If you’re looking for a perfect gift for a special lady in your life, earrings are one of the best options. A jewelry wardrobe is just as important as a clothing wardrobe, so having quality pieces of jewelry is something that women love. Shop for special pieces that are made of high-quality materials. Tailor your earring choice to the recipient’s personal style. For example, if she tends to like classy pieces of clothing, she’ll also most likely enjoy elegant earrings made of gold, silver or pearls. If the recipient has a bit of an edgier style, you can find more eclectic pieces that will complement her wardrobe. Browse this list of some great earring choices to get ideas for earrings as gifts.

Classic Silver Earrings

Silver is an attractive metal for earrings because it looks expensive, but is fairly affordable and just as durable as more expensive materials. Classic silver earrings like the Silver Stargaze Hoop Earrings by Layla Grace are an example of how silver earrings can really make a statement.

Silver earrings without any stones are a great choice for a woman because they can go with any outfit. These types of earrings make excellent holiday gifts, birthday gifts, graduation presents and anniversary gifts.

Seaglass Earrings

Pieces containing seaglass are a big trend in the jewelry industry today, so you can score big points with a special woman in your life by giving her a pair of seaglass earrings as a gift.

Seaglass comes in a variety of different colors and is normally incorporated into drop earrings so that the seaglass can really be showcased. Items like the Storm Grey and Seaglass Gold Earrings by Layla Grace and the Drops of Jupiter Earrings are great examples of elegant seaglass earrings. These special and unique earrings make perfect anniversary, birthday or holiday gifts.

Gold Earrings

White and yellow gold earrings are the epitome of timeless jewelry pieces. Gold earrings are elegant and classic, coming in variety of different styles and prices. To keep your price-point low, you can opt for gold-plated items that look just as classy as solid gold pieces. The Marlene Earrings by Kendra Scott are a beautiful example of gold-plated earrings that have a little bit of whimsy. These earrings turn a normal outfit into a special outfit with a little bit of pizzazz.

Kendra Scott’s Rumer Earrings are also a great choice for a chic pair of earrings that also has a unique twist. These types of earrings make perfect holiday, birthday or anniversary gifts.

Gemstone Earrings

A great gemstone earring can really brighten up any outfit by adding a touch of color around the face. Gemstone earrings are normally set in precious metals that really make their color pop.

Kendra Scott’s Danielle Earrings are a perfect example of the colorful nature of gemstone earrings as they showcase bright turquoise stones set in gold-plated brass. The Layla Grace Labradorite Earrings are also a unique earring showcasing a large, faceted blue labradorite gemstone in each earring.

The Petunia Pickle Bottom collection of fine accessories adds elegance and class to any wardrobe. From cell phone cases to baby carriers, this line contains great products at affordable prices. The Petunia Pickle Bottom collection is made from quality materials such as hand-woven tweeds, velvets, silk and chenille intricately constructed into unique designs. This collection is both modern and sophisticated to complement a busy lifestyle. Pops of color, fine embroidery, bold designs and designer details go into the handbags, baby accessories, wallets and iPhone covers that make up the Petunia Pickle Bottom line.

Handbags and Clutches

Gorgeous handbags and clutches, like the Petunia Pickle Bottom Cake Cameo Clutch, come in a variety of styles and colors, all with timeless designs and intricate details. Select styles include scout messenger bags, shopper totes, shoulder bags, clutches, totes, backpacks and weekend bags. The line of handbags includes the original collection, the cake collection, scout collection and the organic cotton collection, which all have different designs and different styles. The Petunia Pickle Bottom line has a bag for every occasion.

Wallets and ID Tags

Keep your important items safe with Petunia Pickle Bottom wallets, ID tags and travel accessories. Among the top sellers for this line is the Petunia Pickle Bottom Wanderlust Wallet that comes in a number of fun prints and designs. With a zip-around opening, room for 10 credit cards and a zippered coin purse, this wallet is both functional and stylish. Top designs include the Frolicking in Fez print and the Misted Marseille design.

While traveling, the I Belong To Tag’s add a touch of style to luggage while also helping you locate your belongings. Travellers also love the Petunia Pickle Bottom Travel Train Case for make-up and toiletries while traveling. The line also contains weekender bags and powder room cases.

Baby Blankets and Accessories

Bring your baby into the world with a stylish Petunia Pickle Bottom Receiving Blanket a stroller blanket, swaddling blanket and nursing covers. Cute prints and bold colors make baby blankets and accessories fun and stylish. Petunia Pickle Bottom also designs baby carriers that are both functional and chic. The Petunia Pickle Bottom baby slings are often best sellers, as well as the organic gift sets for baby. These sets are made with 100% organic combed cotton to be soft against a baby’s skin. These precious sets make excellent baby shower or welcoming gifts for a new boy or girl in your life.

Cases for iPhone

Beautiful cases for your iPhone by Petunia Pickle Bottom offer up designer details and elegant patterns to make your iPhone stand out and get noticed. The designs of the collection’s iPhone cases were inspired by places around the world, such as Innsbruck, Murano, Marseille, Sevilla and Tivoli. The colors and designs of these cases pull from traditional colors and landscapes of international cities. With a story behind each design, these cases are much more unique than a standard, monotone iPhone case.

Feeling like a million bucks doesn’t just have to be reserved for fancy day spas and luxury resorts. Now you can bring the spa experience home with great products that will rejuvenate your mind and body. Some people take bringing the spa experience home very seriously and add saunas or specialty baths to their homes, but you can recreate a spa experience for a lot less money using a few quality products.

One of the best ways to recreate a spa in your very own home is to set up an area, even if temporarily, that is relaxing and quiet. This area is most often in a bathroom because the bathroom is normally associated with relaxation and a place to either prepare for the day, or unwind before bed. Remove clutter from the area, and also any other things that could be a distraction, such as cell phones.

In the bathroom, you can use a variety of items that can turn your home into your very own personal spa. A bathtub can be an excellent way to relax like you would in a luxury spa. Baths will cleanse and promote relaxation and tranquility. Use fragrant bubble bath, or bath salts to make your bath extra special, and extra relaxing. Let the scents of the bath products waft around the room and melt away any tension. If your bathtub has jets, turn them on a low setting that will promote circulation and give a massaging feeling while you bathe.

Give your bathroom a calming ambience while you bathe by setting the scene to look like a spa. The spa-like atmosphere will put you in a relaxing mood and make you feel like you can relax without any other concerns. Set beautiful candles around your bathroom that have fresh scents that are light and fragrant without overwhelming the senses. Candles that contain essential oils and calming scents like cucumber, gardenia, jasmine and lavender are known to uplift and refresh the senses. You can also find aromatherapy candles and oils that not only smell great, but also may have a positive impact on mood and health. Handmade soaps, neutral colored towels and mats as well as simple accents can also make a bathroom really feel like an at-home spa environment.

For spa treatments in the home, purchase some luxurious products that will soften your skin and rejuvenate your look. Products like face wash, body wash, lotions, facial masks, hair treatments, nail treatments, foot soaks, body butter and hand creams will make you look like you’ve just spent a day at the spa without even leaving your home.

Take your time using these products to really enjoy the experience, and get the most out of these at-home spa treatments. Pamper yourself completely by combining treatments, like soaking your feet in bath salts while also applying a cleansing or purifying facemask. Relax while the products soothe your body, and let your mind be free of any stress.

Pilates and yoga are two of the most popular workouts today because they have the potential to get you in great shape, increase flexibility, core strength and mental fortitude. Both Pilates and yoga can be great workouts for a variety of different people ranging in age, physical capabilities and workout needs. Choosing between yoga and Pilates is a personal decision, and it is recommended that you research and try both to see which workout type fits best into your schedule, workout plan and lifestyle.

Yoga

Yoga has increased in popularly over the past few years and continues to be a desired workout for those looking to tone, build core strength, develop better balance and find a harmony between mind and body. Yoga relies just as much on breathing, inner strength and the connection between the mind and body as it does on technique and poses. The spiritual aspect of yoga sets it apart from Pilates, as do the actual poses and exercises. There are a number of different types of yoga, but most styles involve a sequence of poses derived from ancient Indian culture. The poses are meant to connect body and spirit, making yoga more of a lifestyle addition than simply a workout routine.

The two sides of yoga, mind and body, become to focus of every yoga practice. While the body becomes stronger and more flexible, the mind becomes clear from distraction. Yoga sessions normally last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the type of yoga and the instructor. Often times, people that practice yoga take the lessons learned on the mat and apply these lessons to everyday life. The balance found in yoga between mind, body and spirit is said to be a healing mechanism for daily life stressors because of an inner peace that is reached during yoga practice.

Pilates

Pilates is a popular workout because it involves more conditioning than yoga and can have greater physical benefits. Instead of focusing on the connection between the mind and body like yoga, the focus of Pilates is on strengthening the body. Pilates tends to be better for those who want a workout that will build abdominal strength, tone muscles and aid in weight loss.

Instead of building strength through a lifting weights or a circuit series of exercises, Pilates relies mostly on body resistance. Pilates can be done either on a mat, or on a Pilate’s machine such as a Reformer. Pilates exercises keep the body in correct posture and form to isolate muscle groups when exercises are done properly. This results in a full workout without the extra body stress of lifting weights or using gym equipment.

Yoga and Pilates are both great, relatively low intensity workouts that can be adaptable for any lifestyle. It is not uncommon to see programs like prenatal yoga, or Pilates for seniors. Both Pilates and yoga range in difficulty from beginner poses and exercises to advanced poses and exercises, making it easy for any person with any experience level to take advantage of the benefits of both workouts.

Many popular workouts today require you to have a fitness mat for optimum comfort when performing exercises. Workouts like pilates and yoga use fitness mats to increase comfort and traction when doing floor exercises. While you can absolutely do any exercise without a fitness mat, the fitness mat makes exercises a little bit more comfortable and safe. Fitness mats can help you to get the most out of your workout. Read below about the different types of fitness mats and best fitness mats to buy before making your purchasing decision.

General Exercise Mats

There are a lot of exercise mats that are used for basic exercises such as sit-ups, push ups and stretching on the ground. These mats come in a variety of different sizes, thicknesses and colors. Foam mats are most common for comfort and durability. These mats are also easy to clean and wipe down after exercising. General exercise mats either fold up or roll up to be easily stored. They are also easily portable and sometimes come with a strap or can be put in a bag for added convenience.

Yoga Mats

Yoga mats are generally thin foam mats that come in a variety of colors and designs. When doing yoga exercises, you want to feel the ground beneath you and have a very stable surface. For this reason, yoga mats should not have much cushion. A yoga mat should also be somewhat tacky so that they adhere to the floor and don’t slide around when you move. You should be able to feel the traction between your feet and the mat so that you can obtain optimum balance and stability. Yoga mats may come in different sizes, but are normally around 5-5.5 feet long to accommodate the average person. Many yoga mats also come with a strap or a bag with a strap for easy transportation and storage.

Pilates Mats

Pilates mats are normally a little thicker than yoga mats because pilates involves a lot more floor exercises than yoga generally does. A nice pilates mat will have a bit of cushion to protect your spine during floor exercises. Unlike yoga, you do not need to feel rooted to the ground with pilates exercises, so a mat with a thickness of about half an inch that is still a little tacky to avoid sliding on the floor will serve you well. Pilates mats come in a variety of colors and designs so that you can personalize your pilates mat. Some people also will simply purchase an additional plain, padded mat to place under their yoga mat to use as a pilates mat.

In addition to exercise mats, there are also a number of floor exercise accessories that can help you achieve an excellent workout. These accessories include core balls or stability balls, resistance bands, yoga blocks, pilates box and pilates poles. These accessories provide extra ways to stretch and tone muscle outside of normal exercises. You can easily expand your home gym by purchasing a fitness mat and fitness accessories.

Pilates can be done either on a mat or using a reformer, which is a sophisticated machine with gears, straps and pulleys that can help you get the most from your pilates workout. Pilates reformers work with extra resistance to build more core strength than mat pilates. With a pilates reformer, you can do more than 100 pilates exercises. These exercises range from beginner to advanced and deeply work muscles to gain better postural alignment, strength, flexibility and stability. While pilates reformers were once only found in fancy pilates studios, you can now purchase a pilates reformer for use at home. If you want to take your pilates workout to the next level, consider getting a pilates reformer for your home.

When looking for a pilates reformer for home, there are some key components that you should make sure the pilates reformer has. Durable components like metal and high quality wood will ensure the longevity of the machine. There should also be comfortable loops, shoulder rests and foot bar with material that is easy to wipe down and clean after a workout. Also be sure that you will be able to easily make adjustments to the machine so that it suits you and your workout. An excellent quality pilates reformer for home will cost around $1000-$2500, with prices dipping slightly lower for machines that do not offer all of the bells and whistles of a professional line machine.

The follow are some options for reasonably priced, low impact pilates reformers for home that are great for all levels of pilates:

Stamina 4700 AeroPilates Premier Studio Reformer

The affordably priced Stamina 4700 AeroPilates Premier Studio Reformer is a great machine for a pilates beginner. This machine is easy to use and has all of the necessary features for the majority of pilates exercises and is a great reformer for people of all sizes and experience levels. With this reformer, you’ll get an instructional training guide with an introduction to most of the basic pilates exercises that can be performed on the machine. This reformer can be folded for easy storage after use.

Stamina XP 556 AeroPilates Pro Reformer

For a pilates workout with an extra kick, try out the Stamina XP 556 AeroPilates Pro Reformer. This machine has all of the necessary components for a traditional pilates workout with additional ways to burn calories and fat while toning your legs and core. You’ll get a total body workout doing pilates exercises and using the rebounder for an extra cardio boost. This reformer is an excellent addition to any home gym to add a low impact workout option that not only tones muscle but also burns additional calories.

Stamina XP 557 AeroPilates Pro Reformer

Get an aerobic pilates workout with the Stamina XP 557 AeroPilates Pro Reformer, a total body workout reformer that will build core strength and stability while also toning muscle and burning calories. This complete machine allows people of all sizes and experience levels to enjoy the benefits of pilates while also dropping some extra pounds with the aerobic exercise component. Choose your level of resistance to make the workout as comfortable or challenging as you want. The Stamina XP 557 machine is an integral part of a home gym for any pilates fanatic.

The pilates craze is surely not something that’s going away any time soon. A pilates workout tones and stretches the whole body, making it a beneficial workout for all types of people. Memberships to pilates studios and gyms that offer pilates classes can be expensive, so why not get your own pilates workout at home with portable pilates equipment? You’ll feel the burn without having to drive to the gym and work out in front of others using bulky pilates equipment. Try any one of these portable pilates workouts to get the body you want, without the hassle of leaving home:

Pilates: Body in Motion

Learn the basics of pilates exercises and stretches with the comprehensive book Pilates: Body in Motion by Alycea Ungaro. This book will teach you the basic forms you need to know to get the most out of your workout as well as tips for beginners on how to avoid common mistakes. You’ll get a great overview of the history of pilates, as well as a guide to pilates terminology and guides that can be used as reference. Think of this book as the framework you need when you are starting a pilates routine.

Pilates Illustrated

Pilates Illustrated by Portia Page gives you 13 predefined routines that will improve your posture, flexibility and balance using pilates exercises. There are hundreds of high quality color photos that show you exactly what the poses should look like, and how to link them to make a cohesive routine. There is a routine in this book for everyone, including those who want to improve posture, strengthen the lower back or tune in to the mental benefits of pilates.

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates

If you have a busy schedule and don’t see how fitting a pilates routine into your day is a possibility, you might want to try the 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates by Lara Hudson. This DVD features five 10-minute workouts that target certain areas of the body. You can do the workouts individually, or do them all back-to-back for a powerful 50-minute pilates workout. In just 10 minutes, you’ll feel the effects of isolating a group of muscles and really challenging yourself to tone and stretch. This DVD is best for those that are at an intermediate level with pilates, because the pace and exercises are a little challenging for a beginner.

Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners

Mix your pilates with a cardio workout and you’ll have Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners by Brooke Siler. Pilates sequences can really have an effect on your weight loss if you do a routine that involves a flow of poses and exercises meant to burn calories. Unlike a more intense workout, pilates uses a slow burn technique to melt away the pounds. These low impact exercises are perfect for someone who prefers mat pilates and gentle cardio to a trip to the weight room. Brooke Siler is a renowned pilates instructor who has shown everyone from working moms to celebrities how to get the body they want with simple pilates routines.

The older brother who has everything. The girlfriend that buys whatever she wants for herself. The dad whose only interests are golf and grilling. We all have people like this in our lives that are seemingly impossible to shop for on birthdays, holiday and special occasions. There comes a point where you either end up buying these people gift certificates, or getting them something that you know they don’t really want. So, instead of purchasing another tie, or another handbag that will most likely sit in the closet, get those hard to shop for people in your life an experience they will never forget.

Experience gifts have been making their way into the gift giving market for years, but the idea of giving an experience instead of a physical gift is new to many. The goal of an experience gift is to create a fun and exciting situation for the gift recipient that they wouldn’t normally get to experience, or would be hesitant to buy for themselves. Think of it this way – if you have an adventure lover in your life, why buy them a book about skydiving when you could buy them an actual skydiving session. Experience gifts go beyond the norm and invite the gift recipient to participate in something unique and meaningful.

The range of experience gifts is as varied as the people who will receive them. There are experience gifts for salsa dancing, fighter jet flying, white water rafting, hiking trips, winery tours, cultural events and much more. Experience gifts are all neatly packaged and arranged by companies like Cloud 9 Living. Cloud 9 has been in the experience gift giving business since 2005 and arranges experience gifts for gift buyers across the country.

The next time you need to buy a gift for someone, ask yourself if there is an experience that they would like more than a material possession. Chances are, you’ll be able to think of something that they would rather do than get. Experience gifts can be very practical and affordable (such as $75 for a private cooking lesson), or more luxurious and expensive (such as diving with white sharks in San Diego for $3,000). Experience gifts are all tailored to the recipient to ensure that they have the best experience possible.

Some experience gifts vary by region and time of year, but there is most likely an experience gift that will be perfect for the person in your life that is hard to shop for. Companies like Cloud 9 Living make it easy for you to choose the perfect experience gift and organize the gift giving. If you know exactly what experience you want to buy for the gift recipient, you can purchase that experience from the company. If you are not sure what experience the gift recipient would like the most, you can simply purchase a gift certificate for the price range that your budget allows and leave the choosing up to them. You can even buy an experience without booking a certain day or time to make the gift more convenient for the gift recipient. Then all you have to do is hand the recipient the gift certificate or gift package for an experience and watch his or her face light up with excitement at the idea of experiencing something new and exciting.

I have always loved gadgets, and as a child I was one of the first to have a Sony Walkman, my Nan bought me a shiny red one for my birthday, and my Mum and Dad bought me a Commodore 64 for Christmas 1984, when home computers were only in their infancy.

However, in the intervening years I somehow seem to have lagged behind my more tech savvy peers. Yes of course I have PC knowledge, but that has mostly stemmed from work and, until I started working freelance and branched out a little, did not have a whole host of fun connected with it.

As I hit 40 though I decided the time was right to bring myself into the 21st Century, call it a mid-life crisis, call it a desperate stab at rejoining a fading youth, but whatever the cause I was on a mission to purchase my first Apple iPod.

Now I love the idea of iPods, all the shiny cases and pretty colours, the excellent sound quality, the ability to mix together loads of music in one place and not have to keep returning each CD to its case. What’s not to love? So off I sauntered to my local large electrical retail outlet and perused the large selection of mp3 players on display.

I soon made it to the Apple section and thought I would try out the controls. Now for anyone who doesn’t have an iPod (you crazy fool you), the menu system is a little different to the usual controls you find on a personal stereo. It is entirely intuitive, once you understand its premise of circling your finger round the dial in order to move through the menu system. I of course, did not understand this standing in the shop on that day, and was frankly baffled as to how to navigate to my choice of song. I was growing increasingly frustrated with the whole thing when a lad of about 14, who was looking at a nearby stereo, pointed out what I should be doing and the iPod sprang into life.

I was grateful of course for his intervention, but went rather red at my lack of knowledge, I also have no proof of this but I am sure he muttered ‘oldie’ or some such term under his breath to his friend, as they sauntered from the shop. Oh the shame! Still at least my knowledge was now current and I hurried to the till to make payment and carry my precious cargo home.

The next step was to get set up on iTunes and to dive into the world of old and new music. This was an easy process and I can’t tell you how much fun it is to listen to tracks you haven’t heard in a long time. The biggest revelation was the amount of podcasts that are out there in a huge range of subjects. These can be downloaded free and I absolutely love be able to catch up on stuff in this way, whilst still being able to get on with my life, whether that be working or cleaning the house.

So, am I glad I made the step into the 21st century? You better believe it, even the shame of being outsmarted by a 14 year old has receded as time, and therapy, has lessened the pain.

So for all those sitting on the fence of new technology, go grab your desired gadget and have some fun. Hey and you know what else I have learned from one of those damned fine podcasts. Apparently 40 is the new 30, now that’s what I call educational.