After watching a TV show about sweat shops and hideous working conditions for skilled sewers/tailors/seamstresses, I realised that its easy to forget where our clothing comes from while being caught up in the excitement of shopping online.

I don't want to wear a shirt that took some poor worker 2 hours to make in a stinking horrible room.  I don't want to be responsible for someone sleeping on the floor under their sewing machine and getting paid 2 rupees for something sold at an obscene profit.  

So what is the solution?  How do you avoid the sweat shops and give your money to the companies that profit share with their workers?  How do you ensure that your clothes were not made using child labour?

The answer?  Make the switch to support Fair Trade clothing.

Your purchase can make a huge difference in creating supportive, ethical working environments that empower the workers and fight against poverty, mistreatment and exploitation.



How to check to find out if your latest online purchase is Fair Trade:

1.  Look for the Fair Trade logo







2.  Go to the company website and check in the "about us" section.   If it mentions supporting workers co-ops or profit sharing with the workers, you are on the right track.

3.  Check YouTube for videos of the company's profile and working conditions.

4.  If in doubt, call the company and ask the questions.

Fair Trade Alpargatas (Slippers)
Supports a worker-owned Buenos Aires Co-operative.

Fair Trade "Wear No Evil" T-Shirt

100% Organic Fair Trade cotton.  Made by accredited Fair Trade producers.

You can take this ethos to your everyday shopping as well:

The Ethical Consumer Guide
At a glance, Australian consumers can now check the track record of the companies behind their favourite brands.  Your weekly supermarket shop can make a difference.

technorati tags: fair trade, sweat shop, workers co-operative, profit share, ethical shopping, organic, eco-friendly

This arrived in my inbox this afternoon after a long session of house hunting and going a bit mad.  So you can imagine my delight when I received this little gem in my humble hotmail account...



"Chat on Messenger and you could meet Justin Bieber!"


OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Or...

....I could embrace a moving chainsaw.


It's really up to me I suppose.


Leaning towards the chainsaw actually...  metaphorically of course!!

Vito Genovese by Resart
See more Shots Mugs

I found this hilarious Mug Shot Mug on zazzle today. A mug... with a mug shot... A "Mug" Mug!!! Waahaha!! For some reason I find that extremely amusing. A great way to start the day. Staring into the face of a rather frightening crime boss gangster dude.  Still, I don't think I'll get over the idea of having a "Mug" Mug.  I think it would make the coffee taste even better...

Melvita have created a beautiful range of certified organic floral water containing all natural ingredients sourced from organic farms.  These organic cosmetics are perfect for those who want to move away from chemical-based cosmetics and skin care and support organic farming in the process.

The floral waters are distilled from dried or fresh plants to preserve the unique aromatherapy benefits and healing properties of each plant.  French women have used floral waters as part of their skincare for hundreds of years.  Perhaps it's time we caught up!

The most popular in the Melvita floral waters range is the Eau florale de Rose (Rose Floral Water)

Rose Floral Water

This delicate floral water can be used for skincare or aromatherapy purposes.  The floral water is distilled from rosa damascena petals, known for their astringent and anti-aging properties.

Other floral waters include chamomile for dry skin, lavender for normal/combination skin and cornflower to calm irritated skin and pamper the under-eye area.

If you are thinking of making the switch to organic skin care products, you will be choosing products that are natural, safe, free of petrochemical derivatives.

Best of all, you will be supporting organic farming, using an all-natural product that is free from pesticides and is readily biodegradable.

I have been wanting to try out Skechers Shape Ups for ages now!  Finally I got my chance in December last year and I haven't taken them off since!  Okay, well I did take them off to sleep.  But apart from that, I wear them when I walk short distances, longer distances, I wear them on the treadmill at the gym - basically whenever I get the chance.

Now to address the claims of XF (Extended Fitness) Skechers Shape Ups:

















Burns more calories - I can definitely confirm that these shoes help to burn more calories.  I have lost around 3kg (6.6lb) since wearing these shoes.  And that includes still eating chocolate, ice creams and croissants!

Tones Muscles/Improves Posture - This is the area where the shoes really come into their own.  How can a shoe tone muscles?  Well, it's all about the posture.  The shoes improve the posture, straightening the back and activating under-used muscle groups.  Muscle groups I never knew I had, in fact!!  Since I've been wearing the Shape Ups, my back is stronger, my calves are thinner and my ankles have become more tapered. 

The shoes simulate walking on soft sand, the bottom of the shoe rolling to create a more natural walking movement.  The shoes are so comfortable that I find myself creating excuses to go for a walk!  My shoes are the XF (Extended fitness) type and they sit at number 1 (lowest intensity) on the burn meter.  Check the burn meter for the intensity that's right for your lifestyle.
    

Burn Meter Ratings

XF (Extended Fitness For Walkers) - Burn Meter #1 (lowest intensity)

XW (Extended Wear - For Working On Your Feet All Day) - Burn Meter #1

AT (All Terrain For Trekking) - Burn Meter #2

SRT (Skechers Radius Trainer For A Higher Intensity Workout) - Burn Meter #3

S2 (Lightweight Design For Super Calorie Burning) - Burn Meter #4 

The Original Shape Ups (To Supercharge Your Workouts) - Burn Meter #4 (highest intensity)

technorati tags: skechers, shape ups, buy shape ups, workout shoes, toning shoes, tone muscles, shape up,skechers walking shoes