Green & Black’s chocolate takes time.
If normal chocolate is a hurried shower, Green & Black’s is a long, soothing soak. You break off a nib and place it on your tongue – and it dissolves into such a rich, sweet-bitter melange of flavours that the aftertaste alone is like the best chocolate you’ve previously had. And, for now, you don’t want any more. It’s how chocolate should be: so intense that you don’t want more than one piece every so often. Green & Black’s products (like the insanely delicious …

You remember it: the commercial of the frazzled woman with hands flailing in the air and a helpless look on her face because her husband and job and kids and pets all need her at the same time. She cries, “Calgon, take me away!” and is instantly transported to a bubbly bathtub where she can relax in peace.

If I had a super-power, that would be it. No scaling tall buildings for me. I love the bath and I often stay submerged until my fingers prune. When I have the time (too rarely), I’m lounging for an …

During World War II, gardens were planted all over the country: in people’s front and back yards, in public parks, and on vacant lots for the purpose of supporting the war effort and raising public morale. The logic being, if people were growing their own food, more energy could be devoted to the war effort. At one point, Victory Gardens produced a tremendous 41 percent of all the produce consumed in the U.S.
Just think about the environmental difference it would make to have Victory Gardens back – even on a …

In my hunt for eco-friendly fabrics, I was pleased to learn upscale Kravet has introduced a green collection made of 100% recycled polyester.

Kravet’s green line of fabrics are blended from post-industrial and post-consumer fibers, which are woven and treated with water-based products and non-toxic dyes. (And of course, there’s after-life for the fabric: once it wears out, it’s recyclable.)

The best news is that unlike some of the rather crunchy weaves found in many green collections (think after-school craft project), this line is as gorgeous as the textiles Kravet has sold

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A little bit safari, a little bit botanical, and a good cause, to boot.
Designer Kelsey Jack’s special glass-coated images framed in silver are available in two styles and colors: one on white glass featuring silhouettes of six African seashore palm trees and a more vibrant yellow glass piece with the silhouette of a single savanna tree. Both handmade flora and flauna pieces, with sterling silver chains included, are just $45.

Nest is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries by helping artisans create a sustainable

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With the kitchen accounting for 30-40% of home energy use, it seems like a smart place to start some conserving. If you can replace your old appliances with energy efficient ones, do it. They make a big difference. But no matter what type of appliances you’re using, the following tips will make a difference…painlessly! Cooking:
Keep your oven door shut and use the light to see how your food is coming along. Every time you open the oven door, you lose about 25 degrees.
Keep your oven clean. A dirty oven is …

The last time I was lucky enough to be in London, I searched high and low for gifts and souvenirs that I couldn’t find in the United States; in our globalized world, it’s not as easy as it used to be to find unique artisan goods.

For design, craft and textile lovers, I have three recommendations. First, visit the Victoria & Albert Museum gift shop, where centuries of decorative arts hold high honor; you’ll find many gifts inspired by William Morris designs, like these charming cherry earrings.

Then, find your way to the shops …

Derived from an old folk recipe, this tonic promotes vigorous good health through its concentration of vitamin C. Vitamin C, of course, has become well-known for its antioxidant powers and, when taken in large quantities, for its ability to help fend off the miseries of a cold. If you include the white of the peel in this tonic, you will also benefit from the bioflavonoids, which help the body to more efficiently assimilate vitamin C. Orange Peel Tonic is one of the easiest tonics to make, and when paired with the spicy taste of cloves, it …