitcase

Does Your Suitcase Have a Lot of Miles on It? Is your luggage damaged, out-of-date, OR lost and you need a replacement?

So, has the airlines maybe LOST your luggage or did they FIND it and now it looks like it's been around the world more times than the space shuttle? Does your suitcase look like it belonged to a road warrior? Are you a road warrior? Are you in the market for a stylish and trendy piece of luggage? I've been shopping around for another fashionable suitcase that will distinguish mine from the next traveler. It's amazing the variety of bags you have to pick from these days.

Lost Bags at Record Highs, February 6, 2008: Reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers rose to a rate of 7.03 last year from a rate of 6.73 in 2006. --www.consumeraffairs.com.

As I was searching through all the variety of suitcases, I opted to buy one for my hubby who was toting around a very beat-up Travelpro Crew 5 22" carry-on. I replaced that bag with a black Crew 6 which is new and improved. Would you believe, he won't give up that old suitcase so that I can donate it to the Goodwill.

I've written about some of the most stylish luggage that I personally would like to own. At the moment, I really like the Heys styles too! A number of years ago, I had a very nice Hartmann bag that was given to me as a gift. Hartmann is certainly a stylish and quality brand and I would love to own one.

Replace Your Suitcase Today - Check out Amazon!

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

T2 Labs Plant Explosion

What is MMT: Did it cause the T2 Labs Plant Explosion that killed 4? Also known as MCMT, the gasoline additive MMT was used in 1974 as an additive in unleaded gasoline. It was subsequently banned from 1977 to 1995 for use in the United States.

Today, MMT has been manufactured and marketed by T2 Laboratories, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, as Ecotane® which acquired EPA approval for use in the United States and attained widespread use in over 70 countries worldwide.

In its "finished" form, MMT is safe; however, the manufacturing process reportedly involves chemical reactions that put the components under high pressure. It's thought that the manufacturing of Ecotane® caused the massive chemical explosion on December 19, 2007 that killed 4 and injured 33. Originally, it was reported that only 14 were injured, but one month later the number was more than double that.

In Memorium: Those who lost their lives that fateful day include 49-year-old Robert Scott Gallagher [pictured here], co-owner of T2 Laboratories Inc., 48-year-old Charles Budds Bolchoz, 35-year-old Karey Renard Henry and 36-year-old Parish Lamar Ashley. I worked closely with Scott Gallagher at a previous company, Glidco / Millennium Specialty Chemicals and knew Charles Bolchoz who also worked at that company.