This cruise began Abecita us with a two day stay in Istanbul minus one suitcase that Delta Airlines lost. We had been in Istanbul for a couple lingerie days at the end of our last cruise, and my wife fell in love with it. We spent the time checking out things lingerie didn’t see on the last trip, and shopping for underwear, pantyhose, shoes, and other things Kathy needed after the lost luggage fiasco. There we were, at the Grand Bazaar, Kathy in a pair of my boxer shorts and a T shirt the ship gave her. But we found some great bargains on knock-offs.

The Millennium set sail for Kusadasi (Ephesus) Turkey in the early afternoon. The next day we arrived in Kusadasi, known for its very extensive ruins at Ephesus. These are the most impressive ruins we have ever seen, be sure not to miss them when you are in Kusadasi. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony were tourists at Ephesus!

We toured a rug factory which was actually a rug store. However, they gave a very interesting presentation on how Turkish rugs are woven and how to determine the quality of rugs. We saw a demonstration of a young girl weaving a rug.

While in Kusadasi we spotted an internet cafe sign and so we went on in. They were quite excited that we had come in; they uncovered their single computer, taped some cardboard to the window to reduce the glare on the screen, and brought us some cokes to drink. After we finished surfing the net we asked how much we owed. They said “nothing!” and they wouldn’t let us pay for anything. Odd but interesting and nice.

The next day was a day at sea with no stops at any ports. We consider days at sea as our lazy kick-back and relax part of our cruises. So we “bagged some rays” by the pool and checked out the drink of the day.

The next day we arrived in Limasol, Cyprus. Originally we were supposed to go to Haifa Israel, but due to some Middle East unrest, the destination was changed to Limasol. There was an interesting castle that we toured, and then we went looking for an internet cafe. We found one and did a little updating of our website while we were there. Internet cafe’s can be found in most cities and it is truly amazing to see the differences. There isn’t really much in Limasol.

Our next port of call was Alexandria Egypt. The port was HUGE! There were quite a few sunken ships poking up out of the water as we entered the port…wonder what that was about? Our ship was greeted with a giant red carpet and a large band playing music.

We took the shore excursion to the Pyramids, about a three hour bus trip. The buses traveled in convoys with police escorts. I presume it’s an anti terrorist thing. The Pyramids were awesome! We got to actually climb up on one of the pyramids. There were also cool tombs that we toured, and of course, shopping for jewelry and papyrus art.

Our next port of call was Athens Greece. Since we had been to Athens recently we opted not to take any of the excursions and just went to the Plaka. We found yet another Internet cafe where we could update our web site. Although it was about 3 flights of stairs to get to the cafe, were given the “Computer with a view” .. Just out the window was a spectacular view of the Acropolis. And we found another fabulous open air cafe.

We arrive next at Naples, Italy. The day was kind of a whirl wind of a day as we took a hydrofoil to the island of Capri where we toured the island, an interesting and beautiful island and playground for the rich. Then on to Sorrento where we had lunch and wandered around the scenic town, and finally we toured the amazing ruins at Pompeii. There are enough ruins at Pompeii to spend weeks there and still not see everything. Thousands of years ago and they had plumbing fixtures…running water in their homes, taverns, saunas, and all sorts of surprising things. A very busy day!

Next stop, Rome and the Vatican City including St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican museum. At the Vatican, we visited the Sistine chapel which was mind blowing. Following that we visited the Coliseum. The Coliseum was another amazing place. Kathy was really impressed with the Trevi Fountain in Rome (she threw in the required 3 coins so we could come back to Rome).

Our next port was Nice, France. We visited a famous flower market, had coffee at a little side walk cafe, and we took a shore excursion to Monaco. Monaco isn’t very big! We could stand in one spot and see the whole country. There are lots of shops on the tiny narrow winding streets. We had lunch (at an open air cafe) and Kathy liked the Roquefort cheese so much she asked the waiter where should could get some, and he directed her to a market. We bought some and brought it home with us.

The following morning we disembarked in Barcelona and within hours we were on our way home! Another fantastic cruise ship adventure under our belts!

William Lund is an avid cruiser, and he and his wife Kathy cruise at least once a year. Mr. Lund invites you to visit his cruise reviews website: Cruises R Fun Mr. Lund also has a blog at: Pondering Everything

One of the leading names in international fashion, Dolce&Gabbana was started in 1985 in Milan by Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

Specializing in high-end fashion, they maintain two main lines of clothing and accessories, which appeal to fundamentally different tastes – the stylish and fashionable Dolce&Gabbana and the more casual and informal D&G.

Their collection ranges from classy suits and dresses, underwear and lingerie to beachwear, sunglasses, leather and footwear to fragrances, jewelry and timepieces. They even carry corrective eyewear. The fashion house distributes its wide range of products in over 80 countries worldwide.

With fashion collections that have frequently garnered raves from fashion critics such as “devastatingly sexy” or “fetishistic and provocative”, they want to make blatant fashion statements.

Still and all, the aesthetic is remains characteristically Italian, which has drawn the loyal patronage of such big celebrities as Madonna, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Isabella Rossellini, Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes, among others.

The two designers met in Milan in 1980, while working in a fashion design enterprise. Dolce, who grew up in Sicily, had studied fashion design and had worked in their family’s modest clothing factory.

Gabbana grew up in Milan and was trained as a graphic designer. They combined their unique creativity and started their own business in two years.

Now the huge fashion empire that they created employs over 2000 people and has 261 stores worldwide. Sales in 2006 topped $1 billion, establishing them in the same league as Giorgio Armani, Max Mara and Prada Group.

Notwithstanding this remarkable success story, they have not been free of controversy. In January 2007, the fashion house was roundly criticized Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for featuring models wielding knives in one of its advertising campaigns.

In February 2007, it was forced to withdraw advertisements in Paris and Madrid after consumers’ groups complained to authorities that one of its ads was illegal and humiliating to women.

Nonetheless, owing to its secure niche in the international fashion world, especially as it apparently gains strong acceptance among the young professionals in China, they will continue to make waves – and get raves – in the industry.

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By the end of the First World War, many changes in fashion came about. Short bobs became in, as well as pinafores worn above the knee. Corsets were gone, and women suddenly dressed like boys. The androgynous style soon became the in thing by the year 1925. Sportswear became hot trends among men and women, with popular designers Jean Patou with Coco Chanel helping popularize the athletic look.

Chanel was one of the most popular fashion movers of the era, as she was responsible for introducing chic and futuristic designs. She helped in making popular the bob hairstyle, use of jersey knit among women, as well as use of the little black dress. She also made popular the use of jewelry and knitwear among her clients.

Another popular French designer of the era was Jeanne Lanvin, who was responsible for introducing intricate trimmings, as well as impressive embroideries and decorations. By the middle of the decade she had manufactured an impressive line of products ranging from men’s wear, sportswear, and lingerie.

Still another renowned designer of the decade was Jean Patou. While hers was never mainstream, Patou’s style was eccentric and original. She was known for her garments with clean lines, emphasized by luxury and practicality.

Men’s wear became emphasized youthfulness and relaxation. Formality was being forgotten, as men preferred to show off their youthfulness. They wore short suit jackets, as well as short tuxedo, sweaters and short pants. Another trend was the London cut, made popular by the English tailor Scholte.

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If you are like me, you have tried everything from mayonnaise to that expensive French stuff from your salon to help condition your hair. My hair takes a beating from all the heat appliances I enjoy. For years, my hair would frizz in defiance against all that damage. But I finally have a technique that has worked a miracle for my locks:

Wash your hair every other night to keep the natural oils in tact.

This will keep you from having to blow dry in the morning, as it will dry naturally over night.

Always switch between two shampoos and conditioners. Your hair gets used to the ingredients in one, making it inactive to do its job.

Use a good strengthening product on your wet hair before going to sleep.

This will enable the product to seep deeper into the hair shaft before being styled the next day.

The following morning, put some shine serum in your hair to protect it from further styling damage.

Do this by putting a small amount in the palm of your hand, rub hands together to produce warmth, and then apply evenly through dry strands.

Continue this procedure for two weeks. Your hair’s texture should change greatly in this time frame.

Once you feel as if your strands are healthy, you may continue this process just once a week or every other week if needed.

Please be aware that sometimes, hair can be too damaged to correct. If you think this may be the case, please don’t waist time and money trying to correct it. Go to your stylist and see what he/she thinks. In some instances, the only thing that can be done is to cut off the brittle strands.

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Shopping is all time favorite activity by people of all ages, genders, nations and cultures. However their trends and attitude may be changed in terms of local traditions, circumstances and environment. Overall people are always enthusiastic about shopping and love to participate in all its relevant activities. There are certain shopping festivals that are celebrated annually and attract large number of visitors all around the world. Here are few:

Dubai International Shopping Festival
Dubai is known as a city of Gold and a beautiful place and famous for its shopping malls and duty free / tax free purchases. Dubai shopping festival was inaugurated in 1996 and since then it has become a hottest tourist spot with countless new products to purchase at discounted prices, lot of fireworks and luxurious lifestyle. This festival is celebrated in first quarter of every year normally in February. It’s a huge event where millions of visitors come from across the world.

New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF)
This wonderful gift fair provides an excellent opportunity to expand the scope of consumer oriented gift products with lot entertaining and educational activities. Both visitors and exhibitors fully participate and make it a global marketplace for giftware. Here you can find the latest items, new trends, useful resources and broad range of accessories.

Gem Faire-San Diego
This gem faire is an ideal occasion to find purest quality of gemstones, beads, jewelry, and other relevant accessories. Here you can also meet the industry top designers, importers, manufacturers and other leading resources.

Off Price Apparel Show-Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a popular destination for tourists and this beautiful area is full of numerous attractions, Off Price Apparel Show is one of them. Almost 20 to 70% prices are below the original manufacturer price that is a huge discount. Casual, formal, athletic, intimated, night ware, all types of apparels are available for men, women and kids. For all people who love to buy cheaper clothes, this is a must attending show.

There are countless shows, fairs and festivals conducted all around on different places and seasons. Visitors not only find extra ordinary shopping facilities but lots of entertainment also. Important point is to fully participate and have fun.

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Retro bowling shirts are now topping many lists of sport goods best sellers, and there’s a good reason for that – they look great! An item with a classic ‘American’ feel to it, it now sells around the world, so what’s the history of the bowling shirt, and why is the retro style so popular..?

The bowling shirt originated as something which was efficient for bowlers to wear. The short sleeves and box design meant that the material didn’t interfere with the bowling action, and it wasn’t so tight that it hindered it either. The cotton blend of the material meant that it was comfortable to wear, airy to allow perspiration without any nasty staining! The block colors meant that teams could be easily identified in busy rinks during competitions.

All well and good for the bowlers, but it was in the 1950s that the shirt made an impression outside the confines of the rinks and lanes. With the onset of rockabilly, the youth started to wear these bowling shirts as general casual clothing, and it took off as a cool look, with the possibilities of embroidery of names and logos adding to the fun.

In later years, the mods, who were the arch enemies of the rockers, even started to wear them! They did change the style somewhat, in that they only wore fitted designs as opposed to the original box shape. Always popular in the bowling alleys, the shirt went up and down in popularity outside the rink, but with the rise of internet commerce, the desire to sell to all markets meant a perfect opportunity for the retro shirt to make a comeback.

With its’ classic block colors and design, the retro bowling shirt is typical nostalgic Americana, and people love to look back to a bygone age, when everything seemed so much simpler.

In today’s world of seemingly endless struggles, the retro bowler’s shirt has an important function – it makes people smile! If someone sees you wearing one, they won’t point and jeer, they’ll smile and say ‘cool shirt’, and it’s this simple fact more than anything that has helped the comeback of the retro bowling shirt.

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Today’s woman has so many concerns throughout the day. No longer is the stereotypical stay-at-home mom a reality. Many a woman is juggling a career, kids, community activities, and possibly home-schooling, in addition to everyday chores. In a 24-hour day, she stuffs 30-40 hours of living. Sometimes, it is hard to remember that she is not superwoman, and sometimes what she wants is a little silk and lace for Christmas.

A woman is good at so many occupations. Touted as the weaker sex, a woman can usually work a man under the table, so to speak. Although role sharing is becoming more acceptable, who is usually the one who cleans and cooks after work, bathes the kids, tucks them in, and then starts a load of laundry for work tomorrow? Under similar conditions, no wonder a woman often feels unappreciated.

Sometimes, a woman deserves a little pampering. What she wants is a little silk and lace, and to feel beautifully feminine. So, why not consider something a little different for Christmas this year? Instead of getting her something for the home, or an item she needs regardless of the holiday, give her something special in her stocking; or, simply give her stockings.

A gift certificate or a package from a lingerie store is much more than the expected nowadays. In addition to the expected sleepwear, specialty shops sell seasonal lingerie. Stockings for the holidays, and other accessories befitting the season, are only a small part of the inventory.

Lounge wear, costumes, and shoes are also available for making her spirit a little brighter. The choices are virtually countless. Once you have made the decision to purchase a little silk and lace for Christmas, you will definitely be challenged to pick out the perfect gift.

Do not simply give up and give her the standard fare. Remember, a gift certificate is always an option if you cannot decide. Otherwise, pick out several items and give her a smorgasbord of silk and lace for Christmas.

A work at-home-mom, Tina Matsunaga is a freelance writer with a degree in English and secondary education. She works for Internet marketers, small business owners, and individuals in need of her writing or tutoring skills.

Victorian nightgown styles have always had a romantic appeal down through the years continuing to drop in and out of fashion on a fairly regular basis. Now however you can get hold of these long flowing visions of white cotton without having to pay through the nose to a vintage clothing collector. With so many specialist online stores out there it was only a matter of time before things like the Victorian nightgown became easily available to purchase. The great thing about the internet is how sellers now have access to huge online markets for virtually anything you care to imagine. In the past the viability of selling something like a Victorian nightdress to a local market would most certainly been eroded by the low demand. Selling such a thing online however taps into the huge global market which in turn has given rise to a multitude of specialist suppliers offering goods for every diverse taste.

So this is all good news for you lovers of cool crisp cotton Victorian nightgowns. The fact is that there are still loads of folks out there who simply adore the feel of soft cotton against their skin at night. They are not interested in these trendy short and vest pajama sets in slinky satins and cotton jersey materials that seem to be all the rage right now. They much prefer a garment that covers the body all snug with a high button collar and long sleeves just like the original Victorian nightdress of years gone by. Of course the genuine antique articles would cost a great deal of money and they are probably too old to actually wear without detracting from their value.

All of this is no longer a problem though because there are plenty of places where you can now buy a Victorian style nightgown brand new and even made to measure. Now you can experience the warm cozy sensation of wearing pure white cotton to bed every night at a price you can afford. Imagine sliding between your pure white sheets at night whilst wearing a long crisp cotton creation all of your own. if you want to go all the way there are some beautiful white cotton house coats available in the same Victorian nightdress style. Both garments would probably be trimmed with delicate feminine satin bows and beautiful broiderie anglaise lace.

These retro style nightgowns are made from cool crisp polyester cotton fabric which is easy to care for whilst extremely durable. This is the ideal choice of material because it will come up cool crisp and dazzling white no matter how often you launder it. Once pressed they look absolutely gorgeous all over again ready for you to slip into all that lovely white cotton for bed. These lovely creations can also still be made in the heavier thick flannel materials as well if that’s what you prefer. They are a throwback however to the days before double glazing and central heating. Whatever type of Victorian nightdress style you are looking for there are plenty of online stores out there that will make it for you in your size and choice of fabric. Sweet dreams!

Kevin Moore owns and runs the silky satins web site. Silky satins is the number one online resource for all your silk satin slips, lingerie and clothing needs. Packed with pages of shiny smooth satin delights for you and your partner to enjoy. You are sure to find what you are looking for at http://silkysatins.com

Wearing sexy lingerie under your clothes can give you a secret boost of self-confidence. One of the easiest and most comfortable ways to experience this is to wear a garter belt. The erotic image of a woman with a bit of thigh peeking out between sheer stockings and a garter belt is a sure way to drive a man mad. Even when you are the only one who knows about it, wearing a garter belt will make you feel truly sexy all day.

The garter belt is worn around the waist and it’s purpose is to hold up your stockings. There are four elastic garter clasps hanging from the belt, two in front of your legs and two behind. Before the invention of pantyhose, women had to wear garter belts to hold up the original silk stockings. Although pantyhose was hailed as an easier option at the time, many women find pantyhose to be uncomfortable as well as less durable than good quality stockings.

Our generation has grown up being taught that pantyhose are better than garter belts and stockings. Popular thought is that the garter belt is difficult to use and that it’s hard to attach to the stockings. Perpetuated by the pantyhose manufacturing industry through years of advertising and commercials, women have been raised to believe these myths.

One key element to buying a garter belt is to get the correct size. You’ll need to be sure that it fits snugly around your waist without being so tight as to create bulges. The clasps need to be adjustable so as to get the right length for your exact body type. Look for a garter belt in lingerie specialty stores that offer good quality lingerie. Things to keep in mind when choosing a garter belt is that the material is soft and comfortable for all day wear and that the clasps are durable.

Another key element to having a garter belt work for you is to purchase the right stockings. They need to be of good quality and designed to be worn with a garter belt. They will have a thicker band at the top of the stocking where you can attach the clamps without damaging the stocking. Stockings come in a variety of materials and differing levels of sheerness.

The best stockings you will find should be made of silk. Silk stockings are initially more expensive than other materials but it will pay off in the long run. Silk stockings are more durable and last much longer than others as well as being comfortable and sexy.

The biggest deterrent to most women about wearing a garter belt and stockings is that they are under the impression that it will be hard to attach the stockings. This is not the case at all if you buy the right stockings. While you will have to practice a bit at first, it is very simple and fast once you are used to it.

Once you try it, you are going to find it’s quite easy and comfortable to wear a garter belt and stockings. You may find yourself liking the secret sexy feeling so much that you wear them every day. Many women do say they enjoy feeling more lady-like and alluring because of their sexy secret.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bodysuits as well as women’s lingerie at http://www.elitelingerieshop.com

Giorgio Armani is a popular menswear brand of clothing all over collection world. The fashion house is also a source of superior and signature apparel. Through the years, the label has been making Italy proud because the designer and founder of the company is a pure Italian by heart and by legacy.

Like many other fashion designers, Armani had humble beginnings. While young, he was confused and tried entering a few other professions. He got into medicine before shifting gears to pursue a career in photography, which did not work out. From there, he worked as a window dresser in an Italian department store before finally getting into fashion designing.

With his skills and sheer talent for styling and designing clothes, Armani was able to establish his own design house in 1974. Together with venture partner and friend Sergio Galeotti, he put up a company called Giorgio Armani SpA. Initially, the company carried all men’s wear. A year after, lines for women were also unveiled.

Taking the lead from other fashion designers, Armani developed and launched his own perfume line in 1982. As usual and typical of the brand, perfumes were originally targeted for the male population. Fragrances for women followed afterwards. Among the most famous of the brands perfumes are the Emporio, Acqua di Gio, Remix, and Attitude, all for men, while for women there are striking names like Sensi, Beyonce Knowles’ and Armani Le Perfum.

Such perfumes are well known around the world. Demand for the products has also been very high since the company has actively distributed them. After perfumes, many other personal products came from the Armani brand like sunglasses, shoes and even several business accessories.

It might be because of competition, but another characteristics that separates and distinguishes Giorgio Armani from the rest is his unusual dislike for fellow Italian designers Valentino and Gianni Versace. As much as possible, he has always been emphasizing that he do not want anything to do with the two designers.

Giorgio Armani is one of the most admirable designers of the current generation. People around the world should be proud and satisfied that they could still get the chance to wear designs and clothing from this wonderful brand.

Find Giorgio Armani perfumes and colognes at Perfume Center. Read more about Giorgio Armani perfumes