But what happens when you are trying to do the right thing and make a statement by always traveling with your own re-usable bottle, and you find out the company you have purchased said bottle from is profiting off of some not-so-animal-friendly products?  Weird, right?  I just recently learned that the Nalgene company, purveyor of those colorful plastic bottles, dubbed as indestructible and found in bounty on college campuses across the country, also sells animal restraint devices used for animal testing.  Gross!

The Nalgene white paper on their animal testing products (found here) states: “We do not conduct any animal testing in the development or manufacturing of our products and we do not condone the inhumane treatment of animals”.  By confirming that they do not conduct any animal testing in the development or manufacturing of our products, they are appealing to us as consumers. “Oh” we may think, “well, there wasn’t any animal testing on the product I purchased”, and that is a valid point if that is the scale at which you’re assessing the situation.

If, however, you are not into animal testing and are not looking for an easy argument (cough – wheeze – that’d be the one above – cough) to feel OK about buying that pink Nalgene with the yellow top because it’s so damn cute, then let’s unpack the scenario.  Supporting a company that makes animal testing equipment means you’re increasing their bottom line, enabling them to continue pumping out the restraints, cages, etc. that supply folks that are testing on creatures not so unlike ourselves.  Just because your specific product wasn’t created out of ingredients that were first shot into the eyes of bunny rabbits or injected into the veins of “lab” rats doesn’t make it OK to sponsor a corporation that enables countless companies and individuals around the world to do just that.  You could look at it this way too… Just because a bullet manufacturer providing ammunition for the War in Afghanistan didn’t kill anybody in the manufacturing of their death pellets, it doesn’t mean that I, an anti-violence anti-Afghan War consumer, am going to buy a cell phone cover they make just because I like the finish on it. I wouldn’t want to support that kind of company, and I wouldn’t feel any better about supporting Nalgene knowing they are cool with providing torture devices, I mean animal restraints, to labs.

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Typically I opt for a polish-free nail. Mainly out of laziness, but also because nail polish, remover, cotton balls, and all the related accouterments is a lot of stuff to have on hand and I don’t especially like increasing my knick-knack count. Nevertheless, I do from time to time swipe on a coat of pale pink Essie (Blushing Bride to be exact) to up my shine factor. Last night, however, I hit the streets with a friend to get a professional manicure… okay as professional as it gets for $13.

I didn’t think much of it at first, after all this was a birthday treat for my friend and I wouldn’t even have thought to go on my own without such an occasion to celebrate. But with one look at the wall of possible colors – from sparkling golds to deep purples and everything in between – I was sold.  I want to do this every two weeks! No, every week! How else will I make my way through all of the bottles I so desperately want to try?

Ok, so I got over my initial excitement but I do plan on going for manicure more often in the future. Even so, I could’t help but start to wonder just how bad the whole process is for the environment and the people. We’ve all smelled a nail salon before, and even at a distance it doesn’t take a scientist to know that fume-y scent can’t be good news. I consoled myself slightly by rationalizing…. It wasn’t like I was getting some crazy gel treatment or having acrylics put on (which have to be filed down by the likes of an electric drill, casting clouds of acrylic nail dust directly into the face of a masked nail technician), that’s far worse than a humble once over with a nail file and a couple layers of polish, right?

Not exactly.  According to one article on Women’s Rights, “Many nail polishes still contain what is known as the “toxic trio”: toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate, which have been linked to cancers as well as reproductive health issues and developmental disabilities”. Hmm, so has the pretty, glistening effect happening on my polished digits been brought to me by the toxic trio?  According to the OPI nail polish website, no, no, and no. I can feel slightly better, but it’s hard to know if the chemical concoction used to make the color I selected is really so much better than those known carcinogens – or if they just haven’t been around long enough for us to say otherwise.

So is my only option to go mani-less? I could tote my own polish to the Salon, but even the more “natural” polishes I’ve found – check out Zoya and Butter London – while pretty,  don’t seem all that natural after all.  If I had a taste for Barbie-inspired hues, or had a little girl in my life, I would definitely give Piggy Paint a try – it boasts a shot list of non-toxic ingredients.  In the mean time I guess I’ll enjoy my sparkly pink nails while they last.  Anybody have suggestions for a good, truly natural polish?

Not all of the homophobic rhetoric has been as public as New York gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino or as misinformed and twisted as Tony Perkins’ Washington Post Op-Ed of course.  But sadly, the message from far too many remains the same, “While I don’t support gay marriage, I am so saddened about these suicides”.  Religion has certainly played a role in honing that canned response to the recent tragedies.  As far as I’m concerned, Dan Savage’s retort to such a commenter is spot on and well worth the read (read me, read me, read me).  Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson also has a powerful take on the ways religion is shaping the LGBT dialogue and what we need to do about it.

While it may have been the impetus for the suicides, bullying it not the root issue. Those bullies didn’t decide that LGBT people are inferior on their own, it took years of conditioning by their families, friends and media to develop those beliefs. And while many religions have preached a hatred of LGBT people under the guise of “compassion” for their souls, they are also only one part of the problem. Because in the United States, we do not only have a social culture in which many are denouncing the worthiness of LGBT people; it is actually the law.

That’s right, the US government has made their message on LGBT youth clear: “Don’t kill yourselves children… but don’t think you can get married, serve your military, or have families like the rest of us”. It is completely hypocritical for us to think for a moment that our children will see LGBT people as they do straight people when we literally have laws in place governing us to treat LGBT people as less.

If you are denying gay people the opportunity to marry the person they love and receive the same benefits as straight people who have committed their lives to one another, you are part of the problem.  If you are supporting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and preventing gay people from openly serving their country, you are part of the problem.  If you are enforcing state laws that deter – or in many states do not allow – same sex couples from jointly adopting, you are part of the problem. Sarah Silverman seems to think so too.  So what action are you going to take?

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I have tried Artisana nut butters in the past, but was always hesitant to sink my money into one of their jars of organic, raw nut-buttery-goodness because the quality of the product is reflected in the price… and sometimes I can be a cheapskate. Then came the answer to my prayers – Artisana 1 oz. nut butter packets – perfect for snacking on the go and for price-concious shoppers who want to test out a product before they commit. I nearly applauded aloud when I discovered that A-Market in Manchester, NH stated carrying these pouches of perfection.

At $1.99 a pop, they’re perfect for pairing with a banana or apple for an afternoon snack. The packs come in several varieties, including Cashini (a cashew/tahini combo), Walnut, Macadamia, and Pecan.  My favorite is the straight Cashew butter – it is so incredibly creamy and smooth, and enjoying it with a Granny Smith apple gives you the sense of a caramel dipped apple. I’ve found half a packet is enough for pairing with fruit – so when it comes down to it, you’ve got a great treat for about $1.20-$1.50… yet so much better than anything you’ll find in the vending machine for that price.

A couple of weeks ago I walked right into this not-so-little guy on the back stairs to our apartment. In the dark, I thought it was the misguided pet of our first-floor neighbors… until it started hissing, scaring me straight back down 3 flights of stairs. Once I was safely armed with a broomstick and flashlight, I chased him down to the parking lot and thought I’d seen the last of him.

Until this evening, that is. He has returned, and is currently huddled under our grill on the back porch. According to animal control, he isn’t rabid or he couldn’t have made it up all those steps. Somehow I do not find this information comforting; and while I wish Rocky no harm, I kind of wish he’d head off to a greener lair.

While none of us in our building have any food or trash out to have attracted him, I couldn’t help but wonder what raccoons eat in the wilds. According to the boyfriend, they subsist on a steady diet of human beings and vampires. In actuality, it turns out they’re omnivores, dining off nuts, berries, eggs, insects, frogs, fruits, and what not. The city dwelling raccoon is known to enjoy any manner discarded foodstuff, however, and will eat just about anything they can scavenge. Human beings and vampires might not be so far off.

Last night I also tried out a chocolate chip peanut cookie recipe from the delightful blog, Healthy Happy Life. Just as the recipe boasts, these cookies are super easy to make and oh so perfect. I didn’t have any crunchy peanut butter on hand, or peanuts for that matter, but the cookies turned out great without them.  I ended up baking only a handful of the cookies last night, and froze the remainder of the dough in ready-to-bake balls. You can find that recipe by clicking here.

What are you up to this weekend?

photo via central park dot com

Sometimes when you’re in need of a shot of inspiration, a change of scenery can do just the trick. Your checking account not equipped for last minute tickets to Shangri La? Not a problem. The destination doesn’t need to be exotic, or mythical to inspire you out of a blue mood or a productivity funk.

One of my favorite destinations when I’m desperate for a little spring in my step is a stroll around one of my favorite local parks, particularly in the evening. The fresh air (or, as fresh as Boston will allow) and chance to move my body is invigorating and gets the blood flowing. Watching the landscape change as the sun sets casts everything in a new light, and even the most familiar landmarks become new mysteries to unfold. Fountains and statues stand majestically lit from the the streetlights below, and the hushed tones of the sparse night-time crowd seem to quiet even the most obnoxious, attention sucking brain chatter.

What destination, near or far, inspires you out of a creative funk, an energetic black-hole, or a negative mindset? Make a list for the next time you’re in need of an inspiring change of pace. A few of mine include…

A visit to my favorite bookstore – browsing the shelves always reminds me of all the things I want to learn, and motivates me to get started

A trip to the beach – there’s nothing like experiencing the ocean to leave you pleasantly exhausted and reminded of the beauty of nature

Head to a nearby outdoor plaza – people watching can be just as inspiring as less-human landscapes, bonus points for hearing foreign languages

So, what do I mean by that. Think of an interaction you had recently, perhaps with a colleague, partner, neighbor, or even a stranger, that left a bad taste in your mouth. Perhaps you got into a tiff with your spouse over breakfast, or blew off a coworker asking for help with a project you dismissed as “not your problem”. How different could that interaction have gone if you had been open to seeing the situation from the other party’s perspective, and really considered it? Would your response to them have been different? Your tone of voice or body language changed? What about the outcome of your time together, how might that have been improved for both of you?

Compassion doesn’t mean trading your own perspective, and priorities, for anothers, but rather recognizing a new perspective, and set of priorities, that encompasses you both. Compassion means breaking the barrier between an “us against them” worldview to “we’re all in this together”. It might sound a little idealistic or even new agey, but consider it.

It’s easy to bring more compassion to your life, and there are hundreds of ways to do it without following in the footsteps of Mother Theresa (although that may be a worthy pursuit for some). You can practice compassion by truly listening to others, hearing what they’re communicating, and considering their perspective before you take action. You can practice compassion with your dollar by supporting fair trade and fair wage commerce, recognizing that far too many companies contribute to sweat-shop working conditions and considering the laborers who are forced into dangerous factories and poverty to keep the corporation in business. You can practice compassion with your fork by being aware of the suffering animals undergo in the production of meat, dairy, and egg products, and opting for delicious plant-based fare instead. Perhaps most importantly, you can practice compassion with yourself by recognizing that while things may not be exactly as you’d hoped for, you are doing your best and continually taking steps in the right direction.