A.R. and Proud

Swap That DVD

2009-07-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

My husband and I own a whopping 12 DVDs. 8 of which are workout DVDs and 4 of those, I don't really use anymore. Rather than leaving them to collect dust, and because I'd love to get some new ones without paying much for them I looked in to swapping them.

My first stop was Swaptree, a place where you can swap DVDs, books, CDs, and video games. I played with the demo, but was disappointed that I couldn't actually search through the current listings. But because I could swap various items, not just DVDs, I signed up. Once I signed up, I searched through the listings and saw that Swaptree had hardly any workout DVDs, and none that I wanted.

Also, after investigating, I realized I don't have excess books or games to swap, so I moved over to SwapADVD.

Here, you can actually search the listings first and I found many more exercise DVDs, so I signed up.

Upon entering my DVDs, I was notified that two of them were already on some one's list, and was asked if could send them in the next two days. So I printed out the shipping "envelopes" and will mail them today. Because I only had 4 DVDs (if you enter 10 you get an automatic credit) I will have to wait for my sent DVDs to be received before I am eligible to get any myself, but I'm O.K. with that.

All in all, I think that swapping DVDs is a great idea, and I pick SwapADVD as my favorite swapping service.

Cap It Off

2009-06-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

In August, I started collecting caps for my "Great Aveda Experiment". They claimed on their website they they would happily take rigid plastic caps from soda bottles, water bottles, etc. (Full description: here.)

So I started collecting them. And collecting them. And collecting them. Last week, I finally had the gallon bag filled to the top. (It weighed 768g. The gum package is for scale.)

So I headed off to our local Aveda, Vata Salon, at the Vancouver Mall, in Vancouver, WA. I had to go there anyway. Two birds with one stone and all that.

I really wasn't sure what would happen. I had tried to call ahead to see if they participated in the program, but all I got was an answering machine. I was prepared to be laughed out of the store.

When I asked the man (with the perfectly spiked hair) if they participated in the Aveda Recycle Caps program. He said, "Oh yes, of course! People drop things off all the time." So I handed over my gallon bag of caps and exited the store. I checked over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't just dumping my bag in to the trash, but he was working away at the computer.

So, will I continue to collect tops? Hell yeah. That was easy!

Note to Aveda: if I had earned some sort of coupon or % off for bringing in tops, I would have lingered a bit in the store, instead of booking out of there. Just saying.

If You Can't See It You Won't Wear It

2009-06-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I decided to tackle my closest. While it was certainly organized, it wasn't yet super-organized. So I did a little experiment to see how truly anal I am. First, I started with my shoes. I went through all the pairs. Decided which should stay, which should go, and then snapped a pic, printed it out, and slapped it on the box. The result:

Then I went through my clothes, weeded out things I never wear, and thought it would be a kick to hang everything by color! I'd only done this once before, when I was killing time waiting for my boyfriend to arrive from the airport.

So, I figured, I'd give it another go.

I know it seems crazy, but it's actually been a great way to have my clothes organized. I can see them better, and I'm more likely to wear some color, and not just black, black, black.

No, I won't come over and do your closet. I'm still worn out from doing mine.

Go, but Go Loco

2009-06-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

The commute. Something I have been able to avoid for years, but with my new job search going on, something I will probably be facing very soon. While I'd love to be able to walk or bus to work, it probably just isn't gonna happen. Enter Goloco.

The brainchild of Robin Chase, founder of ZipCar, Goloco is like carpooling on steroids. You can use it for daily office commutes, finding out what your friends are up to, and hopping a ride to the nearest big city. It's free and it's adorable and I plan on using it once I know exactly where I will be heading each morning.

The Play's The Thing

2009-06-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

For the last few years, Martin and I have been enjoying free Shakespeare performances put on by the Portland (Oregon) Actors Ensemble. They perform outdoors, in various parks around the city.

A few weeks ago, we watched a truly creepy (in a good way!) performance of King Lear. It was performed in Cathedral Park, under the St. John's Bridge.

They have more performances coming up, and we highly suggest you grab a picnic, some chairs, and a blanket and join us for one of Portland's most wonderful summer traditions!

Don't live near Portland, Oregon? Go to Play Shakespeare and look through the links for your country and town. You are sure to find something close by! Enjoy!

Speak Up For What You Want: Part 2

2009-06-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

I recently contacted various magazine companies asking them to consider using recycled paper and these are the responses I got:

I'm not surprised with their responses, and I truly appreciate that they responded. What I'd really love to see, is a price quote for using virgin paper vs. recycled paper. Not that the magazines have to prove anything to me, I'm just truly fascinated and perplexed.

Body + Soul, Fast Company, Shape, Ready Made, Ms. Magazine, and others can swing it, why not Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine?

I consider Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine vital resources for learning about cutting edge businesses, and strategies for tackling business issues, how can it be that they can't tackle this one?

Speak Up For What You Want: Part 1

2009-06-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

I was watching PBS recently (we don't have cable, so I tend to watch PBS a lot!) and saw a documentary about faith and environmentalism. One of the snippets involved an activist group that was trying to get major magazines (National Geographic, The New Yorker, etc.) to switch from using virgin trees, to using recycled paper. This idea intrigued me, and I've been checking every magazine I see now for either the FSC Recycled logo

Or a note on the title page inside stating that the magazine is printed on recycled paper (any % will do).

Of the 4 I subscribe to, only 1, Fast Company, uses 100% recycled paper. If any magazine thinks that using recycled paper will take away the quality and luster of their magazine, all they need to do is pick up a copy of Fast Company. It has a great look, and a lovely feel. (Plus, great articles!)

So, I decided to get vocal. Rather than just sending an email that will only be viewed by one or two people, I decided to also ask the magazine companies, via Twitter, if they would consider switching to recycled paper.

So, I tweeted to:

USAA (It's the magazine sent out by the banking/insurance company) @usaa_news
Entrepreneur Magazine, @EntMagazineAmy, entmag@entrepreneur.com
Inc., @IncMagazine, mail@inc.com

My next post will show the results.

Feel Good About Ditching Your Old Phone

2009-06-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

The new iPhone 3GS release date was announced today, and Twitter is ablaze with people lusting after it. While I don't understand the need to have the newest shiny object out there, I'm not here to judge (well, not today anyway).

I'm here to inspire you to recycle your old phone, rather than just letting it gather dust.

5 Ways To Sell/Recycle Your Old Phone:

Send any brand of phone to Apple for free recycling (they also take iPods).

Sell your old/broken phone (plus other electronics) to BuyMyTronics.com.

Donate/recycle it with ExPhone.

Sell your phone to GreenPhone and they will also plant a tree.

Or, pop your Zip Code and "Cell phone" into the handy search function at Earth911.com and find a place nearby where you can drop off your phone.

Don't forget to recycle the original packaging that came with the old phone.

Enjoy the new one until the next model comes along, then repeat.

-----------------------
Image courtesy of William Hook and used under the Creative Commons License

It's Ok To Skim

2009-06-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've been reading lots of books about food in the United States and I thought I'd give you a whiz-bang snippet of what I've read.

What To Eat, Marion Nestle
Granted, I read this book about 2 years ago, so my memory is a little fuzzy. What I do recall: its an enormous book (the hardcover is 9.3 x 6.4 x 2) and she methodically tells you what to eat and why. (I took lots of notes.) Highly recommended, but I suggest you pace yourself.

Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America, Morgan Spurlock
I figured there was nothing left to talk about after the movie, Supersize Me, came out, but I was wrong. Although I heavily skimmed this book, he did have some neat things to say. Including giving props to an elementary school in Olympia, WA that grows their own food. When I told my teenage niece about the mention (she lives in Olympia), she scoffed. "Oh yeah. That school. Mine didn't do that." The main points of Spurlock's book were that schools in the United States serve crap to our kids, and that fast food joints sell more chemicals than food.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan
Another big book, but definitely worth reading. I learned a lot about farming correctly, and how the United States "demands" farmers grow too much corn, and then invents things to use up the supply (e.g. high fructose corn syrup, feed it to cows, make ethanol). Some of his stories got a little long winded, but that is what skimming is for.

Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is one of my Mom's heroes. I once had to take a picture of my Mom standing behind Jane Goodall, because my Mom did not want to bother Jane by asking if she would pose for a picture. (We were at a book signing.)

I abandoned the book after 5 pages. After reading Pollan it felt like I was reading a book written for first graders. Back in to the library bag it went.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Barbara Kingsolver
Far and away the most beautifully written, almost lyrical of the bunch. Never lecturing, but certainly skewering things, such as being vegetarian because you don't want "animals to suffer". Normally, I hate, hate, hate, it when recipes are added to novels, but the authors did a great job of adding them more as side notes, then as text. (And I found myself scrambling for pen and paper to remind myself to jot them down later.) I did skim (I always do) but it is truly a beautiful book. Highly recommended.

I suggest you read, in this order: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, What To Eat, and then The Omnivore's Dilemma (assuming you've made it through the first two).

Or, you can just sit at your local farmer's market and let your eyes and nose tell you what you should be eating.

Enjoy.

Make A Memory

2009-06-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

At 18, I got a tattoo. After picking the design and location of my choice, I got on to the chair. My friends waited on the other side of the curtain and the whirring of the needle began. I knew that everyone would ask me if it hurt, so as he applied the ink, I created a mental image in my head. One that I would remember forever. One of a sewing machine, with my hand going back and forth underneath its needle.
(Yes, that is what it feels like.)

A few months ago, my big toenail fell off. Well, it didn't really fall off, so much as it peeled away from it's lower layer revealing pink skin beneath. According to the Internet, this sort of thing happens when there is an infection. I thought back and realized that I had recently gotten a pedicure with a friend. The place had always given me pause. They re-use their gloves, there is no sterlizing machine within sight--all bad signs--but my friend had been going there for years without incident, and I, not having seen her in a long time, wanted so badly just to be with her, that I went along. So now, as I watch my toenail slowly grow back in, I imprint this lesson in my mind.

I recently spent some time with my 14 year old niece and told her both stories. The tattoo story didn't faze her (her mom has many of them) but the toenail story had her asking all sorts of questions on how to find a good, clean salon.

But the best part of all, was when I told her the second part of the tattoo story. How after getting the tattoo, I hid it from my parents for years, hiding it under clothing, and constantly having dreams that I had been exposed. When I finally got up the courage and told my Mom, my anti-tattoo, Mom, she had said:

"Oh, that's pretty. I've been thinking it would be nice to get one on my ankle."

So now, I have a new memory. A memory of walking around Capital Lake in Olympia, WA with my 14 year old niece laughing our asses off at the silliness of assuming you know everything about a person.

Stop Forgetting

2009-05-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

In Middle School, my best friend N. dumped me for boys. I still saw them as friends to play sports with, she saw them otherwise.

In High School, 5 of my friends stopped talking to me after they saw my modeling portfolio. (I can only guess this is the reason, since they never told me.)

In College, my friend I., the one I went to camp with every summer, and her friend, spent 2 hours making fun of me because I didn't like to party at school.

Also in college, my roommate stopped talking to me when she decided that she was no longer straight.

And recently, a friendship that was truly intoxicating, has come to an end. I fear we burned too bright for too long, and simply have nothing left.

My point? Friendships and relationships ebb and flow. The only constant in all your relationships is you.

I need to stop forgetting that part.

Green Your Sex Routine

2009-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Six easy ways to green your sex life.

Because don't we all want our sex lives to be sustainable?

1. Practice safe sex
Unless you are trying to get pregnant, birth control is the way to go. If you are in a new relationship, make sure you have some barrier protection: condoms, dental dams, etc.

2. Inspect the packaging
Lubes, sex toys, etc. Buy the ones with the least amount of packaging. Make sure you recycle everything when you are done. Embarrassed that your neighbors will see your lube bottle in the recycling bin? Don't be. You might inspire them.

3. Buy the good stuff
High quality, long lasting, toys are good for you and for the environment: Fun Factory, Tantus.

4. If you aren't going to use it, don't buy it.
Lingerie gifts at every holiday? Goofy sex "toys" for bachelorette parties? If no one will use it, don't bother buying it.

5. Use Rechargeable batteries in your toys

6. Explore your closet (or a friend's) for new outfits/tactile sensations.

You are welcome.

Love the LEED

2009-05-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Coming to Portland, Oregon? While you are here, feel free to revel in our LEEDy goodness. What's LEED? It's a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council and stands for: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

We have a number of buildings in town that are LEED certified, but I want to hi-light just three:

200 Market Building
The first legacy (re-furbished) office building in America to earn the Gold LEED certification.

Ecotrust's Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center
The first gold-rated LEED building in Oregon and the first gold-rated LEED historic restoration in the nation.

Historic Portland Armory
The only historical building in the nation to have earned a platinum LEED rating. And home of Portland Center Stage.

All of these building are easily accessible by The Portland Streetcar or by foot.

Do you feel the need, the need for more LEED? Sign up for the Portland Green Pedal Bike Tours. Cruise around town on bike, while learning more about Portland's commitment to sustainability.

I promise you, you will return home with grand thoughts of recycling rain runoff and salvaging building supplies dancing in your head.

Know Thy Title

2009-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Do you insist on organic food? Only travel in vehicles that will damage the environment a little less than regular ones?
Have various re-usable bags for various purposes? (Oh wait, that one is probably just me.)

Well, you are consider a LOHAS. That's right, LOHAS= Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. You are being targeted, studied and marketed to. There is even a conference that teaches companies how to attract your attention and dollars!! While I don't necessarily think all this consumerism is a bad thing (although, if they give away as much crappy swag as a normal conference, my heart will throughly break) I just wanted to let you know.

It's your job to cut through all the greenwashing: the companies that just slap the word green or all natural on their product or service without any real attempts at sustainability.

Don't be fooled. When picking products, use your brain not your heart.

Two great things go great together.

2009-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cue the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial from the 1980's...

"Hey your peanut butter is in my chocolate!"

"Hey your chocolate is in my peanut butter!"

(And they lived happily -if a bit sticky-ily after...)

I thought all this was a bit contrived until it happened to me. My two new loves: Rescue Me and Ray Lamontagne. TOGETHER! and not just once, but TWICE.

Rescue Me: Season 2: Episode 2 uses LaMontagne's Trouble.
Rescue Me: Season 2: Episode 12 uses LaMontagne's All the Wild Horses.

Shocked that I wrote all this down? Shame on you, you haven't been paying attention at all. (Look at the name of the blog for god's sake.)

Consider the Environment

2009-05-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a new trend in email signatures, people are adding
PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL and it's driving me crazy.

It's another symptom in the greenwashing of the United States. Consider the environment? What the hell does that even mean? Do you think I need to be scolded like a child because I can't think for myself?

For a moment, I amused myself by pumping up the severity factor:

PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL: For each email your print out, one baby seal gets clubbed.

or

PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL: Or we will take away your iPod. Yes, all of them.

But guilt is not a motivator. Isn't our nation of overweight, lazy, couch/computer potatoes that don't call their Mothers as much as they should, proof enough that guilt doesn't work?

If we really want to CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT we can do two things:
1. Stop buying so much crap. (Three laptops? A new car every year? Really??)
2. Get our butts away from the cellphones, SmartPhones, Laptops, and Television and GO OUTSIDE.

So here it is, new and improved and even more green!

PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL: STOP BUYING CRAP AND GET YOUR BUTT OUTSIDE.

Go For Chinese

2009-04-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

Martin took some time off from work last week and we finally went to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. (It only took us 6 years.)

I had a two for one admission ticket from my Chinook Book, but frankly I would have paid full price. It was magical, it was peaceful, and it was beautiful.

I highly suggest you take one of the free walking tours of the garden. It was one of the best tours I've ever been on. (And I've been to Europe.)

Make A Complaint

2009-04-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, I purchased some new underwear. Hanes Perfect Stretch (2) Opaque Bikinis to be exact. I've worn them maybe 3x. They are fine. Not spectacular, but certainly comfortable. So, I was quite shocked to find that the elastic has broken and is sticking out the side of the underwear.

*Sigh*

So I decided I could:

A) Just throw them away and never buy another product from Hanes.

B) Mail the product back to Hanes (as stated on the packaging).

C) Write a blog post about the issue and leave the URL in a comment form at Hanes.com.

I choose option C.

Put Down That Gatorade

2009-04-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

YOU: "But, Lia, I just worked out and I need to replenish fluids."

ME: "Did you workout for more than an hour? Are you a endurance or ultra endurance athlete?"

YOU: "Um, no. But I'm thirsty. And I worked so hard."

ME: "Drink water, stupid. If you drink a 32 fl. oz bottle of Gatorade, you will drink 200 calories. If you drink a 20 oz. bottle of Powerade, you will consume 195 calories, a bottle of VitaminWater has 125. Why un-do your hard work?

YOU: "Umm, but it tastes better than water."

ME: "Yes, I know it does. It's because it's pure sugar. Want to know how I know this?"

YOU: "Not really, but I have a feeling you will tell me anyway."

ME: "True. Because, when I am having an insulin reaction (my blood sugar is dropping) and I need fast acting sugar, purer than table sugar, purer than apple juice or candy, I drink GATORADE. (And all I need is a cup of it to send my blood sugar soaring back up.)"

YOU: "You are so smart."

Don't Destroy My Trust

2009-04-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was hanging with my brother in Olympia, Washington and he introduced me to the book: Eat This, Not That (Supermarket Survival Guide), by Rodale.

It's a beautiful, glossy, book. It's supposed to steer you away from the truly crappy food at the supermarket to well, less crappy food [my opinion] at the supermarket. Now, I'm always up for a new and easy way to find nutritious things to eat. I get tired of reading all the labels at the supermarket, or *gasp* researching things ahead of time.

Upon further inspection, I noticed that the makers of the book also publish Men's Health Magazine and Woman's Health Magazine and that each issue has a Eat This, Not That section. The next time I was at the library I grabbed some Men's Health Magazines (they did not have Women's Health) and took them home. They seemed overly ab focused, but I found some interesting articles. (Yep, I read Men's Health for the articles.)

I was ready to buy a two years subscription to Woman's Health (I have the check right here), and then I happened to see Matt Bean, Senior Editor of Men's Health Magazine, on the Early Show suggesting people eat both McDonald's Egg McMuffin and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese (sans the cheese).

What? I don't care if a Quarter Pounder with Cheese (sans the cheese) is only 300 calories. A Quarter Pounder with Cheese is NOT FOOD. McDonald's can claim it uses 100% beef, but I don't believe them. Plus, the bun alone has 25+ ingredients. Scary stuff.

So, Rodale, I don't trust you anymore. (I have now ripped up the check I was going to send to you.)

And for me, trust is sacred. Once you lose my trust, it's hard to get it back. And if I don't trust you, why would I bother spending any of my precious time on you? The answer: I'm not.

2009-04-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

4 Painless Ways to Save Money RIGHT NOW!

1. Get Tap Water Instead of Soda When You Go Out to Eat
While dining out lately with my 14 year old niece, I noticed that she never ordered soda. That made me notice the amount soda goes for these day. Yikes! Save about $2 each time, plus you won't rot your teeth!

2. Swap Your Magazines
I leave my read magazines on my neighbor's doorstep. She appreciates getting them and I consider it money in the bank for when she needs to get rid of her bumper crop of fruit and veggies. (This also works in an office setting, just be sure you aren't making a mess for the cleaning crew.)

3. Hang It Up
Make sure you have installed towel hooks and clothing hooks in everyone's bathroom and bedroom. Make sure they know that except for underwear, socks and heavily soiled clothes, most items can be hung up and used at least once more before needing to be washed.

5. Use Them Up The next time you are running low on shampoo or conditioner, use the little hotel bottles you have been saving for a rainy day. (Don't look at me like that, I know you have them!) You only really need one for your travel kit. Use up the rest.

Have a Treasurelicious Tuesday

2009-04-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I created Treasurelicious, was that people would ask me where I got things. Rather than repeatedly looking up the info, I created a slick little widget that has all the info right there. Now, I just send people to my Treasurelicious list.

Last night, after my weekly walk with my friend, Dorothy, I showed her my composter AKA my Urban Compost Tumbler. She started asking all the usual questions: How much was it? Where did you get it?.... and I realized I needed to add it to my Treasurelicious list.

So I just did.

It's been a great composter, the lid keeps the bugs and shredded bills in and animals out. It's easy to turn and keeps things quite clean. (Frankly, I feel a bit spoiled.) Although the company is based in Redmond, OR I picked my composter up in Portland, OR. (So if you live in the Portland area and are looking to buy one, please ask about that.)

I currently have cut up cotton socks in my composter, I will let you know if they actually compost!

Have a Plan B: Part 2 of 2

2009-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna start until we are all on the same page: Read this first.

Ok, so I head out to the Governor Hotel and eventually get to the parking garage and then to the hotel. An evening of fun, food and killer foot pain stretches out before me.

At 12 am I finally head home, only to realize that I have forgotten my blood glucose meter. I quickly call the hotel, but they tell me that the catering company that hosted the event is gone and all the rooms have been closed up. So, what's a girl to do when her normal blood glucose meter is locked up all alone at the Governor Hotel?

Well, she breaks out another. (This is why we have emergency kits, folks!)

(FYI: My blood glucose meter was found and I picked it up last Friday. Yay.)

Have a Plan B: Part 1 of 2

2009-04-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

I volunteered at last week's Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (of Portland, OR's) Hope Gala, at the Governor Hotel. Since it was a fancy event, I had tried to make an appointment with my regular hairstylist, to do my hair all fancy. She was unavailable so instead made an appointment for me with another one of the ladies at the shop.

Saturday morning rolls around and I get a call from the stylist saying that she won't be able to do my hair today, because she tripped on her daughter's shoe, and has fractured her finger. So she gives me the name of another lady that works at the salon that could possibly help me.

I ooh and yikes, the appropriate amount of time regarding her finger and then call the salon back to try and schedule the appointment with woman #3. It's now 1:00 pm and I need to leave for Portland by 4 pm. When 2:00 rolls around, I decide to take matters in to my own hands and I head to Target to get a curling iron. I'm positive that I can remember how to use one. About 15 minutes in to trying to do my hair, I realize that it ain't gonna happen. By this point the front of my hair is straight, so I decide to let the front stay straight and let the back go curly (as it wants to do anyway). I add some beads to my dress, decide I look punk-ish and call it a day.

(But not before I document...)

From the front:

From the side:

Stylist #3 calls me back at 3:50 pm saying, "So you want to come in for an appointment today?" And I tell her that she is too late.

To be continued...

Have a Treasurelicious Tuesday

2009-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to mix things up a bit with Tlish Tuesday. Rather than telling you about what other people think is cool, I will illuminate you on some of the things in my Treasurelicious list. (All located in the handy widget in my sidebar.)

For this first post, I will start off with one of my favorite things. So favorite in fact, that when I see it on sale. I will buy FOUR of them. (In fact, I just did this on Tuesday.) I've tried others, I've tried to go cold turkey, but there is no getting over my addiction to Bath & Body Work's Jasmine & Vanilla Sugar Scrub.

I love using it in the winter, when my skin gets dry from all the hot showers I take. Nothing works better. Oh, and the smell! Heavenly! And most importantly, because it is made out of sugar, rather than salt, if you happen to have small cuts, nothing will sting or hurt.

Want to share something that is in your Treasurelicious list? Please leave a link to your post in the comments of this post.