Hello Fellow Chocoholics!

As you may already know, I joined the direct-selling division of Dove Chocolates called  Dove Chocolate Discoveries in July 2010.  I've always loved sweets and have considered opening a sweets shop.  However, knowing what I know now about brick and mortar (leases/advertising, etc.) I really didn't want to have that much responsibility (and risk) again.  When I saw an ad for Dove Chocolate Discoveries, it really rang my bell!  "This is GENIUS!"  I already give away a dove chocolate to every spa guest; everyone knows the brand and loves it ... what a no-brainer!"  AND, the "capital" needed for this new business: $150.00!  Yep, that's it.  Not the $150,000.00 (or more) I'd need for a retail shop.

I started having tasting parties at the spa, and from there a client wanted me to come to her home and have a party and bring Rhonda and the massage chair!  I've posted the fun photos under Dove's page here on my site.  We all had a BLAST! 

With her party goers and a few people who wanted reorders, her sales were high enough that she got LOTS of Chocolate as her hostess gifts!  And from me personally, to say "Thanks" I gave her a $20 GC to Vanities Spa! 

If you would like to host a party, we can have one at your house, or at the spa!  There is no fee for using the spa.   If you'd like Rhonda and her massage talents, we have a very reasonable rate so that everyone in the party can relax and enjoy! 

Check out my Dove site for the latest information and NEW products!

http://www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/sites/ilovedove


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Dove Chocolate Recipes

I've played around with the VERY EASY mousse and instead of using the high-fat Heavy Cream, you can use low-fat Cool Whip!  You still get the necessary peaks and texture, and it's still yummy!


DRINKS

The Chocolate Martini Mix is a crowd favorite.  You can use regular vodka or a number of the new flavored vodkas.  Raspberry & Chocolate are a sexy combo.  Add Sprite for a fizzy cocktail! 


When you get your Chocolate Martini Mix you might want to pour the contents into a blender and whiz it up to blend out any settled chocolate.  Then pour it back into your  Chocolate Martini Mix  bottle and you're good to go!

Hello readers! 

I've "blogged" before, but it was on a different site.  I will endeavor one day to bring some of that data here for your educational enjoyment.  If you'd like to read some of it now, here's the link:

http://vanitiesspa.yuku.com/forums/66

Aside from blogging, setting up websites, running a spa, and generally "horsing around", I also read a lot from the web, mainly spa forums where I keep in touch with my peers and learn what's going on outside my treatment room.

Well, today I read a post that really bothered me.  It is about an activity that I thought we had moved away from, but apparently the skin care industry is still at it:

ANIMAL TESTING!

The list is a LONG one, those companies who are still testing cosmetics on laboratory animals (even thought there are better methods) . 

BOTOX is one of the worst.  If it wasn't bad enough to put a NEUROTOXIN in your FACE, this is how they test it's "saftey":  every batch is tested on huge groups of mice to find the "average lethal dose" or the dose where exactly 50% live and 50% die, and that dosage becomes the standardized "unit" for that particular batch.  The mice that do not die immediately will die slowly in 2-3 days of progressive asphyxiation from paralyzed lung muscles (remember, it takes 2-3 days to kick in).  The testing is referred to as LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%) and is the only FDA approved method to standardize dosage for a biological product like Botox ... even though researchers have proposed non-animal tests that may actually be MORE effective.

It is so frustrating reading this.

SO ... here is my sales pitch ... Vanities Spa NEVER allows a product through our doors that has been tested on animals (except humans!).  I can't believe I have to say that - shouldn't it be the norm NOT to abuse animals?  Rest assured that all Vantastic Skin products are CRUELTY-FREE (and always will be).  Another reason to choose us!

Throw out your L'Oreal and your Oil of Olay and choose Vantastic Skin!

Here is a PARTIAL (no-shopping) list:

Aveeno
Biotherm
Cacharel
Clearasil
DDF
Escada
Fekkai
Garnier
Gillete
Armani
Head & Shoulders
Helena Rubenstein
Helene Curtis
Ivory
Herbal Essences
Johnson & Johnson
Kerastase
Kiehls
Lancome
LaRoche Posay
L'oreal
Matrix Hair
Maybelline
Neutrogena
Natural Instincts
Nair
Nioxin
OLAY
Pantene
Ponds
Redken
Ralph Lauren
Rembrandt
Sebastian Hair
Shiseido
SK-II
Suave
Sunsilk

Most commercial deodorants and cleaning products also conduct animal testing.

*If you are looking for an all-natural deodorant (not antiperspirant) a company called "Thai Crystal Deodorant Stones" works amazingly well, with no negative side effects.  I find them at Whole Foods, but I'm sure they are hiding in other stores, as well.
They have a convenient roll-on and a spray that I can personally recommend.

BOYCOTT where you can, and CHOOSE kindness instead of CRUELTY.