He's an American icon from decades past who's managed to stay relevant by singing with Jessica Simpson and performing on Stephen Colbert's holiday show. And although Willie Nelson's body of music and movies is impressive, it's really his dedication to activism that really stands out to me. Continued...

Two of my favorite recent documentaries are Who Killed The Electric Car? and The 11th Hour. The first film is about the creation and almost immediate destruction of an eco-friendly electric car and the mystery behind the destruction of something so desperately needed right now. The second centers around the idea that it's still possible to make a positive impact regarding the global crisis we're in. The human race is responsible for destroying the delicate balance of earth's ecosystems and it's our responsibility to fix it-before it's too late. I recently sat down to watch them again-this time with my kids-and it really got me thinking. During the films I had to hit pause over and over to explain certain factors to my kids to help them understand. Then the idea struck me: what better way to learn than from example. So I decided to set a challenge for my family. Continued...

I'm always going on and on about how important it is to use products that are free of synthetic ingredients-including preservatives. Of course this inevitably leads to the question about the shelf life of organic goods.  All products-whether they're organic or not-will eventually become contaminated with molds, fungi, bacteria and other nasty little things you don't want swimming in your face cream. For almost 100 years conventional products have used parabens-the most common type of preservative-to protect cosmetics, medicine and even some food products. Continued...

Sunscreen isn't just for summer. If you want to preserve your complexion, prevent skin damage and retain a youthful glow, the number one thing to avoid is overexposure from the sun. And even just a little bit of daily exposure adds up. There are plenty of conventional moisturizer/sunscreen combos out there. But those, of course, shield your face and neck with chemicals. Many organic and natural alternatives, although effective, are hard to rub in and often leave skin with a ghostly white tint. Certainly okay for a day at the beach, but they're not an ideal everyday solution. Luckily there are a few products out there that make every day sun protection simple. Continued...