Coronavirus disease 2019

COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever,[7] fatigue, cough, breathing difficulties, loss of smell, and loss of taste.[8][9][10] Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. At least a third of people who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms.[11][12] Of those who develop symptoms noticeable enough to be classified as patients, most (81%) develop mild to moderate symptoms (up to mild pneumonia), while 14% develop severe symptoms (dyspnea, hypoxia, or more than 50% lung involvement on imaging), and 5% develop critical symptoms (respiratory failure, shock, or multiorgan dysfunction).[13] Older people have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Some complications result in death. Some people continue to experience a range of effects (long COVID) for months or years after infection, and damage to organs has been observed.[14] Multi-year studies on the long-term effects are ongoing.[15]

COVID‑19 transmission occurs when infectious particles are breathed in or come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The risk is highest when people are in close proximity, but small airborne particles containing the virus can remain suspended in the air and travel over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur when people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated by the virus. People remain contagious for up to 20 days and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms.[16]

Testing methods for COVID-19 to detect the virus’s nucleic acid include real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR),[17][18] transcription-mediated amplification,[17][18][19] and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT‑LAMP)[17][18] from a nasopharyngeal swab.[20]

Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and distributed in various countries, many of which have initiated mass vaccination campaigns. Other preventive measures include physical or social distancing, quarantining, ventilation of indoor spaces, use of face masks or coverings in public, covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face. While drugs have been developed to inhibit the virus, the primary treatment is still symptomatic, managing the disease through supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures.

Cplay Casino Platform: Player Flow and Compliance Essentials

Cplay presents itself as a licensed Italian casino designed around regulatory compliance and structured player interactions. Founded in 2022 under ADM oversight, the platform prioritizes security measures that comply with Italian gaming standards. Rather than chase novelty, the site follows established workflows that guide players through deposit, play, and withdrawal stages. For those evaluating online casinos in Italy or elsewhere, understanding how Cplay organizes its platform mechanics – from payment options to tournament participation – offers a practical window into modern regulated gaming.

Verifying your account is mandatory before processing withdrawals at Cplay, a requirement that stems from anti-money-laundering regulations enforced across the Italian market. Players must submit identity documentation through the withdrawal section to complete this check. The verification step, while procedural, exists to protect both the operator and the user base from fraud and financial crime. casino platform Cplay can clarify current withdrawal policies and any documentation formats the platform accepts. This single checkpoint occurs before funds can leave your account, making it one of the most critical points in the player lifecycle and a natural moment to review what documentation you have on hand.

Cplay operates as a regulated Italian online casino established in 2022, holding ADM licensure that enforces key security standards for user protection. The platform emphasizes compliance throughout the player journey, from account setup through withdrawal. Desktop browsing forms the primary access point, with responsive design extending the experience to mobile devices without requiring a dedicated application. This approach keeps the interface lean while maintaining functional parity across screen sizes.

Deposit Channel Limits and Speed

Payment Method Max Deposit Processing Time
Visa €2,000 Instant
Mastercard €2,000 Instant
PayPal / Digital Wallets Varies Instant to minutes
Paysafecard / Prepaid Card balance limit Immediate

The casino structures its tournament offerings around competitive series, including the Habanero tournament circuit that pools €100,000 across roughly 4,000 participants in Italy. Players navigating the site encounter tournament schedules, promotional mechanics, and game selection through a straightforward information hierarchy. Account verification represents a necessary checkpoint before withdrawals can proceed, aligning with regulatory obligations that shape the player decision flow at critical moments.

Payment Methods and Processing Speed

  • Visa and Mastercard accept deposits up to €2,000 per transaction with instant crediting to your account balance.
  • Postepay, PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller offer digital wallet alternatives that appeal to players avoiding traditional card entries.
  • Paysafecard and Carta Elektra function as prepaid options for those preferring deposit limits baked into the payment instrument itself.
  • Euro currency standardization across all methods removes conversion friction for Italian and European players.

Tournament Scope and Availability

Tournament Name Prize Pool Participant Target
Habanero Series €100,000 total Approximately 4,000 players in Italy
Local Regional Events Varies by quarter Italy-based and regional participation
Monthly Leaderboard Bonus credits or free plays Active depositing members

Account and Compliance Stages

  • Desktop and mobile browsing both access the full game library without downloading a native application to your device.
  • Information architecture guides new players through tournament schedules, prize pool details, and eligibility criteria upfront.
  • Identity verification through the withdrawal section is the compliance step separating unverified accounts from fund transfers.
  • Italian ADM licensing and security standards apply uniformly across all user sessions and transaction types.

Making a deposit involves selecting from multiple payment channels, each with distinct characteristics around processing speed and transaction limits. The breadth of available methods – from traditional card options to digital wallets and prepaid solutions – reflects an effort to match local and cross-border player preferences. Understanding the timing and maximum thresholds for each method allows informed choice during the funding stage.

Begamestar Casino: guida ai pagamenti, depositi e prelievi

Affrontare il tema dei pagamenti su una piattaforma di gioco online significa comprendere come il denaro si muove in entrata e in uscita, quali siano i costi reali e quali gli strumenti disponibili. Begamestar struttura questa esperienza intorno alla trasparenza delle commissioni e alla molteplicità di canali. Una panoramica delle opzioni di deposito e prelievo, dei tempi e delle eventuali verifiche richieste aiuta i giocatori a orientarsi prima di affidare i propri fondi.

Chi cerca informazioni dettagliate sulle modalità di pagamento accettate da Begamestar e sui termini specifici delle transazioni trova una risorsa affidabile in begamestar.it.com. La pagina dedicata illustra il processo passo passo, indicando i tempi di elaborazione, gli importi minimi e massimi per operazione, e le verifiche di identità eventualmente necessarie. Consultarla direttamente consente di evitare sorprese e di scegliere il metodo di transazione più idoneo alle proprie esigenze, che si tratti di una carta di credito consolidata, di un portafoglio digitale o di una criptovaluta. Una lettura preliminare offre anche chiarimento su quale sia la procedura corretta in caso di prelievo o di modifica degli importi autorizzati.

Begamestar mette a disposizione un ventaglio di strumenti per gestire i flussi di denaro senza costi nascosti. Non applica commissioni sulle operazioni di deposito, il che significa che l’importo versato arriva interamente sul conto di gioco. Per i prelievi, la piattaforma non trattiene commissioni interne, anche se il metodo di pagamento selezionato potrebbe applicare costi propri a seconda della banca o del fornitore di servizi. Questa trasparenza permette ai giocatori di prevedere esattamente quali somme entreranno o usciranno dal loro portafoglio.

Metodi di deposito e prelievo accettati

  • Carte Visa e MasterCard per transazioni bancarie dirette e immediate
  • Portafogli elettronici come Skrill, Neteller ed ecoPayz per chi preferisce gestire il denaro via app
  • Criptovalute Bitcoin, Litecoin ed Ethereum per chi sceglie la privacy e la decentralizzazione
  • Nessuna commissione aggiuntiva sui depositi: l’importo versato giunge integro al conto di gioco
  • Prelievi senza commissioni interne, sebbene il provider di pagamento potrebbe applicare proprie tariffe

La varietà di metodi disponibili copre sia le soluzioni bancarie tradizionali che le opzioni digitali moderne. Carte di credito, portafogli elettronici e criptovalute rappresentano le principali vie di transazione. Chi usa uno smartphone può contare su un’esperienza mobile fluida: Begamestar offre un’app nativa per iOS e Android, con accesso biometrico e notifiche push per restare aggiornati. Il sito è anche completamente responsive, garantendo lo stesso livello di funzionalità su qualsiasi dispositivo.

Protezione e controllo dei fondi

  • Limiti di deposito mensili configurabili per controllare la spesa e promuovere il gioco consapevole
  • Accesso biometrico e autenticazione sicura sull’app mobile per proteggere l’account
  • Chat dal vivo disponibile per verificare status dei prelievi e ricevere assistenza sulle transazioni
  • Interfaccia completamente localizzata in italiano per una comprensione immediata di ogni passaggio
  • Verifica dell’identità potrebbe essere richiesta prima di autorizzare importi elevati o prelievi

Costi, tempistiche e verifiche sulle transazioni

Aspetto della transazione Condizione su Begamestar Cosa significa per il giocatore
Costo sui depositi Zero commissioni interne Il saldo versato appare interamente sul conto: se depositi 100 euro, giochi con 100 euro
Tempistica di prelievo Elaborazione tramite la piattaforma senza ritardi aggiunti I tempi dipendono dal metodo scelto; conviene verificare con il supporto le scadenze specifiche
Verifica dell’identità Può essere richiesta prima di prelievi significativi Prepara i documenti in anticipo per velocizzare il processo e evitare blocchi alla transazione
Costi esterni sul prelievo Possono applicarsi le tariffe della banca o del provider di pagamento Confronta i costi tra i metodi disponibili; a volte un portafoglio digitale costa meno di una carta

La gestione responsabile dei fondi è supportata da strumenti che consentono di fissare limiti di deposito mensili. Il supporto tramite chat dal vivo rimane disponibile per chiarire dubbi su procedure, limiti o scadenze di transazione. Prima di iniziare a giocare, conviene verificare direttamente con la piattaforma gli eventuali requisiti specifici di verifica dell’identità o i tempi esatti di elaborazione dei prelievi, poiché possono variare a seconda della modalità scelta.

Gratitude Attraction Experiment on Facebook

I decided to try an experiment on Facebook by starting a group called Gratitude Attraction in which I asked people to post three things they were grateful for that happened that day.

My thinking was that the more gratitude expressed, the more the universe would provide to be grateful for. I figured I’d be lucky if 10 people joined, yet in a few short months we have close to 2300 members from all over the world! It’s so inspiring to read the posts, see their photos, and realize there is ALWAYS SOMETHING to be grateful for.

The stories people post are sometimes mind blowing. People are grateful for horrible things that have happened in their lives because they find the good in it.  A man even expressed gratitude for having been stabbed and had the photos to prove it!  If that’s not truly amazing, I don’t know what is.  He’s had the most horrific things happen to him, yet he has found a way to be grateful for all of it.

People post lovely photos and share wonderful moments from their daily lives. It really does make one realize how much we have to be thankful for.  I am also thankful for simple things like finding a dollar on the floor at work or a warm smile from a stranger.

Even on the darkest of days I have to remind myself how blessed I really am.  I have my sight, my hearing, a reliable car, a cell phone, a home, a TV, a computer, a husband of 22 years,  food in my fridge, clothes on my back, credit cards, etc. I am indeed more fortunate than most.  I may not have the life I once had, or all that I want, but I know that by being grateful for what I DO have will bring me more of what I want.

There are still many moments when I complain and feel really sorry for myself. Focusing on those problems will only bring me more of them but sometimes it’s hard to ignore.

Focusing on gratitude changes everything – immensely.

Here’s a great example: I was at my job, which I hate beyond comprehension, and went outside to go on a rampage of appreciation.  I sat on a rock and expressed gratitude for EVERYTHING I could think of – the sun, the stars, the breeze, the grass, my car, my senses, my health, my car, my home, the roads – you get the idea.  I just kept going and going.

I went back into work and a few minutes later the Governor of New Jersey appeared.  I started speaking to him and told him I had once worked in state government.  He asked me if I wanted to get back into it and I said YES!  He took out a slip of paper, wrote “Erica, I want to help,” and signed his name.  Then on another piece of paper he wrote a name and phone number of his personal assistant and told me to call her.

The result of all this? I have a meeting with the head of Gubernatorial Appointments on May 11, which just happens to be my late father’s birthday.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  I believe that my being grateful and expressing it to the universe gave me more to be grateful for. Furthermore, maybe the universe, in it’s ultimate wisdom, put me in the horrible job so that a great job could happen.

Remembering to be grateful isn’t always the easiest thing; however I’m learning to monitor my thoughts, words and actions.

Give daily gratitude a try and if you’re on Facebook come join us in Gratitude Attraction and share your stories!

Horses touch our souls and hearts

horse-eyeHorses don’t just touch our lives; they touch the very core of our souls and hearts.  Horses are a blessing and good for our mind, body, and spirit.  For horse people, the obsession usually begins early in life and becomes a lifelong passion.

There’s nothing like hearing the little nicker from your horse as you walk into the barn, the gentle nuzzle from that super soft muzzle, or when he checks your pockets trying to find those peppermints he knows you have.  Just being with your horse transcends the problems of everyday life, because when you’re with your horse, nothing else matters; all is well with the world.

The pure pleasure from being around horses can’t be measured. It’s a feeling deep within you and something you ache deeply for when deprived of it.

Being in a horse’s presence is soothing. 

horse-groomingA good grooming session helps build the bond between horse and rider, and should be pleasurable for both.  Watching your horse stretch his neck in bliss as you curry the “itchy spot” brings a smile to your face.  Taking the time to carefully untangle every knot in a bushy tail can be calming, as your mind isn’t concerned with daily worries – not to mention the pride you feel in seeing the finished result.

An amazing trust is built between horse and rider.  Think about a 150 pound person getting a 1000 pound animal to willingly and happily succumb to his rider’s wishes.  That’s trust and a unique bond.  It doesn’t matter if you’re out for a trail ride on a crisp fall day or getting blue ribbons at indoors, the bliss is the same.  Even a good lesson can leave you on a high for days.

Horse people understand all of this.

Less is More when it comes to makeup

Makeup Tips for Middle Aged Women

Being over 50, I’ve come up with some makeup tips for middle aged women.  The most important epiphany was  that less is more when it comes to makeup and good skin care is the secret to looking better and younger.

Last year I went on a makeup kick with all kinds of products – eye shadows, concealers, correctors, powders, etc.  What I noticed? I looked OLDER – a LOT older.  I even started wearing contact lenses again and much to my chagrin, discovered that my glasses were hiding a lot of my not so nice eye area.  I have discoloration under my eyes, some lines, and a hollow look. UGH!

So being over 50, I started to do some research and experimentation and discovered less makeup made me look younger.  Take a look at older celebrities – Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Lisa Edelstein and you’ll see they aren’t sporting the same makeup as J Lo or Beyoncé.  In fact, Lisa Edelstein doesn’t appear to be wearing makeup at all!

Good skin care is essential and there is so much out there that promises virtual miracles. I’ve tried ultra expensive to the drug store brands only to find none of it really works.  All they do is moisturize, which is important, especially with an SPF.

The exception to this rule has been Renergie Eye Cream from Lancôme.  renergie eyeI really have noticed after about a month of twice daily use that my lids are way less hooded and the lines under my eyes are smoother.  I’ll get to my other skin care picks later.

I still use concealer (MAC) but I gave up the powder and sometimes even add a dab of moisturizer over the concealer. Sometimes I’ll use a brightening pen (MAC) under eyes and blend with a BeautyBlender. The powder (everyone said was mandatory) was actually accentuating the lines under my eyes. I’ve tossed the powder all together. The same with foundation.  Primer really didn’t help and powder on top of the foundation made the makeup settle into my laugh lines, making them even more noticeable. I stopped using contour.  I definitely cut down the eye shadow and sometimes don’t wear it at all.  I think it draws more attention to hooded eye lids, which are far better since using the Renergie.

Mascara is every day – waterproof always because my eyes tear. When it comes to mascara I think the only difference is the brush.  There is no need to spend $30 on mascara which is going to get clumpy and tossed after a couple of months. I like Rimmel Scandal Eyes which is about $8 at CVS.  I now tend to skip eyeliner as it accentuates hooded lids unless you are really good at a small wing at the end.  An artist I am not.  By the way, Never line your under eyes, especially with black liner; it just makes your eyes look smaller.   I also think black eyeliner is too severe and prefer a dark brown. Clinique makes an inexpensive pen with a felt tip that I like a lot. I’m not sure if it comes in brown.  They only had black when I bought it; but it’s very easy to apply a nice thin line right at the base of your lashes.

As for lipstick, I stick to sheer or nude colors because bold colors when you’re over 50 seem to accentuate  lip lines.  As much as I love the bold colors and was particularly in love with a new matte purple, my husband looked at me in horror and said “no one has purple lips!”  That made me think of dead people with purple lips and now that lipstick is in the drawer of “never to be used again” makeup.

I do swear by Bobbi Brown finishing mist after my foundation as it eliminates any cakey look. It is filled with ingredients that are good for your skin, it dries quickly, and feels and smells great.finishing mist

 

For my foundation: I’m still hooked on Too Face Born this Way. born this waySometimes I’ll use a stippling brush for foundation, sometimes a BeuatyBlender.  The coverage is better with the brush.  I have dark spots that get covered with my foundation; but as soon as I put blush on, those dark spots spring back to life.  I’ve tried everything to cover them and nothing has worked.  Prescription creams didn’t fade them, so now I just dab blush on ever so lightly with an angled blush brush. Milani baked blush stays on all day and it’s about $8 at the drugstore.

Now over 50 skin care:

I’ve been using Lancôme Geneifique for 6 weeks without noticing a difference. Then I use Josie Maran’s Argon Oil Milk as my serum. During the day I’m using Lancôme Renergie moisturizer with SPF. At night I use josie maran eyeJosie’s Maran’s Face Butter over the milk and lock it all down with straight argon oil.josie maran face butter

I haven’t noticed much in the diminishment of my wrinkles but definitely have noticed firmness, especially around my jaw line.  I have noticed my neck lines are significantly improved.  Now if I could get those results in other areas of my face like above my lip and in between my eyebrows. By the way, how do I still have wrinkles there when I have Botox?

As I’ve been cutting down the amount of makeup I use, I definitely look younger so when you’re over 50, less is more when it comes to makeup.

 

Frequent Flyer Miles, Try to Use Them!

Screen-Shot-2013-01-30-at-5.30.48-PM Frequent Flyer miles,- try to use them.  Go ahead, I dare you!  Let me know how you make out.

I have lots of frequent flyer miles on United, American, Capital One, and American Express.  I am trying to fly from Newark to London or Dublin in April and use some of them.  The joke is on me.  Frequent flyer programs aren’t what they used to be.  Basically, you can’t use them.

Continental was a great airline. I flew everywhere from Newark directly – Switzerland, London, Paris, Rome, Prague, Budapest, and more.  Then the merged with United (the worst airline on the planet) and stopped taking American Express points for miles.  Well, I still had frequent flyer miles so I thought no problem! WRONG!  I couldn’t get a direct flight from Newark to either London or Dublin. There was a co-share with British airways that was 132,000 frequent flyer miles (just for the first flight!) and $699 for the co-share plus taxes.  Mind you, the price of the ticket was $750.

I have to mention a little side note about United.  You can’t even get a snack or watch TV unless you pay for it, not even a bag of peanuts (Jet Blue at least gives you a snack.)  Continental used to give you a sandwich and TV.  In fact, on the newer planes TV isn’t even an option because a flight attendant told me that is an after market addition and the planes would have to go back to have them installed. REALLY?  Then you have the surliest crew members. I think it’s a requirement that you be a truly miserable person to work for United. But here’s my very favorite thing about United……

They kept the Continental logo but changed the name to United after the merger.  When I inquired as to why, I was told United was more recognizable world-wide. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? What marketing genius thought of this and who approved it? Why is United a more recognizable name? Gee, who doesn’t want to be reminded of 9/11 every time they get on board? Seriously, this is the most egregious marketing error in history! This airline needs to hire me as their new director of marketing.

OK, I digressed…..

American Airlines basically doesn’t fly anywhere from Newark.  The last time I used frequent flyer miles to fly to London I had to leave from JFK.  At the time I was able to leave my car at my brother’s house in Long Island, use 20,000 frequent flyer miles each way and it was easy. Now I can still get those flights, but since my brother wrote me out of his life with two vitriolic letters (a story for another day), I can’t get home from JFK.

Virgin Atlantic no longer accepts Amex points for frequent flyer miles and no longer flies out of Newark. British Airways will accept frequent flyer miles BUT the flights I found had layovers from 4-28 hours.  28 hours? Seriously? I’m going to spend 28 hours in Brussels after flying all night?  Shoot me.

So I thought I had the system beat when Capital One said I could use my miles anytime, any flight, etc. Score! Wrong again!  I have more than 60,000 miles on Capital One; however, they aren’t really frequent flyer miles – they are cash towards travel.  Apparently my 65,000 miles equates to $600 and the ticket has to be that price or less. They won’t accept the $150 difference if I’m willing to pay it.  I was told that I could use that $600 for rental car or hotel.

Take a look at American Express airline partners.  There are very few left.  I used to use Amex points for all my travel and even flew Air Mexico with them. Now the choices are few and far between. I have 200,000 American Express points.  Maybe if I get another 300,000 I can trade it in for a first generation Ipad.

It’s really a shame that these airlines tout these frequent flyer programs but fail to tell you you can’t use the miles for anything. Also did you know they expire? Oh yes they do!  If you don’t travel on that airline within a certain time frame, those miles are history.  I have an American Airlines credit card so I make sure I use it occasionally just to keep my miles from expiring.

All I want is a vacation.  All I want to do is go visit my friends in England and go see Ireland for a few days.  I have ff-program-newvacation time I’m going to loose if I don’t use it and now it seems my vacation is going to be spent at home cleaning the house or staining my deck if it’s warm enough in April!

So now what is one to do with all these unusable frequent flyer miles?

If you have any suggestions please let me know. Also if you live on Long Island and will let me park my car there for 10 days I can actually use American Airlines frequent flyer miles to get to the UK!

Is Lisa Vanderpump Ruling the Roost?

Is Lisa Vanderpump ruling the roost on the new season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

This is probably one of my favorite casts of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and while this season has been a bit boring so far, I’m not missing the hot mess that is Kim Richards or her equally host mess side-kick, Brandi.

erika jayneLet’s talk first about the new addition, Erika Girardi, aka Erika Jayne.  There are lots of reasons to hate her; but, alas I find myself irresistibly drawn to her and am growing fonder of her with each episode. First, she looks like Malibu Barbie. She’s married to an uber wealthy attorney 33 years her senior.  She’s the trophy wife living the jet-set lifestyle complete with private plane.  She has an alter ego, Erika Jayne who makes dance videos that the other women seem to find scandalous. I watched a bunch of them and find them totally benign. She seems to have some talent and basically just shows her ass a lot.  Of course if I had an ass like that I’d run around with no pants on at all.  She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, but she has incredible candor and honesty that’s so refreshing. While she has every reason to be a snob, Erika Girardi appears totally grounded. Her compassion for Yolanda exceeds all the other women by leaps and bounds.

david and yolandaI miss Yolanda being part of the regular cast and was shocked to hear that she and David Foster were divorcing. However, since she was wife number four for the Grammy winning musician, it’s not that much of a surprise. My guess is he’s no angel in the marriage department.  Yolanda appears to be really suffering and Lisa Rinna’s suggestion of Munchhausen’s Syndrome was appalling. Yolanda’s surgery showing all the free-floating silicone in her body was truly disturbing and I hope it’s the answer to all her suffering.  Yolanda Foster seems to be an incredible woman and I have nothing but well-wishes for a speedy recovery.

lisa vanderpumpLisa Vanderpump gets paid $500,000 per episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!  That’s a staggering number.  I thought she was terribly rude in the questions she asked Eileen Davidson regarding the start of Eileen’s relationship with husband Vinny.  However, Eileen should have stopped the discussion in its tracks. I imagine Lisa Vanderpump is very intimidating and this is why Eileen let the conversation continue despite her obvious discomfort.  Lisa Vanderpump appears to have a perfect life. Yes she works hard and has her hands full with her bat shit crazy Sur employees.  (I’ll have to do a blog post on Vanderpump Rules although at this point I can barely stand to watch it.)  Lisa Vanderpump can best be summed up with one word: excess. Who hires a private plane to transport a miniature horse?  I did love when Kyle said that can’t possibly be her biggest problem!  There must be something that keeps Lisa up at night and maybe it’s the British in her that just keeps a lid on things and she doesn’t talk about it. Everyone seems a little bit afraid of Lisa, yet I predict Erika Girardi will confront her at some point. Lisa Vanderpump has too much money, way too much. I’ve never seen a Louis Vuitton purse with pink trim anywhere except on the arm of Lisa Vanderpump. Custom made? $$$$$$

This is a person that takes one of her swans to the vet – in her car no less.  Everything she does seems to be over the top, done well, but over the top.  The luncheon she threw for Ken’s 70th birthday came complete with a new hat for each guest. Who does that?

Then there’s Kyle Richards. This woman bores me to tears.  I honestly don’t see what she contributes to the show.  There was the conflict with her sister Kim, but that’s been eliminated and it seems no one in Kyle Richards’ family is speaking with her, although Kyle has not gone into any details.  The whole thing with Nicky Hilton’s wedding was brushed over without explanation. This was probably the most interesting thing about Kyle all season. The best thing about Kyle is her hair and her incredibly good looking husband.

The current cast of the RHOBH gets along really well, maybe too well for the season to be interesting.  While I’m not a fan of the f-bombing mess Brandi, she did at least add some spice and there was always some argument or something crazy going on caused by her.

I will continue to watch this season in the hope that something interesting happens; but, so far it’s been a snooze fest.

 

 

Josie Maran’s argon oil miracles

Josie_Maran_-150x150body butterJosie Maran and her argon oil products are true beauty miracles.

I have to say, I’ve been watching Josie Maran on QVC for years and finally took the leap, buying a kit of argon oil, body butter, divine dip, and a shower milk – all in a caramel apple scent that is beyond heavenly.  I want to eat it.  The only product I’m not crazy about is the shower milk because I find it doesn’t lather very much, I don’t feel it cleanses, and you have to use quite a bit of it.  That being said, it does smell amazing.

I had been using Volumagen, because it was inexpensive for getting eye cream, serum, and moisturizer. Besides not wanting to put more money into the pockets of Heather and Terry Dubrow, I didn’t see any results after 90 days.  My face was the same as with the Vichy I’d been using from CVS.

argon oilEnter the beauty miracle of argon oil.  First of all, I have replaced my moisturizer with pure argon oil, which is NOT greasy at all.  It hydrates, has no chemicals and after just a week have noticed a reduction in fine lines, especially the annoying line above my lip. Unfortunately, it hasn’t eliminated any hair frizz. I need my keratin treatments.

My neck has been the bane of my existence. I’ve tried everything to no avail. However, the Divine Dip (combo of honey and argon oil) has virtually eliminated the “tree like rings” at the base of my neck.

The body butter is sublime.  It’s whipped into a deliciousness I cannot describe. Not only does it smell good enough to eat, but the changes in my skin are incredible.  I have been to several dermatologists for the red, scaly patch on my left elbow and nothing has worked – except Josie Maran’s whipped body butter. The red patch is barely there and  the flaky skin is gone.  My thighs also seem to be getting firmer!

I’ve been using it when I get out of the shower and I can’t tell you how amazing the caramel apple smell is. Josie, PLEASE make this scent available on its own. The 8 oz. tub is supposed to last three months. There is no way that’s going to happen. I’ve also seen a huge difference in my cracked heels and dry feet using the body butter.

Josie Maran makes a host of other products including lip balm, lipstick, concealer, eye shadow and more, all comprised primarily of argon oil.  I plan to be switching exclusively to these products when I run out of all the stuff I currently have.  Unfortunately I have a LOT. Josie-Maran-Argan-Black-Oil-Mascara

I just started using Rimmel argon oil mascara and really like it; but, Josie has a mascara that’s next on my list to try. It has a unique brush that curls, defines, volumizes, and lengthens, all with argon oil.  She even says to sleep in it as a lash treatment!

argon lipstickThe lipsticks are unique in that the color is in the center with a core of argon oil around it.  It seems amazing, although without lip liner it will be interesting to see how long it lasts.  I drink water constantly and without a lip liner underneath, I’m constantly applying my lipstick.  I have the perfect nude shade with a combo of a MAC lip liner and Bobbi Brown lipstick, so it’s going to be tough to transition.

As for Vollumagen, I’ll be selling it on Ebay as there is no need for it and I have 4 months worth of unopened product.  (If you’re interested, let me know.) Josie Maran makes an argon oil milk that takes the place of a serum and since I was lucky enough to get a sample at Sephora, I’m going to start using that tomorrow.  Sorry Heather and Terry, your proprietary blend of peptides doesn’t do a thing.

I keep noticing more and more Josie Maran cosmetics and I am craving them all. Basically I want a head to toe Josie Maran argon oil makeover.  How nice it would be to get rid of everything I own and just use argon oil based products if I can get the coverage, concealing, and contouring I need.  There is a concealer; but, I’ve been bugging poor Josie on Twitter to make a contour kit! Wouldn’t it be nice to get everything you need that’s good for your skin, gets results, and has no chemicals?  Even though my makeup has good ingredients for my skin, there’s still a fair amount of things in it that I can’t pronounce.

I am now totally obsessed with all things argon oil and all things Josie Maran.  The problem is when I get obsessive about something I tend to go a little nuts, which is why I have a TON of things I use daily.  When I find them at a good price I stock up; hence, the back stock of Volumagen. Now I’m dying to throw it all out and buy all of Josie’s products.

I would love to see Josie come up with a full face kit starting with the pure argon oil and moving on to all the necessary products for a full makeup look.  Um, Josie are you listening? I really really want a Josie Maran makeover!