Words, Judith Ecochard
Images from the company websites
It’s all about education.
Our gal pal’s teenager was sportin’ fake Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses snagged on a jaunt to NYC’s Canal Street… for “$3.”
Well, we asked, whom do you think made those sunglasses…so that it’s cheap enough to illegally sell here , let alone who might actually profit from the sale of bootlegs.
Something most people on a mission to look ‘important” via mass market labels fake or otherwise- probably never think about.
That got our brain cells charged up about all we consume and indulge in…for us it’s our sweet tooth. And how easy it is to buy 'stuff' for everyday--- from companies that give back. At the right price too.
Clearly the most successful (YEAH) of the give back, make a different organizations on the planet is charity: Water a registered 501(3) C where 100% of all monies raised goes to developing fresh water sources--- around the globe.
Merchandise wise we think the BPA free Thermos® Hydration Bottle ($40) -with a pop up straw for easy gulps---is a great gift for Father’s Day.
INFO: charity: Water
Another innovative company we admire is Navitas Naturals. Since 2003, the company’s mission has been to provide premium organic power foods that are tasty and good for you.
“Our products come from the wisdom of ancient cultures and their traditional use of plants for both culinary and medicinal purposes,” says Zach Adelman, President of Navitas Naturals.
PLUS: through direct purchasing agreements, Navitas Naturals provides and expands fair trade economic opportunities in developing regions around the world.
One product that’s gotten a lot of buzz is the Organic Green Stevia sweetner (packaged in an 8 ounce reusable pouch $11.99). The flavor of our AM java gets a palatable push with a dab of this “Honey Leaf”--- a white flowered herb indigenous to Paraguay--- that’s been used by the Guarani and Mato Grosso Indians in it’s premium raw forms- for like ever.
And little goes a long way as Stevia is 30x sweeter than sugar cause of glycosides. BONUS: Stevia sweetens without the crash and burn effect on insulin levels, it’s calorie free and purportedly it aids digestion too. Def better than refined sugar and the synthetics we used to use.
Widely available…check out the Navitas Natural Website for more info.
We’ve written about SHAMAN CHOCOLATES before…
The 2oz bars we score at our local health foods store are ALWAYS quickly devoured as the authentic quality of the USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified treats are right up there with the pricey goodies …
But better…as all profits from Shaman Chocolates support the pre-columbian living Huichol Indians, a small (15,000) tribe of native Indians lresiding in the Sierra Madres of Mexico.
Our new favorites are the Organic Dark Chocolate with Acai, Lemon & Orange, and the one with the Green Tea and Ginger. Yum.
STORE LOCATER & ONLINE INFO: SHAMAN CHOCOLATES