Fall has arrived - at least in most parts of the country.  Temps, leaves and apples are falling inducing soup, sweater and cinnamon cravings.  Its also making me think more about one-pot meals and dishes that simmer on the stove filling the house with delicious aromas by dinnertime.  Lately, I’ve been cooking more with my red Le Crueset cast iron enamel-covered french oven that I’ve had for over four years and I’m still in awe of how much better my food tastes when I cook in it.  Once you own one, you’ll no longer wonder why this timeless and amazing cookware is pricey - because you definitely get what you pay for.

The first thing you’ll notice about these french ovens is the weight.  Extremely heavy duty and supremely well-made, you’ll have yours for years and likely have it for long enough to pass down to your kids.  The enamel coating is non-stick, won’t chip and food is cooked evenly and thoroughly - you can even use it to marinate food before cooking and store food after cooking.  And its energy efficient since food is cooked best on low to medium temps.

If you’re in need of replacing your old cookware or buying for the first time - consider investing in a Le Crueset, or at least put it on your Christmas list now, you won’t regret it.

First of all, if you don’t laugh when you see or hear this product’s name, Chicken Poop Lip Junk - I have serious doubts about whether you have a sense of humor.  Everything from the name, marketing, web address (www.ilovechickenpoop.com) is hilarious (IMHO, of course!).  There is however one thing the company is actually serious about and its their ingredients - very simple, yet very effective.  Confession: I don’t like this product as a lip balm though - its much too lavender-y for lips.  I’m talking knock-my-organic-socks-off-and-feel-like-I’ve-been-chewing-on-lavender-plants-for-days lip balm - so if you like that kind of thing, go for it!  It is however perfect as an all-purpose and mighty convenient on-the-go stick to heal and/or soothe cuts, scrapes or bug bites (my personal fave).  The twist up tube doesn’t take up any space in my bag or bathroom drawer and its ideal to dab on mosquito bites to take the sting right out.  And the good news?  Its totally affordable at just $2.99 a tube and it is sure to be the topic of many conversations!

The Endangered Species 72% Dark Chocolate Bar with Cranberries and Almonds is, without question, one of my favorite sweet treats.   This three ounce chocolate bar is made with totally natural, shade grown, ethically traded cocoa. Smooth on the palate, this is the perfect combination of slightly tart dark chocolate, mixed with sweet dried cranberries and crunchy almonds.  Endangered Species chocolate is ethically traded ensuring cocoa farmers are paid a fair wage.  The package is printed on 30% post-consumer FSC-certified paper and the candy is certified Kosher, vegan and gluten-free.  If you are a dark chocolate fan like I am, try this bar - you won’t be sorry!

I have a little confession.  I fell off my self-imposed no sugar wagon.  Several months ago.  Before vacation.

I suppose if there’s anytime to splurge, it’s while on vacation.  So I did.  Since returning home after almost a month of being away I’ve decided I need to begin a “vacation detox” which means cutting out a lot of food, exercising, eating clean food and drinking lots of water.   I haven’t started yet, but am crafting my master plan.

In the meantime, I indulged in one of my favorite chocolate bars ever - Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate Bar. Green & Black’s makes some of the best organic chocolate around and don’t just take my word for it - apparently Martha Stewart is also a fan of this chocolatey goodness.  Watch Micah Carr-Hill, the “Head of Taste” at Green & Black’s on The Martha Stewart Show as he samples their various chocolates with Martha.  Just try to watch it without getting a craving!

Photo source: About.com

My sweet little niece is here, safe and sound and one of the things we love to dress her in is a Kate Quinn Organics Infant Sacque.  All new parents should know the ease and benefit of an infant sacque/sack and add one or two to their baby clothes collection.  They make diaper changes a breeze and allow baby to move freely while keeping them warm and bundled.  They also allow baby to grow and since one size fits all, it will last through many months whereas those 0-3m or 3-6m clothes will quickly retire.

Kate Quinn Organics makes some of the coolest baby & kids clothes that I’ve found to date.  Check out why Kate Quinn decided to start her own line four years ago:

“I wanted to create a line that encompassed all the wishes and dreams of new parents: the softest, most natural materials to surround your baby, the highest quality design and construction, and most importantly, the hope of a cleaner, kinder earth.” -Kate Quinn

Discrete moms will appreciate being gifted this really cute organic linen nursing cover - at least my own sister did (she received ‘Raspberry’, as shown).  The Simple by Bebe Au Lait is another product created by a mom due to her own need.  Blankets may suffice for this purpose, but any mom who’s used one as a cover-up during nursing will tell you that they fall down or are pulled down by the tiny person behind the veil.  This cover is designed so that mom puts her head through the loop and can see her baby while nursing, while no else can.  Breathable linen fabric ensures that no matter what the season, baby will be covered and protected.  This is once again one of those must-have products that mom may not have thought to buy, but would make a unique shower gift that’s sure to get a lot of use!

My sister has had her hospital bag packed and ready to go for at least a week now as she anticipates the arrival of her second child.  I arrived here not so long ago in anticipation of the birth myself and this time reminds me when her first child was born.  One of her shower gifts was this Weleda Baby Starter Kit and she loved them so much she had to graduate to full sizes and has continued to use them for the past two years.

Weleda has an undeniable reputation of creating pure products as demonstrated by their commitment to biodynamic farming practices and their extremely high standards.  You won’t find a single synthetic preservative, synthetic fragrance,  synthetic chemical, or synthetic anything.  Weleda products are 100% certified natural by BDIH (one of the most stringent certifying bodies in the world), Demeter and the new global certification, NaTrue.

Not only are Weleda products natural, but they’re also effective.  And all the baby products smell great! Whether you’re headed to the hospital, a baby shower, or packing your suitcase, do yourself a favor and remember to bring this affordable kit.  I know you’ll be upgrading to the full sizes in no time!

Alex and Ani Jewelry is becoming quite the media darling, and for good reason.  This unique brand creates pieces made from recycled material and aims to inspire the one who wears it.  Owner and Designer, Carolyn Rafaelian believes it is her calling in life to inspire others to relish what is unique and authentic about themselves.  This bohemian chic collection is made from recycled materials in the U.S., and has been spotted on many celebrities as of late:

Jessica Simpson likes to wear two sets of bangles together n stage, one gold, one silver.

Proving the pieces can be dressed up or down, Vanessa Hudgens wears Alex and Ani bangles with jeans (above) and was recently spotted at the MTV Music Awards sporting the expanding wire bangle set (below).

Seventeen Magazine just featured Miley Cyrus wearing hers to a trip to a smoothie bar.

Photo Credits: 

www.Styleholics.com

www.Seventeen.com

20 years ago Seeds of Change began with a simple mission: to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable, organic agriculture.  They back that pledge today by donating 1% of net sales to promote sustainable organic farming initiatives worldwide and their line of great tasting, certified organic foods also includes salad dressings, frozen entrees, pasta sauces, rices, grains and now…delicious chocolate!

Last month Seeds of Change kicked off its national product rollout in Boulder, Colorado, chosen specifically because Boulder is on the path to becoming a Zero Waste city and has been pursuing positive environmental initiatives since it was founded over 100 years ago.  With the launch, the company announced their “Change Tastes Good” environmental initiative contest.  People can submit videos (up to 3 minutes long), photos, or stories (here) describing what they’ve done to help the Earth.  The Grand Prize is a 365~day supply of Seeds of Change Chocolate plus a varity of their other organic products.  The contest deadline is July 31, 2009.   

I was recently sent samples of all six of the Seeds of Change chocolate bars to put to the test, and as an unwavering dark chocolate fan…my favorite of the bunch is definitely the Cashew and Mango Dark Chocolate Bar.  What makes Seeds of Change Chocolate unique?  Their chocolatiers only the finest USDA Certified Organic cacao beans and pair that with Certified Organic fruits and nuts for certifiably delicious flavors.  Their milk chocolate is made from 43% cacao, with a smooth texture and a rich chocolate flavor and their Organic Dark Chocolate is 61% cacao with a smooth, bold flavor. 

I just discovered these little morsels of chocolatey goodness from Lake Champlain in Vermont.   The company was born back in the early eighties, when a restaurant owner was taken aside by one of his employees and told that the chocolates he’d been gifting to the staff tasted “terrible”.  Jim challenged him, “then do better”.  What resulted was the best, mouth-watering, hand-rolled truffles he had ever tasted; so he decided to serve them to select patrons on Sundays.  The response was overwhelming and soon Jim was opening his own upscale chocolate biz to keep up with demand.  Initially, the business was meant for wholesale distribution only, but word got out and people snuck in to try to get their hands on the chocolate.  Now, years laters they offer much more than truffles, they are in a 24,000 building and at the peak of the season they have 100 employees.  

 Their truffles are USDA certified organic and their organic milk chocolate was named “Best Milk Chocolate” by Martha Stewart’s Body+Soul magazine in their taste test of organic chocolates.  

This box of 15 pieces (shown above) is just $20!