My Cherry Pop

Article submitted by Artesian Tan.

Just as most things in life, there are certain rules to follow when it comes to spray tanning. Follow these dos and don’ts to have a safe, glowing and natural-looking tan.

1) DON’T assume that the technician or salon know what you want your tan to look like. This can lead to an incredibly dark tan when perhaps all you want is to look a shade or two darker.

2) DO your research and interview your technician pre-tanning. You want to ask questions regarding cost, the depth of color you’re seeking as well as their spray tanning training, in order to guarantee satisfaction with the end result.

3) DON’T assume every time you receive a spray tan it will look exactly the same.
DO recognize that the weather, the technician and the condition of your skin can affect the outcome of your tan.

4) DON’T believe the rumor that having a spray tan will keep you safer from the sun. This is completely false.

DO use the proper sun protection as you would without a tan. The risk of skin cancer is incredibly real and a serious issue. Make sure to take the proper precautions whenever you’re out in the sun.

5) DON’T spray tan the day of a special event. While an experienced tanner may not have an issue, first-time tanners need to do a practice run in order to avoid looking unnatural. For special occasions such as a wedding or prom, it’s crucial to do a walk-through in advance.

DO get a tan at least a week before a special event and decide on the proper color ahead of time. Discuss what you want the end result to look like with your technician so that they’re aware of the look you’re seeking. This way they can select and prepare the proper products and the spray tan equipment to use. Also, prepare your skin by exfoliating and moisturizing regularly.

Article Submitted by Jason Mags of Star Struck Extreme
Recently Billboard magazine, which is the premier US magazine keeping track of radio airplays and record sales, published their year-end results for Top songs of 2011.  The results are based on most airplay and most sales. Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” came in as #1 which is probably not a big surprise given how popular the song got on radio. Below is the complete list of the Top 10 most popular songs of 2011:

1- Rolling in the Deep by Adele
2- Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
3- Firework by Kay Perry
4- E. T. Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West
5- Give me everything by Pitbull Featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
6- Grenade by Bruno Mars
7- f**k you (forget you) by Cee Lo Green
8- Super Bass by Nicki Minaj
9- Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera
10- Just can’t get enough by The Black Eyed Peas

Tags: adele, afrojak, bruno mars, cee lo green, Katy Perry, LMFAO, maroon 5, ne-yo, nicki minaj, Pitbull, the black eyed peas

Article submitted by iClimber (A Social Media Marketing Company)

Late last month, Britney Spears knocked Larry Page off his hard-earned top spot on Google+, the social network of the company he co-founded and currently runs as CEO. Certainly, coming second to a former pop princess will be less of an ego blow than coming second to Mark Zuckerberg, as was the case for a long time this past summer. Zuckerberg, as the head of Facebook, represents Google’s undisputed rival in the fight for Web supremacy.

But most likely, Larry Page does not have an actual desire to be at the top of his company’s network — he undoubtedly knows that its full submersion in popular culture is a vital sign of life, and that’s why Britney’s success on Google+ represents better news for Page and Google, than it does for the famous blonde from Louisiana. Still, Britney’s team will likely take the Google+ ranking as a mini-godsend because I’ll though she consistently releases hit tracks, her reputation and brand have suffered over the years. To keep the momentum going, on Britney Spears’ home page, there’s a huge Google+ box asking readers to add Britney to their Circles.

Currently, the top five places on Google+ are occupied, in descending order, by Britney Spears, Larry Page, Snoop Dog, Tyra Banks, and Mark Zuckerberg.

read more: http://blog.iclimber.com/britney-spears-bests-larry-page-as-googles-most-followed-person/

If there’s anything that’s true about reality TV, it is the fact that it is very popular, and if you are on one of them, you stand to make a lot of money as a winner. Recently, the Forbes magazine released a list of American Idol alumni and their earnings, and according to the list, Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert were found to be the top earners. The calculation of their earnings was made on a pre-tax basis before taking into account the percentages that their agents and managers also make from it all.

It’s no surprise to see such high figures when it comes to the singer’s earnings because American Idol itself is considered to be “a money-making machine” by its producers and everyone involved. In the words of Adam Kluger, the president of the brand partnership company, “It’s like having the Super Bowl every week.”

Among the list of highest paid singers of American Idol, Carrie Underwood tops the list with $ 20 million with Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry behind at $ 6 million each. The rest of the people on this list include names such as Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken and Catherine McPhee.

If that’s not enough, in not only being at the top of this list, Carrie Underwood is the winner of five Grammy awards and recently made her debut in the movie Soul Surfer while the two tied in the second spot has played 116 concerts over the last 12 months for their earnings with a strong crowd turnout.

Tags: adam lambert, american idol, carrie underwood

Even though the worldwide revenues for the music industry dropped by almost 4 percent, there one’s piece of good news that cannot be ignored: streaming.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), growth is occurring due to streaming, and services such as Deezer and Spotify are driving this change for the better.

A report suggests that revenue from streaming services such as these increased by 51 percent in 2013, making almost $1 billion last year.

This trend, which offers figures worldwide, was also reflected in British data as well, with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) also registering an increase in income from streaming services by 41 percent since last year. This helped the growth of the British industry by 1.9 percent and which amounted to 730 million pounds.

It’s clear that despite the death of sales of the music CD, streaming is now becoming a source of income.

In fact, Spotify also claimed that almost $500 million in royalties were paid out to those holding the rights on the songs – a figure that was equal to the amount that was paid for the last four years.

With almost 24 million Spotify subscribers, the business model that focuses on building its base seeks to give back the cash to the recording companies who in turn, would give it back to the artists themselves.

Since Spotify is a start-up company, it isn’t showing any anxiousness about its losses in recent times, thanks to these heavy payouts to the music industry.

And although their aim is to have a presence in every country, one wonders whether this positive trend (and the profits that come with it!) for the music industry will last.

With Gravity, American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave making the headlines for the Oscars, there are a couple of other aspects too that might have seemed surprising, predictable or even shocking to a number of people.

So, here are 3 things you need to know about the 2013 Oscar nominations:

#1: A diverse ‘Best Picture’ list

Consider the list of movies for the ‘best picture’ nominations: whether it’s Gravity, Nebraska, 12 Years a slave or even Her, the list is diverse. Think about it: a 3D space thriller, a black and white road movie, historical drama or even a man who falls in love with his operating system.

#2: The films that got nothing

Lee Daniel’s “The Butler” got nothing despite the backing of Harvey Weinstein. An American story that is told through the eyes of an African-American servant and with a number of prominent actors playing roles as a number of US Presidents. Oprah Winfrey would have gotten the nod for best supporting actress but that did not materialize either. Ron Howard’s “Rush” also suffered the same fate with Chris Hemsworth playing the lead role.

#4: Real surprises (in a good way!)

The Wolf of Wall Street got a number of nominations including best actor, best director, best supporting actor and for the adapted screenplay. Sally Hawkins was nominated for best supporting actress for playing Ginger in Blue Jasmine. But Philomena and the nomination of Judi Dench as leading actress were never certainties but were given the approving nod as well.

Musician Bruce Broughton has been accused of using his position as a former Academy governor as he contacted voters by email about his submission. As a result, the nomination for his song, “Alone yet not Alone”, in the best original song category has been revoked.

In a statement, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy president, said, “No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.”

Not surprisingly, the artist was “devastated” and justified his email by saying that all he asked people to do was find the song and consider it.

The other nominees for this category now are Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, “The Moon Song” from Her,  “Let It Go” from Disney film Frozen and Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” from Despicable Me 2.

Concurring with Broughton’s take on this response from the Academy, The Hollywood Reporter ran a story that asked how this little-known song had beaten all its competitors that were made by more popular artists and for big budget films.

The voting process for Best Original Song and Best Original Score categories involves 240 members of the Academy’s music branch who nominate not more than 5 members in each category after listening to DVDs which contain song clips with their respective names and movie titles.

However, the voters are not given any of the composers’ or artists’ names – probably for good reason too.

The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 2 in Hollywood.

If you’re planning a wedding, you have no shortage of things to worry about. Besides picking the date, you need to figure out the guest list, plan the menu, arrange a DJ and, of course, find that perfect dress! One major headache, of course, is choosing from all the available wedding venues. You need to find the perfect one that will be able to host the wedding of your dreams.

Los Angeles has plenty of options, that’s for sure. The one great thing about living in Los Angeles is you’re never without a place to throw a party! Of course this can still be a daunting task with all the other wedding-related concerns to worry about.

That’s why it’s so important to find the right event planner. Los Angeles has plenty of those too, but they’re not all created the same.

First and foremost, ask friends who have been married for a recommendation. This testimonial can’t be valued enough. Make sure they’re in your budget and look for those planners who threw a wedding you were at and enjoyed. Chances are they played a major role.

It’s also important that you feel as though you have a good rapport with a candidate. Your wedding day will be the most important of your life and you want someone who will be easy to work with and able to keep up.

 Second only to the dress itself, few decisions about your wedding will be as important as its planner. Get recommendations and try to find the one responsible for the weddings you enjoyed the most and you’ll be fine!

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Article submitted by L.A. Banquets. They are a Los Angeles based events company that provides wedding planning and banquet halls in Los Angeles.

When people recall their favorite spa, they remember the masseuse they had, the pedicure they received and the overall customer support they experienced. You know what they don’t remember? The furniture. And that’s the point. Spa furniture operates a weird category of furnishings where it is to be comfortable, but not so comfortable that it steals the show. The one thing it cannot be is uncomfortable, of course.

A good massage chair bed is a perfect example of this. It allows a customer to receive a massage or facial while half sitting down, half lying down. This creates a comfortable position that is not so overwhelming that it distracts from the relaxing service they’re receiving.

Facial chairs should operate the same way. It’s great receiving a facial, but the chair used can distract from this if it’s not just right.

Another component of using the right furniture is making sure you have the right supplies to keep it hygienic. Your staff should be instructed to clean down any equipment used as soon as the customer leaves. Forgetting to do so cannot only result in a negative experience for the customer, but potentially a violation of health codes by your business. You could be shut down and, even if you’re not, it will be difficult recovering from that PR nightmare.

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Article submitted by Comfort Soul. The company sells every kind of massage spa table you would need, pedicure chairs and so much more.

With Paul Walker’s death in November, and the consequent shutting down of the big-budget film, Fast and Furious 7, the new timeline for the release of the movie is now April 10, 2015.

Walker, who died in a car crash en route to a charity event, will appear in the seventh installment of this film along with Vin Diesel despite his untimely death as a part of the returning cast.

The announcement of the movie’s upcoming release date was made on Vin Diesel’s Facebook page even if it still isn’t clear how many of Walker’s scenes were already filmed.

As a symbol of car culture and racing, thanks to his appearances as police officer Brian ‘O Connor in the Fast & Furious, his death was rather singular as he died in a Carrera GT sports car as a passenger – 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

According to reports, the car that was being driven by Roger Rodas, who was killed in the accident as well, hit a utility pole and was in flames as a result. While authorities are still finding out why the accident occurred, they speculate that speed played a crucial role.

Fast and Furious 7 was originally slated for release in July 11, 2014 – the latest movie in a series that helped bring Comcast Corp-owned Universal into the green as it took almost $2 billion at the global box office.

Production has been suspended since Walker’s accident while also going on a break for the Thanksgiving holiday as well.

In the past few years, spray tanning has become all the rage. Everyone loves how they look after a day in the sun, but no one likes reading about all the health risks linked to traditional tanning. Spray tanning has introduced a simple, safe solution.

For many people, though, spray tanning has meant more than just a great appearance. It’s also meant an easy way to bring in money. With so much demand for a healthy-looking bronze that’s actually good for your health, many people have begun offering the services themselves.

If you want to begin cashing in on the current spray tan craze, there are some essential supplies you’ll need to buy. Fortunately, a brick-and-mortar storefront doesn’t need to be one of them. With the right supplies, you can travel to offer your services.

For starters, you’ll need sunless tanning solution. It’s best to buy different kinds, if you can afford it, so your customer has options. Organic airbrush tanning solution is also very popular right now and will probably continue to be, given the premium put on health in this market.

You’ll also need an airbrush gun in order to apply the tan. Lastly, as you’ll often be traveling to your customer’s homes, it’s essential that you have the equipment necessary to keep the spray tan from getting all over.

While spray tanning is great for a healthy look, it can be even better for an income. Start with the above supplies and you’ll be on the road to a profitable business.

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Article submitted by Artesian Tan. The company offers superior spray tanning solutions for those who are interested in starting their own mobile spray tan business.

It’s fair to say that the movies released for the previous 10 months have been a mixed bag – some delighting and other bombing at the box office.

However, with the last month not yet over, here are 4 movies that we can look forward to in the final month of 2013:

#1: Hunger Games – Catching Fire

With the first movie being a big success, this one seems to follow suit after initial reviews have been promising. Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role as Katniss Everdeen in the second installment of Suzanne Novels’ trilogy.

#2: Saving Mr. Banks

This Disney movie, titled Saving Mr. Banks, is about Walt Disney and how he sold his dreams in order to make them a reality. This movie which stars Tom Hanks, who plays Walt Disney, tells the story of how the movie Mary Poppins was made while also giving you a peek into the life of a legend. It’s going to be a heartwarming flick – that’s for sure!

#3: Inside Llewyn Davis

It should come as no surprise that this movie has received rave reviews while also being one of the top films at the Cannes film festival. The reasons for this is because of the direction of the Coen brothers as well as the movie having a number of humorous moments and decent country music to boot. Be advised: it’s a slow paced movie but it’s a welcome reprieve from the ones we’ve seen this year.

#4: 47 Ronin

The movie, 47 Ronin, which stars Keanu Reeves is a tale about 47 warriors told in the manner of the popular ’300′. So you can be sure that this will not be a fluffy animation movie but one that has scenery that can be best described as breathtaking as well as a number of unforgettable action scenes.

If you’re interested in getting into the spray tan industry as a provider, the process can seem a bit overwhelming. Like any business, there’s a lot to learn and do upfront. But, as with many businesses, it’s best to simply take it one step at a time. With spray tanning, one of the major steps is buying your airbrush spray tan equipment.

HVLP spray tanning is the industry standard. HVLP stands for high volume, low pressure. This means that the tanning spray gun used can hold enough solution at once while applying it at a low enough pressure that the client is always comfortable. At the moment, there is no better application method in the business.

There is no shortage of options for the tanning solution you can use. When you’re first starting out, you’ll want to stick to a brand you yourself use, as this means you’ll be knowledgeable about it. However, you may need to take costs into consideration as well. If that’s the case, find one within your budget and begin using it to familiarize yourself with it.

A pop up tent is also necessary for your spray tan business. This will be sufficient to keep spray from getting elsewhere without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money on other products.

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Article submitted by Artesian Tan. The spray tan company was started with the purpose of providing men and women the beautiful bronze skin they want by using the best airbrush tanning systems in the business.

The Pedicure chair you purchase for your business could have as big an effect on business as the actual pedicures. That’s because your customers can spend as much as an hour at a time sitting in those chairs. Pedicures are supposed to be relaxing, but if they’re uncomfortable in the procedure chair, don’t expect rave reviews no matter how great the service was.

When purchasing a pedicure chair, make sure you try it out first. Descriptions can be deceiving. If at all possible, purchase one with a thirty or sixty day money back guarantee so you can get feedback from your customers. This is a good method of finding the right chair, but your customers will also appreciate you valuing their opinion.

Only buy from sellers who have a reputable history that speaks for them. It’s extremely easy for companies to pop up overnight these days, selling products on behalf of another company and simply taking their commission. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this strategy, of course. But it can make customer service suffer.

Don’t simply throw your old chairs away. Even if they have some wear and tear, chances are you can still sell them for some money. Any money is better than none and this is capitol you can put toward the new massage chair you’re looking at.

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Article submitted by Comfort Soul. The company has established itself as one of the best companies for quality health and spa equipment, including pedicure chairs.