That's Fit

As much as I enjoy splurging from time to time on pricey beauty products, I also really like trying out simple, DIY beauty items. Not so long ago I wrote about home-made hair care -- using foods like mayonnaise and beer to soften and brighten your hair. I think what I like about at-home beauty is that, since the tips are usually cheap, barring any major disasters you can figure out which products you like without having to waste a tonne of money on stuff that turns out to be not so great.

I was pretty excited to find this list of 10 great budget beauty products that you can make at home. They're all really simple, containing only a few ingredients each. In addition, a number of the 'recipes' include a lot of the same ingredients -- like essential oils and rubbing alcohol, so you only have to buy a few things and can still try most of the ideas. All you need is a range of empty bottles and containers and you're good to get started.

Health is hip these days, and almost every company out there is trying to capitalize on this by claiming their products are healthy. But unfortunately, many of these so-called 'healthy' items aren't necessarily good for you. Be wary of foods with these labels on them:

• All Natural. Sure, it might not be heavily processed, but it still may be high in calories, fat or both.
  
• Cholesterol-free. This doesn't mean fat free. In fact, many cholesterol-free foods are high in saturated fat
• Low fat or fat-free. This doesn't mean calorie-free so watch out.
  
• Trans fat-free. Just because there's no trans fat, doesn't mean there's no fat. There are probably some dangerous saturated fats in there.
  
• Low sodium. It's a good idea to reduce your sodium but look into what they've replaced it with. It might be sugar.
  
• Good source of ... Many unhealthy food items claim their healthy by emphasizing one nutrient. For example? Macaroni and cheese packages claim it to be a good source of calcium (it is) but they don't mention that it's very high in fat, sodium and calories.
  
• Multi grain. Multi grains aren't necessarily whole grains, so check the label.
• Baked. Backed chips are a better choice than fried ones, but they're often high in calories and sodium
• Organic. There's no doubt that organic food is better than regular stuff, but just because it's organic, doesn't mean it's healthy. It can still be high in organic fat and organic calories.

We only have one Earth. And one Life. And one chance. So we might as well do things right, like preserving the gifts bestowed upon each one of us, say the powers that be at A.R.E. Naturals, an on-line shop offering products made from materials drawn purely through the generosity of Mother Nature.

This shop has quite an inventory of green items -- stuff for the kitchen, the bed and bath, the garden, the mind, and of course: The body.

Check out these fitness tools. There's a bamboo yoga block, a hemp yoga mat bag, and a hemp yoga bolster. How about a natural rubber fitness ball? Or natural rubber weight balls? These are just some of the finds you'll discover with one swift click of your mouse.

If you're an earth-loving enthusiast who lives and breathes the green life, this may be just the stop for you. If you've located other great green fitness locations, drop us a comment and let us know how to get there.

Traveling, while fantastic, can also be pretty stressful. Saving money, getting the right flight times, booking decent yet economical lodging, catching connecting flights and more, can take a mental toll. Even figuring out what to bring may make you crazy, so in the interest of staying sane while preparing for a trip, here is a list of 7 essentials to pack that will help your holiday go smoothly and will ease your mind:

• Money: Bring it in as many forms as possible including cash, travelers checks, credit and debit cards, and keep it in separate places. You never know what different businesses will be willing to take and you don't want to come up short. You also don't want lose everything if a bag is stolen or misplaced.
• Phrase book: Based on personal experience, there is nothing that inhabitants of other countries hate more than when North Americans assume that everyone speaks English. They don't, and it's ignorant to think they do. Learn a few helpful phrases ("Do you speak English?" is a good start) and it will help you immensely.
• Converters and adapters: You'll be pretty disappointed to haul your laptop across the world only to realize that you can't plug it in. Remember, different countries use different electrical systems and you need to be able to not only adapt the plugs, but also convert the energy to the correct voltage.
• Battery-operated alarm clock: They're small and cheap and will keep you from missing a non-refundable bus or plane trip. Enough said.
• Appropriate luggage: If you're backpacking, no one will feel sorry for you if you bring a matching, seven-piece luggage set and have to haul it all over the place. And I've learned from experience that showing up at a nice hotel with an enormous, grubby backpack, while unavoidable at the time, is embarrassing.
• A memento from home: It's no fun to be homesick but having something that reminds you of loved ones seems to really help. I always bring a little photo album, but a beloved stuffy, blanket or other keepsake will also work.
• A sense of adventure: If you go away and act like stick in the mud or spend all of your time talking about how much better things are at home, chances are everyone you meet will wish you'd have stayed there. Traveling is all about experiencing and learning about different places so be prepared to try new things and you'll have the time of your life.