Fashion Strategies: Dressing to Look Thinner

"Do I look fat in this dress?" How many women have not asked that question of their spouses, boyfriends, or friends on several occasions? Very few women and men are fortunate enough to have a perfect body shape. Some are heavier than they would like to be. Looking thinner is a goal for many women and men. This blog post addresses how to dress to look thinner. 

It’s imperative that women and men who want to look thinner know how to choose a wardrobe that will help them achieve that result. It’s also important that they know how to wear the chosen outfit correctly. Selecting the right wardrobe can create an illusion that will appear to reshape a person’s body in a more flattering manner.

 Assessing Body Shape or Type 

Men and women should analyze their body shape. To do this effectively, they should stand undressed in front of a mirror. In assessing the body shape, there are certain features that should be noted. They should take note of the proportion between the top part of their body and the bottom part of their body. They must observe their bone structure, the width and size of their shoulders, chest, waist, and hips, and the length of their neck. In order to create the illusion of being thinner, people must choose wardrobes that draw attention away from the less flattering part of the body and accentuate the more flattering part of the body.

For Those Who are Heavier on the Top

People with a heavier body type should wear loose fitting tops that gradually taper in hugging the waist and hips. Lighter and thinner fabrics, such as cotton or jersey, are good to wear as they are less apt to add bulk than heavier fabrics would do.  One color choice for the entire outfit will also help to create the illusion of being taller and leaner. They should avoid jackets with shoulder pads. Pleated skirts ( as long as they are in fashion ) are a good choice because they tend to draw the eye away from the heavier top part of the body down to the more flattering lower half.

For Those Who are Heavier on the Bottom

People who are heavier in the bottom half of the body could opt for shirts, blouses, or jackets with a bit of shoulder padding. Such a strategy helps to balance the frame of the body. They should choose vertical lines and patterns when opting for an outfit.  People with such a body shape, should wear printed fabrics on the top half of the body. They should opt for longer jackets and tops that completely go below the hips. Such a strategy creates a longer line and serves to hide a heavier bottom. They should choose suits, jackets or shirtwaist dresses that are classically straight in design.  Such choices would better flatter the shape of people who are bottom-heavy.

Flattering Fashions for Those Who are Less Curvy

All women would love to have curvy figures but, unfortunately, not all women have vivacious curves. We can't all be Sofia Vergara, can we? Ladies lacking curvaceous figures can add breadth and give the appearance of having curves by choosing clothes with prints, patterns, or flowers. 

For Those with Hour-Glass Figures

Some women have hour-glass body shapes. Such women can wear clothes that drape and are looser fitting. Such women can accentuate their slim waist by wearing a beautiful belt.

Slimming Fashions for All Body Types

Petite women are those shorter than five foot four inches. Shorter women should opt for dresses that hit just above or at the knee. A-line dresses, dresses with empire waistlines, and straight-legged pants also help to create a longer and leaner appearance. Men and women should avoid wearing pants with pleats. Such pants serve only to add bulk or girth to the middle of the body. 

People should avoid turtleneck tops. Turtlenecks make the face look wider. V-necks, jewelry and scarves, however, flatter and draw attention to the face.

In conclusion, despite one’s body size or shape, a slimming effect is better created with monochromatic coordination of outfits and color schemes. No matter what type of outfit people choose in an attempt to create a longer and leaner illusion, the choice will be ineffective if they have poor posture. Men and women should remember to stand tall, square the shoulders, and hold the head upright to help elongate the neck.

Picture credit:  Marek Bernat

Fighting the Good Fight: Fast Food Workers on Strike

            “No soup for you!” This line made famous in an episode of Seinfeld could now state, in 150 major cities across the nation, “No hamburger for you!”

            Fed up with being unable to earn a living wage, fast food workers across the nation have taken to the streets in a display of civil disobedience to draw attention to their plight. A few demonstrators have been arrested for sitting down in the streets and blocking traffic.

Some fast food workers earn near the minimum wage with a salary of $7.25 an hour or approximately $15,000 a year. This does not translate to a decent living wage for most. The disparity in salaries between the CEO’s of such fast food chains and the workers who man the counters serving food to the masses is startling. CEO’s of such companies earn 700 times the salary of the employees staffing the counters to serve people their burgers. CEO’s of the fast food chains on one day of business earn more than most of the employees in the restaurants earn in a year. 

New York State attorney general Eric Schneiderman issued a statement in support of the workers. "Nobody who works 40 hours a week should have to live in poverty, and this starts with raising the minimum wage. I applaud the fast food workers across New York State who are standing up for their rights and fighting for a living wage."

The strike comes just days after President Obama’s Milwaukee Labor Day speech in support of the Fight for $15 movement. "All across the country right now, there's a national movement going on made up of fast-food workers organizing to life wages so they can provide for their families with pride and dignity," Obama said.

The public may be temporarily inconvenienced with the inability to get their Big Mac or their Popeye’s chicken, but it is a small sacrifice to make to be supportive of the fast food workers who seem to be fighting the good fight.

Photo credit: John Taggart

How Music is the Soundtrack of Our Lives

 

 



            It’s been said that music is the universal language. History has proven that it is timeless in its impact on the human spirit – from the likes of Friedrich Nietzsche who philosophized, “Without music life would be a mistake.” – to former President Ronald Reagan who proclaimed, “Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.” And start the music human society did. Ever since, in the history of music and in the history of mankind, life and music have been simpatico. Our lives have defined music, and music has defined our lives. Music does indeed form the soundtrack of our lives.

            Famed contemporary musical artist, Paul Simon, wisely suggested, “Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die.” Our taste in music does mature and change as we mature and change. As babies, lullabies soothed us. As children, silly songs that were interactive and involved play and fun were our musical preferences. We enjoyed S’Mores around a campfire while singing “Cumbaya, My Lord”. We had mischievous fun while standing in line at the summer camp dining hall singing, “Great green gobs of grimy, greasy gopher guts, and here we stand waiting to be fed.”  We played with music by singing and dancing the Hoki Poki, the Mexican Hat Dance, and stomping and clapping along to “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.” I was probably about 12 years old before I truly noticed the effect music had on the human psyche, and that I could enjoy it without fun dances and activities to accompany it. I remember hearing Perry Como singing “Catch a Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket and Save it for a Rainy Day.” I immediately took notice that the song made me feel happy and was even inspirational to my young mind. That was one of the first moments in my life when music defined me, and I defined the music. It was the beginning of the soundtrack that would continue, from that moment on, to accompany my life.

            However, as we grew into teenagers and young men and women, we hadn’t put aside all musical fun and games. We discovered that we still liked to play with music. We discovered mystery in music, and it became a fun challenge to try to solve the mystery. For instance, has anyone ever solved the mystery of what Mick Jagger is saying in some of his lyrics in “Jumping Jack Flash”? Speak English, Mick! In her song, “Respect”, what precisely is Aretha Franklin saying in the lyric immediately following “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”?  E-N-U-N-C-I-A-T-E, Aretha! One would have to Google the lyrics to solve the mystery. Perhaps it’s more fun just to guess.

            And then, of course, there was always the ultimate fun musical mystery challenge for teens and Generation X’ers of detecting the alleged subliminal or hidden message in Backmasking. Sometimes referred to as Backward Masking, Backmasking is a technique in which a message is recorded backwards on a track that’s meant to be played forward. The technique was initially popularized in 1966 by the Beatles who allegedly, either intentionally or unintentionally, used backward vocals on their album, Revolver. About ten years after the murderous rampage of Charles Manson and his “family”, it was reported, founded or unfounded, that evil propaganda messages were detected in some Beatle songs. Manson perpetuated the mystery and controversy by proclaiming that the Beatles White Album contained metaphorical messages that would “set up things for revolution – the battle of Armageddon.” Manson even lent his own interpretation to the Beatle lyrics, “Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and then learn to fly / All your life you were waiting for this moment to arise.” Manson believed them to mean that the black man was going to arise and overthrow the white man. He absurdly suggested that the Beatles were trying to initiate a race war. Supposedly evil messages were also detected in the music of Black Oak Arkansas, Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, and Queen. Such intriguing mystery and fun there was in trying to hear the alleged satanic messages in the music of  the aforementioned musicians by playing the music backwards – a task accomplished by setting the speed of the turntable in a neutral position and then manually spinning it backwards at a speed that made the vocalist’s voice and the hidden message discernable. Indeed, even when we were no longer children, we hadn’t given up childish ways. – We still “played” with music.

            As we progress through our lives, and as we reflect on past moments in our lives, most of us discover that music both accompanied and defined the most momentous occasions. In my personal reflections, I recall, as a new teenage driver, driving too fast and singing along as The Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back” blasted from the car radio. I flipped my car. The car was damaged, but I was physically unscathed. The irony lies in the fact that the otherwise normal silence that typically follows the shock and confusion from such an accident was broken by The Angels melodiously and rhythmically warning, “…..and there’s gonna be trouble.”  Music – the soundtrack of our lives!

            When I was going through a particularly devastating divorce, I was quite the drama queen and experienced a great deal of self pity in the initial stages. It was not uncommon for neighbors to hear the husky, whiskey-throated vocals of Janis Joplin lamenting “Take another piece of my heart, baby.” Ah yes -  music – the soundtrack of our lives!

            As a young divorced woman and single mother of both a baby and a toddler – struggling with a full time teaching position while simultaneously attempting to complete my Master’s degree, I often felt overwhelmed. Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar” became my musical mantra. Listening to it each morning gave me an emotional boost and the strength and courage to face the challenges that were mine each day. Music – a pep rally in C-Minor!

            Don McLean’s “American Pie” refers to the “day the music died.” The music died once again on December 8, 1980 when John Lennon was murdered. I remember feeling shock and disbelief and found it impossible to even fathom how someone could take the life of a talented, peaceful man who musically invited us to Imagine. “Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can / No need for greed or hunger / A brotherhood of man / You may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one / I hope someday you’ll join us / And the world will live as one.” Apparently, Mark David Chapman wasn’t feeling the brotherhood of man when he chose to snuff out the light that was Lennon. John Lennon’s “Imagine” became my mourning lament for some time thereafter and is still among my favorite songs.

            My children were raised in an acoustic environment of my musical repertoire and learned to appreciate the classics as well classic rock – old time rock and roll - and still love it today, even though they have developed their own repertoire of today’s music. I watch my children, grown now, enjoying their music, enjoying their lives, and I sometimes feel nostalgic about my children as babies and miss my grandbabies at times that I’m unable see them. No matter how grown up my children have become they will always be my babies, and my job as a mother – everlasting. The Dixie Chicks song, “Lullabye”, sums up those sentiments with lyrical simplicity: “They didn’t have you where I come from / Never knew the best was yet to come / Life began when I saw your face / And I hear your laugh like a serenade / How long do you want to be loved / Is forever enough, is forever enough?” It’s instinctive for parents to feel protective of their children even after their children are grown. I, personally, am a lioness when it comes to protecting my own – ready to pounce on anything or anyone intending them harm. I am not embarrassed to admit that the lyrics from The Grateful Dead’s song, “I Will Take You Home”, occasionally bring a wistful tear to my eye: “Ain’t no way the Bogeyman can get you / You can close your eyes, the world is gonna let you / Your daddy’s here and never will forget you / I will take you home / I will take you home”. Music – life’s lullaby!

            Sometimes, even with all of life’s blessings, it’s possible occasionally to feel loneliness, sadness or even despair. At such times, it’s difficult to resist wallowing in our own self pity. It’s  been my experience that song choices, such as Warren Zevon’s “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” or Neil Young’s “Helpless”, are particularly appropriate musical accompaniment for pity parties. As Maya Angelou wrote in Gather Together in My Name, “Music was my refuge; I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”

            However, a more emotionally therapeutic alternative for those morose moments would be to fill the air with uplifting music and joyful songs. My personal preferences for lifting me from doldrums include Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, Bob Marly’s “Three Little Birds”, Judy Garland’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”, Yael Naim’s “New Soul”, and, of course, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony”. These choices are emotional and spiritual endorphins – the wine of inspiration – the mythical Bacchus melodiously elevating and intoxicating our mood. It’s as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poetically proclaimed, “And the night shall be filled with music. And the cares that infest the day shall fold their tents like Arabs and as silently steal away.”

            There are few better ways to take a respite from melancholy, stress and worries than to embark on a tropical get-away or a vacation to any destination with sun, sand and surf. You will need travel tunes to help you transition from work mode to vacation mode. Pop a Jimmy Buffet CD into your car CD player and you will soon be transported to “Margaritaville”, eating a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” – a place where self-indulgence is the rule rather than the exception – a place where it’s perfectly acceptable to have a Corona, a Margarita or even a Vodka Martini in the middle of the day. After all, “it’s five o’clock somewhere.” Jimmy Buffet – musical manna for the beach-going soul!

            These are difficult times that we are living in right now. We are involved in a seemingly endless war and have inherited from the previous presidential administration an economy and environment literally “raped” by government negligence and missteps. We bear witness to contentious and self-serving political bickering and grandstanding that serves only to block President Obama’s policies and initiatives designed to help America and Americans. My musical mantra for the exasperation that I feel with this situation – Bob Dylan’s “The Times They are A’Changin’” and John Mayer’s “Waiting for the World to Change.” Music – the battle hymn for the disenfranchised!

            Being a Baby Boomer – the Woodstock generation – it’s difficult for me to conceive of ever growing old when I still feel young at heart and still possess a rock and roll soul. My musical mantra, and one from which all Boomers can take consolation, includes Five for Fighting’s “100 Years” and Bob Dylan’s comfort classic, “Forever Young”. Music –a mellow fountain of youth!

            If  it’s difficult to fathom the autumn of our lives, it’s even more unpleasant to think about facing death one day. Remember that Paul Simon suggested that music should follow us right on up until we die. I suggest that music should be the soundtrack for our lives even after death. If I were to choose my funereal soundtrack, it would most assuredly include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, James Blunt’s “Carry You Home”, Sarah MacLachlan’s “Angel”, and Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart”. But, like Scarlett O’Hara, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

            On a more whimsical and personal note, I must admit that when this Boomer Babe needs a boost to her self esteem, she enjoys listening to The Allman Brothers’ “Sweet Melissa” and foolishly fantasizing that the Bros are singing about her. Silly you say? Well, that’s okay. “Sweet Melissa” is my song, and I am sweet Melissa!

             You see now that there is no disputing the fact that music does indeed define us. It is the musical score to the metaphorical movie that is our lives. Tolstoy believed that music is “the shorthand of emotion.” But Aldous Huxley more precisely captured its impact and essence in his essay, Music at Night: “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

Picture credit: Stephen Davies

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

           

 

Horse Ownership: Some Things You May not Know but Need to Know

 

 

What’s not to love about horses?  Ronald Reagan addressed that question in his own colorful way in stating, “I’ve often said there is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” As a former owner of horses, including a show horse, I can attest to the truth of those words. However, horse ownership is not to be taken lightly. There are things that one needs to know before purchasing a horse for the first time and much to know about ownership and care of a horse.

Need-to-Know Information before Purchasing a Horse

Buying a horse for the first time, especially for those who truly love horses, is an exhilarating experience. However, a first time buyer should be cautious not to jump into buying the first horse that bats his or her big beautiful eyes at him. It’s important for a first-time buyer to purchase a horse that is right for him. Doing so requires some research, some smart and strategic purchasing strategies, and experience with horses. If a first-time buyer lacks a lot of experience in choosing a horse, it would be wise for him to take with him a trusted friend who has experience when looking at a potential horse to purchase. After all, horses require a sizeable commitment of time and money.

How much investment one makes in purchasing a horse depends upon the goal or purpose for having the horse. If the purchaser mostly just wants to ride, have fun, and maybe even compete at a local level, it may be possible to find a good horse for at or under $5000. More serious competitive aspirations or goals, however, may involve a considerably higher purchase investment.

Another financial consideration in horse ownership is the ongoing expense beyond the purchase price. There is the expense of boarding if one doesn’t own his own place to keep horses. Boarding cost can range from complete care which can include feeding, stall maintenance, and perhaps even grooming and exercising of the horse. Self-care is a more cost efficient option as it would only include a place to keep the horse. With such an option, the owner would do all of the feeding, stall maintenance, grooming, and exercising of the horse.

Another expense that must be budgeted is veterinarian care for shots at least twice a year and worming about every two months, as well as regular farrier care or trimming and shoeing. The expense of at least the basic tack and equipment and feeding and bedding for the horse must be budgeted too and is certainly an on-going expense.

Need-to-Know Information for Ownership and Care of a Horse

Horse ownership requires knowing at least the basics of horse care. One must learn the proper strategies for feeding, housing, tying, and caring for the horse. If the first-time horse owner is a novice at these basics, it is necessary that he learn the basics from a friend who has experience with horses or pay for lessons in horse care and maintenance. If the first-time horse owner is a novice rider, he may find it necessary to take some basic riding lessons to avoid injuring himself or stressing or causing injury to the horse.

The basic needs of a horse include safe fencing and pasture in which the horse can happily move around and graze. The pasture should be free of holes, dangerous or rusty farm or other type of equipment, and loose wiring on fences. Horses are social animals, so having the horse among other horses, or even ponies, donkeys, cows, sheep or goats, in the pasture is an important consideration, as well. Proper horse ownership requires seeing that there is enough pasture for adequate grazing or the equivalent of that by providing quality hay. Other essentials for the horse include unlimited access to clean water, minerals, salt, shelter from inclement and wintry conditions, as well as shade from the summer sun. Additional basic needs for a horse include a clean and dry area to lie down and daily monitoring for any injury or illness.

Some Little Known Things and Common Mistakes about Horse Purchase and Ownership

Sometimes after purchasing a horse, the initial enthusiasm wears off. To avoid the mistake of making a long-term commitment to a horse that might be regretted later on, one can sometimes acquire a horse on sort of a trial or short term basis through opting for a full or partial lease. In leasing, one pays either a fixed fee or a portion of the cost of the horse’s care in exchange for riding time on the horse. If one opts for a full lease, he will typically assume all of the expenses and care for the horse. With the partial lease option, the actual owner of the horse remains primarily responsible for such expense and care. One shouldn’t hesitate to ask the seller for a trial period. Some sellers are receptive to that if they have concerns that the horses they are selling go to a good home. It never hurts to ask.

It is unfortunate, but true, that some horse salesman, just like some used car salesman, have earned the reputation of being somewhat untrustworthy individuals known to downplay a horse’s flaws and while hyping attributes. Always remember the motto, “Buyer beware!”

Too many first-time horse buyers make the mistake of purchasing an untrained horse because the price is considerably less for one, and they mistakenly think that they can train the horse themselves. Training a horse takes experience and sometimes months to accomplish. Training is not a job for a novice.

Sometimes a first-time horse buyer, with visions of purchasing a young, fine, noble, and handsome steed upon which he can ride off into the sunset with the wind in his hair, allow that vision cloud to cloud their reason and may pass up on the benefits of purchasing an older horse. Most people don’t realize that an older horse makes a great beginner horse for a child or any novice rider.  It is a fact that many healthy horses can be ridden well into their senior years. This is particularly true when buying a horse for a child. Young, frisky horses and children and novice riders are not a good pairing.

Picture Credit: Cowgirl 13