What to Wear (and Not to Wear) to Work

These are just a few tips and tricks to help you put together a wardrobe that will allow your work and not your poor choice of clothing to standout at the office.

1 Take Cues from Female Role Models

If you’re not sure what you should be wearing, take cues from other women at your office. Identify top performers that everyone respects. Are these women wearing shorts and tube tops to the office? Most likely no. Don’t go out and copy your role model’s outfits exactly… but pay attention to the message that her outfits convey and work within those guidelines using your won fashion sense.

2 Work Wardrobe Staples

The modern woman’s work wardrobe most likely includes quality material blouses, sweaters, skirts, dresses, trousers, and suits. There is great room for interpretation here but you should choose structured, quality pieces that fit and can be mixed and matched for versatility in your wardrobe.

3 Fit

Yes, I’m a huge fan of Stacey and Clinton on TLC’s What Not To Wear. My friends and I used to joke about turning each other in just for the free shopping trip! One thing we’ve all learned from that show is that fit is KEY!

We’ve all been there ladies-you’ve gained a few ten and you’re still trying to fit into your old go-to work outfit. Everything still fits-but it just doesn’t look like it used to. Maybe rolls can be seen through your favorite blouse or there’s a muffin top or belly bulge in those formerly amazing slacks or skirt.

I feel your pain-you don’t want to buy new things because then you’ll just continue growing into the new larger size. Trust me -just do it. Confidence is key in weight loss and business. How are you going to be successful in either if you’re going through life pulling and tugging at everything or wearing the few remaining frumpy outfits that fit in the back of your closet?

4 Keep “the Girls” to Yourself

There’s “That Girl” in every office. You know the one who wears low cut blouses and too short skirts every day and that your male colleagues gawk at. Don’t be that girl! You can look feminine and amazing while at the same time keeping your “Assets” to yourself. Rule of thumb-you should never see more than a hint of cleavage if at all before 6 pm and more than two inches above the knee is just too much for the work place.

5 Dressing Too Casual

Business Casual is not equivalent to casual. You shouldn’t be wearing jeans to an office deemed business casual unless it’s authorized for casual Fridays-check with your HR Department for further guidelines. Also, if you would wear it to the gym-don’t wear it to the office. No sweat pants ladies-please! I’m also against sleeveless shirts at the office. You don’t want to show too much skin at the office. Shorts and cut-offs are a …

The Wood Wardrobe – A Choice of Distinction

The crafting of a wood wardrobe starts with the selection of wood. For the construction to be solid and to withstand years of use, quality materials are essential. Careful thought should be put into the choice of wood. In order to determine the best wood to use, consider the type of finish. Just as important is how easy the wood is to work with and the cost. A look at a few different wood types will clarify the best type to use for crafting a fine wood wardrobe.

Hardwoods such as oak, maple, poplar and cherry are all popular choices for building furniture. They are generally more durable than softwoods and all have a distinctive tight grain. Each has its own characteristic markings and coloring that add to their individual appeal.

Out of all the hardwoods, oak is a popular choice and has been used for centuries. It is noted for its durability and strength. However, it can be difficult to work with. Tools must be kept very sharp to avoid chipping and splitting the wood. Drilling pilot holes for any screws is necessary due to its hard nature.

Maple is also very durable and its many species have very unique character. When used for furniture, maple requires special care to keep it from warping. It is not as easily available as oak and is more expensive. For these reasons, it may not be the best choice for the crafting of a wood wardrobe.

Cherry wood is rich in color and character. The tight grain of cherry gives it a very even texture. Although a durable hardwood, cherry is better for smaller pieces of furniture that will be stained to enhance its natural reddish color. Additionally, the cost of cherry may be prohibitive for such a large piece of furniture.

If the wood wardrobe is to have a painted finish, poplar is a good choice. It has a very unusual color, varying from beige to olive green with hints of purple. It is less expensive than cherry and maple. Poplar is relatively easy to work with and takes nails and screws well. Tools must be kept sharp or the wood may tear. Poplar is difficult to stain and with its unique color, painting may be the best finish.

Pine is the predominant softwood used in furniture, especially wardrobes. It is stable, durable and has great natural character. It is notably easy to work with, though caution should be taken as it dents easily. Sharp tools are a must due to pines nature to be crushed instead of cut. Pine is preferred wood of choice for many woodworkers and manufacturers because of its low cost and ease of workability.

Choosing the best wood for crafting a wardrobe can be daunting. But when you think in terms of durability, natural characteristics and ease of workability, the choice can be easier. Add to that affordability and the finished look, and the choice becomes clearer. Oak …

Why Sliding Mirror Doors Can Transform Your Bedroom Instantly

If you are considering installing sliding mirror doors in your bedroom, then you have come across one of the easiest ways to not only visually create more space, but add a touch of class to your house.

In choosing the mirror doors for your bedroom make sure you do not sacrifice on functionality for style though. In terms of options to choose from – you can get a wardrobe built from scratch by a carpenter, or you can buy a ready-made one and jazz it up. There are definitely special techniques to install these doors and a trained professional can do it in minimal time and also suggest ideas about different ways to ensure that you have optimum space and light streaming in to the bedroom. If you are looking to save money – make sure you are confident before you undertake this task.

As mentioned mirrors are a great way to make a room appear larger than it actually is – so if you live in a small house or apartment then this is a great plus- particularly if you want to rent or sell your home / apartment. Furthermore you will be creating an absolutely clutter-free bedroom by sealing off the inner part of your wardrobe.

Swinging Doors vs. Sliding Doors:

When compared, the swinging door design takes up more space than the sliding design. Further to this, if anything goes wrong with the doors then this variety is extremely easy to repair.

Additionally, you can have them in several different styles and designs – from the plain mirror glass to the over-the-top designer ones. You can add on your own personal touches to the mirror – perhaps fixing or lacquering photos and or painting parts of the mirror. It can easily merge with the rest of the decor in the room and go on to make it look far more chic than you would have ever imagined.

Mirror doors can really bring about a relaxing and sensual ambience into your bedroom, and make sure you maximize the natural light in the space. Don’t hesitate, start your search for sliding mirror doors today, as it really is one of the simplest ways to improve the look and feel of your bedroom.…

If you are a wine enthusiast or just a general lover of wine, you most likely host a great collection of reds and whites, and you might be looking into ways to store your wine without it spoiling; thus, many people often opt for either a wine cooler or a wine cellar fridge, which option you go with all depends on the size of your collection. If you fancy yourself a proper wine connoisseur and want to preserve your wine the correct way, then a wine cellar fridge is the one for you, but if you just enjoy a good glass of wine now and then, a wine cooler small or big is the option for you.

Separating the two

When it comes to wine coolers and wine cellars, there are vast differences between the two, making each of them unique in their own way. Yes, they ultimately serve the same purpose, but the manner in which it is done and the vessel thereof are completely different. One of the most notable differences between the two is that a wine cellar is a temperature-controlled room that stores and preserves the wine. In contrast, a wine cooler is simply a unit built with the purpose of storing and cooling a small collection of wine. However, wine cellars are generally built in the basement area of a home which, if you are thinking about it, will cost a pretty penny as there are many costs involved in this process. In contrast, a wine cooler is a compact unit you purchase. You are able to place it anywhere in your home, from units small enough to fit on your counter to units big enough to stand next to your refrigerator, but this all depends on your needs and the size of your wine collection.

Your wine’s best mate

Whether you are getting a wine cooler or a wine cellar, each of them has its own benefits, and one can trump the other based on your personal opinion; however, it would be in your best interest to do your research to find the option best suited not only for you but for your wine as this is to take your wine to be at its peak ultimately and is the perfect serve every time. Regardless of the option you choose to go with, you can rest assured that your wine will not only be perfectly chilled every time but also well preserved over time.

Looking to the future

Therefore, if you are considering acquiring a wine cooler or wine cellar, it would be wise for you to consider your needs and budget beforehand, as installing a wine cellar can be quite costly. Therefore if your wine collection only consists of a few bottles of wine, a small wine cooler might be the better option. However, although a wine cooler serves a similar purpose in a more compact unit, a wine cellar can be seen as an investment and an improvement to your home, …

Stages Of House Building – Fittings And Fixtures

This marks the onset of finishing the house. It involves equipping the house with permanent furniture, some of which include;

A� Ceilings and linings: This is in most cases viewed as part of the main construction rather than a finishing activity. However, with the evolution of ceilings from being just a means for under-roof cover to a decorative part of the interiors, it fits more in this category. A typical ceiling comprises of these distinct parts;

– Brandering: This refers to the framing or railing on which a ceiling hangs. Most brandering is made out of timber sections, built to span both ways and forming a mesh. Other materials include wire hangers as well as members made synthetic materials like UPVC. This can be viewed as the structural part of the ceiling.

– Cover / lining: this is the material that actually conceals the under-roof, although in some instances it is made to conceal services such as electrical cables. Most ceiling cover is in the form of boards for example chip board, gypsum board or even synthetic sound absorbing panels as is common in acoustic linings. The cover is fixed onto the Brandering, mostly by the use of nails or screws, but in some cases it is placed directly onto the Brandering, making it part of the finish.

– Edge finish: This is commonly provided in the form of a cornice. Most of these cornices are moulded to assume a particular look, in most cases to provide a harmonious transition from wall to the soffit.

A� Wardrobes: Most of these are custom made fixtures and are used for the storage of clothes and shoes. They are in most cases made out of a blend of both natural timber and artificial boards. They include doors, hanging rail and shoe racks.

A� Vanity Tops and Dressers: Vanity tops are used to hold wash basins and therefore provide a platform for placing toiletries like tooth brush holders. Dressers, on the other hand, provide a platform for placing clothes and other items of clothing, including a mirror and drawers, mostly for storing jewelry.

A� Shelves: Common in kitchens and stores. Basically used for the storage of items.

A� Cabinets: Cabinets are similar to shelves but with doors, just like the wardrobe. These are also common in kitchens.

A� Rails and skirtings: These are mouldings provided along the wall, and they serve different purposes as below;

– Picture rail: The highest of all (apart from the cornice) usually at the level of door head. Used for hanging pictures and other items like antiques.

– Dado rail: Found just below the mid height of the building. Sole purpose is to prevent the wall against damage by the back of the chair, although it also serves the aesthetic role of breaking the monotony of the wall.

– Skirting: Usually at the edge between the floor and the wall and has functions similar to the cornice.

A� Pelmet boxes: Provided …