Have you ever wondered what makes women tick? Well among other things it is good, no wait… great fashion sense!

If you are pregnant or soon will be, it can sometimes seem like a daunting task trying to remain fashionable and pregnant all at the same time.

Many women at least initially lament the loss of their pre-pregnant figures. The good news however, is that there are literally hundreds of online maternity fashion shops that offer quality, great looking and fun maternity wear at reasonable prices!

Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you have to suffer from a fashion perspective. In fact, finding the right fashion wear might be just what you need to jump-start your pregnancy and make you feel great about yourself.

When To Start Wearing Maternity Fashions

Many new moms wonder when they should start wearing maternity clothes. You definitely won’t be needing them your first trimester, where you alone are probably the only person that can tell that you are pregnant.

Most women start wearing maternity items at about the fourth or fifth month. Now, this varies from woman to woman. Second time moms often start showing earlier than their first time counterparts, and women with multiples start showing even sooner.

They type of maternity clothes that you need during pregnancy generally change too. Some women are able to make due with a baggy pair of jeans for some time during their early pregnancy. Many find themselves moving into maternity wear before their bellies are quite big enough to fill out the maternity wear.

Here are some maternity wearing tips that will help you during your pregnancy:

- Grab a rubber band. For the first few months you can secure your jeans using a rubber band hooked through the eye of your jeans and wrapped around the button. This will give you an extra inch or two of space in the months that you are too small for maternity clothes.

- Invest in a couple of comfy skirts. Long skirts with expandable waists work great in the early months of pregnancy.

Purchase just a few maternity items that you can mix and match. Consider for example a pair of jeans and a pair of slacks, and maybe a few different shirts and accessories that can go with both. If you work in an office environment that is very formal, consider one or two suits that can easily be accessorized or mixed with several different shirts.

Invest in an item or two one size too big. Often you just need a pair of jeans one size larger than normal to get you through the first few months of pregnancy.

Maternity clothes can be expensive, and remember you will only be wearing them for nine months. The good news is many online shops offered discounts on their maternity wear. You might also consider purchasing your maternity wear at a well known second hand shop. If you are a first time mom, you’ll undoubtedly find that many moms try to pawn off their old maternity items on you. This makes it even easier to shop!

Being familiar with HOT SOX, it would actually come as a surprise that the foundation of such a strong company can be associated with Cape Cod. But this is what exactly happened with Ellie Gordon, the founder of the company itself.

The earlier part of the 1970′s saw a lot of hippie culture. Hippies were quite prominent during this time, and they were very present during the Vietnam War, participating in peace marches and such. But during this time, Ellie and her husband, Mark, decided to get away from the disturbance one weekend and visited some friends in Cape Cod.

Ellie and Mark took Ellie’s sister and her husband with them as well. The friends that they visited were actually artists in their own right, profiting quite a lot from tie-dying shirts in the region. At the time, the tie-dyed shirts came with appliqu

The Guinness Storehouse

There is no doubt indeed that a trip to Dublin is, well, not a trip to Dublin unless accompanied by a pint (or three) of the Black Stuff. But as this has been the philosophy of many a tourist before you, how about making that pint a little more original – how about drinking that pint for free, in the highest bar in Dublin, with panoramic views of the city below? Get yourself down to The Guinness Storehouse, at the heart of St. James’s Gate Brewery, and this is exactly what you can do. A tour of the seven storey Guinness homage, built around a glass atrium in the shape of a pint glass, details the ins and outs of the production and history of one of the world’s most iconic drinks, and concludes with a complimentary tipple in Gravity Bar in the pint glass’s head. Expect stunning city views and increasing thirst levels, although bear in mind only the first pint is on the house.

The River Liffey Swim

If the Gravity Bar has left you with a hangover, then what better way to revitalise yourself than with a swim in the River Liffey, which cuts right through the centre of Dublin. This 80 year tradition takes place in August every year, and involves over 400 competitors swimming from Watling Street Bridge to the Custom House. However, turning up with your speedos and a pair of goggles does not necessary mean you’ll be taking the plunge – swimmers have to progress through a qualifying stage before they get to taste the river’s different kind of Black Stuff! But if you’re swimming experience doesn’t stretch further than your 50m badge, then don’t worry, as spectators use the day as an excuse to dress up in ridiculous fancy dress, so you won’t miss out on the fun!

Leopardstown Racecourse

Betting on horses doesn’t always have to mean Wednesday afternoons in the bookies wondering why you’re not in work. In Leapordstown Racecourse, you have a great day out for you and your friends only 15 minutes from Dublin’s city centre, and the summer races are often brilliant for a family evening’s entertainment. If you’re in town in September, then the Irish Champion Stakes is not to missed, as it’s the course’s most important race and attracts trainers from all over the world.

St Michan’s Church

For a more cultural afternoon or if you’re just looking for something to simply scare the children, try St. Michan’s Church. The church’s vault contains preserved bodies, including a 6 foot 6 crusader, a nun, and, oddly, a body with its arms and feet severed. The church itself was originally built 1095 but today mainly consists of a 1686 rebuild, so if mummified Irish people aren’t your thing, then the unusual carvings and magnificent organ will be more than enough to keep you entertained. A well worth visit for anybody looking for a little history without boring the rest of the family to tears, although the tour of the vaults can never be guaranteed to be tear free.

Temple Bar

The Temple Bar area of Dublin is the city’s cultural focus, and retains its medieval cobbled streets to make it a tourist hotspot. By the day, you may like to try one of the food, fashion or book markets which take place on most weekends, and it is also the location of a number of Irish cultural organisations, such as the Irish Photography Centre and the Irish Film Institute. By night, the area is transformed into a lively array of bars and clubs, amongst which is the imaginatively named Temple Bar, and is often considered the best place to go for an authentic Irish night out. A great place for a pint once you finally get the children in bed after a day at St. Michans.

Croke Park

Not only is Croke Park the sixth largest stadium in Europe, it is also the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, hence is a must see on your trip. Each year it plays host to the finals of the Gaelic Football and Hurling championships, and houses the GAA Museum, which details the history of the GAA movement and its effects as a nationalist symbol. Games of Rugby Union and Association Football were actually outlawed in fear of corrupting the dominance of the traditionally Irish sports, and only as recently as 2007 were the two sports welcomed into ‘Croker’ as it is informally known, such is the level of patriotism that comes with Croke Park and the GAA in general. Definitely worth a visit for anyone remotely interested in sport, or Ireland’s culture itself, and a great place to pick up your fridge-magnet-type souvenirs.

Trinity College

Situated in the heart of the city, Trinity college is Ireland’s most famous educational institute. It is also conveniently steeped in history, meaning you can go back to your third consecutive night on the Guinness satisfied that you have at least satisfied your cultural taste buds for the day. Tourists come from all over to see the picturesque cobbled quads and the Old Library, in which is housed the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript containing the four gospels of the New Testament. In Latin. So there. And what’s more, previous students of the college include Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde, so you’re safe in the knowledge that wiser people than you have proceeded your footsteps.

George’s Street Arcade

If you’re looking for a side to Dublin not seen in the weekend break brochure, then after Temple Bar, try George’s Street Arcade. Housed in a compact Victorian building, the Arcade is a bazaar of stalls and shops to cater for the more bohemian side of your character. And if you don’t have a bohemian side, then visit George’s Street and you soon will. Fine wines, exotic jewellery and completely originally souvenirs all make for an intriguing day’s shopping, with a range of cafes allowing you to sit back and soak in the sights from the trendy to the outright unusual when your legs get tired.

Horseback riding

Despite its distinct metropolitan feel, Dublin does boast an impressive array of scenery, and there is no better way to experience it than on horseback. For the experienced rider, Calliaghstown Riding Centre in South Dublin provides heroic 5 day treks through the Wicklow mountains which will definitely test your fitness / patience / will to survive, and for the less experienced or even the first timer, places such as the highly recommended Paddocks Riding Centre will provide basic tuition and equipment, match you up with the right horse, and take you out through some of thee often breathtaking coastal and mountainous scenery.

St Patrick’s Day

This one probably needs no explanation, but should you find yourself in Dublin on March 17th, then be sure to have some form of green clothing in your suitcase and your ‘drinking head’ on, because the St Patrick’s day parade is something definitely worth being a part of. And although technically it is the one day and the one day only which is the public holiday, the five day carnival of street parades and fireworks tends not to acknowledge this minor issue, so if you’re in town for the week, prepare for a real party. In recent years as many as half a million people have witnessed the festival, so where St. George’s day may come and go with a whimper in the UK, the Irish certainly do not let their patriotism go unnoticed. And bring your wallet, because as another one of them will tell you as you pay for their Guinness, ‘everyone’s Irish on March 17th’.

Article by Half Price Tour Tickets

Where to Stay. Another great family activity in Miami, Florida, is the Miami Seaquarium. Make sure you leave at least three hours to tour the Seaquarium. It contains 35 acres of Oceanarium. This includes a dolphin encounter that allows visitors to touch and swim with the dolphins in the Flipper Lagoon. Advanced reservations are required to participate in the dolphin encounter. Miami Seaquarium hotels are nearby for added convenience. What a fun way to spend the afternoon! This was pretty much the highlight of our whole day at these Miami attractions. I had never seen a killer whale in person before and it was probably the most impressive thing I have ever seen. Their intelligence is something that you have to see to believe. And their beautiful shiny black and white skin is just breathtaking. The absolute contrast of their skin color makes them look like living computer graphics models.

Hotels On South Beach, Tours Of Miami and Miami to Key West – Where Do I Find Them. Villa and apartment rentals in Miami are sure to cater for your requirements perfectly in a destination where an atmosphere of peace can be found as easily as a sense of cosmopolitan vibrancy. Spanish Monastery: When you visit the place, you might get many options of Miami guided tour. History Miami also offers a tour which is very special. You can not only take a look and appreciate the natural scenic beauty of Miami but you can also hear the history of the amazing locations at the same time. If you haven’t booked your holidays to Orlando look for the last minute holidays to Orlando and are ready to enjoy adventurous vacations.

Theme parks are old now just try something new in your next holidays to Orlando. Tour To Miami, Tours Of Miami and Miami Attractions – Places to Visit. The Panhandle Region of Florida has a great deal to view and do in this western stretch of land down the top of the Gulf of United Mexican states. Travel the state capital of Tallahassee, as well as drive on the Christopher Columbus. Transcontinental Highway that is a component of I-10 east-west from Jacksonville, FL to Santa Monica, CA. Generally there tend to be several significant martial bases in the Panhandle Region, including the Naval Air Post at Pensacola.

Some other popular and famous vacation and winter destinations in this region are Fort Walton Beach, and also Town. Not everyone enjoys fishing, but that shouldn’t keep the avid fisherman from enjoying the sport. Marco Island offers plenty of entertainment to keep anyone busy. In fact there’s so much to do that you’ll be encouraging the one fly fishing in Naples, FL to charter some more fishing trips so you have more island time! Discover Lifestyle and Amusement. Some trips are designed to offer readers discovery of all four major environments that are within the Everglades. These include the cypress swamps, the mangrove estuary, the pine savannah and the saw grass prairie.

Drinking alcohol and drugs before pregnancy

For recent years we knew a lot about taking and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Some people ask about quantity of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs they can take during pregnancy without doing harm to themselves and fetus. The best way is to exclude everything.

And it is better to do it before pregnancy. By the time when you understand you’re pregnant, about 8-10 weeks may pass after conception. Thus, you could take drugs, not knowing that you were pregnant. However, mother’s ignorance will not save fetus from various harmful effects. Few of women would start taking alcohol and drugs, if they knew about their pregnancy. Stop taking any preparations, not necessary for you, at least 3 moths before pregnancy!

In past we knew little about abuse of alcohol. Today doctors-experts in narcology can already give recommendations and prescribe treatment for those, who became addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Undoubtedly, nicotine, alcohol and drugs are harmful and dangerous both for you and your future baby. It is better to get assistance now, while you have not conceived a baby yet, than struggling with these habits, when you are already pregnant. If you think you will do no harm to anybody, continuing taking substances, poisoning organism, during pregnancy, then you are just mistaken. Moreover, you bring irreparable damage to your baby’s health.

According to researches, and you should remember of it, taking alcohol and drugs during pregnancy influences baby’s intellect, his mental faculties. And safe quantity of taking of such substances is out of the question.

Smoking

We knew for a long that smoking damages pregnancy and fetus development. Babies, whose mother smoked during pregnancy, have low weight while childbirth and developmental delays. A woman’s pregnancy seldom passes all right, if she’s still smoking. If you smoke, but want to have a baby, you need to quit this habit, and do it beforehand – before conception. Consult a doctor, he will help you quitting nicotine addiction.

Alcohol

Earlier it was considered that small quantity of alcohol during pregnancy will do no harm. Today we understand that any quantity of alcohol you drink during pregnancy will bring inevitable consequences. Alcohol penetrates through placenta and effects fetus directly. If you drank a glass of wine, this means your future baby drank it too! How would you like it? Abuse of alcohol during pregnancy leads to alcohol syndrome of a fetus.

Work and pregnancy

One of the most important moments in planning of pregnancy is your work. Many women don’t even suppose that that will have a baby, even by the time, when first stages of pregnancy are already behind. As this period of pregnancy is extremely important for fetus growth and development, it would be wise to plan pregnancy beforehand. Such planning should foresee the way your work will influence pregnancy, i.e. what you will have to deal with on work and which influence it will make on your health and baby’s development.

Another question, connected with work, which you should care about beforehand, – is compensatory damage and insurance, which your company’s program of help for mothers grants. Majority of companies grant special vacations for pregnant. There is sense in learning everything before pregnancy. If you don’t take care about this beforehand, then, when you will be already with a baby in your hands, it will be more difficult for you to find necessary money for providing normal life. Childbirth is an expensive pleasure.

Some kinds of works can be dangerous and harmful for pregnant. Such substances, like chemicals, inhalers, radio-active substances or liquid dissolvents, which you have to deal with on work, can become a reason of complications during pregnancy.

Women, who are standing for the major part of their working day, should be especially careful. As a rule, they give birth to babies with low height and weight. If you had premature birth in past or you have lack of cervix, then you should not get fixed up in a job, which requires constant tension or connected with physical loads. Consult your doctor about conditions of your work.

Majority of doctors will advice you not to quit working without special reasons. If there is something that worries you, speak to your doctor about it.

It isn’t just an old wives tale. Some women (curse them) really do get that glow. What is it from, you ask? When you’re pregnant, your body produces 50% more blood; this increased blood flowing through your body tends to brighten your face. Your body also produces more hormones that can cause you to create more oils which will leave your face shinier. Put these together and you have a wonderful, luminescent glow. Not fair for those of us who just end up with acne. Here are some tips I wish I would have known when I was pregnant to get that glow:

Drink Lots of Water

Water is good for you for so many reasons, one of those being your skin. Drinking an adamant amount of water will hydrate your skin and create a fresh look for your face. You should be drinking in-between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day anyway’s – that’s about two quarts. If plain water doesn’t tantalize your taste buds, try sparkling water or squeeze a little fruit juice for added flavor.

Shimmer

The perfect complement to pregnant skin, shimmers will definitely boost that expecting glow. Use on brows, cheekbones and eyelids.

Bronzer or Blush

Get a touch of sun anytime! Sheer, silky-light bronzer powders can deliver a healthy-looking glow during any season. Sweep on the cheeks, nose, and chin, were the sun naturally hits your face. Don’t overdo it or else you’ll look like you spent too long in the tanning bed. Bronzer should enhance your natural beauty, not dominate your complexion.

To find the right shade of blush, choose a shade that matches the color of your cheeks when they are flushed after being exposed to cold temperatures or after doing physical activities. When using blush, it’s important to apply it to the right area of your face. Blush is supposed to be applied to the “apples” of the cheeks. To find the apples of your cheeks, look in a mirror and smile. After dabbing your brush or applicator with some color, use gentle, sweeping motions starting at the center of your apple, and move up and outwards towards the corner of your eye and up to the temple.

Sunscreen

Make sure to put sunscreen on every morning before applying your makeup. Even during the winter months, the sun’s damaging UV rays can dry your skin, cause premature aging, break down cells and even cause cancer. Many facial creams contain sunscreen, so apply it faithfully.

Moisturize

Even if your skin becomes oilier during pregnancy, don’t skip your daily moisturizer. It’s important to keep your skin soft and moisturized. Try a good water-based moisturizer that will minimize the oil and won’t clog your pores, but will still keep your skin nourished.

Get Enough Sleep

The discomfort of later pregnancy can keep you from a good night’s sleep. To relax you and help you sleep, try getting a prenatal massage; or better yet, have your partner give you a nice back rub or foot massage just before bed.

Foundation

If your skin is breaking out or just oily switching to a foundation for oily skin or using loose powder mineral makeup can help. Both have oil-blotting properties and won’t irritate skin with acne.
You can also use a mattifying product underneath your makeup to soak up excess oil, or dab your face with blotting papers during the day to help remove excess oil.

Article by Half Price Tour Tickets

Everglades Adventures and Airboat Ride, For only (when reserved online) you can complete the whole tour including “Transportation “Park Entrance “Wildlife Show for more information please once you get to Key West you notice, huge difference from people in Miami and people at the Key West, people that live there, they don’t care much about possessions and appearance (brand clothing, watches, luxury cars, etc.) compared to Miami Beach, where it is all about “looks”.

You get to see materialistic people but just because most of them are tourists. This makes Key West special, and makes you feel like that too. The Best Hotels In Miami, Miami Everglades tours and Everglades Tours and Creative Ideas. While in Miami Beach, I had a great time overall, but still think it was a bad idea going on memorial weekend, it was over packed and too crowded on the streets on the clubs on the beach. As an effort to go away from this craziness I booked to the Key West for Memorial weekend (2011) using Half Price Tour Tickets website, online prices are a lot cheaper than everywhere else for the trip from Miami to Key West, and got free pick up from hotel, paid and it was worth every penny.

Out of 10 they got 8. South Beach: South Beaches was home to the world’s elite celebrities. It is famous for run ways and night clubs. This beach is located at the southern tip of Miami, and is a Great place to watch cruise ships sailing out to sea for those taking cheap Miami flights. Crandon Park Beach and No trip to this area will be complete without visiting Crandon Park Beach. This is a great place for children and parents. The sun is perfect for getting that nice tan and there is even an amusement park for the children. This beach is nesting amongst the top ten beaches in the United States.

You will also find a nature park and a wide range of concession stands. You will even have the chance to go surfing and kayaking. Island in Miami, Miami Everglades tours and Miami Tours and Romantic Things to Do, Whether visiting South Florida during a major racing event or not, the Homestead-Miami Speedway is a great attraction for you and the family. On a Friday night, race your car, check out the auto-show, or even watch others racing! You never know, you may even end up watching a future NASCAR champion in action!

You need to validate the credential of the limousine services company prior to deciding to employ the service of one. I would recommend you to rent a limo three to four days prior to when you will get to the city, or do the necessary groundwork when hiring a limo. Avoid “will hire any once I leave the airport” attitude.

It could cost you a whole lot, and when i state cost, I don’t suggest economic cost only. A vibrant nightlife is not only that makes Miami famous. Actually, there is much more. Explore the unknown, unseen attractions with Cheap Miami Holidays. There are countless places to visit and things to do in Miami.

Not that many years ago, being pregnant meant forgoing all sense of fashion, forgetting sexiness, and simply finding a way to cover up your pregnancy in any way possible. Sweatpants, oversized t-shirts, and any larger sized men’s clothing were seen on pregnant women everywhere…and expected! Luckily for us, those times have passed. Being pregnant is now seen as a chance to show off one of life’s greatest moments, and the enormous variety of maternity fashion available demonstrates this.

Instead of hiding pregnancies, maternity fashion embraces it with flattering cuts and the latest styles, while managing to combine comfort and fashion. From dark jeans to cute tanks to sexy cocktail dresses, maternity fashion makes sure you are set for everything from everyday wear to that special New Year’s party. Know what to look for, and you will love the clothes designed especially for you during this special time in your life.

Everyone needs that perfect little black dress, LBD, and expectant mothers are no different. One of my all time favorite LBDs is the Maternal America Satin Border Dress, which is both flattering and comfortable. With an empire waist and gentle pleating, this dress is figure flattering. The wide satin band at the bottom allows this dress to be taken from day to evening wear and has the versatility of being worn to work or for an evening on the town. Another one of my favorite LBDs is the Beaded Neck Cocktail Dress from Olian Maternity. This dress is gorgeous, with a detailed beaded neckline and elegant pleating which drapes nicely over your body. Both these dresses are so fashionable that you will want to keep wearing them long after your baby is born!

Another wardrobe essential is a great pair of jeans, since they can be worn throughout the day or dressed up in the evening. The Megan Jean from Maternal America is a best seller and very flattering with a flare cut and stone wash. The wide stretchy waist band provides comfort and allows room for your belly to grow. Maternal America’s Pintuck Jean is also a great choice. A front stitched crease is very slimming, as it elongates the line of the leg. With the great stretchy waistband and flare cut, these are sure to become a favorite. Pair jeans with a basic white tea, a cute blouse, or a chunky sweater, and you are guaranteed a fashionable yet comfortable outfit.

A basic t-shirt or tank is very important to any wardrobe, as it can be used in several different ways. Great by itself in the warmer months or for layering during the cooler months, a few great t-shirts are essential to every wardrobe. The Maternity Baby Tee from Shade Maternity Clothing is a basic essential t-shirt every wardrobe needs. Seamless and soft, it looks great paired with anything from jeans to a skirt to your sweats. When looking for a tank, one of my favorites is Bella Band Essentials’ Everyday Cami. Ultra-soft and with an extra long cut, this seamless tank will keep you covered and comfortable throughout all stages of your pregnancy. Great for layering, you will want to keep wearing this tank long after your baby is born. Coming in a variety of basic colors, it’s a great staple to stock up on.

A final necessity in every wardrobe is a versatile top or blouse that can be worn from a lunch date or to the office and then to an evening out. A favorite of mine is the Jersey Cross Over Maternity/Nursing Top from Japanese Weekend. A flattering cut and a variety of gorgeous colors make this top both versatile and incredibly figure flattering. It looks great paired with jeans or a skirt! The Maternal America Mock Cami Maternity/Nursing Top is another great everyday option. The deep v-neck with a mock cami and empire waist cut is incredibly flattering. I love this look paired with dark jeans and ballet flats!

Overall, your pregnancy is a time to experiment with the fashion created just for you. At the cutting edge of all styles, maternity fashion combines comfort and style to make you look and feel your best. Pepper your wardrobe with a few basic essentials, and you will look and feel great throughout your pregnancy.

Being pregnant is one of the happiest moments in a woman’s life. But it is very important for a pregnant woman to take care of herself. She should always go for paying a visit to the doctor regularly and abide by the rules and prescription of the doctor. If you are pregnant you should never smoke and take any food that is injurious to your health. You should take a very good care of your unborn baby. The health of the pregnant woman is directly related to the health of the baby. So, let us have a look at some of the important

Pregnancy tips.

1. Stop smoking and drinking. Smoking and drinking are injurious to health and moreover when you are pregnant you need to quit all these bad habits. It has an adverse effect for the unborn baby.
2. A pregnant woman has to exercise regularly in order to keep herself fit. Exercise allows more air to enter the body. This in turns helps the baby to develop quickly.
3. Eating habit has to be re-examined and a very good diet has to taken and the intake of fibers should be increased in the diet. This is very important because the baby can be healthy only when the mother is healthy.
4. The intake of caffeine should be minimized and it is very important to drink plenty of water.

Knowing pregnancy
Pregnancy is not visible in the first two months but gets developed as time passes. Development in the pregnancy week by week makes a person know that she is pregnant. You can know about your pregnancy gradually. During the first four week the zygote fertilizes egg and thus it can be called as the start of pregnancy. From the fifth to the eighth week there are signs of pregnancy which can be known through medical tests.

Body size expands
After the eighth week the size of the body expands and the baby’s bone start strengthening. Then the growth of the body starts and thus the baby rows its head. During the thirty third and thirty sixth week the baby gains some extra weight and almost all the major organs get developed.. After the fortieth week the baby is born with all the organs well developed to survive in the world. Now the baby can respire on his/her own and take the air in the environment. If you maintain a pregnancy calendar you will be able to find out the correct time of delivery and the correct date. You can go for consulting your doctor and have a timely check up.

Pregnancy diet
The diet during pregnancy has to be very specific and the intake of the fatty acids should be increased so that the need of the fatty acid is fulfilled. The diet is one of the important factors for a pregnant woman. Moreover the intake of the fibrous food should also be increased in the diet so that the pregnant woman gets enough fibre. During pregnancy you should drink lots of water so that any impurities get washed away and the child is not at all hampered.

Yesterday my bestie A and I were discussing one of our favourite early 90′s Vogue fashion spreads featuring one of our choice supermodels, Helena Christensen as a Spanish beauty with a travelling, gypsy caravan. The fashion was heavily influenced by Andalucia Spain with fiery red, tiered, flamenco dresses, intricately woven scarves, brocade fans and headpieces. Funny how we both remember it so vividly. I am obsessed with everything Spanish – I keep conversational cd’s in the car to practice, I coerce friends into Spanish vacations whenever possible, I am definitely taking flamenco lessons this Fall and I am investing in a black and red polka dot skirt so I can channel my inner Andalucian gypsy.

For travellers to Seville, no journey is complete without the viewing of a traditional flamenco show. Although I have been to Spain a few times, I have yet to enjoy the pleasure of participating in this long standing tradition. Teardrop. Fortunately, I have watched Vida (a Cuban flamenco troupe) and a shirtless, tight spandex-pant wearing Joaquin Cortes when they performed in the city. I could barely sit still. I wanted to hop on stage.

The origin of the Flamenco actually stems from the Indian Hindus who were brought over to entertain the royal courts with their beautiful ancient dances. Through the years, the dance form integrated influences of the Moorish and gypsies from Persia and Pakistan. Flamenco as it is known today is danced with passion, graceful precision, stacatto footwork and fluid hand movements. Live shows often include Spanish guitar accompaniment and the use of castanets (to accent the finger snapping).

From Andalucia.com, “There is widely held belief that you cannot learn the flamenco and that it is a secret held in the hearts of gypsies.” The most spontaneous and purest dance is the one that comes from your heart. So true.

Here are some Flamenco Links to keep your toes tapping and your dancing soul lit with passion! Ole!

Listen to your heartbeat – You’ve always had rhythm and felt bohemian. Take a dance class with Esmerelda Enrique who offers flamenco, technique and spanish guitar classes throughout the year in Toronto.

Better yet, go to where it all started – Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Seville. Bring me back a flamenco skirt will you? I am always supportive of travellers. Love Spain as much as I do!