With the holiday season upon us comes a time of stress, spending and waste. Why not try a new way of shopping at the ecogift festival at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Decemeber 12-14th. This festival supports “an uplifting experience and a solution to the difficult emotions, inconveniences and terrible waste associated with the holidays and holiday shopping”. Guest speakers include Arianna Huffington, Michael Brune, Seth Bauer and other inspiring eco-minded folks. So instead of drowning in a sea of wrapping paper this year hop on the lifeboat headed towards change.

Taking pride in your right to vote today may offer you self-satisfaction. And Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s and Krispy Kreme have their own ways of satisfying the voting public by offering free Voting Day goodies. Start your day off with a free tall coffee at Starbucks and a free star-shaped red-and-blue-sprinkle doughnut from Krispy Kreme. Then after a long day of voting pop into a Ben & Jerry’s between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for your free a free scoop of ice cream. Who knew election day could be so sweet?

Exhale Spa offers their unique brand of Core Fusion® training which is a 60 minute “Pilates-infused transformational fitness experience…that is proven to give you washboard abs, a tighter and higher backside, and a perfectly toned body.” According to their client’s testimonials it is a life and body changing experience. And if you just can’t make it to their studio, no worries. You can get their DVD and do the workout in the privacy of your own home. Their Core Fusion® workout is just the tip of the iceberg. Exhale also offers a wide array of yoga classes, body work, skin care, nutrition consults and spa therapies.

Start your day on a colorful and healthy note with this fruit and granola combo bowl that’s full of potassium, vitamin C and fiber.

You might be holding onto your plastic a little tighter these days and cutting back on your spending, but don’t deprive yourself completely. Even in the midst of all the doom and gloom in the news reports there is a chocolate lining around every cloud. Add a little sweetness to your day and treat yourself to a piece of chocolate. It’s full of good for you antioxidants to give your mood and body a boost. It’ll make people wonder what you’re smiling about!

With the price of gas skyrocketing many people are opting for different modes of transport. I’ve noticed in my own neighborhood more bicyclists and scooters on the road. Perhaps we are taking after our European friends who have been two-wheeling it for years past. Leaving the car at home is better for the environment. And cycling makes it all that much better for your own health.

Balance your body chemicals. This can be the key to weight loss success or failure. The chemicals in your body are responsible for whether you store fat or increase energy. For example storing weight in your middle area is related to the cortisol your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone that comes from not eating and putting your body in the stress mode with starvation. Even though you might think that skipping meals may be the key to weight loss you are actually putting your body into a state of stress which will cause you to overeat later. Eating at least 3-4 small meals a day will help keep your cortisol in check.

Reset your metabolism. The thyroid is responsible for your metabolism. If you think you have metabolism issues you might want to eliminate wheat or gluten from your diet. Gluten can suppress your thyroid. You can get tested for gluten allergies by a physician if you suspect a problem.

Give your body a regular tune-up. Just like a car your body needs a regular tune-up. In no way does this mean a complete overhaul. You just might want to do a cleanse. Usually the thought of a cleanse makes people cringe because they think it means no food. There are a lot of different cleanses available that you can implement at your own pace. Some people just cut out certain things from their diets for a short period of time (caffeine, red meat, sugar) whereas others engage in more extreme measures like the “Master Cleanse”. Whatever you decide if you choose to go the more extreme route you might want to consider talking to your doctor beforehand.

• food preferences - vegan, vegetarian, omnivore
• type of food - organic, non-organic, local, imported
• packaging - types of packaging (plastic, aluminum, cardboard)
• recycling - recycle or compost
• transportation - hybrid, bike or SUV

There are so many reasons to “heart” the Big Apple and one of them is this event on September 27, 2008 called “Here Comes the Sun,” the first-ever outdoor yoga festival in Central Park, that will feature expert yoga instructors teaching a variety of themed classes for all levels such as Yoga for Better Sleep and Vinyasa Detox Flow. Celebrity yoga personality Sara Ivanhoe will teach classes throughout the day. Four interactive Lotus Lounge spaces will offer massages, mini-makeovers, food and beverage sampling, one-on-one nutrition consultations and more. The festival will culminate with a live performance by Grammy-nominated singer Joan Osborne.

Organic foods contain no synthetic pesticides or herbicides, are not genetically modifies and have no hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients or trans fats. The fertilizers used in organic foods do not contain synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge. And if that’s not enough to convince you to buy organic think about all the harmful chemicals and CO₂ you’ll help keep out of the environment. Organic fruits and vegetables are 25% more nutritious, and definitely more delicious, than the non-organic variety. We understand that organic is not always available, and tends to be more expensive, but there are some key items that you will want to buy organic because they tend to carry more pesticide residues.