Bad Raps

To take an interest in the upkeep of your appearance, particularly if you’re a woman, is not only entirely normal but also a result of both anthropological predispositions and socio-cultural stigmas. To go beyond the norm may be seen as being “vain,” or having an extraordinary and inflated involvement with one’s perceived beauty. Here at www.morevanities.com we feel a need to defend the vanity from the negative connotation it may take on with the origin of its name.

A vanity could be seen as a woman’s grooming table that took a wrong turn somewhere when acquiring a simple and distinctive name, unknowingly taking on a “bad rap” by suggesting the owner has a fixation with her beauty. I’m sure we can all agree, however, that being considered vain is a misnomer much more easily worked through than being known as a killer.

The “killer whale” is the most inaptly named animal on the planet. If this was even remotely not the case I, in fact, would most likely be a victim as I have been fortunate enough to dive with these magnificent creatures on two occasions. “Killer” is about as bad a rap as you could suffer. Orca whales are no more killer than the seals that are their dish of choice. Every carnivorous mammal kills to eat. Yes, we grew up on the coast and we’re all aware it’s the large, dark and fearsome nature of their appearance that earned them the nickname, but that doesn’t make it any less sensible. They are not the wanton, indiscriminate sea slayers their name suggests.

Nor is a vanity a bedroom fixture exclusive to the private quarters of the self-absorbed. These classic bedroom pieces are commonly a tasteful mix of function and style and often feature a large mirror for commonplace tasks like brushing and styling your hair and modeling accessories. The name may suggest that the seated person is pre-occupied for the entirety of their stay with primping and preening, but in reality the majority will be going through ordinary and obligatory actions like those mentioned previously. Quite simply, there’s nothing “vain” about making oneself presentable for the day and having an attractive station at which to do so doesn’t preclude a woman’s being too wrapped up in herself.

The fact that your routinely style and groom yourself at an attractive bedroom fixture like the Powell Nostalgic Oak Armoire Bedroom Vanity isn’t going to necessarily lead to others thinking you’re a little too high on your looks. Your teenage daughter’s learning the ins and outs of makeup at a Lea Katie’s Place Vanity isn’t going to see her labeled as a prima donna.

While no orca has ever been a “killer” to the extent where it could even remotely warrant the name, I’m sure there’s been more than a few overly self-absorbed women (and men perhaps) sitting at vanities over the centuries. Nonetheless, I’m still not sure it justifies being labeled so context-dubiously. Pieces like a Powell Black Antique Vanity with Mirror often complement the style and function of a bedroom so well that it’s tough to see them with the negative connotation the word vanity entails.

What’s done is done I suppose. Perhaps we should consider ourselves fortunate the mirror didn’t come to be referred to as a “narcissist glass.” We’d all be guilty of being in love with ourselves then, wouldn’t we? What I will say is this; each and every one of us, men and women alike, can appreciate the value of good grooming and accordingly I say let it remain a vanity.

Fantasy Worlds with Realistic Funds: Children’s Bedroom Furniture on a Budget

For years, I taught in a preschool and kindergarten, and though I learned a lot from the kids, one of the most valuable things I took away from my time at the school was how absolutely loved the children were by their parents. I enjoyed my time with my students and the days were filled with laughter, learning, and play, but come three o’clock, my students would line up against the outside wall of the school, and whenever a parent came down the path, I would dismiss a child, smiling as the little girl or boy ran as fast as they could into their parent’s arms. Artwork was shown off, stories from the day were told, and new songs that we’d learned were sung into their mother or father’s ears.

That school was always a happy place for my students; I took them in as though they were my own, and loved every minute of the time we spent together. But it was kids’ pure joy at seeing their loved ones and knowing that they got to go home that always gave me a sense of peace. Our school was decked out with the best equipment for both educational and recreational purposes, but nothing beats the safety and comfort that a home provides for a child.

Kids grow up way too fast and they tire of things really quickly. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will last just a few years, especially as children constantly seem to be ready for something newer and bigger. You want to spoil your child, but that can be a daunting task to do on a budget. At Cymax, we take your budget into account and have a few tips up our sleeve for you to spoil your child while still being able to save for their college fund… which will be in use sooner than you think.

A child’s bedroom should be a safe haven – a place where they can play, learn, and dream. While there are a lot of furnishing options out there, at Cymax, we assure you that we can transform your child’s entire bedroom into a fantasy world that they will love, all for under $500.

Firefighters and princesses, am I right? Take the KidKraft Firefighter Bedroom Furniture Set. This adorable set includes a Firefighter Toddler Bed that transforms into a fire truck and an inventive Firefighter Hydrant Nightstand for $72. Add a Firefighter Step Stool for $30 and an imaginative Firefighter Clothes Pole for $43. For a grand total of $245, your little boy can live the life that he’s always dreamed of: the life of a hero.

For the princesses out there (and from my teaching experience, there are many) Cymax offers the KidKraft Princess Bedroom Furniture Suite. This stunning set includes a Princess Toddler Bed with four posts trimmed with gold crowns and a nightstand that is sure to add a royal touch to any young girl’s room, all for $172. Add a Princess Vanity Table and Stool for $144, where your little dreamer can get lost in the looking-glass. Finally, for a place to keep your little girl’s fairytale books and keepsakes, Cymax offers a Princess Bookcase for $93. Spoil your little princess with these bedroom furnishings for a total of $421, making it a happily-ever-after ending for both you and for her.

Cymax offers online shopping for products that encourage your child’s imagination and create a safe and fun environment for them to thrive in. My students always seemed ready for the school day, well-rested and relaxed. While in the afternoons, I watched the kids tell their parents all about their school day, in the mornings, I was the one who got to hear about their afternoons and evenings, their mornings before school, and the dreams they dreamed.

As one little girl once said to me: “I can be anyone I want to be when I sleep, but when I wake up, I get to be me again.”

Blogophobics! Do Not Be Afraid To Read This!

Most phobias I can understand. Agoraphobia: Fear of crowds – sure. Fear of small places – absolutely (my brother used to lock me in his tuba case when I was small enough, and as a result, I have a mild case of Claustrophobia). There are other phobias that I can understand: Acrophobia (fear of heights), Aviophobia (fear of flying), Mysophobia (fear of germs), Glossophobia (fear of public speaking), Enetophobia (fear of needles), and Brontophobia (fear of thunder and lightning). I know at least one person who suffers from at least one of these phobias… granted it is my dog that suffers from Brontophobia, but you catch my drift.

There was a news story this morning on the radio that peaked my interest in phobias, pushing me to instigate an internet task of researching the most uncommon phobias, featuring one phobia that has had me in a state of bewilderment all morning. Of course, everything you read on the internet is true, so my research is flawless…

10) Arachibutyrophobia: The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. To tell you the truth, I can understand this phobia. In my teens, I used to torment my dog by placing big globs of peanut butter on the roof of his mouth, and be entertained for a good half hour as he tried to get it off. The thought of that situation being reversed is enough to make my skin crawl, ever so slightly.

9) Chromatophobia: The fear of colors. Now, one in twelve men is colorblind. However, men who are colorblind don’t just see in black and white, but in various shades of colors. And I suppose black and white are colors too… so I guess nobody really gets off the hook for this one.

8) Dextrophobia: The fear of objects at the right side of the body. Now this kind of phobia troubles me. Again, you can’t really escape this one, unless you don’t include walls in the list of objects and can huddle against one, right side of your body flat against it, and stay there your whole life.

7) Plutophobia: The fear of wealth. I have one thing, and only one thing to say to these people: if you’re wealthy and it’s driving you into a panic, please contact me, and I will take some of your wealth off your hands – no questions asked.

6) Metrophobia: The fear of poetry. Okay, so there is some bad poetry out there, but a sonnet isn’t going to kill you, and although nobody really gets them, haikus are nice and short. Plus, Chaucer wasn’t so bad, was he? Not like anyone can understand the guy anyway…

5) Nomatophobia: The fear of names. Hmmm… let’s think about this for a minute. Would people suffering from Nomatophobia prefer to be addressed as “Hey you!” or is it just, as my research tells me, a result of the significance of the name? Change your name to something that has no root. Call your friends ridiculous names.

4) Phonemophobia: The fear of thinking. This one baffles me. These sufferers are uncomfortable with their own thoughts and may panic when new and unfamiliar thoughts come about. How’s that as an excuse for getting out of a brainstorming session at work? This one is pretty well thought-out, in my books.

3) Aulophobia: The fear of flutes. Okay. So let’s break this down: A flute is a woodwind instrument, but unlike other woodwinds, it doesn’t have a reed. I played saxophone for years, and placing my tongue against a reed always gave me the creeps, but a flute? You blow sideways through a hole, people! It doesn’t even have to touch your mouth! However, if you are an Aulophobic and are irrationally fearful of the look or sound of flutes, that is another thing… Advice? Pick up an electric guitar, crank the volume, and drown this phobia out.

2) Geniophobia: The fear of chins. Yes people: this is a true phobia. Now, I’ve seen some pretty nasty double (triple, quadruple) chins in my life, but only a handful have sent me running the other way. Geniophobics are scared of ALL chins – small, large, dimpled, chiseled – and are therefore a little unlucky when it comes to living every day life. I imagine this phobia goes hand in hand with Agoraphobia.

and now… big drum roll for the phobia of the day:

1) Koumpounophobia: The fear of buttons. Yup. Those evil, dirty, scary, horrific buttons – on your shirt, on your pants – but especially on their own. The fear of buttons affects one in 75,000 people.

This was the news story this morning. A twenty-two-year-old woman has come out to the media to talk about her fear of buttons. In her own words, “touching a button would be like touching a cockroach. It feels dirty, nasty and wrong.” She can’t be in a room with anyone who has buttons on their clothing, and of course she won’t wear them herself. Her boyfriend has to wear zippers.

I didn’t believe it; I just couldn’t fathom it, until I found endless websites devoted to Koumpounophobia. Sufferers from all over the world come together on the web to find support from other people who are affected. One girl wrote that the buttons with four holes are the worst, stating “imagine someone putting a button in a shallow puddle of water and you can see the water come through the holes,” she goes on to admit, “I’m shivering just thinking about it!”

I don’t mean to poke (much) fun at these people. Obviously it is an immobilizing phobia, and people need professional help. I’m no doctor or psychologist, but what I do know is that I lose a lot of buttons from my shirts, and because I’m lazy and because it takes me a full evening to sew a button back on, they end up in a pile on the top of my vanity set. Now, I hope that I never meet anyone who is a Koumpounophobic, not because I think they would be bad friends, but because I wouldn’t want them to come over and have a panic attack when they see my pile of loose buttons. Luckily, my vanity set has a ton of closed storage, where I can hide my pile, so as long as the Koumpounophobic doesn’t also suffer from an impulse to rifle through other people’s belongings, I’m sure we can get along just fine. After all, I have no problem with zippers.