All right fellow LUSHies, here’s the contest for you. Even if you’re not a devoted user of LUSH handmade skincare and cosmetics, this will be fun. Following the arrival of their fabulous new Fresh Face Starter Kits, LUSH is looking for a “Fresh Face” to be featured in their 2008 catalog. But wait, it’s not a beauty contest! LUSH is looking for:

• Fresh faces of all shapes, sizes and colors!
• Fresh faces of all types: youthful, mature, male, female!
• Fresh faces of all places: city, country, suburbs!
• Sophisticated faces, regular faces, fancy faces, natural faces!

Woo hoo, a contest for everyone! And if you’re near one of their retail stores (they have locations in many states, provinces, and countries), you can also enter in person on June 2nd. At the event there will be free skin care consultations and demos, and you can enter into a drawing to win a gift. Their new Bath Bomb, Sugar Rush will also be available for FREE with a minimum purchase. Oh, and you can check out the Fresh Face Starter Kits in person, which are just $19.95 and would make a great organic gift.

RELATED: More LUSH posts!

Posted by Lauren in Contest, Just For You
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People tend to use the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving” metaphorically. However, eBeanstalk offers a more literal interpretation with their Gift Series, where your child receives a toy in the mail every 3 months matched to their stage of development. This idea is all kinds of brilliant!

• For those of us without kids of our own, it can be a little tricky to select age appropriate toys for the children in our lives. You can skip the educated guesswork with the Gift Series: all the toys are hand picked by 5 child development specialists and 500 moms from around the US.
• Same thing goes for parents or guardians who travel a lot or don’t get to visit very often. When you haven’t seen a child for a few months or when you look back on the development of your own child…they are a different child today than just a few months ago. Each toy is carefully matched with the appropriate stage of development, so you won’t end up with a gift that is too young or old for your child.
• With the continual gift metaphor in mind, you can actually purchase a set of gifts that are delivered over time. This is the gift that actually keeps on giving.
• Save time by purchasing a set of gifts all in one sitting. Never worry about forgetting a special date in the child’s development or having the gift arrive late.
• If you’re the spoiling type (yes, you) then you’ll undoubtedly appreciate how easy eBeanstalk makes it to lavish gifts upon your wee ones. One purchase results in a whole years worth of gifts!
• Best of all, of the nearly 500 quality toys available at eBeanstalk, every one is geared towards helping your child grow. Their Child Specialists identified the stages of development children grow through. They matched 7 core skills- Imagination, Education, Language, Dexterity, Locomotion, Emotion and Social- with the stages of a child’s development, and then categorized each toy accordingly. Ahhh, science: improving childhood playtime and development!

Also, individual toys are available for purchase too, if you’d rather buy a la carte.

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Fun
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JUNE 1 UPDATE: Use coupon code AWESOMER to get an extra 10% off all sale items. Good until June 3, 2007 at Midnight EST.

I love extended sales. They always seem to show up during 3 day weekends… like this Urban Outfitters Memorial Day Sale! Through June 4th, UO has just about every other product on their site marked down to awesomely low prices- clothes, shoes, accessories, swimwear, decor items, gifts- you name it, it’s on sale (and a lot of it for at least 40% off). Plus, you know the deal with Urban Outfitters’ website versus their retail stores: lots of exclusive items. It’s like they’re encouraging us to stay home and shop in our skivvies. Well, UO, if you insist…

Posted by Lauren in Sale, Household, Clothing and Accessories
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End opened today, well technically there were advanced showings last night at 8pm and midnight at some theaters. This movie can claim fame to the widest North American release ever, 4,362 theaters, and has projected making up to $200 million this weekend alone. Along with it’s fan-pleasing length of 2 hours and 47 minutes I hear this movie ties up loose ends, brings all three movie story lines together, and all the mysteries become clear to us fans. Read the split movie reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes and get a feel for what you are in for.

I hope you’ve watched the other two Pirates of the Caribbean movies on DVD within the past week to refresh your memories. Then when you get home from the third installment, you’ll undoubtedly be in the mood to dress like a pirate, talk like a pirate, perhaps even get a badge to show off your pirate name. If you can hold on to your love of pirates until Halloween then I’d suggest taking a look at the new Pirates of the Caribbean costumes coming out this year. Is your birthday coming soon, or do you just want to throw a huge pirate themed party? Be sure to check out all the pirate party supplies we’ve scrounged up from trusted online stores.

Are you looking for a new feel to your computer experience? Commandeer your entire Windows interface with a pirate theme sure to impress any scurvy swashbuckler. Available now, this pirate theme was created by Stardock Design to WOW everyone who uses it.

Posted by Sean in Fun
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Has your child suddenly become interested in pirates and wants to decorate his entire room to look like he just stepped onto the deck of the legendary Black Pearl? (Heck, I want that, too.) Well maybe a hand painted treasure map sign with his name on it would ease his hankerings. It’s personalized with your child’s name and comes at a price any pirate could plunder in half a days work.
$35

Now let’s try a test. Ask your 5 year old what she wants more: a fantastical child-sized pirate ship playhouse… or a college education. Seriously though, if you have the money, this Posh Tots exclusive handcrafted playhouse is going to make a whole neighborhood of kids insanely happy. As the price tag assumes, this is a movie-quality structure that’s got 2 levels, a crow’s nest, sleeping quarters, and it looks amazing. If it was a little bigger, I’d be saving up to get one for myself.
$52,000

If all this talk of kid’s pirate bedrooms has sparked your imagination, then try your hand at entering the pirate contest at Home & Bedroom Furniture. They want you to describe, in 100 words or less, what a real pirate’s bedroom would look like. Winner gets a Pirates of the Caribbean bedding set. What if your bedroom decor is all ready chosen? Why, create a pirate bathroom, of course!

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Splurge, Household
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The fine folks scurvy dogs at PirateMod are our kind of people. Their business was created due to the lack of cool pirate duds available, and using their impressive design skills, they found the perfect solution. Instead of wearing the same generic old skull and crossbones styles that can be found at every mall and online pirate store, they went about illustrating their own unique pirate shirt designs.

They carry tons of exclusive shirt designs ranging from the spectacular (containing Victorian inspired elements) to the common (skulls and swords, what else?), and even have some gear for your wee ones. They “cater to every kind of pirate doin’ every kind of thing”, and the proof is in their selection of themes and slogans. Whether you’re a vampire, a hockey nut, musician, biker, tattoo lover, kitty lover, or just a boozy bilge rat, PirateMod has a shirt for you.

$16.00 - $22.00

Sean says: Be sure to check out the Jolly Roger Evolution section on their site as it has some unique skull n’ bone variants I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

Related: New Pirates of the Caribbean merch @ Hot Topic

Posted by Lauren in Clothing and Accessories
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Pirate ships are a lovely thing. Their tall sails flapping in the salty breeze, and Crow’s Nest with an endless view send our imaginations into overdrive, conjuring images of horizons and adventure. The POTC movies are probably responsible for spawning a whole new generation of would-be sailors, and are definitely the inspiration behind a wave of pirate ship themed toys and entertainment. I think that as the final Pirates of the Caribbean movie and summer weather approach, we’re all more lured by the siren song of the sea and yearning to get outside and play!

Here are some of the coolest pirate ship toys that I’ve found online recently:

Ultra Rad RC Pirate Ship

Pirate Rocker

Venture Tall Ship

Pirate Ship Activity Set

If you’re seeking more adventure than a toy pirate ship can offer, why not sail in a real pirate ship? There are actually businesses out there that offer pirate-themed day and extended cruises in real tall ships! Many of them sail from Florida, but options exist in many locations.

Real Pirate Ships and Cruises:

• POTC Fan Trips
• Captain Memo in Clearwater Beach, FL
• The Pirate Ship At Johns Pass in Madeira Beach, FL
• Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise in Panama City Beach, FL
• Jolly Roger Cruises on the Grand Cayman Island (Home of the annual Pirate Week in October)
• Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake in Annapolis, MD
• Marigalante in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• More Tall Ships through the world…

Happy sailing!

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Fun
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At World’s End, the final installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy is less than a week away! Yesterday was the unconventional world premier, which was held at Disneyland, and many of the stars were in attendance. Tickets were sold to the public at a whopping $1,500 a piece, with proceeds benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

For the rest of us, we still have about 5 days left of waiting (or 4 and some change if you hit up a night-time showing on Thursday). To further add to the anticipation and excitement, and to speed the week along, next week is Pirate Week at Mable’s Blog. From Monday through Friday we’ll be blogging about “salty old pirates” and all the savvy merchandise they have spawned. Who doesn’t need a little more adventure in her life? So join us May 21-25 for a week of pirate booty!

Posted by Lauren in Fun, Misc
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Sometimes a killer description or photo can make a product seem infinitely cooler: “Surely you’ve wanted, at least once in your life, to collapse dramatically across a piece of furniture in a sudden fit of the vapors. The piece of furniture you want for this display is a chaise lounge.” If you’ve ever had a cat, you know how closely they identify with that statement. This elegant, modern cat bed from designer Elizabeth Paige Smith is perfect for all of kitty’s dramatic collapsings and casual loppings. It’s made from industrial strength corrugated cardboard which cats LOVE, and over time it will begin to mold itself to your pet’s body. There are 2 other styles, and they all include free shipping.

$280-$320

Posted by Lauren in Pets, Splurge
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Looking for top quality noise cancelling headphones?
Act now and receive a free MP3 player with the purchase of a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones from the ever reliable Hammacher. You get to choose between 2 styles of headphones; around the ear headphone design (cups the ear), or on-ear design (rest on the ear).

Used by travelers to reduce aircraft engine noise, and by others preferring tranquility in their work, these Bose headphones are renowned for their full-spectrum noise reduction and comfortable fit. Both styles feature tiny microphones inside the ear cups that identify unwanted sound and a correction signal prevents the noise from reaching the speakers, ensuring external noise reduction.

This special offer includes a free MP3 player that has voice recording, voice playback capabilities, and comes preloaded with 38 songs. Hurry, as this offer ends June 30th 2007.

Posted by Sean in Sale, Gadgets
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Flavor preferences in Japan are understandably different than in the US. Case in point: toothpaste. I first became aware of the interestingly-flavored toothpaste phenomenon from LUSH’s new White vanilla/salt and Black lemon/sandalwood toothpastes. Since I discovered them, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for unique and candy-sweet flavors. If Crest’s new flavored products are any indication, I’m not the only one interested in freshening her breath with something other than good old mint.

Breath Palette comes straight from Japan and comes in a wide variety of 32 flavors. No joke. Most reviews I have read focus on the most “odd” flavors such as Curry, but I want to draw your attention to the crowd pleasers: Caramel, Cola, Espresso, Blueberry, White Peach, Fuji Apple, Bitter Chocolate, Honey, and Pumpkin Pudding, just to name a few. They’re all infused with menthol so you will still get a minty feel when you’re done, but you’ll also get a hint of those yummy flavors during brushing.

Oh, and did I mention that they’re sugar-free and sweetened with magical xylitol? The low-foaming, fluoride-free, alcohol-free formula is gentle on teeth, contains only natural ingredients, and is safe for child usage. With it’s flavor range, I can see Breath Palette being responsible for getting kids excited about brushing… okay, and some adults, too.

$5 per tube or $22 for 5 tubes

Posted by Lauren in Household, Fun
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To celebrate the addition of a new line of wistful jewelry, Cherry Dot is sponsoring a contest where you can win some yummy Tricked Out Treats. Michi handmakes all her adorable food themed creations, and is always looking for new ideas. Just tell us your dream food item that you’d like to see turned into jewelry, and Cherry Dot might make your fantasy a reality! Maybe you daydream about a type of candy from your childhood, or you don’t go a day without your favorite snack; whatever your fabulous foodie ideas are, we want to hear them!

One Grand Prize Winner will have her idea turned into a piece of jewelry, as well as one of Cherry Dot’s new Orange Peel Necklaces, and a set of PB & J Sandwich Friendship Necklaces. Two Runners Up will receive a set of PB & J Sandwich Friendship Necklaces. Winners will be chosen based on creativity. Contest runs from May 14th - 28th.

To enter, leave your idea for fantasy food-themed jewelry in the comments section below. Be sure to leave your current e-mail address so we can contact you if you win. Mable’s has a strict privacy policy, and never shares your information with anybody. Good luck!

The contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Grand Prize Winner: Vivien who suggested Dim Sum items
Runner Up: Joan who suggested Goldfish Crackers
Runner Up: Kira who suggested a Lucky Charms charm bracelet

Posted by Lauren in Contest, So Pretty
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Art and products that feature recycled/reclaimed objects are a Mable’s favorite. In our disposable world, it’s refreshing to see people who find creative ways to reinvent castoff goods, and Trixie has made an art of it. At trixiedelicious you’ll find her delightfully twisted take on pretty vintage New Zealand tableware. Pairing dainty prints with bold, black text or images, Trixie creates a unique hybrid that could be equally at home displayed on a wall or at a dinner party. Imagine the reactions of your guests when they eat their way to the bottom of their “Dirty” plate! The tongue-in-cheek designs range from cute and coy to racy and smirk-inducing. Trixie’s “hairdo” illustrations (featured to the right) also regularly make appearances, with saucy retro hairstyles and featureless faces.

Since these “vandalized vintage” pieces are recycled and hand painted, each item is totally one of a kind. You can even customize any plate and add the word of your choice. So if finding words like “filthy”, “deadbeat” or “pest” at the bottom of your plate isn’t your cup of tea, then you can add something more personal or sweet. There are also pieces with themes like sexy (”wink”, “tease”, “pout” plate set), and love (”kiss” and “tell” plate set or the “lovesick” cup and saucer set), which would make fun gifts for a loved one with a cheeky sene of humor. Letter plates (at left) are universally cool for all occasions, and would liven up any wall or dinner table.

Related: Subversive Cross Stitch

Posted by Lauren in So Pretty, Indie, Green Living
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Do you have a bunch of CDs, cassette tapes, vinyl, VHS tapes, etc. that you want converted to digital format for future preservation? This iPod converter can convert any media directly to your iPod (video or otherwise). Although this is aimed directly at the iPod enthusiast it can be extremely useful to anyone who wants to convert their media to digital format (MP3 for audio and MPEG4 for video).

Simply plug your audio or video device in the iPod converter with the included RCA connections (add S-video for video conversion), and plug the other end into your iPod or USB hard drive and press the magic button. Voila! Now your media has been converted to digital for you to listen, edit, or watch on your computer or iPod.

I envision this being plugged into a 250GB external hard drive and converting an entire music collection (vinyl, tapes, CDs, etc) plus old family videos (VHS, DVD, etc) directly to the external hard drive. Then plug that external drive into your PC and enjoy. Imagine all the space you can save if you converted all your VHS tapes, cassette tapes, and vinyl to digital format (MP3 for music and MPEG4 for video).

$199.95

Posted by Sean in Nerd, Gadgets
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Instilling the love of music in children provides a wonderful base for them to grow upon later in life. Learning an instrument at a young age not only furthers whole brain development, but also opens doors of opportunity while growing up. This award winning pink baby grand piano not only emits exceptional sound quality, but comes with a color coded learning system for ease of learning.

Designed for ages 3 and up, this chromatically tuned Schoenhut baby grand has 30 full sized keys, and high gloss finish for that long lasting appeal. Made of hardwood and hardboard this piano includes matching 9″ bench, songbook, and a color-coded learning system that fits behind the keys to guide small fingers.

Also available in Black or White, a baby grand piano makes an excellent gift that incorporates musical learning into the young mind of someone very special to you. The piano might not travel with them throughout the years, but they will be forever changed having experienced the wonder of making their own music.

Posted by Sean in So Pretty, Kids, Fun
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