DIY

Euro Disney Plans Expansion

France could be getting a bit more Disney. Euro Disney has signed a new deal with the French government that gives it the option to build a new complex on some land east of Paris. Through the extension of an original agreement the company now has until 2030 to build a third park adding to the first Disneyland Paris which opened in 1992 and Walt Disney Studios which opened in 2002. The land may also be home to eco-tourism and sustainable development.

The projects could create a total of 70,000 new jobs and be worth as much as 8 billion euros. According to the Telegraph, one of the ideas being considered is a Marvel "superheroes park" but that project may not be started for several years. Other projects for the Marne-La-Vallee development where Disneyland Paris is located include houses and a nature park that will be set up with French travel company Pierre et Vacances. The nature park "Les Villages Nature de Val d'Europe" could generate up to 1.8 billion euros.

Attendance at Euro Disney was down in the first part of the year but it is still Europe's largest theme park operator. The Walt Disney Company owns a 40 percent share in Euro Disney, and Prince al-Waleed of Saudi Arabia has a 10 percent stake.

Tags: diy, Euro Disney, Mac, paris hilton, prince al-waleed, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal

t spheres, a Pocket Spa for Travelers

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Celebrity Shopping

It's not easy to bring the luxuries of home on the airplane with you anymore. With TSA regulations and bag checking fees, bringing a bottle of your favorite calming lotion or even face cream can be challenging. t spheres is a new product which aims to give you that do-it-yourself spa experience right in your hotel room (or your living room, or your office) without creating a hassle at the airport. We tried a set on a recent trip to see if these little aromatherapy balls can really be considered "luxurious."

The t spheres, or "tranquility" spheres, were created by Stephanie Whittier, a professional massage therapist who has studied "movement in relationship to pain relief" for over 17 years. The compact burlap package consists of two rubber balls about two inches in diameter and a mini spray bottle filled with the aromatherapy oil you select when purchasing. Spritz the oil on your hands or the spheres and massage it into the spheres to begin.

Once your t spheres are oiled-up and smelling great, there are all kinds of therapies you can try. For example, you can roll them under the sides of your spine on the floor, stick them behind your lower back while you work in a chair, and roll them under your feet. You can simply rub them into the back of your neck or along the backs of your legs; anywhere you feel needs relief. You can heat or cool them to create whatever relaxing, tension-releasing sensation you prefer.

Tags: aromatherapy, Brooke Shields, Coldplay, diy, do it yourself, massage, Rita Wilson, spa, Stephanie Whittier, t spheres, t-spheres

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Custom Chocolatier to the Masses

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Nothing says luxury like getting exactly what you want, exactly the way you want it. Chocri makes that dream a reality for choco-philes at createmychocolate.com.

Chocri customized chocolate bars are made from organic, fair trade Belgian chocolate. You can pick milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate or a milk and white combination for your base chocolate bar, and then get customizing. Options include, but are not limited to:

Goji Berries
Fig Bits
Banana Chips
Papaya Cubes
Sea Salt
Rosemary (it's getting interesting, isn't it?)
Jalepenos
Bourbon Vanilla
Ginger
Chives
Hazelnut Brittle
Wasabi Peanuts
Pine Nuts
Licorice
Sizzle Rocks
Gummy Bears
Marzipan Carrots (now we're onto crazy)
Sugar Flowers
Real Gold Flakes
Tiny Stars
Bacon
Candied Lilac
Candied Rose Petals
Organic Mint Leaves
Organic Poppy Seeds

Sorry, I didn't mean that to be such a long list, but once I got going it was impossible to stop. Each ingredient is more unexpected than the last! You could play around with the combinations for a long time; I recently tried one with just sesame seeds and it kind of blew my mind.

Once you design your chocolate, you name it and pay for it (you control the price by paying for whatever ingredients you add ... real gold flakes are $2.10 per bar), and it's sent to you in a personalized box. You can also enter your previous chocolate's barcode number, in case whatever you made last time was clearly the ultimate chocolate creation of all time.

More enticing still, 1 percent of the profits from every chocolate bar sold goes to aid children in the Ivory Coast region -- adding up to over $42,763 at the time of writing this. For every five bars you make, you get one free. Click here to create your own custom chocolate.

Tags: chocolate, chocri, custom chocolate, CustomChocolate, DIY

How to Use Aromatherapy

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Most of us treat ourselves with aromatherapy without even thinking -- ever taken a whiff of your coffee as it's brewing and instantly felt more energized? Or lit a scented candle after a long day's work to help yourself relax? The world is full of fragrance, and aromatherapy is the art of harnessing specific smells and using them to improve a person's health, mood, and overall well-being. Here's a basic guide to which aromas are relaxing, which ones are energizing, and which ones can help give romance a boost.

If you want to relax:
Lavender, Chamomile, Vanilla, Rose, and Sandalwood all have calming and soothing properties, and especially when combined with relaxing activities can really help relax muscles and eliminate headaches. Try lighting a candle scented with one of these oils next time you sit down to read a book or take a long soak in the tub.

Tags: aphrodisiac, aromatherapy, chamomile, diy, lavender, lemon, peppermint, reed diffuser, sage, sandalwood, scents, spas-pedia, stress, stress reduction, stress relief

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Panier Perc�: Embroider Yourself a Bowl

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

When you think embroidery you're probably not also thinking dishes, but the Panier Percé by Guillaume Delvigne & Ionna Vautrin is just that: a bowl you embroider yourself. It's a kit that includes a naked white glazed porcelain bowl and a set of embroidery materials/instructions of your choice. Not only is an embroidered bowl like this fairly unique to have around, but how often do you get the chance to make a project out of and create your own designer item? 136,00 €

Source

Tags: bowl, craft, crafts, diy, do it yourself, DoItYourself, embroider, embroidery, kitchen