Bucktown color boutique Colori Chicago is proud to introduce “LoVo,” C2 Paint’s non-toxic, low-VOC paint, available in all of C2’s 496 handcrafted, luxurious colors, in every interior sheen. 

Come to the event tomorrow, April 22- EARTH DAY for LoVo treats and Qino Vodka & Lemongrass drinks, 312, organic food by Kitchen Witches and Rock Star Dogs and lovely eco-friendly home goods and Allyu spa discounts! Sponsored by Conscious Choice magazine.

Our mascot, the LoVo frog:

Today I experienced Allyu Spa via their magnificently memorable spa treatments.  The green space itself is transforming;  compounded with the very knowledgable, sweet staff and top-of-line organic treatments and product lines, Allyu is unlike any other spa I’ve ever experienced. 

They use vegan, non-toxic products that are unexpectedly effective for being botanically-based. My SpaRitual nail polish stayed tough-as-nails even withstanding a week of painting/peeling off paint tape, and the Astara facial products are truly profound.  Allyu’s website states the products and carefully specific estheticians as helping “to reveal beauty as healer” and nothing could be more true.  My facialist, Jen, had a background that combined medi-spa experience with holistic care, and she explained to me the benefit of investing in preventative skin care, to which I couldn’t agree more. She looked about 20 years younger than the age she told me she was, by the way, and she made me a knock-out, homemade Cocoa Body Exfoliator that was such a treat and SO much better than the sugary-sweet “gunk” that I’ve used in the past. She was truly passionate and just wonderful all-around. 

Karen was my acupuncturist and since it was my first time experiencing this treatment (and I’m not a huge fan of the scary “needle”) she was so gracious and very comforting throughout the treatment.  Ancient Chinese medicinal acupuncture generally can relieve muscle pain, stress, insomnia, asthma and headaches, even have helped women become more fertile… amongst many other issues. In layman’s terms, acupuncture basically helps find the “river-like” paths in our body’s systems and helps unclog the dams that have been built up in certain areas and are restricting the flow of the river and therefore restricting life balance. I hold a lot of tension in my abdomen, so the acupuncture, along with the Core Synchronism work was pretty intense and afterwards I felt extremely calm and balanced, at one with my digestive system.  Try one of Allyu’s ear- acupuncture sessions after work- where you just relax and calm your spirit via ear-only acupuncture for only $25, a bargain for the feeling you experience.

Allyu is simply amazing, you must try it for yourself!  www.allyuspa.com

This is how good C2 Paint is:  it inspires people to shave their logo into the back of their heads.

Okay, so we were at an annual meeting at St. Pete’s beach… but that aside, it’s a nice look that definitely displays consistent branding.

But really, people break into song and/or dance when they hear just how good C2 Paint & LoVo really is. Here’s more evidence, “Mr.Sparkle” at the LoVo launch party:

Introducing…

Allyu Spa- recently opened on the Riverwalk of 600 West Chicago building- as a J. Marie Agency client! Allyu is insanely beautiful: its gorgeously designed green space, gracious staff and indulgently earthy spa treatments- facials, massage, accupuncture and mani/pedis like I guarantee you have never experienced before are unmatched by any concept in the city. 

 Allyu’s celebrating its induction to the community with “Love Your Mother” month, which will include a series of events, seminars and (just in time for Earth Day & Mother’s Day), discounts on its elemental treatments. 

Allyu, pronounced “ah-yu”- comes from the Andean language Quechua, and is thoroughly dedicated to sustainability, consciousness and mind, body and spirit wellness. One visit to the thoughtfully sustainable green spa will inspire- from manicure stations formed from reclaimed Chicago trees fallen in thunderstorms to non-toxic, vegan products, the list of unique design elements and treatments goes on and on-  one can only understand by being in its presence.  Check out J. Marie Agency soon for a mini-tour, love your Mother and go!

Last night, millions turned their lights off from 8-9 to observe an electricity ban, prompted by the World Wildlife Fund’s “Earth Hour.” I spent the hour outside, over the North Avenue bridge trying to make out the dark skyscrapers on my way to pick up some wine from Trader Joe’s, who also had the store sign turned out. I preferred the sense of calm that ensued- soy candles from 8-9 here on out anyone?

Info from the newswire: “Millions of people in cities across the U.S. and around the globe turned their lights off for one hour last night to make an unprecedented and highly visible global statement in support for action on climate change.

“Earth Hour” was marked on six continents and in more than 400 countries, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest conservation organization, which organized and coordinated the inaugural global event. The official website, www.earthhour.org received over 2.4 million visitors on March 29^th, alone. Major corporations, iconic landmarks, schools, towns and villages united in this effort to raise awareness and change the way people think. Like a giant wave, lights went out at the Sydney Opera House, Wat Arun Buddhist temple in Bangkok; the Coliseum in Rome; the Royal Castle in Stockholm, the Parliament building in Budapest, London’s city hall, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Westin Peachtree Plaza – the tallest hotel in the western hemisphere, Sears Tower in Chicago and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In Israel, President Shimon Peres turned the lights of the city out with the flick of a switch.”

On January 28th, my client Robin Daly, a C2 Paint dealer and owner of Daly’s Paint and Decorating in Seattle, forwarded me this email from her store manager:

“Robin~We have received about 30 orders for C2-425 (color) “ENOKI” in the last 2 weeks or so!  What magazine did it appear in???  This morning alone we sent out 3 sampler pots and 6 Ultimate Paint Chips in this color!”

Later that week, on January 31, Courtney reported:

“Robin~I thought you would find this interesting: 22 of the 42 UPC purchases, requested 425-Enoki on them. Out of 12 sampler orders, 10 of the requests have been for 425-Enoki.”

Low and behold, the Enoki feature we’d worked on  just ran in the February issue of House Beautiful under the column “Colors I’m Dying to Try.”  To me, this is a perfect example of how public relations through national media sources can assist inquiries and sales directly to our local retail outlets.  This is one beautiful, neutral camel color- Enoki- was proof; out of 496 C2 Paint colors, this one was driving sampling and sales. Right after the magazine dropped and was placed on shelves.

Enoki is definitely a nice, neutral color that would tend to be widely accepted by the masses, BUT-there are plenty of nice, neutral colors out there to choose from, bizillions, actually, and this third-party endorsement in a national magazine gave consumers enough confidence to go ahead and give C2-Enoki the green light! It works.  Believe me when I say National PR will help National brands and Local brands alike!