To die for.
Fair Trade
1 Yum's September Must Haves
menus
2 Yummy Links: From Shrimp Roll Pizza to Pie Pans
Fair Trade
3 Citizen Bean's Coffee of the Month Club
Wine
4 Europe to Ban Certain American Wines
Cocktails
5 Meet Fair, the World's First Fair-Traded Spirits Brand
Shopping
6 Do You Make an Effort to Purchase Fair Trade Groceries?
If you're looking to incorporate some true global style into your home, look no further than these fair-trade picks. When a product is fair trade, it refers to the social movement that aims to provide workers in developing countries with equal and fair wages. Not only do these products help a community in need, they are beautiful, one-of-a-kind conversation pieces. Check out this slideshow that Read more
From chocolate-covered dried fruit to coffee-flavored liqueur, a lot of fair trade products have caught my attention recently. As more and more products make the claim of fair trade, some companies have taken the movement a step further, to direct trade. The concept of direct trade is simple: only the producers and the purveyor are involved, and, of course, the consumer. One such company is Liga Read more
Earlier this week I was invited to attend a very special alcohol launch for Fair Spirits. Fair is the first line of premium spirits to be produced with fair-trade-certified ingredients. It consists of three spirits: a vodka and two flavored liqueurs, goji berry and coffee. The smooth, easy-to-drink vodka is made from quinoa farmed in the mountains of Bolivia; the gojis for the sweet and versatile Read more
For me, the arrival of September is always bittersweet. Bitter because it's the end of my favorite season; sweet because it's my birthday month and I like to treat myself to multiple celebrations! Since students return to school, September is also a time of getting back to the basics. The weather turns cooler and as we welcome Fall, the grill is retired in favor of more slow-cooked methods. To Read more
Last week, in a frustrating turn of events, the European Union passed a law that bans the sale of any American wine with one of the following words on the labels: Chateau, classic, clos, cream, crusted/crusting, fine, late bottled vintage, noble, ruby, superior, sur lie, tawny, vintage, vintage character The legislation comes as a follow-up to a 2006 agreement that limited the American use of Read more
Afro-pop legend Miriam Makeba, also known as "Mama Africa," died on Sunday at the age of 76 in the south of Italy, following a concert appearance. This powerhouse songstress's long and varied life included marriage to Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, exile from her home country of South Africa, a starring role in the film Sarafina!, about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, and an appearance in Read more
Who would've thought that such an angelic figure could come from such a surprising source? When empty oil drums washed up on Haiti after World War II, local artisans reworked the "trash" into metal sculptures. And while this simple and sublime angel figure ($169) from VivaTerra wasn't in your tree topper roundup, I think it would've fit in nicely. This angel, which would also work on a mantel or Read more
Think this rug is made of wool? Think again. Mad Mats ($36 for 4-x-6-ft. rug) are made of recycled polypropylene (used soda bottles, milk bottles, packing), which make them great for indoor and outdoor use. Each rug is reversible and constructed with a flat weave and soft, tubular threads, making them dirt and stain resistant. Leaves, debris, and food spills are easily rinsed away with a mop or Read more
I've heard of beer of the month clubs that let you sample different microbrews, as well as wine of the month clubs, which are a great way to discover small wineries. Now, I've just discovered a similar service for coffee lovers, called Citizen Bean. Guided by the principle of "coffee with a conscience," Citizen Bean sends its subscribers a new organic or fair-trade coffee each month, selected Read more
I always keep my eye open for cute placemats to spice up my table with on occasion, because it's boring to always use the same ones. These cute jute Lemon Placemants ($12) had me planning a tea party at first sight. Aside from being super adorable, they're fair trade and from a Bangladeshi producer group where Christians, Muslims, and Hindus work harmoniously together. This way, I can promote Read more
