Could You Live a Zero Waste Life?

I am fascinated by the idea of producing zero waste in my home, but it seems like a pipe dream right? Not for this family. The Johnsons no longer take out the trash- they have none! And while you're probably already picturing a family of hippies weaving clothing from wheat, the Johnsons are anything but. As soon as I logged on to Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home blog, her slogan struck an immediate chord with me. "Refuse, Refuse, Refuse. Then reduce, reuse and recycle (and only in that order)."

Refuse is right. How did we become such a junky society? Look around your house right now. How much of your stuff is actually valuable and serves a purpose? I've had to ask myself this question a lot over the last few weeks as I prepare for an international move. The answer for me? Not much. My family of three + two pets could easily move back into the 800 square foot loft that we use to occupy and lose no quality of life whatsoever. (Although the garage and yard are, admittedly, nice to have.)

Purging our home of the useless items and senseless clutter is liberating for sure, but the sense of weightless freedom and uncomplicated living will be short lived if we do not learn to REFUSE. Every day I am assaulted by trash. It seems that somebody everywhere is forcing their rubbish on me. In the mail. In the shops. In my daughter's pre-school. (This is the most heartbreaking, because to a 4 year old every creation is precious and my daughter is a prolific artist.)

The paper waste alone builds up so quickly. Even though it all goes into the recycling bin at our house, it's still such a waste of energy and resources that it often weighs me down. And then I begin to think about the things I cannot recycle. My mind follows the bags into the garbage truck, across the city, to a landfill, into the ground where it joins the millions of other bags of trash that were generated in just that one day by the citizens of this city. If I continue with this line of thinking much longer I give myself a panic attack.

Our national waste is mounting up as quickly as our debt, and these days that says a lot. It seems almost unsurmountable. But, ironically, the answer to the debt crisis is the same as that of our waste crisis, and Bea Johnson pinpoints it so eloquantly. Refuse. Refuse. Refuse. Stop creating the waste. Refuse to participate in this downward spiral.

While I'm eternally optimistic, I am also realistic. I know that at this moment in time a completely zero waste life is unachievable for 99% of society. However, imagine the impact if we could not only stop the bleeding, but reduce our production of waste by even 50%! I have a nagging suspicion that the positive effects would be felt by more than just the envrironment. Perhaps aspiring to a zero waste lifestyle would be just the catalyst society has been waiting for- an unlikely force for real and lasting change. After all, don't all of these problems (unsustainable debt, economic devestation, environmental pillaging, political unrest, waste) stem from the same human conditions of greed and apathy?

Take a quick peek at how the Johnsons transformed their household and their lives, and get inspired! If you wish to inspire others, share how you could or do reduce your household waste.

NaturOli Giveaway Winners!

With the help of the random number generator at Random.org, our winners of the NaturOli Soap Nuts Giveaway and the NaturOli Extreme 18x Giveaway have been chosen! 

And the winners are...  (drum roll please) ....

Jaime P. and Rebecca W. for the Extreme 18X

Vicki and Dinghy S. for the Soap Nuts

Congratulations guys!  Please respond to my email within 48 hours so that I can get your addresses to NaturOli.  You are going to love these products! 

Thanks again to the kind people at NaturOli for sponsoring these great giveaways.  You can learn more and shop their fabulous products by clicking the picture below. 

Free Winter Organic and Natural Coupon Booklet from Mambo Sprouts

If you haven't already signed up with Mambo Sprouts, now is the time to do it. Their Winter Organic and Natural Coupon Book is about to be mailed out in February. They only send out these coupon books 3 times a year and this one should be a good one. Go here to sign up for free! 

Thanks for the reminder MoneySavingMom!

FREE "Bring Your Own Bag" Static Car Window Cling

ConservingNow.com is offering a free static window car cling to remind you and others to bring your reusable bags when shopping.  They are so cute and an excellent "note to self" if you are like me and always leave your reusable bags in the car!  Request yours here. 

While you're there, have a look around the site.  It's a fun and user friendly place to learn, get inspired and even shop! 

Great Savings Right Now on NaturOli Soap Nuts!

Before Christmas I showed you this adorable Santa bag of NaturOli soap nuts.  Well, now that Christmas is behind us these bags are on a special discount!  You can grab 4 oz. of soap nuts (40 loads worth) for a bargain price of $6.95, which is $2.00 less than the regular 4 oz. bag just because it's in a holiday themed bag!  I'm going to snag a few at this bargain price while I still can.  At that price they won't last long so hurry if you want them! 

There are also lots of other holiday packaged sets that you can get at a good discount on right now, like this 8 oz. holiday tin of soap nuts.  At only $11.95 you get 80 loads!  I pay more than that for only 40 loads of 7th Generation or Method detergent, so this is a fabulous bargain! 

**  Be sure to create a profile before making a purchase with a user name and password so that you can begin accumluating points immediately!  For every dollar you spend you get a point which can later be applied towards purchases or shipping.  (100 points is worth $5.00.)  If you have not signed up though before completing your purchase you won't get to claim the points earned from your purchase! 

Save $2 on Method's New Laundry Detergent!

Method has just released a new line of laundry detergent in a new and innovative container.  Click here to read about it and print your $2 off coupon!  (You'll find the coupon at the bottom of the page.)

More Savings on Say Yes to Carrots Products at Walgreens!

Say Yes to Carrots, Cucumbers and Tomatoes body products are on a special promotion this month at Walgreens.  Not only will you be able to pick up 3 items for a bargain price of $20, but you'll also get back $3 in Register Rewards.  (Register Rewards are vouchers that print out at check out with your receipt and can be applied toward the balance of your next purchase.) 

Say Yes to Carrots is an all natural product line that smells and feels great on your skin!  You may remember me telling you about the deal Walgreens ran on Say Yes to Carrots lip balm just a few weeks ago.  I am excited to see that Walgreens is not only offering more natural brands, but also including them in their weekly and monthly promotions. 

If you like this brand or have been wanting to give it a try, now is a great time to buy!

My New Year's Eve Nails - Beautifully Non-Toxic

New Year's Eve has arrived and many of us women are scrambling to get ourselves dolled up for the big celebration.  Thanks to Mr. Recession, I am skipping the nail salon and giving myself a manicure.  While the experience may not be as fun, it will certainly be better for my health. 

I am one of those curious people that loves offensive smells like paint and smoke.  At a nail salon I may as well be in heaven.  The pungeant aroma of acetone and formaldehyde fills my nostrils, causing a slight tingly burning sensation that I quite like.  But wait, did I say formaldehyde?  Yes, I did.

And you thought formaldehyde was just for embalming bodies.  Nope.  Modern ingenuity has ensured this toxic carcinogen endless avenues into our lungs.  Pressed wood products (including much modern furniture), tobacco smoke, textiles, insulation, glues and even our nail polish and polish remover serve as vessels, ferrying this toxin to port in our homes and other indoor environments to be inhaled and absorbed.

It has been shown to cause cancer in lab animals and is suspected to do the same in humans.  In addition to agravating the respiratory system and triggering asthma, the EPA tells us that it can also bring on severe allergic reaction symptoms as well as wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and skin rash.

You can reduce your exposure immediately by purging your home of formaldehyde carriers.  One immediate change you can make is your nail polish and nail polish remover.  I have found a fantastic spa brand of nail care products that are free of chemicals and toxins, including formaldehyde, and are 100% natural and cruelty free. 

Karma Organics is the the natural product line of Karma Organic Day Spa in New Jersey.  They offer an all natural nail polish remover that works and smells great as well as a mix of 50 trendy and classic colors of nail polish.  I chose their Twinkle Twinkle Periwinkle for my manicure today and am so happy with the results.  I layered it over their fast drying 2 in 1 Base Coat for a beautiful, long-lasting finish.  Now my nails are an adorable shade of lavendar that will go great with my little black dress, shiney clutch and large right hand ring.

Win It!

Karma Organic is giving one lucky winner a bottle of their lavendar scented Organic Nail Polish Remover, one bottle of their 2 in One Base Coat and one bottle of Twinkle Twinkle Periwinkle Nail Polish!  To enter, simply visit their online store and look over their fabulous collection of nail colors and then leave a comment on this post telling which color, aside from the one being given away, that you like.  This must be done before any additional entries are accepted.

Additional Entries

For each additional entry, please leave an additional comment.  1 comment = 1 entry  Please tell me what you did in your comment to earn the additional entry.  Here are a few ways you can get additional entries:

1.  Follow my blog

2.  Subscribe to my blog

3.  Post about this giveaway on your own blog with a direct link back to this post.  Be sure to leave the link in your comment!

4.  Tell someone about this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter or email! 

5.  Enter another one of my giveaways.  Be sure to tell me which one you entered in your comment!

This giveaway ends on January 25th at 11:59 PM CST and is open to all US Residents.

Good Luck!

4 Ways to Eat Healthy & Get Fit While Helping Out the Planet

1. Eat Seasonally

Around Thanksgiving I was entertaining and decided to make a special “winter comfort” recipe from one of my holiday cookbooks. The recipe called for red plums. I scurried on down to Kroger to grab a bag. Imagine the shock and horror I felt when the kind little produce man told me that plums were out of season- everywhere- and would not begin to come in from South America for at least two more weeks. What?! The spoiled American consumer in me reared its ugly head. Oh the humanity! Not being able to get the fresh fruit I wanted when I wanted it!? This is America for God sakes!

Silly isn’t it? But this is how most of us are accustomed to thinking. Many of us probably wouldn’t know a winter vegetable from a spring vegetable if it hopped off our plate and slapped us. Mores the pity. Eating out of season fruits and vegetables takes a hefty toll on our environment as they are either grown in hot houses that consume more energy or (as is most often the case) they are shipped in from exotic destinations like… Mexico.

Now a quick word about Mexico. I love Mexico. I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up and even had the privilege of celebrating my quinceañera there. (A quinceañera is a coming of age ceremony in Latin cultures and occurs on a girl’s 15th birthday. It’s a celebration that welcomes her into womanhood.) The people are open and warm and the culture is spirited and almost magical.

There are, however, some things I do not like about Mexico, primarily their lax if not non-existent agricultural regulations. Dangerous pesticides and unsustainable practices that would never be allowed in the United States are prevalent on many Mexican farms, yet we still allow their produce to make its way to our dinner tables and into the mouths of our children.

Eating seasonally promises many nutritional benefits. A seasonal diet ensures that you are able to consume only produce grown in the United States which carries a, somewhat, higher standard. Produce that has a long journey to market is picked prematurely and then ripened with chemicals. Choosing produce that is allowed to mature naturally “on the vine” ensures that you’ll be receiving maximum nutritional value.

2. Be a Local Consumer

Comitting to consume only locally grown produce will turn you into a seasonal eater overnight. It will also offers you the luxury of choosing exactly who you purchase your food from. Use sites like localharvest.org to find farms in your area whose growing practices are in line with your own personal values. In addition to participating in farmers markets, smaller family farms often foster personal relationships with their consumers by opening up the farm for visits a few days a month. This can make for a fun outing with the family and also give you an inside look at where your dinners come from!

Being a local consumer allows you to invest your money back into your area by supporting the family owned establishments that make up the heart of your community. It is an easy and fun way to reduce your household’s carbon footprint (even if the store’s produce is American grown, it still likely had a very long journey on a semi) and empowers you to chose fruits and vegetables that are fresh and nutritionally superior.

3. Plant Your Own Vegetable Garden

Growing some of your own vegetables is not as hard as people imagine and its benefits are far reaching. You don’t need a large plot or even a backyard. Many people find that a container garden is plenty to keep them stocked in their basic veggies and herbs for a full season. If you are limited with space and time or are not yet confident of your gardening skills, start out with a salad garden. For help and ideas in planning your garden, check out these helpful articles and site:

A Beginner's Guide to Organic Gardening from Martha Stewart's Whole Living

Simple Salad-Garden Containers from Better Homes and Gardens

The Gardener's Rake is a blog that is packed with helpful tips and articles on gardening, including a few gems on container gardening.

4. Legs: God’s Plan for Reducing Our Dependency on Oil

All joking aside, how often do you hop in the car when you could walk or ride your bike? True, it’s not always feasible, especially if you have young ones to tote around with you. However, there are some great strollers and bike carriages that make for a better work out for mom, an exciting adventure for the kids, and a much needed respite for Mother Nature. Is your grocery store within biking distance? There are some cute and trendy baskets that fit easily onto a bike to carry your bags. Turn your errand into a workout while also helping to reduce emissions and improve your city’s air quality.

Our bodies are made for the outdoors, yet we modern day humans spend more than 90% of our time inside! The results are often excess weight and a deficiency in vitamin D which our bodies naturally soak up through the sun’s rays. Studies show that the air quality inside many offices and homes is significantly poorer than that of a metropolitan city! The next time you have an errand to run or a nearby friend to visit, go natural and use the legs your mother gave ya.

Another NaturOli Giveaway!

I have already posted a fabulous giveaway for NaturOli Soap Nuts that is still going on (if you haven't entered yet you can do so here) and now I have the privilege of posting another! The kind people at NaturOli are offering up two bottles of their Extreme 18x laundry detergent. You can read my review of this fabulous detergent here. It is a very strong concentrate of soap nuts and a very powerful, yet gentle cleaner. I love it and I know you will too!

TWO lucky winners will receive their very own 8 oz. bottle (enough for 96 loads) of Extreme 18x!

Entering Is Easy

To enter, just visit NaturOli's site and read over the information on Extreme 18x. Then come back to this giveaway post and leave a comment telling one thing you read about this fabulous detergent that you liked. Easy! This first step must be completed before any additional entries are counted.

Additional Entries

You can receive additional entries for doing any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Follow my blog.

2. Subscribe to my blog.

3. Join the NaturOli Revolution. It's free and comes with loads of great perks!

4. Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to leave a link to your post in your entry comment.

5. Tell someone about this giveaway. You can spread the word via Twitter or Facebook or simply tell a friend in passing. Doesn't matter! Just be sure to leave a link directly back to this giveaway post if possible and tell me about it in your entry comment.

6. Enter another of my giveaways. Be sure to tell me in your entry comment which giveaway you entered.

This giveaway will run until January 15th 11:59 PM CST and is open to all US Residents.

Winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at random.org and will be announced on January 16th. I will also email the winner so be sure to have my email address (lucky832@gmail.com) as a trusted sender in your email! The winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

Alabu Giveaway Winner!

Using the random.org number generator, the winner of the Alabu giveaway has been chosen. And the lucky winner is.....

Comment #11 - DebK!

Congratulations Deb and best of lucky next time to the rest of you! Don't forget to stop by my giveaway page and enter my other giveaways!

**Deb- please make sure you respond to my email coming from lucky832@gmail.com to claim your gift certificate!

NaturOli Soap Nuts Giveaway - Win a 4 oz. Bag of Soap Nuts!

Over the past two weeks I have shared with you my experiences with NaturOli and their amazing soap nuts, soap bar and Extreme 18x detergent. When I received my NaturOli products in the mail, I thought I was about to discover some fabulous new green products. I didn't realize that I would actually discover a whole world of possibility revolving around this little dried berry. NaturOli's passion for consumer education is evident as soon as you visit their website. If you are interested in learning more, here are some of their articles that I would recommend:

It's Time for Change

The Power of Marketing

Soap Nuts and Soap Nuts Making


Win NaturOli Soap Nuts!

And now for the fun part! NaturOli is generously offering TWO lucky winners a 4 oz. bag of soap nuts. This bag will wash 40 loads of laundry!



To Enter:

Visit NaturOli's site and take a look around. Then come back here and tell me one thing that you learned about soap nuts or NaturOli that you like. This first step is mandatory and must be done before any additional entries are accepted.


For Additional Entries:

1. Join the NaturOli Revolution here and then leave a comment on this post telling me you did. Joining is free and painless and will give you access to their newsletter, special promotions and offers, bulletins and site updates. As a member you'll also be the first to know about special closeouts and discounts!

2. Become a follower of Spots On My Apples and then leave a comment telling me!

3. Subscribe to my blog, then leave a comment telling me you did!

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with your link.

5. Tell someone about this giveaway then leave a comment telling me!

6. Enter another one of my giveaways then leave a comment telling me which one you entered.



This giveaway is open to US residents and will close on January 16th at 11:59 PM CST. The winner will be announced on January 17th and will also receive an email from me that they must reply to by January 19th 11:59 PM CST or another winner will be chosen.


Good luck!

NaturOli Extreme 18X Laundry Detergent Review

Last week I posted about my exciting discovery of soap nuts and NaturOli, the company who has turned them into the rock stars of the green household industry. Since that review I have had the chance to try NaturOli's Extreme 18x laundry detergent. It's a super concentrated solution made from soap nuts and its list of ingredients is not only short but 100% natural. I was so taken by the idea of the soap nut, nature's perfectly packaged laundry detergent, that I was reluctant to try 18x. However, I also realized that not having a more "conventional" form of laundry detergent available in my house would give my husband the perfect excuse to leave that household chore all to me.

After reading the instructions and tips I was a bit skeptical. It called for only 1 teaspoon of the solution for a medium to large laundry load! "Yeah right" was my initial reaction, but then I reminded myself that these are the soap nut missionaries. If they say it only takes a teaspoon then who am I to doubt? I poured the solution into my empty washer and filled it halfway, allowing the solution to mix with the water, before tossing in my load of towels.

An hour or so later my towels were dried and ready for inspection. They were clean, soft and smelled amazingly fresh without having any real scent or perfume. The 18x had done its job! I have used it on three loads since then (we crank out a lot of laundry in this house) and have had wonderful results each time! True the solution is not as green as the nuts in their natural form but it is certainly more eco-friendly than any other laundry detergent I know of. The tiny sample sized bottle seen in the picture is enough to wash 12 HE loads or 6 standards loads! The bottle is 100% recyclable as is all packaging.

What I Love About This Stuff

• It's made with only a few simple, all natural ingredients which are given in plain view on the label and on the website
• It is super concentrated so one large bottle will last me a long time, reducing the amount of plastic I have to send to the recycling plant and thus reducing my carbon footprint
• It does not stink, it does not smell like anything. It just smells clean. This is important as my daughter has respiratory issues that can be aggravated by perfumed detergents.
• No need for fabric softener! It softened my laundry naturally.
• It works! My white towels even came out brighter.
• Competitive price. You can purchase an 8 ounce bottle from NaturOli's site for $16.95. That is enough to wash at least 96 high efficiency (HE) loads and 48 standard loads! It will likely go even further than that as you can get away with using as little as 1/2 a teaspoon with low soil loads!
• Easy on your fabrics and on your skin! NaturOli started out initially as a natural skincare company, so they have a strong understanding of how certain ingredients interact with skin. This knowledge was also applied to their Extreme 18x formula. (See my recent review of their soap bar!)
• It's a product I can trust. My experience with NaturOli and it's president over the last month have instilled in me a trust in the integrity of their company and the products they offer. They are committed to educating consumers and this is evident in their literature, their website and in all communications I have had with them. Though they are quickly growing into a major contender in the green market, they continue to run the company as they started it- with that personal, hands on approach that demonstrates their commitment to quality and their respect for their customers, products, employees and, above all, our environment.

A Few Tips On Using Extreme 18x

• Once you've filled and loaded your washer, leave the laundry to soak for 15 minutes before beginning the cycle. This is not necessary but does allow the detergent to be even more effective. I did this every time with fantastic results. I set my kitchen timer so that I wouldn't forget about it.
• Pour the liquid into the water while it's running into your machine. This mixes it up well and even produces a little sudsing. Keep in mind that the presence or absence of suds means nothing. It's just something that we have been trained to look for by conventional soaps and detergents that contain nasty chemical sudsing agents. 18x is low sudsing but very effective.
• Don't over pack your machine. The laundry should have room to move around during the cycle. (This is recommended with any detergent.)
• Play around with your measurements. As I mentioned earlier, it is not always necessary to use a full teaspoon. Some loads will come out perfectly clean and fresh with only 1/2 a teaspoon! After a few loads you'll be able to judge for yourself how much is needed.

This detergent was a hit with me. I plan on keeping my laundry room well stocked with Extreme 18x and soap nuts.
If you want to give NaturOli this Christmas, visit their site and check out their adorable seasonal gift sets! But hurry. They only have so many of their seasonal soaps left and they won't last long!

Extra Giveaway Entry Today Because I'm Feeling Jolly...

If you've already entered the $25 Alabu Gift Certificate Giveaway, today you can get one extra entry without having to do a thing! Just leave a comment saying Merry Christmas along with your email address on the giveaway post here. That's it! No work at all.

If you have not already entered the giveaway, what are you waiting for?! Enter here- it only takes a couple of minutes and you could win $25 worth of Alabu products of your choice!

**In order to get the extra Merry Christmas entry you must first complete the initial entry by visiting Alabu's site, picking out a product you really like and leaving it in a comment on the giveaway post. This is required before any additional entries are valid.

Have a wonderful day and, in honor of the season, do something nice for someone!

NaturOli Soap Nuts Soap Bar

Last week I told you a bit about NaturOli and the little wonders called soap nuts. Until recently I had only used soap nuts to wash my clothes, but yesterday I took them into the shower with me in the form of a soap bar.

NaturOli has a wide range of beautiful, all natural soap bars, but the Soap Nuts Soap Bar is their newest. In addition to ground up soap nuts, the bars contain high quality natural ingredients like almond oil, coconut oil, mango butter and vitamin E. They are proud of their all natural ingredients and list them on the label in plain language for the consumer to see.

The rosemary and tea tree mix with the other ingredients to form a very fresh herbal smell that was vaguely familiar to me. As I lathered the soap bar onto my washcloth I racked my brain trying to put my finger on it. While marveling at the exfoliating effect of the soap nut grains it came to me. Thanksgiving turkey! Boy have I spent too much time in the kitchen lately or what? I'm a foodie, so it is natural that I link aromas to cuisine. Unfortunately it made for an odd shower experience. I enjoyed the soap. It lathered up nicely even without chemical sudsing agents and gave my a gentle exfoliation while infusing it with natural oils. But I couldn't help but feel like a turkey getting rubbed down for the oven.

The quality of this bar was really evident after the shower. I have reviewed many soaps and body washes lately, many of them very gentle and nurturing to my dry skin.

But I have to say hands down that this is the most moisturizing soap I have ever
used.

I honestly did not feel the need to moisturize at all! Knowing the effects that blown heat has on my severely dry skin, I still chose to moisturize. But the soap nuts soap bar had already done the job! It reminded me of how my skin feels after having a massage and then washing off the oil.

Despite the roast turkey association, I used the soap again this morning and will again tomorrow. I love it! The rosemary is the culprit here. Though wonderfully fresh and fragrant, I will always connect this herb with dinner. I would love to try one of these bars with some of their other scents like the candy cane mint or the cinnamon, but until that can happen I will definitely continue to use this one. It will also make a perfect stocking stuffer for the man in my life who appreciates good soaps but is a bit burned out on lavender.

Check out NaturOli's complete line of soaps here if you are looking for green gifts this Christmas. Also, NaturOli's founder has a blog dedicated to the amazing soap nut that you may be interested in visiting. It's packed full of information and tips for harnessing the powers of this little wonder! He has also posted an article on the NaturOli site that will blow your mind. Read about the greatest marketing scam of the 20th century here! It will completely change the way you see your personal care products.

Organic Animals Dolls Giveaway at Organic Girl

Organic Girl is hosting this adorable green giveaway! I just entered it and, even though it means more competition for me, I thought I'd share it with you. These giant huggable dolls are so cute and 100% organic. The art is adorable (classic child drawings, over sized features and buggy mismatched eyes) and come with funny little notes that sound like my own daughter's messages when she dictates letters to people. Enter here for your chance to win one Animals plush doll of your choice.

Good luck!

Free Recipe eBook from Food & Water Watch!

Earlier this year, Food and Water Watch held a fish recipe competition. Recipes were judged not just by taste, but also affordability, ease of preparation, and sustainability of ingredients! They assembled the winning recipes into a wonderful recipe book that they have called Fish & Tips on a Budget: The Frugal Fish Edition. All of the recipes look and sound delicious and none of them will cost more than $25 to prepare!

I love fish and appreciate the health benefits they offer, but I only really know one way to prepare it- under the grill. I always end up using simple pepper and lemon because that's all I know to use for seasoning! With this recipe book I can start spicing things up a bit. I can't wait to try the grand prize winning recipe, Spicy BBQ Tilapia with Herb-Roasted Potatoes and Southern Creamy Cole Slaw! Yum.

In addition to the fabulous recipes, this book also offers great tips on choosing the best fish and even offers alternatives if you cannot find a certain type of fish in your area. Download your FREE copy here and get cookin'!

Did you know that less than 2% of seafood in the US are inspected for contamination even though a large portion of fish on our market our harvested in foreign waters where health and environmental standards are low to non-existent? Luckily, Food and Water Watch has also assembled a handy guide to help us make the best decisions when purchasing our seafood. I was surprised at some of the fish that show up on their Dirty Dozen list- many of them I buy often like Orange Roughy, Atlantic Cod and Farm Raised Salmon! You can view or download The Smart Seafood Guide here.

Save $5 on any Weil Baby Purchase of $15 or More!

If you haven't seen the fantastic baby line by naturopath Dr. Weil, you should check them out. Not only are they specially designed for your baby's mouth and hands, they are also all BPA free, nontoxic, pediatrician recommended and made in the USA!

They are the only major baby bottle brand that is 100% made in America.

This ensures high quality and standards, affordable prices and a smaller carbon footprint. They are now available online and at Babies 'R Us. Print out this high value coupon to save $5 off any Weil Baby purchase of $15 or more! The coupon does not expire until December of 2010 so you have a while to use it! You can also print out lots if you need them!

Organic Printable Coupons at Coupons.com

Coupons for organic grocery items are rare, but lately I've been seeing more and more pop up. This month on coupons.com you can print coupons for Muir Organics (canned organic tomatoes and pasta sauces), So Delicious coconut milk and deserts, Steaz Organic Iced Tea, Pure & Natural Hand & Body Soap, Burts Bees Skincare and Imagine Organic Soups and Broths! Remember that you are limited in how many you are allowed to print, but if you use your browser's back button you will be able to print off two of each coupon per computer. Once you have reached your limit for a coupon it will not allow to print it again until the site is reset, which I believe happens every month. Check it out! Coupons vary by region so you may even have more than what I have listed!

Boiron Coupon for Homeopathic Children's Cold, Cough and Flu Medicine

Boiron has a coupon available for print through their website for $1.00 off any one item from their line of homeopathic Children's cold, cough and flu medicines. You can print as many as you need and they don't expire until 2012! Click on the picture above or go here.