Back to blog basics for a moment.

The reason for this blog came from a casual conversation with my Mom about the decline in manufacturing here in the good ol' USA. While it's hard to avoid imported products particularly China but there are many reasons to buy local wherever local is to you. These could include living more simply by having less stuff, better for the planet by using less energy for transport and yes, humanitarian reasons.

http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/letter-chinese-laborer-pleading-help-found-halloween-decorations-202400773.html

By no means was this blog established to bash China and certainly not the Chinese people. But I do ask my gentle readers to read the labels and to seek local (wherever on the planet local is to you) alternatives. If you can't find any you might ask yourself as the woman in the article did; Do I really need this?

Sounds good enough to eat, but you'll want it on your skin.

Shea butter is the secret to happiness.

It smells and feels wonderful, protects your skin against climate and UV aggressions, prevent wrinkles (except smile lines of course), soothes moisturizes irritated and chapped skin. The list of benefits goes on.

Shea butter products from Alaffia create jobs in Washington state where it's made while simultaneously advancing gender equality, education, preventing poverty, improving the enviornment in Africa where the ingredients are from. I was told that the founder had the idea to start the company so shea butter and other natural ingredients produced in his home town in Africa could be brought to market and raise the standard of living back home.

Since it's produced here in Washington we get jobs too. Everything and anything we've tried is sensual, feels and smells great using enticing imaginative combinations of organic products. The aromas are light, you will want to try everything they make. 

http://www.alaffia.com/

Body by chocolate.

I'm a local'varian where possible and favor Fair Trade products. K has slipped me the Folger's coffee and it's fine but I prefer Fair Trade and swear I can taste the difference. There are fair trade organics I eat with the sense of "I will eat this Fair Trade Organic product that others may live".

And there's this chocolate:

https://www.theochocolate.com

Theo repurposed a factory in the quirky Fremont district of Seattle. You don't need the address, go to Seattle, head for our funky Fremont district, then follow your nose. 

At Theo's you find a cozy store full of dark wood, comfy chairs and chocolate. On cold rainy days the fireplace is going and you may be served hot chocolate. On any day a well informed staff answers questions and hands you samples till your head spins and your wallet opens for more.

There are single origin chocolates from Ghana to Madagascar, dark chocolates to milk chocolate. Some of my favorites are the spicy ones like chili chocolate. This is no Mars bar. Theo's is chocolate you will pair with the right wine, ale, local cheeses and fresh fruit or slowly savor alone. There are imaginative seasonal concoctions like cherry and pink peppercorn for Valentines day. That one was heavenly. We watch for that each year.