The job of a hostess is a hard one.  They are going out of their way to accommodate you, and do not want to feel that they are being taken advantage of, or that you are not appreciative of all they have done.

The job of a good guest is difficult as well. Learning to pick up cues that it is time to go home, or showing up with the right gift takes a bit of practice. Small things you do to help out a stressed out hostess can make a huge difference, and make her want to throw another shin dig in the near future.

When invited to dinner:

♥ Know what time you are to be there, and what time dinner is being served. Do not be late to this or you will keep others waiting, the food will get cold, and you probably wont be invited back for another dinner party.

♥ It is nice to bring your host a small something in appreciation. A bottle of wine does quite nicely for this. You can also offer to bring a dessert or something when you are invited.

♥ If you do bring a bottle of wine, and it isn’t finished by the time dinner is over do not bring it home.

♥ Pay attention towards the end of the night to cues that the host would like you to leave. If after an hour of talking around the table you see him start clearing the table and doing dishes, odds are this is his signal to you that it’s time to get going. Don’t be offended, he’s probably just tired. Offer to help, and then say your goodbyes.

When Invited to a Party:

♥ When invited make sure to ask if there is anything you can bring. Suggest an appetizer or a bottle of liqueur even if you know they host will decline your offer.

♥ Do not be the first to arrive or the last to leave. In other words, don’t show up early, and don’t overstay your welcome. Your host will most likely be very busy preparing things, and those last few minutes are very crucial to him or her. Also, don’t keep your hostess up long after all the other guests have left. She is probably pooped, and wants to either clean up, or go to bed.

♥ Do not eat them out of house and home. It is customary to have a light dinner before any party, other than a dinner party. If you come with the munchies, and chow down all the appetizers without considering others, it is most likely that guests and most of all the hostess will extremely irritated.

♥ Please don’t get waisted. Yes, it may be a cocktail party, but the purpose is to savor your drinks and enjoy the company. Don’t jump on the table and start doing the PeeWee Herman dance, don’t try to flirt with the hostess’s boyfriend behind her back, and as funny as it may seem don’t get so drunk you either remove articles of clothing, or need to vomit.

When staying overnight:

♥ Do not ask your host to cook your breakfast. Also, do not crash on the couch until 7 that evening. Though this sounds completely obvious, it has actually happened to me!

♥ Unless your host invites you to stay for lunch, or asks if you want to go grab some breakfast somewhere, it is usually best to get out of her hair soon after waking up. If she offers to make pancakes, then feel free to stay and do help clean up once breakfast is done.

♥ Be ok with sleeping on a couch, or on a small mattress on the floor. If it is only an overnight stay. Your host may not be accustomed to having people stay over.

When staying for an extended visit:

♥ If you don’t have a car, don’t expect to be driven around everywhere. When your host or hostess asks you what you would like to do over your vacation, mention the things you would like to do or see

♥ Offer to help out with house chores on a daily basis. If you are in town for a week or so, a lot needs to be done around a house, and with extra bodies, there is even more to do. Help do dishes, take out the trash, or sweep the floor.

♥ Help do the cooking, or offer to pay for dinner at least once. They deserve it for their kind hospitality.

♥ Do not surprise your host with an extra week.

Who doesn’t love a good movie night? It is a fun and incredibly easy way to get a group of friends together for a few hours. Unlike other party type get togethers, there is little to no preparation needed before hand, and no one needs to worry about getting dressed up. With a little thought before hand, it is quite easy to make sure that your movie night goes smoothly.

♥ Guests. Invite people who you all know share a common interests. Invite all your horror film lovers over on one night, and the romantic comedy fans over on a another night. Definitely don’t invite a Dungeons and Dragon enthusiast, a Hannah Montana fan and your grandma over to watch the same movie. Odds are, they won’t share the same interest in films.

♥ Picking a movie. Think about what your guests have in common. If you invite some girls from your dance class over, choose a movie with dancing as a theme, such as a Dirty Dancing or Funny Face.

Have a few different films for your guests in case one of them is a complete dud, or if it turns out everyone has seen the film but you. It is ok to watch a film that everyone has already seen, as long as you know it is a movie that they all share a love for.

♥ Before the movie. Invite your guests to come over about thirty minutes before you plan on showing the film. You can use this time to get the popcorn and drinks ready, and to have a little bit of chit chat. Consider having some pre movie short films. Old cartoons, such as Merrie Melodies work well for this.

♥ Setting. Comfort is important. If you don’t have enough sofa room for everyone, don’t panic. Pull out all the pillows and blankets you have, and lay them out around the room. With a little work you can make the floor look just as inviting to guests as the couch.

Lights should be dimmed for the movie. Leave a few candles burning to provide some light so no one breaks there neck trying to find the bathroom in the dark.

♥ Snacks. Skip the dinner party on this night, and focus on desserts and snack foods. Food should be quick to prepare, and remind one of being in a movie theatre. Load up on the popcorn, cookies, and small candies. Use some small brown paper bags to divide up the popcorn, so each guest can have their own. Put out bowls of Skittles or M&M’s. No need to get fancy. The whole point of the movie night is to be casual.

If you want to go all out, make ice cream sundaes. Buy some vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, chopped nuts, rainbow sprinkles, whipped topping, and Maraschino cherries. Let your guests go to town, making their own sundae concoctions right before you start the film.

♥ Beverages. Depending on who you invite over you may want to have wine or beer available to your guests. If you don’t want to get into the alcohol, stick to sodas or fun juice blends. I like to buy several types of juice, and then mix them. A little pineapple, some orange, and a dash of cranberry….mmm…well you get the idea!

♥ After the film. If your friends are the type who like to discuss the movie once it is over, allow some time for this. If not perhaps just put on something to look at on tv, and turn the volume down so you can talk about other things. Your friends will naturally leave pretty soon after the movie, unless you invite them to stay longer.

Photo by R@punsell

If there is one thing I know about- it is growing out hair. I think I have spent my entire life at the in between stages of hair styles. It isn’t that I get bad haircuts, it’s just that I am incredibly indecisive when it comes to hair styles. As soon as it is the length I wanted I see something else that I decide is the must have style at that moment.

However I am usually ok with that. Though I always want something different, I think I secretly like the adventure of growing it out, and the challenge of finding a way to make it look good. There are days though when it gets very frustrating, and difficult to deal with.

Read these tips before you reach in the drawer for your scissors.

♥ Find a stylist that you trust. As much as you don’t want to it is important to continue to get your hair cut while you are growing it out. A good stylist can help make your hair look its best during those awkward in between stages by adding some layers and a little shape to your hair. Doing this will keep it from look drab, overgrown, or flat without necessarily taking off any length.

This is especially important if you are planning on growing your hair long. While it may seem counter productive, it is important to keep your hair healthy and looking good while in the process of growing it. Get it trimmed about every eight weeks. Just a quarter inch can make all the difference. It drives me batty when I see people with really long hair and split ends up to their shoulders.

♥ Invest in some hats, scarfs and headbands. If your hair is extremely short, there probably will be a few days when you either don’t have the time to do your hair, or it will just not behave for the life of it. By experimenting with some scarfs or headbands before hand will better prepared and looking your best when that time comes.

♥ If you don’t already have them consider cutting bangs. While the rest of your hair may not look fabulous quite yet, at least you can keep the hair that is directly on your face looking good. Bangs are a godsend for making you feel better about your appearance on those ponytail days.

♥ Learn how to style it differently. As your hair grows it will no longer look good the way you used to styling it. Having access to different irons, like a flat iron or curling iron can really be a life saver. Be creative, and have fun. Don’t try to make your hair do something it doesn’t want to do. If you just can’t get it to lay flat consider curling instead, or adding some mousse and going for a tousled look.

Break out the bobby pins if necessary. Experiment with pinning sections of it up to see what looks good with your face. Try rolling up the front of your hair for a 1950’s pin up look. For some great inspiration, ideas, and tutorials check out the Live Journal community Vintage Hair.

♥ Color your hair. Fresh color really helps take your mind off of the length. A sparkling new hue will make you shine through, and no one will notice if your hair is on the flat side, or a little shaggy.

♥ Patience, patience, patience. Hair grows an average of a half an inch a month, which is about six inches a year. With this knowledge at hand, it is easy to get frustrated while looking at the long road ahead. Rather than thinking about how long it will take think about the different styles you can try while it is at the length it is. Try new things, experiment, and have fun. Hair can look good at any length, it is just a matter of taking a little bit of time, and taking the time to make it look good on you.

Photo by PSD

We all learned them as children, but somewhere between childhood and the teen years we forgot our manners. Now as adults it is more important than ever that we revive these manners. Not only can a simple gesture like a thank you note make someone’s day, but it makes you stand out in that person’s mind as a kind and caring person.

Besides saying please and thank you, what can one do to become a more polite person?

♥ Send a Thank you card when you receive a gift. The card doesn’t have to say much, just one line will do. In that line it is nice to add how you used (or will use) the gift. For example: “Barbara, Thank you so much for the wonderful baking sheet, we made the most delicious Christmas cookies on it last night. Love, Cedar”.

♥ Always hold the door open for the person behind you. If there is an elderly, handicapped, or mom with children that you notice a bit further away from the door, take that extra five seconds to hold it open for them.

♥ Look people in the eye when you speak to them. Looking at other things or away from someone while talking to them sends the signal that you don’t care what they have to say.

♥ Learn to accept a compliment. There is nothing more annoying than when you tell someone they look nice and they deny it or tell you they look fat. A simple “thank you” is all that is necessary.

♥ When ordering food or coffee something decide what you want before you get in line, or at least before you get to the register. If you have questions that is different, but if you wait until you get to the register to even glance at the menu, you are slowing down the entire flow of the business, probably pissing off the employee, and definitely the people behind you in line.

♥ When meeting someone new let them know how nice it is to have met them, not only when you first do, but as you, or they are leaving.

♥ Don’t use your cell phone in line. As soon as I reach the checkout line in the grocery store I let whoever I am talking to know that I will call them back. If it can’t wait, don’t get in line yet.

♥ If you are out to dinner with a friend who insists on paying the bill, offer to pay the tip. Even if they refuse to let you, it is a nice gesture.

♥ This one seems obvious to me, but so many people do it. Please don’t burp in public. If it slips out, that is one thing, say excuse me and move on. Don’t let out one of those wall shaking belches just to be funny, or make some sort of statement.

Photo by FantomDesigns

“He that can have patience can have what he will.”
-Benjamin Franklin

In the crazy fast paced world we live in now it is easy to get caught up in the excitement, and lose track of what is really important in our lives. With so little time to accomplish everything we need to do, one mistake often can set us off track for the remainder of our day, and make us angry and agitated.

Patience is an attribute that takes a lot of work to gain. It is not something you can attain overnight, and is definitely not something that comes with age. By becoming a more patient person we not only improve the quality of our lives, but the quality of the lives of those around us.

♥ Learn to calm yourself down. When the going gets tough, and it seems you are about to blow steam, take a few minutes to yourself, where you can stop, take some deep breaths, meditate for a few minutes, and gather your thoughts. Getting away from the situation for as little as two or three minutes will help you reacess the situation, and give you a clearer idea of what needs to be done.

♥ Get exercise every day. There is a reason that exercise seems to be the solution to everything-it works. Getting even just ten minutes of cardiovascular exercise helps calm you down, clear your head, and get your frustrations out.

♥ Realize that you can not change others, you can only change yourself. As nice as it seems like it would be to change people into exactly how you think they ought to be, each person only has the power to change them self. Learning to change views on other’s flaws will help keep you from getting angry or impatient with them. In this way you can remain calm and work with the person who is frustrating you, to help them see your view point, and to get the task completed.

♥ Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If it is a person you are upset with, imagine how you would have acted under the same circumstances. Realize that they most likely did not do it deliberately, and that there is most likely a reason behind whatever their actions were. Perhaps they were not having a good day themselves, and are unintentionally taking that stress out on you.

♥ Learn to accept complications or change. Things don’t always go as planned, in fact more often than not in my life, I get thrown for a loop. I create a list of things to do each morning in my head, then in the blink of an eye something will come up that makes it impossible to finish everything I had scheduled. It is so easy to get flustered and frustrated, since change could mean less personal time, or not being able to do something you really needed to do. Realizing ahead of time that you may need to be flexible in case something does change will make you much more prepared in rescheduling your day.

♥ Look for patterns. Does you mood usually take a turn for the worst mid afternoon? Do you usually get frustrated after someone flakes on you or when you get cut off on the freeway? By noticing patterns in when you regularly get frustrated you will be better prepared for the next time you are in a similar situation, and know what changes to make before the problem arises next time.

♥ Be able to move on. We all get cut off in traffic, friends flake on us, and people say things that may upset you. Allow yourself a few seconds to be upset, then move on. Tell yourself, yes that was really bad, but as long as I am physically ok, it will not affect the way I do things today. Someone who cuts you off on the freeway does not deserve the glory of affecting how the rest of your day goes.

♥ Make mental notes of what you absolutely have to do, and what is not as important. Knowing before hand that you could wait an extra day or so before running to the bank, or to the supermarket will help you remain calm when the day starts to get hectic. It will also give you time to take a break or stop for coffee if your day get too crazy, and you need to take a breather.

Photo by JasperYue

With Valentine’s Day only two weeks away everyone is scrambling to make dinner reservations. With all those people out eating, dining out on Valentine’s day can be more chaos then one needs. Why not save on the stress of a busy restaurant, and have a special DIY Valentine’s date at home.

♥ Tell your special someone about a week in advance that you have something planned. Don’t tell them too much, because you want to surprise them with all the work you put into your date night.

♥ Food doesn’t have to be anything special, just make it seem that way. Make up a big pot of spaghetti and throw together a salad. Served on a nicely dressed table, even the most simple of meals can look elegant. If you do decide to go all out and try something fancy, make it once before the big day, so you have time to make adjustments if needed.

♥ Chocolate dipped strawberries are the way to go for dessert. Nothing says romance, and fun like this easy dessert. To make it even more intimate and fun, do it at the table! Make up a chocolate fondue, and have the strawberries set out on a plate. Serve a nice bottle of champagne alongside.
♥ Candles, candles, candles! Nothing says romance like a room full of candles. Set candles on the table, the counters, and throughout the room. Tea lights are very inexpensive for a large bag of them. Fill the table with them. If you have any strands of single colored Christmas lights still out from the holiday, these look beautiful, and mood setting when hung around windows.

♥ Flowers and candles always go well when dressing a table. Scattering flower petals or chocolate kisses around the table makes for a fun decor. Fill a few martini glasses with clear marbles, and then rest some tea lights in each glass for a unique way to light up the table.

♥ Make a mix of music before hand. Include some of your honey’s favorite songs (as long as they are not too upbeat and crazy) and some classics like Al Green or Isaac Hayes.

♥ Set the table. Use a tablecloth, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy, even just a piece of fabric will do. Invest in some cloth napkins if you don’t already have some. These look much nicer sitting on a table under candlelight than paper napkins. Having the table set with silverware, plates, and glasses when your date arrives will show just how much work you put into the special night.

♥Right before your date arrives turn on the music, light the candles, and put the finishing touches on the dinner. Sit down, and enjoy each other’s company in the romantic atmosphere that you created!

Don’t have the desire to cook up a romantic date? Check out Alternative Date Ideas for Valentines Day. Want to try that chocolate fondue I spoke of? Try my delicious Chocolate and Hazelnut Fondue.

Photo by Annie 316

If you are like me you dread putting on a full face of makeup to go out at night. Upon visiting the restroom after about an hour at the bar you find your eye shadow has creases, and there are lash marks below your eyes….and that foundation, well it is long gone! These are a few tricks that I use rely on to keep my face from looking like the Wicked Witch of the West. What techniques do you use to keep your face from moving?

Foundation

♥ To keep your liquid foundation looking fresh for longer, rub your face with a small amount of waterproof or sweatproof sunscreen. Let the sunscreen dry, and then put your foundation on. Follow the application of your foundation with powder.

Lips

♥ If you have lines around your lips, use a lip liner to keep the lipstick from bleeding.

♥ Before applying lipstick, make sure to exfoliate your lips with a gentle facial scrub.

♥ To keep lipstick off your teeth stick your finger in your mouth after applying lipstick, pucker your lips, and pull your finger out. Any lipstick that would have later been on your teeth will come off on your finger.

♥ Try to avoid eating oily or greasy foods, this breaks down your lipstick further.

♥ When drinking from a glass, there are two tricks. One is to lick the glass where you are about to drink, so that your lips never touch a dry glass. The second is to fold down your bottom lip , so the inside of your lip touches the glass, rather than where your lipstick is. When eating try not to touch your fork or spoon with your lips. This may take a bit of practice to make look natural, but using your teeth and tongue to get the food will help your lipstick stay longer.

♥ Line lips with a lip liner to keep glosses on longer.

Eyes
♥ If your mascara starts to get clumpy throughout the day, use a toothpick to separate the clumps.

♥ To get your eyeliner to stay on longer apply a light amount of foundation. Line your eyes with a waterproof eyeliner, and then coat with a translucent powder.

♥ After applying eyeliner spray with a fine spritz of hairspray. This helps it stay on longer, but if you are pretty active, it will probably still move around a bit.

♥ Use powder eye shadows it stay put much longer than it’s cream based counterpart.

♥ There are many products out on the market that you put on before you apply eye shadow and liner, and it helps it stay put all throughout the day. Most cosmetic lines have one, f.y…eye! by Benefit and Primer Potion by Urban Decay are two.

1. f.y….eye! by Benefit 2. Primer Potion by Urban Decay

Photo by jetheriot

It happens to the best of us. A dry spell when the ideas take a hiatus in your head. Whether you are a writer, an artist, a chef, a teacher, a designer, or indulge in any other creative venture, there comes a time when the flow of ideas slows, and nothing seems to be able to kick start the imagination.

I know what it is like, through painting, cooking, and even blogging I have had periods of time where all I can do is stare blankly at my canvas/fridge/computer. The harder I seem to try, the less I seem to accomplish.

Before you go absolutely insane, step away from the computer screen, and take a deep breath. With a little help the ideas will come pouring in.

♥ Watch your favorite movie, look at imagery and colors, listen to dialog and background sounds, take inspiration from the characters, their costumes, and their mannerisms. Look at rooms, furniture, and plants. In other words, look at all the things you normally aren’t focusing on when you watching your favorite movie.

♥ Meditate. Turn off the TV, turn off the music, turn off the distractions. Close your eyes and sit back for a few minutes, and concentrate on your breathing. Your body and mind will feel revitalized.

♥ Pre-write/sketch or whatever it is you do. This to me has been time and time again the best way to get the ideas flowing. If you write, just start writing, with no aim or direction, just write your thoughts, or about your day and go from there. If you draw or paint, just start sketching the things you see around you.

♥ Write, draw, sculpt, dance quickly and freely for two minutes. Let all your thoughts out in any way possible, in sentences, lists, or scribbles as quickly as possible. Once the two minutes is up sit back and reflect on the ideas you had, and try to connect the thoughts.

♥ Go for a walk or hike. I like to do this alone when I need inspiration. Leave the iPod at home, and take a good thirty minute stroll in an area where you don’t usually walk, or on a hike you don’t usually go on. Take in all the sights and sounds. This will get the blood flowing to your brain, as well as drawing inspiration from your surroundings.

♥Put on one of your favorite albums and lay on the couch with the window open (if weather permits).

♥ Go through a magazine (or many) cutting out any image that catches your eye. Clothes, food pictures, a beach, whatever. Tack them all to a board somewhere. Look and add to it whenever you need inspiration.

♥ Wash the dishes. Doing mundane activities such as the dishes allows your hands to be busy, and your brain to continue working. Thinking about what you have already done and where you want to get to will be much easier after a big sink full of dishes!

♥ Prevent interruptions. Turn your cell phone on silent, disallow pings to your email from MySpace or Live Journal. How can anyone accomplish anything with things popping up every few minutes?

♥ Start studying! Do a little research into your subject, finding out facts about what you plan on writing about is a great way to start the flow of ideas.

♥ Treat yourself. Go out to your favorite bakery and order some coffee and a cupcake, bring a pad of paper in case anything pops up that you absolutely must get onto paper. Sit back and do some people watching. Watching others interact has inspired me time and time again.

Whatever your passion is, there will most likely come a time when you feeling like throwing in the towel. Taking some time to yourself, and getting away from your project for a short time is the best (and possibly the hardest!) thing you can do for your mind. With a few pushes in the right direction, you will be back on track in no time!

What things have worked for you in the past when your brain has drawn a blank?

Photo by This Year’s Love

Confidence and loving oneself is a lifelong struggle for all people. It is one of the hardest aspects of human life, and one of the most important. It is not something learned by reading a book, and is not something that comes overnight. Learning to love yourself requires positive changes that you make in your life to better your self.

All people alike deserve to live a happy, blissful, and joyous life. So often though it is easy to succumb to feelings of loss, regret, or sadness. With an attitude of “I’m not good enough”, you only lessen your self worth, and others begin to believe that you truly aren’t.

Take some time to yourself. Get to know you, on your own. Find out what you can do for yourself in order to be happy. I know a lot of women who throw themselves into relationship after relationship. As soon as one ends, the next begins. However, blanketing our discontent in ourselves, with an array of lovers only further provokes the need for someone to tell us we are special, or we are beautiful. Until you truly begin to provide love for yourself, how can you give love to another?

Having feelings of not being good enough often comes from comparing ourselves to others. We see someone who is skinnier, taller, has a narrower nose, and we can’t help but think; “why don’t I have that?”. Learn to accept your flaws, whatever they may be. This is the most difficult thing for most people to come to terms with. I like to look at my flaws as quirks or trademarks. Whether your tummy pokes out a little too far, your hair has the texture of a poodle, or you are like me and have the worlds biggest overbite, realize that this does not define you as a human being.

Often times we are faced with the challenge of fitting into a situation where we are uncomfortable. It is these times that it becomes easier to act as a chameleon, and go along with what everyone says, likes, or does though we may disagree. Be who you are. Don’t try to change your interests, viewpoints, or style based upon the people around you. So what if you are the only one in your group of friends that is obsessed with 80’s hair bands, still collects My Little Ponies, or doesn’t give a hoot about Johny Depp. Own up to your differences and celebrate them. Be the unique person that you are.

People are naturally attracted to strong, confidant, and unique individuals. By boosting your confidence and learning to love yourself, not only are you bettering your self, but the relationships you share with others with others will improve as well.

Photo by Jamelah

If you are like me you have a closet (or several) stuffed to the brim, yet finding an outfit is a constant struggle. There are some days when I feel I have absolutely nothing to wear, but the cloths strewn about would prove otherwise.

The truth of the matter is that I don’t have a strong foundation in my closet. I have a lot of lovely pieces, but they are hard to mix and match. With a little bit of guidance we can all build strong wardrobes, and never be left with nothing to wear again.

♥ Proper undergarments. A bra is their for lift and support. It should fit comfortably, and the center should rest flat on your chest. Go to a shop and be sized. Try on several bras under your shirt. A good bra will make any outfit look more flattering, and is an extreme self confidence boost.

♥ A little black dress. Black is flattering on all body types and skin colors. Find one that makes you feel fabulous, and can be dressed up or dressed down for different looks.

♥ A basic white tee and a white button down shirt. Enough said.

♥ Some well fitting jeans. This one has always been a struggle for me, as with most women. Finding a pair that is cute, fits, and flatters takes a lot of searching, and often a great deal of money. I’m not much into jeans, so finding the right pair is on the back burner for me right now.

♥ A classic pump. Expect to spend a bit on a good pair of heels. Not only should they make you look fabulous, but they must be comfortable. Try them on and walk around the shop before purchasing. If there is even the slightest bit of discomfort do not buy them. Don’t think, oh they just need to be broken in. Odds are that if they hurt now, you won’t want to spend the time breaking them in.

♥ A casual outfit. No velour track suits please. Find something that looks good enough to go to the store, but comfy enough to lounge around the house. Cotton dresses are wonderful for this. Slide on a cute pair of ballet flats, and you don’t need to look like you just rolled out of bed when you go to the market.

♥ Some flattering slacks. I like black, just because it is so easy to mix and match with everything I own. Find a pair that accentuates your good points and disguises your problem areas. These can be worn to work, on a date, or to the library, depending on what you wear with them.

♥ A trench coat. When I think of trench coats I automatically think of the goth kids in high school, that gel their hair in their face and wear too much eyeliner. I don’t mean those type of trench coats. A well tailored classic trench coat looks good on all body types. The length of the coat can elongate the torso, and the belt cinches the waist giving all women the appearance of a nice hourglass figure.

These are just the bare essentials for creating a diverse wardrobe. To continue building from their I would suggest sticking to classic, timeless pieces that don’t go in and out of style. Expect to pay a bit more for the classics, and spend less for trendy pieces that will be out of style in a few months. Accessories and jewelry can help all these different items work together to create many different looks, as well as give them your own personal flare.