Women in Men’s Fashion Style!

Fashion is ever evolving and some pieces that historically were designed for men are now very popular among women. Hats and bags, especially, have become more unisex and are now acceptable for both genders to wear regularly. Slight variations in fabrics still distinguish which particular styles are wearable by men or women, but not much else. The bowler hat, satchel and newsboy cap have all evolved into a wardrobe staple for both men and women.

The newsboy cap is similar to the flat cap, but is fuller and rounder in appearance. It was popular style for men and boys in the early 19th and 20th centuries. Though newspaper delivery boys and others in the blue collar workforce wore this type of hat, it was acceptable for all classes to wear this style. However while the lower class wore it as part of their uniforms, the upper classes wore this during leisurely activities. In the early 2000’s, this hat became popular with women and it was manufactured in softer fabrics to suit their tastes.

Bowler hats (also known as a derby hat) is made of felt with a rounded crown. It was designed for a politician but soon became popular with the working class. Contrary to popular belief, the bowler hat was the most popular hat in the American West. It was preferred by cowboys and rail workers because it did not blow off the head easily. This hat has a very strong international influence from Bolivia to Africa due to the British railway workers. Charlie Chaplin wore the hat in his famous film “The Tramp.” Today, the bowler hat is synonymous with Bolivian culture and British high society, but this style is enjoyed by everyone around the world.

Satchels have once been a “men only” accessory. The style was simple and consisted of a crossbody strap, a flap, and some buckles holding it closed. They are structured bags, much like a briefcase. They have evolved into different shapes and sizes, and now the word “satchel” means any bag that is rigid and can stand on its own. Flaps are optional and so is the crossbody strap. Contemporary satchels for women are more flexible in appearance, size and color than a men’s version, which has more or less stayed close to its original style.

In this ever evolving world of fashion, styles and trends change every day. The classic pieces, however, stay within their designs. What changes is their versatility and ability to be worn or used by either gender.

Five Insanely Odd Florida Attractions

Some rave of Florida’s pristine white sandy beaches, others its endless array of world class theme parks and still others its equally endless array of senior citizens. For us however, there’s one thing to rave about above them all; its spectacular selection of bizarre roadside attractions. Here are some of its best:

1. World’s Largest Shuffleboard Courts: St. Petersburg, Florida

Grab your friend Ethel, give Gertrude a call, heck, clear out all of Florida’s old age homes and bring the gang here to the world’s largest shuffleboard courts. This may not be Florida’s oldest attraction, but it certainly attracts its oldest people.

The Shuffleboard courts here are so large in fact that your Aunt Bertha will have trouble making it to the other side without her angina acting up. Don’t let her leave home without her meds.

Once your aching back has had enough, head inside to the World Shuffleboard Hall Of Fame and pay your respects to Shuffleboard Legends Mae Hall and Lucy Perkins. Cooperstown has nothing on these guys.

2. Las Margaritas Grill: Homosassa Florida

Not since the American Revolution has Patriotism bled as strong as it does inside the doors of Las Margaritas Grill. On Friday and Saturday nights, patrons are handed American flags, and asked to take part in the singing of God Bless America, I’m Proud To Be An American, God Bless USA and the National Anthem. Those refusing to stand and sing (not to mention those who partake in flag burning) are promptly asked to hit the road.

Loyalists to the British crown, the French, Osama Bin Laden, we suggest you check yourselves at the door.

Las Margaritas Hormossa Springs

3. Mini Golf With Live Gators: Sarasota, Florida

Windmills, castles and clown noses no longer doing it for you on the mini-golf course? Try throwing a few live gators to the mix. The threat of losing your ball (or your hand) to pack of deadly 10 foot gators will have you putting with laser like precision.

After your round, you can even purchase a pile of raw meat to feed to the resident reptiles. Or alternatively, just jump in and feed them for no charge.

4. French Café Themed McDonalds: Orlando, Florida

Here a Big Mac becomes Le Big Mac, and mere French fries become Les French Fries. In fact, if not for the McDonald’s arch standing out front, you’d think you’d walked straight into a Parisian café.

Along with Le Big Mac and other classic McDonald’s favorites, you’ll also find such upscale fare as, blackened grouper, Portobello eggplant, Italian amaretto spumoni and of course, wine. We recommend the 1997 Ronald McDonald Red; a fine, fine year.

5. Boat n’ Trailer Racing: Bithlo. Florida

For those who have yet to achieve their NASCAR Dream, Boat n’ Trailer racing is their chance to prove their worth. Brave men and women hitch a boat to their vehicle, put the pedal down, and unleash a pile of carnage in their wake.

Should the above automotive violence still leave more to be desired, stick around for school bus racing, where you’ll see these massive yellow machines whisk around the track doing deft defying figure 8s. Hail to the bus driver indeed.

5 Parts to a Simple Tiled Bathroom Wall Design Half Way Up the Wall

Bathroom tile wall designs can come in many different styles. You can tile from the floor to ceiling, or simply tile half way up the wall. For a great looking bathroom tile wall design that goes half way up your bathroom wall use these 5 parts of tile to plan your design’s material list that you will need for your bathroom renovation project.

* Bullnose Trim Pieces
* Decorative Border
* Field Tile
* Base Cove
* Special Tile Pieces

Bullnose Trim Pieces

These pieces will be the top of your wall to form the top edge. This will give your wall a clean finished edge that will end somewhere around 42 inches from the floor. This measurement may vary according to your specific situation such as window and switch plate heights. An ideal scenario is to avoid go through these things whenever possible. These objects tend to break the flow of your design. Most often you will find these pieces measuring approximately 3 X 6 inches, very possibly longer than 6 inches. To find the number of pieces that you will need for your project simply measure the total linear feet of your proposed wall and let your tile supplier know that measurement. The tile supplier can convert the measurement into the number of pieces needed depending on the style of bullnose you choose.

Decorative Border

A border installed into your bathroom wall tile design can really add beauty and value to your bathroom. These pieces may cost more than any other piece of your project so shop around and try to find a border decorative piece that fits your budget, yet gives your design some real justification for spending the extra money. Most tile suppliers sell ready made borders that can cost as much as $8 to $10 per piece approximately 8 to 12 inches long. Don’t let the cost of these keep you from finding the perfect border to fit your style. Ask the supplier for closeouts, orders that were not purchased due to some error such as being the wrong color, or just ask for some border ideas. One alternative to purchasing the more expensive ready made border designs is to create your own design out of the lesser expensive tile pieces. Again, to find out how many pieces you will need simply measure the linear feet of your tile design and have your tile supplier convert that measurement into the number of pieces that you have selected. This is where the decorative design expertise of your tile supplier will come in very handy. Be creative and enjoy.

Field Tile

Your largest space of your bathroom wall tile design will be the open field area. You can use just about any size of tile imaginable to your personal style and creativity. This will mostly depend on the look you are trying to obtain. If you want simple, go with all the same sized tile as your bullnose pieces are long. For example, if you purchase bullnose pieces 6 inches long, go with tile that is 6 X 6 inches to allow all your grout lines to line up together. You could also use a 12 X 12 inch field tile with your 6 inch bullnose to line up with every other bullnose. Again get creative and let your imagination wander. To find how many pieces of field tile you will need just measure the square area of your proposed design and have your supplier convert to piece count.

Base Cove

As important as the bullnose piece is to the top edge of your bathroom tile wall design, the base cove is important to giving the bottom of your design that finished look. The base cove should be the same size as your field tile only that it will have a bottom edge that is curved outward. In some cases, you may want a certain design that does not have a base cove available. In such situations, your supplier may recommend other options of creating a base tile to use in order to keep your desired design. To find out how many base cove pieces to order, measure your linear feet of your project and allow your tile supplier to convert once again according to your selection.

Special Tile Pieces

In the corners of your design, whether an inside or outside corner, you will need special tile pieces that will help make your design finish nicely. Such pieces can be quarter round pieces to use along the edge of an outside corner from the floor to the top of your design, or special base cove corner pieces with special designs specifically for inside and outside base corners. Your supplier can help you chose which special tile pieces you will need. Simply have the information available letting your supplier know how many corners you have in your bathroom. A small handmade drawing showing the floor-plan of your bathroom can help make these decisions.

The Bookcase – A Cornerstone of Home Furniture

Who doesn’t remember sitting in the study or library of their grandparents’ house as a child, looking up in awe at the massive and intricate bookcase replete with volumes that towered up all the way to the height of the ceiling. With these sorts of memories in mind, anybody can appreciate just why the bookcase is one of the most fundamental elements of home furniture.

It is not only very functional, offering plenty of space to store the reserves of knowledge and literature that a person may have, but also serving as a good display-bookcases are almost always used to put family portraits and other trinkets on display. In fact, a home can hardly be complete without a quality bookcase, to serve as a center of attention in one of the most used and viewed rooms in the home.

Depending on the particular floor-plan of a home, bookcases are usually kept in one of a few different rooms: for large homes with many rooms, there is usually a room specifically designated as the study or the library; other times, bookcases may also make their way into the living room or TV room, when a separate library is missing in the home. Either way, bookcases usually are the largest piece of furniture in whatever room they happened to be located in, and as a result they tend to set the mood of the room. That means that you should try to model the aesthetic feel of the room around the bookcase, and not vice versa; don’t set up a room full of furniture, and then add the bookcase only to notice that the combination does not work well.

Bookcases come in all sorts of different styles, from very simple geometric and basic styles to more elaborate, intricate and old-fashioned kinds of bookcases. It is important to keep the general dynamics and colors of the home in mind when choosing what kind of bookcase to buy. Nothing can be worse than buying yourself one, taking it home, and cursing yourself because it is actually taller than your ceiling! Always take precise room measurements before going out to shop for bookcases-always.

Exactly what you plan on using your bookcase for will affect your ultimate choice, of course: if you have a ton of books to store in it, then having one with plenty of space will be a big consideration; if you want to use it more ceremonially, to put photos, etc., on display then you will want one with broader, taller shelving.

Modern designs have incorporated newer materials into bookcases, such as stainless steel and glass, whereas older styles of bookcases usually were made with nothing but quality wood (like the one in your grandparents’ study). It is important to keep in mind that in order to really be able to load up your bookcase with a lot of stuff (books, trophies, portraits, etc.) then you will have to make sure that it is sturdily built, which generally usually implies a slightly higher price tag.

Building a New Construction Home in Phoenix, AZ – Consider a Master Planned Community

Building a new construction home in a master planned community in the Phoenix Arizona area provides many advantages. From the superior resort-style amenities such as aquatic centers, fitness complexes, tennis, water parks, lakes and lush green parks, to having day to day conveniences within easy access, a master planned community offers a connected neighborhood feel. If this is what you are looking for in an Arizona lifestyle, a new build in a master planned community is a must. Some of these communities are family friendly while others specialize in attracting the active adult 55 years and over.

Most of these communities are conveniently located near major freeways and often minutes from one of several airports.

Because of their sheer size, often exceeding 100 acres, a master planned community can offer elegantly manicured 18-hole golf courses, schools, hotels, retail and a variety of commercial shopping centers, typically featuring anchor grocery chains. Many of the newest master planned communities offer extensive recreational amenities often incorporate lakes and parks, tennis courts, unique and engaging child play areas, and extensive biking and walking paths. Elaborate community centers feature athletic and aquatic centers, spas, education classes and numerous activities for all ages. The developer’s goal is to create an all inclusive attractive environment in which residents can live, work, learn and play all within the walls of a city within a city.

Master planned communities are well planned out residential developments that typically include several builders who join together to offer a wide variety of living concepts and building styles. Often five to ten builders will offer different neighborhood themes and living options from modest condos priced in the $100,000-200,000 range to sprawling luxury estates priced well over $1,000,000. Within each neighborhood one can choose from a wide variety of architectural styles, floor plans, lot sizes, landscaping designs and more. With so many green minded consumers entering the home building market, today’s home builders also feature Energy Star-rated homes and exceptional energy-efficient features that result in major saving on yearly energy bills.

Phoenix Arizona is home to growing list of outstanding master planned communities to choose from when considering building a new construction home. Some of the most active family friendly communities include the unique lake themed Ocotillo in Chandler, Vistancia in Peroia, Verrado in Buckeye, Mountain Bridge in Mesa, The Bridges in Gilbert, Eastmark in Mesa, Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear and Johnson Ranch in San Tan Valley.

Mine Haulage and the Transportation of Minerals

Transportation has always been one of the main industries in Australia, playing a vital role in any operation, most companies nowadays requiring loads transported safely to their destination. One of the most challenging and also successful types of transportation is mineral transportation. In today’s growing society, more and more people nowadays need minerals transported safely, within the time-frame and without any incidents happening during the period of the transit.

Minerals such as coal, ore, iron or even expensive minerals such as gold, silver, or even diamonds are often transported in Australia every single day, making mineral haulage one of the most successful and demanded types of transportation in today’s society. In this article we are going to feature mineral transportation and also the equipment used in the process of transporting minerals.

Mining companies have always viewed the actual transportation of these minerals to their destination one of the most problematic steps of the whole mining operation, minerals being hard to deal with and requiring much precaution and safety measures. Choosing the best mining company is of vital importance if you need minerals transported safely to their destination.

Coal is one of the most commonly transported mineral, requiring much attention and proper care from the transporting company. The whole transportation process is quite simple. Usually small cars or coal trucks load the coal in the mine and transport it outside the mine to the actual transportation area where the coal is loaded into heavy coal carrying trucks which are going to transport the load to its destination for example to a wash plant.

The loading and unloading process of the minerals are also vital steps in the whole transportation system, many accidents occurring all of the time, requiring much experience from the transportation company. In order for the minerals to be properly loaded and unloaded from the carrying trucks, special equipment such as cranes or shoves is used. Bulldozers and excavators are also commonly used in the loading and unloading processes. Drag line buckets have also seen much popularity in the past few years, being a much more flexible system bringing the user with a safer and faster transportation process.

Many minerals require transportation all around the world and only the best transportation companies, providing only the finest equipment and crew are needed for the entire operation to work flawlessly. Precious minerals such as gold, silver, or even diamonds are very often transported in Australia, requiring much more attention than the transportation of cheaper minerals. Titanium and nickel are also popular minerals around Australia, requiring transportation often from shipping companies.

Cities like Perth and Queensland are very busy regarding mineral transportation, many companies working and transporting materials in those areas, making Australia one of the busiest centers for transportation of minerals.

As a conclusion, mine haulage is of vital importance for the whole mining operation to work, requiring only the most experienced crew and the finest equipment in order to fully provide a safe transit and also transporting the minerals within the time-frame provided without any accidents occurring during the actual transportation of the minerals.

A Guide to Choose the Right Home Furniture

When choosing the right furniture for your home it is always important to have some sort of guide to assist you and give you a better understanding of how to choose the perfect items that will match your home. Furniture is not just about designs and styles, they are a significant part of the home. Think of a house without a furniture, you cannot easily call that a house. Furniture are like the organs of the home, they make your house functional and worthy to be lived in. They fill the emptiness of a house for it to be called a home.

There’s a lot of home furniture that you can choose from and there are certain furniture that are used for every part of your home. If you just had a brand new house or planning to redecorate, it is important to know the tips and tricks of finding the perfect furniture, price, style and usage included. The first part of the home that you may want to be decorated is the living room. This is probably the center of any house. The living room is where you accept your guests and where you mostly bond with the family. A piece of the living room that should always be present is the sofas or armchairs. These are usually where the rest of the furniture will based on. The beauty of buying sofas from a home furniture store is that they come in different styles, color, sizes and make. Choosing the sofa for your place is fun! You can go into any kind of design as long as it can match your home. Choose the sofa that you are most comfortable with and can fit into your place. Unlike a few years ago where sofas have a distinct traditional look, nowadays, they can come in fun shapes and designs. It’s up to your to find the perfect one!

Home bedroom furniture is easy to look out for. Usually the main point in bedroom furniture is the bed. This is easy furniture to look for because your bedroom is your personal area and you can choose whatever you want without the hesitation of being judged by other people. Like the sofas, comfort is the best quality you want to look for in a bed. Find the suitable bed that has a good foam. The foam is a big factor to the comfort level of the bed. Try out these foams and never forget to check the material that the bed is made of. Beds nowadays can be made from various woods or metal. Wooden beds can last very long although they can take up a lot of space. Steel beds are also a good choice. They are not as sturdy as the wooden beds but they are also of good quality and can be very good space savers.

Home bathroom furniture can also be found in a lot of furniture stores. Choose quality bathroom furniture that can last for a long time. You may want to get a set to have a more themed look in your bathroom. Usually, a lot of stores offer good furniture at reasonable prices. Home decor furniture basically means all the furniture that you put in your house. This does not indicate that it is just for decoration but also its usage. You would not want to get an item just because it looks great to look at but because it can be put to use and at the same time add class to your home.

Five Reasons to Invest in Phoenix Real Estate

If you are a real estate investor, then you understand how important it is to have a knowledgeable Phoenix realty in your corner, helping to find the right properties at the right prices for you.; Phoenix realtors are eager to share with you five reasons why it makes sense to invest in Phoenix AZ real estate.

Phoenix is a popular spot for “snowbirds,” or retirees who come to live in the area during its notably warm and pleasant winter months.; Many of these retirees are looking to permanently move to Phoenix, and would be interested in the properties you have to offer.

Another reason why Phoenix real estate is a smart investment is that the population here is growing rapidly as the economy diversifies.; You will find people moving here because of the great job opportunities in government, the research being done at Arizona State University, and the many high-tech and telecom companies that have moved to the area.;

Investors focus on Phoenix real estate because the geography and natural habitats draw many people to live in Phoenix due to its proximity to several beautiful parks.; Places like Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park with its botanical collection, the famed Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park in Phoenix, the 16,500 acre South Mountain Park and others draw new residents to Phoenix on a regular basis.

Sports fans use their love of their favorite games as an important reason for moving to Phoenix, and this brings more home buyers to the area.; Phoenix is proud to be called home for the Cardinals football team, the Diamondbacks major league baseball team, the Phoenix Suns NBA and the Phoenix Mercury Women’s NBA teams, as well as the Phoenix Coyotes ice hockey and Arizona Sting lacrosse teams.; Major league baseball teams, nine in number, also conduct spring training in Phoenix, and this is another draw that brings sports enthusiasts to the area to buy homes.

Golfers from around the world come to Phoenix to golf during its 320 days per year of sun, and many dream of buying Phoenix real estate so that they can enjoy golfing here on a permanent basis.; You will find famous courses such as the Arizona Biltmore-Adobe Course, The Legend at Arrowhead Golf Resort designed by Arnold Palmer, and the Superstition Springs Golf Club that has been a PGA Tour qualifying site are big reasons why golfing enthusiasts move to Phoenix.

The Many Benefits Of A Travel Club Membership

There are many benefits to having a travel club membership, especially for those people who are keen travelers (or wish to be keen travelers). But up until recently, for most travelers, owning a travel club membership has not been an affordable option.

In the past, getting your hands on a quality travel club membership would easily run you $3,000-$10,000…and although these travel memberships were well worth the price, the average family or traveler could never afford it.

But now, with the internet causing raging competition within the travel industry and companies eager to get their hands on their share of the $7 Trillion travel industry pie, travel memberships have become much more affordable and readily accessible.

There are several option to choose from when picking a travel club membership, but with this article I will only be focusing on the many benefits.

(*Note* I am NOT an expert on ALL travel memberships…as all memberships are created differently. I will be generalizing from my own experience, but you will find that most of the benefits I present ring true across the board.)

1. The first major benefit to having a travel club membership is obviously the discounts. Depending on the membership you get, you can expect to receive 50%, all the way up to 80% off of regular room prices.

2. Second, is that you are never tied down or committed to just ONE property. Unlike owning a timeshare, where you pay BIG money to be permitted to stay at one location, a travel club membership allows you to stay at ANY of the properties that your travel membership company if affiliated with. Depending on the travel membership you choose this can be in the hundreds, to tens of thousands of properties from all around the world.

3. Speaking of timeshare, the price for one of these properties can run anywhere from $10,000 all the way up to $90,000 or more. And that doesn’t even include ANNUAL maintenance fees. Travel memberships are often a fraction of the price of a timeshare property, with NO recurring fees.

4. Unlike most timeshare properties where the ‘owner’ is only permitted to stay ONE week out of the year, travel club members are often allowed to vacation multiple weeks per year. Some companies even have a ‘NO Black Out Dates’ service, which means members can vacations 52 weeks out of the year if they so please. If you haven’t got a calendar handy, that is EVERY SINGLE WEEK of the year.

5. Unlike the usual method for booking a hotel room where you pay per person, per night…with a travel club membership, you pay PER ROOM, PER WEEK. Obviously when you’re booking a vacation at 80% off for the room, with some rooms sleeping up to 4, 6 or even 8 people, there are HUGE savings to be had.

6. Your travel club membership is not subject to just hotel rooms either. Many travel membership clubs have all sorts of different vacation packages ranging from luxury resorts, hotels, condos, cruises, and much, much more. Some companies even provide the option to book discounted airplane tickets, rental cars and family activities as well.

7. Most travel club membership companies pre-book their rooms, so there is little-to-no chance that members will ever miss out on the vacations they desire.

8. Members of a travel club can book their holidays at the drop of a hat, even during busy peak seasons like Christmas and New Years, all without having to pay ridiculous prices or worry that they won’t get a booking.

9. Travel memberships allow you to show your family and friend the world, for pennies on the dollar.

10. Having a travel club membership allows the average person or family to enjoy the lap of luxury and the kind of lifestyle that is usually only reserved for the rich and famous.

Obviously, there are many benefits to having a travel club membership, but remember, not all travel memberships are created equal. While some are OVER PRICED for the service they provide, others are just not up to scratch at all…So make sure you do your homework before spending your money on a travel membership.

Kitchen Wall Design – Tips And Notes

The kitchen wall design could always be decorated in such a way that it exudes a feeling of coziness, warmth, homey, and inviting mood. The space offered by the kitchen area is also a big deal that you have to take note of. For you to carry on with the spacing scheme of your kitchen, try looking at these tips and notes.

Try hanging the pans and pots there on the kitchen wall. This is most appreciatively done if your pots and pans come in pairs or sets. You need to simply place hooks there on the walls and then hang those handles with the bottoms of the utensils facing downwards. This is also one good way of organizing and saving some space there on the kitchen area. The best place to hang them is above the cooking stoves.

Put the hotpads and the potholders on the wall too. If you prefer not to put on display your pots and pans, then just have your hotpads and potholders hanging. They may act as good ornaments for the kitchen too provided that they are clean.

Place the trivets on the kitchen wall. Antique trivets would look good on the kitchen walls. Match the colors and patterns of those so that they create a good sight.

Other utensils that you may hang on the kitchen walls are the can openers, coffee mugs, measuring spoons, measuring cups, and a lot others. Not only do you save space but you keep them within reach as you work your way in the kitchen.

Another way of working on with the kitchen wall design is by having the kitchen wall tiles. There are plenty of kitchen wall tile designs too. You could choose from the vertical or horizontal arrangement of the kitchen wall tiles and have the colors clearly blending onto with the backsplash.

One interesting kitchen backsplash to use is the ceramic kitchen tile placed in between the plain field of tiles with unique styles and colorful patterns. You could employ different colors that would match with each other so that your kitchen wall would look as creative as possible.

Kitchen wall designs are of your own choice. If you wish to be creative, you could always do so. Experiment and enjoy the mood exuded by your kitchen at all times.