Flowers are the perfect gift for most occasions, whether it’s saying I’m sorry, thanking someone for a good turn, or marking an event such as Mother’s Day. In the Victorian era flowers took on far more symbolism and the type and color of flowers received often had a hidden message.

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

Red roses have been traditionally associated with true love for centuries. One of Robert Burns’ most famous love poems is “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose” and there is nothing which quite surpasses a dozen red roses given as a token of undying affection.

White roses are said to signify purity, but if a Victorian gentleman gave his sweetheart pink roses, it meant he wasn’t keen on her enough to merit the red ones.

Violets stand for being faithful, so an item of flower jewelry featuring red roses and violets would mean passionate love, excluding all others. [Read more…]

If you are on a tight budget but you still want to dress classy, then there are a few things that you should learn. Honestly, you don’t really need to have an overloaded bank account just to feel and dress classy, because with a few simple tips, it can be achieved by anyone.

Women tend to think that they don’t have a high budget to dress classy, but in reality, you can dress classy even if your budget is very low. Here are a few simple tips on how to dress classy on a budget:

Follow this Basic Rule

First off, you must make sure to follow this basic rule, legs or  bust. Nights out tend to call for a bit of sex appeal, but there happens to be a boisterous line which falls in between trashy and classy. A micro skirt, mini dress, and short shorts are completely acceptable for you to wear. But if you wear those short outfits with a very low cut top, then you will end up appearing trashy instead of classy. [Read more…]

Being a first time apartment renter can be a very exciting prospect. You are about to have your very own space! However, it is important that you not let all of that excitement go to your head.

There are some things you must consider before you sign on the dotted line, or your rental experience could head south very quickly. Here are some things every first time renter should know:

Renter’s Insurance

Even if your landlord does not require it, you should absolutely have a renter’s insurance policy. Don’t make the mistake of assuming your landlord’s property insurance will cover damages to your personal property that might occur as a result of things like fire, theft, vandalism, and flood. It won’t. [Read more…]

Camping can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. There’s nothing like a few days of beautiful scenery for family bonding. To make certain that fun is had by all, it is important to plan wisely before taking off to the mountains.

Where to camp, cooking, activities, and safety are all areas that need to be thought about before leaving.

First, you’ll need to decide where you’re going to camp. Do you want to camp in a structured campsite or take the family off into the back country? There are different considerations for each option: [Read more…]

Do you remember the good old days when you could afford to throw away that slightly old and scuffed pair of shoes and replace it with another of the many pairs in your wardrobe or pop out and buy a new pair without even thinking about it? If shoe funds are a little tighter these days, don’t despair.

Our top ten shoe care tips and tricks can revitalise old shoes and make new shoes last just that little bit longer.

1 – Don’t degrade your suede.

Overuse of a wire brush to clean your suede shoes is a great way to send them prematurely bald. If they’re lightly dirty try dabbing them with adhesive tape to lift out the dirt.

If you have to use a wire brush, use just enough force to remove the dirt and limit brushing to as small an area of the shoe as possible.

2 – Quell the smell.

Our feet contain a quarter of a million sweat glands between them and perspire constantly. If your shoes become a bit niffy, sprinkle baking powder in them and add orange peel, then leave overnight. [Read more…]