laceyjane's Blog

http://www.startsampling.com/sm/100173/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100173&source=&flavor=

http://www.kepoosport.com/Gift.html

Hurry, this will be gone soon.

Use promo code PMT2379, fill out your info, and they will let you design your own towel. I have used this company before to get an awesome lighter, and it's completly safe to fill out thier form. Awesome deal!

https://www.smokerservice.com/service/customBeachTowel.do

http://www.gimundo.com/player.aspx?url=/commmunity/videos/25/02/2008/Korean_Baby_Covers_The_Beatles&inabnv=139&Page=1

Lifestraw, the portable drinking filtration system, nabbed the top honor in the fifth Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas last Thursday. Worn around the neck and used like a regular straw, Lifestraw claims to filter 99.9999 percent of bacteria and 98.7 percent of viruses using a halogen-based resin.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/lifestraw_world_changing.php

Swap, buy & sell or browse and barter
Fashion, furniture and beauty
Designer, vintage and high street
Make friends, enter competitions and get expert fashion advice

Free membership and free swaps
It’s eco friendly and fun to trade
No end of sale fee’s or hidden extras
Join our style savvy and sociable community

It's official darling, buying new clothes is so out of fashion. All the smartest women are trading names of dressmakers, dyers, shoemakers and cleaners. They are tweaking, pinning and reviving old clothes to make them look up to date.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/new-clothes-vintage-recycle.php

Also gives you a website that lets you trade clothes, so that when your cute stuff feels old, you just trade it for something else. Join today and get a new wardrobe!

http://www.oceana.org/support/problem/what-s-at-stake/human-health/stories/

The first in a 5 part series.

Yes, you read that right. Sure, these guys are gigantic fools. Yes, they sound a tad bit unbalanced. But ultimatly, they did noting other than have a conversation, and were outed by government spies, who by the way are women beaters. This is America, and this act frightens me. It happened to them. Will it happen to you?

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/03/department-of-pre-crime.html

If you have ever been interested in growing your own food but had no idea where to begin, this site gives you the info on how to start. Even if you only have a window sill, the dream of growing can be yours.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2008-01-01/First-Time-Gardener-Step-Right-Up--Get-Your-Expert-Advice-Here.aspx

Take this survey at http://www.reduce.org/bags and use the code: reduce. For doing the survey they will send you a reusable shopping bag!

Here's a $5 gift card I won't be able to use by when it expires at the end of next march. if you take it, please say so, that way no-one feels dumb trying to use an invalid card.

card # 6006491570052701538

pin # 0760

expires 3/24/08

http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/lighten-up

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/green-guide/low-carbon-diet/eco-heating-env.html

Eco Heating

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/green-guide/low-carbon-diet/voltage-vampires-env.html

Voltage Vampires

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/green-guide/low-carbon-diet/carbon-diet-env.html

Carbon Diet

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/123/6degrees

The HSUS Guide to Vegetarian Eating is packed with mouth-watering recipes and the hows and whys of making the transition to vegetarian eating. Fill out the form below for your free copy.

http://www.hsus.org/forms/guide_to_vegetarian_eating_booklet_order_form.html

All you have to do is fill out the form and a gift certificate will be emailed to you. I checked out the site and there are a few things that you will be able to buy using just the free $20.

http://newbeauty.com/BeautyPass/SignUp.aspx

http://deliciochocolates.com/gourmet_chocolate.php

Sample contains:
One (1) Dark Chocolate Truffle, One (1) White Chocolate Truffle, One (1) Champagne Truffle, and One (1) Irish Cream Truffle.
Gourmet Chocolates do not actually contain any alcohol.

You don't pay a dime for your gourmet chocolate!
Just fill in this form and we will send your sample!
Absolutely NO charge for shipping and handling.

From Mother Earth Living:

Help to Beat the Winter Blues
by Jaime Netzer

After the holiday decorations have come down and your relatives have all gone home, you may find yourself stuck with a case of the winter blues. Colder temperatures and limited sunshine can make anyone feel like curling up in bed rather than facing the outside world.

Each year, millions of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that strikes during the winter months. The exact cause of SAD is unknown, but the decreasing daylight that wintertime brings is thought to be a trigger for the condition. Even if you don’t suffer from SAD, the short days of winter can be enough to make anyone feel down.

The good news is there are many affordable, natural remedies for the winter blues. One simple option is to try to get more sunshine, whether by spending more time sitting next to a window when you’re inside, or increasing the amount of time you spend outdoors each day. For more severe cases of seasonal depression, a common treatment is light therapy, in which patients sit in front of light boxes for an allotted time each day for exposure to artificial sunshine.

Here are a few other remedies that can help combat dreary winter moods:

St. John’s Wort
This herb has been found to help alleviate mild to moderate depression, and it works as well as standard antidepressants, according to the journal American Family Physician. You should consult with your health care professional before starting a regimen of St. John’s Wort to find out about possible issues with other medications. For example, taking this herb can compromise the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

Yoga
Studies have shown that all types of yoga are effective as complementary treatment for depression. Relatively inexpensive and easy to learn, yoga can help move your focus inward and bring calm to your body and mind. Yoga is helpful because it provides emotional, psychological and physical benefits to your body. Learn more about yoga here.

Vitamin D
Current research indicates that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to a wide range of health problems including osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and yes, depression. The best way to get vitamin D might seem obvious: Get some sun! But it may also be a good idea to consider vitamin D supplements. In the winter, the low angle of the sun can make it difficult for some populations to get enough vitamin D, for example the elderly, and those who live at northern latitudes.

Honey and Banana Skin Treat

Ingredients:
One yellow banana
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Directions:
Peel banana and place in blender or food processor. Add honey and yogurt, blend until smooth. Using finger tips, apply banana mask on clean skin; let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove with cool water and damp cloth.

Honey and Papaya Skin Treat
Ingredients:
One quarter fresh papaya
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Directions:
Cut papaya in half and remove seeds. Cut in half again and remove skin. Place one-quarter papaya in blender or food processor. Add honey and yogurt, blend until smooth.
Using finger tips, apply papaya mask on clean skin, let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove with cool water and damp cloth.

Honey and Blueberry Skin Treat
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Directions:
Rinse blueberries and place in blender or food processor. Add honey and yogurt, blend until smooth. Using finger tips, apply blueberry mask on clean skin, let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove with cool water and damp cloth.

Note: These are all edible, so if you get a little on your lip, go ahead and lick it off!

In the last year, the major TV networks asked the presidential candidates 2,679 questions. Pop quiz: How many were about global warming? A) 514—after all, it's one of the top issues facing the country B) 165—as many as were asked about illegal immigration C) 3—the same number asked about UFOs If you guessed 3, you're right: Reporters asked as many questions about UFOs as they did about the climate crisis—the biggest threat to our planet. Can you sign our petition urging top TV reporters to ask the presidential candidates about global warming? Click here to add your name: http://pol.moveon.org/climatequestions/o.pl?id=11909-8628998-yWk0YA&t=165

As seen in MotherEarth News:

If you’ve never tried to make cheese, you’ll probably be surprised to learn that making many kinds of cheese is no more difficult or time-consuming than baking a pie. Luckily, one of the most popular cheeses — mozzarella — is one such supereasy cheese.

The following recipe comes from Home Cheese Making by Ricki Carroll. She has taught thousands of people how to make cheese, and her devotees refer to Carroll as “The Cheese Queen.” You can order the special ingredients for mozzarella from her company, New England Cheesemaking Supply http://www.cheesemaking.com/ , or you may be able to find them in your local natural foods store.

Simple Cheesemaking Equipment
All you need to begin making cheese at home is a stainless steel pot, a dairy thermometer, measuring spoons and some cheesecloth. You can find these supplies practically anywhere that sells kitchen equipment, but you can also order them — and other equipment for more ambitious cheesemaking adventures — from New England Cheesemaking Supply. The cheesecloth they sell is of extremely high quality, and can be washed and used over and over again. They also offer a kit with all the supplies necessary to make mozzarella and ricotta cheese many times.

About the Milk
Historically, mozzarella has been made from whole sheep’s milk, water buffalo milk and cow’s milk (pretty much in that order). It’s great if you can find fresh cow’s milk from a nearby farm, but store-bought milk will work, too. Skim milk also works, but you’ll get less cheese as a result.

Just be sure to avoid any packages that say “ultra-pasteurized” or “UHP.” Ultra-high-temperature pasteurization exists solely to allow milk to be shipped over long distances without spoiling. The protein in milk, the compound responsible for curdling ability, is destroyed by excessive heat. Ultra-pasteurized milk can sit around for many weeks without spoiling, but it can’t make cheese.

If you have access to fresh, raw milk, and want to pasteurize it, simply heat it to 145 degrees Fahrenheit in a stainless steel pot (a double boiler is even better). Hold the temperature at 145 for exactly 30 minutes, then chill the pot in a sink filled with ice water until the temperature of the milk dips to 40 degrees. Then refrigerate it.

Ricki Carroll’s 30-minute Mozzarella
Yield: 3/4 to 1 pound cheese

1 1/2 tsp citric acid dissolved in 1/4 cup cool water
1 gallon whole milk
1/4 tsp liquid rennet (or 1/4 rennet tablet) diluted in 1/4 cup cool, unchlorinated water
1 tsp cheese salt (coarse, noniodized flake salt similar to pickling salt; do not use iodized salt)

Slowly heat the milk in a stainless steel pot to 55 degrees. While stirring, add the citric acid solution to the milk and mix thoroughly.
Heat the milk to 88 degrees over medium-low heat. The milk will begin to curdle.
Gently stir in the diluted rennet with an up-and-down motion, while heating the milk to between 100 and 105 degrees. Turn off the heat. The curds should be pulling away from the sides of the pot.
The curds will look like thick yogurt and have a bit of shine to them, and the whey will be clear. If the whey is still milky white, wait a few more minutes. Scoop out the curds with a slotted spoon and put into a 2-quart microwavable bowl. Press the curds gently with your hands, pouring off as much whey as possible.
Microwave the curds on high for 1 minute. (See Home Cheese Making for non-microwave directions.) Drain off all excess whey. Gently fold the cheese over and over (as in kneading bread) with your hand or a spoon. This distributes the heat evenly throughout the cheese, which will not stretch until it is too hot to touch (145 degrees inside the curd). You may want to don rubber gloves at this point, as the cheese will be extremely hot to the touch.
Microwave two more times for 35 seconds each; add salt to taste after the second time. After each heating, knead again to distribute the heat.
Knead quickly until it is smooth and elastic. When the cheese stretches like taffy, it’s done. If the curds break instead of stretch, they are too cool and need to be reheated.
When the cheese is smooth and shiny, roll it into small balls and eat while warm. Or place them in a bowl of ice water for half an hour to bring the inside temperature down rapidly; this will produce a consistent smooth texture throughout the cheese. Although best eaten fresh, it can be stored in the refrigerator at this point.
Note: If you are using store-bought milk, and your curds turn into the consistency of ricotta cheese and will not come together, switch brands of milk. It may have been heated at the factory at too high a temperature.

1. Don't mention weight in conversation. Discussions of weight loss and dieting can be damaging, especially to young girls who might overhear you. To set a positive example for children, it's important that they see you accepting your own body, with whatever imperfections you might have. If you want to eat a salad, eat a salad – just don't spend the whole lunch talking about your weight loss plan. 2. Focus on your strengths. Are you the star goalie in your weekly soccer game? Could you thrash Jimi Hendrix on guitar? Do you know how to make the best oatmeal raisin cookies on Earth? No matter what your talents, we're sure you've got plenty of them – so don't worry about what you see in the mirror. When you feel confident and proud of your accomplishments, you naturally feel better about your looks. 3. Exercise for the right reasons. Don't think of your work-out routine as punishment for that brownie you ate last night – just think of it as fun. If your current workout isn't so inspiring, try getting outdoors. There's nothing like a bike ride on a mountain trail or a snowshoe walk in a forest to get your adrenaline pumping in a good way. 4. Talk with your wallet. How much of your money are you spending on diet books, exercise equipment, and hair and skin care? Even plenty of guys spend thousands each year on hair dye and weight loss treatments – but do you really need all that? Look at what you're spending, and see where you can cut back. You'll probably save enough for a year's worth of Starbucks. 5. Speak out. Are you peeved at Redbook for airbrushing Faith Hill's wrinkles into oblivion? Guys, do the ads in Maxim make you ashamed of your gender? If something a company is doing bothers you, send them a letter or email. When we make enough noise, they can't help but listen. To find company addresses, visit Media Watch. http://www.mediawatch.com/welcome.html

http://www.gimundo.com/Articles/Daily/793/1/16/2008/Five_Tips_for_Self-Empowerment

http://www.thebodypositive.org/

Connie Sobczack and her sister, Stephanie, were just like most sisters growing up. They shared embarrassing stories, secret crushes, clothes, makeup, and jewelry. But for many years, the two young women also shared a disease: bulimia.

Both girls struggled with severe body hatred, wincing every time they caught a glimpse of their reflections in the mirror. For Connie, a former straight-A student, the eating disorder took such a powerful hold over her life that she was forced to drop out of college to deal with her problem. With time and counseling, she learned to accept and love her body for what it was.

Stephanie, however, wasn't so lucky.

"I fought my way through it," says Connie, "but she did not."

Connie's beautiful older sister spent decades struggling with her weight, trying to whittle her body down to the size of the supermodels she saw on magazine covers. At the age of 36, her body weak from years of abuse, Stephanie passed away, leaving her two daughters motherless.

In the wake of her sister's death, Connie knew she wanted to do something to prevent other women from succumbing to the same pressures that she and Stephanie had struggled with. But her true inspiration for taking action was her young daughter, Carmen.

"I decided there was no way I would let this beautiful baby girl grow up hating herself," she says. "I wanted to change the world for Carmen."

So, to ensure that her daughter and countless other young women wouldn't face Stephanie's tragic fate, Connie and a social worker, Elizabeth Scott, joined together to form The Body Positive, a nonprofit organization.

Starbucks is going to serve only milk produced by cows free of the artificial hormone rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone, linked to breast and colon cancer) from now on, which means that coffee lovers from the rest of the world, where the stuff has never been allowed, can now go into an American Starbucks for a latte.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/starbucks_switc.php

There is a price to be paid for using food for fuel, and tearing up orangutan habitat for palm oil, and the European Union is putting in some controls. The ban would particularly target environmentally harmful crops like palm oil, which Europe imports from Southeast Asia; it could also affect a few crops grown in Latin America, including soy, wheat and sugar beets.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/european_union_biofuel_ban.php

Is your organization looking to host an event to spread awareness of Fair Trade? We can help! Contact Jamie mailto:%20jguzzi@transfairusa.org for more information on how you can incorporate Fair Trade flowers into your next event. It’s in our hands to tell the world that we want Fair Trade flowers!