Godiva Ice Cream Parlor Truffles

I have a peculiar love of taking macro pictures of food cross-sections (don't ask me why).  So of course when Godiva released a seasonal collection of chocolates that has me super-excited - it's called Ice Cream Parlor - I just had to take some pictures of it!

Limited Edition Ice Cream Parlor Truffles

Our limited edition Ice Cream Parlor Truffle Collection has expanded with 2 new delicious flavors, Banana Split and Black Raspberry, offered in the Boutique Chocolate Case. These truffles join your returning favorites such as Mint Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, Neapolitan, Pistachio, Double Dark Chocolate, Lemon Sorbet and Pecan Caramel Sundae.

The website lists only 6 ice cream truffles but I know there are at least 10+ varieties.  It's been next to impossible to find a full listing of all the available flavors (either Google has failed me or Godiva needs to work on their SEO).  Whatever, this is a collection Godiva has done before so I'm sure there are many other delectable flavors floating around out there.

Neapolitan, Mint Chocolate Chip, Banana Split, Pistachio

My crap photography skills don't do them justice but gosh, these little babies just melt my heart....   I only got 4 this time around but I'm sure next time I pass the shop it'll be another four (or all the other flavors available ^_~).

Our Neapolitan Ice Cream Parlor Truffles feature a dual center of strawberry and vanilla ganache, enrobed in milk chocolate.

Neapolitan - It's supposed to be the classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry mix.  I put this one first cuz it was my least favorite :P The flavor was so typical and aside from how purty the cross-section is, I didn't really enjoy this one.  It just tastes like any ol' chocolate+strawberry sweet.  The strawberry tasted really artificial too.  I don't really recommend this one. 

Taste aside, the dual center certainly does photograph beautifully though doesn't it ^_^?  Also love the creamy consistency.

Not on website.

Banana Split - Milk chocolate+walnuts+strawberry+banana (the bottom).  The banana flavor was surprisingly strong in this one, and overall this actually tasted like a Banana Split.  I rather liked this one - the creamy banana taste was fairly unusual and made this taste authentically "banana-split"-y.   My bro said he thought it tasted bitter though, which I thought was odd.

Our delicious Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Parlor truffles feature mint ganache and Godiva chocolate chips, enrobed in a dark chocolate shell.

Mint Chocolate Chip - omg this seriously tastes just like a spoonful of warm mint chocolate chip!  If you like mint chocolate ice cream, you'll really like this one.  I will say the mint chocolate flavor itself is kind of prosaic (I mean the whole mint+dark chocolate thing has been done a million times) but the ice-cream-like texture really makes this truffle something special (to me).

Pistachio and white chocolate ganache is enrobed in a shell of rich dark and white Godiva chocolate, and sprinkled with crushed pistachios.

Pistachio - I don't actually like pistachios in nut form but I got this one because the lime green color charmed me so much~  Turns out to be probably my favorite among the four.  It just has that delicate, unmistakable pistachio flavor and the perfect whipped cream texture.  Twas delicious and is highly recommended ^_^

I hope you guys aren't grossed out by bite marks (because then you're probably barfing all over your keyboard now) :\  But I couldn't resist with all the funky centers ^^  Plus the texture of the cream centers were so exquisitely spot-on when it came to feeling like ice cream is melting on your tongue (albeit without the coldness).    Overall, I feel like the flavors can be a bit of a hit-or-miss and some of the flavors are definitely on the boring side :P  Real chocolate aficionados with a refined palate may want to pass on these truffles but for the everyday chocolate lover, these are definitely a treat :)   I'm no chocolate connoisseur and I suspect you can find far more complexly flavored chocolates out there.  But overall, Godiva definitely wins hands-down in the packaging and "charm" department.

*sigh* How could I have missed this collection before?

I'm particularly keen to try one of these truffle cones - it's $2.50 for literally one truffle (lord knows I'm paying for that thumb sized cone and little dribble of chocolate around the edges) but they are so frikkin cute!!  I have a bad feeling that it's going to become an obsession of mine to try every flavor xD

Well...enough of that :)  I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial weekend!  My weekend was pretty chill...my fam went to a little beach in VA, grilled hotdogs and pork slices (how Asian), ate watermelons and cherries, caught a few crabs, and just relaxed in the cool breeze blowing off the lake.  I made a little vid which I may post later this week - it's really short but kind of funny because I basically made a twin sized bed out of one of the picnic tables ehehe

Review: My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask

Wheee....more My Beauty Diary~ This was a very scrumptious smelling mask.  This and the MBD Yogurt mask (though I didn't like it that much) are two of the yummiest smelling MBD masks. Though I must admit the yummiEST smelling mask to me is still the Silk Whitia Soy Milk Whitening mask...it smells like delectable cake ^_^;;

Purchased at: BonjourHK ($9.70) or Sasa ($12.10)

Description:

My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask softens, smooths and highly moisturizes the skin. Apricot extract from southern France provides excellent moisturizing effect. It quenches the thirst of skin, leaving dry skin keenly comfortable. The skin surface will be inscrutably velvety to the touch.  Added with extracts of highly moisturizing grain, such as oat, job's tears and hydrolyzed rice protein, it gives more in-depth nourishing and nursing effect to dry skin. The stratum corneum is fully soaked in moisturizing ingredients. It maintains skin’s suppleness, elasticity, fairness and clearness.

Suitable for: It is suitable for normal skin. It is especially recommended for dry skin and combination skin that tends towards dryness.

I had to increase the saturation to make the silvery text show :P 

As cute as MBD packages are, the shiny packaging is a pain to photograph ><

Experience: The scent was lovely from the moment I opened the package. A very sweet, apricot scent.  There was a mild cooling effect and the experience was very nice.  I think the soothing, pleasing scent had a lot to do with that.  After removing the mask my face felt refreshed, looked brighter, and was more hydrated.  Redness was generally down and I have never experienced any irritation.  Downside is that the effects of this mask aren't as obvious compared to the MBD Apple Polyphenol mask.  I dunno what it is but the Apple Polyphenol always gives my face this incandescent glow (I reckon from the mildly exfoliating effect of the mask).

The envelope packaging is a little blah - I think it's the pre-2010 packaging.

Overall
Fit: After a bit of research, word has it MBD updated the material and cut of their masks (though the ingredients/formula are unchanged) in 2010.  For me personally, post-2010 masks, which are thinner and cut with a lot of forehead space ^^ are the ideal fit for me.  I believe the Yogurt mask I tried was manufactured pre-2010 and was an awful fit.

Scent: Exactly as you'd expect. Like a sweetly spiced apricot. Very pleasing and mild.

Mask texture: Thin and silky.  Sticks well to your face a holds a lot of serum.

Excess serum: A dime sized amount as does most masks from the MBD Natural Key line have.

Claims: Soften, smooth, moisturize/suppleness, elasticity, fairness and clearness. <-- I would say this mask does everything it claims.  My face always feels softer, plumped (smooth), and more moisturized afterward.   

Overall Results: Definitely solidly in the category of masks that are good but not fantastic.  I'm not positive if I'd buy it again but it's something I would definitely recommend others try if they are interested in trying a couple MBD masks.  It's very gentle, smells excellent, feels good, and there was no irritation.  There was a slight cooling effect as well.  I would give this a solid 7/10.  If it were more of a unique mask and the results were startlingly good, I'd rate it higher. However, it does everything it promises so I can't complain too much :)

Low French Braid to Side Pony

This one is very similar to the rolling into a side ponytail.

I started a french braid just above her right ear.

I continued to french braid along the back of her head until it reached the right hair. 

Then I secured it with an elastic. 

I took a small amount of hair and wrapped around the elastic. I secure that small amount of hair with a small bobbie pin. 

Then we added a flower for our accessory. 

Review: Cosline Strawberry Yogurt Pack

I'm quite excited to review this mask because it is so cheap and I have become quite fond of it.  It's from a relatively unpopular brand, I suspect because of the un-cute packaging, so I went out on a limb trying it and I'm pretty glad I did :)

Purchased at: Sasa for $4.90

Description: COSLINE Yogurt Strawberry Yogurt Pack is a wash off mask which contains strawberry extract (850g), yogurt (170mg) and Vitamin C and E.  COSLINE Yogurt Strawberry Yogurt Pack promotes metabolism rate of skin, smooths skin and increases skin brightness.  The nourishing COSLINE Yogurt Strawberry Yogurt Pack also helps to keep skin elastic and moisturized.

Directions: Apply an appropriate amount on clean face, spread evenly and gently massage on the whole face beside eyes and lips. Wait for 15-20 minutes to absorb nutrient. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Packaging: Plain and foogly.  It's not hideous but come on - how cute would a strawberry shaped jar have been ;)?  What really irks me though is having to dip my fingers (or spoon) into the jar to get out the product.  AHHH I hate unhygienic setups like that!

Scent: Amazinggggg~ Probably one of the best characteristics of this mask is the delicious, vanilla strawberry scent.  I could sniff this baby all day seriously....this is the best smelling mask I've had the pleasure of smelling ^^  It's good enough to eat - sorta ;) - and doesn't taste half bad (don't ask me how I know that).

Texture: Exactly like Dannon or Activia yogurt, I kid you not.  Some reviews on Sasa have said if you goop on too much it drips - but personally, I've never had a problem with that and I'm pretty generous with the blobbing on of this mask.  It's like a slightly runny yogurt but it doesn't drip.  It also has little red beads in it (it's not strawberry seeds) that dissolve as you massage your face.  The beads dissolve very easily so it is not harsh on your skin.  It's pretty satisfying "crushing" all the beads ^^

Experience: Initially, I was put out with the jar set up :P....but yeah, I started blobbing this on my face.  Then I massaged my face (always up and out, never down!), taking my time to crush all the little red beads ;) The scent was lovely and the creamy texture felt cool on my face (also you can refrigerate this baby to make it even cooler). It felt very nice but it was annoying to have to wash my hands after the massage.  When you first put it on your face the yogurt is pinkish.  After 20 or so minutes it becomes clear - I assume it means it soaked into your skin.  Rinsing off is easy, it comes off like a charm and your face feels immediately much smoother.  The next morning my face was brighter but I had an oily sheen (hydration methinks) on my forehead.  No breakouts, itchiness, or irritation.

Effectiveness: For me this was an effective product.  My skin was soft and a tad smoother.  I've used this pack about 5-6x and I haven't had any allergic reactions or irritation in general.   I also feel like there was a mild exfoliation since my face was brighter - a very gentle exfoliation like the MBD Apple Polyphenol sheet mask.  There were no flakes but somehow I feel like there was some sloughing of the skin.  Yogurt has long been vaunted as a great acne deterrent and although I doubt this thing has real dairy yogurt in it (otherwise, it would go bad really fast), the idea does seem to play out well here.  I had a zit on my jawline and it seemed to help it go down.  At least it didn't irritate it ^_^

Overall
Don't expect miracles but to me this was a remarkably effective product for the price.  I'm sure there are more effective products out there in much more hygienic non-jar forms but for $5 this is a good buy.  It feels good, smells great, works at least a bit, and you get a lot of bang for your buck.  I don't necessarily think it's a must-have but I do recommend people try it if you're looking for a face pack or a dupe of Laneige's famous Strawberry Yogurt Pack ($22+ retail).   Note: Laneige's may work a bit better but I'm not the sort to invest much in wash-off masks :P  No matter how good a wash-off mask is, it's only on your face for 20 some minutes.

FYI the word 'pack' can be used interchangeably with 'wash-off mask' - these are usually in jars or tubes.   Just the word 'mask' = sheet/gel masks.   Of course there are exceptions to the rule but that's usually how it is.  Nonetheless, Skinfood has made it their business to be confusing with their latest line of "masks" (most of which are actually scrubs), which should be named PACKS since they are wash-off masks and scrubs :\   These are the new Ginseng, Acai Berry, Olive, Honey Red Orange, Acorn and Chocolate masks for the curious (scroll down if you want to look at them here).

Check out Musings of A Muse's review here.

Jennifer Lopez Steven Tyler Il Volo AI After The Show

American Idol After The Show - The Judges & Il Volo 5.19.11
Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Jennifer Lopez, Il Volo shared their thoughts after the show.

LINK

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AMERICAN IDOL's Steven Tyler & Jennifer Lopez Returning Next Season

Randy Jackson has revealed that not only will he return for an eleventh season but the two new judges will be joining him.

Veteran reality TV show judge Randy Jackson confirmed the news last night on Lopez Tonight. The former Journey bassist told host George Lopez on the TBS talk show that after a successful 10th season, which has seemingly revived American Idol, "We'll all be back. I believe we'll all be back," said Jackson. He then went on to reflect on Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler's inclusion to the judges panel.

"I was one of the first people that suggested Steven for the show 'cause I've known him for a while. And what I love about him the most (is that) what you see (of him) is exactly 100% what you get . . . He is so hilariously funny, dude. He just calls it like he sees it," said Jackson."

17-year-old country singer Scotty McCreery was crowned the latest American Idol winner earlier this week. McCreery's first single 'I Love You This Big' is currently slaying radio stations nationwide.

- He does say "I believe" so I don't think this can be called an official confirmation.

SOURCE
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Jennifer Lopez's Ex Wins Battle To Release Intimate Home Video

Jennifer Lopez is facing a huge embarrassment as intimate home video of the singer with her ex-husband, Ojani Noa, is set to be released.

Lopez has been battling Noa in court for years to prevent release of the footage, which was taken during their short lived marriage.

Lopez had been successful in that legal fight...Up till now...citing that release of the footage would violate the confidentiality agreement Noa signed.

Court documents, exclusively obtained by RadarOnline reveal that Noa managed to find a loophole in the law - selling the footage to his current girlfriend, Claudia Vazquez for her to release it on his behalf.

A Los Angeles judge issued a ruling Friday morning that allows Vazquez to release the footage JLo doesn't want the public to see.

Ed Meyer, the executive producer of the project tells RadarOnline.com: "Claudia Vazquez has been allowed to release the home videos of Ojani and Jennifer. The project will deal with JLo's rise to fame, and her marriage to Ojani. Claudia will be meeting with video distributors on Tuesday, and hopefully, a deal can be made very soon."

The written ruling states: "Vazquez argues she has and is suffering harm in that she has had difficulty in obtaining work as a result of Lopez's attempts at enforcing the Injunction against her.

“Vazquez argues that Lopez, on the other hand, will suffer no harm if Vazquez's preliminary injunction is granted. Lopez puts forth no arguments contradicting those of Vazquez and, in fact, fails to address this element of the preliminary injunction test altogether. As a result, the Court finds that the balance of the equities weighs in favor of Vazquez.

Lopez and Cuban-born Noa were married February 1997 and divorced in 1998. They met when Noa was working as a waiter in a Miami restaurant.

SOURCE
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Jennifer Lopez Joins Ellen's Farewell to Oprah

Since Ellen couldn't attend Oprah's final show, she sent this video message to wish her a fond farewell. See the whole video -- with a surprise guest. Very Funny.

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Jennifer Lopez Arrives @ American Idol Finale Results Show

Jennifer Lopez arrives at Fox's "American Idol" season 10 finale results show held at Nokia Theater Live on May 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Jennifer is also seen being greeted by rapper Lil Jon, and pictures of Jennifer's performance during the show has been added as well.

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Jennifer Lopez Radio Press Conference 2011 Post American Idol Finale

Jennifer Lopez did a private radio conference after the American Idol Finale

LINK

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Jennifer Lopez @ Simon Fuller Hollywood Walk of Fame Event Hollywood Blvd 5.23.11

Here are pictures of Jennifer Lopez attending today's event of Simon Fuller receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. Included with the pictures are two short videos below.

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