Imagine it: You’re with your boyfriend on a romantic dinner date. Everything’s perfect—the mood lighting, the soft music, the food, the wine. You look into his eyes and you can just tell he loves you with all his heart, and you feel the same way about him. He’s usually so comfortable around you, but tonight he’s fidgety and seems nervous. The reality hits you when he kneels down in front of you with a small box. The whole world seems to stop as he slowly opens it…

But what does the ring look like? Is it antique or modern? Yellow gold, white gold or platinum? Is the diamond a princess cut? Round brilliant? Then there are the characteristics you can’t easily see….is it colorless or nearly colorless? Slightly included or very slightly included? Maybe very very slightly included?!

There are a lot of options to take into consideration when choosing the engagement ring that’s right for you, so imagine how overwhelmed your boyfriend must feel! You don’t want to pressure him, but you feel that things are getting serious, and you think he might need a little extra confidence to finally pop the question.

Abazias will give him that confidence, and a way for you to do your research and drop subtle hints! The homepage of the site has a diamond search feature with cut options and four different sliders for price, carat, color and clarity, so you can search for a specific diamond in a specific price range. Then you can “build” a ring with your chosen diamond (out of over 150,000 loose diamonds available!) and a whole slew of settings. The site will even save your ring, so next time you visit it, you don’t have to search all over again! And, of course, they have full descriptions of the different characteristics of diamonds (the 4 C’s), plus frequently asked questions and diamond “lessons” so you can feel good about your informed final decision.

This is seriously handy, ladies. Even if you’re not in a huge hurry to get engaged, this site is ultra addicting. And the idea of strategically leaving your ideal ring up on the computer screen for your boyfriend to see could possibly work. Or at least plant the idea in his head for the future!

With the help of the experts at Abazias, you can take comfort in knowing that your engagement will be truly magical and memorable—and a little less stressful for him!

Photo from Abazias.com

-Keri

What did I do before texting? A text is the easiest, most convenient form of communication ever – with the exception of mental telepathy!

The trouble is, when the temperatures dip below the freezing mark like they did this week, gloves put a real damper on using that iPhone – even to dial a number, let alone send a message! To the rescue is the year’s best idea — Etre Touchy gloves from the UK.

Now, the Brits know a thing or two about fingerless gloves (Bob Cratchit immediately comes to mind). But Etre Touchy gloves are special. Since the gloves are missing only the thumb and index fingertips you have incredible freedom to touch, tap, stroke, slide and pinch your electronic devices’ controls and still keep your hands warm. These gloves are a practical and stylish!

These high quality gloves are made in United Kingdom by a manufacturer that also produces knitted garments for Gucci and Paul Smith. Crafted of delightfully soft 100% lambs’ wool, there are four color combinations offered. My personal favorite is charcoal gray with turquoise trim, but the gloves also come is soft gray with rose trim, black with charcoal trim, and chocolate with mint stripes. And there’s an Etre Touchy glove to fit everyone! The firm now has four sizes: men’s, women’s, youth’s and children’s.

Although I’ve only just learned about these great gloves, word is spreading quickly. According to company founders, Simon and Paul, Etre gloves have been featured on everything from the BBC to CBS News, as well as hundreds of newspapers and magazines — from Macworld to MarketingWeek!

And it’s easy to order online. A pair of these gloves will only set you back £19.99 GBP (that’s about $32.31 USD or €22.54 EUR).

Hooray! No more “fat fingers!”

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Fashion Picks

Stocking Stuffer Edition

Dec. 11-13

The tradition of the Christmas stocking has always fascinated me. Some stories say the custom evolved from when Dutch children would put their clogs by the fire to be filled with small tokens and gifts during the holidays. Other stories say it evolved from a story about a poor man with three daughters who left their stockings to dry by the fire and woke to find them filled with gold coins.

No matter the true story (if there is one!), I love the tradition of filling stockings with little treasures to enjoy during the holidays—from cookies and chocolates to jewelry and accessories, it’s always exciting to unwrap miniature gifts on Christmas morning. They don’t have to be expensive to be fun and thoughtful! Here’s a list of five great stocking stuffer ideas for your dearest friends and family.

YoYo Lip gloss

How many times have you dug around the bottom of your handbag in a futile attempt to locate your lip gloss? I couldn’t even begin to guess how many times it’s happened to me! Cue YoYo lip gloss—lip gloss that’s attached to a retractable cord with a clip at the end. Just clip it to your bag and when your lips are feeling naked, you’ll know exactly where your gloss is! Priced at just $2.99, it’s a great stocking stuffer that’ll come in handy for women of all ages. (Photo from yoyolipgloss.com)

 18 nail colors in 6 bottles?! 

 We recently heard about Wet Paint Shop, a company that created a nail glaze system that’s like a paint palette for your nails. Each set of six nail colors includes three base coats and three glaze colors—wear each on its own or paint one base coat and one glaze coat to create a totally different color that changes right before your eyes! That’s like having 18 nail colors in six bottles! There’s a “bold” set of bright shades of blue, green, yellow and red, and there’s a “pastel” set of peaches, pinks and lavenders. Stuff the stocking of your most artistic and fashion forward friend with a set of these for just $29.99! (Photo from WetPaintShop.com)

 Three pack of panties.

 I love lingerie because it’s a gift for a woman or a man—your man, in particular. Imagine the look on his face when he reaches in his stocking and pulls out a three pack of sexy, sheer panties, like these from Express. There’s a “Nice” pair, a “Naughty” pair and a plain pair, and his gift is choosing which ones you get to wear! A guaranteed night of romance is sure to follow with this stocking stuffer!

 Ultra-fragrant soap.

 Everyone in the world knows I love Etsy by now because I’m always mentioning all the great stuff I find on the website. I checked out their suggested stocking stuffers section and found these amazing soaps. They almost remind me of the bath products at Lush, but they’re much more affordable. I may have to get a few of these and test them out myself! They come in all sorts of fun scents like ginger lime and pink grapefruit—there’s even a chocolate one! With that great handmade look, they’re a great gift for just about anyone on my list. (Photo from Etsy.com)

 Simple, cute “friendship” bracelets.

I’m always on the lookout for jazzed up friendship bracelets—not the multi-color, braided and twisted embroidery floss friendship bracelets from my childhood, but grownup friendship bracelets. I found some by the cash register at my local Express that are made of leather cord and miniature metal beads. They come in a few different colors—I suggest getting several of each for your friends to wear all at once. And I promise they won’t look like they just returned from summer camp!

-Keri

Keri is a 24-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

One of my favorite comedies, the 2000 movie starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, offered one …uhmmm… explanation. But my informal and extremely unscientific poll conducted at Thanksgiving yesterday, yielded quite another!

The question I posed to my girlfriends was simply, “What one holiday gift do you want most from your boyfriend/husband/significant other?” The answer was not a total surprise. Even in a down economy, the answer was overwhelmingly – diamonds! However, as we all know, the economy is a factor, at least for most gift givers. So, in the spirit of giving a girl what she wants, I’ve compiled a list of lust-worthy, fabulous jewelry that features those oh-so-sparkly gems.

For example, “Past, present and future necklaces” are always a favorite. For a sentimental holiday, try this 10k white gold, 1/8ct TDW diamond necklace from www.Overstock.com.  At $73.79 (over half off the original price of $149) you save a bundle and look like a hero!

Or, show her some love with these “Two Hearts Silver Earrings” from Giselle for Hot Diamonds (www.hotdiamonds.com), one of my absolute favorite firms for young, contemporary fine jewelry. Founded in 2001, Hot Diamonds has been the #1 selling jewelry brand in the UK for over 6 years and has taken the US by storm. In addition to great designs, Hot Diamonds pieces are also very affordable. These gorgeous earrings are only $80.

Slightly more of a spurge, but still under $300, I found this contemporary, 14K white gold diamond ring with a 0.11-carat round bezel-set diamond for $295 at www.Toxsur.com. Beautiful and elegant, this quite simply might be the most perfect present ever!

At these prices, diamonds really are a girl’s best friend!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

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Fashion Picks

Nov. 20-22

Not that I have much extra cash to spare to splurge on anything for myself due to a holiday shopping for friends and family obsession, but I find that I do like to treat myself to something from time to time. Whether it’s because I’ve shaved a few minutes off my three-mile morning run or because I’ve paid all my monthly bills way ahead of time, there are occasions when I feel I deserve something that makes me look and feel good. Here’s a list of five things I would splurge a little for, just to reward myself.

An essential black mini.

Every woman should have an LBD (or two) and an LBS—a Little Black Skirt. This high-waisted version from Express is a great pick because it opens up unlimited options—wear it with a tight, low-cut top for ultimate sex appeal or pair with a more demure, looser-fitting top and a boyfriend blazer. It is a little pricey at $59.50, so I would probably wait for a bit of a sale to splurge on this one.

 Flower necklace. 

 I’ve been wanting to get a big statement necklace like this for some time, but I haven’t found the perfect one on which to splurge a little. Most of my jewelry is of the very cheap, trendy variety, except for a few higher-end pieces I’ve received as gifts, so $30 for a necklace really is a bit of a splurge for me. This multi-flower necklace at New York & Company really grabs attention and adds instant flare to a solid colored scoop neck top. Photo from www.nyandcompany.com.

 Strappy black sandals.

 DSW has these Seychelles Red Eye platform sandals, normally $90, for just $29.94 on clearance! They would actually NOT be a splurge, but it certainly would feel like it. They got excellent comfort ratings from customers and they come in black, dark brown and a light bubblegum pink—I love choices!

 A classy holiday party dress.

 This double V-neck dress in deep purple from JC Penney is definitely a splurge for me, but it’s totally worth it because it’s a timeless piece in a stunning color. The low cut of the top is balanced nicely with the longer hemline, so as long as I stay the same dress size, I can wear this for years to come!

 A fabulous faux diamond ring.

 Since the real thing is way out of my price range, I’m a pro at finding faux diamond jewelry that’s still nice, but much, much more affordable. Colored diamonds are kind of my thing when it comes to diamond fashion pieces, so this yellow cubic zirconia antique-y ring is right up my alley. I found it at Target! It’s not too big or too small, so it’s eye-catching without the “Oh my God, what the heck is that on your hand?!” reaction. Photo from www.target.com.

-Keri

Christina Applegate has come a long way from her big-haired, short-skirt-wearing, red-lipstick-loving character Kelly Bundy on Married With Children—needless to say (but I’m going to say it anyway), her style has changed from 80s Wild Child to Timeless Beauty.

When attending red carpet events, Christina wears beautiful gowns in classic silhouettes, creating a signature look that is polished, sophisticated and utterly timeless. Her style is never edgy, but always feminine and classy.

In the above image taken at the Golden Globes, Christina wears a pale yellow Roberto Cavalli gown with a sweetheart neckline and keeps things fresh with an eye-catching necklace featuring beautiful cascading flowers. To finish the look, a pair of simple drop earrings–a great choice so nothing competes with her statement necklace. The real star of the show is the Lorraine Schwartz necklace, for sure!

In the image to the left, Christina opts for big, sexy curls and an ultra-feminine beige lace-top dress with cap sleeves. The sleeves give her a little extra coverage and balance the low cut of the front. She keeps her makeup demure but fresh and goddess-esque with black eyeliner and blush in just the right shade to match her skin tone. Her tan lines are a little distracting with the cut of the dress, but hey–we all battle tan lines sometimes!

At the 2009 Emmys, Christina donned a beautiful navy gown with a draped asymmetrical neckline and lace inset by Basil Soda. She looked very fashion forward and tres chic!

National Jeweler magazine just arrived on my doorstep and as always, it was filled with insightful predictions for the latest in jewelry trends. With gold prices skyrocketing on a daily basis, and the economy still in freefall, you might think that fine jewelry is out of reach for holiday gift giving. But  flipping through the pages of this and other trade journals, I see that many high end jewelers – from Tiffany’s on down – have embraced alternative materials like sterling silver, natural pieces like beautifully grained wood and even handcrafted glass to create unusual, beautiful and very affordable pieces worthy of a place on a Holiday Wish List.

My Top 3 Picks:

Sterling silver. Silver is a great way to incorporate more contemporary styles (key and knot pendants come immediately to mind) in a much more affordable way. I also really like how silver looks with the winter colors that are so popular right now, like retro 1980’s neon brights and of course, all things gray.

Wood. Pieces made of wood have a wonderful, warm quality to them. I also think that wood is very personal – each piece has a slightly different grain to it, so each piece is as unique as the wearer!

Glass. From wildly popular glass bead by Trollbeads, Pandora and Chamilia to large scale Murano pieces. I recently saw an entire kiosk dedicated to large glass pieces at our local mall. The incredible colors, patterns and shapes make these the top of my wish list – from pendants on silk cords, to enormous cocktail rings.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

I’m a huge fan of vintage clothing because it’s almost like dressing up for Halloween everyday! Ok, so you don’t really want to look exactly like Lucy Ricardo or Cyndi Lauper, but a few vintage pieces mixed in with more updated looks creates a whole new wardrobe of fabulousness, and who doesn’t love that?!

Cue ModCloth.com, a super fun site with a TON of vintage-inspired and actual vintage pieces for you to gobble up before they’re gone. They sell everything from 20s-inspired drop-waist frocks to kitschy apartment accessories and everything in between. I’ve chosen a few of my favorite dresses from the website (it was really hard narrowing it down to just these five), and I’ll post my five favorite accessories in my 5 Favorite Fashion Picks this Friday.

The Dream Interpretation Dress from ModCloth is ultra chic and the waistband detailing is out of this world! I’m not a fan of big bows—regardless of the fact that they’re quite popular right now—so the rosettes are right up my ally. The double-V plunging neckline is super sexy without trying too hard, so you’ll end up looking classy and put-together like you woke up looking that way.

The Feathered Façade Dress is a little more casual, but still just as stylish. The rounded neckline is flattering for every figure and the short fluttery sleeves add a girly touch. An all-over feather pattern is fun and unique and leaves your accessories options open—keep it monochrome with black, white and gray accessories or jazz it up with bright, bold shades.

ModCloth’s Once in a Blue Moon Dress has gathering detail to die for—it creates a flattering silhouette no matter what your dress size. The cap sleeves add a little more coverage than a strapless option, but you’ll still be cool enough to dance all night long. The sheer top layer is feminine and fabulous. Don’t be afraid to pair this with a cropped black blazer—navy blue and black can work well together, as evidenced by this dress.

Deep purple is in, in, IN this season! Become a ravishing starlet of a fashionista in this 50s-style Soda Fountain Dress. The waist tie will accentuate an hourglass figure, and the length is perfectly appropriate for a “meet-the-parents” date with your man. The color itself will help you avoid looking like Lucy Ricardo, but to further update the look, unbutton a few buttons to show off a multi-strand chain necklace and pair it with knee-high black boots!

For a dazzling night out, try their All That Jazz Dress. This glittery frock snubs the need for excessive jewelry—keep it minimal with a chunky bangle and perhaps a wide belt to cinch your waistline. If you want to sex it up a little, wear with stilettos and a head of flowing curls. For chilly nights, throw on a shrug or a cropped leather jacket.

All photos courtesy of ModCloth.com.

-Keri

Ok, so besides the fact that I was completely enamored by The O.C. for at least the first two seasons, I’ve been a fan of Rachel Bilson’s style since the first time I saw her dressed as her and not as Summer Roberts. I’m sure some of her personal style spilled over onto the small screen, but nothing beats the paparazzi photos of her looking fabulous in her every day life.

In the photos above, she rocked the black skinny jeans/leggings look three different ways and made it look fresh every single time. Her ability to pair feminine colors and styles with edgy leather and loose, flowy styles with tight silhouettes is very admirable, and I’d like to believe she does it with little to no help from a stylist. From what I’ve heard, she frequents fashion events, so I assume I’m correct in my belief.

Rachel attended an O.C. premiere in the outfit to the left, keeping things simple in all black, but switching up textures with lacey ruffles and sheer fabrics paired with shiny leather. This look is great with her dark hair, which she pulled back to keep things playful.

In the look to the right, Rachel nixed short shorts for jean shorts with a little extra coverage. A great choice, considering her high heels, which enlongate her legs well enough on their own. A simple white tank and off-white boyfriend cardigan keeps the overall look relaxed, while the long chains around her neck balance the laid-back style.

The great thing about Rachel’s style is how easy it is to recreate it. What she wears always looks expensive (and it probably is), but she pairs one expensive-looking, trendy piece–a pair of shoes, a jacket, statement jewelry–with something timeless and classic. I can almost always find something in my closet that’s reminiscent of her more classic styles, which makes it so much easier to update an outfit with the purchase of one trendy new piece.

(All Internet photos)

-Keri

Keri is a 24-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

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Fashion Picks

Oct. 23-25

I will be in Atlantic City tomorrow, celebrating the birthday of someone special, and in honor of all things gaudy and outrageous, I’ve gathered together a mini collection of fashions that remind me of those crazy, loud casinos. From glitter and sequins to bright colors and statement pieces—there’s a little piece of flashy Atlantic City style in all of us.

Tina Turner dress.

I saw this blue sequined dress in Express last time I was at the mall searching for my AC outfit, and I really really loved it—definitely something I would find a reason to wear. You can either wear it with or without leggings underneath for different options and different looks. I suggest pairing it with a more demure blazer or go all out and wear a military-style or motorcycle jacket.

 High, high (hooker?) boots. 

 Found these amazing zippered booties at DSW for a semi-reasonable price. They’re not something you will find on any other gambler/partier at AC because they’re unique statement fashion at its best. Dare to wear them as you strut around the casinos—they received great comfort ratings on DSW.com, so your feet will love you for treating them right and making them look fantastic.

 A crazy crystal ring.

 I realize it’s a bit of a splurge, but I couldn’t help but mention this Swarovski crystal abstract flower ring. It’s huge and chaotic and crazy—just like the casinos at good ol’ AC. Plus, it’ll distract the other card sharks at the poker table from your less-than-perfect poker face.

 Feather hairpin.

 I have a (not-so) secret obsession with feather hairpins, and there’s literally two places I would have the guts to wear one—New York City and Atlantic City. Some of them can run up quite a tab—especially if they’re handmade by an independent artist like most are—but I managed to find a ton of affordable options just by searching on eBay. I would post a link to the one I found that I liked, but it only has a day of bidding left. It’s a circular cluster of short, bright turquoise feathers with longer iridescent black peacock feathers, and it’s huge at 7.5 inches in diameter. Order one in a shocking color and feel like a sassy showgirl.

 Ruffly purple clutch.

 Try a Steve Madden ruffled clutch to add texture to your AC outfit. The studs keep it light on the girly side of things, and the price won’t cut into your gambling fund. Should you choose to wear all of the fashions I’ve mentioned here, you’ll look like a fantastic mess of Atlantic City gaudy-fashion.

-Keri

Keri is a 24-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.