EXTREME SHOES

                                                     
                                                               Why do we love shoes??
                                                              They express who we are.
                                                 They make us feel better when we are down.
                We might not be a perfect size 2, but we can wear the latest addition designer shoes.
                                                     The make us feel young, tall and sexy.            
            Face it: Women love shoes. The love affair starts young and heats up over the years - as a woman's shoe closet grows exponentially, it doesn't stop there. Shoe-love is only enhanced by the magical powers of a great pair of heels. Whether they're stilettos, chunkier stacked heels, sky-high wedges or something else, high heels give women a few added inches and a boost in mood.
            Women’s willingness to tolerate discomfort, even pain, in the service of fashion is often chalked up to the desire to attract a mate or to rise a step in the social hierarchy. But today’s extreme fashions may have more to do with expressing power and control — control over one’s own body, and the power to use one’s body to draw the gaze of others.
           But how far we women can go trying to express ourselves or to be different.
I was on a mission searching internet to find extreme shoes out there. Let’s see what I found:

I found these shoes, strange form, weird angle. You must be a ballerina to be able to keep balance in these shoes. If these shoes express one’s personality, what would you think it would be?? To me, these shoes are not very flattering and hardly practical, but you tell me, would you wear these?

                               Love these ones. Airy platform filled with rose petals, clear stripes with attached fresh flowers . Dreams and fairy tails…Clearly,  these are not for work in the office.

                                                               
Fish flip flops?? Look smelly and slippery:-))))))
But definitely – lots of creativity.
Not sure I would wear these flip flops. You?

Doggy boots? Extra-ordinary, but wait a minute, what is there, in the right corner?
Do you need to pick up after them as well?:-)))))

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Titanic? Building? Or just a shoe? Something deep inside makes me very happy knowing this is not a real shoe:-)
                                                 
                                                                                                                    
                                            

Sleepers that look like..........pair of dead rats...............They look cozy and incredibly scary. I guarantee there will be no rats around your house when you own a pair of these :-))))

And finally, the giraffe shoes. I wonder if anybody in a world will find these shoes attractive and actually buy them. Please let me know because I absolutely MUST see a picture of you wearing the giraffe shoes:-)
              On a serious note, what is ugly to me is not necessary ugly to someone else.

But between me and you: did you get a kick out of these extreme shoes? :-) If you want to read more of my  discoveries, follow my blog.

                                               
              Waiting for your feedbacks and comments. And if you have any question – Ask Erena!

Justin Bieber gets egged at Sydney Australia concert

YELLOW - THE COLOR OF THE SEASON

                    How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun. -Vincent Van Gogh                           
                                   Put some yellow in your life when you want:                                                      
                                              • clarity for decision-making
                               • relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion
                                          • sharper memory and concentration skills
                             • protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather
                                                          • increase the metabolism
                                         Wear yellow to present a cheery, uplifting effect.
Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts.

                                                              this look is so classy and chic

                                                 blue and yellow - my favorite combination

                                                  pink and yellow - is soft, tender and girly look

                                                            black and yellow look fabulous,
                                                            so in love with this diva dress and shoes!

                 Look how friendly yellow is. It looks great combined with any of these colors!

                These imazing jeweled shoes make a lot of statement and will look great with a simple dress

                                                   

                           it is always great to match your yellow shoes with yellow hand bag.

                           dont forget about your guy:-) yellow will look great on him as well!

                                                                         oh, how cute:-)))))


                                    So, my dear friends - WEAR YELLOW AND BE HAPPY!
              Waiting for your feedbacks and comments and if you have any questions - ASK ERENA!

Justin Bieber was paid $1 million for Tel Aviv, Israel concert

Teen pop star Justin Bieber was paid $1 million for his performance in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park last week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Wednesday.

The sum was paid up even though there were at least 11,000 fewer concertgoers than the 35,000 that organizers had hoped for, according to the report.

"They overpaid and did not market it right," the article quoted Israeli promoter Shuki Weiss

I LOVE MY DOGS:-)

                                                         Please meet Max & Julie:-)

                                                            Max is a JET's fan:-)

                                                           Julie is just a princess:-)

They are computer savy:-)

                                                                  and 2 lazy bones:-)

my painting of them:-)

                                                         not my dog:-)))))))))))))))))))

                                                          I LOVE MY DACHSHUNDS!

MY 5 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

There are so many beautiful places to see, but today I will tell you about some of the places I visited and my own experiences.

If you are planning a long weekend getaway, I recommend a visit to charming Mystic, Connecticut.  Mystic is an old whaling town that has a beautiful aquarium, fishing village exhibition, and great shopping.  It has old world charm and you can experience the 19th century way of life.  This place is children and dog friendly. Remember movie "Mystic Pizza"?  
Well, the place is still there. It attracts a lot of tourists and is located on a main street. Check their event schedule on line for concerts and lobster festivals.

If you are in a mood for something tropical, Cancun Mexico is a great vacation destination. Always make sure that you get an all inclusive package hotel stay. This usually includes 3 meals a day and as many cocktails a day as you want to drink. This way there is no need to carry your wallet around while laying on the beach or pool.










Service in Mexican hotels is usually exceptional and friendly. You will need a current passport for this destination.


If you are in a mood for something more exotic, I recommend visiting Istanbul, Turkey.  Istanbul is a truly remarkable place. It has a rich history; it was at the center of three world empires, The Holy Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic empire. These cultures meshed over the centuries to mold the dynamic Turkish society that we know today.  The city of Istanbul is unique in the way that half of it the “old city” is in Europe while the other half the “the new city” lies across the bridge in Asia.

Istanbul is a true conglomerate of European and Middle Eastern cultures. Hotels are beautiful and range from the budget to the most elegant. And while you are there you must treat yourself to the spectacular sightseeing. You will fall in love with Turkish hospitality and the architectural splendor of this City. On a must seen list are: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia and The Grand Bazaar. 
Another “must see” destination in Turkey is Ephesus, once, the trade centre of the ancient world, a religious centre of the early Christianity, and today Ephesus is an important tourism centre in Turkey. In the ancient world, Ephesus was a center of travel and commerce.  Situated on the Aegean Sea at the mouth of the Cayster River, the city was one of the greatest seaports of the ancient world. The ancient city Ephesus is located in Selcuk, a small town 30km away from Kusadasi.
A “must see” 9km north of Ephesus, is the shrine of Virgin Mary, Mariamana. 

 It has  a marvelous atmosphere hidden in the green lush mountain side. It is the place where Our Blessed Mother Mary, may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. 
Interesting fact: we all know a term "Turkish coffee". I was traveling to Turkey hoping to try a real turkey coffee made in hot sand and served in tiny cups. Reality: most of Turks drink tea:-)))

Overall, delicious Mediterranean food, exotic sightseeing and great shopping - I will never forget my trip to Turkey!

My most favorite destination is Italy. 
Italy has many beautiful and historic cities worth visiting.  Amazing history and culture, breathtaking architecture, great food, beautiful people, amazing fashion center of Europe - this is Italy.
While is Rome (smiling, thinking about the movie)  you must see the Coliseum or Flavian Amphitheater built by emperor Titus in 80AD, located in the heart of Rome and considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
On "a must see list" are The Vatican, Saint Pete's Basilica, Saint Peters Square, St. Peitro Invincoli Church, and Spanish Steps.

It is easy to travel around Italy. Trains are quite expensive, but comfortable and fast. Florence or Firenze is located on the river Arno and is famous for its history and architecture and considered the birthplace of Renaissance. A day trip to Florence is a must do. 

Interesting fact: it is well known that while visiting fountain De'travia, in Rome you must throw money over your head for good luck, love, and fortune. To my surprise I didn't see any money in the fountain or see anyone doing it:-)
Dinning in Italy is easy, it is your choice to have dinner in a restaurant (approx.50 to 60 $ for 2 people) or pizza for $5.

Tips: booking and traveling to Italy on your own, will save you a few thousand dollars vs. booking through a traveling agency. Though if it is your first time going to Europe, going with a group of people your best bet. This kind of traveling also require passport.
My next dreamy destination is Paris. I nearly future I promise to tell you about my trip to Paris.






The world is a beautiful place and there is nothing like seeing different cultures and beautiful history. These are the kind of vacations you remember for lifetime.
Tell me about your most memorable vacations and if you have any questions – Ask Erena!

 

YOUR BATHROOM NEEDS A FACE LIFT, BUT YOU DONT HAVE $10,000 TO DO IT

If a woman can become the Speaker of the House, why can’t a woman remodel her bathroom herself?

Please follow these instructions only if you don't have a major leak and your tub and tile is in decent condition, and does not need to be replaced by a professional. 

Bathrooms are the most expensive rooms per square foot of space in your house. Updating the bathroom can return you big on the value of the homes’ equity. So what a great idea it is to remodel it by spending $1,500 to $2,000, and a little elbow grease instead of $10,000 or even more. For some of this project you might need the help of a man (boyfriend or husband) available, you know, for furniture moving and heavy lifting if the vanity has to be removed. :-). If none is available, we will get around it.
First, you need to inspect the tiles in your bathroom. Look to see if any tiles are loose or broken. If you notice tiles that are loose/broken, a small container of tile adhesive can be purchased at your nearest home center and applied to the broken tiles.  If the tile is in ok condition, but the grout is black, dirty, and moldy, all you need is to re-grout it. You will not believe how different your bathroom will look after you re-grout your tile.

For this task you need to buy:
-grout remover - this tool is sold in Home Depot or Lowe's stores
-grout to match your existing one.
-grout float
-calk gun and silicone
-sponge and a bucket
Try to scratch as much old grout as possible. Most of old grouts settle down, that leaves you some space to apply new grout. Wash it off with a sponge. Let it dry, remove rest of dust with Windex and a towel.

Use sealer a few days later to protect new grout. (optional)
It is always a good idea to replace an old counter top with granite. 

Replace your old faucet with a new one as well.
Granite is durable and expensive looking. It will add elegance to your bathroom. Granite tops come in  standard sizes with installed under mount sinks and holes for the faucet. Read instructions on your faucet to see how many holes you need before purchasing a vanity top.  I found my new granite top on Home Depot website. Surprisingly, it was cheaper to buy on line than in a store. Look for sale promotions such as "spend more than certain amount and get free shipping". If this is the case, purchase a faucet on line as well to save money.
Most of men are capable of installing a faucet or a toilet bowl. If this is not a case, have a professional install it for you. Shop for the best price, make sure your plumber is licensed and insured.
Now you are down to painting. Go for a color that will spruce up your new bathroom. Use a paint that is for bathrooms, this paint has a mildewside that will resist mould growth. If you are using a paint that is not for bathrooms ask to have a mildewside additive mixed in.
Your bathroom is almost done. Don't forget to accessorize. Here are a few ideas:
- New outlet covers will make your bathroom look like a million dollars
- Matching towel and toilet paper holders will make a world difference
- Adding a hint of green color such as real or artificial plants will give a feel of hominess to your bathroom
- Hanging few pictures on your walls will add character to your bathroom style.

Don’t forget to take risks and explore new ideas! Enjoy your new bathroom!
Waiting for your comments and feedbacks and if you have any questions – Ask Erena!