Cyber Stylist

While reading one of my favorite magazines, Cosmopolitan, I stumbled upon the term Cyber Stylist. I was instantly enthralled, and after trying out the two suggested sites, I am officially addicted.

Here's the deal:

Take a picture of an outfit, hairstyle, or make-up job you are "iffy" about, upload it to the website, receive feedback.

The websites:

Fashism.com

GoTryItOn.com

The Verdict:

Go Try It On seems to have a more "high-fashion" crowd, while Fashism's members tend to appreciate the fashion that the majority of us wear.

You can upload your photo's directly to the site, but if you have a smart phone bothwebsites allow you to upload photos by emailing them to the site, and Fashism even has an iphone app!

On the websites you can upload two photos (up to 4 on Go Try It On!) and ask the members to vote on which look is better. I uploaded the same two photos to each website(Go Try It On is on the left, and Fashism is on the right), take a look:

Next I uploaded a photo of an outfit I wore a couple of months ago:

On Fashism.com I was excited to find 3 comments praising my outfit, and quite a few "i like it" votes, yet on GoTryItOn.com the 1 comment I received was veto-ing the look. I appreciated the comments I got on Fashism.com because many were explaining what they liked about the outfit, while the comment I got on GoTryItOn.com was simply "i dont really think u should wear it sorry", with no tips on how to improve the "bad" outfit. I can't see how the community has voted until I've received 10 votes, and right now I'm lingering at 6. It's important to point out that I've only had these looks on the websites for a couple of hours, so the voting could potentially turn around completely by tomorrow. Until then, my verdict remains the same.

Rolleez

Giuliana Rancic's Best Fashion Inventions list recently surfaced. I was satisfied with it, and agreed for the most part, but there was one item on the list that I was unfamiliar with. Rolleez. These flexible shoes placed 3rd on Rancic's list, and after some research I was not surprised as to why. Rolleez are flexible flats that you can literally roll up into a compact ball and they fit easily into your purse. So, you're probably wondering why you would want to keep shoes in your purse? Heels; while leg lengthening, sexy, and fashionable, are only fun until you start to feel the pain. So when your feet begin to blister just pull out your Rolleez. They come in 8 different colors, and while I'm not an avid flats wearer myself, I actually like these.

According to the website:

Each pair of Rolleez comes with a strawberry tote bag for your heels as well as invisible hemming tape, allowing you to switch from your heels to Rolleez comfortably without ruining your pants.

Guaranteed replacement of Rolleez if yours is damaged within 180 days of purchase.

So, thank you Giuliana for your fabulous fashion find.

Looklet

Looklet is an awesome website that I have recently been introduced to. On this website you can dress a model up in outfits that you choose yourself. You have a variety of clothes to chose from and they are all linked to the online store where you can locate the actual article of clothing! Your choices aren't limited to just clothes though, on Looklet you can also choose from jewelry, underwear, bags, eye-wear, shoes and more.

In order to save your looks you are required to make an account, but to simply play around you don't have to give any information.

Here are some tips I've learned:

• Some of the shirts, bags, sweaters, etc. can be worn in multiple ways. By clicking on the item while it's on your model you can choose a different fit.
• You can choose to wear the top tucked in to many bottoms by clicking on the top or bottom and clicking the desired option.
• You can change the look of the models face by clicking on her face and other options will appear.
• There is a button labeled "my used items" where you can make outfits out of items you've used, that way if you buy the items you can pick out outfits from your closet on the website!
• The extras are fun, you can even add tattoos to your model.

After spending vast amounts of time on this awesome website I've learned that you can chose your own model, background, and even throw a dog in the shot! With so many options this website has to receive an A+ from me! Although, I have found a few things that bother me... As a sunglasses fiend I am frustrated at the small selection of sunglasses, and I only found two fedoras to chose from, neither which satisfied my look. Check it out for yourself though, maybe you'll feel differently.

Vote for YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR!

I recently interviewed with Blog Interviewer, "a website devoted to discovering the most interesting bloggers on the Internet". This website has prize giveaways every month that go to the blog with the most votes, how cool is that?! I'm currently in the running for this months prize giveaway, so help me win by voting for me, you can even vote every hour if you are a devoted fan! To vote just click on the image at the top of this post and it will take you directly to the voting site, click the little blue box that says "vote now", it is located under an ad and directly above a picture displaying my blog. Thanks!

Demi and Kim K on Twitter

Around 1a.m. on Monday, March 29th my twitter time line blew up with tweets between devils advocate- Demi Moore and, newly single, party girl- Kim Kardashian.

KimKardashian:

http://twitpic.com/1boxat - Big pimpin w @SerenaJWilliams @LaLaVazquez @Kelly_Rowland Love u girls!

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

Are you using the word "pimpin" as in pimping? RT @KimKardashian: Big pimpin w @SerenaJWilliams @LaLaVazquez

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

@KimKardashian No disrespect I love a girls night out but a pimp and pimping is nothing more than a slave owner!

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

if we want to end slavery we need to stop glorifying the "pimp" culture

KimKardashian:Doesn't everyone? LOL RT @mrskutcher Are you using the word "pimpin" as in pimping? RT @KimKardashian Big Pimpin

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

Just so ya'll are clear I like @KimKardashian I was just making a point about how we have used a word and desensitized the real meaning .

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

Clearly I stirred up a s**t storm, but 2 create change U have 2 be willing 2 take a risk and be willing 2 provoke thought & conversation

KimKardashian:

@mrskutcher Nothing wrong with dancing to Big Pimpin' by Jay Z in the club! Having a girls night out, gotta love that song!

KimKardashian:

Good point!I agree! It was just a song not literal RT @mrskutcher 2create change U have 2 be willing 2 take a risk&willing 2 provoke thought

mrskutcher (Demi Moore):

Thx 4 understanding! RT @KimKardashian Good point!I agree! It was just a song not literal RT @mrskutcher 2create change U have2 take a risk


So what do you think, was Demi making a much needed good point or were her comments unnecessary and futile?

Pretty in Pink

I've pieced together 4 outfits that I am dying to buy, all featuring light pink tops. Here is a description of each outfit:
1
a- $76.92 House Of The Gods Blondie Diamond Front Tee asos.com
b- $29.00 Kill City Matte Leatherette Ankle Leggings metroparkusa.com
c- $82.00 Nike Dunk High Women's Shoe nike.com

2
a- $94.02 ASOS Embellished Tunic asos.com
b- $39.32 Mango White Super Skinny Jeans asos.com
c- $59.83 ASOS HALLE Stapped Sandal asos.com
d- $59.83 ASOS Washed Leather Oversized Panelled Clutch asos.com

3
a- $42.74 ASOS Cowl Front Blouse asos.com
b- $17.09 ASOS Metal Bracelet With Popper Fastening asos.com

c- $51.28 ASOS High Waisted Indigo Slim Jeans asos.com
d- $102.56 ASOS HOT Leather Platform Studded Sandal asos.com


4
a- $47.86 ASOS Ribbon Trim Top asos.com
b-$47.86 ASOS Iggy White Skinny Jean asos.com
c- $59.83 ASOS PENNY Suede Platform Court Shoe asos.com
d- $111.11 ASOS Leather Tassle Frame Bag asos.com

Leave me a comment if you buy any of these clothes, or a whole outfit!

American Apparel

Don't you hate shopping online; seeing the stick skinny, sky high models and wondering what the clothes would look like on a real person? American Apparel might be the site for you then, they have a range of "real people" models, none are fat, but they probably don't starve themselves. I love the funky style American Apparel maintains. You've probably seen one of their topless or bodysuit ads, but don't be fooled, they have functional clothes as well. Above are a few of my favorites from the site.

FREE STUFF

Instead of throwing out the things you no longer use, and clogging up landfills, why don't you recycle them? Freecycle is a non-profit website where members can post offers for items they no longer use, and requests for items they want or need. All of the items on this site are FREE! All you have to do to get started is visit the website and find a group near you. From there you are able to sign up through yahoo and see posts from people including offers, and requests. In my town there were offers for large folding tables, a queen size mattress, and even a shed! I dare you to check it out.

MMMBOP... the Hanson Brothers now

The Hanson Brothers, most famous for their song "Mmmbop" from the late 1990's, are coming back onto the radar. I'm not convinced anything can beat their previous hit and soundtrack to my childhood, but I'm willing to give them a chance with their new album "Shout It Out" said to hit stores this summer.

Since their disappearance so many years ago they have all gotten married and Isaac and Taylor even have children. They've made a few changes to their group, shortening both the name, and their hair. I was seven when I first learned about this group, I thought they were girls until my sister told me she had a crush on one of them and explained to me that they were called The Hanson BROTHERS. Now that they've all cut their hair it is no longer necessary to have the word 'brothers' to distinguish their sex, so they are now just Hanson. Lastly, May 6th is Hanson day in Tulsa, the brothers' hometown, but you can celebrate wherever you are.


Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du

Health Care Reform- rising tax on tanning beds

The health care reform has just passed and I can't see any reason that anyone should dislike it, aside from rising tax on indoor tanning beds.
Here's an list of the changes that we'll be seeing.

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

* Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.
* Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
* Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.
* Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.
* A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.
* Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.
* A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.
* A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2011

* Medicare provides 10 percent bonus payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons.
* Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get a free annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan service. New health plans will be required to cover preventive services with little or no cost to patients.
* A new program under the Medicaid plan for the poor goes into effect in October that allows states to offer home and community based care for the disabled that might otherwise require institutional care.
* Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage services are frozen at 2010 levels. These payments are to be gradually reduced to bring them more in line with traditional Medicare.
* Employers are required to disclose the value of health benefits on employees' W-2 tax forms.
* An annual fee is imposed on pharmaceutical companies according to market share. The fee does not apply to companies with sales of $5 million or less.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2012

* Physician payment reforms are implemented in Medicare to enhance primary care services and encourage doctors to form "accountable care organizations" to improve quality and efficiency of care.
* An incentive program is established in Medicare for acute care hospitals to improve quality outcomes.
* The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the government programs, begin tracking hospital readmission rates and puts in place financial incentives to reduce preventable readmissions.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2013

* A national pilot program is established for Medicare on payment bundling to encourage doctors, hospitals and other care providers to better coordinate patient care.
* The threshold for claiming medical expenses on itemized tax returns is raised to 10 percent from 7.5 percent of income. The threshold remains at 7.5 percent for the elderly through 2016.
* The Medicare payroll tax is raised to 2.35 percent from 1.45 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000. The tax is imposed on some investment income for that income group.
* A 2.9 percent excise tax in imposed on the sale of medical devices. Anything generally purchased at the retail level by the public is excluded from the tax.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2014

* State health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals open.
* Most people will be required to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a fine if they don't. Healthcare tax credits become available to help people with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty purchase coverage on the exchange.
* Health plans no longer can exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
* Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage face a fine of $2,000 for each employee if any worker receives subsidized insurance on the exchange. The first 30 employees aren't counted for the fine.
* Health insurance companies begin paying a fee based on their market share.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2015

* Medicare creates a physician payment program aimed at rewarding quality of care rather than volume of services.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2018

* An excise tax on high cost employer-provided plans is imposed. The first $27,500 of a family plan and $10,200 for individual coverage is exempt from the tax. Higher levels are set for plans covering retirees and people in high risk professions.

Reuters.com

One of my favorite changes is that young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Before they were usually kicked off when they turned 19 or finished college(dropping out included), which encouraged many students to remain in college until they were ready to take health care into their own hands.

To read more on the health care reform visit ABC.com

ASOS Dresses

I love asos.com, an online fashion store based in the UK (don't worry, they do ship internationally), they have a huge variety of clothes for fashionable people on budgets. I made this collage of dresses that I absolutely love from the site, they all have some type of sleeve because sleeves are fun and very in right now. If you click on it it'll expand so you can see the dresses and prices better.
(Once you're on the website go to the top right corner of the page to change the currency to USD if you want the pricing to be in dollars rather than pounds.)