I can never get enough of jelly beans. Kidney shaped, colorful and flavorful, jelly beans seemed to appear almost everywhere these days fighting for your sweet tooth alongside of chocolate. And it doesn’t just appear around Easter time. But unlike chocolate, jelly beans are easy just to set out on a small bowl placed anywhere in the house for company or just for self-indulgence. Today there seems to be an endless array of sugar flavors. Want a Tiramisu? You can have it. Want some mouth-watering strawberry cheesecake? You can have that as well. In fact picking out your favorite ones from a mixed assortment is half the fun. And if you happen to make a mistake in your choice, how bad could it be? So next time when you head to the movies grab yourself some popcorn and enjoy the show. Oh, I meant popcorn jelly beans. It’s the quieter choice.

It wasn’t too long ago that wearing designer jeans was all the rage. Today I think the sneaker industry  has taken a page out of that business plan and has become an explosive market. Day-glo colors that were once reserved for night joggers are now common in just about any brand of sneakers you find out in the marketplace. Nike leads the way in athletic footwear setting the bar in design and color. On Nike’s heels are Reebok, New Balance, Adidas and Saucony to name just a few. But what is it about the sneaker that wearing them with denim has become an American fashion statement?

Sneakers are made not only for sport but for casual wear. In summertime they are worn with shorts more than flip flops. Finding a sneaker that is not only comfortable and functional can take some time. If you ever have visited a Nike outlet store you know what I mean. Just the incredible selection could keep you there for hours. Most likely if you do you’ll go home with more than one pair. Reason might be as simple as you have an outfit that just might look good with the colors from the sneakers. The other reason might be the cost. Good style sneakers run upward in the $100 figure range. Outlet stores lessen the financial burden. You might not get today’s hot fashion statement but you will go home with some kind of statement.

Lines formed outside of Apple stores all across the country as techies needing their latest fix waited to be the first to own a piece of history. Apple claims to have sold more than 300,000 iPads on the first day. That’s no small feat. One teenager took a bat to one and made a video that is being seen on YouTube. That is one way to become famous. Performance art for the masses. Whether you agree with the teenager or not the last time I checked it had more than 300,00 views. The number 300,000 seems somewhat coincidental. But in time I would suspect Apple to sell more iPads then teenagers trashing the hell out of one.

Yet before you plop down some of your hard earned money these iPads may not be for everyone. For instance if you are a multi-tasker you won’t be able to run more than one app at a time. If you are you might have to wait for the next generation of iPads. And although you can call someone on it it doesn’t make a good case of being an iPhone unless you long for those days of boom boxes when wedged up on shoulders snugged to the ear.

Most restaurants are built on a theme. Some themes are obvious just by their signage and menu while others are less so. Trendy restaurants look for an edge to beat out their competition. They may have an underlining theme like “traditional Italian” or call themselves a “trattoria”. Most consumers will not know the difference. And sometimes I wonder if these establishments do as well. Trendy restaurants are popular spots to hang out and people watch. Yes some put out appetizers and main plates of works of art. But how many consumers remember the meal over the atmosphere of the place. Restaurants pay attention to these details. They will stay what works and abandon what doesn’t. What matters to them is filling the seats and doing a certain about of covers. And of course how much the bar did that evening.

Trendy restaurants can suffer from bad food but get high marks as a place to meet people. At the end of the day if buyer and owner get something out of it then everyone can expect more of the same. A place to meet and greet. A hot spot to bring people in and spend money. It’s a formula worth repeating.

If you lived in Russia and trained in a sport most likely you would be familiar to kettlebells. Here in the states kettlebell fitness is making a scene in national fitness chain gyms as well as the mom and pop gym on the corner. Why does it appear that kettlebell workouts are so hot? Maybe getting your butt in wicked shape fast has something to do with it. That’s right. A kettlebell workout gets the heart pumping and the sweat beads pouring. Unlike it’s cousin the dumbbell, a kettlebell with its curved handle allows you to do exercises from one to another all in a nice fluid motion. That’s right. Swing that baby between your legs and up toward the ceiling and back again. Then grab it with two hands and take it behind your back and extend the arms to the ceiling. There isn’t much negativity that comes with kettlebell fitness except maybe the price of them. Depending on the manufacturer kettlebells can run upward to $100. Is it worth it? If you are a member of a gym try one out. That is if you can get your hands on one.

Sometimes we just need a little technology to lift our spirits. Baby boomers are hip to the latest in technology. They like to get their information fast whether they sit at their computers or via their cellphones.  And today they have endless choices especially in hand held devices. Facebook the popular Internet site to stay connected to friends is extremely popular with boomers. Motivation keeps baby boomers young too. Maybe its losing weight. Boomers like to buy home fitness equipment or drop a dollar or two on late night infomercial plugs. They like to set specific goals like lowering golf scores. And there are plenty of high tech golf products designed to make lowering scores a selling point. Baby boomers buy products with their eyes. Just look at all those sexy car ads in magazines. There is nothing like the look of a beautiful photo of a brand new car especially one that is well designed. Competition keeps baby boomers young too. The excitement of challenges and new ventures. Staying young for baby boomers isn’t hard these days. There is just too much distraction to think of growing old.

When it comes to sports apparel companies that make it a mission to use as much recycled materials as possible in the clothing line are starting to see consumers beat a path to their door. Let’s face it, taking a page from the fashion industry – in America today “green” is the new black. This eco-friendly industry can be seen in the health and fitness business. Yoga a popular discipline enjoyed for its mind body relationship leads the way in fitness products made of “green” material. From yoga mats to yoga bags to yoga clothing like t-shirts, recycled material is finding its way into consumer hands in a good way. And it’s not only yoga devotees are buying into it. Consumers who enjoy health and fitness products in general that may have different workout routines in professional athletics to amateur sports are using “green” materials too.

I’m not sure about the Olympic athletes using this type of clothing for the 2010 games, but I would suspect within four years competing countries will have their athletes wear eco-friendly outfits. And let’s hope the United States leads the way.

Get a load of the very hip fashion Olympian snowboarders are sporting. This denim and plaid number is the perfect look for these cool cats who just seem to revel in having fun even if a gold medal wasn’t at stake. Anybody who flies down the side of a snow mountain and engages the half pike with intentions of twisting and flipping many times and sticking the landing has to be highly skilled and daredevil too boot. Yet these young kids are doing it with ease. It’s like snowboarding is oxygen to them.

These fashionable outfits seem seamless. The snowboarders can go from the slope to the after parties without a wardrobe change. The outfits are street wear. Unlike the snowboarders men’s skating goes for the glam in fashion. Very theatrical and over the top. But that’s how its always been so I expect to see that. Showboating versus showmanship. This year’s 2010 Olympic games I’ll take the show boaters any day.

Why all the attention of chocolate when it comes to Valentine’s Day? Isn’t chocolate great any day of the year? To me at least it is so I have decided to boycott buying any heart-shaped chocolates or even decorated boxes of chocolate that may contain many varieties but instead will settle on the classic dark chocolate bar. That’s right I’m thinking healthy. I know dark chocolate that contains at least 65% cocoa will have some health benefits for me. This way I can lessen the guilt if I indulged myself if I so choose. Now there is the organic chocolate bar to consider. Not sure if it is any more healthier for me or if I’m saving the planet and stuff like that but I do like the packaging some of these chocolate manufacturers have come up with. Seeing endangered species on the wrapper makes a good argument to buy the bar, but I won’t settle for that trick. I am after quality of taste. That alone will keep me coming back for seconds. A second chocolate bar that is.

If you are carrying your yoga mat under your arms to your yoga class there is a better way to do it and you’ll be glad to make the change. Yoga mat bags have in recent years become more stylish and functional. You can buy the messenger bag that will carry your bag securely strapped to the bottom. When you’re not going to a yoga class the bag functions and a general tote bag. Yoga mat bags come in different shapes, sizes, and colors so it becomes the yoga fashion accessory of today. If you prefer solid colors over floral designs, or a backpack style over the over the shoulder style there are stylish and functional bags out there. So stop juggling personal items and exposed mats under your arms and protect the one true yoga investment in a safe and convenient way.