Roses are a romantic gift no matter how they are given. Did you know that back in more romantic times the color or arrangement of a gift of roses held hidden symbolic meanings? They did! The number of roses, how open or closed they were, and the color gave romantic messages to your beloved. You can still choose your gift of roses with these symbols in mind. I do suggest that you include a card or note to explain their meaning, though, until this trend takes hold again!

According to Alfred Noyes, “the Language of Roses originated in Persia in the 15th century. This language was particularly popular in the 19th century. They say that lovers could have entire conversations through roses. Look at flowers.iloveindia.com where you also find meanings of roses. Be sure you and your loved one are on the same page with these. Sometimes meanings can vary.

Here is an example of the different meanings that you can find in just yellow roses:

Modern Meaning Joy & Friendship

Victorian Meaning Jealousy

Islamic Traditional Meaning Deceit, treachery & adultery

Mexican Meaning Death

France Infidelity

These meanings and many more also come from the first site quoted above. White roses can connote innocence, purity or secrecy, but in the Far East they may also symbolize death. Red roses seem to always indicate love. However, the particular color of red can indicate anything from passion to deceitful desire.

The number of roses and how open they are has a special code. One red rose signifies simplicity. A bud indicates a new love. A fully opened rose is a declaration of love or engagement. Two roses joined together can also mean engagement. Of course, the ultimate declaration of true love is a dozen red roses!

And finally, be aware of how you wear or accept a gift of roses. If you accept with your right hand, it means you agree. With your left, you disagree. If you wear a rose over your heart, it means love, but if you wear it in your hair it means caution.

Have fun learning and using these timeless messages from the Language of Roses with your beloved!

About this author

Lynn Mettarod loves roses. She has been tending her rose gardens since she got married. She especially loves her heirloom roses. You can read more articles about roses at Danny Rose

Have an agenda in the man department? Most women do. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Women have had an agenda since Eve ate fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Men either get an agenda of their own, or deal with it. Simply put, men have their own manipulative reasons for wanting a relationship.

Relationship scavenger Mark S. once revealed that men would not get married if sex were not an issue outside wedlock. As insulting as this thought may be, women have used this ploy to obtain the valued document for centuries. And, it works. Marriage is a status symbol for women, and men get sex.

Raise your hand if you think one or the other gets short changed?

I suppose logically, you could argue that men are short changed if they don’t get all the sex they want, or get satisfied by means of achieving sexual prowess. Or, by the same token, women are quite possibly unequally yoked if their man is a bit less ambitious? Regardless, the reality is that men and women choose their own boundaries, set their own goals, and often screw up relationships by settling for less than God’s best for themselves.

A man who focuses his interest on the woman who puts out prior to marriage often beats a dead horse; because she’s been putting out to catch a man, not keep one. A woman who seeks a man who gives her gifts and benefits prior to marriage, often gets one who treats her like an old comfortable shoe afterward, because he was giving to get, not to keep, too.

Angel R. explained that giving away the milk before the man buys the cow is a dangerous habit to get into, because a man who has free milk need to feed no cow. Functional relationships prior to marriage are based on quality communication and loving consideration, and should be the same after marriage, according to her years of experience in living.

Laura L. suggests dating men for two years and testing them in every possible way prior to hitting the alter on your knees.

Savor the process of building a relationship, allow your love for each other to grow naturally, and take responsibility for the role you choose to live. If you want to be catered too, remember what you have to pay. If you want control, be prepared to pick up the tab.

Copyright © 2005 - Jan Verhoeff

Dating is an opportunity to know another person, build a relationship, make a friend, and network with another human being. Take an opportunity to say hello to someone new today, you just might be meeting your future spouse. Work at Home Mom’s Co

To keep your jewelry sparkling you’ve got to take care of it! Cleaning your jewelry is an important part of its care.

No matter how careful you are with your jewelry daily life will take its toll on it - grime and dirt, hair spray residue, soap film - they all cause a residue to build up on your jewelry making it dull and unimpressive.

Cleaning your jewelry should be done with a little caution. Some stones such as turquoise, pearls, or opals, do not fair well with harsher cleaners. Use only warm soapy water and a Q-tip to gently clean these stones or gems.

Rinse and polish. Toothpaste also works well. Place a small amount on a soft bristle brush, scrub, rinse well, then polish with a soft cloth.

Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful. However, overtime it will tarnish and not look so beautiful. It is important to clean your sterling jewelry regularly.

There are many silver cleaner dips on the market which can be used for jewelry that has no stones or gems. However, I don’t recommend using silver cleaners on jewelry that has stones or gems set in it.

In these cases I recommend using a Q-tip to apply the cleaner directly to the just the silver, then rinse completely and polish with a soft cloth. If you wish, you can use a blow dryer on the setting to make sure there is no water residue left.

Do not let your jewelry soak for long periods of time in cleaner. The moisture can damage some jewelry.

Moisture can damage a piece of jewelry over time, so if you do put your jewels into a wet jewelry solution, or rinse in water, make sure you dry it thoroughly.

Use a soft towel to get the moisture out of all the cracks and crevices. You may want to use the blow dryer as mentioned above.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. So stop by and visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/
We’ll help you make your fashion statement! Remember looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Just because you are overweight doesn’t mean you have to be embarrassed by shopping for plus size erotic lingerie. Women with the perfect figure staff many of the stores in malls that do sell sexy lingerie and many women that are plump feel self-conscious shopping in these stores when they want plus size erotic lingerie.

Well, the internet has solved that problem. Shop at home and view all the various plus size erotic lingerie you want to purchase.

Sexy erotic plus size lingerie, such as a stretch lace bustier with thongs and garters or a rhinestone thong and bra set, are just a click away. This lingerie help to boost your self-confidence and help you feel sexy. Knowing that you are wearing such sexy clothing to work will make your partner think about you all day. In addition to being very comfortable to wear, erotic plus size lingerie helps to keep the relationship alive and well.

Plus size erotic lingerie lets a woman feel that she is in control of her body and her sexuality. When you shop online, you will easily find erotic sexy plus size lingerie to fit every size. Most regular stores don’t carry a wide selection of this clothing, but online retailers are able to satisfy the needs of everyone.

The size charts on these sites make it simple to get the plus size erotic lingerie you need. For example, when you want to order a plus size sexy bra, the site will give you detailed instructions on how to measure to ensure you get the perfect fit.

The best thing about shopping for your plus size erotic lingerie online is that you don’t have to pay extra for the larger size. Many retailers have a higher price for sexy erotic plus size lingerie, but when you order online, there is no price range for sizes.

The order is shipped to your door, so only you can see it. You don’t have to bump into someone you know when browsing the erotic plus size lingerie on the racks and wonder what this person thinks about your purchases. Shop from the comfort and privacy of your home for your private items that only you and a significant other will see.

Buy plus size erotic lingerie for a great range, good prices, and no-one looking over your shoulder.

For a website totally devoted to Plus Size Clothing visit Peter’s Website Plus Size Clothing Ideas and find out about Plus Size Erotic Lingerie as well as Plus Size Swimwear and more, including Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Dresses, Maternity Wear, Wedding Gowns and Shoes.

Moissanite diamonds are taking the gem world by storm. Diamond specialists pride themselves on offering the best to their customers, selling diamonds that shine brilliantly and beautifully, not only because of the professional reputation they have worked so hard to foster, but also because they respect and admire the medium with which they work.

So it might come as something of a surprise that many professional gemmologists are now selling simulated diamonds alongside the ‘real thing’. Have they somehow compromised their principles? Or is it just that moissanite diamonds are simply that beautiful?

Simulated diamonds have long been held in disfavor, because of the assumption that simulation necessarily implies inferiority. This has caused moissanite diamonds to be greeted sceptically, and with no lack of foundation. Previously produced simulated diamonds have included such alternatives as cut glass, rhinestone and cubic zirconium, which might lay claim to a certain attractiveness in their own right, but in no way approaching the sublime beauty of a real diamond.

But the development of moissanite diamonds has shaken this old foundation to the core. Those who have yet to be awed by the physical presence of moissanite diamonds dismiss them prematurely as being manmade, unlike real diamonds, which Mother Earth has brewed in her belly for millennia. But this harsh dismissal is to ignore the many wonders that man has created throughout his evolution, from art and poetry to the scientific wonders that can save lives.

Many of man’s finest creations have been born in the lab, and moissanite diamonds are no exception. Even professional gemmologists have been able to distinguish them from real diamonds, and many of those who have deem their brilliance and fire superior to that of a real diamond.

Simulated diamonds were previously only the domain of those who were unable to afford the real thing, but now moissanite diamonds can offer, and even surpass, the beauty of a real diamond at a far lower price. Even the experts are impressed - and you will be too.

Moissanite diamonds offer the beauty and fire of diamonds, but without the price tag.

For a website totally devoted to Moissanite rings visit Peter’s Website The Magic of Moissanite, and find out about Moissanite Bracelets as well as Loose Moissanite Stones and more, including Mens Moissanite Rings, Moissanite Earrings, Moissanite Bridal Rings and Moissanite Engagement Rings

If you’re still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don’t really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power the ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it.

June’s Birthstone: Pearl
Birthstone Properties: Truth and beauty
Alternative Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite

Pearl is the official birthstone of the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Pearls have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra, yet there are perfectly suited to young girls and are a popular gift for first communion.

Pearls come in a wide range of colors from delicate rose white to black. The higher the luster or “orient,” the more valuable the specimen. Greeks believed that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the Love Goddess shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea. In Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the brains of dragons.

Whatever their origins, pearls are magnificent!

Round Pearland Her Shapely Sisters
It’s hard to believe that the coveted pearl comes naturally from one of the humblest of life forms — the mollusk. Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California.

Besides the popular round shape most people associate with pearls, there are also large hemispherical cultured pearls (called mabe), fresh water pearls (elongated in interesting shapes and colors) and South Sea cultured pearls (from Australia and Indonesian waters) that grow to 10 mm and up!

Gems of unsurpassed beauty and elegance, pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature’s perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

Alternate Birthstones

Moonstone is a type of feldspar that earned its name because of its resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was believed to endow the wearer with great spiritual understanding. A gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

Alexandrite. A yellowish or brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic of changing color to a red hue when exposed to a glowing light source, such as candlelight. Because of this quality, it has been characterized by poets as “an emerald by day, a ruby by night.”

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Aries

These bold, arrogant and confident creatures are not afraid to flash a little leg or boast a low-cut top. When it comes to fashion, female Rams are self-styled leaders who love flashy, glamorous and sexy clothes. They are also the first to parade around in the latest trends.

They are also perfectionists who are hesitant to debut a new outfit until it has been outfitted with all the right accessories. They love expensive designer clothes but their thrifty side will settle for a decent imitation of Prada or Gucci. Plush velvets and vivid silks in colors such as red, yellow and gold suit the female ram’s conception of herself as “royalty.”

At work, the Ariesian female likes to stand out in a crowed by adding a pair of high-heels or sexy stocking to an otherwise straight looking skit. They love the style of the forties and details such as piping, kick-pleats and rounded collars. They also adore pea coats and long wool coats paired with a pair of high heel leather boots.

This demanding fire sign loves the flash of rubies and diamonds and is fond of wearing watches that display two time zones, even if they are not jetsetters.

Taurus

Female bulls are homebodies so they don’t tend to splurge their family budget on family. Their closet is often packed with clothing that reflects their love of practical activities such as gardening, cooking and home renovation. They are fond of inexpensive and utilitarian clothing such as khakis, jeans and sweatshirts and by easy-to-care for fabrics that can just are thrown in the wash. As they spend a lot of time outdoors, their closets are usually jammed with ski-jackets, pack-pats and work-boots.

Taurus Females dress more casually than most people at the office and are the type to wear the same thing to work every day. A cozy sweater worn over a ruffled blouse with a knee-length skirt is a typical outfit. As they tend to be heavier than most women in the Zodiac, they tend to wear a lot of “slimming black”.

They have simple tastes in lingerie and consider a long white cotton nightgown to be just a sexy as any item bought from Victoria’s secret. For more elegant affairs, bulls look best in empire style gowns that emphasize their busts and conceal their tummies.

Taureans tend to dislike wearing a lot of jewelery, as it gets lost or dirty, however one item loyal Bulls will never take off is their wedding ring.

Gemini

These smart, sexy and cerebral women change their mind about what they want to wear every day. Their closets are well stocked with the appropriate outfits for any occasion. This curious sign faithfully studies fashion magazines and is always up on the latest trends in fashion. For casual wear, they prefer clothes with subtle, yet unusual touches - velvet cuffs on shirt, an unexpected ruffle or a bit of antique lace on a collar.

Gemini females have a keen sense of style, and when they are in business mode, they prefer to dress up as the office “queens” complete with power suit, pearls and expensive watch. Their favorite colors are navy blue, pink, lavender, silver and gold.

They love to dance so they prefer loose fluid clothing in silks, cottons and satins that flow with them as they move. They also like cheap street chic of a red vinyl mini-skirt or the surprise offered by the wearing of a bright yellow sari to a garden party.

Turquoises, rubies, pearls and citrines are their favorite stones. These free spirits also like natural jewelry are not beyond tucking a few blossoms behind their ears.

Cancer

Cancer females dress according to their mood. They can be very insecure when it comes to their bodies and often buy outfits on impulse that are never seen outside the change-room doors. As they are so driven by their emotions, Cancer females are not the most practical of shoppers. Although they maintain a people-pleasing conservative exterior most of the time they secretly lust for risqu

As a guest on a local television show recently, I decided to bring along my vacuum cleaner.

No, it wasn’t for a segment on household hints. I wasn’t there to share secrets for deep-cleaning a carpet. Instead, I was using my vacuum cleaner as a memorable visual (aural?) aid to talk about mindfulness.

My host, Roland, gamely turned it on during my bit, and we attempted to shout over the roar of the machine. After a few seconds, we gave up, and as he turned it off, the ensuing silence was a welcome relief.

I used the vacuum cleaner to talk about how we have this noise in our heads all the time. Our thoughts are creating a swirl of sound, and it can be exhausting to try to concentrate, relax or get creative with all that racket going on.

This mental vacuum sucks our energy and makes it difficult to gain clarity, let alone peace of mind. We need to turn it off in order to have the quiet space we need to truly pay attention.

The surprising part of this is that turning on a REAL vacuum cleaner and running it across your floor provides an excellent opportunity to quiet the noise in your head. You can use your power switch to make an intentional shift toward mindfulness, and let this housecleaning task become your chance to watch your thoughts.

Any slow repetitive physical task lends itself beautifully to mindfulness practice, and the back-and-forth motion of your vacuuming can give a soothing rhythm to your thought-watching. Set your body on auto-pilot and focus on the thought parade in your head.

Or, you can choose to use your dust-sucking time to focus on the physical activity required. Feel the muscles as you move. Focus on your shoulders and arms as you stretch and retract, stretch and retract. Switch arms and watch how it feels to relax that one side while flexing the other.

The point here is to make use of the task as a trigger for mindfulness, but remember this: fun is a huge motivator in all things. So, if you can’t get too excited about vacuuming in general or thought/body-watching in particular, I heartily recommend Option #3–the “Mrs. Doubtfire” approach to mindfulness.

You remember the scene in the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, when Robin Williams, dressed as the matronly nanny, rocks out while vacuuming to Aerosmith’s “(Dude) Looks Like A Lady,” right? This must be the greatest housework scene ever. It makes me want to go to my cleaning closet and dance with the vacuum wand myself.

That’s what I’m talking about.

If you’ve ever been stressed about something and gone on a cleaning binge, you know how good it feels to scrub the floor and wipe away your frustration at the same time. You might as well get something done while you’ve got that adrenaline pumping, right?

So, if a meditative vacuuming session doesn’t inspire you, you can still use this time to be mindful by focusing on your air guitar moves. Pay attention to your sense of fun as well as your sense of perspective. Exercise your concentration. Focus on what it feels like to cut a rug while cleaning it.

Mindfulness doesn’t require stillness, and it certainly doesn’t have to be serious. Turn on your vacuum, and let the focusing begin.

Suck it up.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.

When you’re raising a child or children by yourself without the support of their father, it’s easy to see how a single mom can long for a man to be a part of her life. Unfortunately, sometimes our desires can lead us to make illogical choices just to end our loneliness. Satisfying our needs by settling for men, who are less than wonderful, will only hurt us and our children. Try to be on the look out for men who exhibit any of the following signs. If you meet him, run away…

1. He has no contact with his children from a previous marriage and/or relationship. He may or may not tell you he pays child support, but based on the time you spend together, it should be obvious whether he actually sees his children on a regular basis - much less has a “fatherly” relationship with them.

2. He shows no interest in your child or children. If he comes across this way in the beginning, chances are his behavior will not change. Not only do you not deserve a man who ignores your son or daughter, your children, more than anyone, should not have to deal with anyone who does not treat them properly (particularly when their mom is the person who introduces this new adult into their lives…) Think about it…

3. He does not call when he says he will. He does not listen to you when you tell him your schedule and/or plans for the afternoon/evening or weekend with your child. He shows up when you’re not expecting him and he fails to be there when you think he should be. (Or worse yet when he’s told your child he would be there…)

4. He is selfish with his time. He is not willing to change his own schedule in any way to accommodate your needs (and very real availability) as a single mother.

5. He treats you poorly in front of your children. (Even if he only treats you badly when you’re alone, you still should not consider him a candidate for a lasting, meaningful relationship.) But if he so much as speaks to you negatively, much less acts physically violent to you, when your child is around, you should run for your life basically… Children are like sponges. They absorb everything around them. If they see a man treating their mommy with disrespect, cruelty, aggression or anger, they may learn that this type of behavior is okay. Your children may also become upset with you for allowing anyone to treat you this way.

6. He tries to compete with your children. He may almost demand that you view him as more important than your child. If he demonstrates in any way that he believes you should make your child a secondary priority to him, you need to get him out of your life and away from your children. Single mothers do not NEED a man in their life. However, if we choose to have a man around, he needs to be supportive of us and our children, good to us and our kids, and he needs to try to understand our unique situation as a single mom.

7. He does not talk to and/or visit his own mother regularly. No matter how he tries to explain away the lack of contact with his mom to you, you must be strong enough and smart enough to truly evaluate the circumstances. Typically a man who fails to maintain some type of positive relationship with his mother, is a man you who will eventually treat you as horribly as he treats his own mom or worse…

Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

We all know the difficulty of looking for a new bra, but it becomes more difficult if you’re overweight to find something that is both supportive and comfortable at the same time, especially if you need plus size bras. Thanks to today’s market there are plus size bras available for the support you need and the comfort you want and an added feature of beauty.

You can find plus size bras that are beyond what you would have put up with in the past, such as bras that were so practical that they was nothing pretty about them. Now you can find not only plus size bras that you enjoy wearing, but there also bras that are very sexy.

Sexy plus size bras are very popular on the market as all women enjoy wearing these to look special for that special someone or just for themselves. You will find very feminine lacy plus size bras, or bras done in satin, silk, lace and cotton, bras with under wire, strapless plus size bras, and minimizer full figure bras.

During pregnancy, a mother-to-be will notice that her normal size bra doesn’t fit anymore and may need to buy plus size bras to be more comfortable. By wearing these you can improve the look of your figure, feel comfortable and confident in a plus size bra that fits just right. A full figure bra that fits properly will help improve your posture. It will also give you an overall good feeling about yourself, when you are wearing one with a sexy design.

There is also a wide variety of plus size nursing bras available for new mothers today. They are made for comfort and support and are also very pleasing to look at as well as wear. They are also made to be very handy for when you’re nursing with easy snaps for those late night feedings.

Look for plus size nursing bras that have braiding support instead of wiring. This will make your bra much more comfortable if you have to sleep in it. Most nursing bras are made out of cotton/ lycra for gentle support that is good for day or night, but you can also have these plus size bras in sexy designs as well.

Plus size bras have finally come into their own from the unsightly bras of the past to the fantastic sexy bras of today. From sports to sexy to your everyday pretty bra, they are all there for you to choose which one will suit you best. From a peek a boo lace to a stretchy lycra, comfort is yours at last. All you have to do is click your mouse and you will find whatever your heart desires in a plus size bra.

Plus size bras have come of age. Don’t expect an inferior bra if you are buying plus size bras, modern large bras are very good.

For a website totally devoted to Plus Size Clothing visit Peter’s Website Plus Size Clothing Ideas and find out about Plus Size Bras as well as Plus Size Swimwear and more, including Plus Size Dresses, Plus Size Lingerie, Maternity Wear, Wedding Gowns and Shoes.