Marisa Wright asked:




Belly dancing is a wonderful exercise and means of expression for any woman. One of its great advantages is that you can reach a good standard quite quickly, and start performing with amateur troupes at concerts, community fairs and festivals.

But that creates another problem – what to wear! The ornate beading of belly dance costumes mean they’re expensive to buy – a professional Egyptian belly dance costume can cost $500 or $600 – and if you’re not a professional, it’s hard to justify that kind of money. And let’s face it, many of us modern career women don’t have the sewing skills our moms or grandmothers had, so the idea of making our own costume can be daunting – even if we could find the hours needed to sew on hundreds of bugle beads. On the other hand, part of the fun of belly dance performing is getting dressed up in all that “bling”, and feeling like a star.

Don’t despair, there are solutions. One is obvious – buy from the source! If you can find a supplier in Egypt, Turkey or even India, you’ll pay a fraction of the price for a professional belly dance costume. Of course, that can be easier said than done, unless you’re planning an overseas trip! On that score, it’s worth checking to see if any of your local bellydancing academies are planning an escorted tour: not only can they be great fun, but you’ll be able to set up your performance wardrobe at bargain prices, which will help pay for your trip!

The easier alternative is to shop online. Suppliers in developing countries have been slower to jump on the internet bandwagon than sellers in the States or Europe, but it is happening, mainly on eBay. Always check the seller’s reputation before you buy, and scrutinize the photographs of the product carefully.

If you have trouble tracking these suppliers down on eBay, you’re probably not doing your searches correctly. The default search usually gives you products listed on your local eBay site only. That may include some international sellers who’ve chosen to be listed on your country’s site, but it won’t include a host of international members who haven’t asked for a listing, but who would be quite happy to ship their product to your country. Try doing an Advanced Search instead.

An easier alternative is to use an eBay Partner site, where you’ll find all the searches done for you. eBay pays a small commission to the owner of the site, which comes from the seller’s fees, not from the buyer. So it doesn’t cost you any extra to buy through these stores – you’re still getting those great eBay prices! – and the bonus is they are often supporting a local belly dance community.

dancing bazaar

Sarah Stephens asked:




When a high profile celebrity gets married, she typically has her choice of gowns and accessories, no matter the price. So it’s not surprising that a woman like Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice star Kate Walsh looked so incredibly radiant on her big day. While designers may not be lining up to make you the perfect wedding gown, and your guest list might not include McDreamy, Dasha Boutique designer will show you it’s cheap – and easy! – to capture Walsh’s wedding style on her own day.

Delicate Sparkle

As if her engagement ring from husband Alex Young didn’t sparkle enough, Private Practice star Kate Walsh opted for Neil Lane diamond jewelry throughout. Her style is usually quite simple and includes single chain necklaces with small pendants, short drop earrings and tennis bracelets. The diamonds set off her strong red locks, acting as a natural enhancement of her natural features. For a look that echoes this actress’s love of delicate adornments (but not her endless pockets), opt for sterling-silver based jewelry coupled with raw diamonds and clear, sparkly gemstones like quartz and moonstone.

Jewelry is the secret weapon of every female celebrity, whether she’s walking the aisle or stepping out to the corner store for another box of ginger tea. A subtle pair of earrings, a bracelet full of bling, or a bold gemstone pendant necklace all add a particularly personal touch to an outfit and over time, each individual woman’s accessory style becomes part of her signature look. Unlike clothing, the most beautiful jewelry is timeless, so it can be worn again and again, with almost any outfit. However, just like clothing, jewelry colors and designs must be tailored to the individual wearer to complement her natural features best. So while you read up on these particular celebrity looks, keep in mind that accessories are your opportunity to make your wedding ensemble specifically yours and act as a subtle reminder to all how personal this day really is.

Get the Look

Kate’s diamond and platinum chandelier earrings look a lot like the Keishi Pearl Cascade Earrings.

Caffeinated Content

Marisa Wright asked:




Belly dancing is the Next Big Thing in women’s exercise, and no wonder. It’s gentle on the body, beneficial for the female physique, great fun and easy to learn.

In fact, it’s so easy to learn that many women who started learning “just for fun” suddenly find themselves joining a dance troupe and performing on stage!

At this point, what started out as an inexpensive hobby can quickly cost you a fortune, if you’re not careful. If you live in the US, Europe or Australasia, professional costumes in your local shops are probably priced in the hundreds of dollars. That’s hard to justify for an amateur, but what else can you do?

One option is to shop online. I have a belly dance store on my own website (see below) where you can see what kinds of prices are on offer from overseas suppliers for belly dance costumes and accessories. It’s possible to save a lot of money, but even so, the cost still mounts up.

The other solution is to make it yourself. If you are not good at sewing, that can sound daunting – but it needn’t be as bad as it sounds.

The first thing to remember is that costumes are all about theatre, and theatre is all about illusion. Your everyday clothes have to be neatly sewn and finished with properly flattened darts and no raw edges. But f you always dance on a stage, your costume need only be well-finished enough to fool the eye from a distance. If you dance in a cabaret, closer to the audience, then the outside of your costume must look perfect – but who cares if the stitches on the inside aren’t quite straight?

You’d be surprised how many ordinary garments can be turned into belly dance costumes. Summer midriff tops that tie under the bust can be given some bling by edging them with sequins (you can buy sequin trim ready-made in long strips three or four sequins wide). Even an ordinary cotton top, dyed black, can look impressive with some beading sewn on! Another good trick is to cover and old bra with stretchy velvet or glittery lycra fabric – it only has to be tacked on! You can cover the bra straps with the same material, or use the sequin trim, or braiding.

Look out for sales at inexpensive jewellery or accessory shops. You may find cheap necklaces or bracelets that you can break up and use the stones to decorate bras or belts. If you’re a regular customer, you might even persuade them to give you any broken or damaged pieces for free.

Skirts are more difficult to fake, if you dance Egyptian or Turkish style and want a modern, hip-hugging style. A good option is stretch velvet, which doesn’t need hemming or darts, and is forgiving if you make a mistake while cutting or sewing! You can also create an effective look with a hip scarf and one or two veils: tie the hip scarf securely around your hips, then swathe the veil(s) around your legs like a skirt, pulling it up under the hip scarf so the scarf is holding the veil in place. Try to arrange the excess veil into two “plumes”, one on each hip.

“Faking” costumes can be fun, so give it a try!

Dee Lake asked:




I went to Egypt for one day by flying from Paphos to Cairo in August 2007 when on holiday in Cyprus. It took one hour to get there. I booked the trip with a travel agent in Paphos and it cost

Bangles are a type of ornament worn by women in India. Also called Kangan or Chudi in Hindi, bangles come in various colors and are symbols of matrimony. A single bangle worn by a man is called a Kada and in Sikhs or Sardars, the father of the bride gives a bangle or kada made from gold to the groom. Kada is a circular shaped bangle having religious significance for Sikhs, and is made from iron, white metal or gold.

In India, bangles are very popular and with growing fashion trends, have become a highly popular in their various designs and forms. No longer are bangles just made in a circular shape with glass. Today, bangles are made from various materials and can be found in many shapes such as round, rectangular, oval etc. Worn in pairs, one on both arms, bangles are colorful, beautiful, and enhance the beauty of women who wear them. Gold, silver, wood, ferrous metals, plastic, rubber, and glass among other things are used extensively to make bangles. However, tradition demands that Hindu women wear gold and glass bangles or only gold or glass bangles.

Gold bangles studded with semi-precious gems, or diamonds, pearls or just plain gold bangles with pretty designs are popular with women in India. The range of these bangles can range from downright simple to extremely intricate. Generally, a single bangle is adorned by women across the world in various variations such as bracelet. But in other regions such as the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia, bangles have been evolved into a wide range and each is used for different occasions.

Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, India is the single largest producer of glass bangles. Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh State, also has a historic bangle market called Laad Bazar. In Pakistan, glass bangles come from Hyderabad (Pakistan).

Symbolism of Bangles

Bangles have been a part of the Indian culture for many centuries, but the new trendy bangles are more versatile than ever before. Available just bout anywhere, designer bangles are even sold in malls, jewelry shops. But the real deal is the glass bangles…a pious symbol of matrimony. Here’s a look at what the various colors mean.

No. Bangle Color Meaning

1 Red Energy

2 Blue Tranquility/Wisdom

3 Purple Independence

4 Green Luck/Married Status

5 Yellow Happiness

6 Orange Success

7 White New Beginnings

8 Black Power

9 Silver Strength

10 Gold Fortune

Glass bangles have many interesting symbolisms. Here are some of them.

Bangles and Honeymoon – During an Indian wedding, the bride tries to wear the smallest glass bangles. She is helped by her best friend or sister to do this using scented oil. It’s believed that smaller bangles symbolize a happy and loving marriage and a wonderful honeymoon (that last until the very last bangle breaks!).

Bangles and Husband and Luck – A married Indian woman is required to wear bangles (green or red depending on which region they belong to) on a day to day basis because bangles are symbolic of safety, marriage and luck for their husbands. Sudden breaking of glass bangles is considered a sign of danger or an unpleasant incident involving the husband.

It appears to be anybody’s game for Dancing with the Stars season four. Although there were many assumptions and speculations on who would get axed first, the results of the first elimination were deemed to be shocking.

Surprisingly, Dancing with the Stars sent home Paulina Porizkova and dance partner Alec Mazo. Despite the couple’s mediocre performance, not to mention Porizkova’s sophistication and graceful execution of her dance routine, they were voted off on the first results show, which aired Tuesday, March 27, 2007. And although the couple trained extensively, their dance act just was not enough to fascinate the interest of the voters of Dancing with the Stars.

Porizkova, a 41-year old Czech supermodel turned actress, escalated to fame when she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1984 and 1985. She also made appearances on Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. As an actress, she worked in films like Her Alibi, Knots, and Roommates to name a few. In addition, she has also written several books. As for Mazo, he is known as a professional ballroom dancer. This Russian-born dancer is presently based in San Francisco and has been part of Dancing with the Stars since its premier season. Prior to his stint on the show, he studied at UC Berkeley and acquired a degree in cognitive science. As a professional dancer, he won the Emerald Ball Latin Amateur Champion, and landed first place in the 2001 International Grand Ball in San Francisco, and the 2001 Holiday Ball in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Among the participants, many anticipated that Clyde Drexler, Billy Ray Cyrus, or Leeza Gibbons would be the first to exit the popular celebrity competition, based on their not so remarkable performance. Given this, it is very intriguing to imagine the outcome of the coming eliminations.

The hookah has a long and storied history. Also known variously as a hubble-bubble, narghile, shisha, or water pipe, among other names, hookahs have been used for a mellow tobacco smoking experience in Asia and the Middle East for centuries. Coming to the Middle East from India, the hookah started out as a humble coconut shell. In Turkey, it evolved into the true hookah, becoming a mainstay of coffee house life during the 17th century. Hookah smoking is still very common in cafes and restaurants throughout the Middle East.

Many rituals, of preparation, lighting, and smoking etiquette, surround the use of the hookah. People gathered in the coffee houses to smoke together, exchanging news and stories–or simply sharing quiet, meditative time. Recalling a more relaxed and unhurried past, hookahs conjure tales of journeys along the Nile, long nights in exotically scented gardens, the spice of the bazaar, and the sinuous music of the belly dance.

Hookahs were smoked by women gathered for tea, by students engaging in intellectual discussion, men playing games of chance, and simple gatherings of friends for enjoyment and relaxation. Offering a guest a puff at the house hookah, or narghile, was a sign of welcome and hospitality. Rather than a habit of nervousness, as many might classify the cigarette, the hookah is an entry to tranquility and reflection. It is a connection to the past and an oasis of civilized fellowship in the frenetic present.

With such a long history, it’s not surprising that the craftsmanship in a hookah approaches the level of art; most hookahs are exquisitely detailed and beautiful. At one time, each part of the hookah was produced by a craftsman specifically trained to produce just that piece. Materials used included silver, crystal, and amber. When you add in the centuries of tradition and ritual in which the hookah is steeped, it’s easy to see that this ancient water pipe represents the nexus of a singular and luxuriant experience in smoke and social interaction–and why it’s becoming so popular in the West.

Grand Bahamas Island is a perfect getaway destination. This beautiful island is located near the Atlantic Ocean. There are more then seven hundred islands, which make your vacations quite thrilling. The meticulous beaches and adventure sports satiates the senses of both adventurous and romantic people. Few of the must visit islands are; Abaco, Long Island, Grand Bahamas Island and Cat Island. Nassau, the capital is awe-inspiring, its natural beauty compel you to visit this place time and again. The best time to visit this island is spring time. The weather is pleasant, making it comfortable for the stay and other adventurous sports. So, in next spring vacations don’t spend too much time deciding the destination.

Here, you will find two kinds of beaches, activity beaches and secluded beaches. On activity beaches, as the name suggests offer you many fun filled activities like snorkeling, parasailing and windsurfing. Some of the popular activity beaches are Taino Beach, Lucaya Beach and Xanadu Beach. The spectacular white beaches and the deep sea fishing are the major attractions of this island. Fishing lovers would never like to miss this destination.

As for the secluded beaches, you will enjoy being their, but you will enjoy more in exploring the treasures hidden in the sands of those beaches. If you really want to enjoy on a secluded island, go towards southeast or southwest of the island. Gold Rock Beach a part of Lucayan National Park is one of the popular secluded.The nightlife offered by Grand Bahamas Island is awesome. There are variety of night clubs and pubs, where life seems to be turned into an ultimate euphoria. You can even enjoy a romantic moon dance on the beaches of these beautiful and meticulous beaches.

You can even enjoy shopping on the beaches and in the exclusive markets where you can shop exquisite gift items. Port Lucaya Market place and International Bazaar are the two important shopping areas. You can enjoy the taste of local handicrafts and even find the licensed hair braiders.

Honeymooners find the romance in the cool sea breeze that gushes past them when on a walk. You will always find honeymooners on this exquisite island, enjoying the bliss of each others company. These days many couples even plan their wedding on the exclusive secluded beaches of Grand Bahamas Island. A wedding experience on a beach is unique and quite fun filled.

Most people dream of going to Bahamas for a vacation, because of the serenity and the closeness to nature. A vacation to Bahamas is surely not very expensive, as there are many discount Bahamas vacation packages available. If not this, you can even go in for loan for a vacation. When you plan your vacation to Grand Bahamas Island, be very careful about the tour operator. Make all the due arrangements well in time, so as to avoid any inconvenience. Specially, if you plan your vacation during spring time, be extra cautious. As during this season, the chance is quite high that you will find no hotel or resort for a comfortable stay. So make all the arrangements beforehand, to enjoy the vacation to its full.