Organicville (Pomegranate) Salad Dressing

Last year for my birthday, CB sent me this amazingly large box full of GF goodies and this salad dressing was the dark horse of all of the contenders. As you can see, there are a ton of other flavors (I've tried sun-dried tomato, herbs de provence, and dijon mustard) but by far this is the best one I've sampled. It's the perfect tart, citrus-y (with some orange juice/essence thrown in) for a summer spinach and feta/mozzarella salad. I'm typically a savory girl when it comes to dressing my greens, but this is sweet without the saccharine overkill. Also, all of their dressings are made with agave nectar, which is less refined than other forms of sweeteners.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

I've been using these products for years, but little did I know that dedicated, nightly use of this product would not only keep the scraggly hangnails at bay, but would encourage my thin, brittle nails to necessitate a manicure. The essential oils only require you to use a dab, as a little goes a long way. If you can keep doggie bed-mates from licking it off and take the dust jacket off of your current novel (put it on right before you turn out the light), you'll be home free.

Organic Housekeeping

I received this book as a bridal shower gift, but really started to use it when we moved this summer. Once my cleaning supplies run out, I've agreed to replace each one with a healthier, green version. This book does a great job of showing you how virtually every surface in your house can be cleaned with materials you already have in your pantry (i.e. baking soda and vinegar compose about 90% of the cleaning materials). Therefore, you don't really need to make room for 12 different cleaners. Besides the basic cleaning, so far I've cleaned my coffee pot and my dishwasher--not bad.

Aveda nourish-mint smoothing lip color

Give me most skin/cosmetic products from your average discount store, and I'll be allergic to them. This history runs deep, as I've had a dermatologist in my life since the ripe age of 6 mos. I consider Aveda a little piece of heaven. Their hair products (esp. their shampoo) is phenomenal. But lipstick is even more of a treasure--as just like my mom--I can't wear almost any kind of lipstick. It's got SPF and mint in it, which gives you just a little tingle. $14 / 21 colors. Also comes in sheer.

Trader joe's

CB got me the most thoughtful birthday gift: treats, meals and other items from Trader Joe's, an all-natural, affordable, one-stop shop grocery store. Most of their food is organic, or close to it, and very easy on the wallet.

Salud rollette perfume

I stumbled upon this wonderful boutique near the U of AZ campus in Tuscon. The store manager said Salud Spa Bar is about to go nation-wide, but for now only has a few stores. I love the concept: organic products and custom-made perfume and body care. I am such a product whore, but at least spending my money here ensures that I am getting something high-quality and good for my skin. I was nimbly eyeing the Skyn Iceland and Nuxe Paris lines, but I was hooked by the custom-made perfumes. For $24 I was able to make a perfume that I can stick in my carry-on and I don't have to haul around a big glass bottle. Also, the scents come from essential oils, so they don't have any toxic chemicals. My scent is a mixture of "bubble bath" (basically a citrusy concoction) and fig. They store your mixture in the computer system so you can easily reorder. Corey really liked the scent, so everyone wins!

Origins Leg Lifts

My boss first introduced me to this product on a trip after many hours of hitting the pavement. It is definitely an aquired sensation, as the tingling can get pretty intense. However, the next morning you will wake up with renergized legs and feet (I know, it's miraculous). I given this to my nurse sister and my mom, and for anyone who is on their feet or just needs a little pampering, this is a great gift. Plan on either wearing socks or doing the laundry afterwards, as the essential oils will probably rub off on your sheets.

L'Occitan roll-on deodorant

CB introduced me to this deodorant about 2 years ago and I think this could be a lifelong staple. Initially I started using it in the summer when apparently I started to sweat for the first time since birth (it must be a gland thing--I just get really red and look like a tomato usually). It's men's deoderant, but it works really well. This bottle lasted me almost a year. It's made with all-natural ingredients, essential oils and reminds you of your male counterpart.