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When the light bulb lights up! – Rita Kamel's Blog

How Lush made me blush

When I first visited Lush at Beirut Souks, I was immediately conquered. I was amazed by the alternative proposition they had to offer: Fresh handmade cosmetics with no preservatives (keep an eye on the expiry date) and that are not tested on animals.

The store not only looks good, but also smells good! icon smile How Lush made me blush Employees are well informed about the products and are extremely helpful. There is always an invitation to try products at the store which is a smart thing knowing that when you try any product, it’s hard not to want buying it.

I was recently visited Lush at ABC Dbayeh and was proposed to have an enchanting experience: hands and arms massage as well as a face mask. My skin could only be thankful for all the pampering. I felt energized and as good as new!

20130209 144509 224x300 How Lush made me blush

20130209 144707 224x300 How Lush made me blush

20130209 145539 300x224 How Lush made me blush

What I particularly appreciate at Lush is the minimal packaging that gets creative most of time with the nature of the product itself. For example, some products that we are accustomed to see in liquid or paste form like shampoo, toothpaste and moisturizing cream are offered in solid form. I find this particularly interesting for people who travel a lot and are afraid of spilling.

Here are the products that were used:

Ultra bland How Lush made me blush

Ultrabland is a thick, rich emulsion of essential oils, honey and beeswax to take off any make up or residue that has built up on your face throughout the day.

 

 

Love lettuce 300x300 How Lush made me blush

Love Lettuce is an exfoliating mask that scoops up dirt, oil and debris and washes it all away. Exfoliation is an important part of good skincare, as it removes the buildup of dead skin that can clog your pores and cause imbalances.

 

 

Breath of Fresh Air How Lush made me blush

Breath of Fresh Air is suitable for all skin types, but is particularly beneficial for faces that have been ravaged by the elements. Fresh seawater gently cleanses, while carrageen (seaweed) extract softens and provides essential vitamins and minerals. And all the while, rose absolute and aloe vera are soothing dry areas.

 

full of grace How Lush made me blush

Full of Grace is a solid moisturizing serum is packed full of hydrating tropical butters, calming chamomile and antioxidant mushroom extract to keep your skin in fantastic condition, all year round. Easily absorbed by the skin, Full of Grace creates a soothing treatment for the face.

 

Putty For Your Hands 300x300 How Lush made me blush

Putty for Your Hands is a solid hand wash made without soap. A luxurious combination of creamy oats, soothing marshmallow mucilage, and calming oils like lavender, tea tree and chamomile, Putty for Your Hands is the softest, gentlest ways to wash your mitts. It’s an incredible treat for anyone with dry or sore hands.

 

Hottie How Lush made me blushHottie is the go-to bar for seriously sore muscles. The rich jojoba oil and butter base melts onto the skin quickly. Vanilla absolute is used for its comforting aroma; it’s also moisturizing for the skin and softening in combination with the shea and cocoa butters blended in. Finally, spicy black pepper and ginger oils are warming, stimulating and help to release muscle tension.

Imperialis How Lush made me blush

Imperialis is a finely crafted moisturizer that works with most skin types to ease and soothe irritations. Made with lavender infusion to balance the skin’s sebum production, the lavender encourages dry skin to produce more natural oils and discourages oily skin from overdoing it.

 

Silky Underwear Dusting Powder How Lush made me blush

Silky Underwear with grated cocoa butter melts onto the skin for a silky sensation, and the absorbent powders make sure your body doesn’t feel greasy. In fact, it helps your clothes go on more easily or even better, slip off easier. With the sexy jasmine and vetivert scent that clouds you in aphrodisiac fragrance it’s been known to happen.

 

For more information about Lush, you can:

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Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

Let’s say that you are some kind of business and that you have a web page. One day someone tells you about the Pan Arab Web Awards Academy on panarabwebawards.org and you believe that your website has a chance to win. So you decide to register.

On the registration page, you get this message:

1 Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

After registering and paying $200, you cross your fingers and wait. A while later, you get an email.

Award E Mail1 Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

You are happy of course, overjoyed even! But then, you click on that link and surprise surprise!

First Option Fee Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

Second and Third Option Fee Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

You wonder WHAT THE HELL? You have to pay tickets + fees to claim your reward? You won and you don’t care about the advertising options. Oh, don’t worry, it’s been taken care of:

Please Note Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

Congrats! You won! To claim the trophy, a piece of paper and watch some people you don’t care about make speeches, get photographed and cut a cake, you have to still pay $1000.

Wait, it doesn’t end here! There is an offer for Web Design Companies, something you surely would not want to miss:

Web Design Company Offer Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

Needless to say, the company who receives such an e-mail and doesn’t pay to receive the award is not listed among the winners. I went through the winners and I’m rather bedazzled: The Jury made of Mr. who knows? awarded a list of websites; some of which don’t even open. Go figure.

Jury Congrats! You are an idiot! Pan Arab Web Awards Academy Scam

You know what? I’d say: Congrats! You are an idiot! Let’s shake hands.

Next time to decide to go for big names and try to buy credibility, think twice and dig further; whenever you see trophies, awards, certificates and whatnot to sell credibility, ask what it took to get it. Pan Arab Web Awards Academy looks more like an advertising ceremony than a real Awards Academy and that’s too bad.

I may understand the need for a paid registration when you get thousands of submissions, but not the rest. Such ceremonies usually offer sponsorship and media packages and DO NOT:

  • Make the winners pay for their trophies; it is not ethical and goes against logic.
  • Deny the award to the ones who received the “Congrats” e-mail because they did not pay and move on with someone else. A winner is a winner. Period.
  • Give the award to the unannounced ”1st running up” if the winner does not confirm presence for the ceremony. And if runner ups exist, they should be publicly announced and rewarded as such.

When it comes to the Jury, members should be publicly identified with a clear photograph and a short biography. People should also be able to see the members of the jury of every year next the list of winners in the different categories.

Last but not least, why would the winning e-mail be sent to people and companies who did not even register? Not enough registrations, so it’s OK to go against the announced procedure?

Trying to make money from so-called awards is one thing; but MISLEADING the public opinion is another. I’m outraged because these companies and people really think they can get more business and be trusted because they “got”, no, wait… they BOUGHT an award.

If there is something I missed, feel free to clarify.

NB: The company that received this e-mail and the category were deleted for privacy purposes.

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eTobb: Connecting patients and doctors on a Q&A platform

eTobb is a web application that connects patients and doctors on a Q&A platform. Users can ask health questions to top doctors for free and get answers in a short period of time.

e tobb eTobb: Connecting patients and doctors on a Q&A platform

We all do have questions that we are not comfortable asking face-to-face or not worth waiting hours for in the waiting room nor pay a consultation for some reason nor talk to the doctor over the phone because they are either unreachable or reply with a “Take an appointment”.

It’s no secret that medicine looks like it has lost its vocation and has turned people into numbers and their health into a money-making opportunity.

I’m glad to see that I can ask my questions safely, knowing that real doctors are replying without feeling awkward about it and then decide if I better actually get that bloody appointment.

eTobb is clear about the fact that it does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; so do not be mislead. It launched in beta version on January 14, 2013.

Have you given it a try yet?

For more about eTobb you can:

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Me time at PureGray Spa

After an exhausting week, there is nothing like a good massage; so I took off to PureGray Health Club & Spa at Le Gray Hotel in Downtown Beirut.

PUREGRAY Me time at PureGray Spa

I was greeted by two receptionists. One of them showed me around to start getting familiar with the place and I was given a key to a locker and told in advance what I will find inside. I noticed that there was no need to bring anything as everything was provided.

I went for a 15 minutes in the sauna and then went to the waiting area. It’s such a tranquil place! A few minutes later, a lady shows up. She introduced herself as my therapist and handed me a form to fill. There were health related questions as well as others directly related to the massage such as the areas of stiffness I was suffering from and the preferred intensity of pressure to apply during my massage.

Waiting Area Me time at PureGray Spa

My therapist showed me the way to the room where the magic was going to take place. I laid down and… and… There are no words! OMG! 60 minutes of pure bliss! I traveled to another dimension! While she was working on my muscles and stressing on the area of stiffness, I felt like I was re-born again. All new! The decor is urban and modern, the music was good… What more did I need? I fell in love with the massage bed. Ahhh! So comfortable! After that, I went to the waiting area again but this time I had a cup of tea and relaxed for a few minutes before hitting the shower and going back home reinvigorated.

I loved the experience everything was timely and well organized… I would definitely recommend it!

Massage Room Me time at PureGray Spa

For more information, you can visit the Website and book your own 60 minutes of goodness. The pictures you will see reflect reality as is and you will not be disappointed.

Source:
- Images

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My first scuba diving experience

Water is a precious element that we use for different purposes; one of them is swimming. Both relaxing and fun, swimming has always played a vital role in the activities of the family.

But swimming is mostly done at the surface of the water and I never really gave  scuba diving much thought. Like most, I used to hear about accidents that happen underwater and watch those horror movies where scuba divers get caught in life-threatening situations… they did not leave me exactly indifferent. Instead, they unconsciously cultivated a certain fear and apprehension.

(This is where is a “but” coming)

But things started changing recently with lose friends’ stories exposing a different perspective of this activity. I saw their pictures on Facebook and they used to tell me about the underwater wildlife… and underwater photography! That’s where I got hooked!

Mr. Bassam Oud from the Calypso Diving Center offered me a trial at scuba diving and see if I like it. I thought about it for a couple of months (Yeah, I took my time) and finally set a date and time for the first dive.

I really liked the place. It’s well maintained and people are very helpful. Bassam took me in charge. He gave me a tour-des-lieux and introduced me to the team.

My first dive was to be in the swimming pool in order to get to know the equipment. Bassam took the time to explain how everything works and took me to the pool. I did not expect the equipment to be THAT heavy icon smile My first scuba diving experience but thanks to Archimedes, this stopped being something to worry about as soon as I got in the water.

It took me a while to get used to the breathing. I wasn’t very easy but Bassam outsmarted my problem and gave me a camera to “play” with. A minute later, I was underwater, making photos of Bassam and I completely forgot about myself! Smart! I had so much fun, I did not want to get out of the water! I learned a lot about myself and about how things work in a completely different environment I was only familiar with a the surface.

If you want to have a go at scuba diving, I would definitely recommend Bassam. He has an exhaustive experience and he is a people’s person who still, after all those years of experience icon smile My first scuba diving experience , understands what happens in the mind of a first timer which I think is crucial to make one want to pursue this activity.

I would like to thank Bassam for everything including the pictures… he was amazing!

Now I can’t wait for my first dive in the sea!

DSC05586 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience DSC05587 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience DSC05581 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience DSC05582 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience DSC05588 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience DSC05608 1600x1200 My first scuba diving experience

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