Some Surprise

A few years ago, this was one of my favorite songs.  It is off of the album 'Cake Sale', which is also just a great album!  Check the song and the album out.

I was really heavy into The Frames, Snow Patrol, Lisa Hannigan, Ben Harper, Damien Rice, etc. then and I still really enjoy their music.  If you enjoy this, then you will probably like music by Glen Hansard (The Frames, he's in the movie The Commitments and it is fabulous, The Swell Season), and The Swell Season!


Some Surprise


The Cake Sale album was part of the Make Trade Fair Campaign (I didn't realize this was the cause when I bought the album!) in Ireland, in 2005.  This brings me to my next topic, Fair Trade.

It was definitely some surprise to me, that I did not know about Fair Trade before, but it has recently come to my attention via friends from college.  I have been so shocked to find out that giant chocolate companies like Nestle, Cadbury, and Hershey's buy their cocoa and beans, etc. from farms on The Ivory Coast and in Ghana.  These farms typically pay their farmers hardly any money at all and they also have their farms harvested by young children and women. This is why we get chocolate for such a cheap price here in the states.

If you would like some alternatives, from companies that give their farmers a fair wage for their work, check out:

Equal Exchange (I just started getting my baking cocoa and chips here)

Divine

Madecasse

Alter Eco Foods

Ripple Brands Collective (I think they are at Costco)

Guittard

Lake Champlain

Shaman Organic Chocolates

Green & Blacks

Brandstorm Inc.

Sweetriot

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Read up on Fair Trade here:  Fair Trade USA, Fair Trade Federation

And don't forget to look for Fair Trade logos on the products that you are buying!

          

          

Pretty Flowers

I love this song.  It reminds me of songs of old.  I love Dolly and I love Steve's sound!  It's been a while since I have listened to this, so I thought I would share it with you!


This is not my song, no copy right infringement intended.

Pumie Heavy Duty Scouring Stick

I have lived in my apartment for a year and a half.  When I moved in, it was disgustingly dirty, and the land lord did not have it cleaned for me.  For the last year and a half, I have stared at the hideous ring in my toilet, having no clue how to get rid of it.  I have hated it.  I have loathed it.  It is just plain awful!

My friend Allison told me a while back, that I could get a pumice stone and it would take the ring right off.  Well, today, I finally got to the cleaning isle in Home Depot and got the 'Pumie Heavy Duty Scouring Stick'.

It is a miracle worker!!

I know the last thing you want to look at is the inside of my toilet, but it took my toilet from this:

To this!!:

Amazing!  I suggest you get this if you are having issues with toilet rings as well!

It works for deep stains in your bath tub, hard water rings, rust and paint, and carbon buildups in your oven!  A tool I shall never forget.  And, it only cost me $2.49!  Can't be beat!