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Popular Russian Souvenirs

Popular Russian Souvenirs

The fact that Russia stands on the margins of both the east and the west has helped to shape its unique culture. Russian culture is largely shaped by its art, food, traditions, literature and of course its handicrafts. The handicrafts are known for their intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail. Such detail to attention and uniqueness is not only reflected in Russian handicrafts but also in Russian art and entertainment. Who can forget the famous Russian ballets and the magical Russian Opera? Russia’s love for literature is known throughout the world. Nikolai Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekov and Brodsky are legendary names in Russia.

Moreover, just as Russians blends eastern and western cultures, the cultural diversity of Russia is blended into its handicrafts and collectible dolls. The popular handicrafts include nesting dolls, Lacquer boxes, amber jewelry, Cheburashka dolls, ceramic figurines, Khokhlomas and the ubiquitous Faberge eggs. Of all these, Russian nesting dolls or Matryoshkas have been recognizable symbols of Russian culture. The first Russian dolls were handmade in the late 1890’s, in the small town of Sergiev Posad. These dolls were inspired by the Japanese art of making Fukuruma figurines.

Today there are thousands of artisans that excel in the art of making these handmade dolls. The dolls too have changed with time. While the earlier versions were replicas of the Russian peasant woman with her large brood, today, these dolls represent everything from cartoon characters, to pop icons and even political figures. Don’t be surprised if you were to find an Obama nesting doll in one of the several Russian souvenir shops in America.

And if aren’t interested in these nesting dolls, there’s plenty of other things to attract the shopper’s attention. Besides nesting dolls, Cheburashkas are also very popular. Designed on the popular animated film character Cheburashka, these dolls are popular collectibles and sought after by people all over the world. In addition, if you are interested in jewelry; try some of the popular amber jewelry, made from Russian Amber. Widely believed to possess healing power, Baltic Amber is famously used in the cosmetics industry.

Thanks to online retails shops that sell Russian handicrafts, you no longer have to travel to Russia to buy these extraordinary gift items. These online retail shops sell everything, right from lacquer boxes and Faberge eggs to even Russian Khokhloma. These gifts are perfect for every occasion from weddings to even birthdays and anniversaries. And what’s even better; you can now arrange for these gifts to be delivered directly, thanks to their gift wrapping service.

But when you’re buying these dolls, make sure you’re buying from an authentic seller. Sadly, handmade dolls like the Matryoshkas are now being made by the Chinese in China, than by Russians. An authentic Russian handicraft is sure to be exemplary with its attention to detail and intricate craftsmanship, as opposed to the factory made look sold by Chinese traders.…

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Understanding Fashion

Understanding Fashion

Fashion in simple terms is just a mode of self expression. It refers to styling, colors and trends followed by the people or by just one person. The clothes one wears, the accessories, shoes, even hair styling and self makeup are all a part of Fashion. It is not just the way we dress up but constitutes the way we live. It is a state of mind and an extension of one’s self.

The history of Fashion dates long back to the time when man started practicing agriculture for survival. As civilizations started to develop there were different style and types of clothing worn by them. One can very easily distinguish one from another just by looking at their dresses. The trends continued to modern times and traditional dresses and ways of styling represented different civilizations and cultures. Like a saree represents Indian culture, a kimono Japanese culture while a madras plaid skirt represents Ireland.

In earlier times, fashion was meant for the elite and was a really expensive affair. It was termed as haute couture. It was only until the 19th century that mass production of clothes was started for the general people.

In today’s world, fashion is changing really rapidly. There are brands which offer value for money and do not make a big hole in your pocket. Yet they are trendy and in fashion. There are premium fashion brands as well which are really expensive. Brands like Louis Vuitton, J Crew, PVH, Burberry, and Levis are styling the world and setting up the fashion trends.

Fashion is often dictated by many factors. The cycle begins after a designer draws inspiration from may be nature, a valley, a busy street or an animal and based on that designs clothes and accessories. These are often taken up by celebrities initially and general masses follow the trend.

Fashion changes continuously. A trend that lasts only for a small period of time and then goes away is a fad like the acid washed denims or the skinny ties. A classis on the other hand is a fashion trend that lasts for a larger period of time like the saree or the denim jeans.

Fashion has also led to the rise of new terms and work fields. Fashion journalism is one such modern day field. It’s an important part of modern fashion. There are articles and reviews in all publication from News papers to fashion magazines describing the current trends and what the future holds for us.

The fashion industry today is certainly rising at an amazing speed and is set to become one of the biggest of all time both in terms of revenue generated and employment offered. It is also connecting world in its own way. In recent times we have seen many popular international brands coming up and establishing themselves in developing countries. Also, the production of most brands of west is done in the underdeveloped and developing countries. Thus the connection is certainly there.

Fashion is …

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2010 Summer Fashion Trends – Woven Bags Are Coming Back!

2010 Summer Fashion Trends – Woven Bags Are Coming Back!

This summer, woven bags are coming back to the top of 2010 fashion trends, which stand for countryside and natural styles. A cute trendy woven bag is the perfect match with our sunny dresses, short skirts and colorful T-shirts. The atmosphere in your office can be lightened up by a good bag. Choosing the right woven bag for this summer is essential to show your outfit.

You don’t have any excuses for missing those latest trendy bags which would lighten up your outfit immediately. At least you have to own one or two in order to match different clothes and shoes.

Some people may think woven bags are only suitable when they are going to the beach or on a holiday, however, if you choose a bag made of proper material and proper prints, you can carry it with you while working.

Basically, there are two ways to make your bags get along with your clothes. One is matching your bag with your clothes in similar colors, and another is matching them on the contrary tones. For example, your bag is light blue and your clothes can be dark blue, or your bag is dark purple and your clothes can be light yellow. Both of them are excellent ways to attract attention.

Generally speaking, woven bags are much cheaper than bags made of expensive material such as cowhide or leather. However, we should also pay attention to its quality. The principle of buying this kind of bags online is “cost-effective”. The prints should be trendy and long-lasting, the inner lining should be soft and durable and the handles should be tough yet flexible.

Beyond are our suggestions, we sincerely hope they would help you become a 2010 summer beauty.…

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Fashion For All Seasons

Fashion For All Seasons

The fashion industry is a booming one and with everyone trying to chase after it to keep up with the latest trends, it can get a little tiring with the amount go magazines to refer too, the entertainment to watch and a whole lot of money to fork out simply because that top is simply too gorgeous, a must have; but so is that dress, those shoes and I have mentioned those new jeans? See what I mean? But here’s the thing, you can stay up with current styles and fancies by learning about the fashion of all seasons so that you don’t have to turn out your closet 4 times a month.

A few things to pick would be pants and cardigans. They can be worn all through the year in various styles, designs, materials and not to mention colors. The best pick of the lot would have to be jeans though. If you’re a jeans kind of girl, then fashion trends must be pretty easy because they never fade out of the fashion books and they can last for an insanely long time. With too many designs available today, you could always change them up during different seasons, or if you like, each week too.

Cardigans are a good choice of fashion for all seasons as well. It works perfect in keeping you warm during the winter and a little of a bother through warm days, which is why you should have a few of different materials instead of just one comfy one. Good quality clothes are good investments.

All in all, if you feel that you must keep up with trends, don’t splurge on a wardrobe makeover every month, instead buy a few top notch quality clothes that works with you throughout the year that you know are definitely in style and you’ll get a check mark in the fashion books.…

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Trendy Clothes for Trendy Babies

Trendy Clothes for Trendy Babies

Once upon a time little boys were dressed in blue and little girls in pink. So when you looked into the pram to ooh and coo over the newborn, that was your gender guide to the right compliments: ‘Isn’t she pretty?’ ‘What a gorgeous little boy,’ and so on. But now all that has clothes have taken a mighty leap into the twenty first century to create a new generation of trendy babies and toddlers.

The traditional blue and pink has taken a back seat to vibrant colours, trendy designs and, above all, the right fabrics. These need to be soft for babies’ delicate skins; sturdy enough to sustain the pummelling from washing machines and tumble driers; and eco-friendly enough to keep carbon footprints as tiny as possible.

Baby clothing needs to be soft, comfortable and durable and Babysoy is one of the most innovative and eco-friendly designers on the market.Their clothing range is produced from soybean protein fibre, which is the pulp remaining from soybean products such as milk and tofu, which makes it silky soft and smooth for delicate skin, while at the same time having the absorbency of cotton and warmth of wool.

As strange as it may sound, this company has created a delightful range of baby clothes that are 100% organic and completely eco-friendly, from colourful and cuddly soft romper suits for babies to practical slip-on trousers and lightweight, reversible hoodies for toddlers. Even the fussiest little princess will love the softness of this textile coupled with the vibrant range of colours available.

The delightfully-named Aravore is another fair trade, ethical clothing brand. The name means ‘piece of heaven’ and your baby or toddler will adore the softness of this textile made from a blend of organic cotton and merino wool. The delicate pastels, silvery sheens and sun-kissed sand colours seem to have been created to compliment the pretty jumpers and floaty, Boho dresses in this range.

Boys, they say, will be boys and possibly my favourite range for energetic little adventurers is Bamboo Baby. Again these gorgeous designs have been created from eco-friendly textiles, as bamboo is totally organic and sustainable. I loved the bamboo denim jeans with the bright red arrow across the back pockets and teamed them up with a bright, striped rugby top and summer cardigan. This is definitely my son’s favourite outfit.

One other brand whose clothes my son loves to wear is Mini Vanilla. This is a company that specialises in nightwear and we love the entertaining designs and the soft, fleecy cotton fabric which adds a touch of luxury, warmth and comfort at bedtime.

Online retailers have certainly opened up the market in baby clothing and accessories and to cater for the growing demand, they are forever expanding their range of new and exciting ideas. Competition is fierce, which is good news for new mums and dads as this keeps prices attractively low. It also means that our babies can look trendy; feel …

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Personalized Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

Personalized Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

Need a special Valentine’s Day gift for the wonderful man in your life? Give him unique, engraved gifts that he will surely never forget.

Finding the right Valentine’s Day gift for him can be quite difficult, especially if he’s the kind of guy that seems to have everything that he needs. An awesome idea is to give him a personalized gift with a “manly” touch. Personalized gifts are truly unique, one-of-a-kind gifts that express a person’s true attention to detail-which inevitably parlays into the attention that you give to your partner every day.

Valentine’s Day is based on the memory of the early Valentine martyrs during the Roman Empire, and has become a special kind of holiday where couples of all stages recognize the love and bond that they share. In turn, giving a gift on Valentine’s Day for one another is linked with cheerfulness, intimacy and most importantly, love.

Particularly, personalized gifts show profound meaning because these gifts are a somewhat of a reflection of you and your partner, because YOU were the one that bought the gift and took his interests into the heart of the gift.

On the positive side, there are many online personalized gifts stores where they have a wide variety of gifts where you’ll be able to not only find the perfect gift, but also not have to endure long lines and crowded parking lots! Here are two great “manly” personalized gifts ideas that he will love, and possibly brag about to his friends:

Personalized Watches:

Giving engraved watches is a masculine and unique way to show him how much you love him. You can personalize his watch with his name engraved, or a special message for him. Does he have a favorite sports team, or a love for a particular sport? You can incorporate his special interest along with his special, one-of-a-kind personalization. These are a few of the many ideas that you could use to personalize his watch for your special day.

Personalized Photo Albums:

He would love a personalized photo album with all of the wonderful memories that you have shared along with his initials, or a beautiful message conveying the love that you share for him in your heart. Additionally, you could also incorporate any special interests that he may have into the photo album as well.

Giving gifts on Valentine’s Day, especially personalized gifts, is about showing them that you care and unconditionally love them to your inner being. Your endeavor in finding the perfect personalized Valentines gifts will inevitably win over your his heart, and solidify the eternal, everlasting love that you both share-whether it’s Valentine’s Day or not.…

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Trendy Fitness Apparel – For All Shapes and Sizes!

Trendy Fitness Apparel – For All Shapes and Sizes!

We are so preoccupied with the fashion trends of today; sometimes we forget that casual wear can be fashionable too. The great thing about fitness apparel today is that you don’t have to wait until you are going to be working out to wear it. You will find them to be incredibly comfortable and fashionable which makes a great outfit for any casual clothing day in your future.

As of you likely already know Pilates and Yoga have taken the women’s fitness world by storm and therefore so has the apparel that has been built for these workouts. Yoga pants are by far the best choice for women who are looking to appear slimmer. They are stretchy, which therefore makes them extremely comfortable and their unique style is what creates the slimming look we are all looking for. You can find them in low rise, regular rise, boot cut, flare, straight leg and so on. Any form of pant style you can find in your jeans you can find in your yoga pants.

Now, you may be wondering just how you can wear your favourite yoga pants away from the gym and look great. The fashion trends of today have really progressed, allowing women to utilize casual clothes on a daily basis. You don’t need an excuse to be comfortable anymore! Let’s give you some ideas regarding your new found casual apparel.

First, the easiest way to turn yoga pants into a great outfit is to take an awesome tunic and match them together! The beauty of women’s fashion today is that tunics and leggings are by far the most popular style and your yoga pants can definitely double as leggings in this instance. On the other hand all you really need is a great zip-up sweater. There are so many great athletic companies on the market today producing really high fashion fitness apparel that no matter what you choose you are going to look great and feel comfortable!

You can choose from not only yoga pants but skirts, capris pants, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, zip up sweaters, jackets and so much more. The recent explosion of the fitness apparel industry for women has made it increasingly easier to not only be comfortable during your workout but comfortable any day of the week! Casual clothes for women have come a long way from the baggy sweat pants we were all too embarrassed to wear in public!

Today we can all look great and feel great in flexible and soft fitness wear. It makes no difference of your shape or size, fitness apparel is extremely flexible and lends itself well to the different shapes and curves of every woman’s body.

If you do not already have a wardrobe including casual clothes it is time to go shopping! There are great online shopping opportunities for fitness apparel, take advantage of casual wear today and turn your personal fashion style into something you will …

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Adding Golf Quotes on Gifts For Dad Or Any Other Golf Lover

Adding Golf Quotes on Gifts For Dad Or Any Other Golf Lover

Is your father a golf enthusiast or do you know of someone that really loves golf? Why not make any gift you give them a bit more personalized by adding golf quotes to the gift?

There are hundreds of excellent quotations on golf that can be added to gifts for the holidays, for Father’s Day or for any occasion.

If your father or someone you know loves nothing more than a long day out on the greens, then many of the quotations on golf will serve to make golf gifts for them something that they will greatly appreciate.

You will find that many golf quotes are comical, funny, amusing, or witty. You can choose your favorite among hundreds of unique quotes offered by fans of the game as well as people that do not care for golf.

These quotes can be added to picture frames, articles of clothing, and just about anything that can be personalized or engraved.

The quotes you choose will undoubtedly put a smile on your dad’s or a golf lover’s face and will make any golf gift one that is uniquely chosen and designed just for your dad or other golf lovers.

Do not forget to put entertaining, fun, and ironic golf quotes on any kind of tag or card that accompanies the gift you are giving.

Now for Something Specially Creative…

If you are really creative, you can create a golf photo album for your dad or a golf lover with images of him playing golf, with pictures of golfing items, and with humorous, amusing golf sayings used throughout the album too.

You can put the quotes you choose on address labels or stickers or if you have photo editing software you can automatically add the text to the different digital images you will be using in the album you create.

Use your own imagination to think of unique ways for using the golf quotes that you find. You can begin checking out golf quotes online, but you can also get quotations about golf from movies, books, and other sources.

Some celebrities enjoy the game of golf too so getting a celebrity quote about golf is considerably easy.

All of the quotations about golf you choose can be used in a way that makes gift giving even more fun than ever before. Who knows, you might even supply the golf lover with a memorable quote that they will one day use while conversing on the greens with other golfers!…

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The World of Dog Costumes and Collars – Great Gift Ideas for Dog Owners

The World of Dog Costumes and Collars – Great Gift Ideas for Dog Owners

The dog is considered to be man’s best friend. It is a loyal companion for many and even an accepted member of the family. The number of households all over the world that own dogs is innumerable; some even have more than one dog at home. For the dog lovers out there, the friendship that they offer is one of a kind and truly very valuable.

It cannot be denied that there are dog lovers all over the world. People could even see on television the different celebrities with their pet dogs. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and her famous Chihuahua, Tinkerbell and Jessica Simpson with her dog Daisy have graced both the television and magazines all over the world. The lovers love to shower their dogs with love, gifts, and would usually let them get pampered in the different pet salons. It is obvious that the lovers love to put a lot of attention on their beloved dogs.

For those who have friends who are the owners or the lovers, it would be good idea to give them gifts for their dogs. Whatever the occasion is, it would be a wise decision to give the owners something for them as a gift. They would definitely appreciate that.

People who have friends who are dog owners may wonder what gifts would be appropriate for them. There are actually a lot of things that could be given to them, both for the owner and the dog. Here are some great ideas:

1) Dog calendars – There are calendars that bear pictures of the breeds and the owners are sure to like them.

2) Gift cards to pet stores – Gift cards to great pet stores will allow the owner to purchase some great stuff for his or her dog.

3) Personalized picture frames – For the owners who love taking pictures of their dogs, personalized frames are great especially when with a great picture inside.

4) Personalized leather dog collars – Buying a good-quality dog collar and have it printed with the name of the dog will surely make any dog owner ecstatic.

5) Dog costumes – For the owners who are fashion lovers, giving them cute costumes for their dogs will definitely make them happy.

6) A day at the spa for both the dog and the owner – Both the owner and the dog benefit from this gift. They can spend a day in the spa just relaxing and enjoying.

There are other gift ideas out there that are sure to knock the socks off of the dog owners. It does not have to be expensive, but it is the thought that counts. Choosing what is best for it and the owner is good. The ideas written here are just some great ideas and there are other gifts that people can give to the owner. The important thing is to make the owner happy, as well …

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Top 5 Eco-Friendly Things at Rothbury

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Things at Rothbury

Last week’s article discussed eco-friendly summer events taking place around the country. These events range from discussion forums about eco-friendly living to music festivals that focus on staying green and having little impact on the environment. I had the opportunity to attend Rothbury, which is one of the eco-friendly music festivals. This event strives on making their event as eco-friendly as possible. Here is a list of the top 5 eco-friendly things happening at the second annual Rothbury.

1) Utensils made of corn: After ordering some delicious food at the festival, I noticed that my fork wasn’t a plastic fork like I am use to getting but was instead made of corn. This corn made utensil reduced the amount of plastic at the festival. Having products made from renewable plant sources paralleled with their idea of having a green festival. The forks were sturdy and easy to dispose of properly.

2) Green Team: The Green Team was great at Rothbury. They were there around the clock helping Rothburians dispose of their garbage properly. All around the festival there were areas where someone was there to assist whether items should be placed in compost, recycling or trash. Having these people around was great and very helpful!

3) Think Tank: The Think Tank at Rothbury was a place for like-minded people to gather and talk about important topics surrounding the environment. They discussed such things as the green economy, green jobs and ways to reduce your energy bills. Having the Think Tank allowed for concertgoers to take a break from the music and have a discussion about these eco-friendly ideas.

4) Reclaimed art: Throughout the festival grounds, there were large-scale art that made bold statements about recycling, sustainability and being eco-friendly. All the art was made from reused, recycled and natural materials. These larger than life pieces were reflected all of what Rothbury was about. As one walked through the forest there was no choice but to stop at look at these pieces made from recycled materials.

5) Human energy to charge cell phones: This was the most eco-friendly thing going on at Rothbury and I found it to be very impressive. At this booth, people rode stationary bikes together to charge their cell phones! If that doesn’t scream eco-friendly, I don’t know what does. As Rothbury attendees peddled together, they were able to generate enough power to charge cell phones and even record music. The electricity was generated and then used to digitally record songs that were later available for download. Exercise, charge your phone, record music and be eco-friendly all at the same time!

Rothbury was a great 4-day festival that promoted sustainability. It was great gathering with people that enjoy great music and doing things great for the environment. Having festivals such as this one encourages people to be more eco-friendly which is always a good thing!

Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and …