Cool Info Lounge

Belgian chocolate is known among the best in the world, which is well deserved since great ingredients make great chocolate, and chocoholics around the world appreciate quality.

The Swiss also make good chocolate but the Belgians were able to top them. It comes as no surprise since there’s a long tradition of chocolate making in Belgium, and a strong marketing campaign was able to get the world’s attention. If you’re traveling to Belgium you should visit a chocolate museum or two and learn more about Belgian chocolate history.

The selection of the best cocoa seeds and other ingredients is key to the high standard of Belgian chocolate. You can tell when a low quality cocoa is used in any chocolate, since it leaves a bad after taste. A superior chocolate gives a lingering rich, full flavor which you can savor even after the chocolate leaves your mouth Another great thing about Belgian chocolate is that it’s processed mainly by hand, including the final decoration.

By the way, did you know that praline was invented in Belgium in 1912? Folks there have always enjoyed exchanging chocolates as presents, and they take pride of their quality export which is popular around the world.

Belgian chocolate has a wide range of products with different center fillings in plain, milk and white chocolate. Fruit, butter cream, mocha caramel, and ganache are some of the fillings that you can savor. In addition, you can also try almonds, nougat, whipped cream, cinnamon, ginger, coffee, rum, and spice. Belgian chocolate liqueur cups taste out of this world If you enjoy something a little out of the ordinary, you might find lime, coriander, or jasmine tea appealing.

You can enjoy chocolate in many delicious forms such as truffles, chocolate mousse, and cake. If you use Belgian chocolate in cooking, everything will taste even better. Chocolate fountains are all the rage for parties and receptions.

The rivers of warm, liquid chocolate are a chocolate lover’s delight. You can dip stuff like fruits such as bananas and strawberries, or even cookies into the chocolate goo. Belgian chocolate dipped marshmallows are simply heavenly! Belgian chocolate fountain refills are available, so you will never run out.

Since the high quality also applies to the packaging, Belgian chocolate makes the ideal gift, all tied up in a ribbon.

Buy our World Champion Box, made by Pacal Caffet, World Champion Chocolatier. An exclusivity zChocolat.com.

Related article: World’s Finest Chocolate

Posted by Susie

Bikini waxing is the removal of unwanted hair in the bikini area or bikini line. This is something I have done regularly to the dismay of my mom. She said she wouldn’t be caught dead having a bikini waxing. According to her there are just some things that are sacred and the bikini area is one of them.

I have to admit bikini waxing may not be for everyone. When you go for a bikini waxing, you are sort of baring everything you have to a total stranger. In order for the technician to perform their task you have to get up on all fours and spread your legs as far as you can, while pushing your butt up into the air. Talk about opening up! Some people are just not comfortable going through all that for cosmetic reasons. Even some of my friends say this is the most humiliating grooming they can imagine.

Bikini waxing involves applying hot wax on the spots you want hair removed, and ripping it off with a strip of paper, and this can be a little painful. I personally don’t have any problem with bikini waxing and exposing myself to others since they’re professionals. I feel totally comfortable having it done. Even the pain is not really that bad although I always scream out of reflex and giggle afterwards So to me bikini waxing is actually kinda fun and I often laugh when people get so uptight about it. I’m not ridiculing them though, I just find it funny the way they react when they hear about bikini waxing

However, I don’t recommend doing your own bikini waxing at home, although there are do-it-yourself kits available with instructions and tips on how to do bikini waxing yourself. It’s hard to do a good job doing it yourself. Of course, you’re welcome to try it if you’re adventurous and have good dexterity, but please don’t call me when you can’t remove the wax, or you accidentally sat on something that you are now stuck too, hahaha!

Should this happen, you would need to contact the wax company and figure out what to do. This won’t be the most pleasant phone call you have ever made, though I bet the operators are quite used to getting calls about home bikini waxing gone wrong.

I remember my aunt once said, “Tanya, if I were young and sexy like you, I might consider having bikini waxing but at my age it’s just a bit too much. I’m having a hard enough time going to a gynecologist.”

If you’re uncomfortable with bikini waxing for whatever reason, you have other options. You may want to consider shaving more often or have a laser hair removal for that area. Unlike bikini waxing which needs to be done every few weeks, laser hair removal is something you only do once, although it may take more than one appointment and cost more than bikini waxing.

Brazilian bikini waxing on YouTube:

Posted by Tanya

“Belly dancing is a fun activity to increase your cardiovascular stamina, firm your muscles and improve your flexibility.” That’s the description of a belly dancing class offered at our local community center that my friend Virginia told me recently.

She has been successful losing weight; she’s now very energetic and wants to exercise more to keep the weight off. However, she also wants to do something exciting or otherwise, she would lose interest and slack off. She says yoga and other activities at the gym are too boring. She believed joining a belly dancing class was the answer but kind of reluctant to do it by herself.

So Virginia asked me if I would be willing to take the belly dancing lessons with her. The classes were offered 2 nights a week for 6 weeks, and held from 6:30 to 7:30pm. I thought taking belly dancing lessons would be a lot of fun but the time was over the dinner hour and I would need to be home with my daughter. So I told her I was really sorry to not be able to join her.

She also tried asking some of her co-workers to take the belly dancing classes with her but none of them seemed too thrilled about wearing costumes that show their bellies, twirling scarves and clinking together cymbals. Needless to say, my friend was a bit disappointed.

As luck would have it, a couple of months later Virginia showed up at the store where I work acting very excited. She said, “Tanya, guess what! They’re offering another belly dancing class. This time the lessons will be on weekends, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 4 to 5. Will you join me this time? Please, I’m really counting on you, girl!”

Well, how can I say no to that? So the very next day we went to register for the belly dancing class. To my surprise, Virginia managed to recruit one of her co-workers who happened to be rather shy. I wondered how long that girl would stay in the belly dancing class.

When we registered we were told we needed to buy belly dancing outfits and scarves, while they would provide the cymbals. Our attire included a belly dancing costume of our choice, a scarf, and an optional pair of soft shoes or sandals. The instructor said we could attend classes in bare feet if we so chose since many belly dancers enjoy dancing barefooted and connect with mother earth, and historically belly dance is performed barefoot. I was really excited about that since I’m a barefoot girl who is all about connecting with mother earth.

On the first day of our belly dancing class Virginia and I were both barefoot but her shy co-worker wore sandals since she didn’t want to get her feet dirty. I felt great wearing my belly dancing costume. My nose ring, belly button ring, and toe rings complemented my outfit.

The first lesson was pretty exciting. We were taught some basic belly dancing moves. The scarves helped us get into the flow of the music which included some drum beats. We also used finger cymbals to help keep the beat for some of the belly dancing segments.

They shot movies of us belly dancing which they would later make into DVD’s. Pretty cool! Virginia’s friend didn’t have too many comments about the belly dancing lessons. She said it was a totally new experience to her. Well, it was to all of us as a matter of fact.

However, 3 weeks into the belly dancing class she was really getting the hang of it surprisingly! She was very supple and confident in her movements and was very comfortable twirling her scarf around to the beat of the drum, and clinking her cymbals. She also smiled a lot. Everyone commended her.

Oh, she also shed her sandals! She said it was lot easier and more comfortable to belly dance in bare feet. She didn’t mind getting her feet a little dirty since she could always wash them later. She danced with the music with such grace, awing all her friends and co-workers that came to watch. It was amazing how belly dancing lessons had improved her confidence and self esteem.

We all had so much fun that before we knew it, we were reaching the end of our belly dancing class. We all had toned our muscles over the course of the lessons, and Virginia’s shy co-worker had become more out going. The instructor was hoping that the students would continue with belly dancing as an on-going source of exercise. She said having the outfits should motivate us.

On our last day of class we put on a sensational belly dancing show for our friends and family whom we invited. My mom and my daughter were there and they were impressed. My daughter said she wanted to take belly dancing lessons too! Virginia’s relatives and friends were equally inspired.

Then something rather amazing happened. About a month after we completed our belly dancing class, I got a call from Virginia telling me that she and her shy co-worker (who was no longer that introverted) had accepted a part time job belly dancing at a Middle Eastern restaurant by the beach!

I was simply stunned but very happy for both of them. Should I follow in their footsteps? Hmmm… that’s certainly something for me to think about, and I’ll let you know what I decide

Belly dancing does have many benefits. It gives women the opportunity to make new friends, celebrate the joy in music, develop self confidence through artistic self expression, and last but not least, it helps create and maintain a strong, healthy body. So if you’re considering taking belly dancing lessons, I’d say go for it!

Posted by Tanya