Classic china patterns

Fine bone china was first developed by Spode around 1800 in North Staffordshire. It was a great boon to the ceramics industry in England which had lagged behind the Chinese, Germans and the French up to this point. Most classic china patterns that today are fine bone china, but some are even older and are made of porcelain.

Onion Pattern

The onion pattern is one that many different manufacturers have produced. One of them is Meissen, the great German porcelain manufacturer. Most people refer to this pattern as blue onion, but in truth, it should be blue pomegranate because that is what it actually is. It was interpreted from an Asian design over 300 years ago incorrectly and the designation has stuck.

The color combination of blue and white is a universal favorite, and naturally, other manufacturers realized that this one was going to be big. It has been and still is, one of the most popular patterns for china of all kind.

Blue Willow

Blue willow is a very popular blue and white pattern. This was also copied from plates that were being imported from China. Minton popularized the pattern and it has never completely lost its popularity. It is still in production today by Burleigh in Stoke on Trent. Lovers of the pattern enjoy collecting pieces from many manufacturers; and while it is very usable, it is also great to just display.

White china is a very classic design. Banding with platinum takes it to another level. Most fine china manufacturers have their own version of this pattern. Lennox has Opal Innocence, a pattern banded with platinum and vines and dots that add a textured look. Vera Wang offers a very modern look with a platinum ribbon that she has designed for Wedgewood. 

Waterford offers the Kilbarry Platinum Collection and Noritake gives it a little different look with their Crestwood Platinum Collection. All of these patterns are basic white china with platinum banding but lots of different twists and turns.

Old Country Roses

Old Country Roses is a classic pattern of china from Royal Albert that has been around since 1962. It comes not only in a five piece dinner service but a wide selection of serving pieces and also small collector pieces. This is the perfect pattern for a china collector, especially if you enjoy bright floral patterns and 22K gold trim.

As the name of the pattern implies, it is roses that are red, pink and yellow. The best part is that this collection is also dishwasher safe.

Many classic china patterns were created. Some are collectible and no longer in production, and other are easy and inexpensive to find and own. Whether you want to display your classic china or use it every day, choose a pattern that you love and it will be a pleasure to use and look at for years to come.

Finding bargain priced plus size fashion

Women larger than size 14 care just as much about being stylish as women who are a size 2. It is no longer necessary to settle for dark or frumpy clothing is you are full figured. Finding great clothes at an affordable price may take a little extra effort but it is worth it.

Thrift/consignment shops

If your budget is quite small, one of the first places you should look for a bargain on plus sizes clothes is in a thrift or consignment shop. Hardly a town anywhere is without one. The same can be said for plus size women and those who follow fashion will be getting rid of last season’s fashionable frocks, this year. It is always buyer beware so look over any purchase carefully for damage or stains. Try zippers and be sure to try everything on. Check on the store return policy as well.

Discount retailers 

Discount retailers know that the average size of women is not a size 2. They also keep on top of fashion trends. They are savvy enough to stock plenty of bargain-priced clothes for the plus sized woman. If you are not thinking of Walmart, Target, and K-Mart you should be, they carry everything from underwear to outerwear in a full range of sizes. Most of the lines that they carry for juniors and ladies will also be offered in the women’s department.

Off-price stores

Plus size women who want to designer clothes at a bargain price will love shopping at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Stein Mart. Everything from shoes in a wide width to plus size sleepwear is offered. 

Mid-range retailer

Kohls, JC Pennys, Sears, and Macys are some of the best places to find plus size women’s clothing. High fashion and low prices are not too difficult to find but you need to understand how their discount system works. Take advantage of coupons, reward programs, and Kohls Cash. You should be able to save between 50 and 80 percent off of full price. It may not be as inexpensive as some of the other options but it is still a great bargain.

Online

Great deals can be found on eBay. If you are between sizes or not quite sure what size fits you best then forget about using eBay but if you know your size and your look, you can get lots of great pieces for a song and a winning bid. Amazon also has some great deals.

Gwynnie Bee

If you love high fashioned clothing but can't afford to buy all the different looks you would like, how about rental? Gwynnie Bee offers fuller figured women the option to rent clothing, buy them if you fall in love or return them if you don't. It is a great way to try out some looks with no commitment. 

Just because you are a plus size woman it doesn’t mean that you have to pay plus size prices. Be creative and go on the hunt and you will find some great clothes at a terrific price.

Take control of your finances

In personal finances, there are only two options, you can take control of your finances or your finances will take control of you. Money may be the root of all evil but it is also what makes the world go round. You need to guarantee that you can not only live today but that you have a secure future. The key to doing this is to learn to budget and to make your money work for you not against you.

It is hard to get control of your finances in today's economy. Many people are over-extended and have much more credit debt than a healthy budget can handle. Your situation is what it is and while you can't undo everything, you can make sure that there is a light at the end of the financial tunnel.

First, do an honest evaluation of your financial situation. What your income actually is, what you owe, what you own and where you want to be financially. Make a list of every outstanding bill that you have and the balance on the account.

While you are looking at the bills also take note of the rate you are paying for interest on these accounts. For some people, this will be an eye opener. If you haven't been paying attention, you may find that your interest rates have skyrocketed.

To create a budget, look at your income versus your expenses and see where you stand. You may find that you have no money left over or you may even make less than you need to pay in expenses. This is the most serious condition. You must find a way to get back into a positive situation quickly.

The first thing to do is lower your expenses. If you are a renter, this is one expense you may not be able to lower but you can opt for cheaper cable service or drop cable altogether and use a service such as Netflix, turn off all electric appliances when not in use, lower the temperature in your apartment in the winter and raise it in the summer.

All of these will help to lower your expenses. You might want to get rid of your landline phone if you have a cell phone and take a good look at what you are paying for your cell phone. Look at your car insurance and opt for a higher deductible. If you live in the city, consider selling your car and relying on public transportation. These are desperate times and they call for some desperate measures.

Look at the deductions on your pay stub. Are you using the federal government as a savings plan? It is time to stop that, you should break even at the end of the year and put that money on your high-interest credit cards. If one of your cards has a better interest rate, try moving the balance from a higher rate card to the lower rate card and stop using your credit cards. If you are renting a car, you need your credit card but for most things switch to a cash economy.

Depending on what your financial health is, your budget may look pretty grim. It may take months even years to get control back but you can do it. The object is to spend less than you make and to save money so that in case of a dire emergency or job loss you will be able to survive for at least six months without any income.

In order to get your financial house back in order, you may need to work extra hours or even an extra job. Will that be difficult? Yes,  it will, these days it can be hard to find an additional job. You may have to resort to extraordinary strategies but where there is a will, there is a way.

Making a budget that will work for you is going to be one of the hardest and most satisfying tasks you will ever tackle. There will be a lot of lessons learned along the way but at the end of the day, you will emerge financially sound and with a true appreciation for the role that money plays in your life. What are you waiting for, your financial future is in your hands?

Five basic wardrobe pieces every woman needs

When it comes to women’s fashion, for many women, there is no such thing as too much. But if you are trying to build a basic wardrobe, there are a few classics that are the building blocks of a wardrobe that can grow over the years and still look good. There are certain wardrobe pieces every woman needs.

Narrowing it down to five may be a little difficult, but it is definitely possible. Before discussing the five wardrobe pieces that every woman needs, it is import to discuss a few other things. First of all is quality. When choosing the pieces that are the foundation of a wardrobe, it is important to buy the best quality that you can afford. In the long run, well-made, classic pieces are timeless and may even be good enough to pass on to the next generation.

The second important thing is care. If you want your pieces to last a lifetime, you need to care for them. Always follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for cleaning your garments and take the time to hang them on quality hangers.

Black dress

The little black dress, made popular by Coco Chanel, has been a staple wardrobe item for generations. Keep it simple. For your basic dress, thinking A-line and sleeveless is always a good option for those with toned arms. Keep it knee length or above and use accessories to make it trendy. When it comes to building your basic wardrobe avoid trendy, at least in your basic pieces.

Good fitting pair of jeans

Of all the items in a basic woman’s wardrobe, jeans are the most elusive. Most women have many pairs; fewer have ones that fit well, look great and that they love. It is a time-consuming process to find jeans that look and feel good. Color is important. When in doubt, go darker instead of lighter with the wash. When you find a style and size that works, buy multiple pairs.

Pencil skirt

A pencil skirt looks good on just about any woman and is very figure flattering. It can be dressed up or down and is appropriate for a day at the office or a night on the town. Again, fit is important and there should not be any bunching going on.

White button-down shirt

For most people, this will be a cotton button-down shirt, but if you have an aversion to ironing, then choose a shirt with stretch that doesn’t require much more than a touch-up with an iron. This is one item that is really not for the long haul because it is nearly impossible -- no matter how well you care for your white button down shirt -- to keep it gleaming white for years. Like a white tee shirt, get a new one every year or so.

Jacket

This piece offers the most variety. Leather is hot and a leather jacket is almost always a wise investment. A denim jacket is another popular choice, especially if you have a casual lifestyle. A woolen jacket is a staple that will be used over and over again. So choose a style that is not too trendy and a color that will mix and match well and find that jacket of your dreams.

As all women know, these are just the basics -- there is so much more. Trousers, a great pair of heels, a trench coat, a black turtle neck and all those wonderful accessories are really necessary for most women’s wardrobe. Be stylish, shop within your budget and get things that work together and soon you will have an amazing wardrobe that can take you anywhere at any time.