Here, Here for Organic Beer!

For those of you who love a cold, refreshing brew but want to maintain your organic lifestyle, Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew is here!

The #1 selling organic beer in Britain, Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew features all organic ingredients including malt, hops and honey imported from Argentina.

In fact, the Nutrition Business Journal reports sales of organic beers are becoming more and more popular here in the U.S., rising some 21% in 2008.

You can quench your thirst with Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew in Britain’s traditional 16.9 oz pint bottles, or on draught in selected locations.

Why Go Organic?

I guess I really should have posted this blog earlier, but at any rate, it's better late than never.

So, what's the deal with organic products? Very simply, organic farmers grow fruits and vegetables without using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals raised on organic feed with no antibiotics, growth hormones or animal byproducts. These animals also have access to fresh air and exercise.

So, who calls the shots on what is labeled organic? The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the National Organic Program, which regulates how these foods are grown, handled and processed. There are some smaller farms that practice organic farming but don't go through the government certification process because of the expense.

Many times, organic fruits and vegetables may look less "perfect" and even smaller than their regular grocery-store counterparts because there are no additives or preservatives.

According to the Environmental Working Group, produce with the highest amount of pesticides are apples, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cherries, grapes, kale, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pears and strawberries.

Produce with the lowest amounts of pesticides include asparagus, avacado, broccoli, cabbage, corn, eggplant, kiwi, mango, onion, papaya, peas, pineapple, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and watermelon.

Hopefully, this simple explanation will help you to make healthier decisions on buying foods.

Chocoholics - Now There's a Healthy Way to Indulge!

I fully admit --I am a chocoholic! So, when I heard about “Wei of Chocolate” offering yummy morsels that are just 30 calories a piece, and 2 grams of carbs, I just had to share!

Based in Phoenix, “Wei of Chocolate,” creates organic, vegan, fair trade-certified dark chocolates that are “chock full” of organic herbs, spices and flower essences that balance the body and mind. “Wei” refers to the Chinese character “wei” (pronounced “way”) meaning transformative action.

After traveling the world and learning several methods of meditation,”Wei of Chocolate” CEO and chocolatier Lisa Reinhardt says she’s discovered that chocolate is the perfect vehicle to introduce meditation! Hey, count me in for that!

Lisa says when people taste the “Wei,” they “drop all extraneous thought and find themselves nowhere else but fully in the present moment.”

Finally, there’s a guilt-free “way” of indulging in delicacies and getting health benefits as well. Cacao is known for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties and is also credited for being a heart-healthy snack by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

“Wei of Chocolate” comes in five delicious flavors:

Daily Gratitude Organic dark chocolate, 65% dark chocolate flavored with chai spices like cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.

Daily Love Organic dark chocolate, 74% cacao dark chocolate with a chili finish that’s perfect as a natural afternoon pick-me-up.

Café Wei dark chocolate, 68% cacao dark chocolate with Italian espresso.

Pure Joy dark chocolate, 70% dark chocolate with organic essential oils that awaken clarity and wisdom.

Wei Dark. 70% cacao dark chocolate with a special blend of 21 Lotus essences to bring more joy, peace and balance.

Check them out at wei@weiofchocolate.com

Clothes Swapping – Saves $$$ and the Planet!

Being an only child, I never had the chance to swap clothes with an older sister, but now, thanks to Bigwardrobe.com, I’ll get that chance! The British website Bigwardrobe.com, the world’s largest closet and No. 1 clothes swapping website, has recently launched in North America with a U.S. office.

Just log on and take your pick of a huge mix of labels, like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Miss Sixty, and so much more. Now, you can look like a million bucks without even spending a dime!

Just add your items to Bigwardrobe.com, and you’ll start getting offers from other members to swap unwanted clothes, bags, shoes and accessories for others. Or you can sell the items or use a combination of the two.

The average US consumer is said to have about $300 worth of unused clothing sitting in his or her wardrobe.

Created just two years ago, Bigwardrobe.com now has some 35,000 members more than 80,000 listed items, and 300 swap offers a day!

Here’s how it works: You can join for free with limits, or you can pay just $18 for an annual subscription and take advantage of all the extra features. And it’s not just for women – men and kids can also find a new home for their unwanted clothing.
And of course, by recycling your clothes, shoes, accessories, you can do your part in helping safeguard the environment.

Happy shopping!

The Lo-Fat, Lo-Carb Sandwich Solution

I don’t know about you, but I just get so tired of doing the salad thing for lunch every day. After a while, I start craving a nice, big juicy sandwich, but then I worry about all those carbs.

While, now I’m in luck because Tumaro’s has come up with a yummy line of tortilla wraps that have zero trans fats, no cholesterol, low carbs, low sodium and are 94 % fat free! These babies are made from whole wheat flower and offer a huge selection of flavors like multi-grain, green onion, garden vegetable, salsa and more – 18 in all!

Plus, did you know that Tumaro’s created the industry’s first flavored tortillas? Practically all of its products are made from 89% organic ingredients and some every carry the American Heart Association’s heart-check mark. And the price is right too – just $3.19 for a package of six in a re-sealable zip-lock bag. Not only will you save carbs and fat, but you’ll save some money as well!

Check their website at www.tumaros.com for some delicious recipes! Happy lunching!

Cooking in a Crappy Little Kitchen!

Now there are apparently no more excuses for not cooking -- even if your kitchen is miniscule and not so nice, i.e. "crappy."

Once of the newest cookbooks, "Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens" takes on the myths about gourmet cooking and demonstrates how to make fun and delicious meals despite the lack of counter space and high-tech, expensive appliances, and gadgets. "Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens" gives some practical hints and tips that help make the most of any "crappy little kitchen."

Hmmmm,, I'll have to come up with a much better excuse now!

Pampering for Paws (and you!)

Pampering for Paws (and you!)