Photoshop for the kids

Actually, SUMO is an online app that very closely simulates Photoshops main features. Its a great tool for teh 5 year old in your house that wants to do what you are doing. Just drop it in thier bookmarks and let them go to town. No more messing up your settings in PS.

http://www.sumo.fi/products/sumopaint/index.php?id=0

Obamafy - "We've got spirt.. yes we do..."

Can't get enough of Obama.. here is your chance to do a little roll playing. Assuming you have a mac and photo booth, but really, and Obama supporter worth their salt is on a mac, right?

http://www.dubster.com/obamafy/

This could not be more true, or profound

I have come withing a baby's hair of smacking a "barista" over this.

Guest Blogger Grand Mademoiselle - The genius of the stiletto


Admittedly, donning a pair of towering stiletto's is a daunting endeavor, one that cannot be taken lightly by any serious, fashion-minded woman. However, despite the physical setbacks, numerous pit stops to rub one's toes included, the power that comes with stalking down the street or sauntering into a party wearing a pair of stiletto's overwhelmingly outweighs any negative side effects.

The genius of the stiletto can be found in its remarkable ability to transform even the most negligent wallflower into the glorious font of feminine wit that she was destined to become. Once perched atop the lofty height of four inches worth of sumptuous leather and searing heels, the woman within is unleashed in all her contradictory allure. The stiletto woman is at once a vixen and a mother, a power broker and an artist, sarcastic yet shy, intimidating while fearful. The wonderful dichotomies that embody womanhood are all to be encountered anew in the fierce sensuality and strength accorded to us by the stiletto.

Certainly, the stiletto causes pain and suffering, but such is the life of a woman, who manages to remain as gorgeous and powerful as ever while living through the burdens of life as a feminine creature. Having been given this tremendous gift, it is up to us to make good use of it, and a great pair of Louboutin's is the best place to start...

My Photo

The Grand
Mademoiselle
www.grandmshoeblog.com

Stilettos

Those sexy little shoes that hurt like hell. The things we women do to look good. I have 4 pair! They are one of the most uncomfortable shoes created by man, yet they turn their heads so easily. God strike down the man who thought this (next to the under wire bra) was a great idea. Yes it look sexy, you appear taller, sleeker and slimmer, but in general, heels are killer on your feet, legs and back. For me, by the end of the night, I'm walking barefoot on the sidewalk with shoes in hand; nevermind the broken glass, and sharp rocks...

They have been known to physically alter your body as well. Hold one moment, while I reach for my MD hat. There we go; nice fit.

Wearing heels can and will shorten your calf muscle. And while you're thinking that this is no big deal, think again. All you runners or potential runners out there, listen up! A shortened calf muscle can lead to all sorts of problems starting from Achilles Tendinitis to Plantar Fasciatus. Both are equally painful. Think about it, how many track runners do you see walking around the streets in heels all day? Sure you may get the occasional brave soul here or there, but most real tried & true blue athletes will stick to shoes that are comfortable and make sense. Face, it, you are not Cary Bradshaw and this isn't Sex and the City. Stick with what makes sense.

This doesn't mean that you need to go to your closet and throw out ever platinum pump and sued sling back. The point is that heels as an everyday wear will make do a wear and tear on your body. But don't worry, not all is lost. Changing it up by incorporating a different type of heel of a different height can still provide some body R&R without compromising your Euro-chic style. HINT: Ballerina flats are in!

So weather they're used as fashion, hammers, weapons, or Sparky's chew toy. Stilettos are the heel we love to hate and visa versa.

Guest blogger and Flickr socialite CC "AMOR VINCIT OMNI"
Check out her blog here. http://ccurtiz.blogspot.com/

5 Things Guys Need to Know about Clothes by ccurtiz


1.) Your jean size and your docker size are not the same. Too much frabric at the bottom of your dockers is a no no and will give the appearance of shortened height.

2.) Don't be afraid of sweaters. Sweaters show a power side. And if worn correctly, they can give you the look of success and power with out the over-metro look.

3.) Dress your age. If you're 50 and trying to look 20, you'll look rediculous. Rule of thumb is 10 years younger. No one wants the be the creepy 50 year old in Buckle jeans; in the oh-so-obvious mid-life crisis.

4.) Girls look at shoes. Good looking (and matching) shoes shows you take care of yourself. We can also tell high end versus Kmart brand. High brands (although looks great) will leave your pockets empty, whereas Kmart brands may gain you women who "without regard". They key is, to look for knock-off named brands of the high-end name. You don't break the bank, and you still look good. You can use this to weed out the women of really rich taste. If they know the difference between real high end knock-off high end, you have yourself a girl with expensive taste.

5.) NO NIPPLE SHIRTS. Leave this to the women in the wet T-Shirt contests. We appreciate a muscle-man as much as the next, but we don't need to see them ripping through your baby-gap shirt either.

Guest blogger and Flickr socialite CC "AMOR VINCIT OMNI"
Check out her blog here. http://ccurtiz.blogspot.com/

An Open Letter To Women Part 3

An Open Letter To Women Part 3

You women really do have a power. The touch of a beautiful women can make a man 10 years younger and 10 years dumber instantly. Its almost primal the way that priorities change and testosterone flows from that point on. His chest gets puffed out any time she is near. Clothes start matching and the car is cleansed of Mc Donalds bags and Red Bull cans. Movies, dinners and painfully long phone calls are all displays of a mans strength.. not the muscle kind of strength but the mental toughness a man must have to survive this woman. After all.. if a man can't survive the courting rituals how can he endure the rants and random babel that a women must download before she can relax and get on with her night. We men have evolved though. We know better than to try and solve you, or give you answers. We know that women ask questions they don't want answers too.. and that ever girl is convinced that someone else is trying to destroy her at work or school. We compromise our positions and relent the remote control for the TV when absolutely necessary. But why???

Why do we do this. Its a wicked power she has. Lured by her beauty, any many would fall victim to complacent lust and weak kneed amazement. But at what cost. Is all thats pretty also peaceful. Not all that glitters is gold and there are some illusions that will be revealed in time. How long can you stay atop this mountain before another man with lust in his eyes pushes you off the mountain? Are we just amused by the muse? is beauty the beast after all? Are we just the drug to the addiction? Is it worth it? Does she know that we can see the magic.. and that we can see when the magic fades.

... like I said before.. its primal.. and its magic... and...


Colorado model Alix R.
*Actual women now show.

"Size Matters" from the Style Sisters

There are few things less attractive than a man drowning in his clothes. For some inexplicable reason, all men think they are a size large—and we just can’t take it anymore. As women, we find this quite humorous and ironic since we’re always trying to appear smaller while men are always trying to look bigger.

It’s important for men to understand that there’s an astronomical difference between something that fits and something that’s too tight. Trying something on before you buy it is time well spent (stop rolling your eyes!!). We are well aware that shopping is not something most of you find enjoyable and truth be told, countless women feel the same way. Judging from the men we know, it’s safe to say that you run to the mall or department store only when you are in dire need of a particular item. Our hope is that maybe, just maybe, we can convince you that when you make this one time a year trek to the mall that you include a trip into the fitting rooms before hitting the registers. We don’t want anyone wearing ill-fitting garments, and we especially want you to avoid an extra and unnecessary trip back to the mall. This means that you must, yes MUST, make it back into the fitting rooms in each store before you make a purchase. I know it’s the last thing you want to do, nobody enjoys it (not even girls), but sizes vary from brand to brand and store to store.

Because we know that it can be difficult to judge whether or not something fits correctly, we’re here to make it as simple and quick as possible for you.

When trying on a shirt (and this applies to ALL tops and jackets), there are two quick and easy ways to tell if it fits. First look at the seam that is supposed to fall at the top of your shoulder. If this seam lies anywhere else, like halfway down your arm (we see this far too often), then the shirt is too big. Contrary to many men’s beliefs, this will make you look smaller instead of larger. Next, check to see where the sleeve ends. Short sleeve shirts should never fall below your elbow and long sleeve shirts should fall just below the wrist bone. Shirts that fit these requirements will give you an overall better and sexier look.

Now for your bottom half. No woman likes to see sagging that displays the type, pattern, and cleanliness of your underwear; crotches hanging down to your knees; or the bottom of your pant legs being walked all over. We’re all for comfort so please wear pants where they feel good (like right at or under your natural waist). The two most important things about a pair of pants are the size and the style. When you see one number times another on a pair of pants, the first number is the waist and the second number is the inseam length. A general rule is that the darker the denim the dressier the jean. There are tons of fits out there and most of them should be avoided. We are large advocates of straight leg and boot leg (sometimes called boot cut) fits. Never EVER take a pair of tapered leg pants into the dressing room—they aren’t attractive on anyone. A good way to ensure the pant leg doesn’t get smaller towards the bottom is to fold the bottom hem up to the knee. If they are the same width at these two points, they’re winners! When you get back to the fitting room to actually try everything on, be sure that you determine if your pants are the correct length by putting your shoes on with them. You want the pants to graze the floor on heel of your shoes, and this will create a nice “break” in the pants over your ankle.

Women appreciate men who take pride in their appearance and dress to impress. Wearing clothes that fit well and are comfortable are beneficial in ways you’ve never imagined (trust us). They will allow you to carry yourself differently. When you know you look good, it shows. Also, after you have found that store or brand that makes clothes that fit your body just right, make it your shopping destination for every trip to the mall. Believe us, it’ll make your life easier and in the end, we know that’s what is most important for you guys!!

An Open Letter To Women Part 2

An Open Letter To Women Part 2
A subtle beauty is a powerful thing. No body parts need be exaggerated and elegance truly is a dimple in the small of a women's back.

While women may get the idea that all men want is a super posable sex toy... well thats partially true, but its not the entirety of the story. Men also want a women that makes them forget what they were talking about as they get lost in her eyes. The kind of woman that looks beautiful sleeping on the couch or wiping the running mascara from her face in the pool. A man wants to drop his briefcase on his foot as he walks in the door because he is overwhelmed by the beautiful standing before him wearing nothing but his best button up shirt.

..and did I mention they way a girls clothes lay on her body. Its not always the perfectly tailored outfit from Nordstrom that raises a mans heart rate and shortens his breath. A bra strap twisted, a collar slightly out of whack.. and yes... a properly placed run in a girls nylons are nothing short of spiritual.

Know this... we notice. .we know.. we pay very close attention.. you may not know it or catch us doing it.. but we are always adoring and appreciating the little things, the shiny things.. the candid things... the women.

Colorado Model Stephanie J

"The Uniform" - From The Style Sisters

Men have life easy. We get our periods and have to push babies out of our bodies. We’d love to see a man do either of those things just once without complaining even a little. Don’t get us wrong, we absolutely love men (believe us)! But here’s the point: men’s lifestyles are significantly less expansive and difficult than women’s in many ways. We’d love to see a man put together a stylish outfit from a woman’s closet. It’s such a challenge to choose an outfit with so many options of styles and lengths. We have pants, capris, shorts, skirts and dresses—and that’s just half the outfit we have to put together on a daily basis, although we’re sure many men out there would appreciate it if we stopped there!! We still have to choose a top, of which it could be one of five different sleeve lengths, then, find something to layer underneath it, and usually need something else to wear over that. This isn’t even taking the shoes and jewelry into consideration, of which there are limitless options. It’s not easy to look effortlessly chic and pulled together with so many choices.

On the other hand, men have so few choices, they really can’t complain about getting dressed each morning. Men have short sleeve and long sleeve shirts to pair with either shorts or pants. It’s not even a choice they have to make themselves, really, because the weather tends to make it for them. So really, what are you guys complaining about?

I mean, it continues to amaze me how many poorly dressed men leave their house each morning. In the opinion of Dollen’s Style Sisters, there is a simple uniform that all men can safely follow and look pulled together every day, and for every occasion. And in popular culture today, ties and suits aren’t required in most work environments; most men have jobs where a polo shirt or dress shirt with khakis will suffice. How hard can it be to put on a collared shirt and well-fitting pair of pants? Every man should immediately-if not sooner- make this their everyday uniform. This simple ensemble can take any t-shirt and jeans man to the next level of sophistication and sexiness, and what beautiful woman doesn’t want a sexy, stylish man as an accessory?


An open letter to women: Part 1

An open letter to women: Part 1
I often wonder if women know about all the little things a guy likes. The simple things that in some cases a girl will even avoid. For instance. Messy hair rocks. If it looks like you just rolled out of bed and spent about 2 minutes on you hair.. its gonna be hot. Another one, Your hair getting in your face.. its just sexy and all feminine all at the same time. I know you girls go out of your way to avoid panty lines.. but those can really work on the right girls. Although, the little tiny undies that show no lines.. well those rock too. Choker necklaces are almost as cool as pleated skirts. Puling you hair back and letting just a couple strands get loose is right up there with the way you get lipstick on a straw when you drink a pop.

Not sure what inspired all this.. maybe just the things in this image (I will note them) that caught my eye. None the less I would love to hear your feedback, both guys and girls.