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As the holiday season approaches, it's time to make those gift lists. And many times we find ourselves drawn to the idea of making gifts of clothing to friends and family. This can result in some great picks, but all to often it leads to unfortunate gift mismatches: the wrong size, the wrong color, or just plain wrong. If you keep a few things in mind, though, you can enjoy gift-giving success with clothing.

Teenagers are picky
It's a given that teenagers are going to find something wrong with most clothing gifts that come from family members. It's the nature of adolescents attempting to forge their own identities and break away from their parents in ways big and small. So the sweater from mom will probably result in an upturned nose. Just like with people of all other ages, while one teen may love designer labels, another may prefer thrift shop finds, but their sense of identity can be much more tied up with these clothing choices.

Unless you're absolutely sure that you're in tune with a teen's interests and fashion, skip the clothing gifts. If you would still like to get a teen a practical gift of clothing, consider a gift card. Or for a more personalized gift, invite them on a special shopping trip with you with a pre-set budget.

Don't be afraid to ask
If you've decided that you'd like to give someone a clothing gift, take a few minutes to ask the recipient about their wants and such practical items as sizes. If you want to keep the gift a surprise, ask a spouse or parent to find out for you. But knowing these details can mean the difference between a great gift and something that will sit unused because it doesn't fit right.

Be observant
When deciding on a gift, look closely at the recipient and really think about their style. A jeans and t-shirt girl probably won't appreciate a long skirt, while a guy who always wears a button-up shirt, even in casual settings, probably won't appreciate a novelty t-shirt.

Don't buy what you like
Now that's not to say that you should buy things that you hate, but you should make sure you're buying clothing with the gift recipient in mind rather than just buying something you would like to wear. Several years in a row, I endured embroidered denim shirts from my grandmother because she enjoyed the style.

Keep the receipt
Whether you bought the wrong size or it's just something the gift recipient can't see himself wearing, tuck a gift receipt in the package. That way, they can return it without feeling like they're insulting your taste. It's perfectly reasonable to want to remove the price from a gift, but do it in a way that keeps the UPC intact for easier returns.

Overall, giving the gift of clothing is a tricky process, but if you keep the above pointers in mind, you can enjoy stress-free clothing giving. And just keep telling yourself that it's the thought that counts.

Most of my female friends are very much into fashion.  They care a lot about their clothes, and go out of their way to update their wardrobes as frequently as possible in order to keep up with the latest trends.  However, they hardly give their socks any thought at all.  In fact, most of them look for the cheapest pairs they can find, and often buy their socks at discount stores such as Wal-Mart or Target, even though these same women would never dream of buying "regular" clothing from these stores.

Well, I'm here to tell you that sometimes it pays off to buy more expensive socks, particularly when you splurge for a material such as wool.  If you've never used wool socks, then you are definitely missing out on a great experience!  But first, you have to get past the price.  A quality pair of wool socks will set you back anywhere from $15-$25, depending on the store that you buy it from.  Obviously, name brands cost more than generic brands, but you'll probably be getting better material -- which, after all, is what you want.  You can see why a lot of people would be put off by a price that is several times higher than what you would pay for ordinary cotton socks.

So what, exactly, are you paying all that money for?  What makes wool socks so great?  First of all, wool socks are very thick.  That means they keep you much warmer than regular cotton socks.  This is important if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter.  For example, if you hunt, hike, like to go sledding, tobogganing, or participate in any of a number of other activities, you'll appreciate having your feet kept warm by a great pair of wool socks.  And it sure beats having to layer on two or three pairs of regular socks, which just isn't very comfortable at all!

There is a second benefit to wool socks.  Because of the thickness of the socks and the natural properties of wool, your feet will stay dry and enjoy extra protection against blisters and other ailments that arise from walking around a lot.  So again, this is precisely what you need for outdoor activities, or even for just trudging around the mall or back and forth across campus.

You can purchase high-quality wool socks from most sporting goods stores or outdoor specialty stores.  In addition, some clothing retailers such as Eddie Bauer and LL Bean usually have a large selection of wool products to choose from.  And as always, you can get online and in just a matter of seconds call up thousands of websites that sell good wool socks.

Isn't it time you started treating your feet right?  Check out wool socks at your favorite store or website today and you can begin enjoying all the benefits of this luxurious hosiery in no time at all.  Once you discover how warm and comfy your feet are in your new wool socks, you'll never want to wear cotton socks in winter again!


  

If you are dreaming of a new wardrobe or maybe just fitting into the one you already own when the holidays are over, there are some basic "rules" to memorize and internalize. When you decide to rid yourself of the extra poundage it will help if you keep these rules in mind when that very important "day one of my diet" arrives.

The first thing to remember is that fad diets rarely work. We have all heard that the only way that really works to get rid of extra weight and then to keep it off is to do it slowly with your food choices and exercise. Many fad diets are also missing key nutrients that we need for good health, so diets that were all the rage in the past are suddenly known to cause huge health problems.

No matter what type of healthy diet you choose to follow, there are some basic things that can help us with weight loss while also keeping us successful with reaching whatever goal we have set.

The first tip is most likely something we all learned in high school health class. Drink a lot of water when you are dieting. This is for a variety of reasons, two of which are that it keeps us healthy and it also helps us feel fuller when we have put less food into our tummies than we are used to eating. Try to have at least six 8-ounce glasses of water when you are dieting, but eight 8-ounce glasses is definitely better.

Be sure that you don't have too many diet soft drinks or fruit juices during this time. Granted they have no calories, but there are other additives that you will not want to put into your body in large amounts. It is fine for once in a while, but try to have water for most of your drinks.

Another helpful thing that we all learned in school classes is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. It is always important to eat a proper number of servings of these foods, but it becomes even more important when trying to lose extra weight. Fresh fruit has few calories, but often vegetables have even fewer. Of course this doesn't mean we can soak the cooked vegetables in melted butter or cheese sauce. One thing many dieters consider a godsend is the spray butter available now. Give your vegetables a squirt or two and you will not have to add more calories onto your daily tally.

Probably the most important thing you will be doing is to remember your portion control. If you are used to having a huge bowl of cereal each morning, as one example, you will need to actually measure out the amount the box says is a serving size. It may surprise you to find out that you had been eating two or maybe even more servings at a time in the past.

Sit down and make a list of ways you can change the former eating habits. Anything, no matter how small, will help you in this journey. Sometimes even the smallest change will be something that you will see makes the biggest difference. Be sure to keep a food diary of everything that you eat so that you will have a true count.

When I was in high school, I harbored a healthy disdain for the winter months.  You see, high school kids are perhaps the most fashion-conscious consumer group out there, and it's very difficult to look "cool" while trying to protect yourself against the sub-zero temperatures, bitter wind, rain, snow, and sleet that are characteristic of a typical Chicago winter.  The cool kids didn't wear knit caps (beanies weren't popular back then), gloves, or scarves.  And there was also an unspoken rule against wearing snow boots.  Sure, it sounds silly now, and I see the obvious flaws in that line of thinking; but back then, I really bought into the whole thing.  So from November to March, the trek to and from school was sheer misery for me.  

Then something amazing happened.  Some of the popular kids started wearing Sporto boots when it was wet outside, and a whole new trend was born at my school.  Sporto has expanded its product line over the years, but back in the late '80s and early '90s, this company was famous for a particular style of boot known as "duck boots".  The boot came up a couple of inches above the ankles, and was essentially divided into two parts.  The bottom part, which was the height and shape of a regular shoe, was made of waterproof rubber.  The top portion was made of leather, and had laces to close and fasten the boot.  If I recall correctly, the only color combo available was a navy blue bottom with a light tan upper.  At least, that's the color that all the kids wore.

Since these Sporto waterproof boots retailed for about $40, most kids, including me, were able to afford them.  In fact, my mom was so happy to hear that I actually wanted a pair of boots that would protect my feet from the elements that she took me to the mall right away and let me choose whatever I wanted.  That had never happened before.

Of course, there was a "right" way to wear Sporto boots in order to look truly cool.  First of all, you couldn't lace them up.  Instead, you had to put a knot in each end of the laces so that they wouldn't come completely out of the eyelets, then you had to loosen them enough so that you could slip the boots on and off without too much effort.  Second, there was a leather tab at the back of the boots to help facilitate pulling them on.  You had to make sure that your pants cuffs rested on that tab so that your pants didn't fall all the way to the bottom of the boots.  It sounds a little strange now, but it made sense back then.  At any rate, I at least was able to wear some protective gear when it was pouring rain outside.

My Sporto boots worked great, and I ended up owning several pairs throughout my high school and college years.  I've been looking for them again recently, but haven't been able to find that very same duck-style boot.  Oh, well -- at least I still have fond memories of my old pairs!

By Christina VanGinkel

Clothes are always a good gift idea during the holidays, unless you are terrible at matching sizes and styles to the correct person. If you are the person who once gave a negligee to your Great Aunt Girt because it was on sale when you walked into the local shopping center, and you liked the color, read on! Instead of trying to once again come up with something to give Great Aunt Girt, giver her a can't miss gift instead, by giving her a gift certificate to one of the following online stores, available via direct links right from ClothingStoreOnline.com:

Eddie Bauer gift certificates are available in amounts from $10 to $500 and can be redeemed via their catalogs, online, or in any of their stores. If ordered early enough, the gift card will arrive in a lovely box perfect for gift giving, or a last minute E-Gift card can be emailed to the lucky recipient.

Brooks Brothers offers gift cards in values starting at $25 up to $500, and can be shipped direct to your or the recipient. It comes, in their words, handsomely presented in their signature blue box with the gold brooks brother's logo emblazoned on the card. They also require a signature upon delivery to ensure correct delivery of this valued gift.

Shopping for a teenage girl brings with it so many chances of fault that giving them a dELiAs gift card is the only sane way to go. Available in denominations ranging from $10 to $200, you are sure to find one in the exact size you need. The best part is that you can have the card mailed, or emailed for instant gratification of your favorite teenage girl. With gifts that range from clothing to gear to outfit her room, she will also think it is the perfect fit!

L.L. Bean has gift cards available for $5 to $500, which can be mailed or emailed. If you want to send them off early, they are offering free shipping on all orders, with no minimum purchase required. That way, whatever the recipient spends their gift certificate on, it will be shipped directly to them at no charge whatsoever.

Besides these four stores, ClothingStoreOnline.com has direct links to other clothing stores offering quick and easy gift certificates, including Old Navy, Adidas, Coldwater Creek, GAP (including Gap for Kids, Gap Maternity, baby Gap, and Gap Body), Kohl's, and many, many more.

If you are the type who has shied away from giving gift certificates in the past, because you felt they were not personal enough, think again. Giving a gift that someone can actually use, and not have to worry about whether they can exchange it, (after standing in line for who knows how long!), or even re-gift it without feeling guilty, is more thoughtful than just grabbing something last minute. Give a gift certificate to their favorite store, and let them really appreciate how thoughtful you were in choosing their gift this year. Great Aunt Girt will love your thoughtfulness, even if no one else does!

By Christina VanGinkel

I shop online a lot, as much as I can actually. It is not that I am store phobic; it is that I am constantly short on time, and with the price of gas these last few months, I would rather pull my computer chair up to my desk than my husband's truck up to town. So when I ordered a pair of snow board pants for my son the other day, it was about as usual a transaction as any other I have made this past year. I browsed the site, I checked the sizing recommendations, I browsed some more, found a pair in his size and my price limit, and ordered them. A few days later, UPS pulls into my yard, knocks, and hands me a package.

Well, I always know there is a risk when buying clothing without having the person try it on, but as my son would rather order online anyway, instead of go to a store to try something on, this is not even a consideration. He likes his clothes a bit baggy anyway, so getting an exact fit is also not a concern. The size I ordered would probably be a bit loose, but that is what he wanted. They would have been loose that is if the snowboard pants in the package were even close to what I ordered! The label read right, a Men's Large, but before I even measured the waist to see how far off they were off, I was laughing. When stretched out, they barely measured at a 28-inch waist. I had been expecting a 36-38 inch waist, give, or take the difference with the elastic built into each side to make the pants wear with a smoother fit, when the wearer is racing down the slopes.

I got online while I was still laughing, and was going to expedite a return, but noticed that the place I ordered from had a restocking fee, and even though their shipping is very low, I would have to pay the shipping fee to return them. I browsed online for just a minute, found their 800 number for customer service, and gave them a call. I explained the erroneous difference in size in comparison to what was listed on their site, to what actually arrived, and told the rep I was talking to that I did not think I should have to pay any part of the return, shipping or restocking. She agreed immediately and I was quickly emailed a link to download a label to place on the box, complete with an RMA number. In no time I had the snowboard pants back in their box, re-labeled, and could have then scheduled a pickup with UPS, but chose to drop the package off at a local shipping affiliate, as I had to run to town.

I had another pair ordered later last evening, and all in less time than if, I had dragged my son all over town trying to find a pair for even close to what I ended up paying. Yes, errors do occur when shopping online, but as long as you take care of them right away, know why you are returning the item, and can explain it level headed; chances are it will not cost you anymore to make the return than if you did so to a local store. This return was actually less painful than many I have done in person, as I did not have to stand in line for an interminable amount of time. I just dialed, printed, and dropped off. It can't get much easier than that.

By Christina VanGinkel

When choosing a winter jacket for a toddler or preschooler, there are certain features that should be considered before color or style. The exterior fabric should be waterproof, especially if the child is going to be out playing in the fun white stuff! The fit of the jacket needs to be roomy enough to allow wear over a sweater or sweatshirt, or even layers. The sleeves should optimally have an inner sleeve that snug a bit around the child's wrist, to keep out wind and snow, with the exterior part of the sleeve long enough that it lands a bit over the base of the hand. While some jackets just have an elastic band for the wrist, I would not recommend this, as they have a tendency to ride up the arm, and snow and cold can be a problem when this occurs. It is also difficult to keep mittens on when a sleeve such as this is pushing against the mitten. A sleeve with an interior band and longer exterior will wear with gloves and mittens much easier.

Under the arm, in the armpit area, some jackets come with a vent, and an extra fold of fabric. While these features may be hard to find, if you have a choice between a jacket with them and one without, I would defiantly consider the one with these features if the rest of the jackets features were what you are looking for.

The overall length of the jacket is also important. The warmest fabric will not keep a child snug if it is too short and rides up the child's back with the slightest movement. Again, some jackets will have an interior section that fits a bit snugger than the longer exterior part of the jacket. This is a nice feature for those cold days where the wind just blows and blows. On the front of the jacket, a double zipper, or an inner zipper with Velcro or snaps over the zipper is another plus when considering the best features to keep your child warm.

A jacket with a hood is necessary. Look for one that has a wide front that will work as a face warmer, that snaps or uses Velcro to close. As with any toddler or preschool jacket, avoid those with string ties that could become entangled in playground equipment. A hood that is a bit deeper than the child's head will also work as a buffer on the windiest days, keeping the child's face out of direct contact with a bitter wind.

Be sure to check what the lining is made of too. One that has all of the above features, but is so thin that the wind blows right through it, will not be an asset to keeping your child warm long enough for them to be outside for any length of time.

After all of these recommendations are taken into consideration, choose a style and color that will entice your child to want to head outdoors to play. After all, what fun is winter if your little one is not the cutest snowman, um, kid, on the block!

By Christina VanGinkel

I hate shoe shopping! There, I have said it and I feel much better. Along with the upcoming holidays, comes dinners out and parties to attend. In order for someone like me, (who lives the majority of her time squirreled away at home, typing and writing, because that is what I am most comfortable doing, or trekking through the woods after my dogs), to head out to these functions looking respectable, I need to purchase a pair of shoes to wear. I actually bought a pair last year, after wearing another pair for several years in a row. I intended to wear the pair I bought last year for at least the next year or two, but I barely made it through one evening with them last year. They have a small heal, which I like, and they just slip on, which I also like, but for some reason that I cannot fathom, I cannot walk further than two steps in them without feeling as if I am going to step out of them.

Just as I was dreading another shopping trip for a pair of shoes to wear to this years events, my daughter brought me an early Christmas present last night. She bought me a pair of low boots, in black, that slip on, with a bit of a slit on one side of each boot, where they have conveniently put in a piece of stretchy material. I would have never even given these boots the time of day if I had been the one shopping. Even when she handed them to me, I was a bit taken back when I first opened the box. I tried to be nice, but she knew I thought they looked, well, different. The toe of the boot is rounded, which I like, but my eyes kept going towards the elastic in the top. Smart person that she is, she told me to try them on before I made any assumption of whether I liked them or not.

Well, I tried them on, sure, that I would absolutely hate them, but I actually liked them, a lot, once I had them on. They look good enough to wear with a pair of black, slinky dress pants, or stylish enough to go with a pair of my jeans. They have a tiny bit of heal, which is nice with me being only five feet, two inches tall, yet they do not slip like a regular pair of shoes with heels, seem to always do to me.

Most importantly, I learned a lesson. Not to just pass by a pair of shoes when shopping because I assume they look different, or funny. When I asked my daughter how she picked these out for me, she said they just seemed to be a good match for all the things I have complained about through the years. They would be comfortable, they would be easy to slip on and off, they had a bit of heel, and they were black, my one requisite whenever I am picking out a pair of dress shoes, as that way they will match just about anything I might have in my closet. At least someone was listening, even if it wasn't I!

You don't have to be a sprinter in order to own a track-style warm-up suit.  In fact, there are many benefits to owning a track suit that even the most non-athletic people among us can enjoy.  For example, nothing beats a track suit in terms of comfort.  These clothes are great for lounging around your home or for getting work done in the yard on the weekends.  And, unlike ordinary sweatpants and sweatshirts, track suits are actually considered "in" among all age groups.  That means if you have to run to the store for something, you won't have to change clothes in order to do so.  

There's no doubt that track suits are very versatile, so you should give one a try if you haven't done so before.  Here are some things to look for as you shop for your new clothes.

Material
Most track suits are made from either fleece or nylon, so you have a bit of a choice here.  You'll have to think about when you will most likely wear your track suit.  If you're going to wear it mostly in the summer months, then you'll want to go with nylon as that material is a bit lighter and will not be as hot.  If you're going to wear your track suit mostly in the fall or winter months on the other hand, you'll likely want to go with fleece as this material will keep you warmer.  

Colors
Track suits are of course available in a wide variety of colors, so you're sure to find your favorites.  One thing you'll have to decide is if you want your suit to be all one color, or if you want a couple of different colors for some contrast.  Traditional track suits consist of a jacket and pair of pants in the same color.  These days, however, it's quite common to see at least two different colors.  For example, you might have a white jacket with black accents paired with some black pants.  Both styles can look very sharp, so it's really just a matter of personal preference here.

Price
Since there are many different companies producing track suits, you'll be able to find them in varying prices.  If you want a track suit from a high-profile clothing company such as Nike or Adidas, then you should be prepared to pay $100 or more for it.  If you're not that concerned with brand names, then you should be able to find a decent track suit for less than $50.  Bear in mind that the price of an article of clothing is sometimes linked to quality.  So if you buy a $30 track suit, you just might find it falling apart in the wash after a relatively short time.  However, that's not always the case, so use your judgment before you shell out big money.

If you're looking for a stylish outfit that you can wear while relaxing or doing chores, then check out some track suits the next time you go shopping.  You'll be impressed with how versatile and comfortable they are!

For most of us, I think it's safe to say that our socks are the least of our wardrobe concerns.  Most of the time, they are merely an afterthought that neither add to nor detract from our outfits.  Sure, there are some people who still go out of their way to make sure that their socks match their shirt, but most are content to just throw on a pair of white or black socks and be done with it.

I definitely used to be that way myself.  In fact, there was a time when my entire hosiery collection consisted of nothing but white socks.  That all changed, however, after I spent some time living in Japan.  You see, in that country, you have to take your shoes off all the time, even in public places or places that you ordinarily wouldn't think you'd have to do so.  For example, I went sightseeing at a 400-year-old castle once, and all of the visitors were made to remove their shoes and wear cloth slippers while touring the inside of the structure.  That would be like having to take your shoes off to enter a museum in New York or something.  I also had to take my shoes off in restaurants, school classrooms, and even the dentist office.  And it goes without saying that I had to remove my shoes when visiting someone's home.

Because I was constantly taking my shoes off, I of course always had to make sure that my socks were clean and free from holes.  I soon discovered that white socks weren't the best choice because the dirt really starts to show up on them quickly, which can leave them looking gross at the end of a long day of walking.  So I started to check out some more colorful socks and I really liked what I saw.

Since socks are such a visible part of a person's wardrobe in Japan, I guess it's not surprising that the country has a lot of stores that sell nothing but socks in every pattern and color that you can imagine.  You could get socks with thin stripes or socks with thick stripes, socks with polka dots or socks with flowers; socks with cartoon characters or socks with animals.  As a result, shopping for socks was a great deal of fun, and I came away with a new appreciation for what I put on my feet.

These days, I still pay attention to the socks that I wear.  I've also found out that there just as many fun and cool-looking socks here at home as there are at the Japanese stores.  Now I have a wonderfully colorful sock collection that helps me add just the right touch to almost any outfit I choose to wear.

If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to jazz up your casual wardrobe, then I suggest purchasing some great new socks.  You might be surprised at all the interesting choices out there, so buy a few pairs today and see what a difference having fantastic socks can make!

Thanksgiving means different things to different people, of course. For some, it means spending quality time with friends and family. For others, the Thanksgiving turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and other goodies are the most important part of the holiday. And for still others, the most important part of Thanksgiving is actually the day after, when Christmas shopping and the countdown to Santa's arrival officially begin.

For me, Thanksgiving means a bit of all of these things. It also signifies the fact that December is just around the corner, which means that I can finally break out my holiday sweaters. Yes, I am one of those people who really catches the holiday spirit -- so much so that I actually own a bunch of themed sweaters to prove it. You know the kind I'm talking about: the ones with colorful reindeer, blinking Christmas trees, Santa Clause, elves, etc. plastered all over them. The ones that no one in their right mind would think of wearing in any month other than December.

It seems silly, but most people feel very strongly about holiday sweaters. On the one hand you have those that absolutely abhor the things. They wouldn't be caught dead wearing one themselves, and they like to roll their eyes at people who choose to do so. On the other, you've got people like me, who love to wear them even though they're fully aware of how over-the-top they look. Then I suppose there are those who don't care one way or the other, but (at least among my family and friends) they are clearly in the minority. I seem to always get some kind of comment on my holiday sweaters, either good or bad.

Contrary to popular belief, not all holiday sweaters are hideous and gaudy. Sure, if your sweater requires batteries in order for its lights, music, or sound effects to work, then you've probably crossed the line and left good taste far behind. However, I think there are some very nice-looking holiday sweaters out there, so don't be too quick to dismiss them all. For example, my favorite piece from my personal collection consists of Santa carefully placing a few wrapped presents under a Christmas tree. The design is small and is very tastefully done. Best of all, it nicely captures a scene from the season and instantly brightens my mood.

If you've never owned a holiday sweater, now might be a good year to try one. Like I said, you don't have to purchase an utterly ridiculous one in order to be more festive; there are plenty of nice ones out there (although "ridiculous" works for some people, so you never know!). You could discover that something as simple as a sweater really can influence your mood in a positive way, and your good spirits and cheer might even rub off on others. That's what happens to me when I'm around my family members in the month of December, and that's why I'll keep on wearing my holiday sweaters no matter what kinds of comments they elicit!

By Christina VanGinkel

I have concluded that purchasing clothing for my thirteen-year-old son is going to be a never-ending battle. Just when I think I can take a respite from buying him something, he informs me that he has once again outgrown whatever it is he happens to need 'now'! With the snowboard season starting in roughly a week and a half, he informed me a few days ago that his pair of snowboard pants we purchased towards the end of season last year (because he outgrew the pair he started the season with) no longer fit him. In disbelief, I had him try them on. Let us just say that there was no way he was going to be racing across the terrain park in those, unless he was dressing up for a costume party as a goofball!

As I deal with the fact that he has grown an astonishing six inches in the span of one year, he shows no signs of slowing down. Along with the growth in height, he has increased another shoe size, now making him a size men's twelve. Where he once was a bit taller than his brother, who is twenty-three, he now towers over him, making the possibility of him passing on any clothes he does outgrow, to his brother, not even possible.

I also know that I am not the only parent facing this dilemma. I constantly hear other parents making a comment that keeping up with purchasing clothing that actually fits their kids is a constant struggle. I have learned to combat this somewhat by not minding that my son prefers a somewhat baggy look for his clothing. He wears his jeans a bit loose in the waist, and a bit on the long side. T-shirts are worn in a similar size scenario. If he wanted a smooth fit, what is a problem would be an actual nightmare! When it comes to items such as his current need, snowboard pants, I turn to online outlets such as Overstock.com, first. With low shipping and prices slashed as low as a parent could want, they often save me from meltdown. I was able to find him a pair of Ozone snowboard pants in basic black, with features often found on much more expensive gear, marked from a high of one hundred dollars, down to twenty-nine dollars. Even with shipping, the final price was still less than what I could find a cheaply made pair locally.

Besides online outlets, and turning a blind eye to a clothing style that would have drove me over the edge with my older son just a few years back, I also shop clearance racks every chance I can. I also let him tell me if something 'fits' or does not. With shoes, I was tempted to have him go with a size eleven at the start of the school year, but he insisted that though they appeared to fit, they seemed just a tad tight across. Within a few weeks of buying him a size twelve, which I felt too big, they fit him perfectly, and I was actually fearful that we maybe should have gone with a size thirteen! If you have a child that seems to busting out at the seams, at least know that you are not alone!

When I was in second grade, I had a wonderful tea party. All of my friends came. We wore our mothers and grandmothers hats and costume jewelry and put makeup on. We had tea and crumpets - yes, we really had crumpets - and the whole experience was a lot of fun. We enjoy speaking with our little "British" accents and sitting back to enjoy ourselves.

I am not certain many children pretend and dress up like this today. I hope that there is the opportunity for my son to wear some dress-up clothes when he is older. It is not that I want him to have a party where the little boys wear tuxes and hold pipes in their mouths. But what is wrong with being a pirate? Or a knight?

Allowing your son (or daughter) to wear these outfits can help tremendously with learning how to imagine and make up stories. Many children today have too much television in their lives and find that they struggle to use their imagination. A good chest full of dress-up clothing can be just the cure!

There are a number of ways to start your collection of dress-up clothes. You just missed this year's Halloween clearance sales, but don't let that stop you in the future. Many stores discount their items 50-75% in the days after Halloween. Stock up! I found Fantastic 4 costumes on sale for 25 cents about a week after Halloween. I picked up a few. After all, my son can dress up in them for years to come for that price!

You also can keep your eye on garage sales or party discount stores. Many of these places will have good costumes available for pretty cheap, and you can pick up some for your little ones.

Also, think about making the costumes yourself. You don't have to get store-bought clothing to have a good selection. You can still make a sword from paper towel rolls or use extra pieces of cloth to make a pirate's bandana. Think creatively and allow your children to help, of course.

Ask them what they want to be and what that costume would look like. Then work to help your child use your clothing or items you have lying around the house to come up with good ideas for a child's costume.

Don't forget the accessories either! Your child will want the right glasses, necklaces, and other add-ons for the costumes. Here you really can use your imagination. Your children can use plenty of household items for their accessories and props. For instance, your toddler can use a pot and wooden spoon for a drum when she is wearing a good tribal costume.

Just keep an open mind. Wearing new clothing lets your child transport her or himself to another place and pretend to be something different than what she or he is today. Clothing often tells the world how we feel as adults, and doing so in costume can provide the same outlet for children.

By Julia Mercer

By Christina VanGinkel

We thought we had come up with the ideal gift for out two-year-old grandson for the upcoming holiday season, a pair of Carharts, or similar styled, lined bibs. He loves to be outside with his dad or grandpa no matter the weather, doing whatever it is they are doing. If they are piling firewood, you are sure to find him off to the side piling his own little pile of wood that they gave him. If they are trekking through the woods to bait a post for the upcoming deer-hunting season, you are sure to see him barging through the brush ahead of either of them. If one of them head to the river to do some fishing, even if the temperatures seem to cold for anyone else to be out, not only will they have their fishing gear, so will he. So a pair of lined, duck fabric bibs, that could hold up to wear, to brush, etc., and not tear or snag like a typical pair of snow pants would, seemed like the perfect gift.

The only problem is I cannot find a pair. I did find an unlined pair in his size, but not a lined pair that will keep him snug and warm during our chilly fall and winter months. I also found lined pairs of bibs, but not in the cotton canvas, or duck fabric, that will stand up to the abuse of twigs and other rough objects that his tiny tornado of a pair of knees is sure to encounter. Anybody with an active two or three year old knows how fast they can remove the knees of a seemingly good pair of jeans or snow pants. The duck fabric would at least stand a chance to all the abuse that they would be put through.

Of all my years shopping for 'just the perfect item', I can honestly say that for once I am stumped. When I told my husband that I could not find a pair, he looked at me, and asked why they did not make them. He figured that if I could not find them, then they must not be in existence, as I have always been able to unearth whatever it is we are searching for. I told him that I found them in a lined version, but that the smallest size was an eight. We were looking for a toddler size two or three at the largest. By the time our grandson is in a size eight, he will be balking at the thought of helping stack firewood if he is anything like the average child!

I went on to tell him that I did find a pair in a size three, but that they were not lined. So order those, was his reply, and just get him a couple of good pairs of long johns to go beneath them. I have a feeling that is going to be easier said than done. While they do make numerous brands of long johns for kids, I know what his definition of good is, and I have a feeling that I will be having as difficult a time finding these as I did the lined bibs to begin with! I had better get shopping as there are only 42 days left until Christmas.

If you're a political junkie, then one thing you might be interested in doing is starting a campaign t-shirt collection.  Many years ago, people who were really into politics used to collect campaign buttons.  When I was younger, I remember seeing a neighbor's campaign button collection and being in awe with all of the different ones that he had.  I specifically remember that he had one of those famous Barry Goldwater buttons (AU H20) and thinking that was a pretty cool thing.  Anyway, these days, I see a lot of campaign t-shirts and thought that collecting them would be fun.

I've generally run into two different groups of political memorabilia collectors.  In the first group are people who collect items just from their own political party.  So, if they're a Democrat, they want items only from the Democratic candidates; if they're a Republican, they only want items from the Republican candidates.  The second group consists of people who will collect whatever items they can get their hands on, regardless of party affiliation.

In this day and age, getting a campaign t-shirt collection going is very easy.  In fact, you can get started at any time – even if it's not a national election year.  For example, even though the last presidential election was in 2004, you can still purchase brand-new campaign t-shirts from various websites.  The auction site e-Bay is a great place to start, and a quick search today shows a number of George W. Bush campaign t-shirts for less than $10 each.  There are even some t-shirts with those popular red state/blue state U.S. maps screen printed on them.  I think 20 or 30 years from now, that kind of shirt will be just as famous as the AU H20 buttons that my neighbor had.

You can also get t-shirts from local and statewide campaigns as well.  This might entail a bit more legwork and effort on your part, however, as you will probably have to attend some events in order to score some shirts.  If it's impossible for you to physically attend a rally or whatever, you might try calling the candidate's election headquarters and asking for a shirt.  The person who answers the phone might ask for a donation in turn, but it's entirely up to you how much you want to give, if anything.  

Sometimes, you might be interested in a state election that is not actually taking place in your own state.  For example, many political campaign t-shirt collectors are interested in celebrity campaigns.  So these people would try to get their hands on a shirt from Clint Eastwood or Sonny Bono's mayoral campaigns, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial campaign, even if they don't live anywhere near California.  Again, auction sites are a good option for these, as well as just scouring the Internet for random websites that might be selling.

If you're looking for a fun new hobby, why not consider collecting political campaign t-shirts?  You can always just start wearing them if you get bored with your collection!

By Christina VanGinkel

We did some Christmas shopping for our grandson last night, and a few of the items we purchased for him were a pair of carpenter style jeans, and a long sleeved football styled jersey to go with the jeans. When I had asked my daughter what sizes he would need, she said he was still in a toddler two for his pants, and would be for some time even if he grew a bit before the holidays actually arrived, but any t-shirts or sweatshirts that we bought should be a size three, for the length of the shirt's body. A size two shirt seemed to be just a bit too short on him, though they still technically fit him. If he bent over though, a size two would ride up and expose his backside. With our cold winters, this was not something we wanted. He had grown some in height, though not in width. Looking at the jeans, my husband thought the size two toddlers was going to be too small. I reminded him that when he was at our house just a few weeks before, that the size two pants he was wearing that morning were constantly on the verge of falling down until we took the waistband and rolled them down to thicken them up. In the same breath, I reminded him how our own child, now thirteen, had just jumped more sizes in one year then I ever had though one person could. He had grown six inches in height, gone up three shoe sizes, but had actually lost a size in jeans, as he had slimmed down considerably. Our grandson would probably be in a size three pants before too long, but until he was, it did not make sense to have him wear clothes that were falling off him or that he would be tripping over because they were too long.

Children grow at their own rate, and unless there is a medical condition, parents should be prepared for sudden bursts of growth, but not panic when they seem slow in coming. While our grandson is, and has been in a size two pants for some time now, it is very likely that he will suddenly jump to a size three, or that he may stay in the size twos through the winter. His eating habits are very reminiscent of my own children when they were little. He will not want to eat anything for several days in a row, to the point that my daughter spends much of her days trying to get him to eat a bit of this or that. He will drink his milk or juice, but food is just not high on his priority list. Then, he will spend a day where she wonders where he puts all the food he can consume. When I kept him overnight last, he woke up and started his morning off by eating, or should I say devouring, two bananas, and not small ones either. He followed this up by a non-stop eating frenzy throughout the morning and into the afternoon. Every time I turned around, he was asking for something to eat. His words were 'I'm hungry Nana, what yah got to eat'. With this in mind, I also tossed a pair of size threes in the cart. They can hang in his closet until the morning my daughter goes to dress him and he suddenly looks like he is waiting for the flood of the century!

By Christina VanGinkel

If a new pair of warm, winter boots are on your list of things to buy for yourself or other family member, be sure to shop with both warmth and comfort in mind. I have been responsible for purchasing two pair in the past two weeks, one pair for my husband and one pair for my thirteen-year-old son. My husband's were the easiest to buy, as he wanted the exact same pair he already owned but had seen better days, so sizing would not be an issue at all, as long as we would be able to find the same pair. A quick search online from the same store he had bought the first pair two years ago, and they were ordered and on their way.

Now, if my son's boots had been as easy to purchase as my husband's boots had been, I would not have been about to pull out my hair in frustration a few days ago. With hunting season fast approaching in our neck of the woods, and my son's feet having grown three, yes three full sizes since last season, we needed to find a pair and soon. We headed to the one and only sporting goods store in our local area after school on Friday. My older son had informed me that they had boots with 2000 grams of Thinsulate for less than one hundred dollars. Upon arriving at the store, we found the boots he had told us about, but the problem was the Thinsulate was 200, not 2000. This might be ok in a warmer area, but not in the north where we live and not sitting in a stand for hours at a time. Feet can become cold fast when not in motion. I also wanted him to be able to wear these boots throughout the upcoming winter months for activities such as ice fishing.

Seeing as we were at the store, we figured we might as well look at what else they had available, sure that we would be able to find something. In the size twelve that we needed, he did find two boots that looked like they would be appropriate for his needs. The first pair was a brand we had never heard of, but they were made of leather uppers and had an 800-gram Thinsulate lining. Not quite as high as we were looking for, but with a good pair of wool socks, we figured they would work. They were so hard to pull on, as the tongue area was sewn in a way that was suppose to help keep the boots waterproof. The problem was that the manufacturer had not taken into account the width of a foot. He got the boot on, but it was a struggle, and they were not that comfortable once they were on.

The other boot was a brand we both liked, and that we were familiar with their sizing, Rocky. The only problem with these boots was again the low Thinsulate rating. We knew when we headed out shopping that we wanted at least a 1200-gram Thinsulate lining. Somewhat disappointed, we headed home. I did end up getting him a pair that met all of our wants and needs though. I ordered them online, a pair of Rocky's in a style similar to the pair he tried on but with a much higher Thinsulate rating. They should be here today or tomorrow and my only regret is that I did not order them the same day I ordered my husbands. Though after placing his order, a ten-dollar coupon had arrived in my email good towards my next purchase, which I applied to my sons order, effectively paying for the cost of shipping. To find a comfortable, warm pair of Rocky boots for yourself or family member, just type in 'Rocky Boot' in the search box here at CothingStoreOnline.com for a huge selection from which you are sure to find the perfect pair.

While I don't actually read any magazines that could be purely called "fashion" magazines, I do subscribe to a couple of women's magazines. And the fashion spreads in these magazines increasingly disturb me.

My first complaint is naturally the emaciated models that display clothes on these pages. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to see myself in the shirts and skirts and dresses when I'm not a size zero. And I suppose on some level, I'm supposed to want to be like these women, but typically I can't even enjoy looking at these clothes if the model looks sickly. It's just not good advertising to me.

Some magazines actually manage to get away from this trend with photographs featuring real women. I believe I've seen a teen magazine using this tactic, showcasing girls of all sizes, complexions and features. One of the magazines I subscribe to also includes women of various sizes in everything from dresses to bikinis. By showing different-sized women in variations on the same outfit, they show women how to make a style work for them, no matter what their shape. Now this tactic makes me actually want to go out and buy the clothes because I can imagine myself in them. It's always refreshing to see it, but not nearly enough magazines agree with this line of thought.

Among the magazines that tend to use emaciated models, I've also noticed that their photo layouts tend to show the models either wearing the clothes in a way that isn't practical or wearing the clothes in a fantasy or pretentious setting. So I might come across a woman wearing a sweater vest that would be quite lovely...if it wasn't the only thing she was wearing. Or an assortment of models will traipse through a field on an impossibly stylish picnic. Or perhaps a visit to the art museum will inspire the models to jump right up on the sculptures and show off their shoes.

But the final problem that I have with magazine fashion spreads is the cost of clothing and accessories they usually feature. This goes back to the idea of whether a fashion layout actually makes me want to buy the clothes. If I would have to save my money for two years to buy an item, then it's probably not going to go straight to the top of my shopping list. I'll admit that I'm a reverse snob of sorts. I sometimes look down on people who would spend $500 on a purse. One of my friends added a pair of $400 boots to an online wish list and I was incredulous. As just an example from this month's magazines, one model is wearing a $5,540 dress and a $985 necklace while another model wears a $2,890 jacket over a $4,610 dress, complemented by a $495 necklace. Even a relatively frugal feature on shoes showcases styles that range in price from $40 to $588. I don't live that kind of lifestyle, and it just boggles my mind that some people do.

If you're like most people, then a majority of your wardrobe is made up of other people's creations. You just go to the store, see something you like, purchase it, and wear it. If you're more creative and are able to sew, however, then you might own a couple of original pieces that you've either designed or made (or both) yourself. Even if you aren't able to sew, you can still make some original clothing designs. The easiest way to do this is to start with a blank t-shirt.

When you have a blank t-shirt in front of you, you really do become like an artist sitting in front of a blank canvas. You can do almost anything you want with the t-shirt. One of the most common things to do is have the shirt silk-screened or embroidered. The possibilities here are virtually limitless. For example, you can put your favorite quote or saying on the t-shirt, or you can even have your favorite photo put on there. You can identify yourself as a member of a particular organization or you can declare your affinity for your favorite sports club.

You can also make original t-shirt designs by using computer graphics programs such as Photoshop or Illustrator. Sometimes drawing logos and other graphics is easier to do on the computer than by hand. If you really want to have some fun with your t-shirt designs, you can use special paints that can be directly applied to various fabrics and materials. These paints can be found at craft stores and will allow you to hand draw various designs in lots of different colors.

One of the best uses of a blank t-shirt would be for advertising purposes. If you have a website or other business that you want to promote, why not put the name of your endeavor on some t-shirts and then either wear the shirts yourself or hand them out at various promotional events? This can be a very effective way of driving traffic to your site. If you saw someone wearing a t-shirt that was totally plain except for a website address, wouldn't you be curious enough to visit the site the next time you got online? I know I would!

The Internet makes it cheap and easy to get large volumes of blank or customized t-shirts. All you have to do is go to your favorite search engine and type in an appropriate query. You'll get literally thousands of results and you'll easily be able to compare prices, services, and minimum order quantities required. As usual, when you deal with an online retailer for the first time, try to find out as much as you can about the business before sending payment. A few minutes of research up front could save you lots of headaches in the future.

So the next time you see a blank t-shirt, let your imagination run wild. You might come up with a great marketing idea, or simply just a fabulous original creation to add to your personal wardrobe. Either way, you win!

Being an avid music fan, I have attended many concerts throughout my life.  I am lucky enough to live near a big city with lots of great stadiums and smaller music venues that attract all of the top shows and tours in the country.  During my junior high and high school years, I religiously bought t-shirts commemorating each of the concerts that I went to.  Although there were usually a variety of shirt designs available, I inevitably bought the same style time after time, with the band name on the front and all the cities and dates of the tour on the back.

I eventually built up quite a collection of t-shirts, which, I am sad to say, I don't have anymore.  However, I can still recall exactly how some of my favorite shirts looked.

One of my favorites was from a Bush concert.  It was the 1997 Razorblade Suitcase tour, and the shirt I bought was a long-sleeved black number.  It had a blue flower on the front with the tour dates and cities on the back.  I liked that shirt because it didn't look like a concert shirt at first glance (at least not from the front).  I rarely ever buy black t-shirts, so that one definitely stood out in my wardrobe.  I wore it a lot and got several years of usage out of it.

Another great concert t-shirt that I had was from Lollapalooza in 1992.  That year, the concert featured Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more.  Anyway, the t-shirt had Lollapalooza logos on it, as well as small logos from the bands.  The shirt didn't really look that good because it was just too busy with all those different logos.  But I loved it because that was one of the best concerts I have ever seen, and that shirt was an awesome memento of the occasion.

Finally, I have to include the t-shirt I had from the INXS Kick tour.  That was the very first concert that I was allowed to go to without parental supervision, and it was therefore very memorable for me.  I went with a group of 5 friends, and we often ended up wearing our concert t-shirts on the same days at school later in the year.  The shirt itself was kind of plain.  It just had INXS in huge letters on the front.  I think the "N" was black while the other letters were red.  Then it had the word KICK on the back, and again, I think the "I" was black and the others were red.  Plus, I believe it had a picture of the lead singer on the side.

If you like to go to concerts, then you should think about starting your own t-shirt collection.  You'll probably discover, as I did, that the memories the t-shirts represent will soon be more important than how the t-shirt actually looks or functions in your wardrobe.  If you do start a collection, hopefully you'll hang on to it longer than I did to mine!

By Christina VanGinkel

Buying new jeans is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, and that is what I did yesterday. This meant though that I had to go through my closet and remove a few pair that were old, worn, and too tattered to keep. The only problem with this whole scenario is that I hate to get rid of jeans. They can be shredded, knees worn so thin that the next time I wear them and bend; I know the knees will literally disappear, and waistbands whose belt loops are falling off, not because they have been overused, but because the threads holding them in place are nearly non-existent.

I also know that I cannot be the only person so in love with their old jeans that the thought of throwing them out can send them into a near panic. Look at some of the new styles on the market and you will soon understand how I know this. Many of the new styles mimic old and tattered, love worn jeans. Why, upon examining many of the racks of new jeans yesterday, I wondered if I really needed new jeans after all, or if the day had finally come that I would rue the fact of all my tossed jeans from the last few years. Why, I could just add a few more rips and tears to my old, love worn jeans, in some strategic places, and proclaim them as brand new, just bought jeans. Nobody would know the difference, and maybe then, would even think I had finally become stylish with the rest of the shopping public. Not to mention the fact of what I would save dollar wise because I would not even be spending a dollar.

Come to think of it, this season, not just jeans have come round to the comfortable look of worn. Sweaters that have patches, and washes that leave them looking as if they have already been broken in, are also hitting store shelves. I even stumbled across a whole line of slouchy looking boots that not only have a stylish, past season look to them, but slouch down in such a way that they appear to have been broken in already.

When I wondered aloud why these styles are becoming so popular, a friend reckoned that it might be that as a population in general, we have become so busy in our work lives, that we do not always have the time to wear our leisure clothes enough to break them in on our own. Therefore, some genius in marketing came up with the idea to sell jeans and such already at that comfort level that so many of us love. Love to the point that we do panic when it comes time to make room in our closets for new items. I hope that is not the reason why, but for whatever reason, I am glad that this is the style of the day, because this would mean that I already have a complete closet of stylish, in-style clothes.

By Christina VanGinkel

With energy bills soaring this winter, thermostats across the country will be being turned down a degree or two, or even ten. So what is one to do who is always chilly during the winter months to begin with? Dress warmly in some of falls greatest fashions in decades. To begin your search, think comfort, and think from your feet up.

Socks and slippers that will keep your feet warm are available in designs that can easily be worn around the house, or even the workplace. With the advancements of materials that are thin, and warm, (think Under Armour Cold Gear and similar styles!) you can pull on a pair of feet coverings that will feel like you have pulled on your favorite pair of fuzzy slippers from when you were a teenager. The difference being these will not look out of place at your big meeting with the boss as they are thin enough to wear with any pair of shoes save for a pair of open toes. For at home comfort, there are designs in fleece, cotton, even velour, with non-slip bottoms. Pull on a pair and your feet will be cozy even on bare wood and linoleum flooring.

If you are the type who needs all the added warmth you can find, then this year's lineup of Under Armour in general is for you! Look for their long john styled pants and shirts to wear as your first layer. Available in a variety of colors and weights, you are sure to find the perfect set to keep you cozy. Other brands besides Under Armour are available, some for a lot less dollar wise, but from personal experience I can tell you that the Under Armour brand stands up to repeated wearing and washings, and is as warm and comfortable as advertised. What is so nice about these new styles is that they are both comfortable to wear, and are so thin, you can easily wear them beneath just about any style of clothing. They are very different from the old-fashioned bulky long johns from just a few years past.

Top off your daily wear with a comfortable and warm sweater or cardigan. When shopping, think of just how cold you do get when deciding on features such as collar height and thickness. If you shiver at the thought of the first snowflake and do not want to come out of hibernation until the last day of spring, look for sweater styles that have the classic turtleneck or rolled collar, so you can adjust to your own comfort level. Sleeve length should be long enough that you can tug slightly over the base of the hand, and fabric should be as soft as snuggly inside as it looks on the outside. A sweater that is itchy and scratchy will not keep you warm simply because you will not wear it. If you are of the nature to be freezing one minute, and hot the next, top off your wardrobe with a few select cardigans that will match just about any outfit you own. This way you can just grab one in the morning and wear, or not, depending on your current temperature or the temperature of the room.

I recently accompanied one of my cousins to her college campus and was surprised at some of the clothing styles I saw. At 31 years old, I felt incredibly out of touch with today's younger generation, especially in terms of the jeans people were wearing. I had never heard of some of the brands that I saw, but my cousin was right there to assure me that not only were those brands popular, many of the denim styles I was looking at cost well over $150. I was in shock at first, then I realized that my generation went through the same thing. In fact, it's kind of interesting to remember how denim brands faded in and out of popularity.

For instance, when I was in junior high, back in the late 1980's, the most popular brand of jeans at my school was Guess. It seemed that I couldn't walk the halls without seeing three-fourths of the student body in jeans with the upside-down triangle logo on the back pocket. Even back then, Guess jeans cost close to $50, so of course I didn't have a pair. Instead, I tried to stick to jeans that had no discernible logo on the outside so that the other kids wouldn't immediately know how cheap they were.

The Guess craze lasted just a couple of years. By the time I moved on to high school, those jeans were already out. One distinguishing feature about the most popular denim brands in high school was that there seemed to be a different "hot" label every single year. In my freshman year, all the cool guys and girls wore Calvin Klein jeans. Now, instead of the logo being on the back pocket, the big CK was on a patch near the belt loops. This in itself led to another trend: that of tucking in shirts. After all, who would be able to see that you were indeed wearing Calvin Klein jeans if your shirt was hanging down to cover the label?

When my sophomore year rolled around, the hottest jeans were Girbaud. These were first popular among the guys, then girls slowly started warming to them. Girbaud jeans cost almost $75 at the time, if I remember correctly, and were way out of budgetary reach for a lot of the student body, so it was really a status thing to be able to wear these jeans. Another thing that set Girbaud apart from the rest of the denim out there was that the logo appeared on a tiny rectangular patch across the fly area.

Girbaud gave way to Tommy Hilfiger jeans in my junior year. The Tommy trend actually lasted a bit longer and overlapped with the hottest clothing brand of my senior year, which was Abercrombie & Fitch. Just as I was leaving high school, A&F was taking off in popularity. In fact, I would have to say that Abercrombie was the single most popular brand during all of my college years, as well.

Anyway, I guess my point here is that I shouldn't feel bad about not being able to keep up with denim trends these days. Looking back, it would have been hard for an adult to follow my own generation's preferences, too!