Photo by TheBittenWord

The appeal of organic food is undeniable: according to research, organic food contains no chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and food additives.

Food grown without pesticides and antibiotics is healthier to eat and contains more nutrients than conventionally grown food.  It is also a big plus, that the methods used to produce organic food are healthier for the environment and that organic farms provide humane conditions to animals.

Nevertheless, one large concern with going organic is the cost.  As healthy and appealing as organic produce is, it is expensive.  But cost is a relative term. During the decision making process it is important to consider the alternative – when it comes to food there are two kinds of costs: short term and long-term.

Short term cost is monetary; i.e. how much it will cost your family to buy organic produce per week.  Long term cost is the health of loved ones.  First prioritize what is important, then allocate your family dollars in the right direction.

Here are the tips to switch to organic produce without making a dent in a family budget:

What?

Ideally I would like to shop 100% organic produce for my family. Realistically, it doesn’t mirror the world we live in, where organic food is not always available and the shelves of the food markets are filled with conventional produce. In situations when organic food is pricey or not available, I turn to “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15” list from the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide.

This guide is developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG) and lists fruits and veggies pesticide content.

According to EWG, “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables have high pesticides count, i.e. “Dirty”, thus buy organic:

Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Pears, Spinach, Potatoes.

The “Clean 15”, have low pesticides count, i.e. “Clean” and are safer to purchase conventional (if and when organic alternative is not available or too pricey):

Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn (frozen), Pineapples, Mango, Sweet Peas (frozen), Asparagus, Kiwi, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli, Eggplant, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Watermelon.

The numbers game: According to the EWG, when the only options available  is conventionally grown produce , you can still lower your pesticide exposure 90% by choosing less contaminated fruits and veggies that appear on the “Clean 15” list.   This strategy should expose you to less than 2 pesticides per day vs. about 14 if you choose items from the “Dirty Dozen” list.

The list is handy to bring to the store with you, download in the Simple Resources section.

Photo by ~MVI~

How?

1. Know what you need – plan a menu or a specific dish before you go to the store. Planning in advance will help estimate the items and quantity that you will need.  I don’t mean that you have to plan for every item and every ingredient you hope to make during the week, but making a list of items needed to make 2 to 3 dishes moves you in the right and economical direction.

Once, while on a trip through Europe, I watched a woman purchase half of an onion at a local market.  She simply said that half an onion is all she needs for the recipe she was making that day.  Isn’t this a great way to live?!

2. Buy less- Buy only what you will use.  This goes hand in hand with the above point.  We are by-products of our culture, and since America is known for over consumption, we are bound to buy a few extra things “just in case” and in hope of making something sometime later. In my experience, “later” has a very abstract timeline.

Before reaching the register, check your cart to see if there is at least one item that you can do without. Then eliminate ruthlessly.  Move away from the “more” mentality and buy less,  then allocate your saved dollars to take your household organic.

3. Use Coupons – organic food has such stigma of being pricey that many just to the assumption that they cannot afford it.  It may be surprising, but there are numerous coupons available for organic produce.

The best place to find organic food coupons is the manufacturer’s website.  These coupons can be printed or mailed via regular mail.  If checking for new coupons is not your game, sign up for a newsletter to receive alerts.

Here are a few top resources print “organic” coupons.

4. Buy on sale/special – stores frequently run sales and specials on organic food, for the same reasons they run sales on conventional produce: either because the store purchased large quantities, gets a great wholesale deal, or because the item is close proximity to its “ripe” day.

For example, while Whole Foods products are generally expensive, even this organic wholly grail, always lists current sales and specials inside their newsletter: “Whole Deal”.

For best deals, stack coupons and combine them with store’s sales and specials.

5. Buy in season – seasonal items are generally priced lower than out-of-season items.

6. Buy In Bulk – most stores sell items in bulk if inquired, and prices for larger quantity are lower that individually priced items.  Stores like Whole Foods also sell by case, stop by their Customer Service for details.

Stores such as Costco, only sell in bulk and the price already reflects savings (I’ve purchased 10 lb organic carrots bags at Costco for under $4.  Which are excellent for making fresh juice).

Buy items that have “life longevity”– such as potatoes, onions, or celery – and will last a few weeks – (but only if these are the staple items that you will use in the next few weeks).

Stock up on fruits and veggies to make homemade sauces and jams for future use. Organic tomatoes make excellent pasta sauce and summer berries transform into delicious jams.

Or freeze cooked and uncooked produce for future use.

7. Shop around - browse organics isles in a few local stores and familiarize yourself with prices in each store.   Frequently, the prices will differ, and if you are willing to shop in a few stores you will get a better deal.

Be weary, however, of driving to three stores just for one or two cheaper items, since it will most likely add up in gas cost and counteract the savings you are getting in produce.  I usually try to pick up the items that I know are less expensive in a specific store, while I am making a trip to that store for other things.

Photo by graygoosie

Where?

8. Check out organic sections in your local supermarket- it used to be that organic food could only be found in specialty stores like Whole Foods or Andronicos.  But with wide popularity of organic produce, now organic options can be found in almost every produce stores and chain supermarkets such as: Safeway and Wallbaums.   It may just be a small section, but it is there.

I frequently find that the prices for fruits and vegetables are the same or less than non-organic options, perhaps this is either because the supermarkets have stronger negotiation power or because not as many people buy organics in the supermarket.

Most stores sell generic organic branded specifically for their store, and it is significantly cheaper than famous organic brands. For example, Whole Foods sells organic under their brand: 365 Organic. Safeway has “O” brand. Generic store brands are cheaper than branded organic food, not because of quality, but because stores don’t spend on advertising generic brands.

9. Shop Warehouses – moving in the direction of consumer demand, stores like Costco and Sam’s Club now carry organics.  The quality is superb and prices are generally lower than comparable products in smaller stores. I’ve purchased organic chicken and beef from Costco at a lower price than non-organic chicken and beef at Trader Joe’s (and definitely at much lower price than Whole Foods.)

10. Shop farmers market – as a rule farmer markets are expensive, however there are deals to be had.  Also, unlike chain stores, the price can be negotiated at a farmer’s market.

Additional bonus: shopping at the farmer market produces local agriculture.

11. Order directly from farms – ordering organic produce directly from farms is a great alternative to buying in stores. Depending on where you are located the food can be delivered directly to your home or to a drop-off location nearby. Here is a great site to begin research.

External Resource:

To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food

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There are many steps we can take to better the planet and just as many to save money.  Some of these changes are more challenging, and complex to tackle than others.

In the spirit of small steps, I wanted to start small.   I gathered 3 tips that are simple to implement right now, don’t cost a thing, and save money; all while contributing to the good of the planet.Photo by Imago2007
1. Use Cloth Kitchen Towels - while reaching for a paper towel is convenient, not to mention, helps manufacturers with a revenue stream,  is it necessary? Or are you acting out of habit?

Switch to cloth  and save $100 per year, if you use 1 roll of paper towels per week.

As for the planet: if every American household eliminates paper towels use,  the load of used paper towels sent to landfills every day, will be lighten by 3,000 tons of paper towels.  It would also prevent 864,000 trees from being cut down).

Consider how wasteful and indulgent it is to rip a new piece of paper each time there is a spill or a crumb on a kitchen counter.  Especially, if several toddlers dwell in your household, and spills and crumbs are the perpetual state of your counter.

As an effective alternative use cloth towels (Trader Joe’s has durable and stylish options), or Twist Euro Cloth.

2. Air Dry Dishes – set your dishwasher setting to air dry instead of heat dry. It takes a click of a button to save $25 per year in electricity.  As for the planet, tapping “Air Dry” button reduces the energy use by 15%-50%.
Photo by Imago2007
3. Wash Clothes in Cold Water - Unless your laundry is despicable soiled, cold water is just as effective as hot water.  Washing clothes in cold water also increases the items longevity and keeps the colors bright.  Heat weakens fibers and fades colors.

Switch your washer to cold water setting and save on average $61 per year.

Help the planet by reducing the use of energy by 80% to 90% per wash (this is how much energy the washer uses to heat up water).  Washing with cold water reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the air by 1,261 pounds CO2 per household / per year.

Remember, small steps are paramount to large changes.

I love the spurs of energy that flow through me when I get inspired.   Mostly, because inspiration brings positive energy to my day, keeps me going, gives hope, and breeds desire.

Here are three inspirational photographs that capture women’s beauty.

Unknown – the woman in this photograph looks free.  She is boundless.

Unknown – I love the premise of looking at yourself through someone else’s eyes and seeing something other than what you think yourself to be. 

Unknown – there is something intimate about this photo, a glimpse into a couple’s private and intimate world.

Since I have two small kids who manage to pick things from the floor and shove in  their mouth faster than I can blink, and on occasion, are known to lick the kitchen counter and other surfaces; mainstream cleaning products floating with chemicals are out of the question in our household.

The challenge that I faced using various green cleaning products, is that while most of the green products (see point #6 for elaboration on “most” and not all), contain safe ingredients, they frequently fail to do the job.  After trying many options, I narrowed down to the products that do top notch job and contain safe ingredients.

They are:
1. Counter Top Cleaner – Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Counter Top Spray; I love the lavender scent as it makes my kitchen smell like it is filled with flowers.  (Also available in Lemon Verbena).

2. Auto Dishwasher Detergent - Seventh Generation Auto Dish Pacs are eco-friendly, contains safe ingredients, and leaves glasses sparkling clean.

3. Dish Soap - Ecover Dishwashing Liquid is a great natural soap, which is gentle on hands, effective in cleaning dishes, and smells like fresh lemons.

4. All Purpose Cleaner - Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner; this cleaner works amazingly well on various surfaces: from counter tops to bathroom floors.  It removes tile grease as it was foam.

5. Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner does an excellent job.

6. Laundry Detergent - Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent Free & Clear is phosphate-free and chlorine-free.  It is made of all natural ingredients including soap bark, chamomile, horsetail plant, lavender and rosemary.  It has a subtle scent of Lily and Magnolia essential oils and tickles my senses with summer aroma.

As an additional bonus it does a bang up job cleaning dirty laundry, same, if not better than conventional detergents.

7. Glass Cleaner – Seventh Generation Glass & Surface Cleaner leaves glass surfaces spotless and doesn’t have the disturbing smell of the conventional glass spray.

8. Stain Remover – Earth Friendly Oxo-Brite stain remover is absolutely amazing!  It is natural, effective and takes off the kind of stains that are have been deemed “non removable” by the most obsessive, stubborn, and ambitious launderers.   It comes in large buckets and is everlasting. In my book, this is the best stain remover product on the market.

Green products shopping tips to keep in mind:
1. Economize - green cleaning products are pricier than mainstream cleaning products.  But there are ways to economize, in similar ways as you can shop organic food on the budget.  For example, Amazon has a wonderful program that allows you to buy in bulk. When you purchase a container with 6 to 8 items and get a lower price. You also get free shipping, no tax in most states.

Another benefit is their “Subscribe and Save Program”. You save 15% on participating products. The discount applies to the  first purchase with subscription.    You can subscribe to re-order at the chosen frequency, which could be as infrequently as once a year (and can be canceled at any time).

I love buy in bulk option, in addition to saving $$, it also saves time that I spend in stores when buying items 1 at a time on a monthly basis.  It is a great option, especially if you have space.

2. Make sure it is actually green - since green became profitable, every company is now jumping on the green bandwagon.  Make sure that in addition to the label stating “green”, the actual ingredients listed are safe.

3. Not all Products Are Made Equally – if you bought a specific green product that was effective, such as say laundry detergent, don’t assume that another green laundry detergent will be just as effective.   Green products are hit or miss.   Different brands use different ingredients or different strengths for the same ingredients for the same product family, which in turn result in different cleanliness.

4.  Avoid Brand Love - this is from the same family as the above point, just because you love a specific product from a certain brand, don’t assume you will love all products from that brand.   I’ve used many effective Seventh Generations products, they are a wonderful eco and health conscious brand.  Nevertheless, they have so many products under their umbrella, that some are bound to be great, while others…well less than average.

5. Use Coupons - similar to organic coupon guide, green manufacturers offer coupons for their products. Check out manufacturer’s website for coupons and specials.

6. Make Your Own – when cost is an issue, there are numerous options to make your own safe and effective cleaning products.

Some of the most common home made cleaners are: baking soda (mix it with Castile soap to create a top notch bathroom cleaner), white whine vinegar (dilute white vinegar with 50% water to make an all-purpose cleaner), and olive oil (use it to shine and buff stainless steel).

All in all, there is such thing as effective green cleaning products, do your research, and shop smart.

Whether you decide to overhaul your entire household and replace it with the safe cleaning products or gradually move into the green direction, even the tiniest steps will contribute to the health of your family and the well-being of our planet.

Here is a small sample of beautifully designed cards that inspire me:

Cake and Coffee anyone? Designed by Deena

Tie. Designed by Sussana

Baby Girl. Designed by Christine Drumheller

All Photos by

I used to struggle with decision making: large or small – making a decision was a dreaded task.  I marveled at people who made decisions quick and easy, people who didn’t question their choices, and were content with the outcome.  To me that felt like an unreachable, but much desired height.

Until one day I observed a friend who was phenomenal at decision making, and after asking a train of questions, grasped this valuable technique.

The key is to create a criteria around decision making, here is how:

1. Decide on a Desired Outcome – list all elements that compose your ideal outcome.  Assume that money is no object, and list the things that are important to you.  For example, when we were looking to buy a house, there were a number things we wanted our ideal home to have, such as two-stories (for privacy), good schools, open space, yard, new home that would require minimum renovation.

2. Rank Elements – rank the things you want as part of the successful outcome in order of importance (importance is relative to your lifestyle and preferences).  In our case it was:  1)Good schools 2)Open Layout and high ceilings 3)Two stories 4)Minimal Renovation before moving in 5)Large Yard.

3. Pick Top Ranked Options -  Pick top 3 ranking choices. Surprisingly, for us a large yard ranked very low.  While we wanted to have some outdoor space, neither of us wanted anything huge since we didn’t want the hassle of maintaining a large yard, nor do we spend a lot of time at home during the day.

Again, a large yard may be a crucial element for another family, but our decision had to work for us.  We felt passionate about having an open layout, since it aligned with our vision to create a free and warm space where we will entertain friends and family.

4. Make Peace with an Imperfecti0n - The likelihood of finding everything you want in most situations, is small to non-existent.  The trick is to decide on an option that is the closest to your desired outcome.

5. Review Data Points- now that you created your decision making framework:  an ideal outcome, elements that compose an ideal outcome, ranking of these elements in order of importance, take a detailed look at your framework and internalize it.

6. Make An Informed Decision- you’ve done your homework, now it is time to decide on the most applicable option.  Applicable to you and your preferences, since criteria that is important to you, may not be important to someone else.

Compare your decision making framework against the potential choices that you have and options that come with each choice.

For example, if we had to choose between two houses, first - one story with an impressive backyard , second – a two-story with a compact backyard; the second house was a better choice for us when evaluated against our decision making framework.

7. Enjoy Your Decision – spend time making the decision, studying alternatives and understanding the outcomes, then once a decision is made, cement the reasons for your decision making in your mind, and don’t question it.  Take joy from making an informed and thought through decision and concentrate on seeing all the positives of your particular choice.

Enjoy it, celebrate your choice and your expert decision making skills.

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I frequently get excited about economizing our bills. Then I research, web browse, price compare and… run out of gas.  My attempt turns into an endless chore, I get overwhelmed and give up, because analyzing various plans and pulling information together from the myriads of services becomes  daunting.

Recently, I discovered a great free service that searches and summarizes for you, then presents you with the best options. It is BillShrink – a simple to use comparison service which provides customized analysis and lowest prices for gas, cell phone, and credit card.

1. Gas  – BillShrink analyses gas prices in your area, based on the zip code you provide.  Then, it displays the top three gas stations with the best priced fuel.

While I know all of the gas stations in the area, I never have the time to drive from one to the other and price compare on my own. Thus, this gas price comparison was simple to use and useful.   It is a great tool to find the best priced gas in your area, and start saving some $$.

2. Mobile - by looking at your current plan’s cost and minutes allowed , the amount of minutes you have, and whether you are under a contract, BillShrink analyzes the best mobile plan for you.

It kindly informed me that the plan I have, is the best available and the least expensive for my needs(Thanks for the compliment, BillShrink!).

Although this conclusion was partially driven by the fact that I am locked into a contract for the next year, and the cost involved with breaking my contract, it still feels great to be told by a smart software application that the plan you have is the best available for your needs.

While this information didn’t make me switch to a new provider. I will definitely revisit BillShrink when my contract runs out, to figure out if another provider is offering a better deal.

3. Credit Card – BillShrink found the best credit card based on my spending history, shopping preferences (grocery shopping, flying, etc.), and whether I pay my credit card in full monthly.

Although some of the suggested cards had an annual fee (unlike the card that I am currently using), overall savings calculations over 3 years were significant.

I did notice that the suggested credit cards are strongly influenced by the shopping preferences  you select, so it helps to know your spending habits.

It is helpful to see the summary of potential credit card options, fees, and interest rates summarized in one screen.   While I love my American Express Blue, I may consider switching to another card if I find one, that makes a strong case.

BillShrink is a simple, straightforward, no clutter to use services comparison tool that provides meaningful information and saves $$$. It is also the only service that I found so far that analyzes all of these sectors: gas, mobile, and credit cards.

Here are a few other competing services that I personally haven’t tried, but may be helpful in providing additional data points: BankRate, CreditCards.com and LendingTree.com in the finance sector. In the wireless market, competitors include WireFly.com, LetsTalk.com.

Photo by Aftab

What is Relevance?According to the Wikipedia:

Relevance is a term used to describe how pertinent, connected, or applicable something is to a given matter.

In the context of this article, Relevance is used to describe how we connect to the world around us.

We are a busy generation and our lives are filled with chores and massive information overload. Frequently, our responsibilities invade every waking moment of our lives and make it difficult to stay relevant to the world around us.  It is the reality of today.

However, in those times that we are interacting with others, it is important to stay relevant, informed, and to be able to keep up the conversation. It is also satisfying to get positive conversational feedback and to be perceived as a well-rounded person in the eyes others.

Here are a few simple tips to significantly improve your “relevance factor” with minimal time invested.

1. Stay in the Know – brush up on the brave new world around you.  When you get “behind times”, stay “well-rounded” and get instant updates from these sources:

• News Headlines on Google News, Yahoo News.  For strong opinions, and excellent editorial, turn to New York Times.   Their “Most Popular” section helps to narrow down the content and separate important from trivial.
• Best Socially Rated Content – News, Articles, Videos, Images.  Some of the more popular sources are Digg, and Del-icio-us.  The former helps narrow down the pulsating content of the moment, while the latter shows the most popular sites bookmarked by the users.
• For more emerging “up to the” minute news and opinions, search through Blog News aggregators, such as: TechMeme, BlogPulse, Google Blog Search.  (The search results generated via blog searches are different than the results returned via Google or other search engines and frequently more narrowed and specific to the topic to the search results.)
• Art – Check out Art Exhibits in your area. Even if you do not have a chance to go to the exhibit, it helps to know featured artists and exhibitions.  For in depth info, read credible reviews from a credible source. For example, turn to New Yorker “Arts” section  when planning to go to New York.  The editorial is top notch and covers the latest and greatest from the art world.
• Film – Use Rotten Tomatoes to freshen up on your film awareness.  (Left Hand Sidebar displays films that are currently playing at box office & their reviews.  The higher the fresh factor(the # of red tomatoes) the better the film is rated).
• Celebrity – While this topic is a little less academic and is frequently bordering gossip, there is a reason Celebrity Magazines are so popular, not to mention is a great conversation filler at times and is bound to pique human curiosity.

Some good sites are: Pop Sugar, ICYDK, Allie is Wired, Celebrity Moms

2. Hone Up Your Inner Analytic - different situations require a different approach. By being alert, listening, observing, and trying to size up what is most useful in a situation or to a person you interacting with in a specific situation, you can make yourself invaluable.

For example, an amazing story or a ground breaking news about fashion or celebrity, regardless of how captivating it may be, would be irrelevant to people who just experienced earthquake and lost their homes.

This is an extreme example, but it captures the essence of making yourself relevant (or in this case, irrelevant) to another person or situation.

3. Reach Beneath the Surface - situations, conversations & most importantly people have many layers.  The most basic level of interaction is on the surface.  However, if you try to think about a topic, or a situation deeper – more real, captivating, and interesting conversations and experiences are bound to emerge.

For example, someone who comes from from a family with divorced parents may have a very different outlook on family and marriage than someone who’s parents have been married for a lifetime.  Knowing a person’s background and being aware of it during the conversation, would allow a person to ask more meaningful questions, which in turn can result in significantly more sincere and deeper conversation.

4. Present a Well Rounded Point of View – opinions are a dime a dozen, but your point is perceived so much more relevant and powerful, when it is thought out. In taking a strong stance, first, familiarize yourself with the opposing point of view and acknowledge it. Then explain why the point that you are making makes more sense.

For example: “I think organic food is definitely healthier than non-organic options, even though there are data points that indicate that organic food is not fully regulated either.  Still, I feel eating organic decreases the likelihood of consuming pesticides and antibiotics that are present in non-organic food.”

This sounds a lot more relevant, well-rounded, and credible then: “I like organic, because it is organic.”

5. Do New Things - to stay updated, learn new things, and entertain your inner explorer, try to incorporate new things into your life and daily routines.  Note the positives and the negatives.  Evaluate how these things fit into your overall knowledge framework.  Then you have something real to discuss and useful points to make. Here are a few suggestions to get your imagination going.

6. Push Boundaries – stretch your comfort zone. It sometimes takes effort to understand new concepts, but it provides new data points and improves your overall understanding of the world around you.

When I took my first programming class in college, it seemed like a foreign concept and took enormous effort to grasp, because I couldn’t relate the concept to anything similar that I’ve done before.  Later, when I took another programming language class that was considered more difficult, it was actually easier, because I could relate the concept to something I already knew and build on the existing foundation.  I call this “Learning Economy of Scale”.

The more you know, the easier it becomes to grasp new things, because they are building on a piece of knowledge that you already have.  The key is to have multiple pieces of knowledge, which in turn makes you a multi-dimensional person.

7. Become an expert – dwell deeper into an area of interest and relate what you know to other things that are happening right now. Not only will you be referred to within you group of peers as the knowledge expert, but you will be able to draw patterns from your area of expertise to other things that are happening around you. Here is a great resource to start with: How Stuff Works.

In summary: Being relevant is an acquired skill, not genetic or inherent trait.  It does require interconnecting with people and events around us.

It takes some time and effort, but ultimately leads to deeper conversations, more fulfilling interactions, and thorough understanding of the world we live in.

How do you stay relevant? Share your tips in the comment section.