By Erica Spitulski

Ladies, there is a time and place to cut back on fashion extravaganzas in our lives. Wait, wait – before you go running from the room and hide, hear me out. I am the crown princess of avoidance when the words cutback and fashion are used in the same sentence. Even when they’re used in the same day! I am not expecting myself or anyone else to wake up tomorrow and vow to stop adding to our style-piles. But seriously, do you even really know what is already lurking in the recesses of your cramped closet??

A few weeks ago I decided to have a garage sale. Um, yes, I know – garage sales are scary and overly time consuming, not to mention they often bring some fairly odd strangers to your home to paw through the things you hated enough to sell for fifty cents and now they’re touching them and judging them and thus judging you which brings out that childhood anxiety that always leads to you overanalyzing yourself… Nevermind, maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, as I began the purging process pre-garage-sale day, I came very near canceling the whole affair! Being that I expected to make at least enough for a great lunch out, definitely a new outfit or two, and perhaps even a massage I knew there had to be appealing eye candy for all those ogling drive-bys. The tired black A-line skirt was paired with the raspberry v-neck cotton t-shirt, the ever-so-boring gray slacks were coupled with last year’s amber scoop neck sweater set, and my ex-favorite red sassy dress joined up with Aunt Janies “slightly used” silver wrap.

Okay, you waited for the big Kabow! of how this has anything to do with fashion cutbacks that aren’t painful. Guess what?? I had this great epiphany while I was looking at these rather ingenious pairings of mine. I had never worn that black A-line with the raspberry T, I had not once thrown on the gray slacks and the amber sweater together and my sassy dress had not had the opportunity to play with Aunt Janies wrap before! Yes, that’s right; I had at least 3 (it actually ended up being about 23) new outfits in my closet already!! Don’t we all get so caught up in always pairing the same blouse with the same skirt, with the same handbag week after week? BORING!

Now, you’ll have to trust me on this, but it can actually be fun once you get started. Pick a day when you have a couple hours either to yourself or with a girlfriend or two who have an eye for style. Now, head into that war zone of a clothes bin that also functions as a closet and pull everything out. No, not just 3 things – everything! Go through your dresser too. Get it all out on your bed, sofa, floor – whatever works. Now, resist any urge to revert to past outfit pairings. Just say no! Take a chance and mix things up a bit. Dare to be bold in joining up that salmon 3/4 length sleeve button up with the royal blue pinstriped suit. Grab that ho-hum chocolate corduroy skirt and ravish it with the divine lime T that you thought went with nothing but jeans. You get the picture.

It is absolutely amazing how many more choices I found, without spending a dime, just by revamping my pairings. If you are really feeling your funky self, take the plunge into your handbags, shoes, scarves, belts and jewelry too. I’m telling you, I was almost trembling with post-shopping euphoria after finding all the “new” things I had to wear – and there would be no creditor calling on the payment for these steals!

Now, I am not going to lie and pretend like I have given up shopping. That probably is just not ever going to happen. But, the money I made on the things I chose to part with during my afore-mentioned sale went much farther on accessories to jazz up my fresh styles than they ever could have on complete new outfits.

Next time join me in the search for super hot accessories that will perk up a droopy wardrobe quicker than any plastic surgeon – for a lot less too!

By Lisa McShane

So you have meet up with the guy you talk to on an online dating site the other day and you have decided to keep seeing him on the possibility of starting a new relationship with him. But the problem is, you just don’t know how to ask him out again! Don’t worry; we have some great solutions for you.

Before we move on, have you ever thought about some ways to get a man to ask you out? Is there a special guy on your list that you would really love to date but don’t want to make the very first move?
Have you learned how to behave, talk and dress in ways that make you more approachable to a man? Here’s some advice for women dating men.

The common problem is that girls don’t feel it is acceptable to make the first move so she has to keep worrying about how to make herself seem dateable. If you have a guy in mind for dating, let’s take a look at how to get him to ask you out.

Advice for Women Dating Men#1: Be infinitely approachable.

You need to make a decent effort to be approachable regardless of your clothing, make up and tone of your body. Smile at him and let everyone know you’re the friendly sort of person. Don’t forget that most men are terribly insecure and don’t wish to be rejected.

If you look great but he’s not approaching you, think about whether or not he’s feeling like he might get rejected and change your smile and stance so you look like you want him. Pay attention to this dating advice for women.

Advice for Women Dating Men#2: Don’t forget to be fun and have fun

If you have something in common, go ahead and play that up. For example, if you both like mountain-climbing, you already have a great deal to talk about on your date. You shouldn’t spend the entire date talking about just that one thing but it can serve as an anchor and will show him that you’re fun to be with.

The best advice for women dating men offers this piece of advice: If you don’t have much in common, then joke around with him, laugh and generally let him know that you are fun to be with. You can build activities around one another that you will eventually have in common.

Advice for Women Dating Men #3: Skip the desperation.

If you find yourself thinking that you can’t be happy without a man in your life, you will come off as too desperate-a definite turnoff for a guy. It is a better idea to make yourself approachable so he asks you out first rather than resorting to being the one to make the first move toward him.

Lisa McShane is a recognized authority on the subject of online dating including speed dating and alternative dating. Her website http://www.top-5-best-dating-sites.com, provide a wealth of FREE informative articles and resources on everything you’ll ever need to know about Advice for Women Dating Men.