DIY Organic Fair Trade Pops

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A great way to reduce food packaging waste in the summer is to use a popsicle mold instead of buying premade pops. Of course, the question is, once you have a mold, what are you going to put in it? For a green twist on this summer favorite, try using your favorite Honest Tea beverage!

Why?

• All of their flavors are USDA certified organic
• Most of their products are Fair Trade
• You'll have the choice between sweet, fruity flavors and subtle tea flavors. 
• They have delicious, unique flavors that would make great pops like pomegranate ade, berry hibiscus, and mint lemonade. 
• The end product will have less sugar and no artificial ingredients!

Honest Tea Gets Fizzy

Honest Tea makes some of the most delicious, widely available, organic iced tea products. I especially love their orange mango ade which is slightly less sweet than competing brands. And now they are coming out with a line of sodas called Honest Fizz! Honest Fizz is a naturally sweetened, zero calorie soda that is also USDA organic. The varieties include: Lemon Limey, Orange Pop, Professor Fizz, and Root Beer.

I'm not usually a soda drinker, and I really don't like the taste of diet products. Honest Fizz still tastes a bit diety, but its a great alternative for when you have a soda craving. I'm planning to keep a stash of Honest Fizz in my fridge for just that reason, or for guests. For now, the sodas are sold exclusively at Whole Foods. If you love soda, give them a try. I'd love to hear what you think!

Green Tea on the Go: Teas' Tea

I recently tried sample of Teas' Tea half & half green tea. It is delish! As many of you may know, I am a huge tea fan, but I am often discouraged by pre-bottled teas because they are often very sweet and are much more caloric than brewing it at home. I was pleasantly surprised with Teas' Tea because it wasn't too sweet and the flavors light and refreshing. It is still about 100 calories per bottle, but it can be a nice treat. My favorite was the half & half green tea with peach and my least favorite was the half and half green tea with coconut (but I'm not a huge fan of coconut water - if you are, you'll probably love this tea.) 

The company that produces Teas' Tea, ITO EN, has a detailed portion of their website dedicated to their corporate social responsibility initiatives. They have both environmental sustainability and human health and community goals. Even though I try to avoid purchasing single-serving beverage bottles, it is good to know that this is at least a responsible option. 

Bead for Life at Equal Exchange Cafe

On my walk home from work the other day, I stopped at Equal Exchange Cafe on Causeway St. and was thrilled when I noticed that they sell BeadforLife products! Now I know where to buy my eco/ethical soaps (and get a to-die-for latte at the same time)!

FYI - Equal Exchange accepts LevelUp!!!! 

7 Green & Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

1. Exercise - This is obvious, but also important. The best ways to get those endorphins running without using electricity are to run outside, do pilates, or yoga. Yoga can be an especially good stress reliever because of the emphasis on breathing properly and deeply. Make it summer goal to "unplug" your workout.

2. Aromatherapy - Use a roll-on essential oil (like 21 Drops) on your wrists and neck. I find lavender the most soothing. There are many organic options of these types of products available at Whole Foods.

3. Get outside - A little sunlight and fresh air goes a long way. Make sure to put on some sunscreen, but then be sure to spend at least a few minutes outside every day. It is surprisingly relaxing.

4. Drink Chamomile Tea - Make sure it is decaffeinated (caffeine is known to increase anxiety), and drink before bed. I absolutely love this ritual, especially on cold or rainy evenings.

5. Sleep - Getting the proper amount of sleep allows you to think clearly and be more productive, which in turn, decreases stress.

6. Drink lots of water. When I'm dehydrated I get headaches which seem to last the rest of the day, which only adds to my stress level. Just remember to drink tap or filtered tap water and skip bottled.

7. Read - Cracking a book (I prefer novels) is a simple way to get your mind off whatever is bothering you.

image courtesy of scrubadoo.com

Ten Thousand Villages, Fair Trade Retail Now in Downtown Boston

Downtown Crossing is now home to more than huge retail chains with mass produced clothing and food. Downtown is trying develop a more upscale appeal with eco-friendly hotspots like Boston Common Coffee Company. And now there is also a Ten Thousand Villages! Ten Thousand Villages sells fairly traded artisan items from around the world. From organic coffee and chocolate, to baskets, jewelry, pillows, and candles, there is quite a variety of ethical and sustainable goods. I highly suggest stopping by while trying to finish up all of your last minute holiday shopping!

 

Ethical Brew

USDA Certified Organic. Certified Fair Trade. Delicious. The only thing that would make Traditional Medicinals Golden Green Tea more perfect is if the bags weren't each individually wrapped (waste of paper).