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"To be somebody you must last." ~ Ruth Gordon

Food Icons: How have food icons sustained their popularity throughout the years? Why don't they don't age the way that we do? Tony The Tiger looks the same as when I was five years old and both The Pillsbury Doughboy and Charlie The Tuna bear not a single wrinkle upon their well advertised brows! Read on for their secrets and a smile or two.

From the valley of the Jolly Green Giant and the floors of Mr. Clean to the pastures of Elsie The Cow and the kitchen of The Campbell Kids, lies the fickle realm of television advertising where cartoons are born and cultural food icons are made. There's a thin line between a trademark and a food icon and it's one that not all cartoons pass with flying or other colors. Most of the more famous television food icons began their lives as animated trademarks; that is, they were used to represent a specific product. Born on the high-powered wings of the media (although not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound), these symbols have maintained the growing tide of their own fame. How many can recall the pleasing voice and face of Miss Chiquita Banana, luring us into the healthful world of the banana? Who could ever forget Charlie The Tuna, Tony The Tiger and The Pillsbury Doughboy? They too belong in the realm of television cultural food icons, but the question is: How did they get there in the first place?

Chiquita Banana is the oldest of the lot mentioned above. (I should never say that about a "fellow" female, but the truth is the truth.) She dates back to 1941 when Dik Brown, the same artist who produced the Campbell Soup Kids, created her. She helped teach consumers about the nutritional value of bananas and how to ripen them. The first live "lady of fruit" was Miss Patty Clayton in 1944. The most famous Miss Chiquita was Elsa Miranda (no relation to Carmen) who made numerous personal appearances in 1945 and 1946.

Miss Chiquita first appeared on labels to identify the Chiquita Brand bananas in 1963. Her likeness remained unchanged for years and she eventually reached the ranks of media immortality (icon-dom). Until 1987 she was a sexy banana lady, but still a cartoon. And then all that changed. Whether or not bananas pass through puberty may always remain a moot point, but artist Oscar Grillo, who created the Pink Panther, most definitely transformed Miss Chiquita into a sultry yellow lady with a mission. You can hear her lilting pleas for all humans to eat bananas in her own seductive words at: www.chiquita.com

Charlie The Tuna, that striving go-getter fish of the 1960s, is another character forever immortalized by the powers that media be. He made his debut on American television in a commercial for Starkist in 1961. All his machinations to be selected by Starkist for lovers of fine tuna have always resulted in failure and the salty old soul has always been forced to bear the rebuke in actor Herschel Bernardi's voice: "Sorry Charlie. Starkist doesn't want tuna with good taste. Starkist wants tuna that tastes good."

In Pago, Pago, American Samoa, the home of the Starkist canning factory, Charlie lives on in the form of a statue dedicated to his image. In case you can't find him, he's the jaunty-looking tuna on top of the pedestal wearing glasses and a red hat. A sign below him reads: "Home of Charlie The Tuna." Perhaps it is his tenacity and our need to root for the underdog that keeps Charlie forever in our hearts. Or maybe, alas, it's simply clever advertising. I'm afraid that only his ad agency knows for sure!

Back in 1952, the Kellogg Company held a contest to see who would represent their new cereal called: "Sugar Frosted Flakes of Corn." The contestants were Katie The Kangaroo, Elmo The Elephant, Newt the Gnu and Tony The Tiger. Tony was declared the winner, although it was nip and tuck with Katie the Kangaroo for a while. In 1953, Tony became the sole spokes-cartoon for Kellogg's "Sugar Frosted Flakes" cereal. Tony Jr. (originally referred to as "boy" and later as "son") made appearances along with Tony Sr. who obviously had paternity denial issues for a while.

Thurl Ravenscroft, whose career in radio, film and television has spanned more than 60 years, is and always has been the voice behind Tony the Tiger. Thurl had been well known in the field of jingles and commercials as part of a quartet known as The Mellomen. Kellogg sent him a sample script along with a character description and his active imagination did the rest! The pay-off line was always: "Tony, are Frosted Flakes any good?" And Tony would always say: "Good? Why they're great!" It was Thurl who came up with the much more explosive and effective: "Gr-r-r-r-r-eat!!"

The Pillsbury Doughboy was created by an ad agency called Leo Burnett. Pacific Data Images, a pioneer in the work of computer graphics for film and video, created the animated version of the lovable figure for the commercials. In October of 1965, the 14 ounce, 8 3/4 inch character made his television debut advertising Crescent Rolls. His original voice was that of actor, Paul Fries (1920-86). The Doughboy's co-star in the commercial was Maureen McCormick. He started his career with another name: Poppin' Fresh. He is all dough with blue eyes and always wears a baker's hat and scarf. His hometown is Minneapolis; he loves to bake and twenty years ago he had a wife and two children.

A mock funeral from a master of puns added the following paragraphs about his passing in the Spring of 2002:

"The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

"Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The gravesite was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man for all seasonings who never knew how much he was kneaded.

"Doughboy rose quickly in the show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a ‘very smart cookie', wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a bit flaky sometimes, he was still considered a roll model for millions."Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play-Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough; plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

"The funeral was held at 3:50 for about twenty minutes."

Napoleon once said (and he should know) that glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. It is not known if the sister saying: "beauty fades, but stupid is forever" came from his mouth as well. Regardless, the man had a point. Time passes and what remains is only the whisper of recall to remind us of what once was. Miss Chiquita, the Campbell Kids, Tony the Tiger, Charlie The Tuna and the Doughboy are all mini legends in their own special way. They are all impressed deeply within my mind's eye where cultural icons never die and don't even get the chance to fade away!

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Morning sickness…sigh! Multiple trips to the bathroom and the beginning of a long relationship with the porcelain bowl. Take heart, it appears that morning sickness is associated with better pregnancy outcomes. Studies have also found that in women whose diet is mainly vegetarian without the dairy staples, morning sickness is uncommon. Food has a strong effect on your pregnancy so let us research little know facts about what they are good for.

Food and Pregnancy

Some people use ginger tea (but check with your doctor first) to soothe the morning sickness. For the sleepiness, several small meals throughout the day, high in carbohydrates and starch will alleviate the need to drop your head down at your desk. Lots of fruits and vegetables will also help build up your energy and detoxify you. They are also sources of vitamin B which will decrease the risk of neural tube defects (e.g. spina bifida) in your unborn child.

The foods you might want to avoid would be: 

1. Liver, liver products, and vitamin A supplements can lead to birth defects as they are high in vitamin A. 

2. While omega fatty acids are great for a growing child, shark, marlin and swordfish should be avoided as they tend to be high in mercury, which can lead to damage to the baby’s nervous system. 

3. BEER! Sorry, but it really does make a difference in your child. Children born to drinking mothers (actively drinking during pregnancy) tend to be born smaller, have a less developed cognitive sense, and sometimes have birth defects. The nine-month abstinence will do you both some good, and if you do chose to keep drinking, let that be your decision, and let the child make his/her own decision. Allow them a fighting chance in our highly competetive world. 

4. For those who have eczema, asthma or other food allergies, avoiding nuts and other allergy causing foods can help your child not develop allergies. 

5. No raw foods as you could get listeria or another bacterial infection with dire consequences for your young child. 

6. No smoking. See number 3. The reasons are the same.

Pamper yourself, find time to do the things you enjoy, and just celebrate you and the little one.  Eat healthy little meals, exercise (again, with a doctor's okay), and love the experience.  It is a blessing and a joy and should be treated as such.

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When our son was venturing into the world of solid food beyond infant cereal, my husband and I decided to make some baby food ourselves. It's an easy thing to do and, for some (like parents of multiples), can also be cost-effective.
There are a few guidelines and things to keep in mind however, when preparing baby food at home. Some things to consider:

· Commercially grown fruits and vegetables, both domestic and imported, tend to contain higher levels of pesticides than organically grown produce

· Trimming the fat from meat will help reduce pesticides, as they tend to concentrate in fatty tissues

· Organic foods have been found to contain lower levels of certain pesticides

· Processed foods (canned fruit for example) generally have lower pesticide residues than fresh foods 

· All fresh produce to be used in preparing baby food should be peeled, washed with very diluted dishwashing detergent, and cooked well

· When making your own baby food, do not salt, sweeten or season the food at all.

Cooked, fresh vegetables and stewed fruits are the easiest foods to prepare for baby, and except for raw bananas, (which can be mashed with a fork) all fruits should be cooked until soft. Steaming is the best cooking method, as fewest nutrients and vitamins are lost this way. Refrigerate any food that is not used immediately, and check it well for signs of spoilage before giving it to baby. Unlike commercial foods, freshly made baby food contains no bacteria, so it will spoil more quickly. Use or freeze within one to two days of preparation to be safe.

Water or formula can be added to mashed foods to create the desired consistency, and food processors, blenders and strainers can also be helpful. Individual portions of the baby food can then be frozen in ice cube trays. Cover the trays with plastic before freezing. After freezing, place the cubes in a plastic bag, seal it and return it to the freezer. Be sure to label and date all foods, and use them within 1 month from preparation date. Do not thaw individual portions at room temperature; rather, thaw them in the refrigerator, double boiler or microwave (on the defrost setting).

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the following foods should not be prepared at home for baby food: beets, turnips, carrots, collard greens and spinach. In certain parts of the country, these vegetables contain large amounts of nitrates, a chemical that can cause an unusual type of anemia (low blood count) in young infants. Baby food companies are aware of this problem and therefore screen the produce they buy for nitrates. They also avoid buying these vegetables in parts of the country where nitrates have been detected. Since you cannot test for the chemical yourself at home, it's safer to use commercially prepared forms of these foods, especially while your child is an infant. If you should choose to prepare these foods at home anyway, serve them fresh and don't store any leftovers. Storage of these foods can actually increase the amount of nitrates in them.

In addition, there are some foods that should be avoided until at least the child's first birthday; some suggest waiting until the child is old enough to speak, and can then inform you of a "funny feeling" in their throat (due to swelling from an allergic reaction). Foods that may cause allergic reactions include egg whites, seafood, nuts, citrus fruits and tomatoes. Honey should also be avoided, as it may contain botulism spores that, though not harmful to adults, can cause infant botulism, a potentially severe illness. Honey is acceptable however, in processed foods such as honey graham crackers, and Honey Nut Cheerios.

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Today, as the baby boomers age, obesity is at record levels and adult onset diabetes is at an almost epidemic stage. More and more of this demographic is realizing that healthy foods, products, and lifestyles are part of a preventive package they can take into their own hands. The natural and organics industry is experiencing an annual growth rate of about 10 percent. At a recent Natural Products Trade Show, more than 36,000 professional and trade attendees from over 80 countries attended. Some of the almost 1500 exhibits at the show focused on children's and even pet's health food products. There seems to be an ever-changing opinion among the experts as to what is and isn't healthy. First it was the animal fats and hydrogenated oils, then carbohydrates and trans-fats became the bad guys.. Now some carbohydrates are good and others are considered bad. Pretty much everyone agrees that natural, organically grown food is healthier than its chemically processed brother. The fast food industry has responded by offering more low fat choices on their menus, but not all of these are healthy to eat. The snack food industry doesn't seem to be worried either, knowing that we all crave something sweet or salty at times. For those of you who may have included eating healthier as one of your New Year's resolutions, here are some of the best health and natural food stores in St. Louis:

Whole Foods Market 1601 South Brentwood (314) 968-7744 The largest of the health food stores in St. Louis, Whole Foods tries to bring an all-inclusive shopping experience to its customers. They have a full-service bakery offering hearth baked breads and delicious pastries. Seafood is shipped from their own wharf and arrives at the store within 24 hours. All of the meats and poultry are free of hormones and growth stimulants. All of the produce is, of course, organically grown, some of it coming from local sources. The natural foods industry has expanded to include not only all of the food categories, but also nutritional supplements, cleaning products, and even pet foods. If you're looking for selection, then this is the place to go.

Wild Oats 8823 Ladue Road (314) 721-8004 Though not as large as Whole Foods, Wild Oats was the first "mega" health food store in the St. Louis area. They have a full service natural food supermarket featuring over 200 organic produce items daily. They claim that all of their products are now 100% trans-fat free. Check out their organic juice and coffee bar, or have lunch in their deli. The deli features new "corn-tainers" instead of plastic. The corn is biodegradable and better for the environment. Wild Oats carries the largest selection of vitamins and supplements in the area and I have found that they are very knowledgeable about all of the latest trends. They also offer free lectures and cooking classes in the café. Calendars of these events are available at the store.

Natural Way 8110 Big Bend (314) 961-3541 Natural Way is more like an old fashioned health food store with wooden floors and a small grocery and produce department. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable here. They have a large selection of vitamins and supplements, some of which aren't available at the giant places. I am also impressed with the large selection of books and educational materials that they have.

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While many women love perfume and may even have their own signature scent, the cost of purchasing a bottle can be prohibitively expensive. Why spend $50 or more on a tiny eau de toilette when you can make a completely unique scent of your own for a fraction of the cost? Save money and make a truly original creation with just a few simple steps.

The Basics

According to the Natural Holistic Health Blog, a basic perfume formula contains 15 to 30 percent essential oils, 70 to 80 percent pure grain alcohol (vodka being recommended, as it doesn't have any additional odors or colors), and 5 percent distilled water. Adding a bit of glycerine at the end of the process is also recommended, as it will help to "fix" your perfume and keep the scent from disappearing into the air or escaping the bottle. Both glycerine and essential oils are easy to find at health food stores or even craft supply shops. Pick the kind of scents you like, when choosing essential oils, and remember that you can choose to mix and match them in order to create the perfect scent.

Necessary Supplies

Along with your basic perfume ingredients, you will also want to gather together the following items before you get started: a glass mixing jar, dedicated measuring cups and spoons, an eyedropper, a funnel and aperfume bottles or other small containers in which you can store your final product.

Method

Instructables.com offers step-by-step instructions on how to make your perfume at home. The basic procedure is as follows:

1. Measure 1/4 cup of vodka into your mixing jar.

2. Add about 25 drops of your essential oils, making sure to keep track of how many drops you've added if you are mixing scents. It may help to keep a tally on a sheet of paper, as you should add drops, swirl the mixture, and then smell as you go to make sure you don't make an overpowering scent.

3. When you've got your desired scent, seal up the mixing jar and put it into a cool, dark spot to age for at least 48 hours. The longer you age the perfume, the stronger it will become, so feel free to sniff and add more oils after the first 48 hours has passed.

4. After you've aged the perfume, add 2 tablespoons of distilled water. For spray perfumes, add a bit more water. Now is also the time to add about 5 drops of glycerine to fix the fragrance.

5. Finally, use the funnel to pour your perfume into its bottle and apply a label with the name of your new creation. You may also want to add the date so you'll know how long your perfume lasts, and when it's time to make some more!

Additional Recipes

There are lots of basic recipes on-line for perfumes, if you're not interested in tinkering with smells at first and just want to get started. Check out PioneerThinking.com for recipes with exotic names like Orient Nights, Whispering Rain, Falling Stars, Enchanted, Amaze, and Misty Passions. They've also got recipes for cologne, for the men in your life, including something called the Homemade Love Tonic!

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is all about using scents to change your mood, so you might be interested in reading up on this topic before you begin. For a crash course in aromatherapy, check out Aromaweb.com, where you can read up on a variety of different kinds of essential oil profiles and find out how a particular scent can contribute to your overall well-being. An article from HowToDoThings.com on making perfume suggests a few quick fixes, including the following: "Jasmine and lavender can calm the anxious and aid in sleeping, orange and ylang ylang can ease anger, and sandalwood and grapefruit can fight fear. Need a boost of confidence? Try cypress or rosemary. Frankincense, rose, and bergamot can help relieve depression and grief. To increase memory powers, try black pepper and peppermint."

Notes

Finally, if you really want to get technical with your home perfume making, you should learn about notes. These are the order in which certain scents appear in a given fragrance, where the top note is the initial scent, the middle note is what you'll smell after the top note has dissolved into the air, and the base note is what lingers at the end. The Instructables directions on how to make perfume give a quick primer regarding what kinds of scents generally fall into each category, and suggest that when mixing your own perfume, you should built from the base notes up.

Typical base notes include heavy smells like patchouli, vetiver, frankincense, cedarwood and sandalwood. Middle notes are slightly less heavy, and include coriander, palmarosa, marjoram, basil, rosemary, rose geranium, pettitgrain and lavender. Top notes usually include lighter scents like lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, spearmint and peppermint.

Recreating Brand-Name Perfumes

Though brand-name perfumes are usually carefully guarded trade secrets, there is a website that can help you out if you're looking to re-create your favorite perfume at home. It's called the Basenotes Fragrance Directory, and although it only offers rough approximations, it can point you in the right direction by breaking down the list of scents that make up each of the notes found in your favorite department store perfumes. You may not be able to find all of the ingredients, however, as this is what you're spending the big bucks for! As one example: Calvin Klein's Obsession uses middle notes of tagete, which comes from marigold flowers, and armoise, which is actually an oral toxin and must be used very sparingly. Since these items are not likely to be readily available in your local health food store, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of creating your own fragrances versus shelling out the money for your favorite store-bought scents.

Sources
-ChrysN, "How to Make Perfume." Instructables.com.
-Melissa Trulock, "How to Make Perfume." HowToDoThings.com.
-"Perfume and Cologne Recipes - Women." PioneerThinking.com.




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From a smoker’s point of view, the bans on smoking may be going to far. I can understand a ban on smoking indoors – I’m okay with that. But, what I can’t understand is a ban on smoking in the great outdoors. Most smokers are courteous and will walk away from a crowd in order not to offend anyone. But, what about people who follow you when you walk away from the crowd? Has this ever happened to anyone?

While attending my daughter’s softball game, I walked away from the crowd to smoke. I walked almost to the parking lot, where there was no one near me. I lit my cigarette and after a few minutes, a woman arrived pulling an oxygen tank. This woman saw me smoking and walked about 40 steps out of her way to walk near where I stood – for the single purpose of being able to make a comment about the fact that I was smoking in public!
So, my question is this. I understand why people who do not smoke do not want to be subjected to my second-hand smoke – and I respect that. But, what do you about people who choke you with their perfume? Where are the rights for people who suffer from migraines, asthma, and allergies?

I once worked in an office with 200-300 hundred other people. In the beginning, we had a smoking and a non-smoking break-room. The two break-rooms were on opposite ends of a hallway and well ventilated. But, that was not enough for the non-smokers. They wanted us outside of the building – exposed to the elements. But, this still wasn’t enough for them – because they liked to sit outside at the picnic tables in warm weather, and there we were. So, the non-smoker’s petitioned until the smoker’s had to completely leave the property in order to smoke. They won – or did they?

I suffer from migraines. One thing that causes the onset of a migraine is strong smells, especially in the form of perfume. I pulled into the parking lot one morning as another person was going in the front door. I stepped out of my car and was almost blown away in the wake of her perfume – a wake that followed her into the building. Sometimes, a migraine hits like a bomb – out of nowhere. One minute you are fine – the next minute, Wham! By the time I got to my desk, I could barely see – and a coworker had to drive me home. I lost a day of work because of perfume!

So, the smoker’s struck back – we petitioned until we succeeded in having perfume and strong colognes banned. And, I never had to miss work again. The smoker’s were still banned from the property, but so were the days of migraines for migraine sufferers and sneezing for allergy sufferers.

If you do not want to be around the smoke from my cigarette, just ask me politely. I will gladly walk away and enjoy my cigarette in peace. But, return the same courtesy. Don’t expose me to a migraine by wearing overpowering perfume or cologne. This infringes upon my rights – and the rights of all sufferers of migraines, asthma, and allergies. So, next time you bathe, before you cover yourself with that perfume or cologne that you think makes you more appealing, think about that person who may lose a day’s pay so that you can smell nice!

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There's a great deal of misconception among the general public and those who work outside of the fashion world that the fashion business is a superficial industry. The media and movies are partly to blame for these attitudes and beliefs. If you've watched the movie,The Devil Wears Prada, or the TV sitcom, Ugly Betty, you probably think that all fashion editors are catty and all fashion industry people care about are outward appearances. Although this may be true to some degree, for the most part, there are people in the industry who take their job seriously and can be just as down-to-earth as your average girl-next-door.

Here are just a couple of questions I've read or heard about the topic of fashion and the fashion industry:

Can people actually have intelligent conversations about fashion? The answer to that is a resounding "Yes!" There are many issues going in the industry outside of which celebrity wore what on the red carpet or who is on the cover of Vogue this month. There are fashion designers who are making history from with innovative designs.

Can people make a difference in this world by working in the fashion industry? There is always the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives no matter what you do. Coco Chanel gave women stylish and chic clothing to wear to work. Stella McCartney is using her power to fight for animal rights. Ralph Lauren has donated eco-friendly "denim" insulation to the Habitat for Humanity. People have to remember that fashion is a business just like any other business in this world and there's certainly money to be made in the fashion industry. We all wear clothes, right?

Is the fashion industry to blame for the skinny model debate? For those of you who don't know, the industry decided to ban skinny models from the runway in some countries. Here in the U.S. the Council of Fashion Designers of America set "guidelines" for models to follow, but they still have yet to enforce any rules like Spain or Brazil has. However, to answer the question posed, I think that the industry is partly to blame because there is a great deal of pressure from agents and fashion designers for models to look a certain way. The idea is that clothing looks better on tall and skinny models. However, on the other hand, models do not have to succumb to that pressure.

As the editor of a fashion blog, I've been in contact with fashion bloggers all over the world, public relations people in New York, as well as insiders in the fashion industry. I've learned so much about the business and like I said before, it's just like any industry. You have the good people and then you have those who give it a bad name. One thing is for sure, though. We'll always need fashion in our lives!




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A quesy tummy may indicate overindulgence but it might also mean a foodborne illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, 76 million Americans suffer such an illness each year. About 350,000 of these are hospitalized and 5,000 die. Foodborne illnesses, often called "food poisoning", can be serious and include such variants as salmonella, listeria, and staphylococococcus. All are caused by bacteria which often multiply when food is not handled in a safe manner. Those most at risk for foodborne illnesses include senior citizens, children under the age of ten, pregnant women, and those with a weak immune system (HIV patients, transplant patients, or those recovering from other serious illness).Symptoms of food poisoning can include an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, pus or blood in bowel movements, extreme exhaustion and even fever. Onset can occur as early as twenty minutes after eating a tainted food product or take as long as six weeks to appear. Most commonly, foodborne illnesses affect the digestive system in one to three days after ingesting the culprit. And, most cases are mild and can be treated at home. Rest and plenty of liquids are often enough to speed recovery but if symptoms are acute or worsen, it's best to consult a physician.

Simple steps can be taken to minimize and prevent the possibility of foodborne illness. The first rule is to keep clean and this means everything from the food preparer's hands to utensils, countertops, and serving plates. Anyone preparing food should wash their hands first with warm, soapy water. All utenils used in food preparation should be clean. When dealing with raw meat products, keep the utensils, i.e. knives, cutting boards, turning forks, etc, seperate from those used with other foods. Wash thoroughly after handling raw meat. Store fresh meats for no more than 1-2 days in the refrigerator before use and consult consumer guidelines for the limits on freezing meat products.

If heading out on a picnic or cookout in an outdoor location, be sure to store raw meats in a seperate cooler from beverages, salads, and other foods. If hand washing facilities are not available, bring along sanitizing hand wipes or moist towellettes to use after handling raw meats.

At home or away, be sure to check all meats to insure that they are cooked to a safe temperature. Failing to fully cook meat can allow dangerous bacteria to breed and cause illness. Although cases of E-coli have diminished in recent years, e-coli outbreaks can be deadly. Other illness including salmonella and listeria can also begin with undercooked meat. Beef - including hamburgers - should be cooked to at least 160 degrees Farenheit. Poultry should reach at least 170 degrees and pork should register 180 degrees or more. Hot dogs - although sold fully cooked - should be cooked until they reach 165 degrees. Insert a meat thermometer into the center of meat and leave for 30 seconds for an accurate reading. Meat thermometers are available in most discount stores, hardware stores, kitchen specialty shops and even many supermarkets at nominal cost. Remember that no matter how experienced the cook, it is impossible to judge whether meat is done by appearance alone.

Avoid transferring cooked meat to a platter that held the raw product. Do not use the same cooking utensils unless these have been washed in hot, soapy water.

A standard in food safety is to keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold. Refrigerators should be set to 40 degrees Farenheit. Higher temperatures can allow bacteria to grow. If unsure about the temperature in a home refrigerator, invest in a thermometer to gauge the exact temperature. When transporting foods in cooler, make sure that it is an insulated cooler. Pack foods in several inches of ice or ice packs. Replensish as needed to maintain a cold temperature.

When temperatures are below 90 degrees, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reccommends that food not be left out - at room or outside temperatures - for any longer than two hours. When temperatures soar above 90, an hour or less is the limit. This is because bacteria grows most rapidly between 90 and 100 degrees.Bacteria in room temperature foods can double every twenty minutes.

Foods that require extreme caution include mayonaise based products such as potato or macroni salads. These foods tend to break down and allow bacteria to breed quicker than other products.

Cleanliness, frequent hand washing, safe temperatures, and common sense are the key to preventing most foodborne illnesses. Prevention IS the best medicine for these illnesses which can range from mild to severe.

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Whether you are watching calories, salt intake or fat, everyone knows that fast food restaurants are not the best place to eat a healthy meal. But there are some healthy fast food choices, and fast food restaurants are adding new, healthier menu choices every day. In general, here are some ways to make more healthy fast food choices.

First of all, French fries are not a vegetable!! Whenever possible, choose a lower calorie side dish, such as a salad. Many fast food chains have added some very tasty salads to their menus.  But beware! Salads, in general, are healthy. But those added options like cheese and bacon bits and creamy salad dressings can undo all your good healthy fast food intentions. Ask for low calorie or fat free dressings, get them on the side, and use them sparingly. In fact, condiments and sauces, in general, add unhealthy fast food calories, so if you must have them, get them on the side and use them sparingly. This includes such items as cheese sauce, tartar sauce, gravy, and guacamole. Eliminate the sour cream on the baked potato, the mayonnaise on the sandwich. Go for the veggies – extra lettuce and tomato, onions and pickles.

Grilled meats are healthier than fried or breaded, and a small hamburger is better than its larger double or triple meat option. Fish and chicken, or other white meat, is better than red meat. Whole wheat is better than white bread, if that is an option, and, generally speaking, a wrap is fewer calories than a sandwich. Chicken nuggets are one of the more unhealthy fast food choices you can make, along with breakfast sandwiches, fried meats, fries and onion rings.

Another source of empty and unhealthy fast food calories is the drink. A large cola contains 310 calories! Switch to milk, water, or bring your own diet version if you don’t like the options provided by the restaurant. A glass of water with a lemon wedge or two can be a refreshing option.

And finally, keep in mind that less is always better than more. Buy the smaller sizes, even if it means buying off the children’s menu. No super sizing! If you are fortunate enough to have someone you can share your food with, even better, since most fast food and other restaurant meals contain twice as much food (and therefore, twice as many calories) as should be consumed for a meal.

With a little planning and a little thought, you can make healthy fast food choices regardless of where you are eating.





Energy Drinks

Alcohol

Relaxing

There are several places were you can buy food online, like Amazon.com, Homecookingx.com and a slew of other places. But is it really safe for you and your family? There are now even the food delivery services that allow you to order you food and have it delivered that same day. This seems like a great idea for parents especially during those nasty winter months. Although you will usually end up paying a much higher price for food online than you would if you just went to the store and brought it yourself. 

Most likely this is because of the delivery charge. Some of the parents that I have spoken with that have used it said the food was of good quality which is one of the main concerns. Some feel however that they would never like buying food online because they prefer to see it and smell it before they consider buying it, especially when it comes to produce.

Before you start buying food you will want to make sure that it is a reputable company. So make sure you do your homework. Many people are very picky however when it comes to their meat. This may be something that you will want to venture out to the store for yourself. Try looking for a website that includes articles and reviews from other customers. Feedback is great when you are trying to decide about buying something online, especially food. If you are still unsure after reading other reviews, you might want to start by ordering a few boxed items.

This is also a great way to order your baby products. You can buy diapers and wipes in bulk and you can shop around for online coupons. There are plenty of websites that now list online coupons for different companies. Try doing a search on google and you are sure to find a large amount. This will help to cover the shipping fee that you have to pay for delivery. The main thing about buying food online is to make sure that it is fresh and that all of the packages are undamaged when they are received. 

When your delivery arrives make sure you ask the delivery driver to wait a few minutes why you thoroughly check each item. Of course you will not want to take too long doing this, but just browse through everything and make sure that none of the items have a hole in them, or are damaged in any way. If they are then you can point it out to the driver, and then call the store to make sure that they credit your account. Also if you realize that after ordering for a while this problem continues to happen then you will probably want to stop ordering from them. 

If you do decide to purchase meat and produce online be careful to inspect it thoroughly before serving it to your family. But I would like to point out that there have not been any major complaints about home food delivery. Most of the people who have tried home delivery seem to be very happy with the results.





Energy Drinks

Red Bull

Relaxing the real way

With the increasing numbers of hunger across the United States, every little bit counts when it comes to donations and collecting food for the hungry. You can contribute by organizing your own food dirve in you community, town, office, or school. The contributions to local food pantries help immensely, not only during the winter months. Many food pantries have ‘high’ and ‘low’ times of year where their food supplies are minimal and need your support! Take part in a good cause and organize a food drive; simplicity can lead to success, and here are eight steps to lead you towards a rewarding opportunity:

1. Contact your local food pantries, food banks and and shelters, to check and see where your contributions are best suited. Some pantries already organize large-scale food drives, and may be willing to sponsor your local one complete with advertising materials, incentives, and public relations rewards. This initial contact will also help identify what is most needed in your area, or in selecting a neighborhood. 

2. Create a theme. This will create a memorable design for your food drive, and will likely be rememberd most by everyone that you will pitch to. A theme will give your food drive an extra boost visually, and help to gather specific donors as well. 

3. Create a goal. Whether it’s one hundred cans of non-perishable items, or a dollar amount of food, make it clear to all participants what the goal is for your particular food drive. Oftentimes this is enough to get people interested and invoved, and will help generate easier donations.

4. Make a list of potential donors: this will include local grocery and food companies, corporations, and organizations that may be able to donate larger sums of donations or food. These may also help make your food drive more prominent in the local community. Individual donors will be your friends, family, and coworkers and you can draft a list of potentials to pitch to.

5. Do some market research: look for companies that will match your donations; sometimes corporate sponsors are willing to coordinate with you to match a certain amount of food or donations, and can help make your food drive a successful event!

6. Pick a date or structure: Decide if you will host an event for donations to be bought to a specific location, or if this will be an ongoing effort of collecting donations and then reporting the final numbers at a later date.

7. Create an e-mail bulletin. This will go out to all potential donors, local press, or even just your contacts list to generate interest. If your food drive is taking place at a specific location, include all details here. If it will be an ongoing effort, you will need to make it easy and clear as to where donations are to be taken, and what is acceptable. 

8. Acknowledge contributions creatively. Choose to thank each individual, donor, and sponsor in a unique way. Not only will this create a good network for future drives, but will also ensure that credit is given appropriately to all those who participate.

Organizing a successful food drive does involve some creative thinking, promotional skills, organization, and strategy. If you can get a large group of volunteers, friends, and coworkers involved, it can help to generate interest and donors for a very important cuase. Don’t wait until winter to organize a food drive! Most food banks and pantries will gladly accept donations year round, and can help you find many resources you may need in the process.



Energy Drinks

RedBull

Relaxation Techniques

Although I am not a cat, I have to say Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a fabulous product. My cats will devour a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food in a matter of mere seconds, so I think it is safe to speak for them and say that this is a great product. Fancy Feast canned cat food comes in a large selection of flavors and variety.

You can find Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food sliced, grilled, flaked and traditional mashed varieties. There are actually over fifty different varieties of Fancy feast canned cat food. There is a choice out there for every cat. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is of the flaked variety and the texture seems to appeal greatly to both of my cats. If I had to guess their favorite feature, I would have to say it is the flaked texture of this cat food. I have tried giving them chopped cat food and mashed cat food with no luck. The chopped pieces seem to be too large and are not so easily digestible. The mashed varieties of cat food don’t seem to be appealing at all. I guess they want to feel like they are chewing on something.

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a healthy and safe product to feed your cat. Fancy Feats is made by Purina, a well-known pet food company that has the health and well being of your pets as their number one goal. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food uses quality ingredients compared to other cheaper canned cat foods. Cheap canned cat foods can lead to urinary track infections and other health problems during the life of your cat. If you are going to invest in canned cat foods for your pets, you should take the time to read the labels and look for quality ingredients. It will save you time and money at the vet’s office.

Personally I could not live without Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food for a number of reasons. I work at home and it can often be a chore to get my overly affectionate and attention-seeking cats to leave me alone. If I feed them a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon caned cat food they are satisfied, full, and are soon lulled into a sleepy food coma that seems to resemble the one I achieve every year at Thanksgiving. I believe it is a true test of how good a feast was if it can create a great and wonderfully fulfilling nap!

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food can be found at the grocery store and almost every pet store I have every seen. A can cost upwards of $0.50, so try looking for the cases. This will definitely save you a little money. You can even find a variety pack of Fancy Feast canned cat food at Sam’s Club.




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5 Hour Energy

Relaxing

As a cat lover and owner, you want the best for your cat. They're just like humans- the more nutrients and minerals they get from their food, the healthier they are. But cats can be picky eaters. Of all the store-bought brands of cat food on the market, one of my furry friends, Kermit, will only eat Meow Mix™, period. Fortunately, he will eat the homemade cat food recipes I make for him, so I know he's getting the foods he needs to keep him strong and healthy. Basically, cats prefer homemade cat food with meat, poultry, and dairy products. They don't know it, but they also need some vegetables in their daily diets as well. What they never need is onions, starchy vegetables, like peas and corn, salt, sugar, chocolate, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, caffeine, spices, peppers, and bones. Cats can usually chew up and digest soft, canned salmon bones, but they can't handle chicken and other hard, small bones.

Here's a healthy, homemade cat food recipe for Chicken Soup for Cats:

Boil a pound or two of chicken parts such as livers, hearts, and giblets in a pan of water on the stove. Or, use the same amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead. Either one works fine, but the latter is more expensive to buy.

Boil the chicken until it's tender and is cooked thoroughly. Then, stir in a cup of steamed green beans. Add the mixture to your food processor or blender. Grind it up or turn it into a puree, whichever your cat prefers. Then, add enough chicken broth to make a soup, and serve.

Store any leftover Chicken Soup or other homemade cat food in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week. None of my cats like cold food straight from the refrigerator, so I place a serving of the food on a microwave- safe paper plate. I then nuke it on medium power for approximately ten seconds. (The exact time will depend on the wattage of your microwave oven.) The homemade cat food isn't hot, but it isn't chilly anymore either.

My Tuna 'n Egg Kitty Casserole is one of Kermit's favorite feasts. The ingredients are one can of tuna fish in oil- don't drain it- and a scrambled egg or two, depending on their size. Then, simply mix the tuna fish in with the egg and mix it together well.

Note: Does your cat have a problem with Diarrhea? If so, simply mix a cup of cooked white or brown rice into any of these recipes. The rice will help to bind their bowels and stop the problem naturally without giving them drugs.

A little garlic powder sprinkled into a cat's homemade food can help deter bothersome fleas too.
Cheese and Macaroni Surprise is another recipe your cat will love, especially if they have a penchant for dairy products. Boil some macaroni (following the package directions to make a couple cups) until it is tender; drain. Melt a chunk of Velveeta™ cheese product in your microwave oven on low power. Then, mix the cheese into the macaroni. Add enough milk so it's smooth and not sticky. Then toss in a handful of any chopped or sliced meat or poultry food your cat likes. Grind it up and serve it to your feline.

Since most cats adore chicken, liver, turkey, fish, lamb, and veal, you can use any of these meats and poultry foods to make up your own homemade cat food recipes. Just remember to cook their food thoroughly. And, either cut the meats and poultry into small, thin slices, or grind or puree it in your food processor or blender.

And finally, remember to rotate your kitty's homemade food choices. If you feed him or her the same food every day, they tire of it quickly.




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Pressure Sensitive Labels

Julian rouas paris perfume

pressure sensitive labels

When we go to watch a movie at the cinema, we rarely stop and think about all that took place behind the scenes to make the movie possible; the same often happens when we are out and about shopping for clothes, we seldom think about the person who actually created the clothes we buy.

Perhaps, some might not think it very useful to know the background of the people designing the clothes we wear, however I find it interesting and intriguing to get to know more and dig a little deep into the fabric. Just like getting to know what inspires a writer to put thoughts and ideas into words, it is fascinating to me to find out the passions and inspirations of those who design and create the beautiful clothes we wear.

That is why I am today taking a closer look at three unique and intriguing plus size fashion designers, in a bid to bring you a little step closer to those designing the awesome plus size fashions we have available on the market nowadays. Knowing 'where your clothes come from', like a piece of art, will make you cherish them more.

Yuliya Zeltser of IGIGI
A fashion designer born and raised in Ukraine, Yuliya felt the need to provide full figured women with beautiful clothing, when she saw how hard it was for her own mother to find clothes in her size that made her feel like a gorgeous and chic woman. Through IGIGI Yuliya is now able to provide plus size women with clothes which not only make them feel beautiful, but which also accentuate their figure. Yuliya designed from the heart and is also sometimes inspired from her travels around the world and the United States.

Monif of Monif C. Plus Sizes
A very artistic person at heart, Monif C. saw the need plus size women had for stylish and sexy clothing, and embarked on a mission to satisfy this need, and dare we say, Monif is doing a pretty good job at it! Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Monif is inspired by life and her dreams. Her aim is to provide curvy women with colorful plus size fashion which makes them feel stylish, inspired, luxurious and sexy.

Anna Nicole of Jahqoi
Anna Nicole is a rising star in the pus size fashion scene. Coming from Detroit, Michigan, but currently residing in California, Anna began sewing clothes at the tender age of 12. In June 2004 Anna launched ANR apparel as an online retail store, to give curvy women more choices of plus size clothing. She has recently moved the retail site over the newly renamed Jahqoi site. Jahqoi when spelled correctly means: 'I believe' in French. Anna's passion is contemporary, modern, sassy styles.

It is interesting, getting to know a little more about plus size fashion designers and the inspirations behind the clothes we wear. There is a lot more than fabric to a dress, more which can turn a beautiful dress into a meaningful work of art.




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alcohol

Julian Rouas Paris

My mom and I are thrift store junkies. We go in looking for deals that you cannot find anywhere else. Sometimes we get extremely lucky, and other times we come out empty handed.

We hit this one local thrift store up weekly because they seem to have new inventory every Friday. Hitting the thrift store up on a Saturday can sometimes result in winning the mini designer lottery. At times we find two dollar designer clothes, bags, and sometimes; perfume.

I was not able to hit up the local spot this week, but my mom did.

She rushed inside with a paper bag filled with what appeared to be designer perfumes. I could hear them clanging against one another and I could not wait to see what she had gotten hold of. I looked inside of the bag, and she huddled around it, as if she had to protect her findings from me.

She hit the designer perfume gold mine, and she bought all she could find, no wonder she didn't want me looking in. She wanted them ALL for herself.

Inside I noted all types of brands that I knew I would like. From Chanel, to Donna Karan. Some of the bottles were half empty, and others still had their seals on them. Some we already had, and some we had never heard of.

Amarige by Givenchy was one perfume in particular that I had never heard of. I have heard of Givenchy in the past, but I was never familiar with the brand, or this particular scent.

Appearance:

Amarige came in its original red box, with gold lettering. A bit of dust had collected on the box, but inside the perfume was barely touched.

The bottle itself is shaped like a human heart (at least that s what it looks like to me). The bottles top looks like a soft serve ice cream swirl, which is actually sort of pretty, and unique.

My Use:

I sprayed some of the rusty water colored perfume on to my wrists, and immediately got hit with the overpowering scent of grandmothers. It was like a granny festival on my wrist. This crap stunk, and it stunk bad.

It has that first kick of granny, then a high impact punch of rotting dried up roses, and...rust.

Good find mom!

Pricing and Availability:

After sniffing this horrendous granny spray I of course had to look the brand up before writing this review. I wanted to bring to you the price of this gunk, and where to find (eh-hem...avoid) this perfume.

Amarige by Givenchy can be found at any local perfume store, ranging from $10 to a jaw dropping $70.00 (for the granny gift set).

Overall:

Amarige by Givency smells like your grandma. It stinks to the high heavens, and it lasts a really, really long time. If you want to test the scent, make sure you DO NOT spray it on your clothing, as it will stay...till you wash the clothing.

-I guess if you find it at a thrift store; barely used, something must be wrong.

Recommendation:

Negative.

Amarige by Givenchy is definitely not a perfume I would recommend. (Maybe for Granny, seeing how that's about the only person who would like this one).




Relaxation

Julian Rouas Paris sexy

If you’re looking for a special gift for a woman you know, perfume is always a good choice. It’s also always nice to save money, so here is a round-up of some of the best selling perfume for women, under $50.

5th Avenue Eau de Parfum Spray 1 fl oz – Average Street Price: $40

5th Avenue’s Eau du Parfum Spray offers a floral bouquet, that’s not overpowering. The top notes include delicate fragrances like lilac, mixed with stronger fragrances like magnolia. The heart notes bring in some spice, with nutmeg, ginger and a hint of violet. The bottom notes are finished off with amber, sandalwood and vanilla. This perfume is perfect for a woman who likes floral scent, but prefers a little spicy mystery too.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Revealed Eau de Parfum Touch-On Pen .23 fl ounces – Average Street Price $20

This timeless classic scent is now available in a handy touch-pen, which makes quick applications even easier. The size is small, which is necessary for its on-to-go usage, but it should last for a longer time, if used sparingly. The top notes include pink peony and mackay orchid, while the heart notes bring in a little bit of lily and orange flower petals. A stronger musk base is layered with black amber for a finishing touch.

Passion for Women Eau de Toilette Spray 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) Average Street Price: $39.00

This perfume has been a favorite for many women for decades. It blends in some oriental notes with ylang ylang and jasmine, but livens up these sometimes heavy scents with top notes of roses and lily of the valley. The bottom notes give this perfume its signature appeal, and include Indian sandalwood, American cedarwood with a touch of incense. This perfume can be heavy, if over applied, but with just the right amount, it’s an interesting mix of floral and musk scents.

Urban Decay Fragrance – Average Street Price $29.50

Urban Decay has quickly come on the market as one of the hottest new perfume manufacturers. This signature fragrance is light and airy and perfect for a younger woman, or any woman who enjoys a mix of fruity and earthy scents. The top notes include Yuzu, which is a citrus tree found in Japan, as well as grapefruit. The bottom notes of lavender, oceanic musk combine well with the heart note of fresh-cut grass. This is truly a fun perfume that is not overpowering.

Curious by Britney Spears Eau de Parfum, Spray 1 fl oz – Average Street Price $29.50

Curious has been a hit with younger buyers and offers a fruity mix of Anjou pears with the stronger scent of Louisiana magnolias. The bottom notes include vanilla and sandalwood, to balance out the fruity and flowery notes. The heart notes provide an interesting completion by mixing star jasmine with pink cyclamen.

Calvin Klein CK Be Eau de Toilette Pour/Spray 1.7 fl oz (50 ml) – Average Street Price $28.00

While this scent never enjoyed the popularity of CK One, it is still a favorite for many buyers. The second unisex cologne from Calvin Klein is a bit heavier than the first and includes notes of bergamot, juniper berry and white musk. The heart notes bring in a spicier tone mixed with fruit, while the bottom notes finish off the scent with sandalwood and tonka bean.

BVLGARI Black Eau de Toilette 1.3 fl oz (40 ml) - Average Street Price: $46.00

Bvlgari Black is another unisex favorite that is meant to last for hours. This is a perfect fragrance for a woman who doesn’t want to have to keep reapplying her perfume throughout the day. The top notes include black tea and bergamot, while the heart notes even the balance with cedar and vanilla. The spicy bottom notes include sandalwood and musk and provide a strong base for the above notes.





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Julian Rouas Paris sexy

Today, it seems every celebrity has a perfume scent with their name attached to it. From Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely, to Britney Spears' and Beyonce Knowles' lines of fragrance to the classics of Chanel and Dior, there are hundreds of bottles to choose from. But how do you find the right one?

First answer, of course, is ignore the brand name or label. Just because Jennifer Lopez says you won't end up smelling like a skunk doesn't mean you won't. Choose a smell based on how it smells on your skin, and your personal tastes.

There are several basic themes which perfume manufacturers stick to: Chypre, citrus, floral, and ambers. Chypre scents have a woody, mossy, floral base to them. Citrus scents incorporate orange, lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit, much like Calvin Kline's CK One. Floral smells just as it sounds, like flowers. An example of a floral scent would be Chance by Chanel. Ambers have a delightful mix of musk, vanilla, spice, and animal scents, such as Obsession.

Once you've decided on a category of perfume to try, go to your nearest perfume counter. Try a few scents out on paper before deciding on one to put to the test. Apply to the back of your hand, and then wait an hour. If you do apply the perfume to your wrist, avoid rubbing your wrists together. This can crush the delicate buds of scent and distort the sampling. It isn't how a perfume smells in the bottle or immediately after application, it's how it reacts with your skin chemistry much later that can make or break a scent as one for you.

The reason behind this is perfumes have four layers. The first layer, or top note, is the first scent you get after applying the perfume. It's the most noticeable, but is also the one the fades the quickest. The next layer, or middle note, is the next apparent component to the perfume. It appears several minutes after applying the perfume, and can stay up to an hour before disappearing. The third layer, or base note, appears usually after a half hour and is the layer that stays on your skin throughout the day. And the final layer is one most overlook, the natural scent of your skin. Just like everyone's DNA is different, everyone has a unique skin chemistry that can affect the outcome of a perfume.

Keep this guide in mind next time you are perfume shopping, and you are sure to find a scent that's right for you!




RedBull

Julian Rouas Paris

Julian Rouas Paris is the hottest and newest green designer fragrance company to hit the eco beauty/fashion market. They currently have a collection for men and woman called SWING parfum de golf, as well as LA CITY (hair fragrance and body) and Versailles men and woman perfume. Their line is most unique as they are made in Grasse, France using the finest blend of essential oils. Their environmentally friendly fragrance collection SWING parfum de golf has feminine scents; Glamour, Private Collection,Private Collection Gold, Exstasy Night, Exstasy Night Silver and masculine scents are Sequoia and Mens Version One. Julian Rouas Paris; Versailles collection is a true scent of the past centuries retrieved and brought to the present. These scents have men and woman signature scents. LA CITY is a mens and womans hair and body fragrance created exclusively for hair in mind. The scent will last on your hair for over a day. with no need to respray. All of Julian Rouas Paris scents intesify with time, that is the beauty of wearing eco friendly scents.



pressure sensitive labels

Julian Rouas Paris

150 people were affected by a person who sprayed perfume. 34 of these people had to be taken to the hospital. This happened in Fort Worth, Texas but is by no means the only incident of people being sickened, literally, by perfume being sprayed.

We all remember the smokers being taken to task over their cigarette smoke which ended up with most of the country banning cigarette smoking in work places, bars, restaurants and most "public" areas. Not only that, cigarettes were deemed to be the biggest and baddest cause of almost every cancer known to man. We allowed those nasty ole' cigarette smokers to be taxed (what most would consider unlawfully) until they were forced to quit or they were forced to hide in their homes hoping that no one would get a "whiff" of smoke. Ah, we sure did teach smokers a thing or two about "their" smoke perfume!

All the while the chided smokers were trying to explain that almost any of them would willingly put out a cigarette if it bothered someone. They tried to explain that cigarette smoke, especially second hand smoke, was NOT the culprit of all cancers. People complaining of cigarette smoke were even asked if there could be another cause of their discomfort. Guess what? Perfume! Yes, perfume.

I remember one of the biggest anti-smoking people in our county was a large woman who did not know what a "spritz" of perfume was. She lathered it on until you were looking for the exits or a gas mask. But she was brazen enough to complain about someone smoking in a bar (that she never went in).

We've all been there, a restaurant, church, classroom, shopping aisle and yes a bar, when someone will walk in and the place turns to weeping eyes and sneezing. How well do you think people take it when asked to "remove" their perfume? But due to stories like the people above who fell ill due to someone's perfume I believe people are starting to look at perfume as the next cigarette.

Will they install a heavy tax on perfume like on cigarettes? Some have banned perfume in the workplace, will that carry on to public places as well? Will perfumed products like body and laudry soap be banned? Or maybe they will simply ban perfume on any level and in any product.

Perfume can make people sick. Perfume can make people sick that aren't even wearing it. More and more articles and studies are being written on perfume and the hazards of some of them. Yes, I vaguely see perfume as the new cigarette.






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energy drinks

Julian Rouas Paris

Have you ever gotten ready in the morning, spritzed on your favorite scent, and a couple of hours later you got nothing? This can be exasperating. Why bother to apply scent if it's not going to last? In order to make sure that your uplifting scent lasts through the day or your sexy perfume lasts until the end of your romantic date, follow some or all of these suggestions.

First, be aware that there are different types of scent formulations. Each has a different concentration of fragrance oils. If you use body splash, it literally means to splash it on your body. It is the most diluted type of fragrance. Perfume is the strongest. Depending on the scent itself, it takes very little perfume. You could be having the opposite problem and overwhelming everyone. Be certain that you don't overdo it.

Second, be aware of pulse points. These are the areas of the body that have blood vessels very close to the skin. As the blood pulses, it produces heat. This in turn releases the scent of your perfume. The pulse points are located at the temples, behind the ears, the base of the throat, between the breasts, the wrists, the bend of the elbow, the backs of the knees, and the ankles.

Pay particular attention to the pulse points at the backs of the knees and the ankles. Since scent travels upward, these scent locations are very important. And most people skip these pulse points when applying perfume.

Another reason scent evaporates quickly is because of dry skin. Perfumes contain alcohol. So they can evaporate quickly. A way to prolong this is to apply lotion before perfume. A lotion that is the same scent is an excellent way to extend your perfume's lasting power. But if you don't have a matching lotion, apply an unscented lotion. If you decide to use a lotion with a different scent, make sure that it doesn't clash with your perfume. Often you can come up with unique and pleasing scent combinations. An example would be vanilla scented lotion applied before using a musk perfume.

Along the same line as using a lotion with the same scent is using soaps, body washes, powders, and even shampoos with the same fragrance as your perfume. Many more perfumes are coming out with extended product lines of their scents using additional bath products.

Your perfume can also be extended by spraying some onto your clothing. This should be tested first on a small inconspicuous area on the inside of your garment. Check to make sure that the perfume will not stain before applying it to the outside of your clothes.

An alternative to actually spraying perfume onto your clothing is to wear a scent locket or a scent ring. If you like this type of jewelry, it works great. A scent locket or ring contains a small compartment to place a small piece of cloth or cotton ball which has been sprayed liberally with your perfume. The rings are often called poison rings. An internet search turns up many websites that sell this unique jewelry. The heat from your body releases the scent as you wear the jewelry.

Then, of course, as a fail-safe guarantee, carry a small travel-size spritzer bottle of your favorite perfume to give yourself a quick spritzer during your lunch break or while in the powder room.



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energy drinks

washington state politics

ohio politics

massachusetts politic

Julian rouas paris perfume

Believe it or not, Which? Magazine and The London Telegraph have reported results of a study undertaken by the former which indicated that organic baby food is less healthy than previously believed.

The report showed that iron content was low in organic baby food; too low, argued the Which? piece. In addition, under current legal guidelines dictating the composition of baby food labeled "organic," the addition of iron is prohibited. As a result, commercially prepared organic products contain some twenty percent less iron, thereby implying that baby will need to consume twenty percent more to get the daily recommended allowance of the mineral.

Some mass-produced organic baby food products have been found to be oversaturated, causing a reduction in other nutrients as well. And just because those additives are natural doesn't mean they're good for your baby.

Also brought to the attention of the consumer was the danger in parental complacency regarding organic snack foods. Because the restrictions regarding food designed for those over one year in age are significantly loosened, sodium and sugar contents increase. Indeed, because of their well-known characteristics as flavor enhancers, these two ingredients can easily be abused by an organic production company wanting their food to be as tasty as possible.

Of course, one consideration must be made when looking over the Which? survey results is that all products studied had one thing in common: They were all products.

The fact of the matter is that, ultimately, should you want ultimate control over what and how much your baby eats, you have no choice but to make it yourself, plain and simple.

Organic baby food must be prepared at home from organic fruit and vegetables (and, if you are comfortable with the source, meat products) selected by you. Fresh food - absolutely not frozen, even if it happens in your own freezer - contains the maximum amounts of nutrition. It is also believed by some that creation of food at home inspires good habits in young children, who do not gain such an appetite for junk food.

Should you find feeding your baby commercially-produced organic food, there is little cause for worry. There is, however, great cause for reading labels and researching. Remember that baby can't read and you can. Do so until it becomes habit, and you baby can receive all the benefits of organic baby food.

Undertaken at about the same time as the Which? survey was an article appearing in "Coronary and Diabetic Care in the United Kingdom," 2004 edition. Working with commercially-available organic baby food, Policy Project Coordinator James Cleeton confirmed all that organic food adherents already know. The piece stated that an organic diet reduces intake of toxins; eliminates intake of genetically modified organisms; nearly eliminates intake of additives, preservatives and coloring; and increases vitamin, mineral and nutritive intake. An organic baby food diet may also, concluded the study, reduce the chances of heart ailments, cancer, allergies and hyperactivity.

Studies and statistics aside, the most effective tool in the fight to keep your baby's diet clean and organic is your mind. The importance of knowing what goes in your baby's mouth cannot be understated, and in today's world lay more potentially dangers in the grocery aisles than ever before. A little education can go a long way. And remember, organic baby food all means simply a happier and healthier baby.

Julian Rouas Paris

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab produces perfume oils unlike anything else on the market. Aiming for a "dark, romantic Gothic tone" the Alchemy Lab carries scents inspired by religions, literature, cities of the world, fairy tales and inside jokes. The general catalog contains hundreds of different perfumes, and limited edition scents are frequently provided. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is referred to as BPAL or the Lab by customers. These perfumes are unlike any other commercially produced scents.

The sheer volume can be overwhelming for a new customer. Fortunately BPAL offers Imp's Ears, samples of most general catalog scents. Samples are not available for limited editions and a few general catalog scents. Imps are standard 1/32oz perfume vials. They are $3 individually, and $16 for a half dozen. BPAL oils are packaged in small glass bottles with screw tops. These bottles are usually cobalt blue, though sometimes amber bottles are used. General catalog scents have simple black and white labels, but the limited edition labels are often elaborate and colorful. 5ml and 10ml bottles of scents cost from $12.50 to $25. Considering the perfume oil content of each blend is 85 to 100%, these prices make BPAL one of the most affordable perfume lines around. BPAL oils are 85 to 100% perfume oil, as compared to straight perfume (15-25%), eaudeparfum (8-15%) or eaude cologne (2-5%). No animal products are used in any BPAL fragrances. Elements such as civet are composites created from carefully mixed bouquets.

The general catalog is broken down into the following categories: Bewitching Brews, Funeral Oils, Dark Elements, Sin & Salvation, Love potions, Diabolus, Mad Tea Party, Illyria, Wanderlust, ArsDraconis, Rappaccini's Garden, The Salon, Excolo, Voodoo Blends, Tarot Oils, Sephiroth, The Chakras, Panacea, and Somnium. Some categories, such as the Tarot and Chakras are straightforward. ArsDraconis includes several scents using dragon's blood as a base. Illyria contains scents inspired by Shakespeare, and Mad Tea Party is a line influenced by Lewis Carroll's work. Wanderlust showcases perfumes named for cities and places both real and legendary. Many scents in the catalog are inspired by famous and obscure works of fiction or art. Dorian is a hugely popular scent named after Wilde's famous dandy. There's a scent named for Wilde as well. Many scents reference poetry, legends and religious myth. There are scents for gluttony, wrath, envy, sloth, greed, lust and pride in the Sin & Salvation category. It is often surprising to experience how well the perfumes suit their names and descriptions.

Limited edition scents are usually just placed in the Limited category. BPAL has a limited edition series titled "A Little Lunacy" that appears each month on the full moon. Lunacy scents are created around various names for full moons, such as Harvest Moon, Flower Moon, Snow Moon, Hungry Ghost Moon, and Honey Moon. Lunacy scents are only available for 24 hours on the day of the full moon. Other limited scents are often created for the season, such as the Halloween and Yule creations. Sometimes the Lab creates an entire line of limited edition scents available for a few months at a time. One of the first was Springtime in Arkham, a tribute to HP Lovecraft. The second was CarnavalNoir, an intriguing line of scents inspired by a suggestion regarding summer carnival food on the customer forum. one of BPAL's most popular scents ever was Midway, a sugary tribute to fried and sweet foods. Other limited edition lines A Demon in My View and Maelstrom. These limited edition lines allowed the Lab to create complex olfactory tributes to Edgar Allen Poe's short stories and poems.

An enormously popular limited edition offering was Chaos Theory. Each bottle of Chaos Theory was unique and untitled except for a roman numeral. Every single bottle was a different blend. The only rule to the edition was that there was no way to choose which bottle arrived. Chaos Theory was so popular it is now in its third round. in the third round, oils containing common allergens such as nuts were removed so that no bottles would cause any unexpected reactions.

Because scents are not transmitted through the internet, the BPAL customer forum is an essential tool for a shopper when selecting a scent. Most perfumes have a brief description o the major notes or inspiration for the oil. Because BPAL oils are mostly perfume oil and complex, they often react in different ways to the skin chemistry of different people. What smells like a bounty of lily and musk to one person may turn plastic and sour on another. The forum contains reviews written by customers about the oils. It is an excellent resource to use while learning which scents work best with one's personal preferences and body chemistry. Customers of the Lab learn to train a discriminating nose, and many reviews are elaborate affairs with complex analysis of the stages of the perfumes.

When BPAL scents don't work out, there is a lively secondhand market for imps and bottles. The customer forum has a subsection devoted to swapping and selling scents that just didn't work out. this softens the blow for any customer disappointed with their purchase, as it is quite easy to trade and sell on the forum. Moderators make an effort to address any issues with members who don't follow through with swaps, a practice known as "swap-lifting." There are also limits on the forum to prevent the prices of discontinued oils from spiking too high. eBay is another source for secondhand BPAL scents, with more freedom for pricing. However bidding wars for discontinued or limited edition scents can push the price up dramatically.

The Black Phoenix Trading Post (BPTP) is also affiliated with the Lab. Here one finds shirts, scent lockets and statues inspired by and for BPAL. Each month the Trading Post offers a shirt to correspond with the Lunacy update. Unlike the Lunacy blends, BPTP shirts usually stay up for sale for one week. There are several regular catalog shirts, as well as several heavy silver scent lockets designed by the Lab. BPTP plans to continue expanding their offerings over the coming year. Orders for BPTP products cannot be combined with orders from BPAL because they are separate entities.

BPAL is a small business, and has experienced a number of growing pains over the past few years. The wait time for shipments climbed dramatically, sometimes topping out at six to eight weeks. In 2006, shipping times have shortened and are now only a few weeks. On the customer forum, one of the most heavily trafficked threads chronicles the shipping notices received by customers. The Lab prides itself on excellent customer service and works quickly correct any problems. Because they are a small business, Lab staff have an unusually personal and friendly relationship with large chunks of their fan base. Lab staff are frequent contributors to the customer forum. Some offhand jokes in the forum have mushroomed into inspiration for BPAL blends, most notably the CarnavalNoir line in 2005, and the limited edition Enraged Orangutan Musk.

For scents to compliment lifestyles from the gothic to the geeky, the Black Phoenix Alchemy lab supplies quality perfumes. Few other companies can provide such nuanced and beautiful creations for such an inexpensive price. With a reasonable price for samples and an active secondhand market, it is easy to become hooked on BPAL oils.




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Julian Rouas Paris

Perfume is one of those films I desperately wanted to work, but ultimately, no matter how I tried to fit its pieces together in my head could not make a coherent peace with.

Perfume is the story of a boy, Jean-Baptiste, who is born with an extraordinary sense of smell. Desperately wanting to preserve the smell of a girl he has accidentally murdered, he endeavors to become a perfumer and embarks on a series of murders to create a perfect and powerful perfume made from the scents of 13 girls (3 chords of 4 scent notes, plus a thirteenth, the magical one to bind them all together).

Jean-Baptiste's story is a compelling one, thanks largely to the strange, scuttling and nearly mute performance of Ben Whishaw who manages to make Jean-Baptiste both an innocent and a dangerous obsessive. Without such fine work from Whishaw, Perfume may well have been unwatchable in its many distracting and contradictory flaws.

Among Perfume's many problems is its inability to settle on a tone. Is this a dark fairytale? Is it magical realism? Is it a cautionary tale? Historical drama or romance? Quick cuts to various scenes of odiferous grotesquerie and an excellent voiceover open Perfume, and it seems, at first that we're bound for something very serious that's fully willing to embrace the discomfort of discussing smell, both good and bad. This promising, if difficult, opening is soon utterly pushed a side by an intolerable performance by Dustin Hoffman as an Italian perfumer. His accent isn't just terrible, but inconsistent and his mannerism absurd. Is it bad acting or bad directing? It's unclear, but it's the first of Perfume's massive and poorly handled tonal shifts.

Other problems, that might be less noticeable to a less punctilious film-goer, include the accidental strangulation of Jean-Baptiste's first victim (death by suffocation isn't that quick or that not noticeable), massive anachronisms in costumes and custom, and poor science on the subject of perfuming itself. And with the exception of costuming, these are not subjects on which I hold significant knowledge, but any thinking person in pondering how they are presented has to go "but that makes no sense!"

When Alan Rickman shows up in the second half of Perfume, it's a disappointment. The character (the father of the victim Jean-Baptiste wants most, because she visually resembles that first girl he killed -- how are looks and scent possibly related?) is underwritten and Rickman is clearly just there to do what he does so inimitably, that is talk very slowly in a very menacing way about the terrible things he's going to do to someone. It's as effective as ever, but it's a waste of an acting talent.

Perfume ends as it begins at the scene of Jean-Baptiste's execution for his crimes. And execution which, with the power of his perfume goes far differently than expected. Here Perfume had a real chance to make a statement, be uplifting or condemning or even bring in a hint of the supernatural (which is the only thing that would explain certain other facts we get in the course of the film, but I don't think there's supposed to be a supernatural element to the story, I think those are just mistakes). Alas though, we get a big dose of anachronistic heightened reality and our drama is transformed once again, this time into an absurdist fairytale for adults, that is not so enticing as it should be (I must also note irritably that when the most powerful aphrodisiac in the world is unleashed apparently the world is populated merely with heterosexual couples and lesbians. It's a little quibble, but exactly the sort of little quibble that run rampant all over this film).

Sadly, it is also at this point that the voiceover, so effective in other parts of Perfume, lets us down, by implying that Jean-Baptiste has acquired a worldliness on his journeys, but there is no evidence of that in what we have just seen and it weakens those parts of the film that do succeed in catching our attention and even charming us.

Perfume is interesting and may be worth renting for those with particular interest in the story or the struggle to tell stories of this nature, but prepare to be disappointed.



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Julian Rouas Paris

If you’re looking for a special gift for a woman you know, perfume is always a good choice. It’s also always nice to save money, so here is a round-up of some of the best selling perfume for women, under $50.

5th Avenue Eau de Parfum Spray 1 fl oz – Average Street Price: $40

5th Avenue’s Eau du Parfum Spray offers a floral bouquet, that’s not overpowering. The top notes include delicate fragrances like lilac, mixed with stronger fragrances like magnolia. The heart notes bring in some spice, with nutmeg, ginger and a hint of violet. The bottom notes are finished off with amber, sandalwood and vanilla. This perfume is perfect for a woman who likes floral scent, but prefers a little spicy mystery too.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Revealed Eau de Parfum Touch-On Pen .23 fl ounces – Average Street Price $20

This timeless classic scent is now available in a handy touch-pen, which makes quick applications even easier. The size is small, which is necessary for its on-to-go usage, but it should last for a longer time, if used sparingly. The top notes include pink peony and mackay orchid, while the heart notes bring in a little bit of lily and orange flower petals. A stronger musk base is layered with black amber for a finishing touch.

Passion for Women Eau de Toilette Spray 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) Average Street Price: $39.00

This perfume has been a favorite for many women for decades. It blends in some oriental notes with ylang ylang and jasmine, but livens up these sometimes heavy scents with top notes of roses and lily of the valley. The bottom notes give this perfume its signature appeal, and include Indian sandalwood, American cedarwood with a touch of incense. This perfume can be heavy, if over applied, but with just the right amount, it’s an interesting mix of floral and musk scents.

Urban Decay Fragrance – Average Street Price $29.50

Urban Decay has quickly come on the market as one of the hottest new perfume manufacturers. This signature fragrance is light and airy and perfect for a younger woman, or any woman who enjoys a mix of fruity and earthy scents. The top notes include Yuzu, which is a citrus tree found in Japan, as well as grapefruit. The bottom notes of lavender, oceanic musk combine well with the heart note of fresh-cut grass. This is truly a fun perfume that is not overpowering.

Curious by Britney Spears Eau de Parfum, Spray 1 fl oz – Average Street Price $29.50

Curious has been a hit with younger buyers and offers a fruity mix of Anjou pears with the stronger scent of Louisiana magnolias. The bottom notes include vanilla and sandalwood, to balance out the fruity and flowery notes. The heart notes provide an interesting completion by mixing star jasmine with pink cyclamen.

Calvin Klein CK Be Eau de Toilette Pour/Spray 1.7 fl oz (50 ml) – Average Street Price $28.00

While this scent never enjoyed the popularity of CK One, it is still a favorite for many buyers. The second unisex cologne from Calvin Klein is a bit heavier than the first and includes notes of bergamot, juniper berry and white musk. The heart notes bring in a spicier tone mixed with fruit, while the bottom notes finish off the scent with sandalwood and tonka bean.

BVLGARI Black Eau de Toilette 1.3 fl oz (40 ml) - Average Street Price: $46.00

Bvlgari Black is another unisex favorite that is meant to last for hours. This is a perfect fragrance for a woman who doesn’t want to have to keep reapplying her perfume throughout the day. The top notes include black tea and bergamot, while the heart notes even the balance with cedar and vanilla. The spicy bottom notes include sandalwood and musk and provide a strong base for the above notes.




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