Month: January 2023

Wedding Gown Shopping – What to Expect

For most women, shopping for their bridal gown is one of the highlights of being engaged. It is usually a new and unfamiliar experience, so visiting the first shop can be a bit daunting at times. When you know what to expect when you begin wedding gown shopping, the whole process becomes more fun and productive.

The first thing to expect is that most bridal salons recommend appointments. If you walk in without an appointment on a Saturday afternoon, you may be put in the very disappointing position of being unable to try on any gowns that day. In most high end salons, your bridal consultant will go into the fitting room to help you in and out of dresses while your mom and the rest of your entourage await you by a pedestal and three way mirror. Be prepared to strip down to your skivvies in front of the bridal consultant! Wear modest undies for your appointment so you will not feel to exposed. As for the consultant, she has probably seen hundreds of brides in their underwear, so don’t feel embarrassed about being undressed in front of her.

Many brides walk into a bridal salon with an idea of what they think they want. If you have pictures of gowns you like, by all means bring them. Also bring along any bridal jewelry or a family veil you are definitely planning to wear. If there is a particular gown you are hoping to see, mention it when you make your appointment. Although the salon may carry the designer, it does not necessarily mean that they stock that sample. Sometimes it is possible for salons to borrow a sample from a designer with enough advance notice. There may be a fee for this service to cover the shipping and insurance costs, although the salon may apply the fee to your deposit if you decide to order that gown.

As you try on bridal gowns, some may fit and some may not. Brides who are fortunate enough to be a sample size will find wedding dress shopping to be easier; if your dress size is smaller or larger than the sample size (usually a bridal 8, which runs small), the consultant may hold or clip the back in place to give you a sense of how the style will look when it fits properly. Then it is out to the pedestal to let your mom ooh and aah over you! When you find a gown that is a serious contender, the consultant may help you try it with a veil and your bridal jewelry.

Be aware that you will have a limited time for your appointment, which can vary by salon (typically 1 -1.5 hours). There is a good reason for this: after about an hour or two, all the white dresses just start to blend together. If you haven’t found your dream dress by then, it is best to take a break and start fresh at another appointment. Due to the time limit, you may not be able to try on every dress that interests you at that first appointment. Part of it depends on how decisive you can be. If you know a dress is not “the one”, take it off and move on to the next option. That way you can see more bridal gowns within the time slot allotted to you.

Should you be fortunate enough to find your dream wedding gown, the next thing to expect is to be measured. Measuring for a bridal gown is an art, and the consultant or seamstress will take into account not only the standard bust, waist, and hip measurements, but may look at things like the length of the gown’s skirt and torso, whether you need a cup size adjustment for the bustline, if the neckline needs to be raised, and more. The beauty of ordering a made to order designer gown is that (for a fee), many pattern changes can be made to ensure the best possible fit. Any gown will still need alterations upon arrival, but in some cases pattern changes allow for a fit that would otherwise never be possible. Then it is time to make your deposit and order your wedding gown! When you leave the salon, go grab a drink with your mom and pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.…

Get Help With Your Overspending – How to Stop Your Shopping Addiction

Are you trapped in a cycle of overspending? Have you developed an addiction to shopping that you cannot seem to break even though you are filled with guilt and regret after each shopping binge? On top of it all, have you maxed out your credit cards or find it impossible to save for retirement or a rainy day? Overspending has become a modern day addiction. Read these vital tips to control your compulsive shopping addiction.

ARE YOU A CHRONIC OVERSPENDER? ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Do you fret about money all the time?

2. Do you have no savings?

3. Do you go on a big shopping binges, buying things you do not really need but telling yourself at the time that you do?

4. Do you have a wardrobe stuffed with clothes, shoes and bags and other items: some of which you haven’t even used?

5. Do you lie or avoid speaking to your family and friends about your money worries?

6. Are you spending more than you earn?

7. Are you missing key payments such as credit card bills?

8. Do you feel the urge to treat yourself by buying something even though you know you have no money?

9. Does your heart sink when another bill appears in your mail?

AFFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

It’s been called the “affluenza epidemic”, the painful accumulation of debt and money worries caused by overspending, excessive consumption and consumerism. Modern society’s focus on material wealth, adverts telling us to dress better, look better, drive nicer cars, live in nicer homes, have nicer holidays had caused a huge social stress as we buy things we don’t absolutely need and don’t have the money to pay for them.

WHAT TYPE OF SHOPPING ADDICT ARE YOU?

There are different types of compulsive shopping addicts and you need to take a hard, honest look at yourself to figure out which type you are:

1. You are desperately trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses’

2. You shop simply out of boredom

3. You consider shopping a way of giving yourself a little treat as you feel you deserve it.

4. You are buying what you think are ‘must have items’. The face cream that will banish away all items for example. Or the home bread maker since it will end up being cheaper and healthier to create your own bread. Or the dress that is the “IT” look of the season.

5. You are a compulsive bargain hunter, always adding more to your shopping trolley because of the ‘buy just 1 for $5, or for $7 you can have 3!’ upsells. People who look for the bulk discounts may also be over-eaters too as they buy more food that they need ‘because it was such a great deal’.

6. Because you hang out with a circle of friends who spend a lot too. You and your friends eat in fancy restaurants, order four courses, decent wine and follow it up with an after-dinner drink at the hottest bar in town.

HOW TO STOP YOUR SHOPPING ADDICTION

Make a resolution today that you will only buy things you absolutely need. Tell your family and close friends about it. If they are true friends, they will support you. Who knows, they could well be facing the same money anxieties themselves.

Think about which type you are from the above list and how you might go about fixing it.

If you shop compulsively because you are bored, or to fill an emotional need to give yourself a treat, think about free ways you might fill up your time and indulge. For example, you could set up a home spa day with your friends where you help each other do a manicure and create simple face masks from the contents of your fridge (an avocado and olive oil face mask always does the trick for me). Or go for a walk in a nearby park or wooded area.

Start by cutting up your credit cards. Only keep one debit card and then use cash for everything. Don’t have too much cash in your wallet at any one time. You might say you need to keep a credit card in your wallet ‘for emergencies’ but seriously, how often does an emergency happen in which a credit card on hand would make all the difference? If you do need money quickly, you could always phone a friend or family member to provide emergency relief.

Take a pause before you buy anything: consider if you absolutely need that item.

Analyze your spends: write down a spending diary. You will be surprised at all the little items that add up, such as the daily latte or the ‘occasional’ bottle of red to …

Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 13 – Stability and Lightweight

The Nike Structure Triax 13 is one of Nike’s most popular running shoes. Why? It offers stability and support while maintaining flexibility. The shoe makes running comfortable and pleasurable due to its cushioning and lightweight nature.

Just like in the previous model, the Triax 13 provides stability due to the inclusion of a hard foam compound located on the internal side portion of the shoe. This feature provides support for the area where the foot may over-pronate. However, the Nike Structure Triax 13 extends this feature towards the center of the heel.

How does this shoe offer so much support to the over-pronator while still delivering a smooth ride? Well, this model contains Air Zoom units in the heel and in the forefoot and contains flex grooves in the forefoot to allow for natural foot movement. Another new feature in the Structure Triax 13 is the introduction of a Cuboid Pod, which assists in guiding the foot during the gait.

More New Features:

1. A heel strap overlap which keeps the foot in place during the run

2. Lightweight mesh upper with syntheric overlays which provides midfoot support without sacrificing breathability

3. A decoupled crash pad which provides a comfortable landing

4. The BRS 1000 heel gives a runner crash pad protection

The Nike Structure Triax 13 shoe battles over-pronating while still providing a well cushioned sole for smooth performance. Support and comfort for the moderate over-pronator not enough for you? The Nike Structure Triax 13 is also a gender specific engineered shoe. This means that the shoe is customized for the different needs of men and women. These features make it a great everyday running shoe. Considering the long lasting nature of this shoe, the price is fairly reasonable. The shoe comes in a variety of colors that will surely suit a multitude of runners.…