Jewelry Fashion Trends

Drop earrings were definitely favored by the attendees of the 2009 Emmy Awards. Various sizes and shapes were seen on the red carpet and one of the most memorable were gold hoop earrings wore by Rachael Ray which matched perfectly her gown detailed with beaded necklace.

Julie Berman, Kirsten Storms, Thea Andrews and Jenny Garth chose designs by famous jewelry designer – Neil Lane. Many stars opted for classic diamond jewelry set in platinum and white gold. Michelle Stafford (The Young and the Restless) sported white gold, diamond and crystal earrings from Spanish brand Carrera y Carrera. Heather Tom chose pearls and white gold.

Tyra Banks who won Emmy award for "Informative Talk Show” created simple but elegant look wearing coral Rachel Roy dress and single metal cuff bracelets on each wrist.

The most common companions for earrings were bold cocktail rings or diamond bracelets, with many stars choosing to balance their looks with a single large ring.

Even experienced hair care consumers can get confused about the multitude of products available today. There’s stuff for your hair when it’s wet, and when it’s dry; when it needs strength, and when it needs repair. Is all this stuff bogus? And what are all these things supposed to do anyway?

Whether a product is as effective as it’s claimed to be is up to the consumer. She gets to decide if she likes the look and feel, and even the smell, of the product she purchases, even if the “revolutionary science” behind its formula is a bit of a stretch. What works for you is not something to be left to commercial claims, however. The best way to know what makes your hair the happiest is to experiment with various products (Try the travel size shampoos and conditioners if you want to try a new one every day).

So, what should I be looking for anyway? Here are a few product types that you might be interested in:

Hairspray versus other sprays:

Hairspray is what we all know as the heavy duty stuff that we break out for up-dos and curls that just need to stick. But there are other sprays that could be even more helpful to you and your hair type. Take gel spray, for instance. Gel helps absorb wetness remaining in your hair while your strands stick together to form that “scrunch” that you’re looking for. In spray form, you can apply gel in a tidier way than you can with slimed up hands in your wet hair. Spraying gel into curls or waves is a more flexible and often, more shiny, way of holding hair. Other sprays, like volumizing and shine sprays can help to. One gives you lift only where you need it, and one just gives your hair a nice glossy look.

I want volume!

Volumizing products work like this: the product stiffens your hair where applied, but doesn’t necessarily stick it all together, which is what happens when you use hairspray. Instead, the stiffening of the hair, especially at the roots, just makes the hair sit up a little more than normal, making it appear more voluminous. There are a few volumizing sprays which work great when you need a quick dose of volume at the roots while you’re blow drying. Or volumizing mousse is good way to plump hair before it completely dries. A mousse like Tresemme Weightless should do the job, giving you a plumper finish all around.

Can I have shiny, smooth hair?

I can’t promise your hair will shine as brilliantly as it does in shampoo commercials, but some smooth/shine products are worth purchasing. If you want something that acts as a sort of thick detangler that gives your hair just a hint of oily smoothness, try a non-sticky, relatively thin serum that you can use on wet or dry hair. Recommendation: Garnier Fructis Glistening Drops. Just a few small pumps provide all-over smoothness when you need it. And when you apply to dry, styled hair, it protects against moisture. Also, if you’re going for the sleek look, don’t forget about straightening gels and balms which you can apply to wet hair to keep it from curling up when it’s styled straight. These products will usually help control frizz and weigh the hair down a little so it doesn’t begin to crinkle midday.

There's a new show for us food junkies! Fortunately, this one works for the money wise too. The new program, featured on Food Network, is Melissa d'Arabian's Ten Dollar Dinners. Every week, Melissa tries out a new dinner fix that feeds a family of four for under ten bucks. What a deal!

Melissa d'Arabian's show isn't the only new addition to the Food Network. The show's host herself is new to the cooking biz. Though she's been cooking from a young age, Melissa has never held a true cooking gig until she scored a spot of Food Network's fifth season of The Next Food Network Star. It was her homemaker's insight that won her the televised contest and the grand prize: her own daytime cooking show.

The appeal of Ten Dollar Dinners is the way Melissa, mother of four, proves that you don't have to sacrifice flavor or variety to fill four plates for cheap. Some of her first filmed recipes include Crispy-Skinned Chicken a l'Orange, a Kid-friendly Samon, and Five-Minute Individual Potato Gratins. Inspired by her travels abroad, Food Network's latest family meal guru brings in several exotic flavors to bring together multiple components to each dinner. Even with a delicious main dish and out-of-the-ordinary accoutrements for each person, her 10 dollar promie remains true. At that rate, you could satisfy your family every evening for just $70 a week.

Other Food Network stars include Aaron McCargo, Jr., also know as Big Daddy, and Guy Fieri, known for his Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. For Melissa d'Arabian's recipes, checkout foodnetwork.com, or tune in on Sunday afternoons at 12:30.

A big fall trend this year will be the studded bag. This funky, hardcore look gives an edge to any look and is a favorite of actress Vannessa Anne Hudgens. You can get one in various colors though I personally prefer black. The studded bag looks exceptionally good with skinny jeans and a funky top, giving off a boho vibe. You could also pair it with a chic dress and some ankle booties. Almost anything you wear will work with this versatile piece!

The mini skirt is seeing a new era. No more tight, denim super short skirts. Say hello to full, patterned mini's. Everywhere you go you see girls wearing them on their hips or waist with vibrant patterns. This is an incredibly feminine and Paris chic look that can be casual to semi formal. Forever 21 has a huge, affordable collection while other stores have a bit more pricey but still cute selection. You can do flip flops, sandals, flats, or heels with the full mini. So go out and get this adorable, flirty look!

Milla Jovovich and the movie director Paul W. S. Anderson exchanged their wedding vows last Saturday in a marriage ceremony organized at the couple’s Beverly Hills Spanish-style house decorated with red and white flowers. Milla walked down the aisle wearing a dress from Temperley London's Bridal Collection and a beautiful 19th century vintage gold engagement ring with colored pink, yellow and white diamonds. The ring matches perfectly 18k gold wedding band designed last minute by famous jewelry designer Neil Lane. Lane told People Magazine, "I measured her fingers, we worked on the design and I designed it overnight! Paul picked them up (at lunchtime) while Milla was in hair and makeup getting ready."

The new weds shared their happiness with over a 100 invited guests and enjoyed a Spanish style reception with live music and delicious food.

> Jovovich (33) and Anderson (44) first met in 2002, when he directed her in the box office hit Resident Evil. They had their daughter Ever Gabo in November 2006.

Congratulations Milla and Paul !

Did you know that some of America's biggest stars are also some of the biggest threats to our privacy? On Tuesday, McAfee Inc. issued its study of which online celebrity searches cause the most online threats. Some of the most dangerous celebs to look for on the web include Jennifer Aniston, Beyonce, and last year's most threatening super star, Brad Pitt.

But this year Brad was trumped by actress Jessica Biel. Searching for wallpaper, screen savers, and other Jessica downloads will lead you to an ill-intended site one in every five times, according to McAfee. People who intend to abuse the internet with spyware and viruses will target the millions who search for their famous favorites every day.

These cybercriminals also take advantage of teens that search for young celebs like Miley Cyrus and Ashley Tisdale.

The Chicago Tribune, which posted the story today, notes that these savvy online scammers know their stuff—they watch for what's popular and they use our curiosity about celebrities against us.

If it seems too expensive to just throw away, it probably is. Many of the broken or outdated items in your home can still be saved somehow. Cell phones, eyeglasses, and even old appliances can avoid the dump if you recycle them. The best way to recycle old goods that still work is to donate them to local organizations that can give them to people that need them. But other recycling services will make use of your items, even if they aren’t usable. Recyclemycellphone.org is a good place to start. They’ll find a home for your outdated cell phones; but if they receive a broken phone, they’ll salvage all the working parts to be used in new cell phones. Before you send yours off, ask your friends if you can ship theirs too. Why Not?

Did you know that throwing out fluorescent light bulbs is considered hazardous? Lamprecycle.org is a site that can give you more information about the mercury in these bulbs and how it can be reused for new bulbs. Lamprecycle.org will also direct you to the drop-off location nearest you that will take your old bulbs.

Some of us go through clothes fast. So what’s the best way to make good use of our old clothes after we’re done with them? Check out the labels on some of your giveaways and see if there is anything with a known name that’s in good condition. You don’t have to have fancy brand name stuff to sell back to places like Plato’s Closet. They’ll take slightly used clothes and accessories that you got from most stores in the mall. You might also try looking through the piles of unwanted clothes to find fabrics that can be salvaged. Some might be ideal for rags used for polishing, or as smocks for your kids when they finger paint. If you like the pattern on an old shirt that no longer fits, cut out a few sections of the design to use in a craft project that you can hang on the wall. Buttons can be saved for future endeavors too. Just remember to get the most out of what would otherwise lie uselessly in a landfill.