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.

As a mum of a large family I am constantly keeping a close eye on my finances. I will happily make sure I never miss out on a bargain as nothing annoys me more than paying more for something than I should do. So, without further wait, here are my five top tips to help you and your family adopt a frugal approach and save some serious money

Second Hand Clothes

Hidden away on many streets are little treasures waiting to be found. All you’ll need is an eye for a bargain and plenty of persistence. Last week I discovered a second hand clothes store near to where my house is and purchased a near to new school coat for my son. The garment was in amazing condition and I paid just £4, saving myself a whopping £30 on an expensive high-quality brand name.

Light A Candle

Did you know that you could be spending a small fortune on gas and electricity prices at home? With this in mind, I turn off all the electric light bulbs for at least one day a week and instead opt for candles.. Over the course of the year you’ll be surprised to see how much money you are saving on this simple money saving measure. You can also use it as a great excuse to spend some much needed time with your family. We usually play board games or read cosy bed time stories by candle light.

Make Your Own Furnishings

I used my trusted sewing machine to create foam cushions for a local charity. It was a great rewarding task and I was able to make something using second hand material I would have otherwise chucked away.

Walk Don’t Drive

I spend a fortune in petrol on my family car. So, last weekend when my daughter wanted to go to the local park I decided to leave the car in the driveway and walk instead. It was great to get some exercise and spend some quality time with my child. We sang songs, played I Spy and generally had a great laugh together.

Cook From Home!

Nothing quite beats the taste of home cooked food. It can be extremely easy to buy a quick readymade meal especially if you have to take your kids to a Judo lesson or singing class, but you can still make time by cooking from scratch. I make a few meals in bulk and leave them in the fridge over the week. Last Saturday I made chicken pie, lamb curry and spaghetti bolognaise and they lasted for days. It was also a lot cheaper compared to the supermarket equivalent not to mention a lot better in quality.

Did you enjoy these tips? Do you have any tips you can recommend?

Hillary works at Cut Foam

What do you buy for a stressed out friend or family member? A beautiful scented candle, an aromatherapy bubble bath, a relaxing lavender filled pillow? All very lovely, but what about those occasions when a really special gift is required. Something bigger and better. Something that shows them that you’ve really put some thought into it.

Something that lets your loved one know just how much you value them.

The obvious choice might be a spa experience gift certificate.

What could be a nicer treat for someone who needs to really relax than a day (or two!), of pampering treatments, relaxing massages and just plain being spoilt rotten.

The beauty of a spa gift experience certificate is that it allows the recipient to choose exactly when to take their treat, at a time that fits around their work and family commitments. That’s already a more relaxing option for someone who’s trying to juggle a packed diary.

But let’s not stop there. Unique gifts for people who need to relax don’t have to just be about spa breaks. Have you considered buying them a gift experience certificate for a painting or drawing course, or even a pottery class?

A study in the Journal of the American medical association showed that Arts and Crafts are a proven way for people to switch off from the everyday world and relax. According to the study’s author, psychologist Robert Reiner PhD, the findings show that: “Crafts … distract you from everyday pressures and problems. They’re stress-busters in the same way that meditation, deep breathing, visual imagery, and watching fish are.”

Or for the more adventurous, how about outdoor experience gifts. A ride in a hot air balloon, for example. Soaring gently over the countryside, breathing in the fresh air. And then a champagne lunch afterwards. What a wonderful way to escape from the daily grind. If they’re an animal lover they might appreciate horse riding lessons. It’s well known that fresh air helps to reduce stress levels, especially for stressed out city livers.

And if watching fish really is what the doctor ordered, you can even buy certificates for experience gifts for whale watching trips. Imagine a boat trip that gives you the chance to see the real majesty of nature close up, with the chance to spot whales, dolphins, seals and marine birds.

So think bigger. Relaxation isn’t just about bubble bath. Splash out on a really unique experience.

This is a guest post by Selina at Xperiencedays.com, leading providers of unique experience gifts.

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.

Our homes become cluttered and disorganized over months of usage. Therefore, it’s not practical to try and organize your entire home in one day. Start small, be focused and use the following tips to better organize your home.

1.    Make A Plan

As a family, you need to understand exactly what you want out of your home. Sit down with a paper and pen and make a plan for each room. Visualize the end results. Look for ways to get the most out of each room; use online resources to do so.

2.    Create A Master List

List the rooms you have and create a master list of the things you absolutely need in each room.  While you’re on this exercise, walk to each room and see how many things you have that are not included in your master list. It’ll give you an idea what to throw and what to keep.

3.    Make A Commitment

Make a commitment, as a family, to get one room organized and efficient before you start tackling other areas. Set yourself a timeframe for this activity, such as a week or a fortnight.

4.    Involve Your Family

Getting organized is not a one person job. Your entire family has to get invested. Each member must feel responsible and accountable for the overall organization of your home.

5.    Focus

Focus on one room at a time, such as your kitchen or bedroom. Identify the room that you use the most as a family. Do not get distracted with the clutter in other rooms or you might end up throwing something valuable and regret it later.

6.    Start Small

Sometimes the spring cleaning fever takes over and lasts exactly for a day. During this hyper time, families rush through rooms and throw everything on the floor in an effort to get organized. When the energy levels ebb, they’re left with more clutter than ever and no room to walk.

7.    Retain Objectivity

Going over years of accumulated debris is bound to bring back memories. While it’s a nice thing to reminiscence on times past, remember the past is past and its impact on the future should be through peace, and not clutter.

8.    Don’t Be Hard On Yourself

Don’t stress yourself about throwing things and don’t be hard on yourself for being a magpie. Clutter symbolizes deeper issues and you might be able to identify those when you start de-cluttering. Take it easy and slow.

9.    De-clutter

Go over each room and create two piles of the things you need and things you don’t need. Move the pile of things you don’t need to a spare room or your garage for re-assessment.

10.           Attack The Attic

Go over your attic first. Evaluate if some of the things can be used in your existing rooms and keep them. As for other things – hold a garage sale, or do your good deed for the day by donating to GoodWill.

11.           Buy Or Build Organizers

Invest in efficient wall organizers for your kitchen and living areas. Make attractive magazine holders using discarded items, or use colorful storage bins that can be shoved under beds.

12.           Manage Your Paperwork

Buy a filing system for your paperwork and invest in a 12-month accordion file to organize your monthly bills and receipts. Discard paid bills after one year.

13.           Categorize And Organize

Categorize your books and your video collection according. Label your bookshelf rows and video disc cubby holes to indicate the category of their contents, such as technical books, childcare books, home videos, exercises and so on.

14.           Create A To-Do Tasks Area

On your foyer table, place errand basket and drop your library books, laundry and so on in it. Keep a soft board next to it and pin up laundry receipts, library notices and to-do tasks for each member of the family.

15.           Define A Place For Everything

Decide where to keep your things and make sure the entire family is familiar with the placement. Keep it simple and easy to remember. For example, organize coupons and take out menus in a folder next to your living room phone.

16.           Hang UP A Mail Basket

Hang up a mail basket with separate slots for bills and mail. You can buy one or make one using recycled materials. Create a slot for each family member and sort the mail as soon as it comes in.

17.           Reserve Counter Space

In your kitchen, keep only those appliances you use every day on your counter. Store the ones you use occasionally inside a cabinet.

18.           Install Multiple Switch Panels

To avoid cluttering mobile charges and appliance hookups in one corner, strategically place switch panels all over your home. Designate one panel for mobile chargers so your kitchen and living areas don’t get cluttered.

19.           Cut Back On The Decorations

The more decorative items you have on your counters, the less space you’ll have to keep the things you need. Use only as many artistic objects as you need to give your room character.

20.           Store Frequently Used Items Nearby

If you’re using wall organizers, closets or cabinets to organize your things, be sure that the things you need everyday are placed the closest to you. This way, you don’t have to reach up to get what you need and then feel too lazy to place them back again, creating clutter.

Marina Chernyak is a home décor writer and writes about specialty products like bedside table lamps, etagere shelves and lot more