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30 Sep 2014
Jurlique Rose Duo
Jurlique is an Australian brand which was started in 1985 by a husband & wife dedicated to harnessing the power of nature to create incredibly effective products. Their ethos was Nature + Science = Beauty and to this day Jurlique develop high performance skincare, using potent, biodynamic (Biodynamics is a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutrition), organic and natural ingredients sourced the world over.
Jurlique have an Organic Farm in the Adelaide Hills of Australia where the magic happens and this was the brain child of the founders Dr Jurgen Klien and his wife Ulrike, a Horticulturist and a Botanist with passion for combining nature with science to deliver natural skincare with long lasting effects. To this day the farm is thriving and its where many of the herbs, flowers and plants are grown for Jurliques products.
Jurlique is also a brand with an emphasis on the environment, they are committed to sourcing their ingredients from sustainable fair trade suppliers and use biodegradable & recyclable materials in their packaging. As a brand Jurlique is always helping to support the empowerment of women all over the world with their Ideas Of Beauty Fund which is not for profit, it focuses on supporting ideas that empower and educate women & children globally.
The more I learn about Jurlique the more I'm proud to use their products & support the brand and the work they do in Science, Botany, Horticulture and all aspects of their environmental goals. I have been using Jurlique products for a good 10 years & I love seeing my family & friends discover this brand too. I know its cheesy but this is a brand that isn't just putting product on our shelves, they are involved in so many worthwhile projects throughout the world. Its so nice to see a brand giving back.
If you've read my blog for a while you will know how much I like using face mists & in particular this Rosewater Balancing Mist so I was very excited to receive it as part of this Blooming Roses Indulgent Collection* alongside the Rose Body Oil, which is a product I have never tried. They come packaged in a beautiful rose illustrated box and is just perfect for a pampering treat.
The Rosewater Balancing Mist comes in a frosted white glass bottle, it feels weighty and luxurious. It's always within reach on my desk as I like to spray it throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated, soothed and feeling fresh. I know that for many people rose products make them think of old fashioned products aimed at more mature women but that is so not the case with the Jurlique Rose range. It does smell floral but in a fresh and relaxing way not in an overpowering stuffy way. So don't let yourself overlook this range just because it is Rose based, because it is a very light and perfect for skin that needs soothing.
The 100ml bottle lasts me a couple of months & I use it all the time, so its well worth investing in. The product comes out in a light mist that gently covers your skin & doesn't spray out like a jet soaking you & giving you the fright of your life (that has happened to me before with quite a few facial toners). I love how it stops my skin from drying out and the rose scent is very uplifting and calming. A few spritz of this throughout the day leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated.
- Marshmallow and glycerin help prevent moisture loss and intensely hydrate and soften skin.
- Rose and aloe vera soften, sooth and calm the skin.
- Grapefruit seed extract provides antioxidant protection.
Rose Body Oil, as I said this is a product from Jurlique that I had never tried before. I do like using body oils and the way they hydrate and keep my skin soft especially in the colder months. I have been using this body oil as a treatment for my very dry legs and it has been working wonders. Its light non greasy texture is easy to massage in to the skin, easily absorbed and you need very little product. Its an effective way of really targeting very dry and sensitive skin.
- Rosemary invigorates, restores and rebalances oiliness.
- Chamomile and Lavender soothe and restore skin radiance, while Macadamia and Jojoba Oils soften skin.
- Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection.
So not only is this hydrating and calming but it is soothing and ideal for using in the evening before bed as the sent is so very relaxing. This has been a real treat for me these past few weeks and as the weather gets colder I know my skin is going to feel the benefits.
Let me know what your favourite Jurlique products are & if you have tried either of these products.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.
7 Sep 2014
My Holiday Skincare – Amsterdam Edit
At the end of August I spent a week in Amsterdam, its a city I have visited a couple of times before & I just love it there. Its such a beautiful and vibrant city. I thought I would share with you my travel skincare. I must say I was very pleased with myself as I normally over pack & this time I was determined to pack light & take samples and sachets which I had been hoarding for a while now.
First up is my blue and white polka dot Dirty Works wash bag, this was so handy as I was able to hang it up in my hotel bathroom & have easy access to all of my toiletries. It has two small compartments & a much larger one at the bottom with a zip.
In the top compartment I had:-
Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser in Vanilla Berry Sorbet. I never leave home without one of these bottles & once in Amsterdam I transferred it to my handbag.
Essence Makeup Wipes* – I used these as hand wipes & found them very useful. I used all 15 wipes throughout the week
Razor / Tweezers / Hair Bobble & Earbuds – All necessities.
In the middle compartment are my sachets & I had been hoarding so many. They're perfect for holiday.
I took 7 Kleenex Face Cloths instead of my normal muslin cloths as they took up less space and I didn't have to bring them back in my suitcase. These Kleenex Face Cloths have been discontinued
Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask – I love using eye masks & these ones are so hydrating and calming. I also took a set of the DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips Eyes – Another pack of eye masks. I like to sleep in these ones, so when I wake up my under eyes look fresh and my concealer doesn't sink into my fine lines.
Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Sheet Mask – These are so nice after a long day sight seeing and just keep your skin looking plump and hydrated. It's cooling on the skin and once you take the mask off you can pat in the remaining Hydraluron (don't want to waste that).
Bio Beaute NUXE – I didn't need to use this Moisturiser so I have it saved for my next trip
Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream – This was a very lightweight moisturiser and it had a velvet finish. It wore very well under my foundation. I'm tempted to purchase the full size of this.
Garnier Ultra Lift Moisturiser – I like how smoothing and hydrating this Garnier cream is. It always makes my skin feel instantly soft.
Garnier Mineral Invisible Deodorant – I normally use a natural deodorant which is in a glass bottle & didn't want to take that away so bought this Garnier one. It was good but I do prefer to use a natural one & didn't bring this back home with me.
Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner - LOVE the sun kissed glow this gives. It looks so even and natural. Its one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. I couldn't go away without it. It helps my legs look 100% better than they usually do.
REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion – This smells lovely & grown up. It was the perfect size for 7 days & I used it all up in that time.
Batiste Dry Shampoo – No one wants greasy hair! I always have a mini can for when I travel. It's not my favourite dry shampoo but it does a good job.
Tresemme Heat Defence – Just a good lightweight heat protector. Since having my haircut short I do use heat a more often than I used to so I had to bring this with me to stop my hair drying out & I will purchase the full size.
Elemis Revitalise Me Shampoo & Conditioner – These were really nice and hydrating and left my hair feeling nourished and glossy.
Moroccanoil Treatment Oil – This is very nourishing and helps keep frizz at bay. I like how smooth and silky my hair feels after using this.
Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm – This is a lovely gentle balm cleanser with tiny granules in so it exfoliates away all the dead skin and leaves your skin feeling very smooth. It also removes every last scrap of makeup so you're skin feels very clean and fresh. I loved using this each night and will purchase the full size.
Radical Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum* – I love this serum & it keeps my skin looking glowing and healthy. I save it for special occasions & holiday.
Bioderma – Can we just have a moment for how cute this mini bottle is. I like using this to remove my eye makeup as its gentle and you don't have to rub at your eye.
Merumaya Treatment Toner* – After a long day sight seeing and being in the elements this helped to keep my skin hydrated, bright and feeling soft. It feels very fresh on the skin and has that recognisable Merumaya scent (which I love).
ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum – The only product I used on my face over night & I LOVE this serum so much. If you need to wake up with skin that looks well rested and very healthy then this is the serum for that job. It is like great skin in a bottle. I don't think I have used a serum / oil that is this nourishing. I only have good things to say about it & could go on all day. I have spoke about it many times on my blog.
Murad Essential C Eye Cream – This wasn't very gentle & stung my eyes. I have used a couple of other products from this range & really liked them but this eye cream wasn't a hit for me & after 2 days I stopped using it.
Apivita Face Cream SPF50 – This didn't break me out & wasn't too greasy. It was quite thick when I first applied it but after It was massaged in it felt nice on my skin & I like to wear SPF50 on my face. Even though we had mostly rain you can never be too careful.
Let me know if you think I managed to pack light for a weeks holiday. Also let me know what you take away with you.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own
30 Jul 2014
M Asam Perfect Teint II Review
I have been testing a few skincare items over the past couple of weeks from Ideal World, which is a TV shopping channel and they also have an online shop. I have been putting 5 products to the test & I thought I would share with you one of my favourites so far. It is by the brand M. Asam, which is a German cosmetic company founded in 1963, I had never heard of this brand before and being a skincare addict I like testing out new products but I'm always slightly worried that I will upset my routine or that something will break me out. Thankfully this product has been no trouble for my skin so thats a massive plus.
This M. Asam Perfect Teint II* is a product for reducing the appearance of fine lines, controlling oil and giving your a skin a smooth base for applying your makeup. The first thing that struck me about this product is its constancy, it feels so light and fluffy almost like a mousse. It takes a little getting used to how much to apply but I learnt that less is more, it is easy to smooth over the skin and dries down to quite a matte finish. It feels very light on my skin and once it had been on my skin for a couple of minutes It felt very soft and hydrating.
You apply this after your moisturiser but I would say that if you use quite a hydrating serum you could get away with using this instead of a moisturiser, especially if you don't like to layer your products that much. This leaves my skin velvety smooth and my foundation glides on over the top and helps give me a flawless finish. I have been reaching for this most days during this crazy heat wave we have been having as it helps keep my foundation from slipping off my face and also controls my oily T Zone. I would say this is essentially a smoothing primer & a damn good one at that.
I have to say I was a little sceptical at first as I had never heard of this brand but after using this Perfect Teint II I'm intrigued to try more. This product is an oily girls best friend & it does a pretty good job of smoothing the fine lines, some of my wrinkles are just too big for this to smooth but I think thats to be expected, it still makes my skin look even, natural and my foundation looked so good over the top. This cream doesn't really have a scent, my husband thinks it slightly floral but I can't make a scent out, either way its not overpowering.
The packaging feels luxurious and the product is in a nice frosted glass jar with a bright green lid.
M Asam Perfect Teint II – £24.99 for 50ml.
Let me know if you have tried anything from this brand before & if you have any product recomendations. Also let me know if you have any experience shopping with Ideal World.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own
26 Jul 2014
The Mio Big Beach Countdown Box
If you didn't know, You Beauty Discovery offer Limited Edition Boxes throughout the year & they tend to have a theme. I have tried a few now & loved everyone of them. The one I am reviewing today is aimed at getting your body Summer Ready, so ideal if you're heading off somewhere beachy on your summer holiday. These boxes are always jam packed full to the brim with products, food, and lifestyle extras such as vouchers. Its a great mix of new things to discover and inspire you. With this box You Beauty Discovery have teamed up with Mio Beauty for the Big Beach Countdown & In this box you get,
- Mio QuickStart (200ml)
- Mio The A Cream (150ml)
- Mio Fitness Band
- Mio Exfoliating Glove (1 per box)
- Mio Gym Bag
- Mio voucher £10 off your first online Mio purchase
- Bodyism Clean & Lean – 1 Day Body Brilliance Supplement Sachet (10g sachet)
- The Chia Co. – Black Chia Pouch (150g)
- Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing – Exclusive 3-Day Gym Pass for you and a friend
- Champneys Health Spa – Exclusive Mio Treatment voucher entitling the holder to a 55 minute treatment for just £39 (RRP £65)
Mio is a new brand to me but once I did a little research about it I quickly discovered its a very popular and highly recommend brand. You get two Mio products in this box & they're both really good, I have been using them in the morning & they make the perfect duo.
Mio – The A Cream 150ml – this is a firming body cream that you apply it to damp skin so I use it after I shower in the morning. I have been focusing this on my legs & bust (yes that needs firming too). Its in a very handy pump bottle & I use a few pumps for each leg & one pump everywhere else. The cream itself is quite light and absorbs quickly in to my skin leaving it feeling cool, smooth and very hydrated. Thats one thing I really noticed is that this is very moisturising and my legs have never felt as soft & smooth.
This cream has lots of skin benefits 'The A Cream is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, organic Shea Butter, Hyaluronic Acid, organic Avocado, Sweet Almond, Coconut and Blueberry Seed Oils. Your skin will be soft, balanced, deeply moisturised and strong.'
So this cream is perfect if you need to give your body a boost of hydration whilst leaving it looking radiant and restoring skins elasticity and firmness. I'm seeing improvements and hope by the time I go on my holidays my legs are looking their best. I also noticed that Mio suggests using this as an aftersun lotion as it is naturally cooling & in this heat I have been taking full advantage of that.
Mio Quick Start Exhilarating Shower Gel 200ml – The first thing you notice about this shower gel is its spearmint scent, its minty, zingy and exhilarating and the perfect way to kick start your day. 'This multitasking motivator cleanses, stimulates, brightens and nourishes in one healthy hit. It's the surefire way to kickstart your day – with fresh Spearmint and Caffeine'. This is a very nice shower gel & does leave my skin feeling clean, soft and there are no nasties such a sulphates, or harsh chemicals.
If you have been wanting to try Mio Skincare for a while then this box is a good excuse as the Mio products alone are worth more than double what you pay for the entire box & you will get all the extras too.
The Chia Co Black Chia 150g – I am no stranger to Chia Seeds & have them in my juices & often on my porridge. They're are a rich source of Omega 3, fibre and proteins. They're also a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidents. Its suggested that you eat a table spoon of Chia everyday – adding it to salads, yoghurt, porridge or whatever you desire. They have virtually no taste & are a great supplement to a healthy diet. Chia is a complete plant based protein containing all eight essential amino acids & if like me you are Vegan then this can be hard to find & Chia Seeds are an easy efficient way of getting your amino acids.
You also get a Mio Exfoliating Glove which is great to use with the Mio Shower Gel & a very good way of getting the circulation going in the morning and exfoliate away all the dead skin to keep your skin looking bright, smooth and Summer ready. They suggest that you use this on dry skin, but that just feels a little weird to me & I much prefer to use it in the shower.
Mio Fit Band – I must admit, I haven't used this much yet, but as I said I am on the 4 week countdown to my holiday so I do plan on using it & getting a little more toned. Mio have printed suggested exercises on the band so thats very helpful. This is bright orange & would be ideal to take away with you if you wanted to exercise whilst away from home but you were limited on space. So I look forward to tightening my stomach & lifting my butt ready for my holiday.
Mio Gym Bag – This is bright orange & pink & would be great for the gym but my niece pinched it from me & is using it for her swimming kit. So she is one happy 6 year old.
Body Brilliance – The Clean & Lean 10g sachet – With high-quality, well-being and a happy life in mind, this burst of protein, fibre, minerals, greens, herbs, fruits and vegetables comes in a deceivingly delicious chocolate flavour to curb any sweet cravings, whilst injecting the body with pure goodness. Im yet to try this yet but it says it has a chocolate taste so I am sure I will enjoy it.
Nuffield Health, Fitness & Wellbeing 3 Day Pass for you & a friend – So if you live near a Nuffield Centre then this is a great way of testing out their facilities & seeing if its somewhere you'd like to join. Nuffield offer a huge variety of classes in every one of the 65 Fitness & Wellbeing Centres across the UK.
You also get a £10 voucher to redeem at mioskincare.co.uk
Worth over £100, the YOU Beauty Discovery Mio "Big Beach Countdown" Limited Edition Box is available to members and non-members alike for just £16.95* So be quick if you want to get your hands on one.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own
20 Jul 2014
Moisturising Facial SPF from Balance Me
Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25* £26.00
When it comes to SPF and protecting my skin from the sun I haven't always been very good at it, although I have been a lot better in my 30's than I was in my 20's. I know most damage is done before we are 20 but we still need to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of sun damage no matter what age we are. We are all becoming a little more sun aware & with products like this Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser its getting easier to protect ourselves. I have been vigilant at applying a facial SPF this year & without fail I have worn at least SPF25. I have made applying a broad spectrum SPF part of my skincare regime & it's a step I will not miss out.
Balance Me have this Natural Protection Moisturiser with SPF25 and it is for all skin types, It is quite a creamy white consistency (fairly lightweight) takes a little massaging in but once you have left it to absorb for a few minutes there is absolutely no white cast on your skin, you can apply your foundation over the top if you wish without it feeling greasy or like you have too many layers of product on. I think it makes a good base, hydrating and slightly dewy too.
Balance Me say 'Our rich yet easily absorbed SPF 25 face cream is specially designed to care and protect skin in everyday life. To support your skin's own defence system, our SPF 25 moisturiser contains an innovative natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter to block out both UVA and UVB rays. A blend of super hydrating hyaluronic acid and powerful anti-oxidant blackberry leaf extract with essential fatty acid-rich rosehip, camellia, kukui nut and jojoba oils work gently yet effectively to soothe, firm and shield your precious skin as well as enhancing the activity of the sun filter.
So this SPF is packed full of skin benefits which whilst protecting your skin from sun damage that will in turn help reduce the signs of premature ageing, shield it from environmental aggressors and keep it hydrated this is definitely a product to have in your skincare routine. The fact that it's not only a very good SPF but also a very effective moisturiser mean that you don't have to apply as many products whilst still giving your skin maximum protection from both UVA rays which penetrate deeper & are responsible for premature ageing & are always present even during the winter and UVB rays which cause your skin to burn & are stronger during the summer months.
The top photo is me starting to massage the moisturiser into my hand and the bottom photo shows you that after a few minutes the cream has been absorbed and there is no residue and no white cast.
This contain Hyluronic Acid which is a bit of a beauty buzz word at the moment & we are all looking for products that contain it – its good because it provides your skin with deep hydration & it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. This is good for delivering water to your skin and also hold it there to provide hydration, plump skin which helps reduce the size of your fine lines & wrinkles.
The thing that I like most is that it doesn't feel like you're wearing a heavy sun screen, its not tacky on the skin or greasy. This innovative formula has taken Balance Me over 2 years of research & it has been developed so it's even suitable for people with sensitive skin. Its lightweight formula is soothing, nourishing and doesn't block pores making it a great moisturiser to wear all year round. So you can benefit from not only its skincare benefits but its sun protecting qualities too. Thats a win win situation in my book. I want to keep the wrinkles and age spots at bay for as long as I can.
Let me know what facial SPF's you have been enjoying and let me know if you wear one on a daily basis?
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own
23 Jun 2014
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser
Oh WOW this is the perfect Summer Cleanser! The Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser* was released this month and seems to already have a cult following. I have been putting it to the test for about 5 weeks now and its slowly but surely become my go to Summer Scrub. First off is the fact it smells incredible, fresh & fruity so that makes it all the more pleasurable to use. I like to use it in the morning after I shower, the fresh citrus Grapefruit, Lemon and Spearmint zingy scent wakes me up and the gentle exfoliating scrubbing beads do the same to my skin. So I feel well and truly awake and energised.
The cleanser has a thick gel like texture and its bursting with lots light orange exfoliating beads, although this is a manual scrub, the scrubby beads feel very gentle and not scratchy at all. I like to gently massage this in to my skin focusing on my nose area (where I tend to get blackheads) then I leave it on my skin for a couple of minutes letting the energising Panax Ginseng and Coffee Bean Caffeine work their magic then I rinse with warm water and I'm left with glowing, smooth summer ready skin. This is really effective at removing dead skin cells and dirt & so boosting cell turnover to reveal vibrant skin. Also the gel like texture is very cooling on the skin and hydrating so your skin won't be left feeling stripped or tight.
This is a great 2 in 1 product as the gel cleanser removes makeup and dirt whilst the exfoliating beads help remove the dead skin and awaken dull tired complexion. The Orange packaging is eye catching and its another great addition to the GinZing range which already boasts a moisturiser (which I love), eye cream, mascara and eyeshadow.
If you like to use products that help promote a glowing healthy complexion then this is for you & as I said this really is a gentle yet effective scrub. You don't need to scrub your face off, just softly massage it in to your skin & rinse off.
The tube is 150ml & costs £18.50 so I'd say thats great value for money. Origins is available in larger Boots Stores, John Lewis Stores and online at www.origins.co.uk
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.
5 Jun 2014
REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser
I think we are all familiar with the Hot Cloth cleanser by now, massage on to dry skin & wipe away using a damp warm face cloth. They've become very popular in the beauty world and I for one really like using a Hot Cloth Cleanser in the evening, I find them to be relaxing and a great way to remove makeup and wipe away all the grime & dirt from the day. So I was excited to use the REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser* which comes with a lovely 100% Cotton face cloth (perfect).
This Hot Cloth Cleanser is a rich two-phase cleanser that purifies, decongests, gently exfoliates and removes all make-up. It leaves skin refreshed, radiant, smoothed and replenished without dryness or tightness. The cleanser itself is very creamy and light in texture, I massage it in to my skin for a couple of minutes so it can start to breakdown my makeup and the dead skin cells. I also make sure to take it all across my eyes to loosen my eye makeup. This doesn't irritate my eyes at all, in fact this is a very gentle cleanser so don't be afraid to use it all over your face. It is gentle enough to be used on all skin types, this has a very mild rose scent but its so subtle you hardly know its there.
This does a really good job at removing my makeup and leaving my skin feeling clean and smooth, its not stripping so you won't experience that tight drying feeling (that I hate). I had never heard of Vitamin P but this cleanser contains it & a few more nourishing ingredients that help revive, soothe and decongest your skin. Let me know if you've heard of Vitamin P. The main bio extracts in this cleanser are
- Vitamin P from Rosa Centifolia protects the capillary venous system to decongest and soothe
- Triglycerides from Cocoa Seed Butter improve the skin barrier functions against moisture loss
- Rosa Damascena from Damask Rose Petals relieves and soothes skin
Since using this my complexion has been looking bright and the redness around my cheeks is reduced, I think because this has such a hydrating and soothing milky texture my skin isn't getting dried out or irritated, you don't need to be abrasive when washing it off. Just polish away the product using the cotton face cloth and then splash a little cold water on your face once it's clean to close your pores.
The packaging of this is really handy too, it comes with a pump which is great for dispensing just the right amount of product (also very hygienic), you can also see how much product you have left as you're able to see the cleanser through the clear packaging. So no panic when you come to use it & there is none left, you will get plenty of warning. If you like using a Hot Cloth Cleanser then I think you should give this one a go, you will be left with a healthy complexion and skin thats clean, hydrated and decongested. It gets two thumbs up from me.
This contains no parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, synthetic colours or scents.
REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser £16 for 150ml
I have also been testing out a few samples of the REN V-Cense Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial*, as I only have a couple of sachets to test out I can't tell you how this performs long term but I had enough for three uses & I'm already excited for this to go on sale so I can get the full size.
The way this works is you apply the light green coloured gel to your face & neck then massage a small amount of warm water to activate the Vitamin C and let it get to work brightening your complexion. You leave the product on your skin for 1 minute then you rinse with warm water and thats when the tiny exfoliating beads get to work by buffing and removing dead skin and help fight the signs of fatigue, boost skins radiance levels and reduce imperfections.
REN say – 'Discover a high-perfomance complexion boost that lasts 72 hours with the V-Cense Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial! A transformative gel-rinse that instantly revitalises and visibly rejuvenates the skin. Formulated with water activated Vitamin C, it neutralises 'urban grey' in a flash, removes blackheads and dead skin cells to reveal a firm, toned and smooth complexion.'
Its like a facial and a face mask in one and it only takes you one minute – perfect if your pushed for time. This has a lovely quite sweet chocolate orange scent with a hint of peppermint (how yummy does that sound). I have used the sachets I was given to try and I loved how instantly smooth and bright my skin looked & thats after 1 minute. So I imagine after a more long term use your complexion will look less dull and start to have that healthy glow we all long for. I liked using this in the morning so my skin looked healthy and fresh for the day ahead.
I think this is going to be a popular addition to the REN range, I mean who doesn't want quick no fuss skincare that gives results in just one minute. This V-Cense 1 minute facial isn't released until later this year, so this is a heads up, I will be treating myself to a bottle & getting onboard with the 1 minute facial. I don't know the exact release date of this but it will be £30 for 75ml.
Let me know what you favourite REN product is & if you like the sound of a 1 minute facial.
Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I've received at events. I'm under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.
4 Jun 2014
Holland & Barrett Big Beauty Swap
A heads up to all my lovely readers, you have until June 11th to take part in Holland & Barrett's Big Beauty Swap – they are encouraging everyone to bring their empty / half used products such as shampoo, shower gel and moisturiser to their local store and swap them for 25% discount off a huge selection of natural alternatives. So have a clear out & see what you can find.
Holland & Barrett are proud to only sell products that contain no nasties & this started 5 years ago when they banned toiletries containing chemical preservatives, such as parabens and sodium laurel sulphate (SLS), as part of their public commitment to natural beauty products.
So if you want to get involved in their Big Beauty Swap pop in to your local store armed with your empty products (which they will recycle). I'm a regular shopper in my local store and made the switch last year to use Natural Deodorant after having quite a severe allergic reaction to one that wasn't natural so I can highly recommend the Dr Organic Organic Deodorant (my deodorant of choice).
There are so many of my favourite brands included in the sale such as Burt's Bees, Dr Organic, Manuka Doctor, Dead Sea Spa & Montagne Face Masks. If you're unable to get in to your local store don't worry, the 25% discount is also available on their website until June 11th.
Let me know if you treat yourself to any of their natural beauty products, here is what I have my eye on.
28 May 2014
My Introduction to Decleor
I have been trying out this Decleor Lift & Fill Wrinkle Mask* from their Prolagene range, it is a mask more suitable to Mature Skin or for those of us that are seeing more lines and wrinkles appearing. It is for specifically targeting deep facial wrinkles, firming those areas and making them appear more plump.
This Prolagene Lift range is based around three active ingredients,
Iris Essential Oil (boosts skins elasticity // L-PROLINE Complex (amino acid for lifting and reshaping) // Hyaluronic Acids (plumping)
Together these drip feed a blend of highly concentrated active ingredients offering immediate hydration and instantly smoother skin. Along with the instant effects this also has long lasting effects due to the Lifting Filler that combined with the L-PROLINE Complex encourages intercellular communication to plump up wrinkles.
This has a gel cream formula that is absorbed quickly in to the skin & is suitable for all skin types, my skin is generally quite Oily but is also dehydrated around my eyes. I used this as directed twice a week as a targeted wrinkle treatment. I have quite deep wrinkle around my eyes and around my mouth. I applied a ten pence piece sized amount to those specific areas, I left it for 10 minutes then I massaged what product hadn't been absorbed in to those areas. I like to use this after cleansing and before bed. I see the best results that way.
I think another plus of this mask is the fact you don't need to wash it off, its fuss free. You just rub the extra product in to your skin. So it is easy to use where-ever you are and if you're pushed for time.
In terms of results it was quite remarkable as when I woke from using this the second time the wrinkles around my mouth were visibly reduced and not only that the area looked plump and very smooth, even my husband commented on how plump that area looked. I was very impressed with the results. Going forward and after having used this mask for 7 weeks, I think the results are undeniably good. My skin is looking smoother and my deep set wrinkles have been visibly reduced. My mum who is 56 (hello Linda) was right on this & she bought herself a tube after hearing me going on about it. I can see it visibly reducing her deep set wrinkles and I'd say her skin is looking plump too.
The packaging is nice and user friendly, it has a handy pump that dispenses just enough product without being messy or wasteful. The product is lightweight and highly absorbent so no greasy feeling here, but your skin still feels the benefits of it being extremely hydrating. You get 30ml of product and as it is a targeted treatment you barely use any product, I have a feeling this is going to last me at least a year.
So if you're in your late 30's + and are looking for a mask that delivers targeted results on not only the first signs of ageing but also deep set wrinkles then I urge you to give this Decleor Prolagene Lift Mask a try. I don't think I have ever used an at home mask thats delivered such reducing and plumping effects. Excuse me whilst I invest in the whole range.
This mask contains no mineral oil and is fragrance free.
Decleor Prolagene Lift : Lift & Fill Wrinkle Mask* 30ml for £32.00
25 May 2014
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF Giveaway
I'm really excited for this giveaway, if you read my blog you will know that I have found my Holy Grail Facial SPF & it is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Dry Touch Gel Cream SPF50+. This has changed the way I feel about facial SPF, it's lightweight, non greasy and wears really well under makeup. Its also broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection, so as we're approaching the summer this is the perfect time to test it out. I have worn it without fail everyday, rain or shine for the past 7 weeks.
I have 2 full sized products to give away & 2 super cute minis.
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Dry Touch Gel Cream SPF50+
- La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF50+
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Cream SPF50+
Please Be Aware of the following –
This giveaway is for UK residents only
The winner will contacted via Twitter / Email and have 48hrs to respond
It's open for one week and the winner will be announced on Monday 2nd June
This Prize was kindly provided by La Roche-Posay*
So follow the instructions below to enter – Good Luck.← Older Entries


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Free Lance-Star reporter Amy Umble covers Stafford County schools and other education issues
King George teachers to receive 2 percent raises
King George County schools employees will receive 2 percent raises effective January 1, based on the division's 2011–12 budget.
The School Board this evening unanimously approved a $30.4 million operating budget. That's about $918,000 less than members had requested from the county's Board of Supervisors, which controls the purse strings.
The division's budget does not include any job cuts, Superintendent Candace Brown said.
The School Board had hoped to give employees raises effective July 1, which is the start of the 2011–12 fiscal year. That would've cost $500,000.
But supervisors requested that the pay increases take effect Jan. 1, 2012. They also reduced money for health-insurance premiums for schools employees because those rates dropped.
Teachers haven't received raises since 2008.
In June, schools employees will receive $500 bonuses. Unlike raises, those one-time payments won't count toward retirement.
The School Board voted today to give the system's seven part-timers $250 bonuses in June—half of what full-time employees will receive. "That just seems logical—if you work half time you would get half the bonus," member Lynn Pardee said.
School Board member Dennis Paulsen cast the lone dissenting vote on the bonuses. He said he thought all employees, including part-timers, should receive $500.
The School Board approved the 2011–12 spending plan without discussion.
The budget process, however, has been contentious between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board.
Supervisors often complain that the School Board doesn't spend a lot of the money it receives each fiscal year.
A report by Finance Director Donita Harper in April 2010 showed that the School Board returned $4.6 million to the county from 1999 to 2009.
Last week, Paulsen sarcastically congratulated supervisors in an email for driving King George schools "to the very bottom of the state funding barrel."
He was referring to a Virginia Department of Education report that outlined how much local funding divisions received in 2009–10 above the state's minimum requirements.
King George exceeded the required amount by a little more than 2 percent—the lowest percentage of all the state's school systems.
Supervisors have argued that the annual report doesn't consider money spent on new schools or building improvements.
Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/chalkboard/2011/05/23/king-george-teachers-to-receive-2-percent-raises/

subset: commoncrawl


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We study emerging technology
Envisioning is an independent technology research foundation based in Brazil and nourished by the world.
We have a mission: to raise understanding about the implications of accelerating change.
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Founded in 2011 by Michell Zappa, Envisioning is a radically new type of organization designed for an accelerating future. Incorporated as a foundation and fundamentally ownerless, we are big believers in decentralized, global and interoperable teams.
We believe in substantially improving the level of understanding about the nature of technology in, for and with society. We believe it is possible to gently guide the direction of progress to tip the scales in our favor. Technology is a mystery constantly unfolding before us, but one we believe begs explanation.
Our worldwide forward-thinking network of collaborators are at the core of our operations. A worldwide group of academics, designers, hackers, coders and educators collaborate to build an institution dedicated to the study of technology.


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Book your room at Las Torres de Ugarte
Twin RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 1 infant)
Double RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 2 infants)
Triple RoomMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 2 children, 2 infants)
Superior Double RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 2 infants)
Quadruple RoomMax Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 4 infants)
Single RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)
Beaux Arts bed & breakfast in Arequipa with a complimentary breakfast
Situated in the city center, this bed & breakfast is close to Santa Catalina Monastery, Arequipa Cathedral, and Arequipa Plaza de Armas. Also nearby are Museum of Andean Sanctuaries and Society of Jesus Architectural Complex.
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A complimentary buffet breakfast is available. Las Torres de Ugarte also features complimentary wireless Internet access, a rooftop terrace, and dry cleaning/laundry services.
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In addition to premium cable television, guestrooms include beds with memory foam mattresses, complimentary wireless Internet access, and separate bedrooms.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Las Torres de Ugarte
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Laundry facilities
Hotel Amenities
Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. This Beaux Arts bed & breakfast also offers a rooftop terrace, a terrace, and tour/ticket assistance.
Las Torres de Ugarte has designated areas for smoking.
- Computer station
- Rooftop terrace
- Luggage storage
- Terrace
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Designated smoking areas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free Wi-Fi
- Year Built 1998
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
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- Dry cleaning/laundry service
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- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Laundry facilities
- Garden
- Free breakfast
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Number of floors - 3
- Number of buildings/towers - 2
- Total number of rooms - 17
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
Room Amenities
- Dial-up Internet access (complimentary)
- Individually decorated
- Memory foam mattress
- Deep soaking bathtub
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- Phone
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- Desk
- Premium bedding
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Premium TV channels
- Access via exterior corridors
- Shower only
- Cable TV service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Separate bedroom
Where to Eat
A complimentary buffet breakfast is served each morning between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM.
Spa Services
- Massages
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 1 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
Payment types
Pets allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
No elevators
Noise-free rooms not guaranteed
- The national sales tax (18%) is charged upon check-out to citizens of Peru regardless of length of stay and to foreigners staying in the country for 60 consecutive days or more. Foreigners who present a valid passport and Andean Migration Card (Tarjeta Andina de Migración) at check-in are exempt from this tax. Furthermore, the tax may apply per room when the room is shared by a taxable and a nontaxable guest.
We should mention
Reservations are required for massage services. Reservations can be made by contacting the bed & breakfast prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. Alcohol is not served or permitted at this property.


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After Barack Obama won the election, several Bush appointees running the war on terror came by our offices to sum up. On each visit, one point recurred: Coming into this world from the outside, they soon realized the scale of responsibility was larger than anything they had imagined. If the Hasan massacre at Fort Hood […]
Daniel Henninger: An Obama-GOP Entente on Terror – WSJ.com
January 14, 2010 by 2 Comments
Jacob Laksin is a senior writer for Front Page Magazine. He is co-author, with David Horowitz, of The New Leviathan (Crown Forum, 2012), and One-Party Classroom (Crown Forum, 2009). Email him at email@example.com and follow him on Twitter at @jlaksin.


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So you're saying her expression isn't acceptable, but some of her rationals behind it are?
So you're saying her expression isn't acceptable, but some of her rationals behind it are?
Not crying about it, but you seem to be trivializing a large part of history that killed millions of African people and damned their future generations to living without a clue of who they are and where they came from. And you don't whine about it as a British person because when you rule the world you aren't exactly at the bottom of the pit. No one's writing books about how your people are at the bottom of the so-called "bell curve" of intelligence. No one's writing books about how your people are the least attractive "apes" on the planet.
And no one's making comments about your people being eradicated from the Earth for being subhuman apes incapable of anything but being a lighter-skinned person's slave. When was the last time you were the first suspect of a crime, had the trial skipped, and was lynched for it simply because your skin is darker? When was the last time... Man, I can't with y'all right now, so I'll just say you got everything out of slavery but the burden, which we carry today, still, even though we aren't slaves.
And the topic isn't "bitching about slavery," it's just that it's important to know how that part of history still affects us now and how we're perceived everyday, which contributes to why Jenny has the opinions she does. It would be an injustice to discuss African-American history all the while conveniently omitting that huge part which made up 90% of our existence in this country. It wasn't an event that happened and just went away because slavery was outlawed; it was a mental and social breakdown of the African woman and the African man in America, which unfortunately doesn't break as easily as the physical chains.
But I don't believe you or pit or Jenny are capable of understanding this, with neither of you having to ever feel or be fully aware of the effects of this generational breakdown. Not slavery, but the breakdown.
Last edited by Prinnctopher's Belt; 22nd February 2012 at 04:27 AM.
"What does it mean for a civilization to be a million years old?"
So whats the solution? Your ancestors who were directly affected by slavery have suffered and passed on so how long do you plan on suffering on their behalf?Racism just is what it is and its always gonna exist and it isn't just white on black as some would have you believe.Racism exists in many cultures around the world based on ignorance and fear of others etc.. but why dont you just worry about you and your family and try and live your life.You cant live in the past or it forever holds you back,look at the jewish community they suffered just as many indignities and horrors.They were almost completely wiped off the face of the earth but they dont walk around with this victim mentality the whole time thinking that the world owes them something,they cracked on and made something of themselves.People resent them but speaking of british jews i'd say they put us non jewish folk to shame when it comes to getting educated and being successfull in life.Maybe the solution is to return to Africa and reclaim it,return to your ancestral home i dont know,would that work? What is it you actually want? Because if the answer is that you just dont wanna hear racist comment's then it's an unrealistic wish really,every race of human being of all skin types have derogatory remarks made about them on this earth and not just black people.
And relating persecution of the Jews to the systematic degradation of the African man and woman in America is not comparable. The Jews retained their heritage, culture, language, religion, etc. You retained yours as well. We had nothing to retain, no knowledge of past or self, not saying Africans are the only ones of every persecuted people in the history of the world to have had this done to them. After abolition, Africans had to start from blanks and assimilate into a nation, a culture, an entire society that didn't want us, and then had to fight just to be able to walk down the street or go to school, or be tried fairly, or just exist, for example.
Also, groups of African Americans did return to Africa so many years after their captivity, that when they returned, they weren't recognized and the nation which became known as Liberia, ironically, became a central capital of warfare between the African Americans who returned, and the people who were already there.
The "go back to Africa" chant doesn't work because we have become so assimilated to American culture, we have nothing in common there. Hence, a lost people struggling to fit in where we were born, but not wanted. Giving an excuse for racism and this woman's pathetically misinformed tirade is beyond revealing of one's ignorance of how the past has formed the present, particularly with regard to how slavery has directly influenced both states of "Black" America - the successful struggles, and the unfortunate shortcomings that are so obvious they don't even need to be mentioned. Yes, people today who are not in slavery are still affected by what happened during that period. It wasn't so long ago that it ended and it was only, what, not even 60 years ago were we fully legally able to get an equal education as our white peers.
But, it's always funny to see someone use the terms "victim mentality" whenever the history of Africans in America is discussed, as if people wake up in the morning and say "man, all of my people for the past 500+ years were slaves, and THAT'S why I didn't pay my bills this month!" Not at all. But for someone to speak so much vitriol about us, maybe it's helpful to be able to understand what contributed to producing the misconceptions about us and even the stereotypes among ourselves. It's a lot easier to just make ignorant remarks such as "screw those savage apes! leeches! toxic," than to make thoughtful, legitimate criticisms from at least a halfway informed perspective.
Last edited by Prinnctopher's Belt; 22nd February 2012 at 06:47 AM.
"What does it mean for a civilization to be a million years old?"
I believe slavery was more of a class issue than a race one, as there were millions of white indentured servants in Britain and America who suffered horrible treatment along with the black slaves. The rich tortured, exploited and built their dreams on the backs of the poor.
And Princtosopher's Belt, you sound as if you just escaped your slave master yesterday. Well, I got news for you, so did other oppressed peoples in other corners of the world. I believe we should worry about the poor citizens of Syria right now.
If I'm a Nobody, it's only because society has made it too Goddamn Stressful to be a Somebody. - Me
Reality bites. - Winona Ryder
"Ye who suffer, suffer from yourselves. No one else compels." Fuck that.
Athletes in general are overpaid, overvalued and overrated as people. The same goes for movie stars, politicians and pop singers.
Christ, would I like to fuck Charlize Theron.
If I'm a Nobody, it's only because society has made it too Goddamn Stressful to be a Somebody. - Me
Reality bites. - Winona Ryder
"Ye who suffer, suffer from yourselves. No one else compels." Fuck that.
On a slightly related note - but related enough to post here rather than make a separate thread - I just saw this on PBS earlier tonight: Slavery By Another Name
Wow... slavery in America through the 1940's.
"What does it mean for a civilization to be a million years old?"


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Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Heston Inspired Popcorn Ice Cream!
11 comments:
- Becca said...
That is simply inspired! I know they sell butter oil or whatever that butter flavoring it is. That would be so cool to have buttered popcorn ice cream!
- 12 July 2011 19:15
- Please Do Not Feed The Animals. said...
Wow - you are so creative!!! I love this idea.
- 12 July 2011 22:49
- Johanna GGG said...
a fascinating flavour - did you try softening the icecream and mixing a little with some finely chopped popcorn for the texture as well as the flavour - shame we probably wont get to taste the icecream in Australia
- 13 July 2011 07:08
- Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...
This is such a great idea! I can't wait until it's a bit warmer (it is currently sooo cold!) to make this :)
- 13 July 2011 11:00
- Stephanie said...
holy wow!!
- 15 July 2011 03:13
- A Trifle Rushed said...
I bought a carton the other day and it was delicious. Your version sounds great, all the flavour and texture! Wonderful!
- 15 July 2011 19:55
- Nic said...
I was going to try and make my own version too, yours looks brilliant!
- 16 July 2011 12:32
- Jan said...
I'm going to try and make my version as yours looks great! I sure hope that mine turn out as good as yours. great recipe!!
- 17 July 2011 08:05
- The Caked Crusader said...
Your ice cream looks such a lovely texture - mine's always been a bit grainy
- 18 July 2011 08:21
- Monica H said...
You're so clever. I love that y ou figured out how to make this on your own. I've heard that sweet corn ice cream is very good too. Maybe that would taste more like you were expecting???
I've always liked buttered popcorn with chocolate ice cream- so good!
- 21 July 2011 04:34
- Choclette said...
What a great idea. I like your method of doing it too. I think if asked to come up with popcorn ice-cream I'd have just added popcorn which perhaps wouldn't have made for the best texture. Not so sure about the mustard flavour, but ......!
- 11 September 2011 11:42


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Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
Free expression and policing can have an antagonistic relationship. Recent events in Ferguson are demonstrative of the issues that arise as the demands for protest clash with those for civil safety. The police are naturally drawn to the forefront of such a debate as they become the physical manifestation of
With just a few weeks to go before Egyptian universities open their gates to students for the start of the new academic year, the Egyptian authorities are feeling jittery -- and rightly so. Shahira Amin reports
Egyptian NGOs have to register under a repressive law or risk prosecution. Being convicted as an NGO worker in Egypt has consequences far beyond that country's borders, writes Michelle Betz
Graffiti played a big part in Egypt's 2011 revolution. Today the artists face threats of violence, and the potential of jail time and fines under a proposed draft law. Shahira Amin reports
Dutch journalist Rena Netjes was sentenced in absentia to ten years in prison in Egypt. The Egyptian government's case against her and other journalists generated media interest from around the world. Mitra Nazar reports
This month, Draw the Line will be exploring whether arts or journalism can ever be considered terrorism. Farah Wael writes.
Some believe the stage for Egypt's 2011 mass uprising was already being set years earlier -- with popular culture helping fuel the people's anger and frustration. Shahira Amin reports
The sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt has shocked and outraged rights activists and press around the world, and fuelled concern about freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary in the country. Shahira Amin reports
The usually bustling entrance of the New Broadcasting House was silent and still for one minute this morning in protest at the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in Egyptian prison
Index on Censorship condemns the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt to seven years each in prison.


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Fallen Earth: Poker Survived the Apocalypse
January 19, 2010 by lesley
Filed under Poker News
Good news – poker will survive the apocalypse! At least that's how it goes in one vision of it. The massively multiplayer online game Fallen Earth.
Fallen Earth is a mature MMORPG which is set a couple of hundred years in the future. A virus causes havoc on earth, and the resulting finger pointing and political paranoia causes a nuclear war, which only a tiny percentage of humanity survices. The survivors are clustered around the area of the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.
Most of the survivors were people who fled from Las Vegas – brining their poker chips with them. So, poker chips are now the de-facto currency. Fancy a fast horse to get around on (vehicles do exist, but gasoline is rather rare)? That'll be 16 Blue Chips!
The non-player-characters (NPCs for short), can often be heard talking about blackjack and poker. The games have been passed down by word of mouth, and it sounds like they may have evolved a little – certainly, some of the characters are rather confused and think they're playing UNO instead, but that's good news, right? After all, if they're not sure what they're doing, it could be a nice soft crowd for a shark to exploit.
The game has lots of cultural references – everything from a tip of the hat to classic movies, such as a "Soylent Green" reference, to the names of the NPCs. During a quick walk around one of the game's towns I bumped into a character with the surname Nguyen. Is he the fictional great-great-great grandson of a certain famous poker pro?
The emphasis in Fallen Earth is on combat, and on equipping yourself for combat. That said, there are social elements. You can play on Blackjack machines and slot machines. I tried the blackjack, and didn't quite manage to beat the house, although that probably says more about the caffeine-deprived state I was in during my attempts at the game, rather than the odds offered by the blackjack machine.
If you're interested in seeing a take on post-apocalyptic America (you have to take a break from freerolls sometimes, right?), there's a ten day free trial running at FallenEarth.com. If you're a first person shooter fan, or someone who likes the idea of MMOs but thinks that games such as World of Warcraft are too cute or kiddy, then Fallen Earth may well suit you. I'm certainly enjoying playing "spot the poker pro", and laughing at the other cultural references.


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Pet Butler of Des Moines
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Anarchist playwright Benjamin Turk sees theater as more than entertainment. He believes plays can spark dialogue, transform community and attack systems of violence: capitalism, the police and prisons. Steeped in the work of Bertolt Brecht and Augusto Boal, who both resisted the idea that stories sh ... More >>
From an art-toy meet-up to an experimental film symposium, this weekend is full of great events -- and we've found ten that are absolutely free. So save your change for bus fare and get out and enjoy this city. Did we miss a bargain? Share news of more economical events in our comments section, and ... More >>
Hola, amigo! Welcome to the weekend! A massive amount of musical goodness awaits you this weekend, the first of this fall season. Whatever you feel like getting into, there are a ton of shows to choose from, whether you're looking for metal, rock, hip-hop or just want to party down like there's no s ... More >>
Friday, September 21, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, 303-788-0984.
Welcome to another splendid week of music in the Mile High City. As usual, there are plenty of shows to choose from this week, from Kreator and Accept at the Gothic to DeVotchKa and Airborne Toxic Event at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony, and we've got them all listed in our comprehensive conce ... More >>
Jason Webley.Jason Webley (due at the Mercury Cafe, Saturday, June 25) started out playing punk rock as a teenager in Seattle, but it wasn't until well into his twenties that he shed that musical skin. It would be difficult to pin Webley with a genre, but it could be said that he mixed perfor ... More >>
Photo courtesy Ukulele LokiThis time of year, some things are meant to go together: mint and chocolate, Rudolph and Santa, Swallow Hill and spangles. Catch the belles of bump 'n grind Orchid Mei, Violetta Volare, Tatianna TaTa, Fannie Spankings, and more at one of Denver's least expected burl ... More >>
Bertolt Brecht's warning fails to move.
Countdown to Zero tells a frightening tale.
PHAMALY shows you how to go with the flow.
Mother Courage shows raw courage.
Wednesday, September 28, Bender's Tavern, 303-861-7070.
Adulterers exploit 9/11 in Paragon Theatre's triumphant Mercy Seat.
For the Dresden Dolls, home is where the art is.
Dirty Story forgets to bite its tongue
As Nazi artillery draws nearer, two opposites share an unlikely love.
Existence is a struggle in Fucking A.
Pleasure Forever indulges the senses in a dark, debauched sound.
The disturbing tale of Belgrade crumples the myth of political innocence.
Germinal Stage Denver celebrates Bertolt Brecht.
Jerry's Record Exchange
Praying for Rain takes a personal look at teen violence.
April 9-15, 1998
A boxed set examines the psyche of the late Bobby Darin.


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You're leaving Wedding Paper Divas to see the Deal of the Day at our parent site, Tiny Prints.
You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
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text: On January 19, 1996, at 1600 central standard time, a Piper PA- 38-112, N598Z, registered to Avlease, Inc. and operated by Flight Training Systems, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Falfurrias, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated in Brownsville, Texas, approximately 4 hours 30 minutes before the accident.On the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he departed Brownsville for Corpus Christi, Texas, to practice "touch and go's." The flight then proceeded to Rockport, Texas, where the pilot executed a full-stop landing. While in Rockport, the fuel tanks were topped off. During the preflight, the pilot "found that both fuel tanks were full" and subsequently, the flight departed to Alice, Texas. The pilot further reported that "I did my preflight again and I found out that there was still enough fuel in both fuel [tanks] to go to Brownsville." The flight departed Alice at 1535 central standard time. Approximately 25 minutes into the return flight, the engine lost power and the "fuel pressure needle dropped to the red line." Emergency procedures by the pilot did not restore engine power. Subsequently, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field with soft soil. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector and the operator's mechanic revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, the gascolator did not contain fuel, and the right fuel tank was full. The FAA inspector reported that the fuel selector was on the left tank. Structural damage occurred to the right wing, and fuselage.


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Itzik Ben-Gan
Itzik Ben-Gan is a Mentor and Co-Founder of SolidQ. A SQL Server Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) since 1999, Itzik has delivered numerous training events around the world focused on T-SQL Querying, Query Tuning and Programming. Itzik is the author of several books including T-SQL Querying (Microsoft Press, 2015) and T-SQL Fundamentals (Microsoft Press, 2012). He has written articles for SQL Server Pro, SolidQ Journal and MSDN. Itzik's speaking activities include TechEd, SQLPASS, IT/Dev Connections, SQLTeach and various user groups around the world. Itzik is the author of SolidQ's Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning and T-SQL Fundamentals courses along with being a primary resource within the company for their T-SQL related activities.
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The Coca-Cola South Africa under-19s (U19s) have won the toss and chosen to field first in their final clash against India at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, on Saturday.
The day is already shaping up to be a hot one, with the temperature already reaching 29 degrees at the time of the toss.
South Africa have made three changes to the team that faced India in the last thrilling match that ended in the visitors' 10-run victory. Bradley Dial will sit out, making room for Hayes van der Berg, Dayyaan Galiem is replaced by Ngazibini Sigwili and Lloyd Brown replaces Sinebhongo Ntshona.
South Africa under-19 team:
Yaseen Valli (capt), Clyde Fortuin (wk), Aiden Makram, Jason Smith, Lloyd Brown, Greg Oldfield, Hayes van der Berg, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Justin Dill, Ngazibini Sigwili, Corbin Bosch (12th man).
India under-19 team:
Vijay Zol (capt), Akhil Herwadkar, Ankush Bains, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Lamba, Kuldeep Yadav, Amir Gani, CV Milind, Rickey Bhui, Shubham Kajuria (12th man).


text:
Gov. Pat Quinn last week signed legislation that should mean hundreds more prep athletes will be tested for steroids each year across Illinois.
The new anti-doping measure calls for more than 1,000 student-athletes to be tested, an increase of about 300. Fewer than a dozen reportedly tested positive during the first year of the IHSA program, and all were granted medical exemptions.
Naperville Central football coach Mike Stine said, "I don't think (it's) a big deterrent. The chances of kids getting caught aren't great right now. You know 256 teams make the playoffs and it's not like, 'OK, we're now gonna go drug test half of them.' The percentage (is) pretty small."
With that in mind, what do you think of the steroid testing program in state high schools? Does the state need to test more student athletes to make a difference, or is this a deterrent? Should the state even be testing for steroids?


text:
Tafero, an ex-convict on parole for robbery with intent to commit rape, started down the road to the electric chair on Feb. 16, 1976, when he moved into the Fort Lauderdale apartment of Walter N. Rhodes Jr. Tafero was accompanied by his girlfriend, Sonia Jacobs Linder, and her two children. Tafero was 29.
On Feb. 20, they all embarked on a drive to West Palm Beach to sell drugs, according to Rhodes` testimony. At 2 a.m., Rhodes pulled his 1968 green Camaro into a rest stop on Interstate 95 in Deerfield Beach. He awoke five hours later to find Trooper Black, 39, peering into the car. He always checked on sleepers in cars at rest stops.


text:
CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) today congratulated the Proteas Blue Label Telecoms T20 squad on their outstanding 2-0 series victory over Pakistan in Dubai. It is a result that has seen them climb to No. 3 on the ICC T20 team rankings.
"The Proteas can be proud of their success across all three formats as their tour to the UAE ended," commented CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. "What has been especially pleasing has been the growth and consistency displayed in both limited over formats.
"With excellent showing from several new players, we can look forward to build on these performances as we continue preparations ahead of next year's ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and the ICC World Cup in Australasia the following year. Our home series against Pakistan, starting next week, will be further opportunity for Russell Domingo and the players to develop winning habits and I am sure our fans are looking forward to seeing the Proteas play at home.
"I extend congratulations to coach Russell, captain Faf and the team on their successive away T20 series wins in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The progress made has been encouraging and we can start to believe that they are on track to match the standard set by our Test team."


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This program will provide you with an opportunity to learn and apply the principles of experience design. You'll explore simulations, a product of experience design, to learn how they capture experience in a more deployable format and allow participants to gain experience in a safe environment. Experience design provides an approach that combines content, context, and time to allow your participants to engage both intellectually and emotionally with the challenges facing their company or organization, allowing for greater depth in the processing.
Program Overview
Experience is the best teacher. Unfortunately, organizations have neither the time nor the budget to allow their people to learn through the school of hard knocks.
Computer-based experience design and simulations offer a valuable solution. This approach provides organizations with an opportunity to capture the experience their employees need in a cost-effective and time-saving format, while also giving employees the opportunity to gain experience in a safe environment without the bruising.
This interactive workshop introduces you to a simple framework for simulations, which combine one's work experience and expertise with the power of storytelling. Simulation isn't a science; it's just a way of organizing your content. This workshop will help you organize content to train others.
By the end of this workshop, you will have written a simulation narrative for your audience that enables them to identify key decision points and learn through simulated experiences.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this program, you will be able to will be able to:
Part A – Why use simulations
Part B – Understand experience design
Part A – How experience design improves decision making through critical thinking and confronting our biases
Part B – Leadership or SME experience
Part C – Organizational experience
Part D – Working with subject-matter experts
Part A – The illusion of complexity
Part B – Introduction to simulation authoring process
Part C – Getting the Experience Elements Right
Who Should Attend
Bernard Rochon
4.5/5 Rating
Ken Spero
Ken Spero is a Senior Learning Strategist. In his role, Ken continues his work in Experience Design to help clients to shift the focus from 'what' leaders think to 'how' they think, utilizing a Systems Thinking and Immersive Learning approach to improve strategic thinking, decision making and performance. To help bring these ideas more broadly to the marketplace, he recently helped to design and launch the Immersive Learning University for NexLearn which continued the work he had begun with the co-founding of Humentum, LLC. During that time he worked with GSE to develop the PELS (Penn Educational Leadership Simulation Program) an innovative, research-based collaboration between Penn GSE and the three major professional associations for K-12 school leaders. He developed his ideas into a module called Experience Design and Simulation Technology that he teaches as part of the Work Based Learning Leadership doctoral program for Chief Learning Officers offered by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania in association with Wharton and the MedEd Master's program between GSE and Penn's Medical School. He also teaches the Essentials of Experiential Learning and Simulation webinar for ASTD. Ken is a frequent speaker at training conferences and has published several articles on Experience Design and Simulations. He earned his M.B.A. from Columbia University and his undergraduate degree in Management Science from Case Western Reserve University.
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Facilitates the following:
Essentials of Experiential Learning and Simulations|
Feb 10-24, 2015
This online workshop consists of three live instructor-led sessions, each from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET:
Session 1: February 10, 2015Session 2: February 17, 2015Session 3: February 24, 2015
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This program is conducted in the WebEx Training Center platform with a toll-free teleconference or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) option for the audio component. Special software is not required. You only need a standard web browser and telephone or VoIP capability to participate.
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Essentials of Adult Learning
Today's learners and workplace learning environment are vastly different than they were in the last century, when Adult Learning Theory became a science unto itself. How do we accommodate the adult learner's need to work collaboratively when we have globally dispersed workforces? How do we allow for observation and reflection when our training time is cut from four-hours to two-hours? How do we teach critical thinking skills to learners who are used to getting their information in 140 characters? In this series, you'll get answers to today's burning questions as well as a thorough grounding in the adult learning principles that underlies the work we do with adult learners in the workplace.
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Associated Press
CAIRO (AP) -- Egypt's Islamist president has been significantly weakened by a week of violent protests across much of the country, with his popularity eroding, the powerful military implicitly criticizing him and some of his ultraconservative Islamist backers distancing themselves from him.
In his seven months since becoming Egypt's first freely elected president, Mohammed Morsi has weathered a series of crises. But the liberal opposition is now betting the backlash against him is so severe that he and his Muslim Brotherhood will be forced to change their ways, breaking what critics say is their monopolizing of power.
Critics claim that Morsi's woes are mostly self-inflicted, calling him overconfident and out of sync with the public. Now the relatively high death toll -- around 60 -- the spread of protests and the use of excessive force by the police are feeding a wave of anger at the Egyptian leader and the Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which he hails and which is the foundation of his administration.
Morsi did not help matters when he addressed the nation Sunday night in a brief but angry address in which he at times screamed and wagged his finger. In that speech, he slapped a 30-day state of emergency and curfew on three Suez Canal provinces hit the hardest by the violence and vowed to take even harsher measures if peace is not restored.
In response, the three cities defied the president in a rare open rebellion that handed him an embarrassing loss of face.
Thousands in the cities of Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez took to the streets on Monday and Tuesday just as the 9 p.m. curfew went into force. Underlining their contempt for him, they played soccer games, stores stayed open and there were even firework displays -- all while troops deployed in Port Said and Suez stood by and watched.
Morsi was forced to back down somewhat and authorized the local governors to ease the measures. All three quickly did on Wednesday, reducing the hours of curfew from nine hours to as short as three.
The main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, demands Morsi create a national unity government and rewrite controversial parts of the constitution that the Brotherhood and other Islamists rammed through to approval last month. A broader government, they insist, is the only way to ease the violence and start dealing with Egypt's mounting woes -- particularly, an economy many fear is collapsing.
The liberals gained an unusual ally on Wednesday: one of the main political parties of the ultraconservative Islamist movement known as Salafis, the al-Nour Party, which has usually supported Morsi.
Morsi appears to see no need for concessions. On a quick visit to Germany on Wednesday, he downplayed the significance of the week's violence.
"What is happening now in Egypt is natural in nations experiencing a shift to democracy," Morsi told reporters in Berlin.
There is no need to form a unity government, he added, because a new government will be formed after parliament elections -- expected in April at the earliest.
Morsi's reply to critics who demand he widen the circle of decision-making has been to invite opponents to a national dialogue conference to discuss key issues. Almost all opposition parties have refused, calling the conference window-dressing for Brotherhood domination. The conference has held multiple sessions, mainly attended by Morsi's Islamist allies.
Morsi's supporters -- and some of his aides -- accuse the opposition of condoning violence and trying to overturn the democratic results of elections that brought Morsi and the Brotherhood to power.
Meanwhile, anger on the streets is mounting. Politicians may call for a unity government, but a growing bloc of the protesters say Morsi must go outright.
The wave of resentment has engulfed the three Canal cities along with Cairo, Alexandria on the Mediterranean and a string of cities to the north and south of the capital. Protesters have clashed with police, cut off roads and railway lines, and besieged government offices and police stations.
The fury has been further fanned by reports that the police in Port Said at the northern tip of the Suez Canal randomly fired at protesters, killing innocent bystanders. In Cairo, protesters are seething over what they call the excessive use of tear gas and birdshot in clashes that have left three dead and hundreds injured.
Some protesters now demand Morsi be tried for killing protesters just as Mubarak before him was. Mubarak was convicted in June and sentenced to life in prison for failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 2011 uprising against him. On appeal, a court has ordered his retrial.


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The recent political chatter about "Obamacare" before the Supreme Court of the United States got a great deal of media attention. President Obama added fuel to the fire when he declared, "Ultimately, I am confident the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress."
For someone who was a law professor those words were absurd. Even if a bill passed unanimously in the house and senate, it could still be overturned – if the law was in violation of the Constitution.
Nelson Rockefeller's nomination for Governor in 1958 was partly an upstate revolt against the continued domination of party affairs by the Nassau Republican organization. Rockefeller was a man who always had bigger fish to fry, and throughout his almost 15 years as governor, he often went out of his way not to step on the toes of the touchy Nassau GOP. That's why Nassau is the only large New York county without a state office building. Respect the turf.
Just before taking office, Rockefeller announced that State Senator William Hults would be Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, but not until the end of the 1959 legislative session, so that Glen Cove, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay and a sliver of Hempstead wouldn't lose their Senate representation until 1960.
The Nassau County district attorney's (DA) office makes a cameo appearance in Empty Mansions, an incredible book about Huguette Clark (1906-2011), the Manhattan-raised heiress whose generosity and eccentricities were legendary.
Now that Ryan Murphy, a creator of television's "Glee," has optioned Empty Mansions' film rights, I imagine a scrum of top actresses are vying to play Clark.
Written by Mike Barry, email@example.com Thursday, 14 November 2013 00:00
Manhattan is filled with landmarks chronicling the nation's origins, whether it is the statue of George Washington on Wall Street, or Fort Tryon Park, named after William Tryon, the last British governor of New York.
Less well known are the names of the previously unsung heroes featured in George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution (Sentinel), the engaging, just-published book co-written by Brian Kilmeade, a Massapequa resident and co-host of Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends program, and Don Yaeger, an accomplished writer best known for his work at Sports Illustrated.
Kilmeade's promotional tour took him on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to Huntington's Book Revue for a talk and book-signing, and on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., he'll be at Bookends, 211 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, N.J., to discuss his book, which features previously unpublished research, as well.
The British Army occupied Manhattan and Long Island long after the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, only leaving New York completely in 1783, when the Treaty of Paris ended British rule of the colonies. Early in that seven-year period, when an American victory seemed highly unlikely, Benjamin Tallmadge, a Connecticut-based intelligence officer in the Continental Army with direct access to General Washington, recruited his one-time neighbor from Setauket, Abraham Woodhull, to spy on the British. Known as the Culper Ring, Woodhull's team grew to include Robert Townsend of Oyster Bay who, in turn, recruited James Rivington, a printer and newspaper publisher. Both Townsend and Rivington operated businesses in Manhattan, giving them access to high-ranking British military officials. Caleb Brewster, Austin Roe, and Agent 355, a woman whose name has been lost to history, rounded out the group of six, all of whom managed information up the chain of command to Tallmadge.
Kilmeade and Yaeger capture vividly the Culper Ring's role in tipping Washington off to what the British knew about the Rhode Island arrival of French ships aimed at helping the American cause, how they intercepted a British naval codebook and made sure it arrived in Yorktown prior to a decisive battle in Virginia, and the group's intimations that Benedict Arnold might not be the most trustworthy person to protect American interests at West Point, a pivotal location along the Hudson River.
"The more I studied them, the more I was in awe of what they accomplished," Kilmeade said. "If you don't have a spy ring, you don't win."
Moreover, Brooklyn was, and is, a part of Long Island, something to keep in mind if you're resisting a trip to Barclays Center, because it is soon going to be home to two professional sports teams with roots in Nassau County.
"Washington thought Brooklyn was the one place on Long Island that the British would regard as indispensable," Kilmeade and Yaeger write. "Because the Culper Ring's route of conveying messages passed directly from Manhattan to Brooklyn, before continuing on to Setauket and across the Sound to Connecticut, the courier would have an excellent opportunity to observe military activity in Brooklyn and could add any relevant information to the letter he was carrying from [Robert] Townsend. In short, the route seemed as close to an ideal arrangement as Washington could hope for at the time."
Given the success Hollywood has had with history-based films, such as Titanic and Saving Private Ryan, I imagine there will be interest in adapting George Washington's Secret Six into a movie. But I'm thinking the title needs to be changed, and Sylvester Stallone has provided guidance. His 2010 box office hit, The Expendables, offered a fictitious look at U.S.-based soldiers for hire who liberate a foreign country, even though the soldiers are deemed "expendable." Perhaps The Culper Ring could become The Indispensables.


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|KDOC Inmate Release Notifications through July 7, 2012
|Written by MCSO
|Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Donnie Ray Barnett, age 34, sentenced to 15 years for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft by Unlawful Taking. Received 3/15/10, released on parole 7/2/12. Time served: 2 years 3 months 17 days.
The date received, date released, and time served in the KDOC Release Notifications only reflect time in the Kentucky Department of Corrections system. Time served in county detention centers prior to sentencing or transfer is not included.
|Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 July 2012 )