Blenders are often confused with juicers and many people think that they probably serve the same function. Blenders make delightful smoothies, do a fine job of grinding spices and coffee beans and my personal blender can emulsify tasty salad dressings in a snap. Smoothies, especially green smoothies, are a great addition to a healthy diet, however juicing offers a number of different advantages.

This Saturday (May 14^th) thousands of people around the planet will be celebrating World Fair Trade Day. Never heard of it? That's ok, you can still celebrate—and for good reason.

The World Fair Trade Day initiative comes via the World Fair Trade Organization, which unites citizens, Fair Trade organizations, environmental movements, producers and consumers around the planet. But what exactly is Fair Trade?

Getting familiar with the sustainability dos and don’ts of seafood can send your head swimming. There’s wild fish, farmed fish, lake fish, ocean fish . . . the list goes on. And to make matters more complicated, there is no black and white answer of one type of seafood being better than the other. Wild salmon? Sustainable. Wild shark? Not sustainable. Farmed catfish? Sustainable. Farmed salmon? Not sustainable. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch site to learn the overall ins and outs of sustainable seafood. But this spring season, simplify things a bit, and make menu planning easy on yourself. Here are the top four picks of sustainable seafood choices that are perfect for spring dining.

Strawberries are the star fruit of the summer season, and for good reason: The bright red color and fresh sweet taste lift the spirit, thrill the taste buds and remind us of happy times. Strawberry shortcake, strawberry milkshakes and strawberry pie all no doubt have a special place in your heart. But have you ever tried strawberry soup?

The warm months are upon us, which means fleas will be coming back soon as well – if they’re not already here. Modern science has come up with a host of chemical methods to combat fleas, but oftentimes those “cures” can pose as many health risks to you and your pets as the fleas themselves. That’s why we thought we’d offer some natural suggestions for flea prevention and removal.

We're BIG proponents of 'you are what you eat' - in case you missed all million memos... manifestos really. The idea of beauty coming from within is generally spoken of in terms of one's heart and disposition - which we love too! - but here we're talking about that seemingly-shallow physical beauty; the way your hair shines, skin glows and nails glisten. All these things are inextricably tied to what you eat. Genetics? Sure. Diet? Absolutely! 

Hopefully your garden is underway and full of a variety of healthy, yummy, fresh fruits, veggies and legumes. Have you ever made an entire meal from foods you've grown? I don't just mean a salad, folks—although there should be one at every meal! Check out some hyperlocal ideas for the perfect yard-to-table meal. With the exception of oil, salt and a few other minor ingredients, you can make these meals entirely from your garden bounty.

Alright Sister, you’re taking charge of the grill this season. You’ve got your pink polka-dot apron, your shiny new spatula and tongs, and a determination to master that darned grill before summer fully strikes. Before you get started, you’ll need to know a few basics on how to make grilled foods taste awesome. Between the glaze, the marinade and the rub, you’ve got a few choices on how to sauce up your entrée--and do it better than Pop. Read on to learn the differences among them and where they each work best.

Despite one's intentions for leaping onto the yogic path, one thing is for sure: Your arms will undergo a definite and visible transformation. Take it from me. Where once was tone-less is now tone-full. And the ONLY exercise I engage in is on the mat. Those plank-to-chaturanga vinyasas add up to some pretty-darn sexy arms. But what's more; true empowerment. The physical strength of being supported by strong arms translates into a strength in being, truly.

Rose petals are a DIY craft lovers darling, and reusing those soft, silky petals is a far more worthy fate than sending them to a landfill. Roses are also edible flowers full of healthy benefits, and have been used to treat conditions including asthma, indigestion and stress for centuries. Try one—or all—of these ideas for your spring rose petals.

The last glass of milk I drank was more than 20 years ago; I can barely remember how it tasted, except for a thick, heavy, plain-ness. But I do vividly remember the first time I drank soymilk—it was Edensoy Vanilla, on ice. Despite its brownish color, it tasted strangely like milk and also not at all like milk. Could I pour this onto cereal? How would it react to gobs of chocolate syrup?

That was in the 1990s, and fortunately, over the years, vegans like myself, healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, and the lactose intolerant, have experienced an exploding milk alternative category. From the days when the shelf-stable Edensoy, Westbrae or Rice Dream were the only options, there are now lots of fresh, refrigerated half gallons and gallons of soy, almond, rice and even coconut and hemp milks to choose from.

How now, puppy chow? That 40 pound bag of deluxe gourmet beefy nuggets you just dragged into your house may seem like it has a lot going for it – and the $15.00 price tag was a steal! – but pet food manufacturers are actually banking on the collective ignorance of typical pet owners in order to continue selling inferior, nutritionally questionable products while still raking in profits. They daze and confuse us with seemingly wholesome imagery and strategic promises of ‘real meat,’ but in record-breaking numbers our pets continue to suffer the dietary consequences by succumbing to chronic ailments such as digestive issues, kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, heart disease and cancer.

Whatever type of wet-nosed, whiskered, webbed or winged critter lives under your roof, the following key label reading strategies will help you to make far more informed nutritional decisions that will help your pets to live longer, healthier lives.

A long, long time ago, ancient human cultures had a different type of relationship with their food than they do in modernity. For instance, cacao beans—which make chocolate—were used as a currency throughout Mesoamerica until the late 1800s. And throughout Asia, a tiny, tart apple-like fruit called the loquat has been revered as a multipurpose food and medicine, and fodder for poems and literature of the ages.

Giving an out-of-style dresser a makeover can save you money and add a focal point to any room of the home.

You can customize any ol' dresser to suit your décor. Just put a little lipstick on that pig. With a touch of paint here and a little elbow grease there, you can tailor a dresser to become formal, elegant, romantic or playful.

Follow these tips to revive even the most seemingly far-gone dresser.

Ambling through a local nursery or home improvement center in search of basic garden staples, you might assume that in order to foot the bill, selling precious bodily fluids or becoming a medical guinea pig is a necessity. Chin up, green thumb wannabe! You can obtain a lush, veggie-riffic payload (without suffering the slings and arrows of invasive needles, probes and questionable pharmaceuticals) by imaginatively repurposing countless items that are already in your home. These tips are so eco-juicy that you’ll be reaping the good green (and antioxidant-rich) benefits for countless growing seasons to come!

Just because Mother's Day has come and gone, doesn't mean all those lovely buds have. With all of the springtime freshness going on outside, is your house feeling a tad blah? Breathe a little life into your home. Bring the outdoors in by gathering a bouquet of fresh cut flowers from your garden.

You can scrounge together a stunning bouquet out of even the barest of plots. Even if that means an all out green arrangement. Designing a dramatic bouquet is all about how you arrange the flowers. With these tricks you can create a florist-quality bouquet all on your own.