Archive for 'Shopping' Category
Shopping Tips: Rustic, Contemporary or Vanguard Decor Items?
11 April 2007 <Creating a welcoming living space is mainly based on combining furniture and decorative items that symbolize warmness, coziness and the idea of “home”. Nowadays’ shopping market presents wide ranges of decorative items that clearly represent various styles. But more than that, these styles represent cultures, values, time periods, attitudes and even philosophies. And the ones that relevantly bring out this fact are the rustic, contemporary and vanguard styles.
Basically, the rustic trend, combined with the traditional one, somehow represents the past, the historical values, the regional and folk influences. At the same time, the contemporary style defines the modern world, a world that is in great need of comfort and functionality. From the same perspective, it can be said that the vanguard home and decor trend, in interaction with the minimalist and eclectic styles present the world of the future, a world that is reduced to simple lines and shapes, without the intervention of “unnecessary” ornamental elements.
Rustic decor items are more than a simple reference to old, bohemian times and rural influence. They are also a representation of nature: natural wood in natural colors, folk-inspired patterns and applications, all shades of brown, green and yellow (that all have equivalents in nature) or natural fabrics like linen and cotton personify the natural background of the rustic trend. On the other hand, the contemporary style accentuates the idea of living in a functional, practical space, a space that welcomes with its appealing and modern simplicity and innovation: balance is mandatory, as well as light and coordination between volumes, textures and fabrics. Furthermore, the vanguard and minimalist furniture and decorative objects are limited on rational (as opposed to the romantic, spiritual, emotional rustic and the cozy contemporary) shapes, somehow abrupt lines and rough, yet flawless textures. This style plays with opposite volumes, dares to provoke and surprises through the visionary perspective upon aesthetics.
Which one of these temporal worlds is better and more valuable is a matter of preference and aspirations, a matter of finding the “time” and symbols that represent us and our homes best.
How to Make Your Man Enjoy Shopping
11 April 2007 <Most ladies out there enjoy shopping. Actually, many ladies admit that shopping is their number one hobby. But most men out there don’t enjoy shopping at all. So then, what can we do about it? Can we “teach” men to like shopping? Should we literally “drag” our men every time we want to pay a visit to the mall? Should we compromise and enjoy the shopping sessions on our own? Well, you might be surprised to find out that, with the help of some efficient tips – or, should I say, tricks – you can make your man enjoy shopping. Here they are!
- Compliment him. Most men do not like shopping simply because they feel they are not good at it. So then, the easiest trick in the book is based on making him feel that his choices are actually great choices. Even if the new shirt he bought has been out of fashion for years, compliment your man for his choice.
- Reward him. After shopping for a whole day together, spend some quality time at home – but when I say “quality”, I am referring to the things your man enjoys, for a change. And you are the only one who knows what your man enjoys best: a hot, passionate night, a night out with his friends, a delicious dinner. Make sure he understands that your reaction is a result of the great day you spent together at the mall.
- Flatter him. Here are some great phrases you could say in order to make him want to rush to the shops with you again: “I was so proud to be with you today, all the girls in the mall were checking you out”, “I had the best time with you today, thank you” or “You looked so strong and manly when you were carrying all those shopping bags”.
- Tempt him. While shopping, pay a visit to the lingerie store and ask him select the outfit he wants to see you in. Try the lingerie on and let him have a glimpse of you in the dressing room – that will definitely make him want to go shopping with you again!