Todd English’s Green Pan

The other day I was in Target, shopping for odds and ends, when I remembered to check the cookware aisles. I’ve been needing to beef up my supply of stove-top cookware, and have been window shopping for the perfect items to fill in the gaps in my artillery. I happened to stop when I saw a powder-blue and grey skillet. It was 12″ with high sides. I almost moved on because of the non-stick coating, but then I noticed the name: Green Pan.

It was one of the pans that National Geographic’s Green Guide recommends. I checked the price: $39.99. Not bad. I was in the market for a wok and an 11″ skillet, but it occurred to me that this would suit both purposes adequately. So far I’ve cooked Indian curry, eggs, turkey meatballs, and pancakes in it, just so I could test out its performance range.

Things to love: According to the packaging, you can use this pan on any type of cook top surface (gas, electric, flat, coil) and it is safe up to 800 degrees–which is pretty safe. The high-temp tolerance means that the pan won’t emit fumes or leak toxins into your food the way other non-stick pans do when heated past their idea temp (usually less than 500 degrees, I believe). The green technology that Green Pan utilizes greatly reduces their carbon emissions during different steps of the manufacturing process and they use less packaging than most (just a bit of recycled paper).

The pan heats evenly and cooks beautifully. At $39.99, that’s a bargain for a great, multi-purpose piece of cookware.

Less than perfect: I can already tell I’m going to have to be careful not to scratch the non-stick coating. My bamboo cooking spoons and my silicone spatula are the only things that are coming near this. I also wouldn’t feel comfortable sticking it in my draining rack. I wash and dry it by hand. But that’s what you sign up for when you buy non-stick cookware.

Final analysis: Pretty, functional, human and eco friendly. Sold! I plan to stock up on a few more of their products.

Posted by: Catie

Clif Bars

I’m a BIG fan of Clif Bar & Company.  They’ve done great things to create sustainability, promote eco-initiatives, provide healthy programs for employees, support their communities, and engineer a variety of organic & sustainable products for consumers.  Read all about Clif Bar & Company in their 2007 Aspirations Report.  You’ll become a big fan, just like me!

I’m a hypoglycemic, lactose-intolerant vegeholic* (*my definition: someone who can’t seem to get enough fruits & veggies but could really live without meat).  As a result, I need a consistent supply of protein to regulate my blood sugar levels but don’t naturally get it due to the lack of dairy and meat in my diet.  Clif Bar products to the rescue!  Clif Bar products do not use dairy sources, no high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated fats, and contain high levels of protein.  Each Clif Bar product has a different purpose and benefits, and you can find out the details for each at the Clif Bar website.  Here are some thoughts:

Clif Bar: The Original: These all natural energy bars are a conglomeration of all kinds of natural goodness.  They average 230 calories per bar and contain 23 vitamins & minerals.  They come in a large variety of flavors, so if you don’t like one be sure to try some others!  Some people don’t like the mish-mash ingredients, but it warmly reminds me of a hearty cookie…  These bars now also come in minis!!!  You can’t buy them everywhere, but the minis are 100-110 calories apiece, perfect for any girl’s (or guy’s) pre-workout energy boost.  For the girls (and guys), there are also Clif Luna Bars below with other girl-friendly considerations.

Luna Bar: At 170-190 calories per bar, these are designed as the perfect fuel for active women who don’t want the calories of the average energy bar.  It contains 23 vitamins & minerals in a combination just for women, including high calcium and folic acid, as well as 9-10 grams of protein and 3g of fiber.  They come in a wide range of tasty flavors that don’t have that typical energy bar taste.  I usually keep a small stash of these around for when I’m having a sugar craving but want my calories to count for something.  These always hit the spot!

• Luna Bars also come in 3 specialty varieties: Luna Sport, Luna Teacakes, and Luna Sunrise.  I have not tried the Sport or Teacakes.  I have tried the Luna Sunrise, which comes in more breakfasty flavors than the original.  Sunrise does not have as many vitamins, contains more carbs, and fewer grams of protein than the original.  However, if you like these flavors better, you’re still giving your body a healthy boost.

Clif Mojo Bar: “The Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bar” The biggest snacking surprise of the year!  I had low expectations of this bar, since I’ve tried many fruit and nut snack bars in the past and have never been particularly impressed.  If you have the same feelings, you should really give this a shot!  The glycemic index of this bar must be incredibly low.  I normally need to eat at least every 3 hours, but after eating this bar I was fully satisfied for over 5 hours!  Wow.  This bar does not contain the same number of vitamins & minerals as other Clif Bars, and each bar has around 200 calories.  But if you’re looking for sustained energy, this may be it.

• Clif Mojo Bars also come in a Dipped variety, which I have not tried.

Clif Nectar Bar and Nectar Cacao: This is how I bribe my husband into eating his daily serving of fruit.  Each bar contains two full servings of fruit, is made from 100% organic ingredients, and is a serious source of fiber.  These are pure decadence and might as well be eaten for dessert. We’ve tried every flavor, and they are delicious!!!  While these are an expensive way to get your fruit, they are a guiltless indulgence.

Clif Builder’s Bar: This bar claims to be the only all-natural protein bar, and it has 20g of protein per bar which means the glycemic index is very low.  It’s marketed toward men, but I’m a big, big, big fan of this one!  (Oh, and the hubby like it too!) There are about 270 calories for a full bar, so I like to eat one bar in stages throughout the day between meals to keep myself fueled. I was particularly impressed with the texture of this bar, which has a layer of “clif pro” (rice and soy puff stuff) and a layer of thick protein-y goodness, all dipped in a coating. (Sorry for the poor terminology!) This is simply a delight to eat, and I like it with a cup of coffee.  However, I’ve only tried the Vanilla Almond flavor so far, so the others may still be suspect.

Clif Kid Z Bar and Twisted Fruit: I haven’t tried these, but my hunch is they’re good!  They’re marketed as a healthier alternative to granola bars and fruit snacks.  According to Reader Ashley (see her comment below), she eats the Z Bars for dessert.  I’ll just have to try that myself…

Clif Shot: This is Clif Bar’s line for performance atheletes, and I haven’t tried any of them.  (I guess I’m just your average runner…)  There are 4 options: Shot Blocks is a pack of 33 calorie cubes to pop while on the course; Shot Gel is a packet of liquid carbs for an on-the-go boost; Shot Electrolyte Drink is a mix to use in your water bottle for before and during performance; and Shot Recovery Drink is a mix that contains all kinds of body-nourishing nutrients.  Once I try them, I’ll let you know.

I hope you turn out to be a big Clif Bar fan just like me!  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments, especially on the products I have yet to try.

Posted by: Lynnette

Burt’s Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream

This is the second installment in my quest for the perfect eye cream.  For my other eye cream review (and more to come), click here.

Why I’m on an Eye Cream Quest:  My eyes are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather, and if the delicate skin around my eyes is not properly moisturized, it gets scaly – literally scaly.  I’ve spoken to my doctor and several cosmetics consultants who all gave me the same answer: my skin is reacting as though I was not using any moisturizer whatsoever.  But I was!  But I do!  It turns out that the pores around your eyes are smaller than the rest of the pores on your face.  Eye creams are specially formulated to be finer than regular facial moisturizers in order to be properly absorbed by that fine eye skin.  However, not all eye creams are created equal!  Apparently my eye pores are very, very small, and some eye cream formulas are not quite fine enough for my skin to absorb.  Therefore, some eye creams sit atop my eye skin for hours, eventually evaporating into the air.  Unfortunately, I cannot determine at the time whether the cream has been absorbed or evaporated, and it takes at least a week of using a product to determine whether or not it is effective.  Consequently, I have tried many, many different types of eye cream and would love to share my experiences with you. 

About 7 months ago, I went on an all-natural cosmetics makeover.  Because I had not yet discovered the Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy by my house, I scoured the Bartell’s shelves for affordable natural products and ended up with an entire stash of Burt’s Bees facial care.  I have mixed reviews about the whole experience, which I’ll likely expose to you at a later date.  The Burt’s Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream retails around $15 most places.

Things to love:  This stuff is 98.75% natural and contains a laundry list of good-for-you ingredients that you can find on the Burt’s Bees website.  Because it’s so natural, this product is great for people with chemical sensitivity, and I’ve read several rave reviews to the effect.

Less than perfect:  The texture of this product is like a cross between Vaseline and cream; therefore, giving it a very glossy finish that looks great alone but is impossible to apply just prior to eye makeup application.  It was so thick and moisturizing that I started using it only before bed.  Also, after about a month of use, my eyelid scales returned!  Oh no!  This means that the little moisturizing particles weren’t quite small enough for all of my tiny eyelid pores, and my eyelid was thirsty even under the layer of the cream.

Final analysis:  Most people don’t have my tiny eyelid pore problem, but the inability to apply it under eye makeup would have been a deal breaker for me in any case.  However, if you have very sensitive skin and don’t wear eye makeup because of it, this might help you get the moisture you need without irritating you.  It’s also cheaper than most natural eye creams.

Posted by: Lynnette

Joe’s Jeans.

I bought my first pair of designer jeans when I was twenty, and since then haven’t bought anything else.  The fit, the look, and the feel were dramatically better than jeans that I had been buying from Gap and Express. I really can’t afford the retail price for most designer jeans, so I shop on eBay for my denim. I usually only buy it new, with the tags still on, and I’ve gotten amazing deals.

Like my most recent score: a pair of Joe’s Jeans in the “Rocker” cut, brand new for $16.01. That’s incredible! They’re my new favorite jeans, too–I’m sold on Joe’s.

Things to love: COMFORT. I’ve tried on many pairs of Joe’s Jeans before, and they are always super comfortable. They also fit my curvier shape great–the lower rise hugs just the right part of my hips and doesn’t create love handles. Did I mention they’re comfortable? The cuts are super-cute, and the denim seems durable. Oh, and they’re comfortable, too.

Less than perfect: The price. Unless you take a leaf out of my book, which, I grant you, will limit your style and color options, prepare to pay about $175.

Final Analysis: Worth. It. I love these jeans! They’re flattering and feel like wearing sweatpants. My advice to you is to stop in at Macy’s or Nordstrom’s and try on a variety of styles and sizes to see what you like best. Jot down the information and start surfing eBay. If you’re diligent about it, you can find GREAT deals. If you don’t got the eBay route, I recommend buying fewer pairs of jeans–instead of having a five or six, just stick to two really awesome pairs of jeans.

Posted by: Catie