Buying Organic Produce

By now we all know the importance of eating organic foods. But, you are probably also aware that organic is more expensive than the standard produce offered at grocery stores. So how do you balance what’s important for your health with what’s in your wallet. Personally I feel that buying some organic food is better than nothing. But which are the most important organic foods to buy, and which can you get away with buying non-organic? The key is knowing which produce has the highest pesticide residue and which has the lowest.

Here are the vegetables that you really should be buying organic because the traditional varieties have the highest pesticide residues: bell peppers, carrots, celery, green beans, hot peppers, potatoes and spinach.

Here are the fruits that you really should be buying organic because the traditional varieties have the highest pesticide residues: apples, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, red raspberries, and strawberries.

To learn more about which produce has moderate and low levels of pesticide residues visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Produce Guide.

A Glimpse at Our Day

It has been a busy week here at Deal Farm Soap Company. I made a batch of goat milk soap on Saturday. I made some Lavender Oatmeal soap, a continual bestseller, and Rose Clay soap, my personal favorite. Since the soap has to set up in the molds for about 24 hours before unmolding it, you can guess how I spent my Sunday afternoon.

Today I finally broke free from the workshop and took a field trip of sorts. I needed to pick up some soap making oils, so I placed my order and hit the road with my son, Pearce. It’s just under an hour drive, so my son and I had plenty of time to chat and listen to music on the ride. He even managed to get a little shuteye along the way.

We arrived at the oil supplier and after a visit to their office, I drove around to the warehouse to pick up the oil. At the warehouse, I backed my car up to one of the loading docks. On each side of me were big tractor-trailers. I get such a kick out of driving up in a car with a toddler in the back. Often a dozen or more big rigs and oil tanker trucks surround me. (The picture above is actually from a pick up I made there a couple of months ago on a rainy day. Today couldn’t have been nicer weather, warm and sunny.)

After my car was loaded with 300 lbs of oil, we headed home. Along the way we enjoyed a stop for milk and some home made chocolate chip cookies I had brought for the occasion. It’s the small things like this that make a day fun and memorable. Pearce and I really did enjoy our little excursion. When we got back home, the sun was still shining so we walked over to the park to play. This is just one of the perks of being self employed.

So what am I sharing this with you? To be honest, when I started the day I was dreading the long drive to pick up the oils. But at some point before we headed out, I decided to make this errand fun. Maybe it was my newfound positive attitude, or maybe it was the chocolate chip cookies, but it turned out to be a really fun day. So next time you have to do something that you aren’t looking forward to, perhaps you can dig a little deeper. Perhaps you can find a ray of sunshine through the clouds. If you can, your day will be a whole lot brighter.

Natural Beauty Beats Botox

There’s been a lot of buzz in the news about Botox the last few days. I don’t know about you but the whole idea a needle to the face really turns me off. I know we all want to look good, but shouldn’t there be limits? I’m not talking governmental regulations, I’m talking personal boundaries.

I always feel better when I make an effort to look good. When I take a few extra minutes to blow dry my hair and apply a little make up I feel better about myself. I like to try to look my best, so that I can feel my best.

There are plenty of ways to keep your skin looking radiant and healthy without going to extreme and potentially deadly measures.

Here are some quick tips:

* Wash with a gentle cleanser. Our goat milk soaps are all you need to clean your skin without stripping its natural oils. Your skin will be balanced and healthy.
* After cleansing, apply a moisturizer. Try our Skin Therapy Creme to hydrate your skin.
* Drink your water. Most people don’t drink the recommended 8 glasses a day. Try measuring out your 8 glasses in the morning to be sure you get what you need. Not only will your skin thrive, but other organs in your body will benefit as well.
* Get a humidifier. If the air is dry your skin will dry out even faster. Keep the moisture levels in your home higher to benefit your skin as well as your sinuses.

Are you still not convinced that caring for your skin naturally is better than surgically? A recent study has shown that Botox (botulinum neurotoxin) can move from the original injection site to the brain. You can read more about the study here. It has also been linked to botulism symptoms in some users, and a few people have died.

Did you know that men are also using Botox more frequently than before? In Britain there are so many men using the treatment that it’s now dubbed “Boytox”. If you want to know why so many men are flocking to this treatment, you can get all the details here.

Do you have any beauty tips to share? Have you found the fountain of youth? Or, do you embrace your laugh lines and wrinkles as a symbol of your wisdom and personal beauty? We welcome your comments in the comments section below.

Stress Management

Running a small business is very rewarding, but also very stressful. Especially when you are the owner and sole employee, you are the only one accountable for everything in your business. It’s impossible to “pass the buck”. Some people thrive on the challenge and even the stress. I am one of those people, most of the time. Normally I seem to run on adrenaline as I multi-task my way through making soap, filling orders, fielding emails, and on and on. But, there are times when I just need a break. I’d like to say I do something exotic and fascinating to relax and de-stress, but the truth is I rarely stop working. I do get breaks here and there, mostly in the form of play dates with my 3-year-old son. So what’s a mom-business owner to do?

Believe it or not, there are activities that can be relaxing and child friendly. I love to garden. It is something I can do to exercise my body and relax my mind. Getting out and digging in the dirt can really “ground” a person- pun intended. When I need to get away from working, gardening is at the top of my list. Fortunately for me, my son gets immense joy out of digging in the dirt, watering plants and helping me garden. It’s relaxing and we both have fun. This is one reason that I simply can’t wait for warmer weather.

If you’d rather hire a landscaper and find another way to escape the daily grind, there are plenty of options. An island get away would be great, right? But how often can most of us pick up and globe trot? I found a lot of great ideas for relaxing both the mind and the body here. One of my favorite suggestions is writing. I have used this technique in the past to help deal with stress. By writing down what’s weighing on you, you can actually help relieve your stress. It gets it off your mind and onto the paper. Another easy technique is to listen to some music you enjoy. It’s amazing how this can brighten your day. And if you get up and dance, I’m willing to bet you’ll feel even better.

Do you have a creative way to manage stress? I welcome you to share in the comments section below.

Peep Peep

Do you love Peeps? You know... those sugary marshmallow treats that were once only an Easter treat. Now they are available for nearly every major holiday. I don't know about you, but as much as I love them this time of year, I just can't bring myself to eat a ginger bread shaped Peeps at Christmas, or a pumpkin shaped Peeps at Halloween. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but to me Peeps are an Easter thing. When I was a child I'd eat bunches of them every year. My Easter basket always contained a generous supply of Peeps. These days, although I don't eat as many Peeps as I used to, I still love them. Over the last few years I've been using them to decorate the carrot cake I make every Easter. Not only are they cute, but the memories they hold from Easters past really makes me smile.

It seems there's a lot of Peeps love going around. This year over 800 people entered the Washington Posts 2nd Annual Peeps Show. Contestants created Peeps themed dioramas. This years winner was called "The Tomb of King Peepankhamun." You can buy Peeps earrings. You can view countless videos about Peeps. Some of the wackiest are Optometry Peeps, and A Guide to Recovery. You can even join a Peeps fan club at the official Peeps website.

Do you love Peeps? Have a favorite Peeps? Perhaps you have a fond Peeps memory. Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Peep peep.

What's Your Passion?

My son Pearce has been playing the guitar since he was 21 months old. He's now 3 and still loves to play. Sometimes he even provides the entertainment in the car when we are out doing errands. He's never been very interested in the usual baby and toddler toys with flashing lights and loud electronic sounds. He'd rather make his own music. It's his passion. Even at his young age he has learned and grown so much from playing his guitar.

I believe that having a passion for something in your life is incredibly important. It could be music, dancing, gardening, cooking, reading, making soap... anything. Having a passion drives us to learn and explore. It helps us grow as individuals and gives us a sense of accomplishment. If you don't have a passion, take the opportunity to explore. Try something new. Take a class. It's never to late to enrich your life and find a new joy.

Do you have something you are passionate about? If you do, I bet you love talking about it. Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Meet Nardia and Zena

Do you love goats? We do! They are the most lovable, gentle animals with their own unique personalities. Did you know that we don't own our own goats? We love them, but we also love supporting small local family farms. Pictured here are Nubian goats, mom Nardina and her daughter Zena. Nardina has been producing a lot more milk than Zena can drink, so she has been kind enough to share with us, so we can make soap for you! These goats are positively pampered. They are free to roam around their large yard, but often simply enjoy "hanging out" on their porch as seen in this photo. Every day their "parents" make them fresh fruit salad to enjoy. These girls are well loved!