SavvySugar

BellaSugar's Gift Guide: Your Eco-Friendly Pal

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

There's nothing like buying a gift that you can be proud of. If you've got an Earth-conscious gal pal who's just as into beauty products as you are, but feels better about using goodies that won't harm the environment, then I've got some great ideas for you below.

I especially love this line of cosmetics from Nvey Eco. Their organic base is velvety smooth and their lipsticks (£15 each and all organic as well) are creamy and come in a fun and bright selection of colours.

So with all of the plastic, packaging and wrapping paper waste that we incur during the holiday season, supporting Earth-friendly products are a smart way to shop this season!

Bergamot Lip Balm by Pai Skincare - £6.00	Botanics Organic Super Balm - £4.88
Eco Erase Corrective Concealer by Nvey Eco - £14.00	Korres Colour Organic Face Primer - £19.50
Organic Surge Eye Gel - £7.99	Balm Balm Organis Rose Lip Balm - £2.93
Organic Bath Oil by NEOM - £32.00	Weleda Birch Body Scrub - £8.95
Mothercare organic Fairtrade Cotton wool buds - 200pk - £1.99	Organic Nourishing Body Oil Rosemary 250ml, Bamford - £36.00
Organic Lip Balm - £8.00	Purity Organic Skincare Anti Aging Serum & Mask 50ml - £8.99
Organic Muslin Face Cloth by Pai Skincare - £3.00	Jo Wood Organics Amka Organic Bath Oil - £44.95
Organic Soap by Ecosoapia - £6.00	Organic Frankincense Toning Body Cream by Neal's Yard Remedies - £22.00
Australian Organics Shower Kit - £9.75	Organic Soothing Gel by Dr. Alkaitis - £36.00
BaByliss Eco Hair Dryer, 5137U - £18.45	Organic Foot and Leg Balm by INLIGHT - £26.00
Green People Pure & Beautiful Gift Pack - £19.50

Paperless Post Gets Holiday Parties Started

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:29 -0800

This holiday season, go green, go cheap, and go beautiful! Instead of sending out a tree's worth of paper invitations for your holiday soiree, consider using creative and gorgeous online invitations. While e-vitations have been around a while, few are as sassy, simple, pretty, and well-organized as the custom stationery from the Paperless Post.

A cinch to figure out, and party queens can choose between traditional, contemporary, modern, and casual templates and add the perfect touch with an embossed design, colorful trims, a grosgrain ribbon, or even their own photos. New members get 25 free virtual stamps (good for 25 email addresses) when they sign up and pay an additional fee when they want to send out their notice to more guests. If a hostess wants to blast the invitation out to 100 people, she would only pay the $8 fee for 100 e-stamps as opposed to a $44 bill at the post office. For an extra $5, mama can make the envelope fancy and add a liner. In the end, an $8 stamp fee and $5 envelope liner are peanuts compared to the snail mail option, and she never has to wait in that dreaded line! The bonus is it makes managing the party details as easy as one, two, three. Mommy can tell who has opened the invite, replied to it, and made comments on it.

So the next time mum's throwing a bash - holiday or otherwise - she should consider Paperless Post. The guests will be impressed by her fabulous and savvy eco-friendly ways, and it will give her the opportunity to spend the money on wine and music, 'cause that's what will make her party legendary.

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Yet Another Reason to Steer Clear of Plastics

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:31 -0800

The last thing mommy wants to do is add another worry to her already fret-worthy list, but this one may be worth noting. We all know that plastics can contain BPA and other harmful toxins, but we don't always know why they are hazardous. Fortunately, scientists are doing the dirty work for us and informing us of yet another reason to steer clear of items containing phthalates. In a recent study, British researchers found that certain phthalates were not only affecting male genitalia, but their behavior, too. Boys who were exposed to higher amounts of the chemical were less interested in the stereotypical car toys and less apt to play in a rough and tumble manner. Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM Trust said:

We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behavior too... This feminizing capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders'.

While the EU banned such toxins from toys years ago, the US has yet to make such dramatic (and in my opinion, necessary) moves. This is just another good reminder why us moms should speak up and let our voices be known. Join the Million Baby Crawl and speak your mama mind!

There Could Be a Rainforest in Your Shower

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:13 -0800

If a trip to the rainforest isn't in the cards, you could always bring a piece of the rainforest to you. Wembé, a new collection of handmade soaps, lets you do just that.

Made in Paraguay, the soaps ($5-9) incorporate South American ingredients such as black clay, passion fruit, and chocolate. Unsurprisingly, they smell amazingly fresh and fragrant, but they don't have that headache-causing overload. Some of the soaps sound almost good enough to eat -Yerba Mate, Dulce de Leche, and Mango among them. (Disclaimer: Don't eat soap.) My favorite is the loofah exfoliating blend, which cleans gently while whisking away dead skin.

If you're a treehugging type, you'll be glad to know that the entire line is free of petroleum products, sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrance and color. FYI, Wembé has a three-bar minimum order. Still, it's cheaper than a flight to the Southern Hemisphere.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying Hiking Boots

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:50:34 -0800

If you choose your hiking boots carefully, you can wear the same pair for years. But tracking down the perfect pair is easier said than done. I recently purchased a new pair of hikers, and they seem promising; I'll know after I break them in!

If you're gearing up for some cold-weather hikes, don't forget to bring these questions along when you head into the store.

Will you be hiking on wet ground? If so, it's worth investing in a pair of waterproof boots; they are more expensive but essential for preventing moisture-based blisters.
Do you need a heavy or light shoe? The heavier the boot, the tougher your hiking will be. For day hikes, a lighter boot is best, but if you're scaling inclines and/or carrying a heavy pack, you need the extra support of a heavier shoe.
Do you need ankle support? If you are going to be hiking on steep inclines or uneven terrain, get a boot that covers the ankles, rather than a low shoe such as an approach shoe. This will help prevent injury.

Three more tips, so keep reading.

Study Reveals UK Throws Away $20 Billion in Food a Year

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:44 -0800

With the biggest meal of the year a mere two weeks away, here's something to keep in mind: reducing food waste. The British government has just released a new report that reveals each year, the country throws away more than $20 billion in consumable food and drink.

According to the Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP), the UK's food waste is topping 6.6 million tons annually. By tossing less, consumers could prevent food from being directed to landfill sites - an act that would prevent 15 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions yearly. (Once it becomes landfill, food produces methane, another potent greenhouse gas.) WRAP aims to reduce waste by 250,000 tons by March 2011.

I can only imagine what the results of a food waste study would be in the United States. Hopefully, this is an initiative that our administration is looking into - although the first step is definitely consumer awareness. How mindful are you of not wasting food?

Thanksgiving Tip: Save Takeout Containers For Leftovers

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:45 -0800

Since the vast majority of you love turkey day leftovers as much as the meal itself, I thought I'd share my favorite post-supper pointer for those who are hosting this year.

Any time you order takeout, delivery, or take home a doggy bag between now and Thanksgiving, be sure to hand wash and reserve some of the plastic takeout containers that you get from restaurants. That way, on Thanksgiving day, you can send your guests home happy with leftovers of their choice - and you won't be short any servingware.

Got any tips for Thanksgiving leftovers? Share them below!

Casa Quickie: Cleaning Soot

CasaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:30:20 -0800

If your fireplace's brick surface is marred by a thick layer of soot, here's one nontoxic way to deal with it. Just mix up an ounce of soap with an ounce of table salt. Mix with enough water to make a cream and then rub it onto the brick's surface with a cloth. After 15 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush. It requires some elbow grease, but it will help cut the soot!

Source: Flickr User Ted Percival

Guess What This Basket Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:30:52 -0800

This basket may look like it's woven from a natural fiber, but it's actually made from a type of recycled wire. Can you guess the technology that uses the wire?

Open House: What Was Your Most Successful DIY?

CasaSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:30:31 -0800

For crafters and DIYers, a few failures are par for the course. That's part of the reason why successful DIY projects are such a coup. I've had my share of successes and failures, and I'm currently in the middle of one of my more ambitious projects ever. I find myself fretting over it, since I'm not sure if it's going to completely work out yet, and there are still several steps to complete.

One of my favorite DIY projects was refurbishing a wood and canvas canoe with my father. It was a project that took a long time to complete, but the end result was absolutely amazing. I loved paddling around the lake in the canoe, knowing that we'd made that moment possible thanks to our hard work.

This table, shown above, was also a collaboration between a parent and grown child. You can read more about it here. But before you do, tell me a little about your most successful DIY project. Was it quick and easy? Or did it take lots of love, elbow grease, and patience?

Source: Flickr User Sporkist