Archive for January, 2010:
Aquamarine Rings
If your birthday falls in March, that makes you either a Pisces or an Aries, and your birthstone aquamarine. Aquamarine, like its name suggests, is blue or turquoise in color whose shade can look brilliant in large quantities and more subtle in small amounts. It is actually not a gemstone in itself, but a variant of beryl, a crystallized mineral that comes in various other colors like green, red, yellow and white due to impurities contained inside of it. Pure beryl without impurities has no color but this is relatively rare to find. You might be more familiar with green beryl as emerald, the birthstone of May.
Aquamarine is a very versatile stone, and it makes for a wide selection of aquamarine rings with various cuts, sizes and styles. And jewelry isn’t just for women, men and children can wear aquamarine rings too and choose styles accordingly. Aquamarine rings can be petite, or they can be big and bold. They can be modern and haute couture, or they can be timeless and old fashioned. Bands can come in many different styles like simple, curled or Celtic. They can also come with white, yellow or rose gold bands, as aquamarine matches well with any of these metals. Aquamarine also goes well with other colored gems, and if you want a truly one-of-a-kind ring you can mix and match with some emeralds, rubies or peridots for a special combination.
Aquamarine rings are utilized as a casual accessory, a fashion statement or even an extravagant proposal. If you want uniqueness and beauty without the staggering price tag, aquamarine rings are a great option to consider when choosing an engagement ring. With so many possibilities, you’re sure to find something that fits on your (or your fiancée’s) finger and looks good.
You can purchase aquamarine rings at a local jeweler or at various online boutiques. Some are mainstream commercial markets but you can also shop antique. You can browse by ring style, price, or even customize your own ring. There are also many other kinds of beautiful jewelry besides rings like aquamarine pendants, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and charms if you’re interested. The advantage of shopping online is that you’re able to compare different styles and prices across markets in order to find the ring that’s perfect for you and your wallet. There are many aquamarine rings in the sea, and there’s bound to be one out there that you’ll want to catch.
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Tags: aquamarine rings
Clear Bra Straps
Recently I went to a wedding in which the bridesmaids wore spaghetti strap dresses. Two of the attendants were big busted and so they chose to wear bras that had clear bra straps. Both of the young women needed to have the support of a bra; however the materials that the clear bra straps were made out of refracted the lighting in the church. This caused their shoulders to sparkle when they moved. This brought attention to the fact that they had a strap on under the spaghetti strap. My daughter is planning her wedding and is in the process of picking out the bridesmaids dresses. I shared with her my observations from the recent wedding so that she would not repeat the mistake with her wedding party.
My daughter asked me to come along to help pick out her wedding gown. My daughter is quite petite. She is five feet two inches and one hundred and fifteen pounds. She does wear a C size bra cup. She has always been self conscious of her bust size. She shared with me that she wanted to make sure that her wedding gown did not emphasis the size of her bust. The style of many of the petite size dresses is to emphasis the bust. My daughter did not want to be uncomfortable on her special day. Because of her petite size she wanted a plain dress so she did not look like a little girl playing dress up. In the third store we found a dress that was magical on my daughter. When she stepped out of the dressing room we both had tears in our eyes. She was beautiful. The dress was made of heavy satin. It had a high waistline that was embellished with beads and sequins. It had a scooped neckline and was sleeveless. The neckline had the same embellishments as the waistline. The dress was to the floor and had a small train in the back. The hem of the dress and train also had beading and sequins. The shoulder bands were about two inches wide so my daughter could wear a regular bra. The clerk did suggest that she buy one with clear bra straps so that she did not have to worry about anyone seeing the straps. She said that she has seen many wedding pictures in which a bra strap is showing. I shared with the clerk my observation about the clear bra straps shining in the lights at the church service. She said that she had never heard of this. She took one of the clear bra straps bras out of its packaging and placed it under the lights in the three way mirror. The straps shined. She was amazed. She had always seen them in florescent lighting. She made a note to check if any other company made the clear straps out of a different material.
My daughter tried on a long pair of gloves on with the dress. The clerk said that she could have their seamstress match the embellishments from the dress on the top of the gloves as well as on her plain white shoes. I cannot wait to see her on her wedding day.
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Tags: clear bra straps
Hate broccoli? Broccoli recipes that will change your mind!
There are probably more people who dislike broccoli than there are enthusiastic fans of this much maligned vegetable. This may be due, in part, to the way you prepare this nutrient rich veggie. It must be noted that broccoli is one of the healthiest choices you can make when trying to get those 5-9 servings of produce each day. In fact, many holistic health practitioners often recommend broccoli as a daily dish for patients recuperating from serious illnesses.
Many of us remember that section of our dinner plate covered with an overly large portion of limp broccoli stalks that even the dog disdained as an under-the-table ‘treat’. The trick to delicious broccoli recipes that curry favor with your family is all in the preparation and seasonings. Here we have some generic broccoli recipes that may well become family favorites!
As mentioned, broccoli loses all of its potential appeal, as well as much of its nutritional value, when overcooked. Naturally, raw broccoli retains almost all of its nutritional benefits, so we’ve included a raw salad broccoli recipe you’ll want to try.
Most cooks have trouble using seasonings that marry well with broccoli. This veggie does have a distinctive and somewhat strong taste, making it a seemingly difficult match. This means it’s usually served with a little salt and pepper and maybe a dab of butter, resulting in a less than interesting combination. Next time you serve broccoli, try one of the following seasonings to add some zip to your broccoli recipes.
One delightful combination is as easy as it is simple, but oh so tasty: steam your broccoli, just until cooked. It should still have a bit of crunch. Just before serving, sprinkle with a teaspoon or two to taste and splash with a little lemon juice.
Another combination of veggies that makes a tasty broccoli side dish: along with your broccoli, steam some julienne-cut carrots. Lightly saute several mushrooms in one or two teaspoons of olive oil. Finely dice a red onion and toss all the ingredients together. Serve and enjoy.
If you’re watching your food budget (who isn’t?), here’s a cheap broccoli recipe that serves as a complete meal. Cook up a batch of rice and steam your broccoli. Dice a red bell pepper and lightly saute with one clove of finely minced garlic. Cut a ½ inch slice of ham into cubes. Mix the broccoli, pepper, garlic and ham in a medium bowl. Serve over a bed of rice. This dish can also be enhanced with some grated Parmesan or smoked sharp cheddar.
To make this broccoli recipe even more filling, try adding one of the following: a can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, or a cream sauce spiked with a pinch of cayenne pepper or garnished with paprika.
Other seasonings that complement broccoli include lemon pepper, celery salt, basil and oregano. Use these seasonings one at a time!
Another simple broccoli dish that makes a hearty side dish: add either a can of cheddar cheese soup or make a batch of packaged Hollandaise sauce.
Add broccoli and bacon bits to a cheese souffle for a one dish meal.
Here’s a combination you may not believe: broccoli and French dressing is terrific as a cold summertime salad. Cut broccoli florets in thin slices and add some diced red onions. Let each diner add their French dressing to suit their taste.
So there you have more than half a dozen economical, generic broccoli recipes to add to your recipe box. Share with friends!
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