Click and Give

"Give to me, give to me.. Care for me, care for me, you said you'd care for me." -Lauryn Hill

(I might have covered some of these previously, but a reminder is always good!)


GoodSearch.com: The idea behind GoodSearch is straightforward - Use it's search engine, powered by Yahoo, every time you browse the Web, and the site will make a donation to the charity of your choice. The donation is just a penny per search, but if 1,000 people search twice a day, every day, that would add up to $7,300 in a year. Eligible charities include local day-care centers, animal shelters, the Sierra Club, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. TIP: If you don't see your favorite nonprofit, complete the sign-up form and look under "add a charity."


GreaterGood.com: You click on one of the listed charitable causes and then press "click here," and the GreaterGood Network of web sites will make a donation. The site is funded with ad revenue, which is divvied up among 15 nonprofits. Although you don't see how much money each click generates, the site says one click is worth 1 to 2 cents. Total donations in the 12 months ending June 30, 2008 came to $2.7 million. The money went to such charities as America's Second Harvest food bank and the Petfinder Foundation. TIP: Spread the word. Each of the sites allows you to send e-cards that count as clicks and generate more donations.


eBayGivingWorks.com: This little-publicized section of eBay lists thousands of items for sale by private sellers who agree to donate all or part of the proceeds. You can find the usual eBay products - used books, collectibles, toys - as well as VIP packages for concerts and gift certificates for movies. As with any eBay transaction, check seller ratings and pay with plastic to protect yourself in case something goes wrong. TIP: Watch where you're going when you're on the site. Clicking "home" brings you to the regular eBay home page.


GoodShop.com: Click on any of the 500-plus participating online stores, shop as you normally would, and any purchase you make will generate a donation to the cause of your choice. Donation amounts vary by retailer. There are literally thousands of organizations you can help, from local schools and health clinics to large national foundations. TIP: Also check BuyForCharity.com. It has fewer stores, but it works the same way, and the donations might be bigger.


ThePetitOnSite.com: Click on a category such as human rights or corporate accountability, look at the petitions, and decide whether to add your support. Petitions under "environment and wildlife," for example, support protection of gorilla habitats in Congo or call for limiting oil exploitation in the Arctic. To add your name, fill out a form. If you don't want your identity made public, check the "don't display my name" box. TIP: Look at petition sponsors. Some are reputable organizations; others are private citizens with an ax to grind.

Drug Store Savers and Sites

"That ain't nothin' but drug store lovin' ." -Otis Redding

Aveeno Insense Relief Hand Cream: It's a nongreasy treat for rough, dry skin.

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets: The papers remove oil and are easier on the go than touch-up powder.

Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge: It blends in foundation just as well as a high-end sponge.

Ardell DuraLash Flare Individual Short Lashes: Stick 'em on lashes outer corners. Glam, but not overdone.

L'Oreal Paris Colour Juice Sheer Lip Gloss in Melon Punch: The coral color looks great on everyone.

Pampers Sensitive Wipes: They're a gentle, supercheap way to remove makeup.

Beautycrunch.com: Up to 75% off makeup.

Alconeco.com: Beauty tools at a deep discount.

Beautysteals.com: Big-bucks skin care - on sale.

Luckyscent.com: Find $3 mini bottles of posh perfumes.

Raybeauty.com: Pro hair tools at excellent prices.

Granola Bar Tips

"Snap the granola, sprinkle ginko bola." -Wu-Tang Clan

Think any granola bar is healthy...think again. There's dangerous fat in that energy bar! Some have as much unhealthy saturated fat as a candy bar. A full-size Snickers has 5 grams and one popular "nutrition" bar has 4.5 grams. Yes, many energy or nutrition bars have added vitamins, minerals and protein that keep you fueled, but in the end, having one is really no different than taking any multivitamin and eating a candy bar! Scary! Label-reading tip: Ignore the health halo around energy bars, and be sure to check the calorie and fat content before you grab and go. A healthy snack bar should have fewer than 200 calories and no more than 2 grams of saturated fat.

Other label reading tips:

-Check calories and serving size. They're the most important bits of info on the entire label. You've got to d the math: Multiply the number of servings you're going to have by the number of calories per serving shown on the label.

-Eyeball the ingredients list. If it reads like War and Peace, skip it. Odds are it's highly processed, loaded with salt and has enough preservatives to mummify your cat. Many packaged items have been moneyed with so much they're almost non foods.

-Look at the fiber content-even if the front of the package says "Made with Whole Grains." Truly healthy whole-grain breads should have at least 3 grams of fiber per slice; cereals should have 4 grams per serving or more.

-Calculate healthy fats. Subtract the grams of trans fat and saturated fat from the total fat in a food. What's left is the good unsaturated fats, and there should be ore good than bad. So, if a food has 10 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated and zero trans, 9 grams come from healthy fats...a nice pick!

You Bars: Lets you create your own custom snack bars with a selection of ingredients like protein powder, nuts, dried fruit and seasonings to choose from. You can even give your personal bar a unique name. Make them with stuff that you need. $3 per bar.

Etsy Bitsy

"Let me play the itsy bitsy spider." -Paul Wall


Etsy.com is like the world's largest craft fair. The gifts are unique, the prices tend to be reasonable and it feels good to support mom-and-pop businesses. Since you buy directly from artists and crafters who set up their own shops on the site, you can find out how an item was made and sometimes make special requests.

How it works:

-After setting up a free account, you buy items directly from sellers using PayPal or credit cards.
-In each seller's online shop you can browse product photos and descriptions and read the owner's profile and policies. Shipping options vary. To check them out, look at the bottom of the page of the listed item under "Shipping" or click on "Shop Policies" on the main shop page. Each seller also has its own policies on returns and exchanges; they're usually listed on the "Shop Policies page as well.

-To see whether a seller has a good reputation, click on the "Feedback" link on the shop's main page to view ratings and comments from other buyers.

-If you have a problem with a transaction, Etsy.com encourages you to contact the seller via the "Conversations" feature, an internal email system for site members. You can also report the problem to Etsy.com via email to support@etsy.com, and it will investigate and work to resolve it. Keep in mind, though, that like eBay, Etsy.com is a venue for connecting buyers and sellers and is not directly involved in purchases. Etsy.com charges the seller a fee for listing an item and a small percentage of the sale price when the item sells.

You get to support local, crafty vendors while finding unique items.

Natural Beauty

"Got a natural beauty ma beside my eye." -Kool G. Rap

Grapes: The rich polyphenol content of grapes that helps protect the cardiovascular system can also have anti-inflammatory and revitalizing effects on the skin. Researchers are studying antioxidants such as those found in grape seed extract for their natural sun-protection properties. With its vitamin E and fatty-acid content, grape seed oil is being used in beauty products from body moisturizers to eye creams.

Find in: L'Occitane En Provence Bath Tonic, Guerlain Success Eye Tech eyelid treatment, Lancome Primordiale Cell Defense and Skin Perfecting Serum, Nivea Body Summer Touch Daily Moisturizer self-tanner.

White Tea: With its anti-inflammatory properties and high polyphenol content, white tea is starting to appear in a wide range of beauty products to quash wrinkle-inducing free radicals. Applying it to skin before sun exposure helps boost the immune function of skin cells and protected them from sun damage.

Find in: Clarins Younger Longer Balm, Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist, Nivea My Silhouette Slimming and Reshaping Gel-Cream, Origins A Perfect World for Eyes.

Mushrooms: They may not be as sexy as grapes or as pretty as white tea, but mushrooms are believed to be a source of vitality. They are the basis of the Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom line. They are used with other natural ingredients, and refreshing essential oils, to promote skin firmness. Aveeno Active Naturals uses a "shiitake complex" to help accelerate skin cell renewal.

Find in: Origins' Plantidote Mega-Muschroom Treatment Lotion for dryness, redness and hyper pigmentation, which complements Plantidote serum and face cream, Aveeno Positively Ageless Lifting and Firming Night Cream.

Pumpkins and Yams: Packed with vitamin A, pumpkin revitalizes skin tone when used in masks or peels. Pumpkin seed extract, like grape seed oil, is resplendent in fatty acids, and it improves the smoothness and softness of the skin, and helps restore tone and elasticity. Yams and yam root extract are used in products for mature skin to help counterbalance dehydration due to hormonal changes.

Find in: Naturopathica Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, Crabtree & Evelyn Skin Care Remedy Oil Control Gel, The Body Shop Body Focus Stretch Mark Improver, Lancome Absolue Premium Replenishing Lotion.