#Cocoa Marketing Company

[dikoderbeatz]

Cocoa Carriers Suspend Strike After Successful Talks with Cocoa Marketing Company

The Cocoa Carriers Association has suspended its indefinite sit-down strike, which began on Monday, October 7, following a productive engagement with the management of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) and a representative from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The strike was called off after assurances from management to address concerns over workers’ conditions of service within a week. Raymond…

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Month - August 2024

1.Negative Power Prices Hit Europe as Renewable Energy Floods the Grid

European power markets are experiencing a notable shift as renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, become a larger part of the energy mix. On Wednesday, power prices in several European markets, including Germany, dipped below zero due to a surge in green electricity production.

2. Taiwan introduces ban on performances by captive wild animals

Live performances by wild animals held in captivity, including performances by dolphins, tigers, and other non-domesticated mammals, will no longer be permitted in Taiwan under new Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) regulations.

3. FTC bans fake online reviews, inflated social media influence; rule takes effect in October

The FTC voted unanimously to ban marketers from using fake reviews, such as those generated with AI technology, and other misleading advertising practices.

The ban also forbids marketers from exaggerating their own influence by, for example, paying for bots to inflate their follower count.

4. Chinese drones will fly trash out of Everest slopes

Come autumn, Nepal will deploy heavy lifter drones to transport garbage from the 6,812-metre tall Ama Dablam, south of Everest. This will be the first commercial work an unmanned aerial vehicle does in Nepal’s high-altitude zone.

The heavy lifter from China’s biggest drone maker, Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), will take on tasks traditionally handled by Sherpas. Officials believe it will help reduce casualties on Everest.

5. Swiss scientists have found a way to use the whole cocoa fruit to make chocolate and not just taking beans and discarding the rest.

Kim Mishra (L) and Anian Schreiber (R) cooperated on the new chocolate making process

Food scientists in Switzerland have come up with a way to make chocolate using the entire cocoa fruit rather than just the beans - and without using sugar.

The chocolate, developed at Zurich’s prestigious Federal Institute of Technology by scientist Kim Mishra and his team includes the cocoa fruit pulp, the juice, and the husk, or endocarp.

6. Six-year-old boy found in Vietnam forest after five days

A six-year-old boy who was missing for five days has been found deep in a forest in Vietnam. Dang Tien Lam, who lives in the northwestern Yen Bai province, was playing in a stream with his nine siblings on 17 August when he wandered into the hills and got lost, local reports said.

He was found on Wednesday by local farmers who heard a child's cry while they were clearing a cinnamon field close to the forest.

7. Lego plans to make half the plastic in bricks from renewable materials by 2026

Lego plans to make half the plastic in its bricks from renewable or recycled material rather than fossil fuels by 2026, in its latest effort to ensure its toys are more environmentally friendly.

The Danish company last year ditched efforts to make bricks entirely from recycled bottles because of cost and production issues. At the moment, 22% of the material in its colourful bricks is not made from fossil fuels.

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That's it for this month :)

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[insightslicelive]

Cocoa Liquor Market Trends Analysis, Size, Key Insights and Overview by 2032 | Cargill Inc., The Archer Daniels Midland Company, United Cocoa Processor

Cocoa Liquor Market Trends Analysis, Size, Key Insights and Overview by 2032 | Cargill Inc., The Archer Daniels Midland Company, United Cocoa Processor

Global research report named Cocoa Liquor market was recently published by insightSLICE to provide guidance for the business. The new research study on Cocoa Liquor market highlights on the current performance as well as on the upcoming opportunities. To understand the structure of global market, the report also gives statistical data on local and global consumption. The report includes profiles…

[balkanradfem]

So, I've been reading 'Seeds of Hope' by Jane Goodall, because I am curious to what other people are saying about plants, and this book truly delivered. I've been introduced to some past plant drama in the world and that was incredible lore that should have been taught in history.

Apparently, when people first discovered tulips, they were so intensely valuable and popular, that people would trade huge amounts of money, diamonds, or even acres of land, for just one bulb. People were pre-paying for bulbs that didn't even exist yet, they would pre-order bulbs that are not yet even made. One servant ate a bulb thinking it was an onion and he got jail time for it. And I mean they're all correct, tulips just are that good.

There was also a lot of, much sadder drama about orchids; I didn't know this, but they originally grow very high up in the trees, and people were competing for discovering new and rare species. These rare and exotic species would then be displayed in rich people's gardens. Because they became so valuable, poachers would go trough the forests and take almost all of the orchids in there, making them near extinct in nature. This was resolved by orchid gardeners carefully growing them, multiplying and sharing to the point where they were sold commercially, which lessened their value on the black market, so there was no need to pillage them from the forests anymore. Growing rare plants is protection of them!

The book goes on to talk about botanic gardens, herbariums, and the value of collecting and archiving plant material, which is then showing us the effects of climate change, and stores valuable information about what is happening to the plants. It made me want to start a herbarium for sure, I'm always stressed about the loss of local plants, and it's happening more and more as green areas are cleared out.

The book touches upon plants that people have found harmful, such as plants that people make drugs out of; she clears it out to us that these plants are sacred to the native people who grew up with them, and creating drugs from them is in fact, abuse of these plants, and offensive to the communities who hold them sacred, and use them in appropriate doses as medicine. The book talks a lot about plant medicine! Apparently the pharmacy companies have been learning the knowledge about medicinal plants from native people who knew how to use plant medicine, and then the pharmacy would make medicine from those same plants, and profit off of it, without giving any credit or profit to the communities they got this knowledge from, which is not great. But then the demand for this medicine would go so high, they would go and gather all, or almost all medicinal plants from the areas where native people lived, devastating their medical supplies and natural habitats. Book goes on to question the ethics of acquiring medicine in this way, and never informing people where it came from, or what was sacrifices in order for the world to have it.

Similar things happened with valuable crops that are grown in native areas; once the demand for these crops grew, big monocrop fields were established, damaging the land and the local ecosystem, killing millions of animals who lived there, and sometimes forcing people or children into modern slavery, in order to grow them. Coffee, cocoa beans, vanilla beans, palm oil; they've been described as specifically devastating for the communities and the environment. But the book doesn't condemn these foods at all, instead the author goes on to describe, what has been done to improve this. Instead of monocrops, which are devastating for the environment, people are now taught to grow fruit trees in the same fields as coffee, which makes the coffee plants healthier and stronger, and creates and environment where some plants and animals can thrive. I personally don't believe you should have only 2 or 3 plants in a big area, I think you need about 3 millions, but it's a progress from monocrops.

The author describes finding and helping the local farmers who found ways to healthy, natural and non-damaging growing of these plants, and she helped them sell it! She also encourages buying organic food because it helps if the demand for non-monocrop food is growing.

Now there's a section of the book standing strongly against GMO foods, and for some reason I never heard any arguments against gmo, I didn't understand much about the harm coming from them, so I was very curious to hear this. The author explained how 47 million dollars was spent just for lobbying for GMO, which explains why all my information on gmo was positive, and I remember hearing it was 'the best way to reduce world hunger', but the world hunger is still a problem, so it obviously did not succeed. But now I have a better understanding of what it is.

GMO foods were specifically developed to have pesticides inside of them, so they'd be poisonous to pests, but not to people eating them. The research on whether they're poisonous to animals showed that the animals who ate them long term, had their inner organs irritated, enlarged, stomach infections, and had higher risk of cancer. So it was not proven to be safe, but it ended up in the stores anyway; the author says that about 70% of food in american supermarkets has unlabelled gmo, which is scary to think about. She also explains that this is the reason so many people in america are now trying to grow food at home, they don't want to be poisoned by pesticides.

GMO foods were specifically designed to support monocrops, and to protect them pests; this worked out in creating more and more bugs that are resistant to the pesticides, and farmers have reported the appearance of 'superbugs', which are resistant to any kind of pesticide. There's now also 'superweeds', which are resistant to herbicide. The industry is trying to develop new pesticides and new herbicides, in order to counter these new problems, but it is obvious that they're only sinking deeper and deeper; monocrops are unsustainable. Poisoning the earth and the plants, and even the seeds, is not going to lead to the end of world hunger. Farmers are often ending up losing their entire farms due to new bugs that are now thriving because all of their competition has been eliminated by pesticides, they're now the only bug and they can eat up the entire crop easily.

The other problem of GMO crops is that they're spreading their seeds and mixing with the natural crops, making them into GMO crops as well. According to the author the canola crops has already been lost, now all canola existing is genetically modified.

I'm dissatisfied with this knowledge, but it's better to know and be aware rather than to be in the dark. The author suggests designing living spaces that have gardens in them, and encouraging local community to garden, as well as planting city gardens, where food would grow for everyone. She goes on to describe the efforts of universities and cities who already had built their own living gardens in order to support the community, and how it worked to create a more beautiful, life-sustaining, happier place. She even explained how having local gardens makes the crime rate lower.

I loved this book, it had the environment awareness that can only be compared to Greta Thunberg's book, it described trees and plants so lovingly, and the connection people have with them. It showed me there's so many people fighting to save the forests and grasslands and native plants, and it's an effort that will make a big difference to how we get to live on this planet in the future.

[acti-veg]

The company is using proprietary technology and upcycled seeds and fruits to create a sustainable chocolate product marketed recently released a life cycle assessment which showed the ways that its cocoa-free chocolate product is more sustainable than conventional chocolate. Its processes use 99% less blue water consumption, 84% less greenhouse gas emissions and fewer land usage — cocoa-bean chocolate production has been a major cause of deforestation. 

“The chocolate industry is centered in a very thin band around the equator, which makes it pretty susceptible to change due to climate change because it is so sensitive to changes in the environment,’ said Kelsey Tenney, vice president of research and development and founding team member at Voyage in an interview with Food Dive. “Cocoa is a very popular flavor, and it only continues to increase in demand, and with that comes an increase in supply which is making a difference in how much cacao costs to the consumer.

[shepherds-of-haven]

Had a dream about it so I need to ask, how would like a ski or snowboard or general mountain retreat trip go for the shepherds?

This sounds like such a fun dream! ⛷️

Blade: he'd be mildly interested in giving snowboarding a try, though he'd probably have his "fill" after a day: while he's athletically gifted and can take up pretty much any sport decently well, he actually tends to find most of them boring (unless his competitive spirit is fired up) and would probably find trudging up and down slopes tedious! By Day 2 he'd probably just be fine staying indoors by a fire with a book... partially because he'd be sick of Chase trying to cling to the back of his ski jacket so Blade could drag him places like a sled horse ৻(≧ᗜ≦৻)

Trouble: he'd be up at sunrise ready to shred some fresh powder, and you'd have to drag him home long after dark!! He's crushing those slopes and having so much fun doing it!! He's Shaun White at the X Games babey!!! He's like an Alaskan Husky you can't get to come indoors, people will be like "TROUBLE it's time to EAT" and he'll be looking at you with snow in his hair like "just one more slope!! :D"

Tallys: no. she hates the cold, she either wouldn't have come on this trip at all, or she'd be inside with several fleece blankets on her lap and a stack of books all day! Maybe if the resort offers any sleigh rides or something of the sort, she'd venture out, but actively spending time in the snow is a special kind of misery for her! She'd probably be most interested in the resort's spa! (Do ski resorts have those?)

Shery: she's keeping Tallys company by the fire with a nice cup of tea in the morning and a hot cocoa in the afternoon! Maybe she'll venture outside to do some snow activities like building a snowman or going on a walk, but if she tries to ski or snowboard, she will likely break her neck :') If there are Christmas markets or nearby towns nearby, the two of them are doing something like that instead!

Riel: he's in his room or by the lobby fireplace, working. You couldn't compel him to strap a pair of planks to his feet under threat of death... Not only is the risk of injury too high, it just looks ridiculous!!! Perhaps he will indulge in a hot toddy or glass of wine...

Chase: he'd have a bit of fun snowboarding or skiing for a few hours, but eventually the novelty would wear off and he'd be more interested in spending time in the hot tub (and any ensuing hijinks that might result therein) and prodding everyone to meet up in one of the rooms for a party/card games/inevitable night of drinking

Red: he'd have fun skiing with everyone during the day, but he'd most look forward to curling up by the fire in the evening with a stack of good books and just relaxing! Unfortunately, Chase probably won't let him get away with that for long... He'd look very erudite and sophisticated though, I'm picturing him in a nice sweater or a scarf with a pair of reading glasses or something! 😂

Ayla: she's right up there with Trouble, she'd definitely be a ski bum and would spend all of her available time on the slopes, and then unwind in a hot tub after! The two of them would probably get into increasingly more dangerous competitions in which they raced to complete the black diamond slopes in as fast a time as possible... would probably insist on staying out late to complete "just one more course" and would probably end up getting stuck on the ski lift when it shut down after sunset. By the time the others figured out they were missing, they'd be easy to find because of the sounds of the furious arguing somewhere overhead...

Briony: she'd try snowboarding, but she probably wouldn't be very graceful at it and would just keep falling over, constantly forgetting her feet were strapped down and trying to "walk" instead of slide! Eventually she'd probably give up and join Tallys and Shery at the nearby market or would be more focused on taking pictures of everything/everyone or setting up a bonfire to gaze at the stars than actively learning how to snowboard or ski!

Lavinet: she's an excellent skier (it would probably go Halek -> Lavinet -> Trouble - Ayla) as a result of having been instructed when she was young, but she'd have little interest in it after an hour or so. She's booked up her whole weekend with treatments at the spa!

Halek: he grew up in the mountains (even in a modern AU), so I imagine snowboarding/skiing was as commonplace to him as breathing. Everyone would be so surprised to find him just zooming past them wordlessly on the slopes, like Trouble and Ayla are just like "HAHAH EAT MY SHORTS TRUBS YOU'RE NEVER GONNA--"

*white Halek-shaped blur races past*

I feel like you'd find him doing something random like ice-fishing at some point, too!

[charlesslut16]

-Matching cristmas pyjamas-

summary : you and liam wear matching christmas pyjamas and have adventures...

PAIRING : liam lawson x fem!reader

WARNINGS : none

note : Hope you like it lovies!

december masterlist ; masterlist 

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The air was infused with the spicy scent of cinnamon and pine, and the twinkling lights danced merrily, casting a warm glow on everything around you both.

Liam Lawson, your boyfriend, and you were immersed in the holiday spirit, sporting matching Christmas sweaters and pants adorned with playful reindeer and snowflakes.

The vibrant colors mirrored your excitement for the festive season.

They strolled hand in hand through the bustling Christmas market, reveling in the joyful atmosphere. Liam's eyes sparkled with delight as he pointed out the various stalls showcasing handcrafted ornaments and delicious treats.

The air was filled with laughter and the melodic tunes of holiday music, setting the perfect backdrop for your day.

With rosy cheeks from the chilly air, you stopped at a hot chocolate stand, eagerly wrapping your hands around the steaming mugs. Liam's smile was contagious as he watched you take the first sip, a marshmallow perched on the edge of your cup.

"How's the cocoa?" he asked, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Absolutely perfect," you replied, smiling back at him. The couple lingered, savoring the warmth of the hot chocolate and each other's company, enjoying the simple joy of being together.

Your next stop was an ice-skating rink nestled in the heart of the market. Liam laced up your skates with care, his fingers brushing gently against his girlfriends, sending a delightful shiver down your spine.

As you glided hand in hand across the glistening ice, your matching sweaters, matching pants and laughter painted a picture of pure happiness.

Liam, ever the adventurer, spun you around gracefully, his laughter ringing in harmony with the joyful holiday tunes. With each glide, you felt more connected to him, as though both were dancing to the rhythm of your love.

After your ice-skating escapade, you found ourselves in a cozy corner of the market, surrounded by festive decorations. Liam's eyes lit up mischievously as he spotted a booth offering personalized ornaments.

The couple eagerly stepped up, selecting a delicate glass bauble adorned with their names entwined in a glittering script. The first family ornaments of many to follow.

Watching as your names were delicately inscribed, Liam whispered in your ear,

"A memory of our tree, just like each moment with you, is a cherished memory in my heart."

My cheeks flushed with warmth, and you leaned into him, feeling an overwhelming rush of love.

"You always know how to make everything magical," you murmured, wrapping your arms around his waist.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, you made your way to a cozy café adorned with fairy lights and garlands. The scent of freshly baked cookies and gingerbread greeted you, inviting the couple to savor the delights of the season.

Liam's eyes sparkled as he savored a gingerbread cookie, a sprinkle of sugar dusting his nose.

With a mischievous grin, you reached out and gently wiped away the sugar with your thumb. Liam chuckled, reaching for a dollop of whipped cream from your hot cocoa, and playfully dabbed it on your nose.

Soon, the couple were both covered in sugary delights, laughing like carefree children.

As the evening drew to a close, you found ourselves sitting by a crackling fireplace, enveloped in the warmth of your shared affection. Liam took your hand, his gaze soft and filled with tenderness.

"Today has been perfect because I spent it with you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Tears welled up in his girlfriend's eyes as you leaned in, resting your head on his shoulder.

"You make every moment special," you whispered, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love you shared.

The day had been a symphony of joy, laughter, and love, woven together with the threads of your matching sweaters. And as you basked in the glow of the holiday lights, you knew that the memories of this day, wrapped in warmth and love, would forever hold a special place in the couple's hearts.

[victoryverse]

Together for the Holidays

words: 900

You had never expected to spend your first Christmas with Simon 'Ghost' Riley, but when he showed up on your doorstep, you couldn't help but smile. You never really celebrated the holidays before, but Ghost made you feel like it was something worth doing.

As he entered your home, his iconic skull-patterned balaclava was replaced with a red and green Christmas hat. His eyes twinkled with excitement and you couldn't help but feel giddy at the thought of spending the holidays with him.

Together, you decorated the house with lights and ornaments, placing a small tree in the corner of the living room. Ghost insisted on hanging mistletoe in every doorway, but you couldn't help but tease him about his love for cheesy Christmas traditions.

The two of you spent the days leading up to Christmas exploring the city, trying every festive treat and visiting every holiday market you could find. Ghost seemed to be in his element, grinning from ear to ear as he pointed out the beautiful decorations and lights.

On Christmas Eve, you prepared a feast for the two of you, and as you sat around the table, Ghost insisted on wearing matching reindeer antler headbands. Laughter filled the room as you both enjoyed a delicious meal, swapping stories and making new memories.

As midnight approached, Ghost suggested going for a walk to enjoy the silent streets. You bundled up in warm coats and scarves, with Ghost's arm wrapped around your shoulders. The moon shone bright and the snow crunched beneath your feet as you walked hand in hand.

As the clock struck midnight, Ghost turned to you with a sly smile. 'Merry Christmas, love,' he murmured before pulling you into a kiss under the mistletoe that he had cleverly placed above your heads.

The remainder of the night was spent cuddled up on the couch, watching Christmas movies and sipping on hot cocoa. Ghost's warm embrace and gentle whispers made you feel at peace, as if this was where you were meant to be all along.

On Christmas morning, you woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon wafting through the air. Ghost had gone all out, preparing a delicious breakfast with an extravagant spread of toppings to choose from. You couldn't help but admire how well he could cook, despite his tough exterior.

After breakfast, Ghost handed you a small gift, a beautifully wrapped box that he had hidden under the tree. Inside was a delicate bracelet with a charm in the shape of a skull, a nod to his iconic balaclava. Tears pricked at your eyes as you thanked him for the thoughtful gift. He simply smiled and said, 'It's a reminder that you have a piece of my heart now.'

The rest of the day was spent in a state of bliss, with Ghost by your side. The two of you exchanged gifts and shared stories, laughing and enjoying each other's company. You never thought you could feel this happy, but Ghost had a way of making everything feel right.

As the day came to a close, Ghost suggested taking a drive to see the city lights. You bundled up in the car and he drove you to the tallest point in the city, where you could see the entire skyline lit up with holiday decorations. It was a breathtaking view and you couldn't help but feel grateful for this time with Ghost.

As the night drew to a close, and the clock struck midnight, Ghost turned to you with a serious expression. 'I have one more gift for you,' he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box. 'It's not much, but it's something that I've been holding onto for a long time.'

With trembling hands, you opened the box to find a beautiful engagement ring. Your hands flew to your mouth in shock as Ghost got down on one knee, a tender smile on his face.

'Ever since I met you, I knew you were someone special,' he began, his voice cracking with emotion. 'I may not show it often, but you mean everything to me. Will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?'

Tears streamed down your face as you nodded, unable to find the words to express your joy. Ghost slipped the ring onto your finger, and in that moment, you knew that this was the best Christmas you could have ever asked for.

Together, you stood on the hilltop, watching the city lights as the snow began to fall around you. The two of you were now each other's home, and you couldn't wait to spend every Christmas with Ghost by your side. Together for the holidays, and for many more to come.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

EU deforestation law delay brings losses to most vigilant

Companies that have paid to source agricultural produce that complies with the European Union's anti-deforestation law would lose out if the EU decides to delay implementing the legislation by a year, industry groups and traders said.

Deforestation is the second largest source of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change after the burning of fossil fuels, according to the European Commission. The EU had planned to ban the import of commodities from suppliers unable to prove their goods were not linked to deforestation.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) would have impacted imports of cocoa, coffee, cattle, soy, oil palm, timber, rubber and related products like chocolate and leather.

It was scheduled to come into effect on Dec. 30, but last week the EU Commission proposed a 12-month delay, under pressure from industries and governments who said it would cause supply chain disruptions, exclude poor, small-scale farmers from the EU market, and drive up the cost of basic foodstuffs because many farmers and suppliers were not ready to comply.

Continue reading.

[jackles010378]

Epic Christmas Adventure

Dean Winchester X you

No warnings needed 🥰

It was Christmas Eve, and Dean Winchester could feel the excitement in the air. As he made his way through the crowded streets of a small town, he couldn't help but smile. This year, he had planned something special for Y/N, his closest ally and the love of his life.

Dean had always loved Christmas, but this year, he wanted to make it extra magical for Y/N. He had spent weeks plotting surprises, and he couldn't wait to see the look on her face. As he approached the cozy cabin they were going to spend the holidays in, he felt like a kid again, eagerly waiting for Santa to arrive.

When Dean walked in, he found Y/N sitting by the fireplace, the warm glow casting a soft light on her beautiful features. She looked up, her eyes sparkling with joy, and Dean couldn't help but grin. He had never seen anyone light up a room like she did.

"Hey, gorgeous," Dean said, his voice full of warmth. "Ready for some serious Christmas fun?"

Y/N beamed and nodded, her excitement palpable. They exchanged gifts, each one carefully chosen and full of love. Y/N unwrapped her present from Dean and gasped in delight—a necklace with a small silver pendant in the shape of a star.

"It's perfect, Dean," Y/N exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you."

Dean pulled away slightly and smirked. "That's not all, sweetheart. Brace yourself for the adventure of a lifetime."

Dean blindfolded Y/N and led her outside to the waiting Impala. As they drove, the wind blew through their hair, and Dean laughed, feeling a sense of freedom and joy like never before. He guided Y/N towards their first stop—an enchanting ice-skating rink under a moonlit sky.

The rink was decked out with twinkling lights and holiday decorations. Y/N's eyes widened as she took in the magical scene before her. With Dean's help, she laced up her skates, and they took to the ice, gliding hand in hand. Laughter filled the air as they spun and twirled, creating their own winter wonderland.

Their next destination was a sprawling Christmas market, where Y/N's senses were overwhelmed by the delightful smells of gingerbread and mulled wine. Dean, always one to embrace the spirit of giving, surprised her with a heartfelt gesture—he had bought a booth and was selling handmade ornaments for charity. Y/N admired his craftsmanship and joined him, their love for each other shining through every ornament they painted together.

As the day turned into evening, their adventure continued. Dean took Y/N to a tree farm to pick out their very own Christmas tree. They traipsed through the snow, laughing and joking, until they found the perfect one. Dean chopped it down, and they dragged it back to the Impala, both covered in snow.

Back at the cabin, the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. Dean and Y/N spent the evening decorating the tree, singing along to classic Christmas songs. They sipped hot cocoa, exchanged playful banter, and shared stolen kisses under the mistletoe.

Finally, the moment arrived. It was time to open the last gift—a small envelope that Dean had saved until now. Y/N's eyes widened as she read the note inside. It said, "Pack your bags, we're leaving tomorrow for a snow-covered cabin in the mountains."

Dean had planned the ultimate surprise—a secluded cabin surrounded by nature's beauty. They would spend the rest of the holiday there, cuddled up by a roaring fireplace, relishing in each other's company.

As Y/N looked at Dean, her heart bursting with love, she realized that this was the best Christmas gift she had ever received. It wasn't just about the surprises and adventures—it was about the shared moments, the thoughtfulness, and the love they had for each other.

And so, Dean Winchester and Y/N spent a Christmas filled with laughter, love, and unforgettable memories. They realized that the true magic of Christmas lies in being with the ones you hold dear, cherishing every moment, and creating your own special traditions.

As they celebrated together, Dean and Y/N knew that their epic Christmas adventure was just the beginning of a lifetime of love and joy.

Hope you're all having an amazing Christmas 🥰❤️🫶🏼

TAGLIST: @k-slla @cevansbaby-dove @kaleldobrev @janineb86 @deans-daydream @alternativeprincess94 @tmb510 @nescavaneck

[duhragonball]

It's my birthday today, and the local grocery store was thoughtful enough to stock the Dragon Ball Z Reese's Puffs, so I'm gonna try it out. Join me, won't you?

I still can't believe this is real. I mean, Reese's Puffa is kind of surreal enough as it is. It sounds like some satirical brand meant to poke fun at sugary kids' cereals. The box says "Made with REAL REESE'S Peanut Butter", the same way a fruit-flavored beverage will claim to contain genuine fruit.

The bowl on the box art is a Reese's cup, so it basically depicts candy being served in more candy. I'm old enough to remember when they would photograph cereal as "part of a complete breakfast", and there'd be grapefruits and toast and maybe a hard boiled egg. Basically they were admitting that the cereal was so unhealthy that you needed to eat three or four other breakfasts to make up for it. I just liked the photos because they were so picturesque. Ah, to have unlimited free time to prepare a leisurely 4-course breakfast while reading the paper. I just assumed everyone else was having toast with their cereal except my family, but yeah, it never really made any sense.

I haven't even gotten to Goku yet, but first I want to talk about his spoon. I don't think we see him holding a spoon very often. He's usually a chopsticks kind of guy, or he'll just use his bare hands or even dunk his head into the bowl. It kind of looks like a ladle when he holds it like that, which implies he cooked this bowl of candy soup all by himself, and he's showing it off like a proud chef. This spoon kicks ass, is what I'm trying to say.

But the real reason I bought this is because of that orange hillbilly who needs no introduction. I wasn't even looking for Reese's Puffs. It was the furthest thing from my mind. No, I was stocking up on the old-man cereal I require to survive, when I just saw him staring at me, with his friendly-yet-confident smile. Goku's not pressuring you to buy the cereal. He's sure you'll enjoy it, but it's okay if you want to take a pass. He'll just enjoy all this peanut butter chocolate goodness all by himself. Goku is truly the ideal spokesman. How can you say no to this lovable hunk?

I'm kind of out of touch when it comes to cereal marketing, but I'm pretty sure this sort of cross-promotion is a rarity. Like, they once put WWE wrestlers on Wheaties or something, but usually if the cereal companies want a cartoon on the box they'll just make their own character. Or if the cartoon people want to put their guy in the cereal aisle, they'll just commission a whole new cereal just for that brand. C-3PO had his own cereal for a while. It was pretty good!

What I'm saying is that it's kind of unusual to see a popular character like this on a cereal box. The only exception I can come up with is Fred Flintstone on Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles, but I always assumed that those were specifically "Flintstones Cereal".

Other than that, yeah, I can't think of any other examples of cartoon characters appearing on unaffiliated cereal boxes like this. Well, I drew my DBZ OC on a box of All-Bran today, but I don't think that counts.

"MY FIBER IS MAXIMUM, KAKAROT!"

I wondered what was up with the picture of Piccolo on the back of the box, and it turns out that he's one of seven different characters you can find on the back of the box. Collect them all! Aw man, that Cell one looks fucking sick! I don't know how they distributed these. Maybe they roll them out in waves and Piccolo's came first. Or maybe it's random and I might have found a Cell if I'd checked more boxes at the store. Well, Piccolo's pretty good. I guess.

All right, I just poured myself a bowl and Goku's cereal is gonna have to set course for Planet Oat. The dairy industry may not applaud my shopping choices, but I like oat milk because it doesn't spoil as quickly as cow milk, and it's got a nice oat-y flavor that compliments the cardboard taste of All-Bran.

I did not put Dawn liquid soap in my cereal. This time.

So what's the verdict here? Well, the first few bites were pretty tasty, and then I realized I was getting kind of sick of this as I made my way to the bottom of the bowl. The peanut butter flavor overwhelms everything. It has a very strong odor, so if you like Reese's peanut butter cups you can just sit this out in your room and savor the aroma. I barely registered any chocolate flavor at all. I mean, I believe they put it there, but the peanut butter is the whole story to this.

It's basically Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs from Calvin and Hobbes, only this is a special Peanut Butter variant they made. I never really appreciated the jokes about sugary cereals before. I grew up on Frosted Flakes and the like, but there were a certain class of cereals that my mom would just refuse to buy. My grandparents would have them, but I never really understood the difference between Frosted Flakes and Honey Smacks. As I got older, I ate less cereal in general, but that was mostly because I fell out of the habit of eating breakfast altogether.

But now I'm 47, and the only cereal I eat these days is bran topped with diced peaches and a couple of packets of artificial sweetener, so Reese's Puffs is way, way too sugary for my palate. It's not bad, but a little goes a long way for me.

When I was a kid, old people were always griping about all the stuff they couldn't eat anymore. I remember Isaac Asimov writing mournfully about how he couldn't have an Oreo cookie, which bummed me out because that was my favorite cookie back then, and it seemed that the fate of all humanity was to be denied the simple pleasure of enjoying them.

Now, I realize that a lot of the stuff that you liked as a kid just doesn't age up with you. Your tastes change, and you gain appreciations for new things that you wouldn't have appreciated before. That's not a bad thing. It's life. Things change, and you change along with them.

Well, you and I do, anyway. Not Goku, whose Saiyan biology keeps him looking exactly the same for sixty years so he can eat all the sweetened corn puffs he wants. But I don't envy him, is what I'm trying to say. I'm watching a wrestling show on PPV tonight, my mom took me to Cracker Barrel for lunch today, and I drew on a cereal box. I can't complain.

[moominofthevalley]

The Girl with the Glass

Trystan finds a mysterious scrapbook. Emily has a deep conversation with a stranger.

trystan x emily

teen | wc: 2.5k | cw: mentions of grief

cfwc prompt: ‘visiting a holiday market’ & ‘the holidays won’t be the same now that they’re gone’

a/n: happy holidays, everyone! this drabble is inspired by an influx of things – mostly my favorite film, “amélie,” if you couldn’t tell by the title. (which, of course, is not-so-subtle-symbolism). enjoy! ♡

“It’s your turn, Trystan!” 

Snow sprinkled downwards, little husks of angels drooping to the wintry ground. Crowds of faces walked the busy New York streets, surrounded by shiny knickknacks and dusty clothes. Cheeks were stained pink, and lips curled upwards in the holiday spirit. Trystan urged out a cocky grin, arms around Emily’s waist. 

“Is it, now?” 

“Yes, it is! I’ll go and get something for us to eat.” 

Trystan pecked her forehead, whispering, “Do something good!” before disappearing into the crowd. He grew fond of these new habits of love, searching for a trinket to take back to their hearth. 

It was a silly tradition, but a tradition nonetheless. It began with a scratched Pierrot figurine Emily bought from a vintage shop. Ivory skin and porcelain eyes, and a black-and-white costume with a frilled collar. Like some haunted elf on the shelf, the clown explored the apartment all by itself – according to Trystan, at least. The second well-loved piece was a gift from Marguerite: a brass ladybug ashtray. Neither Emily nor Trystan smoked, though the aureate bug was far too interesting to be thrown away. The most recent find was a print of Renoir’s The Luncheon of the Boating Party Emily purchased from a local art gallery. Both of them adored it; the celebration of warmth and good company, the splendid wines and fruits, calmness and beauty in the mundane. Drinks and company aside, Emily was far more fascinated with the girl with the glass. A sullen woman drinking wine in a sea of chatting strangers.

It was Trystan’s turn, and he was keen on finding an old book of sorts. He insisted on a leather novel of yellowed papers and annotated lines, with intricate Victorian details along the spine. Trystan paused, exhilarated at the antique booth before him. Forgotten scrapbooks, noir polaroids, rotten thrown-away cameras, and fringed lamps cornered him with an enticement to explore. 

Emily wandered around the opposite side of the market, searching for food vendors. A strange harmony bubbled inside her; a soft scent, a beam from the clouded sun. She breathed in the scent of chestnuts and red wine, a wintry chill slipping through her bones. Silver bells danced in the December wind, faces greeting each other with a blissful smile. It was a perfect moment, a painting from her own eyes. 

On the sidewalk stood a white-haired woman in a vibrant Christmas sweater, her cane tapping the frozen ground. Breaths escaped her parted lips in subtle clouds of white. Trystan’s words repeated in Emily’s head, a determination settling within her. This was peace and contentment; the mundanity of a random December afternoon. 

“Excuse me, ma’am, do you need help?” 

“Yes, please!” 

“Careful of the curb, here we go!”

The woman held onto the cane, her other hand wrapped around Emily’s. Her heart burst at the scene developing around her. Laughs and joyous days echoed around her, the wind so sweet she gulped for more. 

“Hear that? That’s a florist laughing, he has crinkly eyes! A booth that smells like eucalyptus and rose is selling crystals and botanical postcards. The food truck across them is selling lollipops and hot cocoa for children. A farmer’s booth has rows of persimmons, oranges, and tangerines. Next to the fruits, a baby is watching her dad throw his hat in the air. We’re at the end of the market, there’s a bookstore and a vinyl shop in front of us. I’ll leave you here, goodbye!” 

The elderly woman struck out a pleased laugh, touched by moments folding around her. Memories of today fell like dominoes, scattering about like new snow. Her cheeks shined pink as Emily cradled her hand, stilling the woman’s trembling fingers. 

“Have a good day,” She whispered before walking off. 

“Wait,” The woman called out, “Are you hungry? Let me get you something to eat!” * * * *

Emily and the white-haired woman split an orange and two empanadas on a quiet bench. Emily, of course, peeled the oranges in thirds, ignoring the pith underneath her nails. 

Familiarity struck her as she handed the woman an orange. Her father’s willow-leaved eyes resembled the stranger’s. Perhaps in another life, Jimmy Rose grew old and never walked the grounds of Box Thirty-Two. To breathe with wrinkled skin and grey hairs, lines creasing about his lips and forehead.  

“What’s your name?”

“Diana.” 

“I’m Emily,” she hid the third orange wedge in her coat pocket, “Do you like the food?” 

“I love it,” Diana grinned, “God, that vendor was beautiful, wasn’t she?” 

Emily gulped, taken aback, “How could you tell?” 

The other woman laughed and patted her lap, “Partial blindness. I can only see things if I’m up close.” 

“Oh!” Emily blushed awkwardly, “I’m sorry – I didn’t-” 

“Don’t worry.” 

“But, er, yes, the vendor was beautiful.” 

Diana perked up, casting an amused grin, “Are you a lesbian?” 

“Bisexual. My partner wanted to check this market out. He’s looking for…I dunno, some trinket to take home, and I told him I’d get us some food. Are you…also…?” 

Diana nodded. 

“How old are you?” 

“Sixty-eight. And you?” 

“Twenty-eight,” Diana winced. 

“Don’t worry, it does get better.” 

Emily shrugged, unconvinced. Her bones were brittle as if made of glass, jaded memories of Drakovia hitting her like violent waves against a sandy beach. Grief thrashed inside her head so intensely she’d wake up in the night, begging for air. There was avoiding it, no going under or over it. Whether she’d acknowledge it or not, trauma and grief permeated her life. 

“When?” Emily asked innocently, her eyes burning. Diana scooted slightly closer, resting her wrinkled hand over Emily’s. 

“When does it get better?” Emily nodded, cringing at her childish question, “However long it takes. Eventually…it’ll pass.” 

It had been sixteen years. Sixteen years, and it had, indeed, not passed. She swore that she’d be done with everything by twenty. That foolish promise broke, and twenty-eight was no different than twenty. All that was left of Jimmy Rose’s legacy was a cruel memory. 

“It’s been almost twenty years. I don’t think it will.” 

Emily gritted her teeth, furrowing her fingers into her hands until they became beet red. With a blink of an eye, she was no longer the famed private detective who took down the Heartache Killer; but a tall child with no father. 

“Oh, Emily,” Diana cooed, “I’m so sorry. But that’s simply not true,” She murmured, struggling to find the right words, “Nothing lasts forever. Things pass, lives go on, and it feels fucking awful when you’re…stuck. But when we are stuck, all we have is each other. To get by, at least.” 

Emily’s walls began crumbling. Her hands instinctively covered her face, sheltering herself from the world. Diana granted her some space, moving closer to the other end of the bench. 

“I’m sorry,” Emily rubbed her face, grasping at anything to change the subject. With a pained sigh, she uttered, “Y’know, I don’t really like Christmas. I just–I’m just here because of my partner.” 

“I don’t either,” Diana said, “But my wife loved it. Every year, God bless her soul, she’d always cook the worst beef wellington ever!” Diana laughed with a familiar gleefulness, “I’d always eat it. I mean, it was atrocious and entirely raw, but she cooked it. Made with love…and absolutely no seasoning. I would do anything to have it this year.” 

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Emily whispered, “Her wellington must’ve made your day. My dad took me to Rockefeller Square every year until he passed. I always thought he was a king for that,” She chuckled, “I remember seeing it for the first time. I didn’t even know trees got that big.” 

“He sounds like an amazing Dad. I am so sorry for your loss.” 

“Thank you. I try to remember the good things about him. It helps keep his spirit alive.” 

Inklets of snow trailed down and stained their hair, solemness in the wind. Emily cleared her throat, pushing past the silence. 

“Can you tell me more about your wife?” 

“Of course,” Diana beamed, “Her name was Dani. She lived in the apartment next to mine. She was an amazing pianist - I’d always hear her playing through the walls. One day, I knocked on her door and asked if I could listen to her.” 

“Do you remember what song she played?” 

“Yes! It was, hm, ‘Camptine?’ No – ‘Comptine d’un autre été.’ You really should listen to it sometime.” 

“I’ll hold you to that…how long were you two together?” 

“Twenty years and ninety-eight days – but who’s counting? We were completely different,” Diana’s face grew serious, “And she was so different in the end, too. It’s odd to see someone go when they’re already gone and so, so small.”

Emily fiddled with her hands, jaws clenched, “I’m so sorry, Diana. I can’t imagine losing–” She choked on a small pit in her throat, “I just can’t imagine a loss like that.” 

“Thank you. The two of us had an amazing life. We really did. I mean – sometimes I still see her, even in little things, I still feel her with me.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I see her everywhere,” Diana’s lips quivered, “I see her when it rains, and I think of the song she played for me when we first met. I saw La Traviata last summer, and all I thought about was her. Whenever I walk by a deli, I think of her God-awful beef wellington.” 

A glint of doubt shimmered in Emily’s eye. Uncertainty twisted her insides, striking with fierce ripples of despair and mourning. 

“Listen to me,” Diana said sternly, “One day at a time is all we got. So go on and live. But, when the time does come…kiss his forehead, rub his feet, play a song. It will be hard, and I don’t think it will ever go away completely. But I promise – after some time, you’ll wake up and feel, maybe not better, but as if you’ve adjusted to the pain of it all. And then it won’t hurt so much.” 

A surge of preemptive grief washed over Emily, though tears never flooded her eyes. The burdens of the past and deaths of the future weren’t gone, but instead quiet and still in her mind. Death is only a moment, a bitter soul slipping into the next room. Two words repeated in Emily’s head until she was content. 

“Thank you. I never thought of it that way…thank you.” 

Easy silence lay upon them, the words shared by each other warm in their throats. Flurries of unknown faces passed by, snowflakes tangling in their hair with ease. Spotting Trystan in the crowd of strangers, Emily greeted the mischievous smirk on his face, hands tucked behind his back. 

“Hey partner,” Trystan kissed the top of Emily’s head, “And who’s this?” 

“I’m Diana…and you must be who Emily was telling me about!” 

“Oh, yeah? What’d she tell you?” 

“Your deepest and darkest secrets, obviously,” Emily deadpanned, “...You hiding something back there?” 

With a smug grin, Trystan unveiled a wrapped gift. He chuckled, “You’ll see! I’ll show you later.” 

“Hey, I also got you something!” Emily grabbed the orange slice from her pocket, wiping away tiny beads of lint. Trystan’s face lit up, mouth agape. 

“I love you. Thank you,” Trystan pecked her forehead once more before biting into the citrus, “And it was lovely meeting you, Diana. I hope Emily didn’t tell you every secret of mine.” Diana laughed, shaking his hand. 

“Of course not. And Emily?” She whispered into her ear, “Remember what you’re here for.”

* * * *

“Do I seriously need to be blindfolded for this?” 

“I mean,” He pressed his hands tight against Emily’s eyes, “Yeah, you do.” 

Emily grumbled, rolling her eyes through the thick wad of fabric tied around her head. A week had passed since she met Diana, and all that was in her mind were her tender words. Emily fixed her pout, forcing a tooth-shining smirk as Trystan led her across the apartment. 

“The things I do for you.” 

“Careful, darling,” Trystan gently moved her away from hitting the coffee table, “And sit…err, right here!” 

“Can I take the blindfold off now?” 

“Not yet!” 

Sounds of scuffling surrounded her, and Emily grew curious. Trystan had been hiding something since the trip to the market. Whenever she’d mentioned it, he’d waggle a finger to his lips and utter gibberish. 

Emily scoffed, amused, “Is this about that thing you got last week?” Trystan snickered with a childlike excitement. 

“...Maybe.” 

The tussling stopped, and Trystan sat beside her. Resting a hand on her thigh, he grinned, “Okay! You can take it off now.” 

“Oh…my God!” 

A leatherbound scrapbook and a dainty film camera plastered with Hello Kitty stickers sat across them. Colorful children’s doodles scuffed the book cover, crayons covering every inch. Squiggly letters in blue and red revealed the title: RoSe fAmilY aDveNtureS. Emily gasped, flooded with faint memories of her father. With flushed cheeks, she turned to Trystan and gawked. 

“Trystan!” Emily squealed, “You found this last week?” 

“Mhm,” He bobbed his head, “I showed it to Tommy to make sure. He said he must’ve accidentally donated it while cleaning up the attic. It…may or may not have taken me a long time to figure out how to use the camera – but it works! I’ll hook it up to the TV, okay?” 

“I fucking love you.” 

Emily and Trystan flipped page after page, soaking in long-forgotten moments of Emily’s past. At the top of each page contained a laminated label. Little Emily as San, Halloween 2002. Trip to Luzon, June 2005. Fluffernutters and Chocolate Rocks! 

Stacks of polaroids were taped against each other, smiles and blissful memories in every photo. One quickly seized Trystan’s attention. ‘2001’ was written at the hem of the photo. At the center, a pigtailed Emily smiled widely at the camera, boasting her half-eaten yan yan. 

“God,” Emily grazed her thumb over the polaroid, “I can’t believe you found this.” 

“Me too. Maybe we can look through Tommy’s attic sometime. There has to be other books we can find.” 

“Can we look through the camera now?” 

“Of course!” 

Emily grinned at Trystan, warmed by his gift. It’d been years since her heart grew so fondly, a quiet ease running through her body. Her bones were, indeed, not made of glass. She was not brittle and weak, but rather brimming with love and sentiment. Pain and sorrow were in her veins, too, yet on this still and snowy morning, Emily was at peace.

* * * * A/N: This fic was both such a pain and so nice to write lol. I wanted to give a little thank you to @jerzwriter @lexicook74-blog and @logolepzy for helping me edit this fic! Thank you all so much for your feedback, I appreciate you all SO much.

Tags: @choicesprompts @choicesholidays @choicesficwriterscreations @jerzwriter @logolepzy @mooserii @starsarewithinme @jonathanmoores @shadyinternetblizzard @urcowboyboyfriend @lexicook74-blog @leahtine @jahrobin @icarusfallsforever @kyra75 @calisomnia (let me know if else would like to be added to my crimes tag!)

[bastetreawoken]

Wild Manes review episode 2:

(initial notes were made while watching, then edited and additional were made after)

COCOA STOP TAKING TO THE SCREEN

I'm pretty sure that thing is an advertisement for a toy- looking at the website, yep it's a toy.

The cucumber bit where they eat the spa cucs was a gag in g4

Probably coincidence:P

This episode is basically the plot of the first episode, crazy stuff happens, It circles around to when we first started and it concludes.

There is almost no moral to this episode, the best thing I can say about it is that it *kind of* gives more character to Bailey

I think I have less faith in Wild Manes after the second episode, though I'm also aware that when a show is made the first batch of episodes are already planned and any changes in strategy from the company in terms of writing won't take effect until the next batch of episodes.

I think if this show tries just to market to younger kids it's going to plateau, though I could be wrong and Wild Manes is the next PJ Masks or whatever the kids like nowadays.

I guess at this point I can't tell what age range the show is trying to be for because the show comes off a little condescending to the viewer's media comprehension which I don't like even in shows made for young children.

What made G4 so great is that there was a story to tell, and the viewers, of all ages were in on it. When I was 7 watching Friendship is Magic my favorite episodes were the cutie mark crusader episodes because I loved the characters and knew all of their episodes would have fun character development and a fun moral.

Especially past season 2 FIM was excellent at showing, not telling the story of an episode. I believe that Cocoa's forth wall breaking is here to stay but I certainly hope the format of

1- Something bad happens

2- Flashback to beginning

3- Circle back to where we were

4- Conclusion

Is NOT going to be every single episode..

It was nice rewatching my little pony episodes when I was older and picking up on things I didn't when I first saw them. Coddling the viewer by explaining the plot of every episode, especially in a Dora the explorer esce matter gives a feeling of secondhand embarrassment, at least it did to me when I was a kid.

I know I said I wouldn't compare it to g4 that's much, but even in the sense of mindless fun g3 was I think Wild Manes is a little lackluster.

G3 had beautiful background art and world building, so even if it was inconsistent every time you watched you just wanted to be there.

I don't think the town the Wild Manes crew is in has even been named yet?

Any way I think my potential rating has gone down to a 5/10, only time will tell at this point.

[bumblee-stumblee]

Yes yes Hershey has a transwoman rep for woman's day sure you can boycott over that that's fine and your anger is justified but they are also using child slave labor after having signed an agreement in 2020 that they would *try* to eradicate the use of child slave labor in the production of cocoa products so you could also boycott them over that as well or in addition to.

Let's also remember that child slave labor increases almost every fucking easter because these fuckers have tried to make chocolate everything synonymous with Easter when they market chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs and small chocolates to put inside of plastic egg containers.

She said the plaintiffs also did not adequately explain the role of intermediaries in the cocoa supply chain, noting that the companies did not monitor activity in "free zones" where about 70% to 80% of the cocoa is produced. Mali and the Ivory Coast share a border in West Africa. The plaintiffs said they were trafficked as children after being approached by unfamiliar men who promised paying jobs, but were ultimately not paid for their labor, threatened with starvation if they did not work, and required to live in squalor.

Don't forget the shit Nestle did either. They also responsible for child slaves being used in the production of chocolate, have killed infants by tricking parents into using formula in areas where water wasn't available or clean enough to use, are sucking the earth dry of drinking water and forcing people to go without it resort to deadly dirty water and routinely lie about the recyclability of their products.

[artg371-progresstracking]

Project 2 - Research pt. 1 (in the field)

This week we went to Old Country Market - Goats on Roof in Coombs. We were given 4 questions to answer so here's my research:

What does the packaging tell you about the brand?

The packaging tells the consumer so much about the product. It tells the buyer who the target audience of the product is and many aspects of the brand. This includes aspects like the brand ideals, the price point, where and how the product is produced, and if the product comes from a small business or a large company.

How does it do that, very specifically?

The packaging specifically does these things in many ways. The target audience is shown through the imagery, colour and language used on the packaging. The brand ideals are shown through the ecological concerns expressed through the packaging itself. The price point is expressed through the design of the packaging like simplicity vs complexity. The other aspects are expressed through language. The language could be community specific or more targeted towards the general population, and it could be more cooperate in nature or more sincere and grateful.

What differentiates each "flavour"?

Each flavour can be differentiated by a few different design aspects including colour, graphic elements/illustrations, or typography and language.

How very specifically is this done?

In this example specifically, the different flavours have different main colours on the packaging. The main logo, pattern, and certain elements are the same colour but the backgrounds are different colours. In this packaging there isn't much else that separates the two variations, but there is differences in the type on the packaging. Specifically, stating either "milk" or "dark" chocolate and also stating the cocoa percentage help the buyer to distinguish one flavour/variation from another.

After my research and some reflection, I have decided to try to create my own lip gloss brand. My ideas for this are that they will be different fruit flavored lip glosses that are targeted towards preteens and young high schoolers who are just starting to use makeup. My main goal is to create a brand that is fun, playful, and not intimating.