balanced living made simple with Brett Blumenthal
It’s the timeless grocery store rivalry—paper, or plastic? How about, “Neither. I brought my own.” Sounds easy enough, but half the battle is remembering to actually bring those eco-friendly reusable bags back to the store. It’s easy to forget them, lose them, or simply not use them, because it takes a lot less effort to [...]
Valentine’s Day is, for many singles, a holiday to dread instead of one to celebrate. I experienced my own loneliness on more than one Valentine’s Day. Then, several years ago, I had a revelation. I could be my own Valentine!
I know, being your own Valentine might sound like a desperate attempt to soothe the sting [...]
While Valentine’s Day has been a time to show love to a special person in your life, the holiday has not been traditionally considered to be earth friendly. Advertisers try to convince consumers that their item will ensure everlasting happiness with no concern for the environmental impact of their products. If you want to take [...]
During a recent trip to Japan, I realized I wanted more fun in my life. I am, by nature, a fun-loving person. But I’m so energized by my work that it doesn’t feel much like work. That’s a mixed blessing. The good news is that I love what I do. The bad news is that [...]
I remain fascinated by synthetic fragrance—both the science behind it and consumer lust for it. Perfume for the body aside, synthetic fragrance is ubiquitous in personal care products, cleaning products, air fresheners, scented candles, you name it. Apparently we can’t get enough whiffs of Fresh Breeze, Mountain Spring, and Lavender Field. If only they could [...]
We all survived the low-carb mania that swept the country a few years back, and if you’re like me, you didn’t have too much difficulty retraining yourself afterward to indulge in pasta dishes and sandwiches sans guilt. But lately it looks as if the pendulum may be swinging back. As I browsed the diet and [...]
I was skiing in Colorado a few years ago when a crusty scab appeared along my nose. I thought it was a weird case of acne. But the eruptions became more severe when the temperature dropped, so I sought help. The diagnosis? A skin disorder called rosacea.
Fitness enthusiasts are especially prone to such skin conditions. [...]
Our appetites can be quite the pranksters. It often fools us to think we are hungry, when often, we may be suffering from something completely different. Distinguishing between false hunger and true hunger will help you know when your body really needs food and when it needs something else.
Hunger Due to Eating the Wrong Food: [...]
It’s that time of the year for hosting your annual holiday party, and you’ve decided to try to make it more eco-friendly. If you want to throw a successful and enjoyable party, but also make less of an impact on the earth, here are some suggestions for ways to do so.
Invitations: Evite.com has an easy [...]
Out of all the relationships we have in our lives, the ones we share with family members can be the most challenging. And there’s nothing like holiday stress to trigger the old wounds and unresolved issues that plague so many families. Sharing close, loving, and supportive relationships is a basic human need, yet many of [...]
