Do You Know What’s on Your Food?

Pesticides and fertilizers are of growing concern, and more and more people are aware of their potential dangers. But now there are ways of learning just exactly what’s in the produce you eat.

A new website and accompanying app (www.whatsonmyfood.org) will help consumers make informed choices by explaining just what and how many chemicals and pesticides your food contains. Now you can opt for pesticide-free products instead of a nonorganic alternative.

 Meanwhile the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group, which specializes in research into toxic chemicals, has listed a “dirty dozen” of produce with the highest pesticide load. These include apples, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, celery, potatoes and lettuce. Some, of course, may be peeled to dramatically reduce pesticide residue, but what do you do about others?

It’s worth considering. According to experts, even small doses of chemicals can lead to poor health, especially for the most vulnerable – the elderly and the young.

Buying Life Insurance? Ask These Six Questions

Are you considering a term life insurance policy? If so, it’s important you do your homework to ensure that you get the policy you need.

Here are six questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line.

What are your income needs?

It’s important to consider your family’s income needs over the course of your policy, including expenses such as mortgages, college tuition, medical bills and funeral costs.

What length of term do you want?

The length of your term will depend on your long-term income outlook. For example, if you’re working for 10 more years and then have retirement benefits and Social Security, a 10-year term may work for you.

Can you convert the policy?

If you outlive your term life insurance policy, you may want to convert it near the end of the term without needing another medical exam. Be sure to read the fine print on the conversion option, as there can be time limitations for conversion.

What other benefits do you want?

Riders – such as disability waivers that pay your premiums if you become disabled – are more common on whole life insurance policies than on term life insurance policies. But they are available, so look into them.

How applicable are advertised rates?

Even if you’re relatively healthy for your age, the rates promoted in online or newspaper ads may be based on an applicant with exceptional health. The price quoted may not be applicable to you.

Is the insurance company stable?

Life insurance companies are usually in excellent financial health, but you should still check out their rating. Agencies that rate life insurance companies include A.M. Best Company, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

Party Stress-Free With Tips From the Experts

It’s one of life’s great ironies that planning a fun party can be stressful. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be.

Learn from the experts. Keep these party planners’ tips top of mind and you’ll have rave reviews from the partygoers while staying calm, cool and collected yourself.

One month to go

Choose a theme. A theme makes planning your party a little easier and a lot more fun.

Generate a budget. This will be your lifeline for the party. Remember, it’s not about how much you spend but what you do with your budget.

Pick your guests. Try not to invite people who hate each other; make sure it’s a fun mix.

Invite. Use whatever works for you:
e-vite, phone call or cute card.

One week to go

Plan your meal. Hopefully everyone will have RSVP’d by now.

Logistics. Decide on a seating plan. Know where the coats will go. Make sure you have enough glasses of all types.

Hours to go

Go Zen. Have everything ready well ahead so you can relax.

Laugh at your mistakes. Your guests are probably having too much fun to notice.

Have fun yourself. It’s the best part of throwing a party!

How Craftsmanship is Making a Comeback

The rise of careful craftsmanship is one of the more interesting trends that has gained traction over the last few years.

You can see it in the repurposing of vintage furniture and found objects, which become unique home décor objects in the hands of a skilled craftsman. You can see it in the 100-mile movement, with its emphasis on local, home-grown food and its extension into handmade crafts produced by local artisans. And you can see it in craft circles, artists’ collectives and local artisans’ markets, which are thriving across North America. Even interior designers are seeking out craftspeople for special projects, and the website www.custommade.com, which connects clients to craftspeople, boasts some 36,000 completed projects.

The trend does in fact reflect a desire for unique items, but another possible stimulus is the decline in the quality of today’s manufactured goods, which has sparked consumer interest in well-made and long-lasting products.

Today’s consumers want to know what they’re purchasing, where it came from and how it’s being made. “They demand to be informed of every step of the process, for it is the only way to be sure that you are purchasing a quality product,” comments CustomMade’s Heather Bailey on http://bostinno.com. Their products may have a modern twist, but today’s artisans channel their colleagues from the crafts movement of the early 20th century. While modern technology offers them easy access to information and networking, their passion for creating and pride of workmanship reflect the values of bygone days, with unique and amazing results.