Changes at the Website!!

It been a while. Sorry. I've been redesigning our website and adding new products. It's taken longer than expected. As you all know, I'm stilling learning this new e-business. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel and ask for help from the grandkids; but pride kept me from not going that route. And; finally, the new and improved site is up and running.

We've added more "Animal Tails" Tee's and rompers. The rompers come in size 3-6 month and would be a perfect baby gift.

Kids can't have enough t-shirts. Our organic tees come in 3 sizes and 7 colors. They, like our onesies, can also be personalized.

Rubi J is having a sale through the month of September on our short sleeved "Animal Tails" t-shirts - 25% off. We are so proud to be carrying this excellent product. The tees are, of course, 100% certified organic cotton. The original artwork of these endangered species is charming; and I especially love the story of the animal that comes on a hang tag with each tee. Animal Tail's motto is "kind to people, the environment and animals". Perfect.

What am I going to wear this fall?

I've been reviewing the fashion trends for fall '09. Oh-Oh. Trouble ahead.

Number one: The "Strong Shoulder". Ha! What they mean is the shoulder pads from the 80's are back. God help us all. Who can forget Linda Evans and Joan Collins duking it out in "Dynasty" with those lethal shoulder pads. There may be one out of two thousand women who could wear them with any style.

Number two: The "Tight Rolled Jeans". Another throw back to the 80's; except we called them the "French rolled" then. That's when you would take your bell bottoms and tuck and rolled them around your ankles - tight. I never actually left the the house with this fashion statement. After I got done laughing in mirror; I would undo and go out the door with my bells and over sized t-shirt. What a babe.

Number three: Color Pink. Yeh, I'm saved. Pink looks good on me. Just as long as I don't wear a pink sweater with shoulder pads and tight rolled jeans.

Making sense of going "green"

All of us want a better life for our children and grandkids (like my adorable ones in the picture). Where we used to think in terms of better job, bigger house, more money; our aspirations now include a healthier and cleaner environment. “Conservation” is a common word these days. “Social awareness” is making its way up our vocabulary. We all know what “eco-friendly” means. Or do we?

We are bombarded by so many new slogans and catch phrases, we not sure what is “green” and what is just a marketing tool.

I found some of the following phrases and their meanings on http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com/.

SUSTAINABILTY: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Very powerful word.
CONFLICT-FREE: A product that can certify it wasn’t obtained through the use of violence. Think “Blood Diamonds”.
CARBON-NEUTRAL: Giving back to the earth what you take. Many manufacturers are now adopting this policy. For example, planting trees to counter act the greenhouse gases created in their production process. Individuals can also strive to become carbon-neutral.
UPCYCLED: Taking disposable items and transforming them into something of greater use and value. Glass is a great example of this.
POST-CONSUMER PRODUCT: Used by one consumer, recycled and remade into another product. Paper products are the first thing that comes to mind. It wasn’t that many years ago where we never saw that little “made from recycle paper” logo. Now it’s everywhere.

I hope I brought you a little knowledge today. Remember, "Knowledge is Power".

Make a difference with kindness

A few weeks I read the most charming editorial by Bob Greene. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. Instead of trying to explain it please read it for yourself. It will lift your day.

Please go to:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/31/greene.kindness/index.html

These are a few of my favorite (web) things

Daughter Stef and I subscribe and enjoy several newsletters. We decided to start our own monthy newsletter from the Rubi J Store. We're almost finished with our first installment.

The newsletters I mostly enjoy are from some of my favorite websites. Here's a sampling:

The National Geographic has the most awesome website of them all; a little bit for everyone. I especially like their green guide. Log on to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/.
For book lovers go to http://www.shelfari.com/ and join the club. We readers love discussing books and this website gives you the opportunity to find members that share your particular interest.

If you're serious about healthy dieting; the American Heart Association's website is the place to go. They have the highest success rating for taking the pounds off and keeping them off. Go to http://www.americanheart.org/.

NOW FOR THE FASHION MINDED:

Have you ever been in that situation where you've just been invited to society's biggest event and money is a little tight for a new killer outfit? Me neither. But if this happens, there's a website for us: http://www.weartodaygonetomorrow.com/. You can rent designer's clothes at a fraction of the cost. So what if I never have a need; it's a comfort to know I'm covered for all situations.

Another fun fashion site is http://www.christabellescloset.com/. This is a designer's resale site, although many items are new. You can buy an original Marc Jacobs' $1,200.00 handbag for $438.00, or a $600.00 pair of Jimmy Choo's strappy heels for $415.00. Pretty exciting, huh? Yeh, I know. Me, too. But they also have an under $10.00 department where I go.

Or, you can try to win designer clothes. Go to http://www.madberries.com/ and enter contests for some super cool prizes. I'm sure your email address will on a lot of mailing lists, but, hey, that's why we have "spam filter" and a "delete button". Plus, it's fun. And "girls just wanta have fun".

CHANGES

Change. What an amazing word.

Used as a noun, its meaning can be transformation, alteration, substitution, variety or even coins of low denomination

Used as a verb, it could mean to transform, transfer one for another, remove and replace or to pass from one phase to another.

Google the definition of "change" and the list is endless.

Now, use "Change" in a word association exercise and the responses go from "Panic" and "Terror" to "Exhilarating" and "Progress". How could one word have so much power? Why do some fear change while others embrace and thrive with it?

I believe change is good. If we, as a society, never changed; we would not have become a society at all. If no one took a chance; what chance would we have to survive?

I personally enjoy change; especially small ones. They motivate me. I can get tired of cleaning the house until I change the decor or move furniture in one of the rooms. It's a whole new ballgame. I like bigger changes, too. I've always loved a challenge. Not to say I am fearless. Some changes are scary. I can always tell when I'm scared of change. I procrastinate. It's an ugly truth I alone must bear. I have told myself over and over again, I work better under pressure of a deadline; but when I'm fearful, I change the deadline.

What has help me is to answer the question: "What is the worse that could happen?"

Answer: "I'll know what doesn't work and try something else."

EARTH DAY is everyday

Our grandchildren on Easter Sunday.

Earth day was April 22. That's when we were to acknowledge and try to do something to improve our planet. I spent the day working in my yard and walking the dogs. PERFECT.

The last two years of research on organic and responsible living have opened my eyes.


My husband and I do live differently than we did 15-20 years ago. We have already became more aware; recycling, fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficiency. We are eating differently, too. I've been reducing the amount of processed food we eat. I am a little surprised how rewarding it has become. It does takes a little more planning, but not as much as I first thought. It's been fun trying new recipes. Not all have been successes. We discovered we didn't like a lot of basil on our pork loins. And we still have some processed food in the house. (I just need a few Lays potato chips occasionally.) The biggest rewards are how much better "real" food taste and how much better we feel.


A great website for finding healthy ways to live and help our planet is http://www.thegreenguide.com/.