You Are Cordially Invited...

All the money in the world has been handed to me, to throw the most grand and glamorous event anyone has ever seen. Try to imagine, through my words, a beautiful, glass, modern mansion on the hills of Hollywood, overlooking the glimmering city lights. Women in long elegant gowns, flowing like water behind each step mingle with handsome men dressed in chic suits. Carefully selected waiters and waitresses walk around with a variety of rare and lavish drinks. The chatter of the crowd is pacified by the soothing beats of the DJ's soundtrack. One may not know the other before attending this party, but surely every one will feel as if they had spent their entire lives together. The event will be an intimate one, full of people who are meeting for the first time, A-list celebrities and of course those who are dear to me. The mansion includes a grand patio looking at the priceless view. There will be private rooms on the deck by the pool with a glass covering, allowing the stars to shine through. The party consists of white furniture, dim lights and a romantic setting. The food will be endless, allowing the minds of the guests to roam over their options. People will be dancing, singing, mingling, laughing, and crying. It will be a volcano of emotions, erupting at any second. My guests will have the time of their lives at this event. 

Hourglass Figure?

"Spanx And Other Shapewear Are Literally Squeezing Your Organs"

-The Huffington Post

by Rebecca Adams

"Shapewear couldn't do its job, if it wasn't tight," says Rebecca Adams. Women all over the world hope and dream for a body that they will finally be satisfied in. Unfortunately the satisfaction rate is extremely low, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to make money. One might ask what the purpose of Spanx are. Spanx specializes in foundation garments, including undergarments and bodysuit shape wear, intended to give the wearer a slim and shapely appearance. After wearing the garment, one might look at themselves in the mirror and look "good." However it leaves one's stomach, intestine and colon compressed, which can worsen acid reflex and heartburn. Dr. Erickson explains that the digestive tract is affected, causing the flow of digestion to be stifled. This damage can lead to abdominal discomfort, bloating and gas. Another affect of Spanx is shallow breath. When one inhales, the diaphragm expands and the abdomen flares out, but shape wear restricts this movement and decreases the excursion in respiration. 

Spanx also compress one's bowels which can bring about bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Sitting in the shape wear can lead to a reversible condition called meralgia parasthetica, which is when the peripheral nerve in the thigh is compressed. This can cause tingling, numbness and pain in one's legs. One aspect that most people do not realize is that by wearing shape wear, they are prone to infections. It traps moisture and almost anything else that is under it. The shape wear can cause yeast and bacterial infections. The bacteria could get stuck in between hair follicles, causing red puss-filled bumps and other skin conditions. 

After reading about the symptoms of wearing shape wear, it is imperative that one decides if it is worth the risk and damage, for a night of looking slimmer. 

-January 20, 2014

Sleep Tight

"Meet the Bed of the Future"

-The Huffington Post

by Timothy Stenovec

Last week at the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sleep Number introduced the X12. When one thinks of a mattress, they usually think of cushions and springs, not sensors and voice recognition. Sleep Number is known for their custom adjustable firmness. However their newest technology tops that. The advanced X12 mattress has built in sensors that track how well one sleeps, responds to voice commands, gives massages and can control snoring. The X12 goes on sale throughout most of America starting from next month. It features some of the most popular advancements at the 2014 CES, such as embedded sensors that track movement and give biofeedback. The company created a feature called SleepIQ, which monitors movement in the bed as well as average breathing rate and heart rate to determine how well one actually sleeps. People who use SleepIQ  can keep track of diet, exercise, caffeine intake or having a sick child. Based on biometric information, the bed gives an overall sleep score and recommends ways to improve health and sleep. Other features of the bed include the ability to elevate each side of the bed independently and voice-activated lights on each side that will help light one's way in the middle of the night. If one's partner is snoring, they can use a voice command to raise his or her head, which can help stop the snoring. With all of these features included, the mattress is expected to have a pretty heavy price tag. The X12 starts at $7,999 for a standard queen sized mattress and moves up to a high $10,500 for a king sized mattress. The new mattress seems a bit expensive for most to be able to buy, which brings the company to come up with a new line of X12 mattresses, starting at an affordable price of $999. Sleep Number's new X12 mattress was one of the highlights of 2014's Consumer Electronics Show. 

Flappers and Trousers

1920's Fashion

During the Roaring Twenties, fashion and glamour were true spectacles to the eye. Women wore beautiful and elegant outfits with priceless accessories as men looked dashing in their stylish suits. Fashion was remarkably different in the twenties, then what it is today. To go along with the glamorous lifestyle with the parties and booze, people needed to dress the part, and money surely was not a problem.

During this era, women's clothing drastically changed after the first world war. Losing the bustles and corsets, designers had more freedom to create spectacular designs, introducing "the flapper." These dresses were lighter and shorter than ever before. Designers were playful with the colors, textures and patterns of the dresses. Evening coats, dresses and jackets were more elegant and often trimmed with fur. Shoes and stockings needed to make a statement now that the dresses were shorter. Silk stockings were made in various amounts of colors to go along with the stylish outfits. 

Society had been going through many political and economic changes during the end of the war. Society decided to do the same with fashion. Men's clothing became sharper and more comfortable. Many admired the new three- piece suits that the twenties introduced. The unflattering trousers before the era were replaced by narrow, straight and cuffed trousers. The coats and jackets were influenced by the garments worn by the military force. Tuxedoes and bow ties took the place of long tail coats. The tuxedoes were usually black and designed with fine material. To top off the look, fedoras and bowler hats were introduced. These elements of fashion represented a dashing man of the 1920's.

http://roaring20sfashion.com/20s-style-for-men/

http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/