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Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial objects as a means for divining information about human affairs and terrestrial events.[9][10][11] The position of the stars, planets, sun and moon when one is born are believed to have affect one's personality, shape how relationships work in one's life and predict future events such as one's economic success.
Psychic energy can heal, communicate and foresee. Since its nature is mystical, the nature of psychic energy is unknown and hard to explain. Numerous individuals use psychic energy to create different results. Sometimes it is easy to feel the energy that surrounds us all, but sometimes it takes a lot of practice and concentration. Psychic energy is connected to a lot of unexplained phenomena, and is used daily by many to provide help and boost the quality of life.

My reading was back in July 2014 I'd say all and all it was a decent experience. Delphina and her staff were extremely friendly.  My only draw back was the information I was giving wasn't very useful. It's was more stuff that I already knew, like the first initial of a girls name that I liked. I didn't need help with that but rather, please tell me is there a future with this person. When will I get married, new job etc. I unfortunately took a stock tip and held onto some garbage oil exploratory stock. I was told that an expected deal was going to go through in October or late September. Well that came and went and so did my $15K. Should have sold instead of listening.  Some of the other stuff I was told would happen is still further out......so fingers crossed that those things come to fruition.
Frequently Asked Questions: Do you offer free phone, chat or email readings? No. However we do offer amazing new member specials starting at only $10.00. Do you offer love tarot readings? Our advisors are not reliant on the use of tools in their sessions due to their advanced intuition and psychic powers. However, tarot, crystal, astrology and other styles can be requested. Do you offer psychic love spells, palm readers or fortune tellers? No. We believe that only you have control of your path. Spells attempting to control others are an unethical, unreliable ritual and are often connect to psychic scams. We strive to provide professional services at affordable rates. Please check out our psychic reviews online today. Do you offer any famous psychics on your network? Yes. Many of our psychics are known nationwide for their unprecedented ability to forecast and have provided guidance to thousands of satisfied clients. Who is your best or top psychic? The best psychic for your needs can only be decided by you. However, please feel free to call our live member service agents and they will be happy to make a recommendation! Do you have psychic mediums or clairvoyants? Yes. We have experienced psychic advisors that offer all types of spiritual guidance.
Angel Cards, Angel Communication, Angel Reading, Chakra Healing, Clairvoyant, Feng Shui, Gipsy Cards, Holistic Healing, Family Issues, I Ching, Lenormand Cards, Love reading, Mind and Body, Natural Healing, Reiki, Love ritual, Pendulum, Traveling, Birthdate Analysis, Career and Work, I Ching Tarot, Location Selection, Relocation, Spiritual Guidance, Tarot Cards, Dream Dictionary, Love Compatibility, Clairsentient, Clairaudient
Sharon Michelle is NOT psychic. She was very disrespectful. Once she ripped me off with over $200. She Michelle told that spiritual work can done. She gets angry when I ask questions (please keep in mind that this is all over the phone, not in person consultations). I was able to pick up on his bs really quickly while remaining respectful. Everything predicted was wrong - NOT a psychic. She is a guesser, an astrologer, anyone can come up with this crab.
Wherever you are in New Zealand NZ:  Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Waikato, Taupo, North Shore, Paraparaumu, Kapiti, Otago, Canterbury, Invercargill, Blenheim, Nemson, Wairarapa, Napier, Whangarei, Taranaki, New Plymouth, Gisborne, Wanganui, Hawkes Bay, Lower Hutt, Hastings, Northland, Cambridge, Coromandel, you can call today on 0800300680 or 090030068 for a reading.
Cedric Grant bouchard is another mail list psychic... whoever 'he' is and I can't say his ego evidence was an attractive. Him, and others front line how "hard" they have worked on your behalf even on free readings! Another mailer, daily just as much, tells me the typical form letter B.S. many inform others of in this forum and scam psychic alerts. Remember Sara freder? from France (if that's even truth worthy). She was no less of a generic psychic thief. The messages I (still get) from psychic-expert.com are curious. You bet they are so comically generic! But as an empath, (I dislike the term psychic) and astrologer there was some odd coincidences in what they were telling me- just that. Unless they actually saw into.... my current concerns as well as visions I myself have. I can do my own reports and readings. But desperation, sadness, illness, financial hardships are not a stranger to me either and I've fallen pretty to the false hopes and phantom fear chains to yank by psychic scheisters, whether they are in that line of work or a total fictitious personality. When these folks start mooning how you'll have a talisman, their own photograph, perform ceremonies etc. it's actually against my spiritual and religious beliefs, and it's witchcraft. I think part of the reason psychics can be so way off, is because demons are feeding them jargon and lies. I can't stand their "negative energies" go-to oh no! mind manipulation. I do believe in curses though- and how- but someone can also bring such apon themselves. Only God can help one out of that, not any money seeking spirit worker.
When you phone Wishing Moon, you will be greeted by a friendly voice. If you have a particular issue that you would like to discuss then we can advise you as to which of our psychic readers specialises in that area. Our money-back guarantee covers all psychic readings booked using your debit/credit card, so that no matter what type of reading you choose, you have complete peace of mind. If you do not feel that you can connect with your psychic reader within the first five minutes, we will find you another reader. If in the very unlikely event the same thing happens again, we will refund your money without any question.
For personalized hypnotherapy sessions, please submit a brief statement of the issue you would like to work on by email 24-48 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Be as descriptive as possible. Some issues may resolve after one to two sessions. The average is between 2-4 sessions. Appointments should be scheduled for 1 hr. Please schedule 1 hr. 15 minute session for your first personalized session. For your comfort, use of the speaker phone setting or a phone headset is recommended.
Ms. Lassez's first taste of the paranormal came a decade ago on location for a film in Detroit, when -- on a whim -- she dropped in on a tarot reader to get her mind off a breakup and an argument on the set. The psychic spread out 10 cards on the kitchen table in a Celtic cross, a standard tarot pattern. The 10th card, which supposedly augurs the subject's future, was the Star. To any young actress the meaning would be clear. By the time she left Detroit, she had her own tarot deck.
In The Ego and the Id, Freud argued that the id was the source of the personality's desires, and therefore of the psychic energy that powered the mind.[2] Freud defined libido as the instinct energy or force. Freud later added the death drive (also contained in the id) as a second source of mental energy. The origins of Freud's basic model, based on the fundamentals of chemistry and physics, according to John Bowlby, stems from Brücke, Meynert, Breuer, Helmholtz, and Herbart.[3]

What to expect: Be open minded and try to have a clear mind the day you see her. If you're able to book a Reiki session with Marie prior to seeing Delphina, I highly recommend it! It will make your reading with Delphina even better. Delphina is full of positive energy. The room you'll be in is very relaxing and comforting, smells very spa like. I always wear super comfy clothes when I'm able to see her. She'll ask if she can hold an item you wear or have near you often, eg. my ring. She'll ask you 3 times if she has permission to communicate with your guide. And then when she connects with your guide, it's amazing! She has helped guide me in different aspects of my life, giving me direction on personal info that no one could possibly know about except my spirit guide.
Psychic readings have been used for centuries by the most powerful kings and queens, the Hollywood elite, the rich and famous, and people just like you seeking advice and answers from a higher source. Real psychics can provide valuable insights into a situation that is troubling you, shed light on relationship issues, and give you answers to your burning questions. Online psychic advisors are gifted professionals who prefer the convenience of providing readings via chat, voice or email, and it allows them to help more people than they could see in person.
A psychic reading is supposed to be powerful, insightful and many times, life changing. I know how important that can be and so I will not tolerate what I call ''leeches''. A leech to me is a person who, once they see u being priced at a lower price than the rest, come in and ask questions like ''when will he/she call me? Will he/she hang out with me?''etc. These questions to me are a waste of time, many people often abuse what a psychic's work is. I am not interested in working with someone who waste their time and money asking if another person will hang out with them. I am interested in working with you to finally free you from years of either confusion over a relationship/connection with someone or to live your very best life. I am also interested in telling you what exactly I think that person u are asking about really is. A leech is also simply someone who tries to suck the reader's energy by refusing to listen to what they think is 'bad news'' and by endlessly interrupting and asking and asking the same question over and over again. As I mentioned above, I am extremely honest and what I normally say to you would be what is best for you and if any clients or potential clients cannot accept any news but 'good' news, I will absolutely not want to talk to you or work with you. I normally can sense what you are about the moment u say hello to me and ask your questions, so if u see me clicking you off, it is a sign I do not want to work with you. This is not intended to be rude or malicious. Having worked here for years, I have tolerated enough experiences with ''leeches'' to finally put an end to this.
Psychometry is a form of psychic reading in which the reader claims to obtain details about another through physical contact with their possessions.[20] Psychometry readers often ask the subject for their favorite and most meaningful objects, such as wedding rings, glasses, car keys, etc., for the reading. The belief is that objects which are in close proximity to a person for extended periods of time hold some of that person's 'energy'. This method has been used in attempts to locate missing persons.[21]
Psychic energy is a word for the paranormal or everything conventional science can’t explain. Psychics or mediums are able to contact the spiritual world, and that is why many people hire them in order to attempt establishing communication with the deceased. Through communication with the spiritual plane, they can sense the state of the spirits and serve as a channel to the other world.
We have a community of experienced online phone psychics who are ready to guide you through your most important life decisions. And with so many phone psychics who specialize in specific areas, you're sure to get the right psychic phone reading for your needs. We're confident you'll find the right fit and that's why your satisfaction is guaranteed!

I am from South Africa, I had the exact email (copy and paste ) as Nilesh , the only difference is our names.I have been with Maria since 2014, have made 'donations' , had the talisman, waited for November 15, big fortune that was going to transform my life, Nothing happened, got my unique numbers and dates for winning the lottery in January, sorry BIG SCAM

Your Coaching will include personal psychic readings and sessions in which you get the clairvoyant psychic answers you need when you need them. You will get the communication skills you need for your relationship and career. You also get the personal change work that gets you out of stuck places or blocks in your life. There is much more available to you than you had ever imagined possible.
You can make a huge change in the way you use psychic energy simply by recognizing how you misuse it. Once you realize that any and all of the above mental and emotional activities are ways in which people dilute, waste and misdirect their psychic energy, you can begin to change how you use it. Always remember that the energy flows to where you place your attention. Do you want your energy to flow for your good, or to your detriment?
3/Develop a few simple positive rituals that ground and focus you.  This is all about you deciding what works for you. When I have a bath for instance I turn it into an opportunity to cleanse my energy.  I can literally feel a good soak restoring my psychic energy and when I pull the plug I visualise all negative energy being washed away. I also love to light candles.  It only takes a couple of minutes to centre your psychic energy, rub a candle with scented oil, trace any key words on the side of the candle with your fingers (such as Love or protection) and then light it. It’s amazing how such little things can change our mood and have a positive impact. Every time I light a candle I visualise protection and love filling my home. Sending small intentions out all the time reinforces our vibration.
In online you can find the best psychic websites and the details of the psychic readers were listed out in the website by referring the details and going through the reviews about the psychic readers you can easily choose the best psychic reader for solving your all questions. It is not necessary to visit the psychic readers directly you can also contact them via phone as the contact details were provided in the website and they will provide suggestions after communicating with you.
To use this service you must have the bill payers permission (max 2 replies per question). We may send free promotional messages. Text stop to 19900990 to stop. Help line 1300881457. 18 Cliiford ave Fairlight NSW 2094 Calls cost $3.96 per min gst inc. May be higher from mobile/pay phones. You must be 18 years old and over to use this service and have the bill payers permission. Service Provided by Psychic Centra

Psychic Source: billyb - Thanks for your comment. Our free infographic is not a substitute for a real psychic reading. While fun and entertaining (and occasionally dead-on), a technology product cannot replace the exchange of energy that occurs when one of our truly gifted psychics reads the cards for you in a live reading, any more than a generic horoscope can substitute for an astrology reading. For insight and guidance, nothing can replace the impact and value of a live psychic reading over the phone, via chat or by video.
All testimonials on Kathleen’s web sites, social media or anywhere online have all been submitted or sent to Kathleen without request. Clients sometimes send Kathleen an email immediately following a reading which they’ve found especially helpful or sometimes a client emails Kathleen months or even a whole year after the reading to say how surprised they were when everything she predicted did come to pass. Some clients have specifically asked her to post their comments to help others make a decision to use her services.
Text chat readings are nice for short, quick questions. They give you immediate answers and are very convenient. They are not necessarily good for long, involved questions, though, because texting is generally slower than talking. You also do not have the advantage of the personal contact that would be available over the phone or video chat. Also, while there is always a danger of becoming dependent on a clairvoyant or other psychic, the danger is increased with text readings. This is because of the ease and immediacy of these types of readings.
8 months ago a good friend of many years recommended a woman named Marlene of Caribbean Psychics. I had previous experience with California Psychics and others that flat out lied to me for many years. To make a long story short, Marlene was the only psychic in 10 years where everything she told me matched my life. She did not ask me any questions but was spot on. Her readings make sense and are honest.
Went in twice and the 1st time, my cousins and I went in with skepticism and purely for fun..Went in and just started. No names or birthday, and social security were asked. So your good. Just went in and began. My two cousins did the  reading and I did the tarot reading. Lots of fun and felt comfortable. Fastward, one of my cousin and I decided to go again and I did the tarot reading again, and what she said was nailed on!! So shocked I would tell you the process and everything. But, what is the fun in that. Just go in.
When I was thinking there a trusted psychic out there who cared for me and was available for me or try to be that one day assuming he was there for me later that night, he all of a sudden blocks me, like other psychics have done. I called Keen about it and they said all they do is purchase their platforms. They have no saying what they can't or can do to block people. I told Keen I've been putting complaints out on them but do they care? All they want is their money from these psychics who buys into their platforms.
or 0330 114 0121 Calls to 0800 are free. First time caller offer: 10 mins for £10! PAY VIA CARD 0488 882 770 Calls will be charged at the standard carrier rate. First time caller offer: 10 mins for $15! PAY VIA CARD 0818 905 855 Calls charged at standard network rate. Mobiles vary. First time caller offer: 10 mins for €10, 20 mins for €35! CALL MY PSYCHICS 0907 995 0123 Calls cost £1.50/min + your phone company's access charge. CALL MY PSYCHICS 1902 220 021 $3.96 per min inc GST. Mobiles may be higher CALL MY PSYCHICS 1570 444 234 Calls cost €1.75/min + your phone company's access charge. CALL MY PSYCHICS 1 844 249 4500 Call for free! First time caller offer: 10 mins for $15! TEXT 'SALLY' +
Dena gave my my first-ever tarot card reading and it was a really nice experience. I was nervous and didn't know what to expect, but she made me feel very calm and comfortable. She is very nice and has a comforting presence around her. She gave me great insight to my future and was spot-on about past and current aspects of my life. I would definitely see her again!
We understand that only you can ultimately decide if your advisor is best suited for your needs. For psychic phone and chat sessions, we give you the first five minutes of your original order to ask as many questions as you like. If you are not satisfied for any reason, simply end the reading by disconnecting in less than five minutes and contact Member Services within twenty-four hours. We will be happy to re-assign your order (one time per purchase) to a different psychic reader.

To purchase your 30 minute psychic phone reading click the add to cart button above and on the PayPal payment notes please enter your UK phone number and preferred time to connect (mobile phone numbers are ok), if you are overseas please add your Skype name – please note I only use audio on Skype and not the webcam. If you do not see the notes section on PayPal then please reply to your purchase email or use this contact form to send me your phone number/Skype. I will then email you to arrange a time for your psychic phone reading. I am based in the UK so please consider our time difference before purchasing – I work evenings and some Saturday mornings. If you are outside of the UK please check the time difference here.
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I offer spiritual readings to lead the way to opening pathways to spirituality. This helps the individual to find their own way with the assistance of a spiritual road map l am an accomplished Motivational Speaker and Demonstrator available for large or small groups. Motivational speaking leads the seeker to find their own path through the tools of consciousness offered. I have been taped for TV.
Another thing that makes Oranum unique from its competitors is that they allow almost anyone to sign up and begin giving readings through the Oranum platform.  This means that anyone with a psychic gift or skill can share it with the world through the Oranum website.  Unfortunately, this approach can lead to fake psychics signing up without any vetting process.

When I was thinking there a trusted psychic out there who cared for me and was available for me or try to be that one day assuming he was there for me later that night, he all of a sudden blocks me, like other psychics have done. I called Keen about it and they said all they do is purchase their platforms. They have no saying what they can't or can do to block people. I told Keen I've been putting complaints out on them but do they care? All they want is their money from these psychics who buys into their platforms.

An outstanding medium, Dawn has had an amazing connection to the energetic world and spirits since she was a little girl. Her deep faith and trust in the creator has always been the foundation of her life. This faith was the catalyst that guided her into delivering messages professionally and continues to be the cornerstone of her professional and personal life. Through her abilities as a Psychic Medium, Dawn will connect
First, let me welcome you to my corner of the Internet. My name is Angela Moore. If you're like me, you've probably searched all over the Internet for Psychic readings and ended up with a huge list of supposed Psychics. These so called clairvoyant "Psychics" are literally everywhere, but how do you know who is a real legitimate Psychic? One that is actually going to help you, and provide solid advice and guidance?
She is the Real Thing.  I didn't say one word past hello how are you...and immediately- the very first thing she said blew me away and every point she made was true. My best friend is a real psychic (but so much a medium) so it is hard to impress me and I was stunned and crying the whole reading because I knew she really had my parents there- things she could of never known! She has an amazing real gift bestowed on her and I am grateful to have met her.
It’s asking a lot for a psychic reader to blow someone away within the first five minutes of a psychic reading, but I knew it was possible, and I knew mine could do it.  That means, within the first five minutes, they should say something that convinces you that they aren’t just guessing or keeping you stringing along – that they’ve linked in with you and your situation using genuine psychic skills and giving you detailed psychic information not boring generalities. Because of that we have gone from strength to strength and most of the people who have a psychic reading here everyday are people that are returning and have had a reading with us before.

What I am telling you may sound incredible, but it is the utmost truth. Let me tell you about the circumstances that made me aware of these three dates of utmost importance for you. You will be able to see for yourself that there is no doubt about this: this is the truth! As for myself, despite my extensive experience, I was surprised by the accuracy of this visionary man about you and your future.

Sharon Michelle is NOT psychic. She was very disrespectful. Once she ripped me off with over $200. She Michelle told that spiritual work can done. She gets angry when I ask questions (please keep in mind that this is all over the phone, not in person consultations). I was able to pick up on his bs really quickly while remaining respectful. Everything predicted was wrong - NOT a psychic. She is a guesser, an astrologer, anyone can come up with this crab.
Whatever guidance you might be looking for, our gifted and experienced psychic readers are here to talk to you about your future. Our psychic readers are sensitive, honest people who can offer you a warm, sincere welcome and are able to support you through your relationship worries, career concerns, or family issues with their spiritual advice and guidance. Our psychic readers are gifted in clairvoyance, mediumship, past life readings, tarot, astrology and dream interpretations, so you can be sure that you will find the answers you are looking for.


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(678) 210-7746    Click here and send us an email    Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 6:00pm

Our Service

bobcatWith our Bobcat Service, Avatar Exteriors has the right crews and equipment to handle all of your residential and commercial projects. Safe and dependable, we’ve been trusted time and time again to handle projects throughout out metro Atlanta. We are skilled and trained to use these machines and we’ll deliver the finishes you expect.

Whether you are having a new structure installed or perhaps your property needs a better drainage systems, our team can prepare the area for your next project. Grading should be completed by professionals like Avatar Exteriors because we have the equipment and crew to handle to job the right way the first time. Residential or commercial projects accepted.

Since the soil under structures and pavements needs to be properly compacted, you want to enlist a professional with the right equipment to complete the task. If it’s a residential or commercial project, compacting soil during the construction process will save you much more money then you will spend if you need to correct the problems after.

Another form of excavation, Avatar Exterior trenching services professionally places pipes, wires and cables, drains, wastewater, and sewer pipes underground. Residential and commercial projects welcomed. Safety is always a priority and we follow all precautions when completing your task.

Avatar Exteriors has the team and equipment to complete a wide range of drilling projects for both residential and commercial clients. We’re capable of drilling in space restricted areas with complete accuracy. Our drills will go to various depths and sizes which means we are equipped to handle your next project.

Concrete Demo

Avatar Exteriors practices safety on every job as we continue to provide safe concrete demolition services for a wide variety of both residential and commercial projects. With every project we review ways to minimize risk to ensure that we deliver above satisfactory results in a timely manner. Whether is soft, hard, partial, or total demolition, you can trust our team for completing each job efficient and safely.

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If you have a remodeling project but need help with your budget, don’t hesitate to contact us. Just complete a no-obligation estimate request form or contact us by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at (678) 210-7746

No project is too big or too small!

Click here for more details about our home improvement financing options.

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before & after: the living room

I finally got around to vacuum cleaning today, so I’ve decided to post some photos of our living room!

 Here is is before we moved in, no binds, a rather dirty floor, and an awful mid-90s ceiling fan. My FIL compared it to a “hovering mosquito.” It wouldn’t be quite as awful if it didn’t hang down at about eye-level,it’s only around because we need air circulation and occasional over head lighting, eventually it’s going to go.

 Here we are installing the rug. We’ve got extra thick carpet padding under it because it’s on tile. The rug is about 9×11 and we got it at Home Depot. We looked at dozens of rugs (literally),  and this one was perfect. The colors look muddy in this photo because the lighting is awful, it looks much better in person.

 After we moved the furniture in and hung paintings. The antique bookshelf was in our garage at our previous place, and the sofa’s slip cover shrank. The paintings are on loan from my in-laws.

 Yes, our Christmas tree is up. It’s not a “real” one this year because Gavin said killing another one would’ve been a waste. I argued that cutting one down killed them just as dead. Dulce intervened and gifted us a little faux tree from their collection of Seasonal Decor. It’s a nice size for our place.

 The front door, the hallway on the right leads to the kitchen, the cardboard box is the new freezer door (hopefully it’s the right one this time).

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Confessions of an RV Salesman

Updated on January 19, 2019
TIMETRAVELER2 profile image

I have had a great deal of experience both buying and selling RVs and think people should understand the mechanics of doing these things.

Good morning. My name is Mac. I’m an RV salesman who wants to confess to potential buyers what I really do when I see you walking in the door of my boss’s showroom.

I’m telling you these things without using my real name (of course) so you’ll wise up to the manipulative methods I use to sell you a camper, trailer or motor home.

  • If you’re smart, you’ll pay attention to what I say here and use the information to avoid being victimized.
  • If not, good luck the next time you try to buy a recreational vehicle from a dealer.

Learn the truth about manipulative techniques used by RV salesman.
Learn the truth about manipulative techniques used by RV salesman. | Source

The Introduction

I always make it a point to look clean and crisp, but more importantly, I want you to think that I, too, am an RV enthusiast. The truth is that I probably don’t know much more about these vehicles than you do and have never owned one!

You won’t see me wearing a suit, but you also won’t see me running around in shorts.

I’ll look like the guy next door and will always greet you by introducing myself and giving you a big smile and handshake.

There are two reasons why I do this. The first is to make you comfortable, and the second is to create trust.

By shaking your hand I’m making physical contact. It has been proven that even the lightest of touches between people creates a bond that makes people “feel better”.

Another thing I’ll do is to look you straight in the eye. People who lie have difficulty doing that, so creating direct eye contact makes you assume that I’m not a liar.

All of these behaviors will make you think that I’m a good guy who is likeable and who you can trust to help you with your purchase.

The Probe

I’ve already achieved my first goal, so now it’s time to find out how serious you are about buying and if you can even afford to make a purchase.

The whole time I’ve been talking to you, I’ve been sizing you up. Are your shoes in good condition? Do your teeth show that they’ve been well cared for? Are you wearing cheap clothes or expensive ones? Is your jewelry fake or real?

I’ll also ask you whether you live in the local area, whether you own or rent, what you do for a living and whether you have children who still might be traveling with you.

You think I’m showing interest, but I’m really trying to qualify you to see whether you’re a tire kicker or a serious buyer.

The final questions are the ones I’m really after: “How much do you want to spend to buy an RV?” and “Do you want to buy new or used?”

I’ll also ask you if you have a coach to trade and, if so, why you want to trade and how much you expect to get for it if we can make a deal today.

You’re always going to give me a figure that is far higher than any amount I would possibly offer, but I won’t tell you this. I’ll simply nod my head in agreement, smile and say, “OK, let’s see what we can do”.

RV salesmen want you to tell them the type of RV you want so they can ascertain your price range.
RV salesmen want you to tell them the type of RV you want so they can ascertain your price range. | Source

The Squeeze

If I think you’re just a tire kicker, I’ll open the door, show you where the RVs are parked and tell you to go look around. I’ll give you my cell phone number and tell you that if you find something you think you like you can call me.

I’m not going to waste my time driving people around to see coaches when I’m pretty sure they’re suspects instead of prospects!

On the other hand, if your appearance and answers lead me to believe that I have a chance of selling you something, I’ll drive you out onto the lot and show you the worst coach I have.

It will be dirty, stinky, have body damage and other flaws, but will still have a high price posted on its window.

You’ll absolutely hate it!

Then I’ll take you over to the one I expect you to buy.

It will be beautiful, have lots of amenities and be free of any major visible flaws. It will cost more than the first unit, but will be what you are looking for.

You’ll balk at the price, but I’ll shrug my shoulders and say “Well, you get what you pay for”. Then I’ll go into my spiel about how we have a great financing plan that will make purchasing easy and affordable.

I’ll paint a beautiful picture about how great it would feel to be driving down the road in this beauty and enjoying all of its comforts when camping in it.

In fact, I’ll offer a free year of camping if you’ll buy it today, which would save you a ton of money.

I’ll make sure to spend a lot of time doing these things so that you’ll start to tire out. People who are tired are more likely to buy just to be done with all of the burdensome details and walking.

I'll make sure to show you a third RV that is way beyond your price range, just to make you think you've seen everything that is available.

Then I’ll ask you which coach you liked the most and will tell you not to pay attention to the sticker price because I can get a better deal for you if you buy it today!

Notice that throughout our conversation, I keep pushing you to buy now if you want to save money. The truth is that no matter when you buy, you’ll get the same deal!

I offer to take you for a test drive, and you accept. Once we’ve done that, I pretty much have sealed the deal because now you are feeling very comfortable with the coach you already like and are envisioning wonderful vacations in it.

However, if you balk, I'll call in a closer who will show you a fourth costly coach. He will already know what you've seen and said.

He is a person with many years of selling experience who knows exactly what to say to manipulate people into buying. Once he shows up, I step into the background and let him close the deal.

The Deal

I take you back to the office and offer you a cup of coffee or a soft drink. I know that while I’ve gone to get your refreshments, you’re going to decide whether you want to buy the coach or not.

While I’m gone, a different salesman is going to stick his head in the door. He says he’s looking for me to see if I’ve sold that coach yet because he has a cash buyer on the phone who wants it.

You tell him I’ll be back in a few minutes. He leaves. Now you’re in a panic. We have set you up with a false time limitation that makes you feel that if you do not buy this coach right now, you’ll lose it to the other buyer.

You can’t wait for me to get back to the office.

You don’t tell me about the other salesman, but you do indicate to me that you are interested in buying if the price is right.

The Negotiation

I pull out a sales application, and we fill it out together.

If you have a trade, I take your keys and tell you that our sales manager will have to look at your unit to decide how much we’ll give you for it. Usually it will be about half of the NADA wholesale price. This amount is going to be far less than what you expected to get for it.

In the meantime, I tell you that the other salesman had approached me, but since we’re in the middle of a deal, he can’t ethically sell the coach out from under you as long as you lock in your deal by giving me a totally refundable deposit of at least $500.

You give me your credit card, I accept the deposit and give you a receipt that shows you’ve locked in the deal.

Now I’ve got you.

The reason I’ve got you is that you won’t really believe that you’ll get your deposit back if you renege on the deal, even though I know that by law, I’m required to return the money to you if the deal falls through.

The Sales Manger returns with your keys and hands me some paperwork. I tell you what he says he’ll give you for your RV, and I also tell you how much your RV is going to cost.

You almost have a heart attack, but I remind you that I can get a better deal, and I do. Usually I’ll knock a few thousand dollars off to make it look good.

You gratefully accept the deal because by now you’re exhausted and somewhat confused, but you have been goaded into thinking you want and must have this travel unit.

The Close

I don’t give you time to read the contract and, frankly, by this time, you normally don’t want to do so. How to Protect Yourself from RV Contract and Warranty Problems explains why you should read it, but you still probably will avoid doing so.

We’ve already established that I’m a great guy, you trust me and I’ve given you a good deal.

You might even not take the time to read the sales cover sheet which shows that I’ve added about $600 for prep fees.

What you’re looking at is the final figure.

You likely won’t be able to afford to pay cash, so I take you over to our finance department.

There you set up a payment plan that you think will work for you, even though you get a bit of a shock when you hear how much it will cost to register your coach with the state. This is an amount that usually adds up to thousands of dollars. I neglected to tell you about this added cost on purpose, of course.

No worry, though, because all of the costs will be included in the financial contracts, so all you’ll have to do is figure out how you’ll be able to pay your monthly bill.

The Bottom Line

If some of what I’ve discussed here seems a bit shady, that’s because it is.

However, many of the techniques I use to manipulate people into buying recreational vehicles are those used by just about every sales person in the business.

We work on commission. The more I get you to pay, the more I earn.

You may think I’m an RV guy, but generally I’m nothing more than a regular salesman trying to earn a buck.

I am not a nice guy, I am not your friend, and I don’t care about where you live or where you work. I only care about filling my pockets with your cash.

You’ll buy from me because I’m good at what I do, and you like and trust me and won’t want to hurt my feelings by refusing to make a purchase.

I’m an RV salesman confessing these things to you because I’m ashamed of the things I have to do to get people to buy from me.

If you understand anything about what I’ve said here, you need to use this information the next time you start shopping for RVs.

Buy what you want. Buy at a fair price. Trade for a fair price. Read the small print. Don’t fall prey to manipulative RV sales techniques.

If you do these things, you’ll save a great deal of money and will get exactly the unit you want to own.

Will you now be more careful when dealing with an RV Salesman?

See results

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

  • In your opinion, how reliable do you sense reviews are for the dealerships and or salesperson of these organizations. I understand there are company's that will post positive reviews, however, I find it somewhat confusing to weed out the undesirables?

    Some reviews may be reliable, but if you go to "Pissed Off Consumer" and check complaints about a particular dealership or check with the Better Business Bureau, you'll get a better idea about reliability. Your best bet is to go to a dealership and get a feel for how you are treated there and then compare prices with NADA values. Also, talk to other RV owners personally to find out what their experiences have been. Bad sellers stick out like sore thumbs very quickly if you do these things.

© 2018 Sondra Rochelle

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I am completing a dissertation study on parents whose children have Autism. Considering the amount and types of social interactions they have. The questionnaire comes in two parts and should take no longer than five minutes to complete. Please if you could help me out i would greatly appreciate it.

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Howe Bail Bonds

Updated: July 10, 2018

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Find out how bail works in Texas so you can be sure about the bail process in the state. Knowing how bail bonds work in Texas will help you get out of jail faster and you will know all your bail options.
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It can be extremely stressful when you or your loved one ends up in jail, and not knowing how bail bonds work can add on an extra element of frustration. We have created a simple guide to help you understand exactly how bail works, both at the national level and within your state.
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ENKEEO 22 Inch Plastic Cruiser Skateboard with Sturdy Deck 4…

ENKEEO 22 Inch Plastic Cruiser Skateboard with Sturdy Deck 4...

Plastic Cruiser

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Three Pocket Geo Crossbody Wallet

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Private & small-group excursions in Barcelona

Great touring options for other destinations

If you are planning to visit more destinations in Spain or around the Mediterranean, then we are happy to recommend these options below:

For shore excursions in other Spain ports – visit   There are many great options for shore excursions in all the main ports of Spain and Portugal.

For tours in Madrid – visit  Madrid is a great base for taking day trips.  This Madrid office offers private and semi-private tours in and around Madrid for those of you visiting the Capital of Spain.

If you are looking for personalized wine tours in the Catalunya province – visit Wine Tours Barcelona for a personal service with our very own wine specialist Helene

For shore excursions in Turkey – check out Ephesus Shuttle – they are the #1 shore excursion operator in Turkey, specializing in private and mini-group tours. If you are looking for excellent personal and professional service, then this is the company to contact – visit

Is your cruise ship going to Italy?  There are many cruise itineraries that include both Spain and Italy, and if your journey includes this type of route then check out the small-group tours offered by www.ItalyTours.EU – a new and dynamic team of local professional guides which our guests continuously confirm as an excellent choice for quality touring at an affordable price.

East of Italy is Greece.  At this stop we recommend George’s Taxi Private Tours.  Established in 1983, George’s Taxi tour services are excellent for shore excursions and tours from the hotels.  Contact them via

For those guests that plan to take a cruise that also stops in the biblical land of Israel – Guided Tours Israel is a family company that offers small-group tours at unbeatable prices with personal pick-up and drop-off from the ship.  We highly recommend them! See their website here –

For passengers on the way to the fascinating land of Egypt, we have been recommending Ramses Tours for many years.  They offer an extremely wide range of tour options and a warm and friendly service to their guests.  Check out their website –

We are continuously looking to hear about people’s experience with other companies around the Mediterranean.  If you can spare a minute to share with us your thoughts about an experience you had with another tour company around our part of the world, we would love to hear and learn from it.  Please email us: [email protected]  Thank you for sharing with us!


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Floor globe bars with medium globes - image by Bar Globe WorldFloor Standing Bar Globes with Medium Globes (16-18″ Diameter World Globes)

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It’s good to feel blue. UPDATE.

Blue skies today but – before l go out to enjoy it – time to catch up on an inner-city wander – pre snow – where l spotted one thing l have never noticed before.

The building across the road from The Podium.

On a wall – opposite The Podium – some craftsmen had certainly left their mark. Good for these stonemasons l say in having pride in their work.

Job well done!

Not quite so impressed by this plastic-covered, wood-framed shelter that has gone up between the Theatre Royal and the Italian Restaurant next door.

A wood-framed, corrugated-plastic-roofed ‘shelter’ has sprung up between the Theatre Royal and the Italian Restaurant next door.

Not quite the best way of showing off two listed buildings – just to provide shelter for smokers!

Really helps show off the building’s decorative features doesn’t it?

UPDATE.  As of Monday, February 4th l understand the structure in question does not have planning permission and is unauthorised.

The Council has given the owner of the premises until the 16th February to remove it.

Although, in most enforcement cases B&NES hopes for voluntary compliance – if the issue is not resolved they do have the power to take formal action.

Meanwhile, I can’t help wondering how much more ‘street furniture’ Bath’s narrow pavements can take. Did this ‘cork’ get planning permission? If it did – how?!

Do we really need things like this. Or maybe all our bollards should be shaped like something else!

Moving on, can l recommend a pause in front of the Lifestyle Pharmacy in Westgate Street.

A very graphic window display of just how much of the sweet-stuff we are ingesting.

Makes you stop and think!
More food for thought.

Think you can get a better kick from being out in today’s sunshine.

Blue skies and spring to come.

Just before l go though – one thing l did notice after the snow fall – the scarf that had been tied around the neck of the Rebecca at the Well fountain – on the north side of Bath Abbey – has stained the marble.

The scarf tied around her neck has really stained the marble.

Well-intentioned street intervention maybe but it pays to stop and think about your actions.


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Real climate leadership

Trump pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, but over 60% of the commitments made in the Paris accord can still be met by local efforts to fight off climate disaster.  California’s climate leadership is more important than ever, but right now it’s under threat from Big Oil.

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Tell legislators today to say NO to AB 398, which would undermine California’s climate leadership. Click here to send an email or call 916-694-1101 right now.

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2012-2016 - MAZDA - CX-5

Regular price $1,299

2012-2016 - MAZDA - CX-5

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Saturday, July 28, 2018

Hutton Mitchell

Robert J. Kirkpatrick

Hutton Mitchell is now remembered solely for being the first illustrator to portray Billy Bunter, in the boys’ story paper The Magnet in 1908. However, this belies an active and eventful career as an artist, cartoonist, illustrator and author.

He was born on 12 February 1872 in Kennoway, Fife, Scotland, and named as William Hutton Mitchell. His parents were Peter McDowell Mitchell, a Presbyterian Minister born in Clackmannan (formerly the county town of Clackmannanshire) in 1833, and his second wife Janet, née McDonald, whom he had married in Perth in November 1869. William was the second of their four children, his siblings being Annie (born in Kennoway on 21 August 1870), Alexander (born in Tillicoultry, Clackmannshire, on 10 November 1873), and Isabella (born on (9 September 1874 in Tillicoultry).

At the time of the 1881 census, William was living with his grandmother at Fish Cross, Clackmannan. It appears that his father had died (possibly before the birth of Isabella), although there is no record of his death. At some point, the Mitchell family moved to Dundee, where William was educated at Dundee High School. He then went on to study art with the Dundee Graphic Arts Association, before attending Heatherley’s Art School in London and then Julien’s Atelier, Paris. He also visited Holland, and may well have briefly studied there.

As far as can be ascertained, he married Alice Mary Odell (born in Clophill, Bedfordshire, in 1876) in 1894, although there is no online marriage record. They went on to have four children: Alan (born in 1897), Alexander (1899), Ronald (1905), and Bruce (1908). The first three children were born in Islington, north London, while Bruce was born in Streatham, south London. (Alan and Bruce later became artists in Canada).

Exactly when, and how, William’s career as an illustrator began is not clear. In November 1894, he travelled to New York, and whilst in America he contributed satirical  cartoons to Truth, a weekly society magazine. It is not known how long he remained there, but in September 1897 The Dundee Evening Telegraph noted that he was already well-known as a black and white artist to readers of weekly newspapers and magazines in London, along with several other illustrators who had originated in Dundee. Certainly, it is known that by 1899 he had contributed to News of the Week, Fun, The Daily Graphic, The Longbow and The Ludgate Monthly.

At the turn of the century, and living at 6 Monte Cristo Mansions, Islington, and calling himself Hutton Mitchell, he began contributing to The Illustrated London News, Black and White, The Spear and The British Workman. He also provided illustrations for the boys’ story paper Boys of Our Empire, published by Andrew Melrose, between 1900 and 1903. He returned to New York in June 1903, where he worked briefly for The New York Herald and The Sunday Herald, before returning to England in October.

Surprisingly, especially given that many of his contemporaries were prolific book illustrators, Mitchell appears to have been credited with illustrating only three books, beginning with an edition of Charles Dickens’s A Child’s History of England, published in 1898 by Chapman & Hall, and which also contained illustrations by E.A. Norbury and F.H. Townsend. This was followed in 1904 by Kent Carr’s boy’s school story A Rank Outsider, published by Andrew Melrose, and two years later he illustrated Children of the Sun by Mrs J. Percy Creed, also published by Andrew Melrose. He also provided illustrations for Andrew Melrose’s The Girls’ Empire Annual in 1902.

In 1905 he began working for The Tatler, providing a series of cartoons under the heading “The Humour of the Hour – as seen by Hutton Mitchell.” A year later, he began providing illustrations for The London Magazine. In 1911 (when he was recorded in the census living at 20 Atbara Road, Teddington, Middlesex – he had earlier been living at 236 Barcombe Avenue, Streatham Hill, Wandsworth) he began an eight-year association with The Sketch, providing full-page and smaller cartoons, and a year later he was also taken on by The Bystander to do the same. In 1914 he began working with The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. During the First World War he also worked for London Opinion and for two weekly humorous magazines aimed at the services – Blighty, for troops in the army, and Sea-Pie, for the navy.

At the same time, he was also earning some money as an author, having short stories published in Harry Shurey’s The Weekly Tale-Teller, Cassell’s Magazine of Fiction (1914-1918), and My Magazine. He also illustrated one of his own short stories in the Amalgamated Press’s Cheer Boys Cheer in August 1913.

In the meantime, in July 1907 he had been recruited by the Amalgamated Press to illustrate its boys’ story paper The Gem, home to Tom & Merry & Co. of St. Jim’s, created by Charles Hamilton under his pseudonym of Martin Clifford, and which had been launched in February that year. The following year he was also invited to illustrate another new story paper, The Magnet, which was to feature Harry Wharton & Co. of Greyfriars School, and, of course, Billy Bunter. This was launched on 15 February 1908, and Mitchell illustrated the first 39 issues, with the very first picture of Billy Bunter appearing on the cover of the seventh number. This could be seen as simply a prototype, especially in that while Bunter was portrayed as overweight he could not be described as having the rotund figure so familiar today.

First drawing of Billy Bunter
Writing in the Collectors Digest Annual in 1953, Roger Jenkins remarked that “The illustrations were always an integral part of the Magnet, and the first few months’ drawings were well done by Hutton Mitchell. In practically every drawing of his, it is possible to distinguish each member of the Famous Five at a glance.” (Mitchell used his four sons as models for the characters, with one of them, Alexander, stuffing his clothing with pillows as he modeled Bunter). On the other hand, Norman Wright and David Ashford, writing in Book and Magazine Collector in August 2005, commented that “[Mitchell’s] style was competent enough and probably considered very acceptable for a halfpenny weekly, yet his work was rather lacklustre and he appeared to be averse to background details.”

In the event, Mitchell only illustrated The Magnet for around 10 months. W.O. Lofts and D.J. Adley, in The World of Frank Richards published in 1975, wrote “Mitchell could have had the job indefinitely, but he was always late with his drawings, and at length the editor just could not stand the delays any longer. Mitchell was a very swift worker and could dash off a set of pen-and-ink drawings in a remarkably short time, but he would not start work until the very last moment – and sometimes after. He just would not get down to the steady grind demanded by the Amalgamated Press.” He was succeeded by Arthur Clarke, who in turn was succeeded by C.H. Chapman in 1911. It was he who gave Bunter his trademark check trousers and bow-tie.

In March 1914 Mitchell found himself in the dock at the Old Bailey, charged with receiving a stolen rug, which had been thrown from a car as it passed through Barnes and had been picked up by his 17 year-old son Alan, then working as a publisher’s reader, who had given it to his father. The case hinged on the so-called law of “finders-keepers” – the judge ruled that if someone found an article they had a duty to preserve it and see if there was any claim on it, but there was no duty to hand it in to the police. While this would be a prudent course of action, the judge remarked that the police had no greater right to the article than the person who found it. He therefore ordered the jury to find the Mitchell and his son not guilty.

Hutton’s career as an illustrator appears to have been rather sporadic after the First World War. In the early 1920s he provided illustrations for The Yellow Magazine, The Red Magazine and The Windsor Magazine, but it appears he was hoping to make his a new name as an author. In late 1922, having moved to East Wittering, Sussex, he finished writing a novel, and showed the manuscript to Arthur Conan Doyle (a neighbour), who, having read it, gave it a ringing endorsement. The novel, The Deviations of Diana, a study of an artist’s model with a magnetic personality, was subsequently published, to a degree of critical acclaim, in April 1923.

Unfortunately, it was not a commercial success, and two years later Mitchell was declared bankrupt. In May 1926, giving his address as “Lovelands”, Kingswood, Surrey, he applied for his discharge. The Surrey Mirror (7 May 1924) reported that his liabilities were estimated at £55, while his assets had realised just £8. It was observed that Mitchell “attributed his failures to the non-success of a novel which was published, but had not yielded any profits.” He also blamed ill-health, and his income since 1920 had been insufficient to support himself and his family. He told the local bankruptcy court at Croydon that his present earnings were around £200 a year – around £11,000 in today’s terms.

By early 1927 he had moved to The Hut, Wanmoor Road, Great Bardfield, Essex. In May that year he sailed from Southampton to Quebec, to stay with his son in Montreal. A few months later, on 22 October 1927, he married Frances Mary Holland at the United Church, Mountain Street, Montreal, his first wife having died in 1913. Frances, born in Great Bardfield in August 1899, was the daughter of Sydney Benjamin Collins Holland, a publican and house decorator. The marriage took place on the same day that she arrived in Montreal after travelling from Southampton.

Whilst in Canada Mitchell embarked on a new career as a painter, in oils and watercolours. He exhibited at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and at other galleries. Many of his paintings from this time have come up for auction, which has led many of the websites which monitor the sales of works of art to describe him as a Canadian artist. (They also get his date of death wrong, citing 1939 and not 1935). He also lectured on art and literature at the Canadian Authors Association and at the Arts and Letters Club in Montreal. (According to The Collectors’ Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction, Mitchell was, in London, also a member of The Pen and Pencil Club, the National Sporting Club, and The Fabian Society, and was a close friend of Prime Minster Ramsay Macdonald).

Hutton and Frances had a daughter, Annette Joy, born in Essex on 27 August 1932. Rather strangely, however, it appears that Frances returned to England from Canada in May 1930, whereas Hutton remained there until December 1932. Annette emigrated to America, where she married in 1955.

In the meantime, Mitchell published his second, and last, novel in 1930, The Fourth Man, which appears to have received very little publicity and vanished without trace.

He died suddenly five years later, on 5 April 1935, at Saffron Walden Hospital, Essex, where he had gone for an X-ray. His wife died on 6 February 1998.

The Deviations of Diana, A.M. Philpot, 1923
The Fourth Man, Selwyn & Blount, 1931

Books illustrated by Hutton Mitchell
A Child’s History of England by Charles Dickens, Chapman & Hall, 1898 (with other artists)
A Rank Outsider by Kent Carr, Andrew Melrose, 1904
Children of the Sun by Mrs J. Percy Creed, Andrew Melrose, 1906

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Thank you very much for your interest in getting tattooed by me.

Due to such a heavy workload I have temporarily closed my books to new appointments. I will still open up certain dates to tattoo original custom designs and take on a few select appointments.

Definitely follow me on Instagram @iusedtosurf I will do a post when I open up my calendar dates and will also post some “up for grab” tattoo concepts that I would like to do right away. Feel free to email me with any questions at Please allow a full week for a response.

And if you are looking to get tattooed right away and like photorealistic style work I would suggest checking out the other fellas here at Bearcat.

Black & Grey - Tyler Ciarlanti

He's amazing in his craft and loves dark dramatic imagery.

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For Color - Isaac Aguila

He's a solid color realism artist and definitely will do a great piece for you.

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Within every human being there is a great desire to experience “joy & happiness”. We go into battle with “negative” emotions like anger, emptiness, anxiety or stress. We never seem finished and keep on searching; meditation retreats, coaching or training. Because most improvements and approaches fall within the strategies of the ego, we will (eventually) never really experience the peace we are longing for within ourselves.

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Update to the cruelty free list

The animal testing situation in China has recently become much clearer to me, and so after some research I have decided to move some brands from this list. The following brands have been removed:

Almay (Revlon)

American Beauty (Estee Lauder)

Bobbi Brown (Estee Lauder)

Bumble and Bumble (Estee Lauder)

Clinique (Estee Lauder)

Coach (Estee Lauder)

Donna Karan (Estee Lauder)

Elizabeth Arden

Estee Lauder

Flirt! (Estee Lauder)

Giorgio Armani

GoodSkin Labs (Estee Lauder)

Grassroots Research Labs (Estee Lauder)

Jo Malone (Estee Lauder)

La Mer (Estee Lauder)

MAC Cosmetics (Estee Lauder)

Michael Kors (Estee Lauder)

Missoni (Estee Lauder)

Ojon (Estee Lauder)

Prescriptives (Estee Lauder)

Tom Ford (Estee Lauder)

Tommy Hilfiger (Estee Lauder)

In light of these updates, any posts containing products from any of these brands will be removed from the blog.

Please note as well that though many Estee Lauder brands have been removed from the list, some were not listed on the PETA “Do Test” list (click here to see the list) and were therefore left on my list marked with an asterisk to show that they belong to a parent company that tests.

Most Worn Products Tag *Summer Edition*

I really enjoyed watching other people do this tag, so I have decided to turn it into a blog post. Hope you like it!

1) Most worn nail polish

It would probably have to be either OPI’s Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous or Wet n Wild’s Emblazed. Emblazed is a quite summery color, but the OPI color? Not so much… I think it was because the beginning of the summer the whether here in Germany was really super cold.

2) Most worn scent

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

I wore Dior Addict Eau Fraiche quite a bit, but more towards the end of the summer, I really like it. Apparently it has notes of bergamot, grapefruit, orange, freesia, lily of the valley, lotus flower, pineapple, watermelon, grenadine, sandalwood, and white musk, but honestly I wouldn’t know because I am terrible at describing scents. It is a very appropriate scent for summer, it is pretty light. I guess that’s from the floral notes? Anyway, it is beautiful.

3) Most worn hair product

Image courtesy of The Body Shop

Image courtesy of JohnFrieda.com

This is quite easy, The Body Shop Rainforest Shampoo for oily hair and the John Frieda detangling spray. Right now my hair is the healthiest it has ever been, and I am pretty sure it is down to one or both of these products. I cannot rep the Body Shop shampoo enough, I love everything about it. It is sulfate free but still manages to fully clean my hair, and smells phenomenal to boot (to see the full post, click here). The John Frieda detangling spray is pretty good as well, it does the job and smells quite good (and to see the full post for this one, click here).

4) Most worn bag

Image courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Again, an easy one: I only really ever use one bag outside of school, and that is my Longchamp Le Pliage. I love it (obviously!), it is chic and timeless and goes with everything. It is also a good size for me; it fits everything I need to bring, without being too big. This is very important for me, because I tend to bring a lot of stuff so I need space, but if the bag is too big I will fill it with all kinds of crap that I would never need and I would give myself back problems.

5) Most worn shoes

That would definitely be my flip-flops! I hate wearing socks, so as soon as the weather permitted I donned my sandals and hardly took them off after! I got this pair in Italy, from a shop called Scout. I am very impressed with them, they are extremely sturdy and they were only 10€!! When I walk my feet turn in, and I have wrecked so many pairs of shoes, both cheap and not so cheap. For these flip-flops to be in the condition that they are in after a whole summer of wearing them pretty much non-stop is nothing short of amazing.

6) Most worn accessory

My sunnies! These are my babies, they are oversized and gorgeous and just generally perfect! They are from Versace, and I feel like a movie star when I wear them.

7) Most worn clothing item

I guess this would have to be my American Eagle top. This is one of my favorites out of all the tops that I have, I love how baggy it is as well and the pattern on the tie.

8+9) Most worn blush/bronzer and lip product

I have combined these two questions because the answer is the same for both of them. I have used MAC’s Costa Chic both on my lips and on my cheeks because it saves time and looks really nice! It also means less product I have to carry around with me to touch up.

10) Most worn mascara

I only use one mascara at a time, so this summer was still my Bourjois Volume Glamour Max mascara in its awesome hot pink tube.

11) Most worn eyeshadow

I didn’t really wear eyeshadow very much this season, I got really into smudgy eyeliner… my most worn eyeliner, though, would have to be the Body Shop eyeliner in Blue Smoke.

Well, that’s it, I hope you enjoyed my tag post!

Lilla’s Box of Treasures (LBT): June 2012

Since June is my birthday month, this month’s LBT is formed predominately of birthday gifts. Nails do feature prominently, as I got a crapload of pretty polishes, and I just wanted to try them all out!

The Nailpolish

The three nailpolishes which have been big this month are these three from OPI: Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous, Uh-oh Roll Down the Window, and Bogata Blackberry. Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous is a gunmetal grey with shimmer (see NOTD here), Uh-Oh Roll Down the window is a creamy army green, and Bogata Blackberry is a dark red with shimmer.

MAC Costa Chic

This is a gorgeous, gorgeous coral which I have been wearing unashamedly pretty much every day. Since I got it almost halfway through the month, most days I have just been wearing some eyeliner (more on that in a bit) and this dabbed onto my lips. It is a perfect color for summer and complements my long sleeved shirts wonderfully. Yes, you read that right, guys. It has been like October in Germany for the past couple of weeks!

The Body Shop Eye Definer in Black

Recently I have been going for  a darker, more smokey look than I normally wear, and have been really loving it! Well, I hardly go smokey at all, so it isn’t that much. I love how I can get defined, made-up eyes using only this eyeliner and a cotton bud. If you are looking for a creamy, black-black eyeliner this definitely isn’t it. However, it works very well for the purpose I have just described to you. Because it is so hard and not creamy, I find that it is much quicker and easier to get the smokey, smudged out look I was going for. This was the one product out of this post that I did not get for my birthday!

The Ice Watch

This watch is the medium-sized watch (I believe). It is white with a graphite-colored face and a black Swarovski crystal on the windy bit that you use to change the time with. I was never a big watch-wearer, but I really love this watch! It is the perfect size for me, and I love the face and the crystal. I am a thoroughly happy bunny 🙂

The Bracelet

Last but not least I have a product that shouldn’t really be here because I have absolutely no clue where it is from , but I had to include it anyway because I have been wearing it everyday since I got it along with my watch. It is a really delicate gold chain, with bejewelled bobbles placed at intervals around it. It is so delicate and feminine, I really love it. It’s funny, because it is one of those cases where it is an item I would never have picked up myself (I normally go for huge, loud, in-yo-face jewellery, and rings mostly), but I really love it and how it looks on and basically everything about it.

What To Do About China

**UPDATE** Urban Decay has decided to pull out of the Chinese market, see post here.

So as you may know, the cruelty-free world has had some controversial news: some highly respected cruelty-free companies such as Estee Lauder (owners of many brands, including MAC and Bobbi Brown) and Urban Decay are expanding into China. “So what?” you ask. Chinese law allows the government to test products going onto the market without the knowledge of the companies, according to Urban Decay’s press statement. And yeah, those would be animals they would be testing on. This has pretty much pissed off a bunch of people that supported the brands because they were cruelty-free. I don’t really like the fact that these products in China may have been tested on animals at some point (Urban Decay still does not test on animals themselves, but by expanding into the Chinese market they open themselves up to the risk), but I also see this as a good opportunity, as does Urban Decay. As I have said before, I do not want my money being used to test on animals. However, I do want my money to go for making a change in the way things are run. Apparently the Chinese market is a very closed market, so the only way to change the policies regarding animal testing would be from within. From what I have heard, it seems like Chinese consumers really don’t think about it at all, there is very little awareness of the horrible things that are done in the name of beauty. I am willing to support these companies expanding into China if they will try to promote cruelty-free testing methods to the Chinese government. And according to their press statement, that is exactly what they plan to do. OK, so Urban Decay is going to try to work some changes, but is Estee Lauder? I have not found a statement regarding promoting change in China in particular (it may exist, though, I just haven’t come across it), but in the FAQ section of their website where they state their policy regarding animal testing, they do stress the point that they work hard to promote alternative testing methods. There really cannot be enough promotion out there, so if a company is doing their fair share, I am not going to boycott them and endanger their campaigns.

And China is already starting to change. PETA sent out a press release that stated that the Chinese government is in the last stages of approving their first-ever non-animal test for cosmetic ingredients, and are working with scientists from the Institute of In-Vitro Sciences, a program which PETA supports. Whether this step has anything to do with Urban Decay or Estee Lauder is hard to say, but nevertheless it is still great. If nothing else, this is a brilliant stepping stone for the companies to use to jump-start their campaigns.

I, for one, am willing to continue to support these companies, but you may not. It is your decision to make, and I am not going to push anything on you, I merely ask for you to do your research before you condemn anyone. For those that have decided to revoke support of these companies, in my list of non-animal-testing companies, I have specially marked out all the brands who have expanded into China, or are owned by a company expanding into China. Where possible, I will suggest alternatives from brands who have not expanded into China, so no matter what your beliefs on the subject, you can still look and feel fabulous.

PETA Press Release:

Urban Decay Press Statement (found on Temptalia.com)

Urban Decay Chinese Expansion Q&A (also on Temptalia)

Estee Lauder Animal Testing Policy

Lilla’s Box of Treasures (LBT): May 2012

As the month of May draws to a close I would like to draw your attention to a couple of products that I have really reached for this month.

MAC Eyeshadow in Quarry

I have really been neglecting my eye makeup recently (the result of warmer weather, extreme laziness, and the sudden fascination for bright lipsticks, which I unfortunately am not brave enough to wear to school), but when I have done something with my eyes, it often involves this color. One of my biggest pet peeves in the world of beauty (or anywhere, really) is an overly dark crease color. I don’t think having a brown line in your eye socket is attractive, and it sure as hell isn’t fooling anyone when it comes to eye depth. To me, Quarry is the perfect color. A beautiful soft purple-y brown (I don’t think the camera is quite picking up on that), it is subtle enough that it can actually look like a naturally shadowy socket, but does still provide a unique color. I also sometimes use it as an all-over lid color for a subtle and polished eye look (a nice partner for bright lips, for instance), or to blend out the edge of Urban Decay’s Sidecar eyeshadow. As for quality it is a very nice, smooth texture, and provides the perfect amount of pigmentation for a crease/blending color. I really do recommend this shade; it is a very versatile and unique eyeshadow that you can always depend on.

Catrice Ultimate Nail Lacquer in Genius in the Bottle

I have only recently acquired this color, and I have been really enjoying it! It is a beautiful color, one of the many dupes of Chanel Peridot. I have gotten a ton of compliments on this nail polish, and actually a couple of friends bought this shade after borrowing mine, so expect some drooling if you choose to wear it ;).

Wet n’ Wild Megashine Nail Color in 437F Emblazed

To me this is the perfect summer color: a gorgeous true coral, even if it doesn’t show up on camera as such (it is actually less orange in real life). I currently have this on my toes, and it looks amazing! Another amazing thing: the price (somewhere under $2, I believe…)!

Labello Soft Rose Chapstick

Let’s just talk about lifesavers for a minute. Along with my face, my lips have been so dry recently. And then, of course, I went and lost my Carmex. I was not amused. So of course I had to trek down to my local drugstore and pick up another chapstick, and I picked up another one of these guys. Well, two of these guys, as they came in a two-pack for a grand total of €1.99 (!). The color provided is really sheer, NOTHING like the Revlon lip butters, but when applied they just give you the prettiest your-lips-but-better lip color imaginable.

Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Lotion SPF 15

It has been getting pretty sunny this month, especially now towards the end, so sun protection is getting to be really important (click here to see more about sun protection). This has made it really easy for me to just throw on some protection without needing a separate facial sunscreen. In addition, my skin has been especially dry recently (normally it’s combination, but it has been just flat-out dry), and this also has really helped that.

Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion

As you can see, I have been into skincare this month, more so than usual (skincare normally comes as an afterthought to makeup for me). I have been really into this moisturizer this month, because it is fabulous. It is so super nourishing; my dry scaly legs just love to soak it up. Good thing too, considering I have to expose them now that it is warm…

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioning Spray

I have been looking for a good detangling spray to use on my rat’s nest after coming out of the shower. Apparently your hair is super-vulnerable when it is wet, so you’re not supposed to yank a hairbrush through it at that point. Oops. Anyway, that’s where this spray comes in: you spray it in your hair, and voila, your brush just slides right on through with no problems whatsoever. I was also very excited to see that it comes with heat protection, so I can blast my hair with a hairdryer and not feel bad. Is it bad that this makes me so excited…?