ModernGear Books: Change The World For Ten Bucks

Just when you think you're overwhelmed with all the negative news and scary headlines coming at you, something comes along that plants a seed of hope.

For me, that tiny seed was a new book, called Change The World For Ten Bucks.

I often get bogged down with worry about the state of the environment, the country, the city, my neighbourhood, my bank account. This book arrived at a time when I was questioning what I could do to improve things, and how one person could make a difference (even though I do know one can).

A community-based organization called We Are What We Do started up in London in 2004 (read all about them here), and this wonderful book of theirs has been inspiring efforts large and small, ever since.

Think about some of the suggestions they make for how small actions x lots of people = big change. Some I am aware of, and practice, like Action 31, "Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth", and Action 34, "Buy fair-trade products".

But others were things I was not doing, but will. Action 12, for instance, is "Unplug appliances when not in use." Why is this important? They tell you why:
"A TV that's plugged in is still using half the electricity of a TV that's turned on.
Most appliances - VCRs, DVD players, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances - use power even when they are switched off."

Action 42 is "Recycle your specs". That is something I have always meant to do but yet here I am packing to move into another house, and what have I found but an extra 4 pairs of glasses I haven't worn in a long, long time. Why have I hung on to those?

When we move into the new house, I am going to use Action 45, which is: "Give your phone number to five people on your street". They have handy-dandy pull-out tabs on which you can write your name and number, with the message, "Please call if I can help." How amazing would it be if people reached out to each other like that?

Change The World For Ten Bucks sells for $10, natch, at Chronicle Books. It's also $8 at Amazon through this link: Change the World for Ten Bucks: small actions x lots of people = big change
- is it weird to save $2 on a product from a nonprofit organization?

Whatever you pay, I have a feeling that this book will be as inspirational and warm-fuzzy-giving to you as it has been to me. Happy reading, and doing.
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ModernGear Food:Chocolate gets even better

Please sit down or hold on to something, because I am about to break some news. Chocolate has gotten better. I know - is improving on perfection even possible?

Imagine, if you will, something like, chocolate...plus. How about...luxury chocolate. "But isn't all chocolate luxurious?", you ask. And no, my kitten, it isn't. Not if it's waxy, with impure ingredients and fillers. But you'll never know unless you taste the amazing alternative.

Enter stage right, Vosges Haute Chocolate.
It is for chocolate what haute couture (which is defined as fashionably elegant or high class fashion) is for clothing. This is chocolate that raises the bar so high that drugstore and gas station chocolate bars will never be able to reach it. Feast your eyes...
Ever the intrepid reporter, willing to sacrifice myself in the name of effective and authentic reportage, I dutifully dedicated myself and my partner-in-crime, one ModernGear TV Husband, to the chocolate tasting task.

We decided to test three Mini Exotic Candy bars so that we could pass on a full and complete review to our readers. The box directed us to "breathe...see, touch, smell, snap, bite, sense..." and that's exactly what we tried to do, even when instinct was telling us, "breathe...see, touch, smell, snarf down every last square and snort like a little piggy..."

We started out with the Barcelona Bar, deep chocolate with sea salt and roasted almonds.
On my notepad I wrote...
Hubby: Salty but good. (he's a man who doesn't mince his words)
Me: Salt and chocolate offer a nice juxtaposition.
Hubby: Do you know how to spell that?

Next we moved on to the interesting Macha Bar - deep milk chocolate with undertones of Japanese macha green tea. Hubby: I smell smoke.
Me: It's earthy.

We ended off the tasting extravaganza with Mo's Bacon Bar - deep milk chocolate with alder wood smoked salt, and applewood smoked bacon. Yes, you read that right, chocolate and bacon.
Hubby (after sniffing a piece): I don't like it. It smells like meat...and chocolate. (He still ate it though, so it can't have been all that offensive!)
Me: That might not be such a bad combo. (It was interesting, but I wouldn't necessarily have it again.)

The mini bars we tasted were .5 oz/15 grams for $2.50, and the larger bars are 3 oz/85 grams for $7.50. In addition to mind-blowing combinations, Vosges looks to specialize in presentation and packaging, and their Exotic Chocolate Bar Gifts would be perfect to give as a gift. The Exotic Candy Bar Box Set, $33, was featured in New York Magazine as "the perfect gift".
There are all sorts of fun gift sets like one for the yoga-lover and a Sensory Collection, and hang on to your hat - Vosges also has TRUFFLES, and TOFFEE AND CARAMEL! I dared not start trying those...

If you're at all environmentally-minded, you'll also be happy to note that Vosges has an impressive commitment to being green. Their facility and production processes have been approved as an organic manufacturing facility, their chocolate is produced using 100% renewable energy, and they have all sorts of improvements and changes in a far range from their offices to the packaging.

I got our tasters at Whole Foods - check for Vosges Chocolates at fine food stores and boutiques, or check their stores list for locations near you.

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ModernGear Grooming: Euphoric over Eufora

Beauty products can be likened to types of women that men can date. If you're a woman reading this, imagine your little brother or your best guy friend, facing the world of women. Women know women best, so you'll understand completely what I am talking about.

There's the super high maintenance woman, who usually helps a guy to look good, but costs him so much he just can't afford to see her every day...and she asks a lot of him, too. She just takes a ton of work and energy. And then on the other hand there is a girl who is packaged much more cheaply but unfortunately what's on the inside is also really cheap...and a guy really shouldn't see this type even just once, much less make a habit of it. But then right in the middle is that awesome girl you just really hope your brother or guy friend meets - she's natural, earthy, and makes him absolutely shine every time he's with her.

It's the exact same thing with hair care products. My high maintenance paramour of the shampoo and conditioner persuasion is Kerastase. She's extra good quality but too expensive for everyday dating, so I usually save her for special occasions or when I need a pick-me-up.

Then there's the cheaper brand daily-use shampoo I tried for the other days when I am not spending time with Kerastase. Sure, it was organic and smelled like lavender, but there was just something missing and I knew I needed more. My wishes were answered when Eufora came along, and I've been enjoying it everyday, ever since.

How come? I simply have never experienced a more impressive or stronger, fuller lather than with Eufora's Hydrating Shampoo.
I wish there was a better way to articulate it but that is really what I mean. You know how some shampoo lathers up only after using loads of the stuff? I have extremely thick hair so I usually have to use handfuls on the front, handfuls on the sides, handfuls on the top, and yes, more handfuls in the back, just to get my hair all lathered up. And the consistency of the lather just felt weak with the daily use shampoo I had been using. I chalked it up to the fact that it was organic, and thought that all "green" shampoos would feel the same.

Was I ever wrong! I started off the testing of Hydrating Shampoo by pouring as much into my hand as I would have poured of my former shampoo for just the front of my head, and this amount soaped up my whole head and had a whole lot left over (shoulda had my hubby in there to share!), with a beautiful, fresh-smelling lather.

"But hang on here..." I thought, "...isn't this stuff supposed to be organic?"

Yep, it sure is! It's a non-sulfate formulation with certified organic aloe vera gel as a base, botanical ingredients, and essential oils for fragrance. The great lather comes from coconut oil.

I was equally impressed with the consistency and the performance of their new Urgent Repair Shampoo ($23), as well.

Designed to remove deposits from minerals and environmental pollutants, you might think it would leave hair feeling stripped but it doesn't - my hair actually felt nice and soft and rather moisturized afterwards. It's safe for people who color their hair or have product sensitivities, as well. I'd like to find out if it could help when my blonde highlights start to take on a green tinge, as used to happen due to the water pipes in our Gastown loft in Vancouver.

I would definitely recommend having this one on hand to use as a special treatment once a week or so, and I'd also follow up with another Eufora product I tested; Urgent Repair Replenishing Treatment ($22.50).
It tingles as it works due to the pick-me-up ingredients of menthol and camphor. It can also be used on skin to soothe and heal any irritations. I found it to be a very effective detangler, and also worked on my pesky dry scalp.

I followed up the wash and condition with Eufora's Formation Whipped Styling Solution ($19.50).
Now, I haven't used a foam product in years but I was testing here, people! Besides, I wondered if it might not come in handy when I am trying to retain the curls and waves that show themselves in my freshly washed hair, but pull out to frizz as soon as they dry. And it did!

There are more products in the range of hair care to try, and a body moisturizer too, as well as fragrances and candles.

Eufora has actually been around for 10 years and can be found in a whole bunch of salons in Canada and the US listed on their web site.

So is hair care like women? Well, I don't know if my analogy stands up but I will leave you with this: just like your guy friend finding that girl who's a keeper, you can now stop looking and settle down.

And OH! I almost forgot...see the Goodies Giveaway page for the latest addition to our jackpot of prizes - a Eufora prize pack! Click here to read rest of story...