All posts by Beyond Words Team

It’s pretty simple here at Beyond Words. We’re ordinary men and women from around the world, seeking out the extraordinary in travel, health, and style, all while maintaining balance in a fast-paced, ever-demanding society.

Go Black and White for 2016

While you may be waiting until Memorial Day to wear white in adherence to an antiquated rule that we think you should abandon – quickly (plenty of stylists agree) – you should feel no hesitation to sport some black and white. In a sea of pastels, florals, and brightly-colored stripes, stand out with a sleek and chic combo that stands the test of time season after season.

For some black and white inspiration to color your wardrobe this season (pun intended), look no further.

No Gray Area

Everyone knows you’ll never go wrong with a black bikini, whether you’re lounging on the beach or hitting a high-energy pool party. A black and white bikini will up the style ante a bit while setting you apart from the bright and patterned suits most everyone else will be sporting.

l*space bikini black and white

The L*Space Keep it Wild Jaime bikini is the traditional triangle bikini with a few twists. The reversible bottom makes waves as a solid or patterned piece, and the top ties it together with its lace-up style plunging V. It’s also perfect for photo ops against colorful tropical backdrops, or selfies by the pool – your choice.

 

Brighter Than the Sun

Pack your bags, take a drive to Palm Springs and channel your inner Marilyn Monroe with a pair of cat-eyed sunglasses, universally flattering and, in this color combo, infinitely simple to match with any outfit. In addition to its chic form, this pair from Stella McCartney is made from 50% natural materials, so you can go green while you go monochrome.

sunglasses black and white

Compact Contrast

Looking for a tiny way to take part in this trend? A petite bag “charm” – fitting, as this fluffy charm from Iphoria adds plenty of it – is an affordable and uniquely simply way of splashing some black and white on your current ensemble.

bag charm black and white

Block Party

Nothing is more effortlessly stylish while being unbelievably easy to wear than the A-line dress. Flowing slightly away from the body, the style complements both curvy and straight-up-and-down body types alike.

alice+olivia colorblock dress

The Maya colorblock dress from Alice + Olivia is a racerback version with the added bonus of smartly-placed black and white sections meeting at the narrowest part of the waist for even more eye appeal.

 

Black and White Down Under

The newest and most sensible style of beach towel abandons its predecessors’ four-sided rectangular frame for a form more suitable for sharing – a circle.

amaroo towel beach people

The Amaroo towel itself has a perimeter of fringe and a pattern inspired by indigenous art of Australia, where its designers, The Beach People, call home. With a diameter of nearly six feet, two plus Amaroo equals cozy sunbathing in style.

 

Precious Patterns

Alright, so it’s not exactly “blingy”; but natural patterns and materials, like the black and white feathers adorning the Serafina Josephine necklace, are still very much in this year. Don’t think you have to save this chic piece of jewelry for a festival or pair it with a peasant top. The gold hardware and tidy placement of feathers makes it more than suitable for a dressed-up ensemble.

serafina necklace black and white

While you’re there, pick up the Warbler earrings (also from Serafina), that will accentuate an updo.

warbler earrings black and white

Go for Seconds

Target’s collaboration with Marimekko is a win-win for you and your guests who will undoubtedly be wowed by your ultra-chic and of the moment place settings – while your wallet feels no pain. The line includes an entire array of dishware and serving plates in strikingly simple black and white patterns emblematic of the notable Marimekko brand.

marimekko plate black and white

Options to creating a look with a couple of black and white items, whether it’s for your wardrobe or your home, are boundless. Don’t overthink it; it’s one of those beautifully simple decisions where you don’t have to pick one or the other, because they work the best together.

Day it Forward – April 2016

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

 

The submission chosen for the month of April is the Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation.

southern nevada beagle rescue foundation

The SNBRF is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the rescue of Beagles and education about responsible dog and puppy ownership. We provide rescue and adoption services primarily in Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of Clark County Nevada and find permanent homes for Beagles who have been surrendered by their owners or who have been abandoned or abused. Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue does not house dogs and puppies in a shelter as in many rescue groups. Our dogs are cared for in healthy, safe, loving foster home environments.

Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to the Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation. You can donate, too, here.

I Want To Be Alicia Keys

It doesn’t have to be a Wednesday to say that Alicia Keys is WCW now and always, for wowing, amazing, and bringing us to tears with her soulful, unwavering voice and moving lyrics, as well as her work as an actress, producer, and activist.

Here are some of our favorite things about this Girl on Fire.

Music

Keys won five Grammies with her very first album, which went 5X Platinum, but that’s not nearly all. She’s won 15 Grammies, 5 AMAs, and countless others, too many to name here. From this, you can glean that she’s got plenty of chart-toppers in her repertoire. But our favorite is Fallin’ off her debut album Songs in A Minor from 2001.

While there are plenty of songs about falling in and out of love with someone, this one may be the best at conveying the euphoric and, at the same time, heart-wrenchingly painful feelings of off-and-on romance in every note sung and key played.

She’s also been playing the piano since age seven, shortly after which time it became clear she was a child prodigy.

Movies

She’s been in multiple films and television series, including The Nanny Diaries, Smokin’ Aces, and most recently, Empire, the highest rated scripted program for 2014-15. Our favorite remains Keys as the cellist with a tough exterior (but truly kind and compassionate), June, in The Secret Life of Bees.

Producer

Keys cares about addressing the issues that “people aren’t really comfortable talking about,” as she stated at a discussion on education at the White House with Michelle Obama in 2014. She shared her own personal history when discussing The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, a movie she co-produced about inner-city youth and their struggles.

AIDS

Keys cofounded Keep a Child Alive, which helps bring care and support to those affected by AIDS and their families.  In 2011, she traveled with five Americans to see the organization’s funded sites in South Africa and documented the whole process to bring awareness to their efforts.

In November 2015, she ran the NYC Marathon to raise funds for Keep a Child Alive. That’s no small feat.

For the above reasons and more, Alicia Keys is the embodiment of the lyrics in her song, Girl on Fire.

Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame…You can try but you’ll never forget her name.

Lipstick Traces

While girl groups such as the Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child and Wilson Phillips made their mark on ’90s pop with an intoxicating blend of melancholic melodies and heartbreaking harmonies, a new generation of young women has seized on the hidden strength of those classic maidens of melodrama and infused the tradition with a tough, punky edge. Here’s a set of girl group tunes from then and now for the tough- and tenderhearted alike.

 

 

  1. “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles
  2. “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s
  3. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child
  4. “No Scrubs” by  TLC
  5. “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips
  6. “What’s Up”  by 4 Non Blondes
  7. “My Boyfriend’s Back” by The Angels
  8. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls 
  9. “If I Could Change Your Mind” by HAIM
  10. “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony 

 

Last Minute Gift Shopping for Everyone

Whether you typically put off buying gifts until the eleventh hour or just happened to forget someone this year, you can still find thoughtful gifts to give, just in the nick of time. Here are some suggestions for last-minute gift shopping to ensure none of your loved ones feel forgotten this holiday.

Image via iStock/Milan_Jovic
Photo: iStock.com/Milan_Jovic

eGift Cards –  The fastest gift you can give someone far away, besides a phone call (usually very appreciated!), is an e-gift card. Your gift is received in minutes and the recipient gets to choose something they actually want from a store that suits their interests. Here are a few good suggestions for the different people in your life.

The self-professed geek – They’re in right now, you know. At Think Geek, you can find all things awesomely nerdy.

The outdoor enthusiast – REI is a store with top of the line outdoor gear that can give you expert advise on all things from climbing, to canoeing, to yoga.

The college student – CB2, the modern version of Crate and Barrel, is perfect for apartments and dorms.

The culinarian – SurLaTable gift cards can be used for kitchen gadgets and even cooking classes – fun!

The jetsetter – Flight 001 is a source for cool luggage, trendy accessories, and travel gadgets.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Monthly subscription services – A gift that’s appreciated all year-round is one that arrives in the mail every month. Try one of these for a present they can appreciate long after the holidays are over.

The oenophile (a fancy way of saying ‘someone who loves wine’) – the highly-rated Wine of the Month Club will send 2 full-sized bottles of premium wine from around the world each month.

The primper – Birchbox will send a box each month filled with samples of beauty and skin products. They also have men’s boxes that contain items like shave cream and what they call “gadgets”.

The Fit girl (or guy or kid) – A Fabletics subscription will allow them to choose an outfit per month from a wide selection of stylish activewear for men, women, and kids.

Those with furbabies – Barkbox sends a new box of treats and toys every month for their pooch.

Amazon Prime – What better gift to give someone than the gift of convenience? Amazon Prime is an uber-useful service offered by the huge online retailer that sells almost anything you could imagine, and you can gift it to someone for about $100 for one year. Prime service offers free 2-day shipping, unlimited movies and TV shows through Prime Instant Video, and tons of free books on Kindle.

Need to hand-deliver a gift? Here are some options if you’re looking for a gift to bring to a party, relative’s house, or maybe a secret Santa exchange.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Stores that Wrap – If you forgot to get the gift, then you might have forgotten to get some wrapping paper for it, too. Or maybe you just aren’t great at wrapping, like 90% of us. In that case, there are a few stores that will wrap your present for you. Stores like Crate and Barrel (for the interior designer), Williams Sonoma (for the at-home chef), Barnes and Noble (for the bibliophile), and Nordstrom are happy to wrap up your purchase, or put it in a nice bag. Some even spritz the tissue paper with some delightfully-scented spray (L’Occitane, for the spa lover) as a luxurious finishing touch.

Gift Sets/Baskets – You can pick up a pre-wrapped basket of an assortment of items from stores like Bath and Body Works (options for both men and women) and Godiva (who doesn’t love chocolate?); you can even find some at Costco. It’s great if you’re not sure exactly what to get someone since there are a variety of things included in a basket. Plus, they’re always put together in a beautiful and festive way, ready to be given as a lovely present.

Last Resort – If you have absolutely no time, meaning, you’re already on your way to Grandma’s house, drug stores have an option that can still be pretty thoughtful. Find a gift card that suits the recipient’s personality and give them the choice to use it as they wish. You’ll often have a wide variety of choices, from all sorts of restaurants, to movie theatres, specialty stores like Bass Pro Shops, and more. If you can find a card in the same theme as the gift certificate (say, a holiday fishing card) then it will further show you know and care about their interests.

Best Modern Watches for Women Under $400

Become a little less dependent on your phone while upping your accessory game with a minimalist and modern timepiece. Gone are the days of gaudy, blingy watches that scream status. With big faces and minimal features, our new favorite watches are both chic and relatively affordable. Tell more stylish time with these five understated beauties, prioritizing Scandinavian-inspired simplicity over flash.

Larsson and Jennings

Emerging watch designer, Larsson and Jennings, blends famous Swedish minimalist design with British elegance. Their unisex watches are the definition of “clean lines.” Handmade leather straps and Swiss movements mean your new watch is built to last for a very long time. If you live in New York, visit their concept store in Nolita to customize your very own. The Läder, one of their most popular models, retails for $360.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/_MPMlci9Pb/

 

Daniel Wellington

With 1.7 million followers on Instagram, Daniel Wellington is one of the most popular up-and-coming accessories brands today. Their timeless timepieces are thoroughly preppy, but definitely unpretentious and range in price from $149 to $229. The company was named after a British gentleman who seemed at home regardless of the situation, and their watches follow suit. Replaceable straps and quality components mean you’ll have your DW watch for years and years. Tag your photo with #dwpickoftheday and you could be featured on their account, becoming just as insta-famous they are.

 

 

The Horse

Founded by Australian husband and wife team, Scott and Amy Hawkes, The Horse launched their first line of watches in 2012. Today, four unique styles share the brand’s typical understated approach to accessorizing. This classic and versatile aesthetic is appropriate whether you’re wearing jeans or an evening gown. You can claim one from The Original line for $139. The couple says they believe in ‘buying once and buying well.” We do, too.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/-_QM4Iq3nA/

 

Skagen

“Simple design for a better life” is the motto of Skagen, a Danish design company now owned by Fossil. This ethos is carried out in the more than 100 watch models they produce, most of them retailing for less than $200. The company’s commitment to ethical manufacturing practices that benefit both humans and the environment make these watches even more attractive.

https://www.instagram.com/p/-z2HY9JbWA/?taken-by=nicole.toland

 

Instrmnt

Get hands on with an Instrmnt watch. Each one comes disassembled in a kit along with the tools to put it together. The Glasgow-based design collective makes six different models, each with a simple approach reminiscent of industrial design of the mid-20th century. The $280 price tag seems like a bargain considering the quality of the materials. The multi-disciplinary company also produces bikes, a collaboration with master bike builder, Freddie Grubb. We’re hoping Instrmnt’s next project brings their soon-to-be-iconic watches into full-size wall clocks.

 

Cluse

Based in Amsterdam, CLUSE prioritizes simplicity and sophistication over bells and whistles in their stunning collection of watches. Favored by professional and amateur stylists alike, CLUSE watches exude understated confidence. None costs more than €99.95, either. We would love to visit their atelier on the Amsterdammer canals. Someday…

Simple Ways to Support Our Troops This Christmas

More than 1.6 million Americans are actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces with 21.8 million more veterans at home. These brave men and women deserve our gratitude every day of the year, but especially around the holidays. Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite organizations that support the troops while they’re on active duty and after they’ve come home.

 

Cell Phones for Soldiers

For active-duty military members, talking with loved ones back home provides untold comfort and keeps important family connections alive. Cell Phones for Soldiers helps them do this. Since 2004, the organization has been collecting used cell phones and using the proceeds to send prepaid international calling cards to troops overseas. To get involved, simply mail in your old cell phone with a printable packing label or drop it off at one of the many collection sites around the country. By recycling your old phone, you’re helping the environment, too.

 

 

Operation Gratitude’s Scarves for Troops Program

Get crafty for a good cause. Operation Gratitude sends more than 100,000 care packages to troops overseas every year and each one contains a handmade item. On the Operation Gratitude blog, founder Carolyn Blashek writes that scarves “send the very warm and loving message that people at home care enough to take the time and effort to make something as beautiful as a scarf.” Scarves of all patterns are warmly welcomed.

 

 

Puppies Behind Bars

Man’s best friend can also be a returning soldier’s lifesaver. A physical injury, traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder can make adjusting back to civilian life difficult or impossible for many veterans. Service dogs, with their bottomless love and devotion, can make a profound difference in the lives of veterans suffering from these conditions. With a donation to Puppies Behind Bars, you’re helping two populations in need: prison inmates and wounded war veterans. The organization trains prison inmates to raise service dogs who are then placed with veterans. In turn, prison inmates learn valuable professional skills and veterans get devoted companions.

 

 

Adopt A US Soldier

Give an active-duty soldier support and a taste of home when they’re far away. Active in more than 170 countries and territories around the world, Adopt A US Soldier connects soldiers with civilians who want to show their gratitude. The mother of a soldier stationed in Iraq founded the organization after she learned of the huge emotional impact that words of encouragement and care packages can provide. It’s an opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with a currently serving soldier. Supporters send one letter a week and an optional care package once a month. Commitments can be short-term or long-term.

 

 

United Through Reading

Active-duty soldiers sacrifice so much to serve our country, including giving up precious time with their children. United Through Reading helps keep the parent-child bond thriving by recording and distributing videos of soldiers reading bedtime stories for their children back home. In 2014, the organization served more than 100,000 beneficiaries. You can get involved through a donation on the website or by volunteering your time in a variety of ways.

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/96754291

4 Books 4 Dog Lovers

Dogs might be the only beings that love you more than they love themselves. Their selfless and heroic natures make them a natural fit for some of the best protagonists in literature. And while most of literature relies on the machinations of human beings to roll into a story, some of the most rewarding narrative you can read is concerned with our four-legged friends. Enjoy this list of books that qualify as the picks of the litter for dog-lovers. It just might come in handy during the gift-giving season or a snuggly reading session with your favorite pup.

 

1. Marley & Me

by Josh Grogan

Marley picture

Many have seen the movie with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, but this warm-hearted tale began life as a memoir about a married couple and their first “child.” When the author’s wife, Jenny, utters the fateful proclamation that she’s never “seen anything so cute” in her life, the wayward (and specially discounted) Labrador Retriever puppy gives them a crash course in unruly yet adorable behavior, just in time for their growing family. Humorous and relatable anecdotes about the journey of puppyhood and early marriage make this an easy and heart-warming read for anyone who thinks puppies can do no wrong. (And they’re right.)

 

 

 

2. Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

where the red fern grows

Tales like this heartwarming book from reading lists around the world are the reason why we think of dogs as our best friends. This coming-of-age favorite tells the story of a boy and his resourceful dogs. Billy roams the Ozarks with his canine best friends during hard times of little food and little warmth. Eventually though, they become a hunting team to be reckoned with across the region. It doesn’t all go down smoothly of course, but you’ll have to read the rest of the story to find out why not.

 

 

 

 

3. The Call of the Wild

by Jack London

call of the wild

This turn-of-the-century classic novel’s main character is a dog named Buck. Ruthlessly stolen from his California home, Buck is reintroduced to his wilder nature as an Alaskan sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. Life is harsh and dealing with the pack is no picnic either. Author London spent a year in Alaska to deliver an authentic narrative of the austere and beautiful Yukon wilderness. It’s been adapted many times, but nothing beats the experience of reading this transcendent classic on the page.

 

 

4. Devoted: 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs

by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Devoted

It’s like chicken soup for the soul only it’s dogs for the soul. This collection of stories document the inspirational ways that dogs know us better than we know ourselves. Whether stories about dogs detecting cancer or the dogs that understand the language of war veterans, this compendium of moving stories seeks to uplift us out of the ordinary to a place of loftier concerns, like what dogs are thinking about: us.

 

Day it Forward – December 2015

We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause that is important to them.

Every month, we will ask you to submit a one-paragraph essay on a charity of your choice. We want to know what the charity is about, why it is important to you, and anything else you think is important for us to know.

Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one to personally contribute to for the month. Your charity will also be featured in the following month’s installment of Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to donate as well.

The submission chosen for the month of December comes from Shabnam Farhadi:312545b

In late 2013, my mother was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer. The doctors told us that it had metastasized which meant we were in for a long, hard battle. Luckily, our local branch of the Susan G. Komen in Southwest Florida, came prepared to help.  They gave us educational seminars, emotional support, and recommendations to different local doctors. In addition, they gave us a gift bag full of goodies that made the process easier to handle (pillow for chemo chairs, a cap for when all her hair fell out, a pill box for the thousands of medications they forced into her, etc.) They helped to prepare us for a battle we weren’t too knowledgeable about…My mother is approaching her two-year survivorship in May of 2016. I attribute a great deal of her strength to bringing us here. But I can’t say that the foundation had no part in it. The Susan G. Komen foundation in Southwest Florida was a blessing and the people who volunteer there are heroes.

 

Sylvia will be donating $1,000 to Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida. You can donate, too, here.

 

full_1404405744.pngThis month, we will also spotlight the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization committed to finding a cure for breast cancer. They provide funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.


Sylvia will be donating $1,500 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can donate, too, here.

 

To have your charity considered for January’s installment of Day it Forward, please email your submissions to editorial@beyondwords.life with “January Day it Forward” in the subject line by December 25, 2015.

Simple Holiday Giving to Help Children

This season helps us to appreciate all we have but it also reminds us of others who have so little. While each of us would love to give our time and effort to help those struggling, sometimes our busy schedules make it nearly impossible to set aside any to spare, even if it’s just to drop off a toy or donation. If this sounds like you, donating online is a great way to help children in need, even with a hectic schedule.

Here, we’ve put together a list of organizations taking online donations to benefit children this season.

 

Toys for Tots

toys for totsYou’ve probably seen them outside Toys ‘R’ Us or department stores, the US Marines in full uniform giving their time to accept toys from generous people that will later be distributed to children. Knowing that not everyone has the time to buy and give a toy, Toys for Tots has a simple way to give online. You can also donate in memorial of someone or by mail by visiting their site.

 

United Nations Children’s Fund

unicef While donating online to UNICEF doesn’t give children toys, it does give them things like food, drinking water, and protection programs. 90% of all donations to the UNICEF United States Fund go directly to helping children. You can give any amount you like on their site, where you can also read their stories and learn more about their mission.

 

Salvation Army

salvation armyOutside of grocery stores around the country right now you’ll find the iconic red kettles of the Salvation Army manned by volunteers accepting any amount of donations that will help to provide dinners, food, and toys to families this season. You can donate to the same fund online which will help the Salvation Army in your area.

 

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

st jude children's research hospitalIf you haven’t completed all your gift shopping, here’s one way to check off your list while also helping children. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has an online gift shop, with all sorts of items from clothing to ornaments to mugs, where 100% of the proceeds go back to St. Jude’s for their research in childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

 

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America

mawThe Make-A-Wish Foundation helps to fulfill the dreams of children with life-threatening conditions. On their site, you can read some of these children’s  wishes; imagine being able to help make these wishes come true. You can, by donating online, where you can also choose where your donation will be applied – locally, nationally, or outside the US.