Archive for June, 2010
What do you get the girl that has everything? It’s a question, well, more an ironic question, that’s been asked for centuries. What are you supposed to get a woman who is graduating high school? I know that high school graduation gifts haven’t really been in style in recent years, but I feel like, as she is the daughter of a close friend, I should get her something that would be useful and not just go the typical gift card route.
With my friend’s daughter planning to go to medical school during her college career, I thought that I should get her something that she might need for her medical studies. After lying in bed for a while trying to figure out what to get her it finally hit me: a women’s lab coat. It made perfect sense: every doctor needs a lab coat, right? What I didn’t know, though, is that there are a lot more to buying a lab coat then I first imagined.
First thing you need to understand about lab coats is that not all are created equal. Think about it: a lab coat is more than just a part of a doctor or nurses’ clothing ensemble, it is a function piece of their medical arsenal. Since a lab coat might be worn for up to 12 hours a day you need something that is not only comfortable, but also has a fit that will not inhibit or limit any movements or procedures. They need to be light and breathable, while being strong enough to stand up to dirt, stains, and, in a lot of cases, medical waste. It needs pockets that can hold pens, paper and equipment and stitching that will stand up to extended use. Yes, these are all things you have to consider when buying a lab coat, which is why it took me nearly a week to find the right one.
While there are a lot of lab coat makers who offer decent products at an ok price, you really must look at a lab coat as more of an investment then a quick purchase. While it cost more than, say, a bouquet of flowers or a Target gift card, the lab coat which I decided on should last her through at least her college years. Plus, because it is custom fit, it’s more personal than just about anything else you can buy a grad.
Upon receiving her gift, I got a long, detailed thank you card from her. She thanked me for thinking outside the box and getting her something that she truly needed. She recently wore it for the first time during a lab assignment and raved about how well it fit. I think all my hard work paid off.
Author Kim Green feels that a women’s lab coat is the perfect gift for a students who longs to attend medical school.
What exactly do you get someone who is graduating high school? This is the challenge I faced a few weeks ago when a close friend’s son was graduating high school. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but when I was in high school a graduation gift was very important. I remember everyone in my life either getting me a small gift or a monetary reward in celebration of my graduation. Not that I felt like I necessarily need it, it was just nice to get some recognition for all my hard work.
Now-a-days the graduation gift is not as popular. While most people settle on a card and possibly a small check, I felt like I should go the extra mile for someone who I felt has always been kind of a son to me. Heck, he used to sleep over with my kids and play on the same sports teams. Because of this I wanted to get him something he would need, something that he could use in college. Since he was going to study medicine I decided that I would take the plunge and buy him a personalized lab coat as a graduation gift.
The first thing you need to know about buying a lab coat is that it’s a lot more involved a process then you might think. When the average person thinks of a lab coat they think of this white overcoat that is more of a uniform then a functional piece of a doctor’s medical arsenal. The truth is a good lab coat is much more of a personalized piece of clothing then you would imagine. Everything from the fabric to the size of the pockets to the length of the coat can be personalized, and every single part of the lab coat serves a purpose. Did you know the lab coats are made with specialized fabrics which allow for better breathability? That the specialized fabrics also repel stains and allow for easy clean up? I never knew that so much technology is put into these coats? Then again, if you think about it, doctors need to be comfortable throughout the day so they are willing to spend a little more on these personalized touches (heck, I would if I had to wear a coat for 12 hours a day).
So yeah, did I spend a little more than I thought I would on the coat? Yeah, but was it also worth it to get my friend’s son something that he will be comfortable in during his labs? Absolutely. I was even able to get personalized embroidery on the coat. Sure beat the heck out of a talking card.
Kimberly Green hopes to one day purchase a lab coat for her own child’s graduation.
While watching the World Cup, you seem to be reminded constantly how sexy soccer players are. I’m not talking about just by watching, I’m talking about the fact that announcers keep talking about how such-and-such soccer play was voted the sexiest player in Europe or South America or something. As a woman I agree, these players probably have the best bodies in sports, but it’s kind of annoying to be constantly reminded of this during a close soccer match.
The one thing that these comments do get me thinking about is how committed you have to be to get a body like that. For these athletes it’s not about learning how to mix HCG or taking a few minutes at the gym, it’s about constant exercise mixed with a diet that is carefully controlled and scrutinized. It’s not so much a physical thing but a mental thing, and something that very few of us would have the self control to successfully do. This is why athletes are so damn mentally strong.
Ok, look, these people aren’t Superman or something. It’s not like they are doing something absolutely extraordinary. With that said, you have to be impressed with someone who can exercise and train for hours a day and eat a diet that probably doesn’t include any of your favorite foods. Plus, since these soccer players are among the most popular people in the world, being in the spotlight constantly they are always being scrutinized for their body and their play. Look at someone like David Beckham. One of the best soccer players of our generation and he is constantly being attacked by people who ever do what he does.
So how do you look like a soccer player? It’s easy: just train and eat like a soccer player. As mentioned above, half of it is just mental fortitude. To get into that type of shape you need to commit to it, not just expect to do it through diet and exercise. Think of it this way: to be in soccer friendly shape you need to be able to run up and down the field for a full 90 minutes. This means that you not only need strength (especially in your legs), but also a good amount of cardio for your endurance. Once you’ve mastered your workout routine you then have to think about putting together a diet that will help you lose weight and build muscle. This means cutting out the carbs and stocking up on proteins and vegetables. Sound fun? Also, try skipping dessert for the next ten years.
Soccer is a tough sport and getting in shape for it is harder than you might imagine. Try started slow and if you find your able to commit to it you could have the next Beckham body. Of course, now you just have to learn how to play soccer.
Kim Green wishes she knew how to mix HCG so she can looked as ripped as the World Cup players.
If we are to believe movies and television, us girls want the rock and we want it big. Yes, give us that ring, and make it big or take a hike. As Beyonce says: Put a ring on it. As a guy I’m sure you’ve seen it in television or in movies, the scene where the guy pulls out one of those palladium engagement rings or benchmark wedding bands, and the girl goes “Oh my god, I thought it would be bigger” and then storms out of the restaurant. Yeah, of course you have. She’s typically a villain in a romantic comedy, and sadly that type of character drives most men to believe that we only want one thing.
Of course, there are women like that. Just like there are men who care more about their abs then their kids. But most women out there care about the act way more than the actual ring. Sure, we might have our moments, but for me the best part of getting married was actually, shock, getting married. I frankly didn’t need the ring, I just needed the act. This might put me at a minority, but there are probably a lot more women like me then you might think.
I think part of the problem is that men confuse our personal likes and dislikes in a ring with our love for the act. Let me explain: if I bought my husband a car, but I bought him a car he didn’t particularly like, he would be happy that I surprised him with a car but still a bit disappointed that I didn’t buy him one that he likes. As a woman, we have likes and dislikes in what kind of jewelry we like. If I hate diamonds and I guy gets me an engagement ring with diamonds, am I going to love what it symbolizes? Of course. But am I going to be a bit disappointed that I have to wear a ring I hate the look of? Well, kinda, yeah. But, will I tell him this and ruin his special moment. Hell no. That’s where I differ, I guess. If I know he bought it with loving intensions then that’s usually better then my favorite ring in the entire world.
A note to guys, though: typically you know what your girlfriend likes and dislikes, so if you’re going to pop the question then get her a ring that you know she will like. It’s not that hard, if you know enough about her to wed her I’m sure you know enough to buy her a ring she really likes. Oh, and if she storms out of the building if you got her the wrong ring? Well, she’s not right for you anyway. You dodged a bullet there.
Author Kimberly Green feels that you should get benchmark wedding bands if you know that’s what you’re significant other wants.
Maybe I’m part of a dying breed but I still love to window shop. Remember window shopping? That thing you used to do with your parents when you were walking in a commercial district? You would walk from window to window looking at toys and stuff that caught your fancy and maybe, just maybe guilt your parents into buying something for you? Yeah, I still enjoy doing that.
Now that I’m older I’ve replaced toys and dresses with titanium rings and wood furniture, but it’s still a joy. Maybe it’s trying to reclaim a bit of my childhood but it’s just something that I enjoy doing either with my family or by myself. There is just something so nice and calming about it, walking from window to window going “Oh, that would be cool to buy”. Of course, being an adult I could go in and buy the product (which I do sometimes), but to me that’s not the point of the whole experience. For me it’s more about picturing the product in my apartment on in my car. It’s like the last bit of fantasy us adults have. I’m convinced that’s why the moment I got older I started enjoying the Home and Garden TV Network, the idea of “Ooo, we could do that”. By imagining what you would do with said product in said window you are using your imagination, that thing that you abandoned the moment you realized you had to work for a living.
My favorite places to window shops are either streets lined with antique shops or long touristy avenues in resort areas (pricy but they always have nice stuff on display). Antique shops are almost a no brainer as they have some of the most interesting items on the planet. There is so much more personality in a table that has been around for several generations then one that was just taken off of an assembly line. Antique shops always have the most interesting stuff in their windows because, frankly, they put as much stuff as will fit big, medium and small.
Resort areas have a tendency to have long streets full of stores that try to lure customers in with elaborate and expensive window displays. Everything from mom and pop stores to large chain stores display products which are, depending on taste, either wonderful or forgettable, but never boring. I can spend a hours walking up and down the streets with a coffee in hand just looking at the products and dreaming about where to put them. Maybe it’s just me, but there is something quite magical about that experience.
Kim Green loves to window shop for fashionable jewelry of all types, including titanium rings.
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