Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Traveling Any Time Soon?

Hello friends,
Are you planning on taking a trip anytime soon?
If so, then you definitely need to check out Minimus http://www.minimus.biz
Minimus is an online store that has individual and trial/travel sizes of just about anything you can imagine - from toiletries, to snacks, condiments, even toys and games. They have a much, much larger selection than you can find in the trial-size toiletries area in Walmart or Target.

My favorite find on the site is gluten/wheat-free soy sauce, in little packets, for my friend who has to eat gluten-free. He loves sushi and usually brings his own bottle of gluten-free soy sauce to restaurants. But when he is traveling on airplanes for work or pleasure, he can't take his bottle with him on the plane. Every Asian food restaurant around has soy sauce in packets that would be great for traveling, but it's always the brands that are made with wheat. So, ta-da! Now my friend can order a whole bunch of packets for his next plane trip.

Their travel-size items aren't just great for trips, their also great for purses, diaper bags, kids' lunches, hiking, camping, picnics... I could go on and on.

Have a great day!
Gretchen

Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year's Eve

Hello friends,
On this New Year's Eve, I'd like to share with you a website that I hope you can enjoy every week throughout the new year. (and possibly you have already discovered it on your own)
Post Secret http://www.postsecret.com is an incredible site. Every Sunday, the site's creator posts a group of new "secrets." These secrets are homemade postcards that people have anonymously sent in. Some are heart-wrenching, some are more light-hearted, but they all are touching in their own way. It's incredibly moving to see someone else struggling with the same issues that you may be, or to see something written that you never even imagined.
The site's creator has gotten so many secrets mailed to him through the years, that he has now put together multiple books of secrets. You can find the books in your local bookstore and online.
I hope you enjoy the website as much as I do.

I wish you a safe and fun New Year's Eve... and a wonderful new year!

Champagne & confetti,
Gretchen

Friday, December 28, 2007

You Can Make a Difference!

Hello Friends!

Today I want to tell you about an organization called Kiva http://www.kiva.org
Kiva is a microfinance organization. They lend small amounts of money (by our standards) to the working poor in developing countries. These loans are for entrepreneurs who are doing things like starting a small store and manufacturing items to sell and trade. The average loan amount to each individual is less than $1000.
You can make a difference in these people's lives! By going to the Kiva website, you can read through the projects listed and lend your money to a specific entrepreneur. The great thing is that you don't have to lend the entire project amount. You can lend as little as $25 and in 6-12 months you get your money back. It is a loan, not a donation.
If you have questions about microfinance, Kiva's website provides a detailed FAQ section about the subject, with answers from experts in the field.

As the world is saddened by the assasination former Prime Minister Bhutto, and we wonder how anyone could think that murder is the solution to any problems, it warms the soul to be reminded of the amazing things we can accomplish when we team up for good.

Peace & love,
Gretchen

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Cool Site of the Day

Hello Friends,
My pick for cool site of the day is Pimp That Snack http://www.pimpthatsnack.com/
In the spirit of the tv show "Pimp My Ride" where people make their cars larger than life, this fun website shows everyday people who, through their own creativity and ingenuity, make larger than life versions of their favorite snacks. A couple of my favorites are a giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and a giant Twix. One of the fun parts of the site is the creators of the pimped snacks show the progress of their projects by keeping a written dialog and providing photos from the steps of the process. It all culminates in a photo of the original snack sitting next to the pimped snack.
Have fun perusing the projects and let me know if you pimp your own!

Carrots & Sunshine,
Gretchen

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Welcome!

Welcome to Out of the Burrow!

This blog is meant to accompany the Out of the Burrow nabcast on nabaztag.com. (If you don't yet have a nabaztag rabbit, you need to get one! http://www.nabaztag.com)

Everyday (or as close to everyday as I can manage) I will post some cool findings from the web - sites and tidbits that can be found when climbing out of the burrow.

Have fun everyone! Grab a carrot and get to munching.