Blog Posts by DivineCaroline

It's not easy or realistic to become a whole new you come the New Year, but that doesn't mean we won't be making a hopeful list of self-improvements and resolutions. While all the usual goal-setting tactics might help out initially, sometimes you need a little extra push to carry on. There's nothing like a new gadget to give you a boost of motivation. The following goodies may not do the hard work for you, but they could help you tackle some of the most common resolutions.

Be on Time - Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker
Be on timeSo you resolve to be on time, but you have a habit of sleeping right through your alarm clock or repeatedly smacking the snooze button. Meet the Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock, a gadget that makes it physically impossible for you to continue sleeping. This clock has an adjustable alarm volume with a maximum loudness of 113 decibels, slightly louder than a jackhammer. As if a sound comparable to heavy machinery isn't enough to snap you into consciousness, there is also

Read More »from 8 Products to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

No ensemble cast of A-list, bad-acting celebrities can convince us otherwise: New Year's Eve is the most overrated holiday of the year. Cover charges and drink prices are as inflated as your hopes for a glamorous night that culminates in a magical kiss and a blossoming love affair, just in time for "New Year, New You 2012." It almost never works out that way, but that doesn't stop us from making plans and shelling out the dough. If you're as optimistically delusional as we are, or simply would rather party than stay at home with Chinese food and watch ancient Dick Clark on TV, you need a dress-perferably one that's so sparkly and fabulous, it acts as a magnet. Here are some of our favorite ensembles, most of which are probably much less expensive than the price of your party ticket.

ASOS Midi Dress with Cross Back Strap

Asos
The body-hugging silhouette and daring back is oh-so "Holly Golightly", while the midi-skirt makes a potential walk-of-shame less shameful, should the midnight kissRead More »from New Year's Eve Dresses Under $70

underwear
In the 1970s, bigger was better. In the '80s and '90s, its popularity waxed and waned. But in the '00s, that once-revered patch of lovely lady locks performed a vanishing act. We're talking about pubic hair, folks, and the fact that once upon a time, people embraced the bush, but over the last decade, it has fallen out of favor as more and more women opt for bald vajayjays.

Some people blame porn and a youth-obsessed culture that infantilizes women for the vilification of pubic hair, while others trace its demise to Sex and the City and Carrie Bradshaw's introduction of the Brazilian wax to the mainstream. Whatever the case, the trend has caught on enough for a college-age man in Minnesota to say that he'd never hook up with a girl with pubic hair and that he'd be disgusted to undress a woman and discover a, as the Atlantic put it, "veil of genital fur." But the tide may be changing on this "bare is better" mentality, or at least that's what our friends at Jezebel suggest. The fact

Read More »from Hair Down There: 2012's Hottest Accessory?

hashtag
Twitter recently released a list of the eight most popular hashtags of 2011. Since it first appeared in August 2007, the user-invented convention has become a shorthand, an indexing tool, and a vehicle for irony. The hashtag provides context and with more than 200 million people using Twitter, trending hashtags offer insight into the collective conversation. From death and destruction to popular uprisings and plain, old-fashioned navel-gazing, here's what we talked--err--tweeted about about this year:

1. #egypt and 8. #jan25
Social media played a critical role in the organization and reporting of demonstrations that surged across Egypt starting January 25. So much so that the government shut down Internet access for much of the country.

2. #tigerblood
The unhinged Charlie Sheen was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular topic in the actor category. But it was his assertion that he has "tiger blood" that captured Twitter's fascination.

2011's Top Buzzwords


3. #threewordstoliveby

Read More »from Decoding the Top Twitter Hashtags of 2011

Eggnog

Since this holiday favorite contains so few ingredients, it takes a little practice and finesse to make it stand out. If you plan on augmenting this year's holidays by making eggnog, follow these simple steps to ensure that your festivities are memorable … or at least as memorable as several potent glasses of nog.

6 New Drinking Games for the Holidays

1. Ensure Freshness
Whether you serve traditional cold eggnog or hot custard-style eggnog, the most important thing is to use the freshest eggs you can find. Most nog experts recommend getting organic eggs from a local dairy, if possible, but at the very least, do the egg test to be sure that freshness hasn't flown the coop. If you're making cold eggnog (which utilizes raw eggs), you may want to get a pasteurized variety, to be sure that all harmful bacteria have been killed.

10 Festive Holiday Cocktails


2. Use Real Nutmeg
If possible, freshly grate your own nutmeg, because the sprinkles that come in a

Read More »from 5 Hints for Tastier Eggnog

Tasty candy caneThe holidays are fun times for parties and lots of food. However, the downside is many people gain a few stubborn pounds during this time just because there is so much food.

If you like the parties, but not the January rush to lose all the holiday weight, you have to be smart. It will be much easier come January first if you party with a few ground rules. I'm not saying to give up on all the fun-just the fun that goes overboard leaving you feeling sick and unhappy with yourself. These seven tips will help you keep off the pounds while hitting the holiday parties.

1. Use a Small Plate
This is a psychological trick that can work for you at a party. Simply grab a small plate instead of a big one. Most every spread has both dinner and dessert sized plates. Choose a dessert plate for your food. The appearance of a full plate, even if small, gives the mental impression you are eating more than you would if the plate were larger.

2. Fill Up on Veggies
Most hosts who

Read More »from Seven Ways to Eat Light During the Holidays

These famous Christmas decorations will put your gingerbread houses and twinkle lights to shame!

Hershey's Holiday Chocolate House
Hershey's Chocolate World
You can find this candy masterpeice at Hershey's visitor center. According to the Facebook page, the holiday masterpiece took over 1,500 hours to complete, is over 12 feet tall, occupies over 100 sq. ft. of floor space, and is constructed and decorated with over a ton of Hershey's® chocolates and confections.

Holiday Gifts That Aren't Worth the Price

The Biltmore House at Christmas Time
Biltmore House
Asheville, North Carolina, hosts this eight-thousand-acre, 250-room estate, said to be the largest home in America. Not surprisingly, it's a popular tourist attraction year-round-especially during the holidays, when the entire property is decked with lights and garlands.

The National Christmas Tree
The National Christmas Tree
The Washington, D.C., holiday tree tradition began in 1923 with President Coolidge. Back then, the tree stood at forty-eight feet and was adorned with 2,500 red, green, and

Read More »from America's Most Extreme Holiday Displays

For fashionistas everywhere, Lady Gaga's immortal lyrics are words to live by: "J'adore Vivienne, la vie et moi. Gucci, Fendi, et Prada. Valentino, Armani too. Merde I love them Jimmy Choo." But if you yawn at the thought of yet another Birkin bag in your closet, fear not! These high-fashion designers believe no household item, from Chanel fishing rods to Louis Vuitton garbage bags, should be devoid of luxury. After all, one can never be too rich, too thin, or too decadently fabulous.

Christian Lacroix Water Bottle
water bottle
Bored with your Sigg bottle? You're in luck; Evian teamed up with Christian Lacroix to make drinking water more glamorous. Choose from either the prêt-à-porter or haute couture design (for when you're feeling extra bling-bling).

The Most Expensive Cup of coffee in the World


Cynthia Rowley Band-Aids
band aids
Cynthia Rowley's brief foray into medical fashion started an odd trend of people wearing Band-Aids for fun. One Esquire editor said, "Even if you don't have a cut, bandages

Read More »from The Most Outrageous Designer Items Ever