Venus Swimwear Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

Let the shopping session for the new season swimsuit be a delightful experience and allow yourself to be seduced by the grand diversity of patterns, hues and styles included in the Venus spring/summer 2012 collection modeled by Elisandra Tomacheski .

The quest for fabulous swimwear options seems to be a never ending one, yet the multitude of fascinating styles retailers have prepared is definitely inspiring and worth analyzing a little deeper as there are various choices that can easily appeal to a wide range of preferances. For the spring/summer 2012 season, Venus has prepared a fabulous swimwear collection with different styles and a noticeable retro touch at times which is well contrasted by classic monochrome styles for a greater degree of versatility.

Leafs, stripes, floral and army prints, even occasional geometric vibes are seen as the perfect style elements for fashionistas who love the personality a pattern can bring to a swimsuit. Whether we are talking about two-piece styles, bandeau, halter bikinis or high waisted panty styles, there are plenty of options worth exploring in the latest collection by the emerging brand. But, supermodel Elisandra Tomacheski looks absolutely stunning in all the styles presented. We should always keep in mind that our body shape is the best indicator when it comes to the styles that will most flatter us.

One of the most interesting touches of the collection are perhaps the sequined styles which make a day at the beach almost seem like a festive occasion. Glamorous and attention grabbing, these are a sure conversation starter, especially when the contrast is heightened by a bold, saturated color as opposed to neutral tones or pastels. Changing up the focus as far as sequin touches are concerned can also prove a fun style mix for those who want something a little different without becoming too conspicuous.

The choice of a flattering bathing suit is only part of the equation as far as beach days preparation is concerned, it seems. While flaunting our best features gathers all our attention, it's important not to neglect the significant role that accessories can have, even for casual occasions like this one. A pair of sunglasses, golden bangles or seductive summery earrings are easy to grab in your beach bag and can have a tremendous impact as they help you look more polished.

News Source:  http://lifeasamormon-stephanie.blogspot.com/

Style and substance at Lakme Fashion Week

The last two days of Lakme Fashion Week (March 2-6) were packed with some shows that were a thrill to watch, while others simply fell flat. Designer Narendra Kumar — known for his menswear skills — showcased a big lineup of suited and booted men on the runway.

Standing by the side of the runway and playing his music as his models strutted on the runway; most of them attempting what they cannot do — jiving down the catwalk. It was meant to appear as a fun show, but unfortunately it didn’t.

Earlier in the day, designer Eina Ahluwalia’s accessory presentation looked forced and a pain in the neck for the models who wore them on the runway. Designer Payal Singhal’s offering also leaned more towards jarring than aesthetic when she attempted heavy ornamentation. However, designer Nupur Kanoi made a stylish presentation using long tapes of fabrics in a mesh format to treat the surfaces of her creations. Young Ruchika Sachdeva played well with silhouettes and surfaces. Designer Swapnil Shinde made another space-age presentation — something that he is known for by now.

On Day 5, Dozakh presented a very nice collection of eveningwear that had strategically placed detailing. Designer Arpan Vohra had a stylish lineup with accents and his colour-blocking was particularly notable. Designer Jatin Verma’s contemporary silhouettes proved to be his comeback on the A-list with carefully released colour palette, structured looks, laser cutouts and matt sequins. Although designer Rocky S went the blingy way on his western looks, the show was reverberating because of the music. Malaga by Malini Agarwala had an impressive lineup of embellished bags inspired by Africa.

When the curtains fell at this season’s LFW Summer/Resort showcase, the master once again proved that being a Rohit Bal isn’t an easy task. Silhouettes of Bal’s creations were flowing and carried extensive detailing reminiscent of pieces of art. There was cutwork, embroidery, cord detailing, zari, resham and crystal embroidery on an array of fabrics, birds, peacocks and geometric motifs and in hues of ivory to darker shades of beige, brown, maroon, wine, cobalt, red and purple. It wasn’t just a finale, it was an experience.

News source: http://lifeasamormon-stephanie.blogspot.com/

Malaika (Munni) & Amrita fire LFW runway for Vikram

Lit glass lanterns lined the ramp along with crystal edged bunches of gold and silver branches from the ceiling of the Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The backdrop was a mirror work arch and the stage was set for a superb fashion presentation.

Creating dazzling glamour on the ramp Bollywood’s famous designer, Vikram Phadnis presented by INK Infrastructure unleashed a fusion line for Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2012. There was a profusion of colour, texture, shape, and silhouettes as Vikram brought a vibrant Indo-West line of perfect resort bridal wear. Choosing a mélange of colours, the designer opted for neutral creams, glitzy gold and deep black with just a touch of prints to add drama.

The fabrics moved from sheer net to seductive georgette, luxurious linen, soft voiles and regal pashminas. Keeping true to his concept Vikram had a variety of silhouettes that ranged from cigarette pants, palazzos, skirts to kalidaars worn with interestingly styled bundis or at times structured jackets and capes.

Saris were edged with broad gold borders, while lace was luxuriously used to make it a feminine offering on the hemlines, cuffs, bodices and even the lehengas and kurtas. Swirling full circle kurtas, raja coats with ornate embroidery, sequined cholis, will-power wide legged jumpsuits, corsets teamed with lace embroidered saris, kurtas with long sleeved boleros and multi gathered anarkalis were a vision of beauty.

The first half of the show had Amrita Arora Ladakh swaying down the ramp in an ecru net lehenga, choli with a dupatta. Bringing six men’s wear creations, Vikram showed regal sherwanis teamed with salwars or churidars with lush embroidery and added on gorgeous dupattas.

The printed section was vibrantly colourful as the interesting fabrics appeared for saris, lehengas, angarkhas, cholis and shrugs. Ending the show was the sultry “Munni” Malaika Arora Khan in a dazzling black heavily embroidery lehenga and long sleeved choli with a dupatta.

To complete the look Vikram designed the most unconventional hairdos – with white bangles or stripes of lace to add grandeur to the creations. Known for his elaborate embellishments the garments were beautifully ornate with sensational embroidery and Vikram added stunning gotta work for dupattas, stoles and then finished the edges with tantalizing tassels.

For that show stopping entry anywhere in the world, the Vikram Phadnis collection presented by INK Infrastructure will stop the conversation.

News Source: http://lifeasamormon-stephanie.blogspot.com/

Gisele Bundchen for Esprit Spring 2012

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has joined hands with Esprit to promote the label's spring 2012 designs. The casual chic Brazilian goddess looks amazing donning the spring creations signed by Esprit, so check out the designs and pick your new season favorites!

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has scored yet another gig with Esprit, this time promoting the brand's spring 2012 collection. Since everything Gisele touches seems to turn into gold, the collection will probably become a huge success. With a very laid back style but one that catches the eyes, Esprit's spring 2012 collection can conquer from first glimpse especially the heart of those who put a high price on comfort and quality. Esprit aims to bring contemporary-vibe casual elements that fuse comfort and style perfectly and it seems that the brand has managed to reach this goal easily by creating ensembles that fall loosely around the body and that manage to avoid looking boring.

If you're all about practicality and you wouldn't trade feeling great in your outfit than the brand's spring 2012 collection is a perfect match for you as Gisele Bundchen demonstrates posing with the label's trendy ensembles. You don't have to suffer for fashion to look great as there are an array of stylish yet comfy items that you can mix and match to underline your fashion-forward personality without having to put on a fake smile as the outfits make you feel uncomfortable.

With an array of lovely tees, knitted pullovers, sweatshirts, shirts, coats and trousers to choose from creating a look that defines you will be easy. Soft lines that enhance the silhouette without clinging to your body making it hard to breath dominate the entire spring 2012 line and this is exactly what helps the outfits feel like they are weightless. Tailoring and the quality of the fabrics are the key to a successful, flattering and comfortable outfit, and Esprit has nailed all these elements a long time ago.

The color palette chosen for this season are universally flattering mixing nudes with warm tones and timeless non-colors, hues that collaborate perfectly together and which help add a certain chic, fresh and youthful vibe to one's look. Rock the new season in style with Esprit, so browse through the label's collection and pick your new season favorites.

News Source: becomegorgeous

Five Fabulous Women Artists of the 1800s

Wednesday, March 21st
6:30pm
Glen Park Library
2825 Diamond Street

Celebrate Women's History Month with local artist Marlene Aron as she discusses and presents slides of the beautiful and inspiring art of five women artists: Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Marie Bracquemond, Eva Gonzales, and Camille Claudel.
These artists exhibited their work in the Salon and the World Exposition in Paris, three of them showing their paintings alongside Pissarro, Degas, Renoir, and Monet in the first Impressionist exhibitions in the early 1870s. They painted their family, children, friends, and lovers, along with scenes of gardens, forests, and landscapes. Take a journey through the artistry and lives of some of the movers and shakers of the Impressionist movement.

KL Food Hunt: KL's Best Roti Canai - Valentine's!!

It doesn't take a Malaysian long to figure out what are the popular Malaysia food.

And while the nasi lemak may reign as the no. 1 dish.. the roti canai should be a close 2nd!

So while doing the research for the web series Summer Love: KL!, we thought to also hunt down the best roti canai in KL! Yes, the search for only the best!!

This is not the roti canai shop. We parked near here, and I couldn't help but take the photo of this place with the twin towers as a backdrop. 

Our search brought us to downtown KL - nearby Jalan Ampang, to a roti canai joint most foodies might know. And maybe even some foreigners as this place has been featured in some overseas TV programs too (so we were told).



Locating the place wasn't that difficult. The place looks rather ordinary - like any other mamak shops by the road side. But that's where the similarity ends.



Sitting down, we ordered all the different roti they have. We ordered the roti tampal (basically roti canai with egg but not cooked like the roti telur we are familiar with.. and also the roti valentine which is roti with meat.. which tastes somewhat in between roti canai & murtabak.

However we felt these roti rather usual. - not the best roti ever..

But then we tried the plain roti canai.. and that made us understand why this shop is undoubtedly the best roti canai shop in town (or at least the best roti canai we've tried!!).



What's so special? It's the texture. The roti canai is fluffy and thin.. and while it doesn't melt in the mouth, but well it's close to it!

This is definitely a place I'll come back for!! (and that food lovers or roti canai lovers should try too!!).

*Location
Jalan Semarak just diagonally opposite the Celcom building.

*Opens from late afternoon.

Windows Phone Tango is now 7.5 Refresh!

Finally, the Windows Phone (WP) Tango is named. It will be officially named as 7.5 Refresh.

According Stefania Duico, the lead of Windows Phone Italy, the Windows Phone Tango update will be officially called 7.5 Refresh.

As you probablx know, currently WP Mango is called just 7.5 and now the WP Tango was 7.5 Refresh.

Adding the Refresh moniker and not changing the OS version actually makes sense. Though WP Tango or WP 7.5 Refresh is just another configuration of the WP Mango which is called the WP 7.5 the feature is that they lowered the Windows Phone specs and this is their major role and that so less-capable devices could run it (without multi-tasking, live tiles, etc.).

The update will become available for every WP-based smartphone out there later this year. The next major release is Apollo a.k.a. Windows Phone 8. It will probably launch in Q3 this year.

SUMMER...Is Right Around the Corner!!!!

LDMA SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (Full Day Camp)

Our program is designed for students in grades Pre-K through 8th – Boys & Girls!
Our basic program day runs from 9am - 4pm. Extended Care is offered between 8am - 9am and/or 4pm - 5pm. Campers bring their own lunch each day in a disposable bag with a box drink for all weeks. We also provide an afternoon snack and water or beverages during the day. Children need to wear comfortable clothing with their camp t-shirt daily, and will be instructed otherwise if necessary. Special events are also planned throughout the summer. During camp, weekly newsletters and notifications will be emailed out to inform parents of camp activities and/or schedule changes if needed. Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt and a karate uniform at the start of camp upon registering for their initial 3 week session. Additional t-shirts are available for $16.00.

PROGRAM SESSIONS & FEES (Ful l Day Program)
Session 1 June 25th – July 13th (3 Week Session)
Session 2 July 16th – August 3rd (3 Week Session)
Session 3 August 16th – August 24th (3 Week Session)
Session 4 August 27th – August 31st (Bonus Vacation Week)

3 WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE (Evening Camp)
Session 1:July 9th - July 25th Session 2: July 30th-August 15th

Ages 2 - 4 (Mon./Tue./Wed.)
Ballet / Gymnastics / Jr. Karate: 5pm - 7:30pm / $278
Ballet / Gymnastics: 5pm - 6:30pm / $238
Gymnastics / Jr. Karate: 5:45pm - 7:30pm / $238
Ballet Only: 5:00pm - 5:45pm / $118
Gymnastics Only: 5:45pm - 6:30pm / $118
Jr. Karate Only: 6:45pm -7:30pm / $118
Pre-School Music: (Thursdays): 5:00pm - 6:00pm / $99

Ages 5 - 8: (Mon./Tue./Wed.)
Ballet / Jazz / Hip-Hop / Gymnastics: 5:30pm - 8:15pm / $285
Ballet / Jazz / Hip-Hop: 5:30pm - 7:30pm / $258
Gymnastics: 7:30pm - 8:15pm / $118
Karate: 7:30pm - 8:30pm / $128
Intro to Music: (Thursdays): 5:00pm - 6:00pm / $99

Ages 9+: (Mon./Tue./Wed.) (Session 1 Only)
Ballet / Jazz / Hip-Hop: 5:30pm - 7:30pm / $258
Karate: 7:30 - 8:30 / $128 (Session 1 & 2)

Cheerleading Clinic (Ages 5 & Up): $199 (3 wk session)
July 12th - July 27th (Thursday / Friday)

Pom / Cheer / Stunts / Tumbling: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
*Get prepared for your fall cheerleading teams. Learn pointers from the Pros!!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.lachaney.info and click on registration...

Lego Challenge!

Thursday, March 15th
4:00 pm
For ages 10-18.
Glen Park Library

Youth will have the opportunity to construct trucks, bridges, elevators, cranes, bulldozers, conveyor belts, and other motorized and alternatively powered contraptions. Instruction will be provided by Legos presenter. Space limited. To register, contact Marla at mbergman@sfpl.org or 415-355-2858.

How Do Our Brains Learn Best?

   I have been very curious about how our brains work when we learn to play the piano and read music.

   Of note in the blogging world is Tara Gaertner's blog about how the brain learns music. In my opinion, the world is learning much about how our brain works but our habits do not reflect what we know. Take for instance the truth we know about the brain's need to recall new information within a short timespan. In my teaching experience I have proven to myself that if a student practices a short time on the day of the piano lesson the recall of the lesson improves dramatically all week long. If this truth were to be implemented then the parent would have to make a consistent effort to make time that evening to allow the lesson learning to be reviewed and processed. Even talking with your child about the lesson and asking questions would expedite recall.
  I look forward to reading Tara's posts and finding ways to use my own brain better and encourage anyone I might influence.
  "Welcome to “Training the Musical Brain”, a blog combining my interests in neuroscience and music pedagogy.  I believe that neuroscience, psychology and related areas of research have a lot to tell us about the affects of music on the brain, and about the best ways to optimize our musical training."

http://trainingthemusicalbrain.blogspot.com/

Hands Together, Hands Apart

     Tara Gaertner, at "Teaching the Musical Brain", posted a most thought provoking question. Why do we practice hands apart? 

This is certainly standard procedure in my studio. Although, when we do sight reading exercises I expect the hands to play together very slowly. I did not understand why I knew this to be the best method until I read Tara's blog post.
"What this means for pianists is that playing the right hand by itself is not really the same as playing the right at the same time as the left hand.  So why do we practice hands-separately?  "

   Tara's understanding of how the brain works helped me see why hands apart does not make it easier to play hands together.

   "In other words, if we are playing the piano with only one hand, our motor cortex is inhibiting the motor cortex of the opposite side.  So, if we’re practicing only the right hand part of a piano piece, we’re probably learning to inhibit the left hand.  And when we learn the left hand part by itself, we’re probably learning to inhibit the right hand.  Is it any wonder then, that when we go to play the song hands-together, it’s still really difficult?"

    But here is the thing, if a student starts a piece with no aural model playing hands together can end up being just a cacophony of sound. I think finding the melody line with the right notes and rhythm helps to set off the harmony. I remember going to piano lessons myself and having the teacher comment that I certainly played with conviction but I had lost a whole harmonic line. The notes were there but because I couldn't hear the  part I was not able to articulate it enough to bring it out amongst the other parts. Separating melody from harmony seems to speed up the understanding process. But does it speed up the process of playing together?

"I think the bottom line is that, although there’s certainly value in hands-separate practicing to focus on details, we don’t really improve at playing hands-together by practicing hands-separately.  This is definitely a different approach than the one I was taught with, and it’s not really what I’ve been doing with my own students.  But I’ve also noticed that my own children are always eager to play their pieces hands-together before they know them well hands-separately, because it’s more satisfying to hear both parts at once.  And we could argue that satisfaction in playing is really what it’s all about."

   I think I am going to stop letting a week go by with assigning hands apart. Learning a smaller portion with hands together may be the more desirable outcome. 

Estelle at the Piano

   I have an adult student who I admire. She approached me about having piano lessons and I told her if she could find a piano to practice on I would find a spot for her in my studio. Adult students don't lack desire they just are swamped with life and finding a time during the day to fully concentrate on music is difficult. Mothers are especially vulnerable to losing themselves in the lives of their families. So, I admire the three mothers who are currently taking lessons from me.

     Estelle is especially motivated and hungers for achieving results in her practice. She never fails to amaze me as she learns, not only notes. but fluency in her pieces. She also has a delightful desire to share what she learns. I have seen her volunteer to play in church without fear and this has moved her progress forward. At the root of Estelle's success is a huge love of music, from the classics to pop. She listens and uses music to accompany her life.

   This series has been well received by the adult students I teach. We also hangout at musicnotes.com
to find the songs we really want play.

Dr. Seuss App for Ipad

   Pianoanne cued me in to a new music app for i-phone and i-pad. It is still free with upgrades coming and I think it is a hit in my studio. Certainly, I don't have time for it every week, but, I have some students staying longer for computer lab and this is a great rhythm teacher.

  The colored ribbons must be played on time and on the beat in order to get the most points. Tempos change from song to song and they have three levels of difficulty. Some require quicker fingers than mine and the most difficult levels are fun to play over and over again to get a higher score. Check it out1