Bound By Beauty: Lingerie Eco Art Made from Recycled Lobster Shells | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

 

Bras That Pinch: Lingerie Eco Art Made from Recycled Lobster Shells

by Naomi Burton, 04/28/11

filed under: Art, Recycled Materials

West Coast artist Laura Ann Jacobs is known for her ornate sculptural pieces that use recycled materials to create tongue-in-cheek commentary on how the concepts of fashion and “beauty” shape our bodies and minds. One of her latest pieces, seen here, is made of an old lobster shell, which has been reshaped to look like a bra. The artist’s one-of-a-kind creations incorporate elements from women’s garments and accessories, which she finds to be restrictive and sometimes preposterous.

Bound By Beauty: Lingerie Eco Art Made from Recycled Lobster Shells | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

BEACH ASSets: Serena Williams FLAUNTS It In A ITTY BITTY Pink & Leopard Bikini | The Young, Black, and Fabulous

 

BEACH ASSets: Serena Williams FLAUNTS It In A ITTY BITTY Pink & Leopard Bikini

Apr 17 | by Natasha

Serena Williams did her usual weekend "girl time" activity of hitting the beach with her friends.  Yesterday in Miami, Serena flaunted her athletic bod and sexy ample assets on the beach in a leopard and pink strapless bikini.

Pics of Serena's barely-there beach look when you read on....

The 29-year-old tennis pro hit the water, lounged in the sand, and even got a foot massage while hitting Miami Beach yesterday.

Well isn't that the life.

She and her girls and some kiddies splashed around in the ocean.

Serena's ben hitting the court again to practice a bit as she fully recovers from her foot and blood clot injuries.

Looks like fab times in the ocean.

BEACH ASSets: Serena Williams FLAUNTS It In A ITTY BITTY Pink & Leopard Bikini | The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Why You Should Buy Sexy Lingerie...Even If You're Single

From TheLingerieAddict.Com

2/12/2010 Posted by Treacle

 

February is the time of year when many romantic couples give and receive lingerie.  Lingerie is a wonderful gift, of course, but what about if you're spending Valentine's Day alone?  Just you, a box of chocolates, and a romantic comedy or two?  Well, you deserve sexy lingerie too!  "But Treacle," you might protest, "No one's gonna see it, so what's the point?"  And to that I respond "Darling...lingerie is never about him.  It's always about you."  Here are my three reasons for why single ladies, maybe more than anyone else, should always rock the sexy knickers.

1) Wearing something sexy will make you feel sexy. That’s great in and of itself, but feeling sexy also  improves your confidence and improved confidence means better success in all aspects of your life.  I’ve read stories of boardroom execs who win the big contract after wearing a garter belt and stockings beneath their business suit, of new college grads who get their dream jobs after buying a lacy bra and panty set, of single chick who never stopped wearing their naughty lingerie and snagged a new guy quicker than you can say “Granny Panties”.  People know when you're confident. Sexy lingerie (whatever sexy means to you) is an easy, inconspicious way of adding confidence.
2) Gorgeous lingerie puts you back in touch with your sensuality. The sight, the touch, the scent… they’re all reminders that you are a sensual being with erotic potential even if that potential isn't currently in use.  I don't advertise the fact, but I've been single for most of the time I've had my blog.  That means almost all the sexy lingerie I buy and review has never been seen by another person.  I wear it around the house, while lounging or doing laundry or writing the blog.  It's so easy to lapse into feeling asexual when you're not in a relationship.  Sexy lingerie is a way of keeping those embers warm.

3) Because you just never know. It may sound cliched, but it's true.  Today might be the day…not for the love of your life, necessarily, but for a pleasant flirtation or romp between the sheets.  Do you really want to have your stretched out floral cotton undies on when that happens?  Whatever you're wearing underneath should be at least as nice as what you're wearing on top.  Oh, and remember what your Momma said about always wearing nice underwear in case you have go in the ambulance?  Yeah....that's a good reason too.

I’m not saying you have to bust out the fringed g-string and vinyl bustier for a quiet evening at home (What?  You don’t own one?).  What I am saying is that it's okay to splurge on yourself.  To quote the legendary Dita von Teese, "Lingerie is not about seducing men, it's about embracing womanhood."  Truer words have never been spoken.

Read more: Why You Should Buy Sexy Lingerie...Even If You're Single | The Lingerie Addict | Lingerie & Stockings Blog http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2010/02/why-you-should-buy-sexy-lingerieeven-if.html#ixzz1JyvzYD2i

The 7 Deadly Lingerie Sins

From TheLingerieAddict.Com

Posted by Treacle

The Lingerie Addict has a sermon for you today and we're talking about the 7 Deadly Sins of Lingerie.  Don't worry about it if you see yourself in one or two of these; I've done all of them at one time or another. But if you feel the need to make a confession (or just want moral support), you can always drop me a line at thelingerieaddict@gmail.com. 
Lust
Drooling over something just because you saw a model wearing it in a magazine ad and then buying that something because your subconscious whispered that it'll make you look like the model.  No, sweetie, it won't.  If you have real boobs, you'll need a real bra...not a bralette.
Pride
Buying lingerie in the size you used to be.  Here's the deal--if you lose weight, gain weight, get pregnant, have a baby, stop breastfeeding, or do anything else that changes the way your boobies fit in your bras then you need to have a professional refitting.  The same rule applies to panties.  Don't buy knickers in the size you wish you were; buy them in the size you actually are.  Your bum (and the rest of your bits) will thank you.
Sloth
Not taking care of your lingerie.  How often have we heard the handwashing rule?  The no dryer rule?  The no wringing rule?  Plain and simple--your lingerie will look better and last longer if you take care of it.  That means your knickers should never touch the inside of a machine washer and/or dryer.  And if you really want to get hardcore about lingerie care, then invest in quality products like specialty washes and cotton hosiery gloves. I promise you'll notice the difference.
Envy
Being jealous of someone else's lingerie (this also includes being jealous of their figure).  Let me tell you, there is no better time to be a lingerie addict than right now.  The 21st century has a bigger variety of sizes, a wider range of colors, and better quality fabrics than any other time in the past 100 years.  There is no reason whatsoever to wear lingerie that doesn't make you look and feel like a goddess.
Gluttony
Buying anything and everything...especially if it's on sale.  All together now...it's not a deal if you never wear it.  I don't care if you retrieved that bra out of the $5 bin at Ross.  If it tears up after 2 hours and leaves bruises on your ribcage, then you wasted your money.  There are plenty of good, inexpensive bras out there that will amortize to pennies per wear if taken care of properly.
Wrath
Hating on other people's lingerie. Yes, I know g-strings aren't your thing.  Yes, I know you prefer stockings over pantyhose.  But there is no reason to call people who wear those items by bad names or to create entire web forums, discussion boards, and blogs dedicated to badmouthing those people.  And for all the folks who think they're getting away with something because they're "anonymous"...an anonymous asshole is still an asshole.
Greed
Buying lingerie out of your price range, even if you have to use a credit card to get it.  My fellow La Perla, Wolford, and Agent Provocateur addicts know what I'm talking about.  Yes, I too can be seduced by the beauty of a perfect pair of high waist, chantilly lace, hand embroidered panties...but that doesn't mean they're worth a month of ramen dinners, much less going into debt over.  If the Kiki de Montparnasse keeps calling your name, set up a separate bank account, and then treat yourself after you sock away enough money to pay for it in cash.
How have you sinned lately?   Why don't you share it in the comments?

Read more: The 7 Deadly Lingerie Sins | The Lingerie Addict | Lingerie & Stockings Blog http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2010/06/7-deadly-lingerie-sins.html#ixzz1JyvBt3ya

How to Buy a Garter Belt

From TheLingerieAddict.Com

Posted by Treacle

 

This post was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend over wine and cheese (or, in my case, tea and cheese) about what kind of stockings and garter belt are good for a novice to buy. Though neither of us is new to hosiery, a friend of hers is and, unfortunately, had received a bit of misinformation from other sources--at least in my opinion.
Her question got me to thinking...what is important when it comes to buying stockings, garter belts, and other hosiery related items (like girdles or tights)? What should you look for? Who should you buy from? Is there a certain way you should wear your purchases? I may not be able to address all those questions in this post, but I'll try to cover a few.
"Why do I need these?"
Not only is this the very first question you should ask, it's also the most important because the kind of garment you purchase is determined by its purpose.
For example, if you only want a garter belt to wear in the bedroom then a simple, four strap model, with a thin belt, thin garters, and one or no adjusters may suffice (example to the left). After all, you're not likely to wear it for more than a few minutes.
However, if you're buying a garter belt to wear stockings on a daily basis or have reason to believe you'll be in your stockings for an hour or more or will need to do anything remotely physical while wearing stockings (like walking), then four straps just won't do. If you want maximum support and maximum comfort, you'll need at least six, wide, elastic, adjustable garters straps with a wide garter belt that has at least three hook and eye adjusters at back. Some people prefer the security of eight garter straps. A few even like ten. Beyond that though, you're getting into the realm of fetish and that's not what this particular post is about.
Why does the width of the belt and the number of the straps matter?
Put simply, because your stockings are always trying to fall. Even if you don't think they're about to fall, believe me, they're trying to. Having more straps not only provides more anchoring points on the nylons to hold them up, they also keep your stockings from twisting, wrinkling, and bunching.
Having straight stockings is not only more aesthetically pleasing (particularly in the case of backseam hose), it also avoids unnecessary wear and tear of the fine, nylon threads. The wide garter belt gives the garter straps something firm to hang on to and provides countertension against gravity.
Adjustability is important because garter belts which are too large or too small do a poorer job of supporting the garter straps which anchor the hose. A too small garter belt could pinch your belly after extended wear, resulting in discomfort. A too large garter belt might work its way down your hips as the day goes on. In other words, please don't underestimate the importance of good fit.
Whew...I've already typed more than I thought I would! I think I'll address one more part of the garter belt question and talk about stockings in a separate post.
What material should your garter belt be made of?
I don't have to tell you that people make garter belts out of lots of materials among which are satin, cotton, powernet, lace, vinyl, leather, faux fur, nylon, and so on. If your garter belt is just for the bedroom, then go right ahead and get that leather 12-strap contraption with the leopard fur and diamante accents.
But if you plan on wearing your garter belt for awhile and especially if this is your first one, then I highly recommend purchasing a simple belt made from nonstretch satin, powernet, or even cotton. Not only will those materials last longer against your skin (let's not be dainty--people sweat), they'll also be more comfortable and allow those intimate areas to "breathe."
I won't lie. Good, quality garter belts cost a bit of money, but I'd much rather buy one $40 garter belt and have it for years, than four $10 ones that I have to throw away after one wear.
How about you? What do you look for in a garter belt?

Read more: How to Buy a Garter Belt | The Lingerie Addict | Lingerie & Stockings Blog http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2008/08/what-kind-of-garter-belt-should-i-buy.html#ixzz1Jyttu0qW

10 Signs He’s in Love With You

 

10 Signs He’s in Love With You-From iVillage.Com

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10 Signs He’s in Love With You

You've dated your fair share of women and have always enjoyed keeping your options open, but lately there's this one woman that has you wondering if she's " the one." In order to help you figure this out, I have compiled the following list of the top 10 ways to know you're in love.

 

You've Forgotten Your Ex

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More often than not, a breakup is followed by a significant amount of time spent thinking about your ex and wondering whether or not you made the right decision in going your separate ways. Depending on how long the two of you were together, these doubts can resurface again and again.
Ever since you met this new one, however, the thought of getting back together with your ex is the furthest thing from your mind. Come to think of it, you barely recall what you found so great about her in the first place.

 

You Can’t Stop Thinking About Her

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Instead, you are consumed by thoughts of her. She just pops into your head for no apparent reason, and you wonder if she thinks of you half as much as you think of her. You wonder what she's up to and even consider calling her (but refrain from doing so for fear of looking overeager).
But it gets worse. You're out with your friends and you see something in a shop window and think about how much she would like that particular item, or you notice a poster for a show that she would love, but normally wouldn't even have looked twice at it.
If she's the last thing on your mind before you go to sleep and the first thing on your mind when you wake up -- and you've even dreamed of her on a couple of occasions -- then you don't really even need to read on to know if you're in love (but should anyway, just to be sure).

 

You Care About Her

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There is a reason why you don't really want to know too much about the chick you had a one-night stand with: You don't love her. When you're in love with a woman, you want to know all about her: who she is, what she thinks, what makes her laugh. You truly care about her and her feelings.
If you truly love a woman, you feel bad if she had a bad day or is upset about something. You don't try to cheer her up because you have to, but because you can't help it.

 

You Find Her Quirks Charming

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The fact that she carries her passport with her everywhere she goes -- just in case -- and that, when she's eating, she can't help but construct every forkful so that it's the perfect blend of ingredients fills you with an inexplicable feeling of happiness.
She does and says things that make her different, and you like it. You can't quite put your finger on why, but it doesn't even matter. You like her just the way she is.

 

You Have Great Chemistry

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You can't be in love with someone that you have no chemistry with. If you seem to always be on the same wavelength, and think in similar ways, that's a great sign. If you also generate enough heat to set off a five-alarm fire bell, then she is probably someone that you could fall in love with, if you aren't there already.

 

You Don’t Notice Other Women as Much

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Did you see that gorgeous blonde that just walked by? What do you mean, "no?!?"
Although you can't help noticing a beautiful woman when one walks by, when you're in love, some of them tend to slip under the radar, while others just pale in comparison to her. Furthermore, you don't seem to be flirting half as much as you used to. You are slowly realizing that she's often the only woman in the room that matters, and for some reason that suits you just fine.

 

You Love Spending Time With Her

This one is pretty obvious but important nonetheless. You look forward to seeing her, and don't care much about what the two of you will be doing. Lately, just going for a walk with her sounds like the best way you could possibly spend an evening.
Furthermore, when you're not together, you miss her and wish you were spending time together.

 

You Don’t Mind Compromising Sometimes

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There was a time when it was your way or the highway, but with her it's different. Not that she asks you to, but you don't mind missing a night out with the guys to be with her. And you find yourself trying to incorporate her into your plans or altering them to accommodate her.
You also find yourself not putting up a fight when she wants to go to Shakespeare in the Park. Although your friends find this very amusing, you know that deep down, they wish that they had found a love like yours.

 

Other Priorities Take a Back Seat

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You used to train religiously, but lately, if she's free for dinner, you don't mind missing a workout. Not only that, but your workaholic tendency of bringing home your work on weekends to get ahead seems a bit excessive to you as of late.
Your ever-important "to do" list seems quite stagnant these days, as being with her always manages to render your other plans and obligations obsolete. What was it that you absolutely had to do by four o'clock again?

 

You Starting Thinking About the Future and She’s in It

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It used to be that the future with a woman meant your date on Saturday night, but with this woman, the future seems infinite. Not only do you plan to see her this weekend, but you want to see her a year from now as well.
When planning your next vacation, you know you want to spend it with her, and not a random beach bunny you happen to meet while you're there. And when you get an invitation to a wedding that takes place three months from now, you ask her to be your date without thinking that it's too far away to tell if you'll still be together.

 

She's the One

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If you are currently dating a woman that makes you act in any of the ways mentioned above, then you, my friend, are seriously falling for her. It's time to put away the little black book for a while and enjoy the ride.

Body Image: 5 Reasons Having Sex Is Better Than Being Skinny

FRom YourTango.Com

5 Reasons Having Sex Is Better Than Being Skinny

Which is better, having sex or being skinny? We hope you chose having sex!

By Simcha Whitehill

With pin-thin celebrities like Demi Moore, Faith Hill, and most recently, Tina Fey, having their curves airbrushed off magazine covers, it's hard for us real woman to feel good about our real bodies. You can't tell me there is a female on this planet who hasn't tried to diet, or suck in, or shimmy into a pair of Spanx, all in the hopes of looking svelter—I for one have tried all three in spades. But I was still surprised when I read that according to a survey in by Fitness magazine, 51 percent of women would give up having sex for a whole entire year if it meant they could be skinny. Say what?!

Well gals, I'm the fat ambassador who has come to you to tell you that lean ladies have not cornered the market on earth-shaking, mind-blowing, down-and-dirty, can't-walk-straight-the-next-day kind of sex. No matter what size you are, you can orgasm!

And let me tell you, when I strip down and go to town, I'm not wondering if he's noticed my booty looks like the moon covered in cellulite craters or my stomach has more rolls than a dinner basket. You want to know what I'm thinking while I'm doin' it? Well, sorry, this is a SFW kind of site.

I'd hate to think that a single one of my fellow womankind is letting body issues stop them from boning like the babelicious man-candy we are! So, I sat down with YourTango Expert and intimacy and sex counselor, Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC. As you might imagine, we had quite the time discussing all the ways sex can satisfy a lady like nothing else! And it just affirmed that there are better things to do in life than waste time worrying about weight. Here are five reasons having sex is better than being skinny.

1. Sexual Healing: Forget an apple a day, an orgasm a week keeps the doctor away. According to our Rapini, sex boosts the immune system and cardiovascular health, helps people with diabetes heal wounds, fights aging by keeping your hormones in balance, cures headaches, prevents the vagina from atrophying, alleviates depression and anxiety, improves cognition, increases blood flow to the brain, skyrockets your self-esteem, and ultimately expands and extends your quality of life.

Plus, as Rapini also pointed out in her essay, Take The Orgasm, "A study by Beverly Whipple, a professor emeritus at Rutgers University and a famed sexologist and author, found that when women masturbated to orgasm 'the pain tolerance threshold and pain detection threshold increased significantly by 74.6 percent and 106.7 percent respectively.'"

Amazing! So, ask not what you can do for sex, but what sex can do for you.

2. Variety Is The Spice Of Life: The real problem with this "thin is in" argument is the idea that that there is only one ideal kind of body, when we all know some men like blondes, some like short girls, some like sexy librarian types, and some like a big beautiful woman like me. It's unfair to deny nature and men the kind of woman they're attracted to just because the media, or a mirror, or those catty remarks we overhear make us feel like anything less than a temple of va-voom.

Rapini adds, "Men are not as picky as women are. They basically want a good proportion, but they don't care if it's a size 14 or a 2. They're looking at the waist hip ratio. I tell all my patients is all you need to do is put a belt on and you will be attracting them like crazy!"

On the other hand, if a guy does care about what size you are, maybe you should start caring about your desire to have sex with total jerks.

3. The Best Is Yet To Come (Pun Intended): You think your body is saggy, lumpy, or unsightly now? Well, for senior citizens across the country, sex is the new Mahjong.

Rapini happily touts, "One of my biggest contracts right now is with assisted living homes. I have 70, 80, 90 year-olds-having sex and it's incredible... The women each have one old guy on Cialis and it's great for them. They're happy as can be!"

With age comes wisdom, so let's learn this lesson from our elders: be it age, weight or having to store your teeth in cup on the bedside table, nothing should stop you from feeling sexy.

4. More Bang: Hitting the hay is bound to make you a whole lot happier than saying "No thanks, I'm on a diet." Not to mention that while eating mainly satisfies two senses, sex hits all five. Calories come with aroma and taste, but sex comes with full-body flava—touch, taste, sight, the sweet smell of pheromones, and don't even get me started on the sounds!

As Rapini pointed out, "We each have 117 erogenous zones." But don't worry if you haven't found yours. "I don't know where all mine are," Rapini joked. "I always say, when I retire, I'm going to find all my erogenous zones. That's really all I want to do."

I'm with ya, sister! Let's put that on the top of all our Bucket Lists.

5. Confidence Is One Size Fits All: Why waste time trying to lose weight, when we could instead be out there shaking what our mamas gave us? It's confidence that is what really attracts 'em.

In her practice Rapini has found that "when a guy sees a confident woman, he says to himself, 'She loves her body, I'm going to get laid!' If he see her with her head down, he thinks, 'She doesn't like her body, and there's a good chance that she won't like sex.' Attitude is everything."

Body Image: 5 Reasons Having Sex Is Better Than Being Skinny | YourTango