New Haircuts to Get You Excited for Fall

She looked amazing. Every time he saw her was another kick in the gut. 

“You cut your hair.”

“Yeah.” She lifted her hand to the short cap 

with long, spiky bangs. “I had some time,

and it was driving me crazy. What do you think?”

“It looks good on you.” Everything did. 

It set off those smoky eyes that matched the

smoky voice.

The Perfect Hope

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OK, so the back-to-school blues may be no fun, but there’s no denying that there’s something so invigorating about the fall. The air turns crisp, the leaves change color, you bust out the cozy scarves, and pumpkin spice everything. And what better way to mark this fresh start than with a new fall haircut? Not only is it an easy way to change up your look, but it’s also a great opportunity to snip off dead ends and undo any summer-induced damage that’s taken a toll on your tresses.

Real Simple

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"I'm getting my hair cut."

"Going all the way to Jackson for a haircut?" Fist loyalty had him frowning. 

"We've got the Curry Comb right here in town."

The Curry Comb was a two-chair establishment that ran to buzz cuts and poodle perms. 

But Reece smiled a little as she passed him the sugar bowl.

Angels Fall

What happens to your body when you cry?

“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“I cry easily. You should see me after a greeting-card commercial on TV.”

All I want for Christmas

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By Rob from Sydney, Australia - Tears, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10289118

Whether triggered by sad movies or happy reunions, 

stubbed toes or allergies, 

crying seems to serve many purposes.

MNN

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He brushed the hair back from her face. "You've got a right to break

down. I don't know anyone else who'd have made it this far without a blowout.

But don't cry anymore, M.J. It rips me up."

"I hate to cry." She sniffled, knuckled tears away.

"I'm glad to hear it."

Captive Star

Guaranteeing a second date while on a first date

“This is all ammunition, Cart. All ammo. You want to be able to order a nice bottle of wine. 

Oh, and after dinner, if she says how she doesn’t want dessert, you suggest 

she pick one and you’ll split it. Women love that. Sharing dessert’s sexy.”

Vision in White

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By Morgan - originally posted to Flickr as Cheesecake, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10226856

Couples on Channel 4's First Dates were analysed, with some interesting findings

Mirror

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She smiled. “Look how cute you are in your smarty-pants. Now why don’t you order dessert, 

so I can pretend to be self-righteous and not—then eat half of yours?”

They lingered. She’d forgotten what it was like to have a meal with a man she could have

long, twisty conversation with. One who listened, who paid attention—whether or not 

he was thinking about the possible bonus round at the end of the evening.

He made her think, she realized. And entertained her. 

Vision in White

Saint Christopher Medal

Althea shifted, crossed her legs with a rustle of silk. The silver dangling over his shirt 

was a Saint Christopher medal, she noted. The patron saint of travelers. 

She wondered if Mr. Nightshade felt the need for spiritual protection.

Nightshade

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By UsnGMan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18081774

The Catholic Church honors medals as a form of religious protection. These medals often represent one of our many beloved saints, one of which is of Saint Christopher. The Saint Christopher Medal is one of the most popular around the world because of his significance in the Catholic faith.

The Saint Christopher medal is believed to protect the wearer on his or her travels. For this reason, many people wear Saint Christopher pendants around their necks, on their wrists, and some even hang the medals in their cars!

Who is Saint Christopher?

McVan Blog

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There was the usual pile of loose change on the dresser, along with a

Saint Christopher’s medal. She remembered the gris-gris in his glove

compartment and wondered how many other bases he’d covered.

Heaven and Earth

Spring Flowers in Winter?

She'd take cuttings and root them, 

force bulbs so that she could have

spring any time of year she liked.

Born in Ice

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By https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/ - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/384732136, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17076396

Bring spring indoors early for winter color and fragrance

After all the Christmas decorations are packed away the house looks drab. So instead of letting the winter blues kick in, we make our rooms warm and inviting with flowers. We force the usual amaryllis, paperwhites, and tulip bulbs, but we also force branches into bloom to add even more color and fragrance to our suddenly quiet home. It is very satisfying to sit in our breakfast room early in the morning and observe the daily progress of forsythia buds as they swell and burst open. We cannot think of a more economical way to raise our spirits.

Fine Gardening

How to force Bulbs?

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“My mom goes for tulips.

She—what do you call it—

forces the bulbs in little glass jars 

every winter.”

Heaven and Earth

Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

“I’m not as tidy as you.”
“Tidy’s such a fussy word, don’t you think?” He gave her an easy smile. 
“The sort that makes you think of your great-aunt Margaret and her tea cozies.”
“I don’t have a great-aunt Margaret.”
“If you did, she’d probably be a tidy sort with a tea cozy. I prefer the word organized.”


Vision in White

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You might recognize her name from her highly-popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. See how she will help clients “spark joy” as they declutter and organize their homes.

Better Homes & Gardens

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“Confused by closet organizers, I figured why not consult an architect?”
“You want an architect—a man—Jack—to organize your closet?”
“No, to give me a vision of what to use to organize it.”
Emma gave Mac a dubious look. “You’ve now entered Parker territory.”
“Maybe, but have you seen her closet? It’s like a layout in a magazine. It’s like 
what the Queen of England probably has. Without all the odd hats. 
Jack! Just the man I wanted to see.”
He stood in the doorway, tall, clad in jeans, work shirt, and boots—and very male. 
“I don’t want to come in there. You’re not supposed to touch anything at a crime scene.”
“The only crime here is that.” She pointed at her closet. 
“An empty closet with one stupid bar and shelf. You have to help me.”
“I told you we needed to design the closet when we altered the space.”
“I was in a hurry back then. Now I’m not. I know I need at least two bars, right—a lower one. 
And more shelves. Maybe some drawers.”
He glanced around. “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”
“I’m purging. Don’t start with me.”
He walked in, hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Roomy.”
“Yes, which is part of the problem. All that room, I’ve felt obliged to fill it. 
You can make it better.”
“Sure I can make it better. A kit from Home Depot would make it better.”
“I’ve looked at them. I want something more . . . More.”


Vision in White

👠 Girls Night In

“Clare,” Avery said as Clare walked to the door. “Saturday, I’ll bring a second bottle of

wine, something gooey for dessert. And my pj’s.”

“Even better. Who needs a man when you’ve got a best girl pal?”

Clare laughed as Avery shot a hand in the air.

The Next Always

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Slip into holiday PJs and enjoy a relaxing night with friends

By Purple Sherbet Photography from Worldwide! - 

Sharing love and happiness makes life more beautiful (CC), CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34945117

Lifetime 14 New Christmas Movies

Lifetime just announced their official holiday movie schedule and we can’t wait to watch them all. See the official schedule and start planning your Christmas movie marathons!

Better Homes & Gardens

Hallmark Just Announced All 36 New Holiday Films 

Get your coziest blankets and most festive cocoa mugs ready because Hallmark just announced the official schedule of all 36 new Christmas movie premieres (a record-breaking number of new flicks!) and we are totally ready to watch them all!

Better Homes & Gardens

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“In that case, how about lending me a pair of pajamas?”

“Why don’t you put that in the oven on low, and we’ll both get some pajamas.”

“Deal. I feel like a chick flick. Do you feel like a chick flick? Dinner and a movie?”

“Sounds really good actually.”

Vision in White

Truth Behind the “Perfect” Shot

“We’re going to do even better. Let’s try a few in that same pose.”

Warming up now, Mac noted as she chatted Rosa up along with Emma. She tossed in quick directions. Tilt your head to the right, shift your shoulders. Halfway through she handed Rosa one of Emma’s long-stems, tried shots with the flower as a prop.

Vision in White

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By Cary Tse - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the 

Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71783389

Brazilian photographer Gilmar Silva put his career on a whole new level when he pulled back the curtain and let the public in on how professional photographers get the shots they're after. His series LUGARxFOTO is an ongoing look at how Silva makes magic right on site, using assistants and simple props to help him deliver the highest quality portrait to his clients.

MY MODERN MET

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“What did she think?”

“She cried. In a good way. Must be a hormone thing. Tears just started rolling down her cheeks and scared the shit out of me. Then she said the best thing.” Mac paused, letting the memory glow inside her. “She said she was never going to think of herself as big and clumsy because she was magnificent.”

“Oh.”

“I know. I got teary myself. She wanted to order right then and there. I had to put her off until I tweak a little.”

Vision in White

Knowing someone is attracted to you really DOES make them more desirable

“Not to me. You were bright, vivid, confident.” Still are, he thought. Just look at you. “I feel like an idiot telling you this, but I keep tripping over it. I’m clumsy enough without putting up my own stumbling blocks. So, well. There.”
“Would the kiss the other night be the result of that old crush?”
“I’d have to say it played a part. It was all so surreal.”
She scooted forward again to pick up her coffee. “Neither one of us are who we were in high school.”
“God, I hope not. I was a mess back then.”
“Who wasn’t? You know, Carter, most guys would’ve used that high-school crush bit as a pickup ploy, or kept it locked away. It interests me, you interest me, because you did neither. Are you always so forthright over coffee dates?”
“I don’t know. You’re the only one I ever had a crush on.”
“Oh boy.”
“And that was stupid.” Flustered again, he raked his fingers through his hair. “Now I’ve scared you. That sounded scary and obsessive, like I have an altar somewhere with your pictures over it where I light candles and chant your name. Jesus, that’s even scarier. Run now. I won’t hold it against you.”
She burst out laughing, had to set her coffee back down before she sloshed it over the rim. “I’ll stay if you swear you don’t have the altar.”
“I don’t.” He swiped his finger in an X over his heart. “If you’re staying because you pity me, or because you really like the coffee, it works.”
“It is really good coffee.” She drank again. “It’s not pity, but I’m not sure what it is. You’re an interesting man, and you helped me out when I needed it. You give really good kiss. Why not have coffee?” 


Vision in White

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By Yeshi Kangrang omgitsyeshi - https://unsplash.com/photos/lrg2KrRiNbo, CC0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61725617

People feel more sexual desire when they feel confident about partner's interest

DAILYMAIL

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“He had a crush on me in high school. What kind of man tells
you that? Puts the power in your hands that way?”



Vision in White 

Sometimes, a cat just walks into your life and asks to be saved

She started to crouch, then stopped, angling her head.
“You have a cat with three legs.”
“Triad. He was hit by a car.”
“Oh, poor baby!” Instantly, she was down on the floor,
stroking and scratching the delighted cat.
“It had to be awful for both of you. Thank God you were home.”
“No, actually I was driving home from school. They—the car in front of me hit him, and just kept going. I don’t understand how anybody could do that.
When I pulled over, I thought he’d be dead, but he was lying there, in shock, I guess. The vet couldn’t save the leg, but he does okay.”
Mac continued to stroke the cat down his length as she stared at Carter. “I bet he does.”


Vision in White 

________________

By No machine-readable author provided. Maxo assumed (based on copyright claims). - 

No machine-readable source provided. 

Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=296512

Bonds between humans and animals often begin with a need and a desire to help. 

mother nature network

________________

“So the three-legged cat could be a metaphor for his wounded soul, 
and his determination to live with the scars.”
“That’s good. You’d get an A.”


Vision in White

Winter Bird Photos

A movement caught her eye, and as she turned to follow it she saw the cardinal take its perch on the snow-covered branch of a maple. It sat, a single spot of vivid red, and sang. Mac crouched, zoomed in rather than risk going closer and losing the shot. Was it the same bird who’d smacked into her kitchen window? she wondered. If so, he certainly seemed undamaged and unruffled as he sat like a single flame on the white-laced branch. She caught the moment then, taking three shots in rapid succession, slight changes in angles that coated her jeans with snow as she inched left. Then the bird took wing, swooped over the frozen sea, through the bright light, and was gone. Emmaline, beautiful Emmaline in her old navy coat, white cap and scarf trudged toward her through the snow. 

“I wondered how long I’d have to stand there until you finished or the damn bird took off. It’s cold out here.”

Vision in White 

_____________________

As temperatures dip, look no further than your backyard 

to see how full of life this blustery season truly is.

BIRDS & BLOOMS

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He opened it carefully, peeling up the tape and flapped ends. And took out the photograph matted in a simple black frame. Against the black and white of snow and winter trees, the cardinal sat like a living flame. 

“It’s wonderful.” 

“It’s nice.” She studied it with him. “One of those lucky breaks. I took it early yesterday morning. It’s no bellycrested whopado, but it’s our bird, after all.” 

Vision in White

Celebrate your first Valentine’s Day

She leaned in to kiss him. 

“People in my business tend to work on Valentine’s Day.” 

“Understood.” 

“I’ll send you a schmaltzy, sloppy e-card. And I got you something. Major step for me, as it’s my first Valentine’s Day gift.”

Vision in White

________________

The first Valentine’s Day you share with your new sweetie is always the hardest. Do you make it a big deal or treat it like nothing special? What kind of gift is appropriate?

We’ve got you covered — here are some ideas for you and your boyfriend to have a great first Valentine’s Day together.

SHE KNOWS

Valentine's Day Gifts For Someone Who Hates This Holiday With A Passion

“But you didn’t have to bring me flowers. I don’t really go  in for the whole Valentine’s gig.” 

“Yeah, crass commercialism and blah, blah. So what?” 

He made her laugh, and she stopped feeling silly.

Heaven and Earth

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By Marco Verch - Heart shape foil wrapped chocolate, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57307153

If you really want to shower this person with love, figuring out the perfect gift for any hater starts with a simple question: Why do they hate Valentine's Day? Now, you have something personal to work with. There are so many reasons to dislike the festival of love: outrageous consumerism, corny quotes, high pressure, a reminder that you're forever alone...

Get to the root of why this person hates Valentine's Day and you'll be able to pick out a gift that they can actually use, with some real sentiment to back it up.

ELITE DAILY

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And there were the tulips, the charming explosion of them, taking over her  dresser. The air was sweet with them. 

“Valentine’s Day’s just a racket,” she said out loud, then gave up. 

“But it  really works.”

Heaven and Earth

Valentine's Day Love Stories

But it was Mac who walked in,  behind what looked to be most of Holland’s supply of tulips. “What’re you doing, going into the florist business?” 

“No.” 

He crossed to her, held out the rainbow of spring flowers. 

“Happy  Valentine’s Day.” 

“Oh, well. Wow.” 

Even as her heart went soft as putty, her stomach jumped. “Um.” 

“You say thanks, and kiss me now,” Mac told her helpfully. 

“Thanks.”

Heaven and Earth

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By Public domain image released on German CD "Chip Foto-Video 09-2005
"Original image from http://www.bildtankstelle.de, 
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=815645

19 True Valentine's Day Love Stories

MSN