{"id":293101,"date":"2010-02-08T12:33:08","date_gmt":"2010-02-08T17:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/grist_ask_umbra\/119\/ask-umbra-s-pearls-of-wisdom-on-valentine-s-day.html"},"modified":"2010-02-08T12:33:08","modified_gmt":"2010-02-08T17:33:08","slug":"ask-umbra%e2%80%99s-pearls-of-wisdom-on-valentine%e2%80%99s-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/293101","title":{"rendered":"Ask Umbra\u2019s pearls of wisdom on Valentine\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Umbra<\/div>\n

Dearest readers,<\/p>\n

Sometimes when I\u2019m down in the stacks researching answers to
\nyour latest dilemmas, I enjoy taking a stroll down Ask Umbra archives lane. <\/p>\n

Here
\nare some sparkly tidbits I culled from my past advice on lessening your impact on
\nthat sweet little romantic holiday, Valentine\u2019s Day. Have any of your own
\nsustainable loving tips or stories? Let me know in the comments section below
\nor shoot me an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Break up
\nwith your blow-up doll<\/strong>
And that jelly vibrator, while you\u2019re at it.
\nLots of popular sex toys are made of PVC<\/a>\u2014a fancy name for vinyl (no
\nvinyl, that\u2019s final)\u2014or with plastic-softening, hormone-disrupting phthalates.
\nHeat and agitation from use can cause toxins to leach from the toys\u2014not hot. Get the
\nfull Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pull the
\ne-card<\/strong>
About a billion Valentine\u2019s Day cards are
\nsent globally each year. Don\u2019t let your Valentine greeting be just another
\nnumber: Save some paper (and a few bucks) by sending your snookums a well-selected e-card<\/a> instead. Get the
\nfull Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Channel
\nMartha Stewart<\/strong>
Eschew conventional consumption, and get a
\nlittle crafty for your Valentine. Put together some memorable photos, write a
\npoem, or bake a tasty vegan
\nchocolate cake<\/a>. Get the
\nfull Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sweeten the
\ndeal<\/strong>
If traditional is your middle name, then your
\nparents were a little odd, no? Anyway, perhaps you\u2019re inclined to give a more
\nclassic V Day gift like chocolate. Because of issues like child labor, low
\nwages, pesticide use, and deforestation, pay careful attention when picking
\nsweets for your sweetie. Look for chocolate that\u2019s both fair-trade and organic.
\nGet the full Ask Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Turn on
\nthe green light in the bedroom<\/strong>
Set the mood in your boudoir with
\nsustainable hemp<\/a> sheets,
\ndimmed lighting<\/a>, organic
\nmassage oils, and vegan condoms. Then pop in a steamy movie\u2014An Inconvenient Truth, perhaps?\u2014and let
\nthe magic begin. Get the full
\nAsk Umbra answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lovingly,
Umbra<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n