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Last night Jeff and I had an ice cream run. We needed it because we had not left the house in two days. So, just before the store closed, we ran in, grabbed our ice cream and drove home in the wind and rain.
He grabbed his usual pint of Ben & Jerry’s and I grabbed my favorite naturally sweetened ice cream line made by Luna and Larry’s called Coconut Bliss. They make the most fantastic coconut ice cream I’ve ever had. I’ve written about them before, but my taste buds made me promise to write something again this morning.
I chose Dark Chocolate, which I have not had in a long time. It was the sweetest, most decadent surprise. The last pint of Coconut Bliss I finished off was Strawberry Lemon Love. The strawberry flavor was incredible and creamy, but the lemon was a little icy and tasted quite sour. Normally lemon is my leading lady, but I could do without this version. It just didn’t seem to have the oomph that I’ve come to enjoy in this line of ice creams. I found myself diving for strawberry in an ocean of sour lemon.
The dark chocolate is either pure heaven on earth, or my palate has become so jaded and needy that my opinion does not count. Eating no white refined sugar or corn syrup has changed the tolerance of my taste buds quite severely. It’s a good thing for me, but when it comes to being a good judge of sweetness and flavor, I’m not the one to ask. Anything with a drop of honey makes my taste buds happy and satisfied. It was only a year and a half ago that my taste buds would not shut up unless I got them drunk on huge amounts of sugar: cookies, donuts, candy, chocolate and cake to name a few of my old favorites. Although I’ve always been a fairly good judge of flavor, since last year when my palette adapted to smaller amounts of sweetness, I’ve had to acknowledge that a sugar-free tongue is not the right judge in a sugar-laden world.
It’s been a dark and rainy spring here so far in the northwest. Day after day of cold gray skies, rainy outbursts and spittle. No sunshine. So, it was a special moment last night when I experienced joy from a delicious spoonful of dark chocolate coconut ice cream. Jeff agreed to stay up late to watch Casablanca for his first time which added to the thrill. My favorite movie….my favorite ice cream….I felt like a kid again. Isn’t the psychology of desserts a strange and mysterious thing?
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bliss Ice Cream Ingredients: Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water, Guar Gum), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Fair Trade Cocoa, Organic Fair Trade Vanilla Extract
Casablanca: Not only is this romantic drama set during World War II, it was filmed during World War II. One of the best films ever made. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca_(film)
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Being a mother is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Add to that being a working mother, trying to uphold celebrity status and you’ve got another story. April Zangl, founder of April Rain Skin Science, hopes to ease the burden (and need) to stay young and beautiful in the celebrity spotlight for a few celebrity moms (and moms-to-be). This Mother’s Day, April Rain has partnered with Distinctive Assets and will be positively drenching the skin of Hollywood’s hottest and hardest working A-list moms with the Day and Night Rainew Collection. Among those who will be so lucky to receive the “Mother’s Day in Hollywood” gift box include: Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, Gwen Stefani, Rebecca Romijn, Ashlee Simpson, Jamie-Lynn Spears, Minnie Driver, Amy Poehler, Elisabeth Röhm, Tori Spelling, Michelle Monaghan, Alyson Hannigan, Alison Sweeney, Julie Bowen, Kelly Rutherford, Angie Harmon, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, ElinWoods, Nicole Richie, Nicole Sullivan, Constance Marie, Lisa Marie Presley, Tisha Campbell-Martin and Camila Alves.
The Rainew Collection includes the ultra hydrating Night Rainew and the multi-dimensional Day Rainew. Both products are power packed with the rejuvenating proprietary HydroPeptide, intensive time-released hydrators, and organic antioxidants that provide super-defense and create wrinkle-resistant skin. The superior collagen building properties of both these products left every clinical consumer study participant saying their skin looked smoother and 90 percent with less wrinkles.
Although April Rain will be pampering the skin of these posh ladies with the luxurious Rainew Collection, April hopes that these celebrity moms will be instrumental in spreading her mission and the word about “Beauty for Pure Water.” For every Rainew product sold, a portion of profits will be donated to Charity Water (charity: water), a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
Most of us have never really been thirsty, but currently 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. Even in tough economic times, it is important to remember those suffering around the world in need of our help. America is focused on overcoming this recession, but with our commitment to change it’s still necessary to help others. That is why April Rain Skin Science remains socially conscious and continues its charitable support of Charity Water.
“Sometimes I feel like my day is so hectic juggling between work and being a new mother,” said April Zangl. “But when I learned that some women have to walk more than three hours every day just to get fresh drinking water and 4,500 children die every day from water related diseases, I was overwhelmed with feelings of heart break, humility and desperation. I was desperate to do my part and that’s why I decided to donate a portion of profits to Charity Water. I’m hoping we can all lend a hand to every mother this Mother’s Day, whether it is by way of charity: water, or by way of prestige beauty product.”
April Rain Skin Science is available at www.aprilrain.com and at prestige beauty retail locations nationwide. For more information about April Rain and “Beauty for Pure Water”, visit www.aprilrainskinscience.com. For more information about Charity Water, visit www.charitywater.org.
About April Rain Skin Science, Inc.
April Rain’s passion is to formulate fresh science with pure nature skin treatments that create clinically proven results for people who are serious about achieving truly younger, radiant and more beautiful skin. April Rain is not only obsessed with healthy skin but with helping people by supporting charity: water, a non profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Positively drenching your skin with fresh science from April Rain.
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If you’re experiencing the post-pink slip blues, American Laser Centers wants to hear your story. The largest provider of aesthetic services in the U.S. is encouraging people to tell their lay off story for a chance to win a Pink Slip Pick-Me-Up Rejuvenation Package valued at $10,000. The $10,000 Grand Prize includes a Skin Rejuvenation package, VelaShape cellulite reduction package, laser hair removal package and a prize pack of American Laser Centers’ exclusive skin care products. Fifty first prize winners will also be chosen to receive a $1,500 American Laser Centers gift certificate for use in one of their 220 centers located across the country.
From April 1, 2009 to May 15, 2009, people can visit www.americanlaser.com to enter their pink slip essay. Essays may not exceed 350 words and may not include the business name of the entrant’s former place of employment. Essays will be judged on uniqueness of the contestant’s experience, the impact the layoff has had on his or her life and the clarity of the essay. Winners of the Pink Slip Pick-Me-Up promotion will be notified by July 1, 2009. For additional information on how to enter and official rules visit www.americanlaser.com.
“These are undeniably stressful times and the environment is taking a toll on our bodies both physically and mentally,” said Rich Morgan, founder of American Laser Centers. “We know there are some extremely deserving individuals who could use a post layoff ‘pick-me-up’ and we’re looking forward to hearing their stories.”
Grand Prize Skin Rejuvenation Package Details
1. Skin Rejuvenation Package - The Grand Prize winner will be given the choice to choose from one of the following three skin rejuvenation packages:
- Affirm Skin Rejuvenation - This treatment targets fine lines, acne scars and leathery skin using the ultra-precise Combined Apex Pulse (CAP) technology. The laser stimulates the skin’s inner and outer layers to contract, which improves the skin’s texture, eliminating scars, wrinkles and even years of sun damage.
- Skin Tightening - Unlike treatments that paralyze or mechanically tighten your skin, ALC’s Skin Tightening treatment stimulates natural, healthy processes inside your skin that make it look and act younger and firmer using clinically-tested infrared and radio frequency (RF) energies to stimulate healthy collagen to naturally fill in wrinkles at the jaw line, around your eyes, at your brow line and around your mouth and cheeks.
- FotoFacial - This specially-designed skin rejuvenation treatment targets darker, pigmented lesions and stimulates new collagen production and eliminates older, outer skin layers through Laser, RF energy and Microdermabrasion to reveal your newly-toned and revitalized skin.
2. VelaShape Package - VelaShape is an FDA-approved, completely non-invasive treatment for cellulite reduction and body re-contouring using externally-applied energy to lessen the appearance of cellulite and measurably reduce the circumference of the arms, thighs, love handles, abdomen or other designated treatment areas.
3. Laser Hair Removal Package - American Laser Centers offers the best energy-based laser hair removal treatments available, combining effective laser hair removal technology with versatile and safe radio-frequency (RF) therapy. The advanced, FDA-approved laser hair removal system combines pulsed, high-intensity light with carefully-modulated RF energy to deliver an unprecedented combination of safety, versatility and effectiveness for virtually all hair and skin colors.
American Laser Centers is the largest and most successful provider of laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and cellulite reduction therapy, with more than 220 locations in the United States. The company has performed more than two million aesthetic treatments since its founding in 2002. American Laser Centers offers clients laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, body contouring and cellulite reduction therapy treatments using state-of-the-art-technology under a doctor-supervised regimen. American Laser Centers is proud to offer the industry’s only written two-year guarantee for laser hair removal.
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Iconic Labs, LLC announced today the launch of its exclusive new Kumaara Anti-Aging Skincare beauty line, a collection of six premium topical anti-aging skincare products formulated with Linefactor, a scientifically advanced growth factor protector, and a potent certified organic berry blend of Indian Gooseberry, Goji and Açaí antioxidant super-fruit extracts. The second beauty brand developed especially for Iconic Labs’ direct-to-consumer online sales model, Kumaara Anti-Aging Skincare is sold exclusively at www.kumaara.com allowing the company to reduce its pricing while increasing the potency of the products.
Kumaara Anti-Aging Skincare combines the most effective, time-proven, natural and organic antioxidants with modern science to promote rapid skin cell renewal and repair, and to stimulate collagen production — all resulting in a visible reduction in fine lines and wrinkles with renewed, youthful skin density, texture, firmness and elasticity. Kumaara Anti-Aging skincare is comprised of three product groups designed to promote around-the-clock skin protection and rejuvenation with special emphasis on the delicate eye area skin.
The Day-Night Skin Ritual is composed of two products — A Daily Antioxidant Protection enhanced with SPF15 to both repair and protect the skin during the day and an Overnight Repair Complex to optimize the makeup free recovery and rejuvenation opportunities during sleep.
The second ritual is Daily Glow, a Luminescent Primer that employs the brightening qualities of organic Bearberry and natural Mica to provide a flawless finish before makeup that simultaneously protects the skin and prevents daytime moisture loss.
Finally, the Total Eye Renewal ritual focuses on the repair and full rejuvenation of the delicate skin around the eyes prone to fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness. The Luminizing Eye Treatment brightens under-eye skin and reduces puffiness while the Daily Antioxidant Eye Serum decreases fine lines and wrinkles. The Radiant Finish Concealer is a final touch to hide blemishes and skin imperfections. Radiant Finish Concealer is offered in both light/medium and medium/dark shades so as to enhance any skin tone and type.
Iconic Labs sought out some of the most respected beauty rituals on earth for Kumaara. Research has now verified that the Indian Gooseberry is one of the most antioxidant potent super-fruits available on earth. To this, Iconic Labs added organic Goji berry, long used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase longevity, and organic Açaí berry from the Amazon rainforest, a robust healing fruit rich in antioxidants. Combining these natural anti-oxidants with the patented growth factor protector Linefactor has resulted in a potent, anti-aging elixir used in a transforming ritual that stimulates skin repair, helps to prevent free-radical damage, and that promotes a smooth, glowing, youthful complexion.
Other cutting edge ingredients include: Dermaxyl, a potent Oligopeptide that stimulates increased collagen and elastin production; Matrixyl 3000, a proven Tetrapeptide designed to lift and firm skin for effective wrinkle reduction; Oligogeline, a red seaweed extract that forms a protective, moisturizing layer that encourages skin cell renewal; Actiflow, a Polysaccharides-rich compound that brightens under-eye circles; and Eyeseryl, a Tetrapeptide that enhances skin elasticity and smoothness while significantly reducing under eye puffiness in as few as 15 days.
In keeping with the company’s innovative new head-to-toe approach to beauty, the Iconic Labs portfolio also features the OOKISA Hair Thickening Système sold exclusively online at www.OOKISA.com. Iconic Labs’ focus on healthy formulations includes a commitment to products that are paraben-free, colorant-free, hormone-free, sulfate-free and cruelty-free.
For additional information about the Kumaara Anti-Aging Skincare line, please visit www.kumaara.com. Media inquiries please contact kumaara @ launchpadpr.com.
About Iconic Labs, LLC
Iconic Labs is a newly founded, Los Angeles-based health and beauty company dedicated to the development and marketing of innovative, premium beauty products delivered directly to the consumer such as its flagship brand of hair care products – the OOKISA Hair Thickening Système – and the recently launched Kumaara Anti-Aging line.
Founded on the premise that modern beauty should integrate advanced science with the benefits and wisdom of indigenous ingredients and beauty rituals, every brand within the Iconic Labs portfolio is committed to a health-benefit formulation philosophy. Founded by seasoned and committed beauty industry experts, Iconic Labs creates products that provide tangible, visible benefits at attainable price points.
For additional information, please visit www.iconiclabs.com.
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