Here's a wonderful story of real beauty:

Switching On The Light Of Inner Beauty

Happy Weekend!

Like many people I imagine, I had thought the risk were limited only to certain brands of baby formula. Apparently not, it appears it could even be spreading in far wider food circles than that, even covering Dove chocolate and M&M's.

With 4 Chinese babies already dead and nearly 11,000 babies and children still being hospitalised, the world is now sitting up and starting to get itself into something of a flap. Dozens of countries, from Indonesia to Kenya to Colombia, have now banned Chinese dairy imports amid fears sparked by the tainted infant formula.

As a precautionary measure, Tesco (UK) removed 'White Rabbit' milk sweets from its shelves, a brand that the New Zealand's Food Safety Authority have now warned contains "unacceptable" levels of melamine - a chemical used in making plastics and fertilizer that can cause kidney stones and even kidney failure.

Of course the Chinese government are busy trying to play down the problem, or in other words stick their head in the sand where no one can ask them too many awkward questions. Despite Xiang Yuzhang, the quality watchdog's chief inspection official, telling reporters in Beijing that "There is no problem," the world it seems is just not buying it. Perhaps because another senior Chinese product safety official has also insisted that the problem was "under control, more or less".

Not the most comforting of words to use really, 'more or less'. Those in charge of Chinese media spin must be shaking their heads in horror.

It does seem these days, according to the media at least, like the world is forever lurching from one food scare to another. It's hard to know what's safe to eat anymore, whether something is healthy or packed full of cancerous additives and which panic reports and urban myths to believe.

A World Health Organization study reported this year that unsafe food is responsible for illnesses in at least 2 billion people.

Of course it's impossible and unrealistic to expect everything we eat to be 100% germ free. Food now is grown, flown and consumed all over the world and passes through more pairs of hands than you can shake a stick at. So while you may keep your kitchen as sterile as an operating room and religiously and rigorously wash every piece of fruit that you eat, the chances are the food you eat has already been contaminated in some way, long before you even brought it home. Possibly 1000's of miles away by some backpacking fruit picker who went to use the loo and forgot to wash his hands. What a lovely image as you bite into your Royal Gala.

A long history of food scares, many of which turn out to be completely unfounded are enough to have you turning anorexic with fear.

The outbreak of listeria in 1989 that had customers fleeing from  supermarket soft cheese and cooked chicken. Edwina Curries 'egg fiasco' of 1999, when the country stopped poaching, scrambling and boiling their breakfast for fear of getting salmonella. The 23% of pigs taken for slaughter that the British Government then reported were also infected with salmonella in 2000. The BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) and the outbreak of E coli that caused widespread mayhem in 1997.

The numerous links with cancer for a whole host of foods, including salmon, prawns, low fat milk, MEAT, bread, rice and even potatoes. The reports that cling film was dangerous, chickens nursing the flu could kill and swordfish gives you mercury poisoning. The concerns over food irradiation and the ongoing debate surrounding margarine.  The media furore over GM (genetic modification) food and the unknown fear over what long term effect a chemically enhanced cucumber may have on our body in 20 years time.

Even trying to eat your 5, or is that now meant to be 7-a-day has become a mission in staying alive, with recent reports of fresh spinach, tomatoes and peppers all testing positive for salmonella and certain brands of carrot juice (organic no less) being linked to botulism.

When you start looking at your fork and wondering what exactly is in the food you are about to eat and whether it will one day cause you to grow another limb, then you know it's time to dig out a vegetable plot and only eat what you can manage to grow.

Much like with the everyday products that we use, the medications we pump into our bodies and the diets that we follow, it seems that in this day and age, eating has never been so dangerous.

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Daca anul trecut Nokia ocupa pozitia secunda, dupa Coca-Cola, in studiul realizat de Synovate, anul acesta cele doua branduri au facut o rocada iar producatorul finlandez de telefoane mobile a devenit cel mai de impact brand in randul romanilor.

“Oferirea de solutii noi, eficiente, la indemana a dus la castigarea increderii romanilor. Nokia este o marca unisex, apreciata de toti, indiferent de varsta”, a spus Alecsandra Fulga, Client Service Manager la Synovate Romania.

Pozitia a treia ii revine producatorului german de automobile Mercedes, brand care a inregistrat cresteri in scorurile de impact, in special in randul barbatilor. Brandul Mercedes este mai relevant pentru tinerii cu varste cuprinse intre 18 si 24 de ani, care au un profil aspirational. Pentru persoanele din segmentul urmator de varsta, 25-34 de ani, Mercedes reprezinta recunoasterea valorii, prestigiu si putere, potrivit Alecsandrei Fulga.

Cea mai mare crestere in topul High Impact Brands a inregistrat-o insa Volkswagen, brand care a urcat de pe locul 17 direct pe locul patru, in cadrul studiului din acest an. Pe pozitia a cincea se plaseaza, in scadere cu doua locuri, Ariel, “cel mai bun detergent” in opinia romanilor.

Brandurile BMW, adidas, Philips, Sony si Audi completeaza topul celor mai de impact zece branduri din Romania.

Noutatea studiului din acest an o reprezinta intrarea unei marci romanesti in top 20. Astfel, Dacia ocupa pozitia 16, inaintea Milka, Avon, Colgate si Panasonic, dar dupa Samsung, Nike, Nivea, L’Oreal si Dove. Cu exceptia persoanelor din segmentul de varsta 18-24 de ani (adica tocmai cei care indragesc Mercedes), romanii considera ca Dacia este o marca importanta in viata lor, care genereaza optimism.

Dacia ocupa prima pozitie si in topul brandurilor romanesti cu notorietate ridicata, urmata de BCR, Arctic, Borsec, BRD, Banca Transilvania, Romtelecom, ARO, Dorna si Altex.

Studiul High Impact Brands include si o serie de clasamente pe categorii de produse. Astfel, marca de automobile cu notorietatea cea mai ridicata este BMW. Philips se afla in fruntea topului la categoria Electronice-electrocasnice, iar la Produse alimentare clasamentul e condus de Jacobs. Bergenbier e cea mai cunoscuta bautura alcoolica, iar Coca-Cola e prima dintre bauturile nealcoolice. Nivea si BCR au strans cele mai multe puncte la categoriile Ingrijire personala si Banci-asigurari.

New Faith Clipart- These faith based illustrations are just heavenly. Graphics have a primitive and country feel to them, warm and inviting colors are used. Includes nine graphics.  Cross and Flower accents are included!

Introducing Bargain Bin Section!- I have decided to have a section for our bargain deals. Sale prices all time! I will be adding products to this section on occaassion so check back for future bargains!

Semi-Exclusive Sale- all our semi exclusive sets are 50% off! Take advantage, sets are limited to six buyers only!

Pour en savoir plus : www.campaignforrealbeauty.com

Depois de ler a campanha de NOVA pela libertação da mulher com celulite, ou seja, todas as mulheres. Pensei na campanha DOVE, com mulheres formosas e de corpos cheios de curvas e até gordurinhas. O verão está chegando e a busca pelo corpo magro tornam as mulheres mais desesperadas, academias lotadas, consultórios cheios e clinicas especializada em emagrecimento e perda de medidas lucrando cada vez mais.

Sim, não há nada errado em se cuidar, em buscar algo para melhorar o que lhe incomoda, mas ainda assim, o tempo é curto, e muitas não conseguem o corpo desejado para ir a praia ou parques aquáticos nas férias de verão.

Devemos sim ter vaidade, mas o que esta crescendo mais e mais é a vaidade exagerada. Perda de peso desnecessária, cirurgias plásticas desnecessárias, e muito dinheiro jogado fora em produtos que nem sempre funcionam. Tais cremes como os para celulite, eles amenizam, mas não pense que a celulite irá sumir, eles são para amenizar, vai por mim, já usei vários e só serviram para aliviar o efeito casca de laranja.

Eu sei que gostaria de ver novamente a campanha DOVE “verão sem vergonha”, eu adorava, e quando ia a praia, não sentia vergonha em me livrar da saída de banho e brincar com os amigos na areia.

Penso que uma campanha como aquela nunca deveria ter desaparecido, e espero que a campanha de NOVA também não suma, mas se elas sumirem, eu estarei aqui, para motivá-las a acender a luz para um strip para seus companheiros, para que transem no meio do dia com o sol e tudo mais, para que vão a praia e se sintam livres para sentir dar um mergulho maravilhoso, tomar sol (com protetor solar) e brincar com os amigos e o gato na areia sem se sentir uma “baleia fora d’água”.

Vamos lá garotas, mostre sua atitude e ousadia, isso vai além de qualquer beleza. Isso é valido também para os rapazes, pois afinal ninguém está contente como está! Os homens ou se sentem gordos demais ou magros demais. Viu, se você garota acha que tem problemas com balança, saiba que muitos homens, inclusive seu companheiro também sofre certa rivalidade com ela.

O importante é sentir bem consigo mesma, olhar-se no espelho nua ao menos das vezes por semana e se admirar, olhar cada curva, olhar o melhor que há em você. Isso a fará se sentir muito bem.

Se ame, assim você transparece uma beleza que só há em você, e os outros ao seu redor irão notar e admira-la também.

Curta a vida, pois tudo passa rápido.

Freak Butterfly.

*Video da campanha DOVE, Verão sem vergonha! Vejam, é um barato!

Acrylic was cut out with a saw, using a sketch stuck on firmly with magic tape as a guide. Edges were filed and holes were drilled...

Join filled with epoxy resin, then heart shape filled with polyester resin and silver leaf mix...

Attached to necklace. I also added a coat of acrylic spray to seal the resin...

The criteria is simple. A brand must clearly articulate a belief, show a strong and loyal following, and be associated with behaviour from staff and customers that is consistent with what the brand stands for.

Top of the list, The Hells Angels.

Hammond says that there is no doubt that this group of bikers defines all the characteristics of a BE Brand. "We know what they stand for, brotherhood, freedom, life beyond the law; we know they're a tribe and take their belonging very seriously. At the end of the day, business can learn much from these outlaws"

"If a Hells Angel pulls up beside you while stationary at the traffic lights, you are not game to make eye contact. You are more likely to have your doors locked, hands firmly on the steering wheel with a fixed, forward gaze.

"We are all clear that Hells Angels have an association with crime and a flagrant disregard for the law. Indeed they claim to live outside it!

"You can also be sure that where there is one Hells Angel, there are another 10 close by.

Hammond says that stories of Hells Angels behaviour have given us a consistent notion that their behaviour is predictable.

The top 20 Australian BE Brands:

1. Hells Angels

2. Apple

3. Star Wars

4. Dove

5. Moleskine

6. Smiggle

7. The Bodyshop

8. Virgin

9. Alannah Hill

10. Ecko

11. The Catholic Church

12. Nike

13. Free Hugs

14. Harley Davidson

15. Peter Alexander

16. T2

17. Bra Boys

18. Sunrise

19. Circus Oz

20. Boost

For all the details to: www.belonggroup.com.au/bebrands2008.pdf.

I was employed by the school district for 27 years.  This is my first year of retirement.  Staying busy, can be a challenge when you're alone.  Since retiring, I have joined the senior choir at my church, a fitness group and a bible study.  In addition to all this, I continue to sew with a friend almost daily.

Approximately 4 years ago, we started a custom baby products business.  God has blessed our efforts with many satisfied customers.  Being co-owners and designers with your best friend is most enjoyable and rewarding.  Our business has grown rapidly and recently, we have added a line of ladies t-shirts.  Having a variety of trendy choices, we believe that we have developed an exciting product line.

We strive to please our customers with a trendy, functional and eye-catching product.  Expanding our line of merchandise has been our desire from the beginning.  Watch for our new and creative designs.  The most recent creations include a shirt with a heart-shaped peace sign.  We also have added one with "faith" or "hope" appliqued on the front.

If you are looking for something religious, but yet, very much in style, look no further.  Our best seller has been a t-shirt with a beautiful appliqued cross and swavorski crystals.  Another choice is a shirt with wings, a heart and a cross.  The fabric on the wings is covered with inspirational quotes.  It is so unique.  You may see some of our products at www.rayofsunshine.net

Most of our products are hand-made with much care and professionalism.  Can you tell that I'm excited about our new venture with the ladies line?  God is answering our prayers to grow this christian business and we give Him thanks and praise.

We are proud of both our baby and adult line.  Your "little one" can dress just like Mommy with a custom order for matching shirts.  You will be "the talk of the town."

Many thanks for your continued business.

Blessings to you all,

Patsy

Ok, it's been much too long...and all I can say is it's been a really busy time. Feeble excuse, I know. Mea culpa! We had a great tiny Medieval Festival in September and are heading into Halloween, but we start off the month with a grand exposition of jewelry in Second Life. Miriel Enfield has done a great job organizing it and the rules were stringent, but hopefully will result in banishing the evils of lag which so plagued last year's expo. Under my store, The Oh! Factor, I have my place near one of the corners at booth 68. One of the rules was textures could be no larger than 256x256. I am presenting the pieces I have at the Expo so that you, and anyone who clicks on my web page loader at the show, can see the work with more clarity. Thumbnails will take you to the larger versions. Hope to see you at the show!

I also have other jewelry which I've placed at a show price of 100L$ (regularly 250L$). There is also a charity, which is actually one of my favorites in RL, for which many of us have created or donated pieces to help raise funds. Mine is a new jewelry set called Dove of Peace.

Come enjoy the show. Shop till you drop may definitely be the mantra I keep hearing...so much to see...oooooooooo....SHINY!

~elfa and namaste