Monday, June 29, 2009

Good Housekeeping's 10 Pet Dangers You Didn't Know About

We love our pets they are just like another member of the family. I know my dogs feel like family, that's for sure. We know that there are hazards for caring for them. We know not to give dogs chocolate and anti-freeze but there are other dangers that could harm our little family members. Good Housekeeping magazine has a list of 10 Pet Dangers You Didn't Know About.

1. Sugar Substitutes
If your dog steals a diet cookie, call a vet. Xylitol - a sweetener used in many sugar-free candies, chewing gums, baked goods, and toothpastes - can cause low blood sugar and liver damage in dogs, reports a study published in 2006 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. And it doesn't take that much xylitol to create problems: The study says a 22-pound dog that ingests just a gram of the stuff should be treated by a vet.

2. Liquid Potpourri
A cat or dog can be badly burned lapping up hot oils and detergents. And many of the liquid-potpourri ingredients can breed ulcers in your animal's mouth, throat, and /or gastrointestinal tract. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has seen 330 such cases since 2001, most involving cats. (Experts think the formulas are also toxic to dogs, but cats appear more sensitive to exposure and are more likely to climb up to reach simmer pots.) About 10% of incidents are life threatening.

3. Medications
No sensible pet owner would leave an open prescription bottle within paw's reach. But beware of closed childproof containers as well: "Animals can crush them," warns Dr. Steven Hansen, D.V.M., of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center. "I once gave my dog an empty bottle with its cap on and timed how fast she could open it," he says. "She knocked it around and chewed on it - and got it open within 15 seconds." The scariest part: Swallowing prescription pills could kill your pet. So keep your four-footed friends away from all medication, closed or open.

4. Lilies
They make a dazzling centerpiece, but also can be lethal to your cat: The ASPCA receives dozens of calls each spring from pet owners whose kitty ate a lily. "Ingesting even very small amounts can result in kidney damage," say Ann Hohenhaus, D.V.M., chair of the department of medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dogs can also get sick from eating azalea or rhododendron, which can lead to vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, depression of the central nervous system, and, in rare cases, death.

5. Polyurethane Glue
You'd never think this stuff would attract your dog, but the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports a 309% increase in glue related incidents since 2002. "Dogs see a bottle lying on the floor and think it's a toy," explains Dr. Hansen. But glue, he says, is bad news. "When swallowed, it goes to the stomach, absorbs moisture, and expands to form a large, rock-like mass." So if your dog's stomach is swollen, take him to a vet: The pooch may need to have a glob of glue surgically removed.

6. Onions and Garlic
They contain disulfides, sulfur compounds that can cause gastrointestinal irritation to pets and harm their red blood cells. "One year, at Passover time, I treated a dog with severe anemia," recalls Dr. Hohenhaus. "It turned out she'd eaten too much of Grandma's chopped liver, which was loaded with onions and garlic." Tip: Don't let your pet stick his snout in the trash. "If an animal comes across a leftover roast covered with onions, he thinks, Bonus!" says Dr. Hohenhaus. "The next thing you know, he's vomiting all the way to the ER."

7. Grapes and Raisins
"We're not sure why they're so toxic to dogs, but they can trigger gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea, or, more commonly, kidney failure," says Karen Halligan, D.V.M., director of veterinary services at the ASPCA of Los Angeles and author of Doc Halligan's What Every Pet Owner Should Know. In fact, of the 140 cases the ASPCA saw between April 2003 and 2004, many were life threatening - and seven dogs ultimately died.

8. Pennies
While a pooch can choke on any coin, pennies are particularly dangerous because they're made with zinc, which is toxic to animals. (When a penny sits in your pet's stomach, the zinc leaches out into the red blood cells, resulting in severe anemia and kidney problems.) The newer the penny, the more likely it is to be deadly. That's because pennies minted after 1982 are 99.2% zinc; those minted earlier are only 5%.

9. Macadamia Nuts
Dogs have become dramatically ill from ingesting just a handful of these. The nuts contain an unknown toxin that can upset your pet's digestive tract and muscles, setting off severe weakness (and sometimes paralysis), mild vomiting and diarrhea. The good news: Virtually all dogs recover within 48 hours of ingestion, whether or not they're treated by a vet.

10. Pine-oil Cleaners
Scrub your floor with something else - the phenol in these products can cause serious liver damage in cats, says Dr. Hohenhaus. And it doesn't take much for a kitty to be exposed: Your fur ball might unknowingly lap up a spill - or just try to clean off her feet.

Women's Health Presents Are You Game Outdoor Summer Festival in NYC on July 11th

-- Free Summer Festival to Feature Euro Bungee, Rock Climbing Wall, Virtual Surfing, Workout Classes, Beauty & Spa Treatments, Fashion Shows, Karaoke and More --

WHAT:

Women’s Health’s annual summer festival, Are You Game?, is returning to New York for the third year. Building on the success of last year’s events in New York and Chicago, which were attended by more than 4,000 people, Are You Game? will allow urban women to experience the ultimate in outdoor fun and adventure. Are You Game? will be open to the public at no cost and will offer a host of fun and athletic challenges and activities, such as:

* Euro Bungee
* Rock Climbing
* Beauty and Spa Treatments
* Workout Classes including: Masala Bhangra, Million Dollar Knockout, Hula Hoop Pilates, and more!
* Virtual Surfing
* Fashion Shows
* Karaoke
* Happy Hour
* And MUCH MORE for the thousands of expected visitors!


WHEN:

Saturday, July 11th, 2009
From 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE:

Manhattan’s Hudson River Park at Pier 46
(Charles Street and West Street)

PRICE: Free

WHO:

Women’s Health presents Are You Game? along with the following sponsors: American Laser Centers, ASICS, Champion, Edy’s, Garnier, Heartland Brewery, Maybelline New York, Oakley, and Subaru of America, Inc.

As the official spa partner for the event, Oasis Day Spa will provide all spa and beauty services for the “Workout to Knockout” pavilion, while Crunch, the official gym partner for Are You Game?, will instruct all the workout classes.

As the official beneficiary of the event, Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host a donation station where attendees will have the opportunity to make a donation.

For more information regarding Are You Game?, please visit http://www.womenshealthmag.com/areyougame

Or contact:

Allison Keane at 212.808.1676, Allison.Keane@rodale.com,
Erin Clinton at 212.808.1683, Erin.Clinton@rodale.com

Friday, June 26, 2009

Baltimore Recognizes Its African American History This July 4th Holiday Weekend

City-wide African American Heritage Festival Includes Nationally Known Entertainers and Accommodations Packages to Celebrate Baltimore’s History

BALTIMORE, MD June 23 -- Looking for an Independence Day getaway? Come spend the July 4th weekend in Baltimore for the 8th Annual African American Heritage Festival. From July 3-5 at M&T Bank Stadium visitors can celebrate the history, culture, education, heritage and arts that embrace and promote the rich African American traditions of Baltimore.

The largest African American festival on the East Coast will feature carnival rides, new educational and historical exhibits, an interactive children's area and a variety of specialized villages offering free educational, financial and health services and resources.

These villages will also feature special programming including exhibits from the Reginald F. Lewis and National Great Blacks in Wax Museums, a spelling bee competition, fashion show, step show, family reunion planning resources and much more.

Teena Marie kicks off the musical entertainment on Friday evening followed by En Vogue and a 4th of July Fireworks celebration on Saturday. The festival concludes with a performance by Anita Baker on Sunday evening. Visitors can also enjoy performances by Tony Toni Tone, Chubb Rock, Rob Base, Laura Izibor and others throughout the weekend. General admission tickets are $5 and children 12 and under are free. New this year, the Main Stage concerts will also feature a limited amount of reserved seating available via Ticketmaster for $40, $50 and $80. This includes admission into the festival grounds and activities.

Information on special Baltimore hotel offerings can be found online at www.baltimore.org/packages.

For more information on African American Heritage Festival, please visit www.ahhf.net.
The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) – the official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore that generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors.

For more information, please visit www.baltimore.org.

###

Contact Information:

Robert Einhorn of M. Silver Associates
robert@msilver-pr.com

Monee Cottman of Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association
mcottman@baltimore.org

Elle Decor Features Socialite Aerin Lauder's NY Homes

Elle Decor features the Manhattan apartment and Hampton home of Aerin Lauder in the July/August issue. Lauder (who is also featured on the cover) is the granddaughter of the legendary Estée Lauder and currently serves as the senior vice president and creative director of Estée Lauder.

Quote from the article:

Lauder honors Estée’s style, but that doesn’t mean everything has stayed the same. She and her husband, Eric Zinterhofer, have expanded the house (which she inherited from her grandmother), where they spend most weekends and holidays, to better accommodate their active life with their two young sons. And not every tradition remains valid. She laughs as she reports, “Last year a friend decided to light up one of my grandfather’s cigars from the 1960s that we had kept around for sentimental reasons. He said, ‘This tastes funny,’ and I said, ‘Well, it should!’”


Lauder's Manhattan Apartment:

Living Room


Dressing Room


Library


Dining Room


Kitchen


Lauder's East Hampton Home:

Dining Room


Kitchen


Living Room


Library


Estée Lauder’s Former Bedroom


Master Bedroom

To read the entire article and view more pictures, pick up the July/August issue of Elle Decor.

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Style and Focus News Bites 6/26

Style and Focus Lifestyle PR would like to send out condolences to the families of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon.

** Sony Comments on the Passing of Michael Jackson. Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him." (Press Release)

** According to the London Times, a study shows that One in Five Women Choose to be Childless as Careers Takes Precedence. One in five women are remaining childless as a growing proportion choose a career over raising a family, according to the study published yesterday. The trend is most marked among women of higher social class, with better qualifications, and who were brought up as an only child. The study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that remaining childless is a lifestyle choice. In the past childlessness was due to poverty, poor nutrition and low marriage rates caused by war and emigration. The proportion of women childless in England and Wales has increased from an estimated 10 percent of a 1945 cohort to 19 percent of women born in 1960.

** Will Your Friends Influence Your Shopping Habits and Interests. That's what two marketing companies, 33Across and Media6Degrees, will be analyzing whether there is a connection between social networking sites, advertising and your friends, and they are not interested in the basic friend lists, but in interactions on the sites, taking note when a user visits a friend’s page, sends a video or exchanges an instant message. In turn, they can identify people who are friends with a company’s existing customers, and then advertise to them.

Instead of using research to identify which Web sites are popular with certain demographic targets, these companies let “the consumer do the heavy lifting for you purely because of the proximity of that customer to other customers,” Mr. Steele said. “There’s a certain traction that you get when you target consumers that you know talk to each other, that you don’t get when you advertise like you would in print.”

Advertisers, eager for any information that allows them to waste fewer ads and spend less money, are trying Media6Degrees and 33Across to see whether friendships are a better indicator of who might like their products than other indicators like age, gender, geography or interests.

It may be valuable for advertisers, but for publishers, it is not great news — tactics like this mean that advertisers can assemble promising audiences while bypassing expensive sites like, say, CNN.com or ESPN.com. And privacy advocates are complaining about online tracking, a subject Congress is examining. (New York Times)

** Beauty Retailer ULTA Celebrates the First-Ever Recipients of the ULTA Enrich, Empower & Enlighten Scholarship. ULTA, "the store on everyone's lips," is honoring today the inaugural recipients of the ULTA Enrich, Empower & Enlighten Scholarship. Committed to positively impacting the future of women, ULTA launched in 2008 the ULTA Enrich, Empower & Enlighten Scholarship Fund to benefit outstanding high school senior girls in select communities across the country.

Sixteen deserving young women were selected based on their academic achievements, community involvement, leadership qualities and commitment to continuing their education; each girl received a scholarship to the educational institution of her choice. The young women also were offered the opportunity to take advantage of a special trip to Chicago for today's awards luncheon and shopping spree at ULTA on State Street with Lyn Kirby, President and CEO of ULTA. (Press Release)

The 2008-2009 ULTA Enrich, Empower & Enlighten Scholarship recipients are:

1. Alexa Del Tufo of Mooresville, NC
2. Katherine Strelzyk of Chicago, IL
3. Alyssa Bilyeu of Chesterfield, MO
4. Laura Rodriguez of Harker Heights, TX
5. Aparna Ghosh of Ann Arbor, MI
6. Leigh Anna Logsdon of Lubbock, TX
7. Chi Wai Tsang of Chicago, IL
8. Lily Marucci of Casa Grande, AZ
9. Emily Gold of Farmingdale, NY
10. Maria del Pilar Delgado deLeon of Fort Collins, CO
11. Emina Becirovic of Omaha, NE
12. Megan Whitehead of Sandy, UT
13. Jessica Morrison of Dunwoody, GA
14. Sarah Eisenberg of New Lenox, IL
15. Julia Alice White of Wellington, FL
16. Shelby Kretz of Toledo, OH

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Halo Headband -- A Must Have for Outdoor Enthusiast

If you exercise outdoors then this is the one product you will need - besides sunscreen. The Halo Headband (shown Halo I - tie version, $12.95) is designed to keep sweat from running down your face not matter how much you sweat. And who wants sweat getting into their eyes especially those ladies who wear eye liner and mascara while working out. The headbands are available in additional colors.

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Style and Focus Weekend: Hiking/Trail walking


Hiking, is a great way to see what nature has to offer. It's also an excellent way to get in exercise while seeing the beautiful views of nature. Hiking is not a walk in the park and you must think of safety as well as having fun. A way to stay safe is to go with a group of friends and if you're not familiar with the area, I would suggest getting a guide to show you a safe way to travel. For Do's and Don't for Hiking Responsibly from Tread Lightly, click here.

Make sure you dress appropriately which means NO flip-flops. Don't forget to take your camera and a pair of binoculars for a safe way to get up close. Also, Don't forget to obey the area's rules and regulations, you want to go and appreciate nature not destroy it.

Day Trip Backpack $39.99 Target.com only


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Latest Obsession: Affordable Summer Dresses

I just absolutely love the summer with all the bright beautiful colors practically everywhere you look. I especially love colorful summer dresses, they are just the easiest thing to put on. With the summer zipping by so quickly, I try not to spend a huge amount of money on summer items unless it's something classic and I'll be wearing for more than one season.

Below are eight beautiful summer dresses that are sure to fit your budget:

Terry Strapless Dress $39.00 sale Victoriassecret.com


Lush Smocked Strapless Dress $38.00 Nordstrom


Get On Board Dress $39.50 Roxy.com


Paisley Print Off The Shoulder Dress $59.00 xoxo.com


Orlee Knit Dress $34.50 delias.com


Women's Lace-Trim Dress $29.50 Old Navy


Zinc Tie Waist Strapless Knit Dress $38.00 Nordstrom


AE Flirty Floral Dress $44.50 American Eagle


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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Kellogg Company and Katalyst Media Join Forces to Confront Hunger in the United States

Kellogg Company and Katalyst Media Join Forces to Confront Hunger in the United States

Katalyst, in Partnership with Kellogg Company, Release a "People-Powered" Web Video to Raise Awareness About the Issue of Hunger

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 22 -- Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) today announced a transformational partnership with Katalyst, a studio for social media co-founded by Ashton Kutcher (www.twitter.com/aplusk) and Jason Goldberg. The partnership will raise awareness of the growing hunger epidemic in the United States and encourage consumers to donate to Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger relief organization, at the KelloggCares Facebook(R) Page at www.facebook.com/kelloggcares. Recent reports show that one in eight Americans is struggling with hunger, and food banks across the country are challenged to keep up with rising demand.

As part of its ongoing commitment to fight hunger, Kellogg teamed up with Katalyst to spotlight the issue through a new online video, directed by Demi Moore (www.twitter.com/mrskutcher). The video can be found on the KelloggCares Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/kelloggcares. It features user-generated content submitted by consumers moved to end hunger following requests that @aplusk (Ashton Kutcher) and @mrskutcher (Demi Moore) posted on their respective Twitter feeds and Facebook Pages.

"We are grateful to be working with Kellogg on such a meaningful project and excited to be creating people-powered content for social media networks as a powerful tool for change," said Kutcher, co-founder of Katalyst. "Innovative partnerships like this one demonstrate the good that companies can do when resources are pooled. The Katalyst team has been inspired by the thousands of voices that have emerged on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms dedicated to ending hunger in America."

The goal of the video is to reach Americans through social media channels and encourage them to work together to help replenish food banks and feed the hungry by making donations to Feeding America. On the KelloggCares Facebook Page, consumers can become a fan, make a monetary donation to Feeding America and find out about other ways they can help fight hunger in their local communities.

"Hunger is an issue that often gets overlooked, especially here in the United States. Having food readily available is something that we too easily can take for granted. And yet we know, especially in these times, that many people in the United States go to bed hungry. That's why it's critical that we come together to shed light on the issue," said Moore. "The collective spirit of the American people can do extraordinary things. It is our hope that this video and partnership with Kellogg Company will draw attention to this important issue and help make a difference for the 36 million Americans struggling with hunger."

Kellogg hopes that by reaching consumers where they get much of their information - via the social web - it will engage even more people in the fight against hunger.

"Facebook gives people the power to share and connect around issues that are important to them," said Tom Arrix, Vice President of U.S. Sales at Facebook. "We are proud to be working with Kellogg and Katalyst to raise awareness for hunger, an issue that affects millions of people everyday, and giving Facebook users an interactive and unique way to engage on this important issue."

In addition to being available on the KelloggCares Facebook Page, the video will be distributed through a number of other social media channels to increase awareness of hunger and encourage donations. Katalyst will help distribute the video through the company's online social networks, and Kellogg will include information about this initiative on tens of millions of Kellogg's cereal boxes later this year.

"We are excited to partner with Kellogg Company, a longstanding supporter of Feeding America, in this important campaign to grow awareness and engagement in the fight against domestic hunger," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "Tremendous strides have been made, but as the support in the fight against hunger grows, so does the demand for food. No American should go hungry and there is always more that can be done. We are grateful to Kellogg for their leadership and dedication to our cause."

This initiative is part of an ongoing commitment from Kellogg Company to help fight hunger. In April, the Company announced that it is donating an entire day's worth of cereal production - more than 55 million cereal servings - to Feeding America. The donation of 3.5 million pounds of cereal is worth approximately $10 million.

"Kellogg Company is deeply committed to fighting hunger," said David Mackay, president and CEO, Kellogg Company. "Through this innovative, new initiative, we hope that we will engage even more consumers who will join us by giving what they can to Feeding America."

Kellogg Company has been a committed donor to Feeding America since they were founded. Over the past 10 years, Kellogg has donated more than 224 million pounds of food to Feeding America. Over the last five years, Kellogg has contributed more than $40 million in cash and $120 million in product to various charitable organizations around the world. For more information on Kellogg Company's Corporate Responsibility efforts, please visit www.kelloggcompany.com/CR.

About Kellogg Company

With 2008 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. The Company's Trademarked brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, All-Bran, Mini-Wheats Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Special K, Chips Deluxe, Famous Amos, Sandies, Bear Naked, Kashi, MorningStar Farms, Gardenburger and Stretch Island. Kellogg products are manufactured in 19 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. Kellogg Company's Corporate Responsibility report including its approach, progress and future direction in the marketplace, workplace, environment and community can be found at www.kelloggcompany.com/CR.

About Katalyst Media

Katalyst, based in Los Angeles and New York, is a studio for social media creating digital, television and film properties. The Katalyst mission is to create thought-provoking and compelling content for multiple platforms. Founded by partners, Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, Katalyst film credits include "The Butterfly Effect" and "Guess Who," as well as the upcoming feature films "Spread" and "5 Killers." Television property credits include the hit series "Punk'd" and "Beauty and the Geek," in addition to network series "True Beauty" for ABC, "The Beautiful Life" for the CW, and "Excellent Adventure" for OWN. Digital properties include the "Blah Girls" (www.blahgirls.com), 24 Hours at Sundance (www.24hoursatsundance.com) and the Web reality series KatalystHQ (www.funspace.com/katalysthq).

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, providing individuals and families with the means to survive and even thrive. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies (soup kitchens and food pantries) that address hunger in all of its forms. The Feeding America network supplies food to more than 25 million Americans each year - including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Box-O-Box's Post-College Masterminds Taking Campuses by Storm With 'Cool' Care Packages

Changing the World One Box at a Time

NEW YORK, June 22 -- When it comes to young business founders with great ideas, one thing is for sure: Justin Zucker and Michael Hauke's three-year-old company Box-O-Box, with its uber-cool college care packages, has hit it big. This year Box-O-Box plans to book an estimated $500,000.00 in revenue.

28-year-old Hauke and Zucker have cornered the market on entertaining, quirky, and ultra-hip care packages for college students. Savvy thinkers, the guys from day one have listened carefully to students and parents at weekly roundtables, resulting in ever-changing packages that college students covet.

The eye-catching packages from Box-O-Box, sent right to college dorms, are rapidly becoming the must-have item on students' -- and parents' -- back-to-school lists. There are 24 themes to choose from for virtually all occasions, including birthdays, cool dorm stuff, exam time, pampering, get well, movie night, and all-nighters. What makes the boxes stand out is that each one is jammed not only with memorable munchies, cool gadgets and just plain-fun stuff, but with humor, TLC and a bit-o-attitude ... and, of course, a message from home.

Colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii are jumping on the brash Box-O-Box bandwagon, making the company their official care package provider. And the packages are proving all the rage on campus, with student government associations, fraternities, sororities, sports clubs and social groups partnering with Box-O-Box.

And Box-O-Box is gaining a foothold beyond the campus, too. People are catching on to sending a Box-O-Love to a sweetie on Valentine's Day or a Movie Night Box for a Netflix extravaganza. Corporations are asking for customized packages for their special events. Check out the colorful boxes at http://www.boxobox.com.

This isn't the first entrepreneurial endeavor for this talented pair. Hauke and Zucker, who earned degrees in Resource Economics from UMass, started Dirty Business Laundry Delivery Service as part of a college class project and later sold the company. "This time we're out to change the world, one box at a time," Hauke concludes.

For more information, contact:

Cindy Rakowitz
(818) 783-3307
cindy@brpublicrelations.com

Diane Blackman
(212) 989-3646
dblackman@brpublicrelations.com

Friday, June 19, 2009

Has Calvin Klein Gone too Far with Ad?


From my Marketing POV, Calvin Klein is a great brand with amazingly chic clothes and I feel like they don't have to go out of their way to create controversy to sell the brand. I'm all for creative expression but you don't always need to use sex to sell everything. It gets old rather quick and it kind of suggest that their marketing and advertising people couldn't think of anything else to promote the clothing, so they fall back on using sex to sell. Let the product sell itself.

This type of advertising gets in the way of successfully communicating the product by distracting the audience from the purpose of the ad, which is to promote the product. With ads like this, the product gets lost amongst the blatant sex appeal.

With so much pressure on young women (be it directly or indirectly) to be sexy and to do things they might not be emotionally ready for, are ads such as this contributing to the pressure to be sexy? Although in this new day and age, sex is viewed in a different way than in the past and people are less judgemental but despite the changes there is still a double standard applied to women compared to men when it comes to sex. It's a porn-inspired or centered aesthetic that sends the message (mostly teen girls) that if they dress or act that way, they will be accepted.

Some questions that have arise from these ads are: "What is Calvin Klein's social responsibility for these types of ads?", "How are they contributing to society's well-being?" and "How far will companies go to out-sex each other to try to get consumers attention?"

Has Calvin Klein gone too far? What is your opinion?

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Survey Reveals How to Eat Your Way to a New Job

RIVERSIDE, Calif., June 16 -- Certified Nutritional Consultant and Nutrition Expert, Robin De-Ivy Allen conducted a survey of more than 1000 people to test her theory. Is it possible for a person to eat their way to a new job? Can the use of food and proper nutrition actually make a person more marketable as an employment candidate?

68% of survey responders believe that a thinner, more fit person would receive a job offer versus an equally qualified candidate who appeared less fit and perhaps overweight. Research does show that a less healthy employee poses more of a potential risk for worker compensation injuries, absenteeism, and increased healthcare claims. Research also shows that people who eat well and take care of themselves have more confidence, energy, clarity and focus, allowing them to meet their goals.

"In this time of economic uncertainty and high unemployment, job seekers must be willing to do all that they can to out shine the competition," says Robin.

Inspired by survey results and personal stories from her clients, Robin wrote a full article titled "Eat Your Way to a New Job." In this article she details the findings of the survey, tells how her clients have benefited in terms of employment and she outlines the 5 Steps to Reinvention.

"I guarantee that if a person adheres to the 5 Steps to Reinvention for a minimum of sevens days they will not only drop pounds, but they will also be on their way to a new level of excellence," says Robin.

The full article can be found in the blog.

About Robin De-Ivy Allen

By personally dropping 40 pounds, Robin understands the power of proper food and nutrition. This wife, mother and nutritional wellness expert is the founder of Necessary Nutrition.

Robin and her team are on a mission to improve the eating habits and overall well-being of millions of people and their families. She shows her clients how to use food and nutrition as a tool for reinvention and a tool for reaching personal and professional goals.

###

Necessary Nutrition

Friday, June 12, 2009

My Life: Friends' Job Lost

I have a couple of friends who have recently lost their jobs in the PR industry and one was in Fashion PR. She was let go because the company wasn't doing that well. It's hard to promote luxury products in a shaky economy. Consumers are not buying and they have to let employees go.

Unfortunately, Marketing and PR are some of the first to go when money starts to get a little tight. I feel really bad and hopefully they will be able to find something else even if it's not in their field.

For a little bit of inspiration while job searching, here's a good book to read:

Just Who Will You Be? Big Question. Little Book. Answer Within. by Maria Shriver

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Latest Obsession: Goddess Inspired Jewelry Pt. 2

Brushed Metal Ring $18.00 Arden B.



Gold-link Bracelet $60.00 J.Crew



Lauren by Ralph Lauren 'Gypsy' Turquoise Hoop Earrings $38.00 Nordstrom



Knotted Ring $24.00 Banana Republic



Hammered Crescent Earrings $5.00 Wet Seal



Hammered Dewdrop Necklace $49.00 Banana Republic



Lois Hill Lace Bulb Drop Earrings $198.00 Nordstrom



Vintage Link Earrings $49.00 Tina Tang



Interlocking Organics Bracelet $38.00 Fossil



Leaves Cascade Earrings $40.00 Topshop



John Hardy 18" Classic Chain Woven Necklace $395.00 Nordstrom



Large Leaf Thong Necklace $22.00 Topshop




Fancy Polished Cuff $4.80 Forever21



Kate Spade 'Mardi Gras' Stud Earrings $38.00 Nordstrom



Long Delicate Circle Link Necklace $125.00 Tina Tang



Gold Pierce Hoop Earrings $28.00 Fossil

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sample Sale: Rebecca Minkoff -- Saturday, June 6th

What: Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009

Where:
Hotel Helix
1430 Rhode Island NW
Washington, DC 20005

(Click image for a better view)

2 Upcoming American Fertility Association 'Manicures & Martinis' Series Events

The American Fertility Association's Infertility Prevention Program

7.3 million!

That's how many American women have difficulty conceiving, but many of those cases could have been prevented with some simple lifestyle choices and changes. Education is the key and what better way to learn than over complimentary manicures and martinis?

"Dealing with infertility robs women of control over their own lives. Education about our bodies and about things we can do now to preserve our fertility potential gives that control back. The AFA's Manicures & Martinis Infertility Prevention Program has proven to be an empowering and liberating experience for women, whether they choose motherhood or not," says Corey Whelan, The AFA's Program Director and creator of the growingly popular and impactful Manicures & Martinis series.

The American Fertility Association's Manicures & Martinis Infertility Prevention Program is a national series of events dedicated to young women who are not quite ready to conceive, but might one day want to have a child. Fertility experts will lead conversations about how to prevent infertility whenever possible, the reality of the "biological clock," the harmful effects of STD's and environmental toxins, and the differences between gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists. Attendees will enjoy complimentary manicures and martinis, or a "Fertiltini" - an all-organic, alcohol-free cocktail.

The AFA's Executive Director, Ken Mosesian, says, "Through post-event surveys, young women are telling us how much they have learned about the basics of reproduction, especially about their biological clocks, about the importance of preventing STD's, and about birth control. One participant said, 'Finally, some answers.'"

The list of cities in which Manicures & Martinis will be held continues to grow, with events most recently scheduled in San Francisco and Laguna Niguel.

Manicures & Martinis San Francisco

Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Location: Nova Nail Spa, 811 Mission Street, San Francisco
Registration Contact: Corey@corey@theafa.org or 718.853.1411
Presenter: Marcelle Cedars, MD, of UCSF Center for Reproductive Health


Manicures & Martinis Laguna Niguel

Date: Tuesday, June 16th
Time: 6:00-7:30
Location: Accent on Nails, 28121 Crown Valley Pkwy, Suite B, Laguna Niguel
Registration Contact: Corey@corey@theafa.org or 718.853.1411
Presenter: Brian Acacio, MD, of Acacio Fertility Center


The national series has been greeted with overwhelming success in New York City and other large metropolitan areas. We invite young women in their early 20's and 30's to attend, and learn all they can about how to safeguard themselves from becoming part of that grim statistic of 7.3 million.


The American Fertility Association

The American Fertility Association, a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization, is a lifetime resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. AFA services and materials are provided free of charge to consumers and available to everyone without reservation. These services include an extensive online library, live monthly online webinars, telephone and in-person coaching, a resource directory, hosted message boards, daily fertility news and a toll-free support line. Visit http://www.theafa.org or call 888.917.3777.


Media Contact:

Brian Armentrout
Communications Director
The American Fertility Association
o: 205.425.3644
c. 917.324.1545
brian@theafa.org


SOURCE: The American Fertility Association

Latest Obsession: Goddess Inspired Jewelry Pt. 1

My latest obsession is finding jewelry that has that goddess influence. When you think of goddesses you conjure up the image of beauty, strength and intelligence. From Artemis to Venus, goddesses have been inspiring women all over the world to be beautiful, strong and wise. The pieces shown are delicate and feminine as well as strong and bold in beautiful textures in gold, silver, bronze or turquoise.


Antic Metal Lacquer Cuff $5.80 Forever21


Large Hera Hoops $85.00 Tina Tang


Argento Vivo Turquoise & Gold Earrings $78.00 Nordstrom



Long Linked Necklace $29.50 Lane Bryant



Lauren by Ralph Lauren Turquoise Chandelier Earrings $48.00 Nordstrom



Braided Necklace $59.00 Banana Republic



Good Karma 5 pc. Bangle Bracelets $32.00 Guess



Cable-Chain Necklace $68.00 J.Crew



Tiered Crescent Earrings $5.00 Wet Seal



Cut Out Genie Ring $32.00 Fossil



Double Chain Link Necklace $58.00 BCBG



Gold Fill Bebe Necklace $165.00 Tina Tang



Kate Spade 'Keswick Caning' Bangle $195.00 Nordstrom



Small Disc Earrings $48.00 Tina Tang



Flat Chain Necklace $49.00 Banana Republic



Gold Lace Cuff $38.00 Fossil



Mesh Ring $24.00 Banana Republic


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