A hand sanitizer an indulgence?  I know what you're thinking. But even everyday items can be worthy splurges. Consider this...

One Ms. Germaphobe and one, now famous, H1N1 virus meet-up in the aisle of a drugstore. Ms. Germaphobe can either choose the standard anti-bacterial hand sanitizer or CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer to fend off the loathsome H1N1. Both kill 99.99% of germs, but CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer is made without toxic chemicals which makes Ms. Germaphobe happy. Did I mention she also happens to be a hypochondriac?

CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizer made by CleanWell Today
315 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.839.6393
$8.99 for three 1oz. spray bottles (each bottle contains 200+ sprays)
www.cleanwelltoday.com
info@cleanwelltoday.com
Thumbprints: A, G, S

Great advice from someone who has done just that.

Growing up together, I never thought Aimee would become an artist. Sure, she had the interest and talent, but she also excelled in math, science, English and music, among other things. I foresaw a career in medicine or perhaps a PhD in psychology.

But Aimee is more adventurous than most.  Not in the sense that she's going to bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower anytime soon (although I hear she's taken up trapeze), but she doesn't adhere to the tenets of mainstream society, and I find that brave. She lives closer to the fringe, valuing relationships, old and new, and experiences over cars and clothes. She travels incessantly, so I never know exactly where she is (last we spoke, she'd just returned from a year-long papermaking stint in Korea thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship, and was heading to upstate New York followed by a trip to Miami for an art installation).

Am I a little jealous?  Definitely, but Aimee's work, spirit and lifestyle are inspiring.

A self-professed "interdisciplinary artist working across performance, installation, and book arts media, interested in personal storytelling," Aimee's work is hard to describe because it encompasses so many disciplines and artistic mediums.  Part philosopher, anthropologist, musician and historian, her work is unique and interesting on a number of levels. 

Aimee Lee
www.aimeelee.net
moonaimee.blogspot.com
contact@aimelee.net
Thumbprint: I

You might think it's ludicrous (or ingenious) to have a line item for chocolate in your budget, but after a quick calculation of our household expenses last year, I deemed it appropriate.

But I knew that a budget alone wouldn't do it; what I needed was a plan. Otherwise I might squander all of my chocolate funds early in the year and run the risk of having to drastically curb, or even eliminate, my cocoa consumption in the 4th quarter of 2010.

While the old me would drop a few hard-earned bucks on one delectable bite-sized treat, the new me would have to do without luxury chocolate...or so I thought.

Enter into any Whole Foods-like market and you'll be astounded by the  variety in the chocolate aisle. Gone are the days when you had to choose between a Hershey's bar or Snickers. Thankfully, chocolate has joined the rank of everyday gourmet foods.

On my last shopping excursion, I picked up a bar of The Tea Room's dark chocolate infused with green early grey tea (delicate and herbal) and Dagoba's "xocolatl" made with dark chocolate, chilies and cacao nibs (spicy, hot and exotic).  

Both companies produce only organic chocolates which makes their confections doubly sweet (the cocoa crop is ranked second in pesticide use behind cotton).  

Other all-time favorites are Dagoba's "chai" bar with essences of chai tea and ginger and Theo's organic coconut curry bar (flavors self-explanatory). 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
601 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: 866.972.6879
Fax: 415.401.0087
www.dagobachocolate.com
dagoba@worldpantry.com
Dagoba chocolate bars, $3.45 for a 2 oz. bar
Thumbprint: C, F*, G, O

• Full Circle Sustainability™ - Committed to quality, ecology, equity and community

*Some products are certified Fair Trade

Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206.632.5100
Fax: 206.632.0413
www.theochocolate.com
Theo chocolate bars, $3.25 for a 2 oz. bar
Thumbprint: F, G, O

The Tea Room
110C Mezzetta Court
American Canyon, CA 94503
Phone: 866.515.8855
Fax: 707.561.7081
www.thetearoom.biz
info@thetearoom.biz
The Tea Room chocolate bars, $3.85 for a 1.8 oz. bar
Thumbprint: O

I admit that I am slightly biased when it comes to Spencer Day.  After all, he sang at our wedding. His musical gift was apparent back then, but having heard him in concert more recently, I was blown away by a new depth to his voice and his presence on stage. What a showman!

But there's something else about Spencer Day that makes him so appealing. Sure, he's easy on the eyes and multi-talented (he's a "vocalist-songwriter-pianist"), but I think it's that he comes across as contemplative and intelligent.

His musical style is not true to any one standard---it's kind of jazzy with some folk, pop and classical elements, too. If you asked me to compare him to other musicians, I'd say he's an amalgamation of Jamie Cullum, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jason Mraz.

One of my favorite songs is "Last Train to New Jersey" from his CD, Movie of your Life.  Makes me smile every time I hear it; maybe because I still feel like a bit of New Yorker, but I think you'll be able to relate no matter where you hail from.

Spencer Day
www.spencerday.com
His newest album, Vagabond, was released September 2009 (I love every song on it)
Thumbprint: I

 Ever had one of those moments when you smell something stinky, then realize that it's you?  Well, that was me not long ago. I'd just come in from my morning run and flung my hat on the table when my olfactories caught a whiff of the unmistakable funk of sweaty technical gear. Yuck.

So I did what any logical person would do. I threw my hat in the wash. When that didn't work, I soaked it in super hot water, then vinegar, and just when I thought my hat was a goner, my lovely husband showed me an article in Runner's World reviewing new sport detergents.

Unbeknownst to me, residue from your average laundry detergent acts like a sponge, soaking up moisture and, you guessed it, causing all your technical gear to smell. So it wasn't me; it was my laundry detergent.

Though glad to have Runner's World do the dirty job of testing the four most popular sport detergents on the market for me, I did some additional homework on the companies themselves. Based on Runner's World's reviews and my research, I settled on using Penguin's Sport-Wash®.

Why? Because Penguin has been "concerned about the effects of our products and packaging on the environment for as long as we've been in business. Penguin takes your safety, and that of the planet, seriously." Not surprisingly, the detergent is biodegradable (made from vegetable surfactants). That's not something to run away from, and now, neither am I.

Penguin Sport-Wash®, $10 for a 20 oz. container
Thumbprint: G

• 100% PVC-free container, as are all products and packaging
  
• Made with biodegradable vegetable surfactants
• All Penguin products have been chlorofluorocarbon-free for more than 20 years
• Penguin aerosol products do not contain Freon or Trichlor III
  

Penguin Sport-Wash® is sold at REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lucy or find retailers near you

Penguin Brands Inc.
P.O. Box 1036
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
Phone: 610.534.8700
Fax: 610.534.4424
info@penguinbrands.com