How to Optimize Your Man Cave Power: Getting the RIGHT Electronics

2011
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Having your own man cave complete with a Little Rascals-inspired “Heman Woman Haters Club” sign on the door is the dream of many men who never quite grew up. Judging from all the fun full-grown boys tend to have, it’s easy to see why the fantasy is there. Whoever said you have to spend half your time slaving away at work, and the other half cleaning or hanging out in front of the TV?

You may not go to the extremes these guys did, but you can still build yourself a very respectable man cave. Your cave is your place to contemplate life, work on your ride—if you can call that working—and most importantly get away from the frilly, effeminate world where an innocent compliment can turn into a lawsuit. Let’s check out a few ways you can turn an average room into an all-out man cave through the use of superior technology like direct TV.

TV

No man cave is ever complete without a TV. Nothing is more crucial to the experience of a man’s domain than being able to order up a movie on DirecTV or Hulu and just relax. Even Batman had an impressively large TV in his cave.

While you might not have Bruce Wayne’s budget, the rule is still “a TV as big as you can fit on the wall and afford.” Also make sure your TV has a crisp monitor on it. The whole idea is to create a fantasy place. Unless your fantasies involve a lot of squinting and having to wear glasses a few years from now, spend a little more on a great TV.

Sound System

It’s all about the music, men. Whether you get down to classical music, old school rock ‘n roll or hardcore metal, in this cave you don’t just want to hear the music. You want to feel the music vibrating through every cell of your body.

You want to have to grasp your beer with both hands so it doesn’t vibrate out of your grip and end up on the floor. For a great sound system, you want massive speakers with a never-ending stream of music. You can run your cave concert off of iTunes, your personal music collection or even stream it from an online radio station.

Power Tools


It wouldn’t be a man cave without some tools on hand. You just never know when you’ll need to tighten, loosen, fasten or break something. If your ride needs a tune-up, you just read “some assembly required” or you’ve got a great idea for a piece of furniture, this is your place to make it happen. Some of the most awesome power tools out there will let you do pretty much everything short of raising the dead.

While most of the time you have to limit yourself to what’s portable, in your cave you can have it all. Go ahead and splurge on a 5hp table saw, and a planter with enough clearance to shave an oak tree. In your cave, you can be the consummate builder.

Video Games and Pinball Machines

Arcade games are one of the quintessential parts of being a kid at heart. If you dropped enough quarters into your game of choice back in the day to finance a college degree, your cave needs its own cabinet. If you don’t want to clutter up your space with a hundred games, you can actually build your own cabinet and use an emulator like MAME to run thousands of older games. The best part is now you don’t have to blow your quarters.

If you’re a pinball player by nature, you can find all kinds of sweet classic machines on eBay. With a little bit of polishing up every so often, you can have both a lot of fun and a great little investment to leave your grandkids. The only bad thing about having your own pinball machine is that it’s easy to be the entire high score list and think you’re hot stuff when you’re nothing compared to the pros.

Seating

What’s your perfect chair? Some guys love a good rustic chair made out of tree branches they hauled home in classic lumberjack style. Other guys are great with something a bit more civilized and seriously plush. Still other guys see their throne as much as a work of art as just something to sit on during a movie or the game.

Your chair choices are incredibly vast. There’s even a chair that vibrates in tune to your music, so you can feel it even without cranking your speakers. Remember that relaxation and exhilaration are the only things you should ever experience in your man cave throne. This is the seat of your dominion, and you should probably even get one with a remote holster so you don’t have to keep a bulky table next to it.

Eats

There are three very important components of the eats you take into your man cave: they don’t have to be healthy if they’re delicious, you shouldn’t have to leave your cave to enjoy them, and having the fire department called on your grilling technique is a badge of honor.

If you love popcorn, get a retro-style popper and turn every day into a day at Coney Island. If you’ve got a favorite food, keep a fridge dedicated exclusively to it right on hand. Some of the best man caves actually have two fridges: one for food, and one for beer.

If you’re not a big drinker, that’s fine. You can set up a soda bar where you make root beer floats instead. There’s no taste combination quite like jalapeno nachos with a root beer float.

IN CONCLUSION

Your man cave is obviously up to your rules. If you don’t want it, it isn’t so. But when you do set up your man cave, make sure you’ve got the best you can find of everything you love. Your man cave is your temple to the joy of raw, unfiltered masculinity, and everything therein should reflect this pure grown-man boyish spirit.

Filed Under: Accessories, Fashionable Technology & Gadgets, Latest Trends

Versatile Urban Fashion

2011
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Once upon a time, if you had varied interests in areas like skateboarding, surfing, and hip hop and wanted a clothing style that reflected who and what you were, you could go into sudden fashion schizophrenia just trying to combine the different genres.

Luckily, two Californians with varied interests in hip hop and fashion, decided that a clothes label combining all of urban and pop culture with style and ease would be a dream come true to most fashion conscious American males, as well as the rest of the world.

In 1999, Jonas Bevacqua and MC Robert Wright met through mutual friends in the music business and discovered they had similar ideas for a fashion line that could synergize the world of urban style into a more eclectic and stunning concept. Their ideas and genius turned into one of the hottest fashion brands in the world: LRG Clothes.

Since that time, LRG has evolved into a line that can give you everything in the most comfortable and casual styles, but also have the versatility to mix well with the hottest in evening wear. LRG clothing has attracted celebrity acclaim and can be seen at many red carpet events as a testimony to the line’s popularity and appeal.

Today, LRG clothing can be found at the office or at home, in the best of nightclubs and at those very special occasions. The versatility of LGR extends from pants and jeans to shirts, hoodies, pull-overs, and the coolest in accessories.

So, if you are a man of many interests and want a style that reflects your personality, LRG is definitely the brand for you.

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Raising Funds in the Workplace

2011
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In the workforce if you’re in charge of fundraisers there are some good ideas to keep in mind when planning your next event. They are simple and will get everyone involved for a good cause.

Announce to staff that you are holding a potluck fundraiser. This works by having everyone make a dish and bring it to the office. If you want you can create a theme or specify the types of dish. The way you raise money is by charging a fee to participate in the potluck or you can auction off the dishes to the highest bidder.

Holding a clothing sale is another route to go! You would have you coworkers bring in clothing that they are no longer wearing, but in good condition for purchase. Then divide the clothing into categories for men, woman and children if need be. Then price the articles at their value and let your coworkers buy the garments. The money that is raised at the end can go toward the charity you are representing.

If you want to do something different you can have a day or two for your coworkers get designer haircuts. You can get a local hair dresser to come in to your company at a flat rate and charge your coworkers a fixed fee for a new haircut. This is sure to be popular among those that like to keep themselves looking good at all time. After the event you can donate the monies raised to the charity.

It’s important to make sure that it’s clear on what charity that you are raising money for or the cause. People are always looking to help even in these hard economic times, so make sure it’s worth their wild.

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Looking Sharp for Your Close Up

2011
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Why is it that some people look good in photos and others don’t? It could be the way that you take your pictures. Believe it or not, there is an art to taking a good picture.

It’s all about the clothing. When taking a good picture, it’s suggested not to pick clothing that will enhance any flaws you have. Therefore, stay away from items with large prints or clothing that has monotone colors. Try to stay away from baggy clothing too. This can make a person look bigger then what they are. Get clothing that drapes you nicely and will show off your fingure. For women, you want to be as light on the make up as possible. Remember the camera enhances your features so you don’t what to overdo it. You can apply a little extra if the light is harsh at the time of shooting.

Make sure the ways you’re posing in pictures are correct. Keep your eyes soft and make sure you are smiling keeping your lips apart slightly. Never smile too big especially in a portrait photo. Also be aware of your best side or profile. If you know your right or left side works better in pictures, then use that side as much as possible. You will be sure to get good pictures every time. Keep your posture in mind. Don’t try so hard to pose in pictures. The more relaxed you are the better the picture will turn out. If you sit, sit as straight as you can to bring height and depth to your image. If you stand, be as erect too so you look confident.

So the next time you take a picture look and feel your best. A picture is worth a thousand words!

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Diamonds at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards

2011
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Kostas Martakis, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

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Hollywood awards ceremonies are as important for honoring their recipients as they are for being a spectacle for fashion and design. The 2011 Golden Globes were no exception to this rule, with many of Hollywood and television’s biggest stars stepping out with their best foot forward onto the red carpet.

Of course, nothing completes a costume like a shiny new diamond, and at the awards, diamonds had just as important of a place in front of the camera as the faces of those who were wearing them.

Jennifer Lopez, never one of those to mask her will to indulge in life’s finer things, stepped out in front of the cameras wearing more than $5 million worth of diamonds and clothing. Harry Winston was her jewelry designer, and the crowing achievements of her eveningwear were the $3 million-dollar pair of diamond earrings she was wearing.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, another starlet known for her exotic elegance, also joined in with the diamond earring trend at the Golden Globes. Her earrings, designed by Van Cleef and Arpels, were the ‘Eliza’ diamond-drop style and formed the perfect sparkle to her otherwise dazzling ensemble.

Actress Helen Mirren, not to be outdone by her thespian cohorts, went with a more subtle approach to the diamond-drop earrings and also graced her neckline with a more outspoken diamond necklace. The Cartier necklace she wore was worth $1.6 million – worth every penny.

Lea Michele, from TV’s ‘Glee,’ changed things up from the rest of the crowd with her turquoise and diamond ring, expertly designed by Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry.

As for what is in style this season, concerning diamonds, bigger is not always better. What is best is wearing a smaller diamond – like that set in a diamond-stud earring or ring – and complimenting it a bolder style of necklace. As shown by Lea Michele and others, it doesn’t hurt to throw in a bit of natural color as well.

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Modern Office Decor

2011
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Modern office décor is all about style, sleekness and sturdiness. Having the right kind of furniture and décor for an office conveys the right message to the visitors who carry positive images about the company. On the other hand if the décor is obsolete, outdated and archaic then it creates a bad and negative image of the office which is not only willing to change with times. The décor of an office should be professional and there are many things which need to be considered for creating the right kind of décor. The most important thing which catches the attention of a person when he enters an office are the interiors of the office and the furniture. Apart from increasing the look and feel of an office, a sleek and modern furniture also helps in improving the overall efficiency of an office.

The next important point to be considered for a good office décor is without doubts the attention paid to use of modern technology. Hence when you design a office furniture, you should also ensure that it goes hand in hand with modern technology and there is no room for any mismatch on this. However, it does not mean that the furniture should look bizarre and funny. A good and judicious mix of the new with the old is perfectly acceptable as far as office furniture is concerned.

The price of real estate especially commercial ones, whether it is rented or own, is very high and so office space must be used very optimally. To make good use of office space, the furniture which you place must look elegant and at the same time occupy as less a space as it possibly can. Since people keep moving between furniture in an office, the safety factor cannot be overemphasized. Furniture with sharp edges or nails jutting out should be avoided so that the safety and health of the employees and visitors is not compromised. The color of office furniture is important and should be in line with the office decor.

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Special Gifts For Special People

2011
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There could be quite a few instances in your life, when you would be totally perplexed and confused when it comes to buying a special gift for that special person or persons in your life. It could be the birthday of your mother or could be the wedding anniversary of your best friend. Though there are thousands of gifts that can be given on special occasions, vintage gifts are something which could be make good presentation items, provided you are able to choose the right kind of gifts.

The advantage with these vintage items is that it has a special place in the hearts of the persons who receive such gifts and it could make them nostalgic and go back down memory lane. These kind of vintage gifts hold all the more value for people belonging slightly to the elder age group. Though finding such vintage items may not be that easy, if you are determined and make efforts you could find the right item from any renowned vintage gallery shop and some other thrift stores who deal in such products.

There are a lot of such vintage gifts for special elderly people and they could include salt and pepper jars made of ceramic, wall decors made out of good quality wood, or old and vintage wall clocks or it could be even old popcorn bowls, gumball machines, etc. The list is huge and is left to your imagination. However, the gifts should be something which touches the emotional cord of the person and makes him or her go back to their young days and look at it with a tinge of sadness and nostalgia.

So whenever you are planning to give a gift to someone elderly in your house or amongst your friends’ circle always remember that these elderly people always like to dwell on the past and there is no better way that you can make them happy other than presenting them with some gifts which are bound to cause a flutter in their hearts.

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Some Great Fabric Design Patterns

2011
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Embroidery is a great art form which has stood the test of time. Not only has it weathered many a storm of time but has also evolved, grown and adapted according to situation. Whichever way one looks at it, embroidery is a great art form whether one wants to see it as a hobby or wants to make money out of it. While manual embroidery is still famous, it has always been difficult to make patterns manually. So a lot of credit should be given to the persons who make those intricate designs on silk materials. Though they look so beautiful and eye-catching little do many of us realize the trouble and pain that has resulted is such exquisite designs.

While doing embroidery on silk materials, there are some special cares that should be taken to make the work look good and successful. The firs thing is to look for the best silk material for the embroidery work. The material should be of delicate structure and should not be coarse. Embroidery, especially pattern on coarse material do not look so eye catchy and attractive as it looks in fine silk material.

Next choosing the correct silk thread is also very important. Remember that silk thread is very delicate and hence very prone to breakage. However, weaving beautiful patterns using silk thread will stand the test of time. Silk thread will not spoil the fabric on which the patterns are being done and they can also withstand high temperatures which may be needed to iron out the creases and curves.

However, embroidery can be a good business opportunity too because the price given by customers for good embroidery works are quite attractive. Hence a good hand in embroidery can really be a successful woman if she takes the right initiative and puts in the desired hard work.

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Changing Fashion Trends

2011
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finale of fashion show

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A person always looks and feels very comfortable and confident if he or she is dressed in tune with the latest fashion designs. However, dressing up for the occasion needs to be in tune with changing times and it is not all about wearing expensive and high quality clothes. Fashion is all encompassing and so you can also look very fashionable with even the simplest of dresses, provided they are trendy and catch the attention of the contemporary groups of people.

Fashion can be broadly classified into two categories, fashion for the glamorous people and fashion for the commoners. In today’s information and internet age fashion travels lightning fast and what is a fashion in some remote corner of a country becomes the trend for the rest of the world within a few days. During the 1980 and prior to it America was the trendsetter in the fashion world, but today it has changed a lot and lot of countries are exporting their fashion trends to that country.

Fashion is not only all about wearing the most trendy and bright dresses, but it also of comfort and ease of use. And fashion may be exported from one country to another, but adaptation to local conditions is very essential for such fashion craze to survive. There cannot be any chance for a fashion material which is for a cold country to succeed or grow in a tropical climate. So fashion has to be nation and region specific, but the overall theme could be the same all throughout.

Fashion is not something which is restricted and belongs only to the domain of adults. Even children of today are extremely fashion conscious and in fact many of them much better informed than parents and grown ups when it comes identifying and choosing the most trendy fashion materials and dress items.

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