Valentine's Day!

As commercialized as Valentine's Day has become I still love it. It is yet another reminder for me to show the special people in my life how much I love them. Most holidays leave me with a gaping hole in my wallet, and sadly this one is no exception. This year I was determined to do Valentine's Day on a budget (ahh, the life of a college student!) while making a conscious effort to make sure my choices are good for the earth too. I made collage/mosaic cards from scraps of paper and words from old magazines and newspapers. I set out with $5 and I was able to get glue, some glitter and a few other decorations.

For those of you with something in mind other than homemade cards I found some awesome gift ideas for moms and babies alike!

For moms:
I have been a fan of LUSH products for years and I love that they make their products from fresh organic fruits and veggies, and safe synthetics. They only purchase ingredients from companies that do not test on animals. The Floating Island Bath Melt is one of my favorite products. I always end my bath feeling relaxed and refreshed. Yet again maybe I just like this bath melt because it's shaped like a cupcake!


For baby:
Inhabitots' "Heart for Haiti Onesie" is made from 100% organic cotton with a sweatshop free design. What's even better than the adorable design is the fact that 50% of the proceeds will be sent to CARE to contribute to the Haitian disaster relief effort.




Photo courtesy of LUSH.

Help Haiti

I’ve been reading and watching the news and all my mind can focus on is the complete devastation in Haiti. As someone who lives a comfortable life with plenty of food, a warm place to sleep and the access to an education it has always been important to me to involve myself in the community. After Hurricane Katrina I spent a week in Mississippi helping rebuild and I have been involved with trips around the local community building, painting and supplying food for those in need. I’ve been racking my mind with ways in which I can help the people of Haiti. Since I cannot leave the country right now (I have school, I've done nothing criminal!) I concluded that I would donate blood. The American Red Cross website is full of information as to where local donation centers are located, as well as other information as to how to help in the Haitian relief efforts. United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Catholic Relief Services, Partners in Health, and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) other great sites to learn more about getting involved in helping the people of Haiti.



Photo courtesy of CNN