More Hip Than Hippie - How sweet it is!The Highlights: This week Val found her pants. Dori goes Birthday shopping with her kids. We talk about sweeteners - which ones to avoid, and some natural alternatives.
In the news:
Val's Last Minute Gift Ideas:
- Radius toothbrush - Recycled plastic travel organizer - only $8. - find it at radiustoothbrush.com
- Thamesandkosmos.com - build a car that runs on the power of the sun. - $150
- Solio- Solar powered recharger for your ipod.
Jill doesn't have a tiara
If you feel like showing Jill some love - email her at jill@greenfeet.com
Beer of the Day: Butte Creek Brewery Christmas Cranberry Ale.
Sweeteners: What to avoid and what to try -
Debra Lynn Dadd has a great website with all the information on sweeteners that Val talked about today. Visit Sweetsavvy.com to learn more. While you're there you'll want to check out Debra's other sites as well. She rocks. She has a lot of well researched resources for you to take advantage of. Don't forget to sign up for her newsletters and get great tips delivered directly to your inbox.
Emails:
- Sarah - She and her husband heeded the warnings about lead in Christmas lights. Because they have a little one they put the lights where she couldn't reach them, and washed their hands after putting up the lights. She has also started to use essential oils in her cleaning products, diaper cream, and is taking cloth bags with her to the store. Kudos Sarah and hubby.
- Brandy - Suggests Burt's Bee's lip balm. Val also suggests Alba cocoanut cream lip balm. Brandy also suggests giving pets a ginger snap before rides in the car to help them not get car sick.
- Michael - Wants the girls to be a bit more scientific in their research. Michael - when they give me that research, I will post it. Also he has a great suggestion on how to get Le Creuset on the cheap. Check out your local William Sonoma and check toward the back of the store for some on sale.
- Heather - Tesco uses "degradable" bags - Degradable = will breakdown over time into smaller pieces of plastic, but do not ever go away. Biodegradable = Breaks down over time due to either bacteria or fungus, and eventually goes away completely. Photodegradable = breaks down due to light. And Oxidative - degrates from oxygen.
- Liisa - She bought tea tree oil, and lavender is next on her list. She bought Sierra Club Christmas cards, and put charitable donations and Natural Home and Garden on her Christmas list (where she learned about mormolium - a natural alternative to lenolium.
- Shari - Meloluca? They sell a lot of products based on Tea tree oil. Read labels and ask for a list of ingredients. Use the consumers guide to cosmetic ingredients by Ruth Winter.
- Doug - He liked the Christmas song. He is involved in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, they are on the quest to find 1,000,000 survivers. Just fill out this form, and send it in.
Politically Correct Goodnight Moon
