ORGANIC CORN ON THE COB: Healthy Summertime Delicacy

Corn on the cob is not just a fluffy side dish, it's a nutritious summer delicacy worthy of center stage. Corn is just starting to show up at the Farmers' Market and it's outrageously sweet and delicious. We've had corn on the cob and salad now twice for dinner and it's quickly becoming a favorite meal.

Corn contains pantothenic acid, a B vitamin good for stress reduction (who doesn't need some of that), thiamine, a B vitamin helpful for brain function, beta-cryptoxanthin which are anti-cancer caratenoids, and folate, a B vitamin that supports the cardiovascular system and fetal health. Corn is also a good source of vitamin C, manganese, phosphorous, and fiber. Always buy organic (corn is one of the largest gmo crops and if it's not organic it's highly likely to be genetically modified) and look for firm fully developed cobs. We like ours with organic whipped Earth Balance, salt and pepper.

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Product Review: Merry Hempsters Lip Balm and Muscle Rub

The Merry Hempsters' mischievous logo will catch your eye and make you smile a little, but just wait until you see what's on the inside. This is one environmentally friendly company.

Using post consumer recycled materials, supporting the earth friendly organic hemp market, and bringing certified organic body care to the marketplace are all ways The Merry Hempsters are offering products to get behind.

Good things come in a stick. Two products I'm over the moon about are the lip balms and muscle rubs. Their lip balm has made a huge hit with my four year old son who is crazy about the logo and loves the Lime flavor. I like Vanilla which goes on smooth without being too oily--it's that elusive perfect consistency highly desired in a lip balm.

The muscle rub is also packaged in a stick, making it convenient to slip into your backpack and allowing for non-messy application. I will not be without it again as it not only soothes achey muscles (neck and shoulders) but is very helpful with headaches--I can't believe I've gone without it this long.

Both the muscle rub and lip balm come in different flavors, you can go to their website and check out all your options. These are products you can feel good about buying, good for you and good for the enviornment.

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Green Your Phone

The greenest phones are the old-school, corded phones. I have one, but it's so hard for me to be tethered to the wall since I'm always multi-tasking. Phone calls double as dish-washing time or laundry time, etc. If you can't sit still while on the phone, there may be some hope that they're getting a littler greener.

I just got a new phone and check out the box. It's Energy Star compliant--standby power consumption reduction by 59% and says No RoHS-specified Chemical Substances used (meaning lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and specified brominated flame retardants). Looks like a step in the right direction. It also uses rechargeable AAA batteries. Go Panasonic!

By the way, the phone I chose is model KX-TG6412 if you care to check it out online. It's hard to find a phone without a built in answering system these days, but this is message free (they make the same phone with the answering system as well). The digits on the screen are extra large and easy to read, and I got a headset to go with it to minimize my EMF exposure.

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Product Review: Flip and Tumble Reusable Shopping Bags

I use a variety of reusable shopping bags, but the one that has been perpetually in my backpack for the last two years is the handy (rather unfashionable) black Acme Workhorse. It stuffs into a little ball and it's functional, but it's not exactly pleasing to the eye.

I've just discovered Flip and Tumble shopping bags and I'm in love. Bye bye basic black and hello beautiful bright happy color! They stuff up into a ball, just like the others, but have a new feature, one I haven't seen yet in a reusable shopping bag. These hang on your shoulder. You can still carry them in your hands, but the handle is long enough, and padded, so that you have both options.

You have to go to the Flip & Tumble website and check these out. They are not your average shopping bag. I love the modern design and wide range color palate. The self-stuffing feature works much better than what I'm used to and looks cooler, while bright colors are easier to spot in the bottom of your backpack. The stuff mechanism even makes it's own little pocket inside the bag for loose things and the patch of felt padding on the shoulder helps keep the bag from slipping off.

They're called 24-7 bags and I think that's a perfect name, the idea being that you keep them with you all the time. I think they'd be great while traveling, at the Farmer's Market, the beach non-food related shopping trips, laundry day....any time you need a bag.

I took mine on a test run last night to get some basic groceries and found them to be comfortable and easy to use. Highly recommended!

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Heathy Hibiscus

One of my favorite summer drinks is the fruity, slightly tart, totally unique Hibiscus Cooler. Just brew some hibiscus tea, add tons of ice, and pour a little maple syrup over the top. Mmmmmm, divine! There are more reasons to drink hibiscus tea besides the fabulous taste and the sparkling garnet good looks--this exotic flower is good for you too.

Hibiscus tea is cooling--enough so that it helps with hot flashes and fevers. Hibiscus contains vitamin C, antioxidants and studies have shown that hibiscus can aid in lowering both high blood pressure and cholesterol. Always check with your doctor.

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Green Your Cleaning Routine with Guest Blogger: Eco Diva

Lemons have many amazing natural qualities. Besides being refreshing and a great addition to any meal, lemons have some amazing properties when combined with other natural cleaning products can work miracles to clean every room of your home. According to Lowes.com, here are some great alternatives to conventional cleaning when you have a bunch of (organic) lemons to the rescue.Please note: with lemon juice, always test a small section if you are unsure of the affect of the acidic qualities of the juice.

Because lemons have are acidic, they can add a disinfecting element to your cleaning routine.

Read the Entire Article at GreenLiving.Suite101.com

{Image Credit - Annadriel}

You can find more fabulous Eco Diva here.

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Market Day

Need a little push getting out the door to the Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning? Just have a look at this book. Gorgeous photo after photo abound so you better make sure you're not hungry when you do. Organized by season, Fresh From The Farmers' Market, by Janet Fletcher, gives you tips on how to select, store and prepare produce you find at the market. There are about 75 recipes, most of which are vegetarian and vegan.

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