So this week has been a full week Twilight Soaps & Gifts. I made my first official Facial Bar sale on my Etsy site and couldn't be happier and I became a proud member of the HandmadeMN Street Team. It's a wonderful group of people who support each others creativity and crafting in a great online network! If you are in the Twin Cities area...check them out.
They put together a great blog-http://etsymn.blogspot.com/ which is a collection of entries and crafts from people within the group and they can be found on Etsy as well.
There are so many companies out there advertising to go green and buy their product or use their services, but are they really green? How do you know and who can you trust? There are plenty of ways to even go a little green without killing your budget and changing your entire lifestyle because going green in the past hasn't always been good to your budget. In the long run, it can reduce your energy and gas bills, but right now (when you need your paycheck to go to rent and other bills) its not always affordable. Here are some simple tips to help you Go Green and help your wallet stay green!
1. Take a walk- Most of us live close to a grocery store or shopping center, so the next time you need to pick up a few things, ditch the car and take a walk. While your at it, bring your re-usable grocery bag with you. They are more durable than plastic or paper bags for the walk back and most of the stores will give you a few cents back for using your own bags, which is money back in your pocket for doing a good thing! 2. Make your own meals, Stop eating out so much- I know what your are thinking...you work 8-10 hours a day, then you run errands after work. By the time you come home, the last thing you want to do is cook a meal. I know exactly how you feel..that's why I plan ahead. Cook the bulk of your meals with on the weekend. Pick a day (my day is Sunday) and cook a few meals out for the week. Place a couple servings in the fridge and then a couple in the Freezer and VOILA- you are set for fresh, home cooked meals anytime you get home! 3. Use fresh fruits and veggies- I don't always have time to use fresh veggies and half of mine seem to end up in the bottom of the fridge as a science experiment, but using fresh fruits and veggies for even one meal (preferably from local farmers or co-ops) can really help reduce the amount of energy used. Canning and freezing veggies uses a lot more energy to pack and deliver then buying the local fresh stuff. By using fresh fruits and veggies, you also creates less waste, which is good for everyone. 4. Ditch the bleach and other harsh chemicals- Its great to live in such a time when phosphate free detergent and eco-friendly cleaner no longer cost an arm and a leg. Companies like Seventh Generation and even Target have a complete line of eco-friendly products that you can use to clean things from the laundry to the dishes and everything in between. Harsh chemicals like bleach, toilet cleaners and so much more can not only hurt the environment, but can harm you as well. Breathing in those chemicals can put a small child or person with a respitory problem in danger or a small pet could lick up some of it. Detergents laced with perfumes can throw sensitive skin into a rashy nightmare...trying switching just one of your household products to something eco-friendly and see how you feel. I love the fact that I clean my house without a terrible smell of chemicals filling the air. 5.Save the Polar Bears, one light bulb at a time. Thats right, you too can help fight the growing concern of Global warming affecting so many animals in the world like the polar by changing out one of the light bulbs in your house to the more enegry effecient light bulbs...Most of the companys who make light bulbs now have an more energy efficent bulb. Looking for another way to save a little energy in your home? Don't forget to unplug your cell phone charger and turn off the lights when you leave. Aside from saving the earth, think how much money you will save the next time your enegry bill comes? 6. Buy Used- Why create more waste in the world then you have to...many Consignment shops are turning into more upscale boutiques where you can turn in your old, but in good condition clothing and household items for cash or get something new (well new to you). It's a great way to save money and give that shopping habit a fix.
Of course, these are just a few simple steps you can take to help reduce your carbon footprint, but if you want do more in your community here are some helpful links:
I am always in pursuit of the perfect bag or purse that can carry everything I need from lip gloss to my check book and all of my important files.
I need bag to express the very mood I am in at any given time and I need something with versatility. So with so many choices out there… how do you choose?
I don’t have a ton of money to spend on over priced bags from department stores and I also like to have something unique, something that not everyone has…I have sifted through some wonderful sites on Etsy and came up with some perfect options for the a bag to suite all needs! These are some of my personal favorites and they are all reasonably priced!
Ok, we’ve talked about beating dry, winter skin…but what’s worse then that is trying to beat the Winter Blues. I think most of us that live in a cold wintery climate experience this from time to time, but some of us are affected by it so greatly it starts to affect our work, relationships, and so much more.
With winter not even half way over, how are we suppose to get through? Here are some helpful tips and websites to help you get through the last part of winter with a smile (or at least help elevate your mood):
1.Wear Bright and colorful clothes or accent your home with Bright Colors. That’s right, break out of your winter blues and blacks with a dose of red, orange or yellow. If you’re like me, this will be extremely tough at first to leave the comfort of my favorite black sweater...but we can do it!
The more you surround yourself with warm summer colors, the better you may feel. Now, don’t rush to Home Depot and change the color of your room or throw away all of your clothes and buy all new stuff, but subtle changes can help. Try some new pillow shams in a nice peachy tone or scarf in red.
Here are a few of my favorite sites to find those little things to boost your mood without breaking your budget:
2.Buy yourself something nice without breaking the bank. While buying something new to help boost your mood is one thing, going on a bender is something completely different! Don’t confuse the rush of spending money on shiny new things with feeling better or as fix for your Winter Blues. If it is a fix, it’s a short term one and you will feel worse once your bank statement arrives. Treat yourself, but don’t over do it. Here a few site to help you treat yourself without breaking the bank and help you fulfill tip number one:
3. Next on the list is exercise and eat right. I know your thinking, “God, I don’t even have energy to change my clothes and brush my teeth, let alone EXERCISE”. I know, but trust me, this one you don’t want to skip out on. Exercise is a very important part of keeping your body and your mind healthy. Ten minutes a day (on bad day) can change your mood! Try using a balance ball while watching TV or taking the stairs at work to ease you in.
Not sure how to change those eating habits? One of my favorite sites to getting you a healthy track is www.sparkpeople.com.
You can create a meal and fitness plan to you and on your bad days, you can write about it.
4.Which brings me to my next point: Write about or talk about it.
It doesn’t do anyone any good to sit at home and make yourself feel worse. The Winter Blues can make a person retreat away from social situations and not want to talk about how you feel. If you can’t talk to someone, write about it. Write down how you feel and don’t be afraid to spill your guts. When your ready…find a friend and just talk about it. The more you talk about it, the easier it is to mange the blues.
Of course there are many other suggestions like investing in a S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder) light or tanning and so much more. So don’t be afraid to do some research and remember, you are not alone.
If you think at all that your Winter Blues might be something more, than please get help! The most important thing in life is to be able to enjoy it. Don’t rob yourself of being able to be happy. If you don’t know where to get help or how, here are some great starting points:
I have always been a big supporter of shopping Locally in your community, but sometimes, you can't always find what you need locally. I try to be relatively consientius of where the things I buy come from. A site I came across recently really addresses some of my concerns with "buying abroad" and making sure that the items gothrough a Fair Trade commission. It's great to get things for a steal, but at what cost to someones freedom or health.
Fair Indigo (www.fairindigo.com) takes things that are made around the world and in the United States (which they are currently expanding), but all made with Fair Trade practices in mind. They specifically look for if you are focused on purchasing Eco Friendly, Trade Conscious, or Made in the USAitems .. . it's a great resource!
I can't think of a better way to support something so vital as economic stability and higher wages for impoverished countries.
Did you know that Aloe Vera Gel is not just for sun burns? It's not widely advertised as such, but it can be used a great remedy for DRY WINTER SKIN and has many other medicinal purposes.
It works great for burns and scrapes, Sun burns and more...why not to sooth dry, irritated skin.
I recommend a natural gel base with not a lot extra ingredients- you can get it online or even in the local drug store. The less chemicals used, the more your skin will thank you.
Wow, I can hardly believe its 2010 already. I haven't had much to report on the last few weeks with the holiday's and everything, so here goes.
One of the boutiques that was carrying my line has closed due to the economy- Bare Boutique in Burnsville. It's so sad to see so many wonderful small businesses closing because of lack of support/business. I really want to help make a change, especially for Women. In the next month or two Twilight Soaps will be embarking on a series of networking meetings for women to have a place to gather and get ideas from other like minded women. Lets face it, we all (Small business owners) have to stick together, now more then ever! Stay tuned for more information!
Twilight Soaps & Gifts will also be participating in Minnesota's Winter Carnival Fashion show as a vendor and I am super excited. I participated last year and had a great time! There were a lot of great people to meet and good food and fashions to be had! I am planning to bring some of my new products including the sugar scrub and hopefully a digital display!
