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New Organic Tomatoes from Pacific Foods Capture Bold Backyard Flavor in BPA-Free Cartons
One of the most frequently used pantry staples, canned tomatoes, is getting a dramatic upgrade from Pacific Foods this month. The family-owned company is
introducing five Organic Tomato varieties packaged in BPA-free cartons. It’s promising flavor so good home cooks will notice the difference and think twice about the tomatoes they use both for fresh applications – like bruschetta and salsa – and amazing sauces, stews, soups and more.
“Most people think all packaged tomatoes are the same but it’s simply not true,” said Kimberly Nieves, brand manager at Pacific Foods. “Thoughtful ingredient selection and cooking method can noticeably elevate the flavor of packaged tomatoes, even when cooked into recipes. At Pacific, we start with the most flavorful variety then treat it with care to bring out the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, natural texture and rich color.”
Not Your Garden Variety Tomatoes
Pacific’s simple recipe features Roma variety tomatoes, preferred by home canners for their full flavor and meatiness. Gentle steam peeling removes skins without the use of lye, while a “flasheat” preservation process reduces cook time by 90 percent compared to canned varieties. Authentic flavor, texture and nutrition are sealed in with no chemicals, additives or anything artificial.
“Our tomatoes live up to the same standards for quality as all of our other cooking staples like broth, stock and beans,” added Nieves. “We use as few ingredients as possible, making sure each one has a purpose to let the true flavor shine through. One bite of our tomatoes and you’ll taste the difference.”
Pacific’s Organic Tomato varieties include Diced; Strained; Crushed; Crushed with Onion, Garlic & Basil and Tomato Sauce. Naturally free of GMOs and gluten-free, they’re packaged in BPA-free, shelf-stable cartons and available now at natural food stores and conventional grocers nationwide (SRP $3.99-$4.99 for 26.46 oz.).
About Pacific Foods
Founded in 1987 in Tualatin, Ore., Pacific Foods is dedicated to sourcing simple ingredients cultivated through sustainable practices, making products that nourish, and increasing access to healthy, wholesome foods. It offers a wide variety of organic products, including flavorful soups, sauces, broths and stocks, as well as the broadest range of non-dairy beverages and a growing collection of dips, meals and sides. Pacific’s delicious, nutritious foods are inspired by traditional recipes made convenient for busy, health-conscious consumers. The company’s products are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada in mainstream grocery and natural food stores. For more information, visit www.pacificfoods.com.
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Organic and vegan skincare line debuts new look
Dirty Girl Farm, a line of vegan and organic skincare and personal care products, has launched a new website and packaging after a complete rebranding.
All Dirty Girl Farm products are crafted with natural elements from the earth and are completely organic, cruelty and gluten free. The company strives to make products vegan whenever possible, but does use a small amount of honey and beeswax in a few specific products.
“Coming up on 25 years in business, I was ready for a new look and better website,” Heather Rosencrantz, founder of Dirty Girl Farm, said. “We transitioned from a standard, generic look to a more earthy and organic style, which I love since I am first and foremost a farmer and botanist. The new design is a perfect reflection of who we are and what we value.”
The new e-commerce website features Dirty Girl Farm’s full 400 SKU inventory — a wide variety of skin care, hair care, beauty and home products. All items can be browsed by skin concern, ingredients and special collections. A licensed aesthetician is on staff to answer skin concern questions as well as craft custom skincare regimens for customers. Some of Dirty Girl Farm’s best sellers and unique offerings are:
Botox in Bottle – This lotion contains lupine peptides that prevent the breakdown of skin tissue and stimulate production of collagen and elastin in your skin, resulting in a youthful look without fine lines and wrinkles. $40
Caffeine Eye Serum – Fight dark undereye circles and wrinkles with the anti-aging powers of chia seeds and coffee bean oils that pack powerful antioxidants and help with blood circulation around the eyes. $22
Himalayan Pink Salt Scrub – A warming, ayurvedic blend of skin replenishing nutrients that increase blood circulation and rid your skin of dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft, supple and radiant! $16.95
Patchouli Shampoo + Conditioner – Patchouli is fantastic for itchy scalp and psoriasis. The fragrance is said to be grounding and reduces anxiety. Perfect for any type of hair. $8
Hormone Balancing Deodorant – A Hormone Balancing Deodorant for times when your hormones fluctuate, like during and after pregnancy, during stressful situations and while experiencing symptoms of peri- and post-menopause. Free of aluminum; not an antiperspirant; allows the body to sweat naturally. $10.50
Sections for wholesale, brand ambassadors, job openings and a blog were also added to the website. Businesses and individuals can apply directly to the opportunity they’re interested while consumers can read through the educational blog that focuses on health and the benefits of Dirty Girl Farm’s products and ingredients.
Dirty Girl Farm is located inside the Royal Oak Farmers Market (316 East 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Michigan 48067). Hours are Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
For more information about Dirty Girl Farm, visit DirtyGirlFarm.com.
ABOUT DIRTY GIRL FARM: Dirty Girl Farm is a line of all-natural skincare products and holistic apothecary based in Michigan. All items are free from chemicals, toxins and gluten. Products are never tested on animals and are 100% organic. Established in 1994, Dirty Girl Farm creates products with natural ingredients straight from the earth. We believe in healthy skin and happy souls.
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THE NEW YORK COFFEE FESTIVAL Returns For A 3rd Consecutive Year
The New York Coffee Festival, New York City’s flagship coffee event, is thrilled to announce its third consecutive year in The City That Never Sleeps. The festival will
take place this October 13-15 in its new home at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 19th Street). Allegra Events Ltd. looks forward to further expanding the festival this year with even more vendors, new lab sessions, latte art demonstrations, and more.For more information, please visit: www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com.
This year’s event will include over 100 innovative exhibitors, including: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Devoción, La Marzocco, Ally Coffee, Califia Farms, Flat Brew, Nobletree, and more. The three- day festival will also feature the Coffee Masters NYC barista championship, The Lab program featuring an exciting line-up of interactive demonstrations, educational workshops, talks and tastings, the Coffee Music Project, and the Coffee Art Project, as well as:
-Latte Art Live, where visitors will be able to learn first-hand how to make beautiful latte art in demonstrations given by some of the best baristas New York City has to offer, as well as guest baristas from around the world.
-The Village will feature small innovative brands and many new coffee, tea, and artisan food products that have not yet been seen elsewhere.
-The Coffee Cocktail Bar, which will provide an exciting range of coffee cocktails that will excite even the most casual coffee drinker, let alone coffee diehards.
In addition to offering hundreds of free samples from the highest quality specialty coffee and selected speciatly food brands, The New York Coffee Festival is also the official launch event of charitable Coffee Week NYCTM, which promotes the vibrancy of the coffee industry while also raising money for clean water and sanitation projects in coffee producing communities. 50% of all ticket sales will be donated to Project Waterfall with funds directly entrusted to NYC-based charity: water. Through these donations, Project Waterfall will be able to continue bringing clean water to coffee countries such as Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.
For more information about charity: water and their recent projects, go to http://www.charitywater.org.
On this year’s festival, Allegra Group CEO, Jeffrey Young shares, “The New York Coffee Festival is back for its third year with more to offer than ever before. Visitors can expect awe-inspiring exhibits, fascinating workshops and talks and delicious street food – all while enjoying as much coffee as they could possibly want! With 50% of all standard ticket sales going to Project Waterfall, we aim to raise more than $100,000 charitable funds to provide clean drinking water in coffee countries via our local partner charity: water.”
Tickets for The New York Coffee Festival are now on sale at: www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com, and are expected to sell out quickly. For coffee connoisseurs and foodies alike, this event is bound to give New Yorkers and global attendees a truly exciting break from the daily grind.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: The New York Coffee Festival
WHEN: Fri., Oct. 13th – Sun, Oct. 15th 2017
Friday, October 13 | Trade Session (2pm – 7:30pm)
Saturday, October 14 | Morning Session (9:30am – 12:30pm)
Saturday, October 14 | Afternoon Session (12:30pm – 3:30pm)
Saturday, October 14 | Late Session (3:30pm – 6:30pm)
Sunday, October 15 | Morning Session (9:30am – 1pm)
Sunday, October 15 | Afternoon Session (1pm – 4:30pm)WHERE: The Metropolitan Pavilion | 125 W. 18th St. | New York, NY 10011
TICKETS: www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com/tickets
For the latest on The New York City Coffee Festival, please visit:
Website: www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/newyorkcoffeefestival
Twitter: twitter.com/NYCoffeeFest
Instagram: instagram.com/newyorkcoffeefestival
Official Hashtag: #newyorkcoffeefestival
ABOUT ALLEGRA GROUP:
Allegra Events, the organizer of New York Coffee Festival, is a young, dynamic, and influential branch of the Allegra Group working to produce powerful, interactive events that engage and inspire audiences across the world.
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How to Turn Every Body Into a Beach Body
We can’t really be sure if it was Instagram (read: a range of extremely gorgeous, over-the-top, stunningly beautiful and out-of-this-world hot women) that has gradually instilled us with this body, fashion and makeup paranoia or had we always been a tad anxious about it all just didn’t have it flaunted in our faces daily. Whichever the case, things are as they are – to most (if not all) of us it’s become extremely important to look good no matter where we go or what we do. The problem? It’s not always possible.
Although they may attack your “laziness” with arguments such as “where there’s will there’s power” and other similarly annoying word-gimmicks, you and I both know life doesn’t always grant you an extra of two hours to do your contour or a day off to go the gym. But, we do what we can, especially in the midst of getting ready for our upcoming summer holidays.
We are in this together. So, to help you eliminate that summer insecurity and get you back into a positive mindset, we’ve put together a little guide that should work to your benefit.
Ladies, do read on:
Take a look at your body, objectively
Photo by Arnaud Mesureur on Unsplash
We’re all prone to judge ourselves in much crueler ways than others would. With that in mind, it may be possible you are being just a little too harsh on yourself and that you actually look pretty fine! Still, whichever the case, take a look at yourself in the mirror (wear just your underwear) and instead of focusing on what you don’t like, make sure you highlight WHAT YOU DO LIKE about yourself. Try this exercise for a few days in a row and you’ll see what it’ll do to your self-image.
Do mind what you eat
Photo by Arnaud Mesureur on Unsplash
We are all fat… well, at least judging by the supermodels, commercials, billboards and other in-your-face methods of killing our self-esteem. Try to ignore those, really. If you had an entire day on your hands to just work on making yourself pretty, you’d look like a freakin’ diva! So, let’s forget about the unreal beauty standards for a second and think about our health. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll work on regulating your diet in order to increase your energy levels, brain functions and overall life quality. Include leafy greens, veggies, fruits and lean meats into your diet for a fantastic health boost. The extra pounds? They’ll melt away as a side-effect of your healthy lifestyle.
At least go for a run
Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash
Again, this doesn’t mean we’re cracking under the pressure of “fitness gurus” and other annoying fitness trips. This is for you – your feeling of fluffiness and your health. If you can’t make it to the gym, at least go for a run around the block. If it’s not five times a week, make it three times… as long as your body is getting some physical activity, you’ll be fine.
Buy a kick-ass swimsuit
Photo by Isi Akahome on Unsplash
Regardless of your size, you can look jaw-dropping on the beach. No, don’t role your eyes at us… you can! Can we talk about Ashley Graham for a second? Her curvaceous body is absolutely beautiful (as is her face) but the main reasons she oozes the gorgeousness she does are because a) she loves the way she looks and b) she knows what type of clothes/underwear/swimsuits to wear.
So, instead of trying to squeeze into a two-sizes-smaller bikini just because you want to prove something to somebody or wearing cuts that make your breasts look ranger or cover up the fact that you are “too skinny”, opt for a cut that agrees with your shape and compliments your figure. With a range of fantastic Baku swimwear you’ll find your pick in a jiffy.
Embrace all that is you
No matter your size, shape, the lines on your face or the projection of your beauty… you ARE gorgeous as you are. Leave comparisons aside and focus on you – ways you can upgrade yourself to be the best version of the fantastic creature you already are and strive towards a confident, healthy life.
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BigBoxPlay Creates the Ultimate Fort
BigBoxPlay take a child’s love of forts and cardboard boxes to the next level by providing a life-sized box system with tunnels and towers that can be arranged and rearranged in endless configurations. Made from durable, double-walled cardboard, the forts are so strong that children can even stand on them! Best of all,they’re easy to take down, and set back up again. . . with large plastic screws holding the pieces together, little hands can do it themselves! Perfect for those living in cold weather climates when you have to beat the indoor blues!
Reignite Imaginations and Playtime with Innovative Life-Size Durable Play System
Nationwide, parents and educators are struggling with the negative impact that digital devices and less physical playtime are having on our children’s development, interactions, and creativity. It’s time to reimagine playtime and get kids back to basics of building imaginary worlds with BigBoxPlay. Tapping a child’s love for building forts with its modular play system, BigBoxPlay is a first-of-its-kind play and learning system that is reimagining playtime!
Wholesome family fun for everyone, BigBoxPlay is a durable “life-size” modular play system designed to spark imagination and teach youngsters important skills like creativity, collaboration, storytelling, empathy and problem-solving — all vital for success in today’s modern life and work.
Unlike the usual flimsy cardboard cut-out play options, BigBoxPlay gives kids a rough and tumble double-walled box system with tunnels and towers that can be arranged and rearranged in endless configurations for hours of fun as they unleash their imaginations.
The BigBoxPlay irresistible play system includes these unique features:
* Extremely strong, durable and modular
* Fun to assemble and quick to disassemble for easy storage
* Customizable with different themes such as castles and spaceships
* Available in different box-sets and configurations to fit any room size or outdoor area
* Environmentally friendly
* Great value and fun for the whole family!
Featuring different themes, activity kits, and Adventure Guides, BigBoxPlay will empower your child to build anything they can imagine while having a special magical experience for hours on end.
BigBoxPlay is getting a boost with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that will be live on May 9, 2017 for 4 weeks. Supporters and fans can take advantage of an exclusive pre-order pricing of $75-$135 with free shipping within the Contiguous U.S. BigBoxPlay units will be shipped to all Kickstarter backers within 3 monthsfrom the end of the campaign. Please go to https://www.kickstarter.
com/projects/2028133658/ 570445641/ to learn more about BigBoxPlay and be among the first to receive special discounts for this exciting new product. 
About BigBoxPlay:
Frustrated with all the digital toys dominating the market, Founder Pete Moffett wanted a special way to connect with his grandson. Recalling wholesome memories of captivating play experiences from his childhood, BigBoxPlay was developed to take building the best fort to the next level.
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Dreamy Beauty Bar by Lynda Quach
Everyone knows that Toronto is a place you dress to impress! It is really important that you look your best because it seems like you will always run into someone you know.
Pricing to keep your looks up can get costly but if you are looking for a referral, I have one for you! Dreamy Beauty Bar is a boutique lash/brow studio located in a cozy location on Queen East. Even with a tiny place, the best thing about Lynda’s beauty bar is the exceptional quality.
I had no idea what to expect when I showed up for my microblade appointment! Lynda sent me reminder before my appointment and made me feel comfortable right away. We discussed the shape of my brows currently and what our goals are. Then we talk about the color that I felt most comfortable with. We decided to go with a light brown black color.
I never ever had symmetrical brows in my life and I have always had bangs! I am so happy with the results and my entire make-up routine seems so much easier. Look at my very light natural brows before my microblade procedure!
After the 1 hour of careful microblading, we were finally ready for the big reveal!
Lynda also sent me this handy guide to know what to expect during the ‘recovery’ time of the brows.
The first few days it does seem dark but now they are just perfect!
If you are in Toronto make sure to call Lynda and visit Dreamy Beauty Bar.
Tues – Fri: 11am – 7pm
Sat: 11am – 5pm
Sunday: Appointment only
Monday: Closed
