5 Best Made in Canada Products

In honour of Canada Day tomorrow, we thought we'd share our top picks for the best Canadian-made products we've found so far. We're a proudly Canadian company and get really excited when we find a product made in Canada that's also eco-friendly or natural/non-toxic!

Post by Louise

Here are our picks for the Top 5 Best Made in Canada Products for Canada Day 2011.

1. Banana Guard - invented by three St. Paul's Hospital doctors here in Vancouver and manufactured just outside the city, this innovative BPA-free reusable food container eliminates 'banana trauma' and truly does fit over 90% of bananas. Did you know bananas are flexible? We didn't until we came across the Banana Guard.

2. Skateboard Cufflinks - also created here in Vancouver, these unique - and colourful cufflinks - are made from recycled skateboards.

3. Heiko Natural Sunscreen - so many sunscreens on the shelves, how many are actually manufactured here in Canada? We've found Heiko Kids and it doesn't contain all the nasty chemicals conventional sunscreens do.

4. Snack Flap Duo - yes, it's an idea we came up with ourselves purely as a result of talking with customers and we have it manufactured in a small town right here in beautiful British Columbia. Ideal for snacks on the go, the Snack Flap Duo is a soft, non-toxic snack bag that keeps two different snacks separate.

5. Reusable Produce Bags - these gorgeous mesh bags are the next step on in reducing the plastics we use. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags - or your produce bags too! Ideal for shopping your local farmers' market this summer.

Congratulations to all the creators and manufacturers of these great Canadian products. Happy Canada Day to you all!

For more greener living ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about products made in Canada, please leave a comment below.

Friday Freebie: Natural Woopsie First Aid Pack Giveaway

With warmer weather comes more outdoor activity and inevitably more bumps, more bruises, sore muscles and sore tummies -- from too much ice cream or too much sun. Soothe these upsets and more with a natural soothing hot/cold pain relief pack made with bamboo and buckwheat rather than potentially toxic plastic and fluid. It's Woopsies to the rescue!

Our Woopsie character soothing packs are more than just first aid packs, they become a natural friend. Each of the six different characters has a unique shape, colour and name. They become a real comfort to kids. We keep ours in the freezer and whenever our little ones end up with a bump or bruise they ask for 'Patchy' as they've named him and everything feels better. We consider Patchy a stuffie with a purpose.

These natural first aid/pain relief packs for kids can be warmed in the microwave or chilled in the freezer as the owie demands. They're flexible when frozen and huggable when heated. Filled with hypoallergenic premium buckwheat seeds, these eco-friendly first aid pillow packs are covered with a super soft sustainable viscose from bamboo terrycloth. The embroidered covers are easy to remove and machine washable.

SAVE 15%
From now until midnight Sunday, June 27th use code WOOPSIE and you can save 15% on our yellow Bozzle buckwheat first aid packs!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER ROBYNL! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED - ALL GREAT TIPS!

WIN IT!
We have a Woopsie soothing pack to give away to one lucky winner. Tell us in a comment below about a natural remedy you recommend for the summer and a Woopsie could be yours! Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

Extra entry:
Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment on our wall about this giveaway.

This is our Friday Freebie, but we're happy to take entries through the weekend. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Sunday, June 26th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on this blog post and on Facebook Monday, June 27th. Good luck!

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.

S'Well Water Bottles: One of Oprah's Favourite Things

It seems if Oprah gives a product the thumbs up, that's it - it's a hit. Well, we're more than pleased to announce our new stainless steel S'well water bottles have been given this coveted nod.

S'well bottles have made it to the O List as one of Oprah's favourite things for summer in the July 2011 issue of O Magazine. Read all about it online here.

With their sleek, ergonomic design and insulated, double-walled stainless steel technology, S'well bottles keep your drinks hot or cold for more than 24 hours. At 500ml, they're compact enough to fit in a handbag just as well as a backpack and yet are large enough to quench your thirst and then some.
Kudos to Oprah and her team for recognizing a top quality, eco-conscious product when they see one -- and congratulations to S'well for making the list!

S'well water bottles are available online in Canada at Lavish & Lime. This eco boutique is packed with hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gifts that are good for you and the planet too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about S'well, Oprah or water bottles in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

5 Ways to Go Green & Save Money this Summer

Finally - Summer 2011 is officially here! We're looking forward to some fun in the sun, but hoping to keep tabs on our purse strings. Curiously, money seems to drain from our pockets so easily while out and about in the good weather... here are some sizzling ways to save while going green this summer.

Post by Louise

1. Walk don't drive. It's so much easier to walk in the summer. No worries about umbrellas, boots, bundling up the kids - simply put on your shoes and walk out the door, especially if you're not going far. Did you know 40% of the driving we do is within two miles of our homes? Save gas, save money and enjoy some exercise.

2. Hang out your clothes to dry. Not only will you be saving money on your electricity bill by not using your dryer, but your clothes experience less wear and tear, less shrinkage and they'll smell fresh without any chemicals. Plus the sun is natural whitener.

3. Make your own frozen treats. This way you can control how much sugar your kids are ingesting while keeping cool. Buying natural popsicles and yoghurt pops can add up but these stackable push up popsicle molds are a great option - they don't take up loads of room in your freezer and they let you get creative with different layers, adding in real fruit, etc.

4. Eat local. If you're not planting your own vegetables, pick your strawberries and blueberries locally or visit your local farmers' market. Find your local farmers' market in Canada here. (Check the right hand side bar.)

5. Get cool at your local library. Libraries are free and always cool. Save on your own air conditioning and broaden your knowledge at the same time!

For more greener living ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about going green in the summer and saving money, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Friday Freebie: Natural Badger Sunscreen Giveaway

The warmer weather has come to Vancouver so fingers crossed, summer is finally on its way to the west coast - and those rays are feeling nice and hot.

Enter sunscreen. Up till now we've just been eager for a dose of vitamin D, now it's time to start thinking about protection. Natural sunscreen is a great option. Forget nasty chemicals, the active ingredient is zinc for broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It blocks the sun outright rather than absorbing it as some conventional chemical sunscreens do.

One of the most popular natural sunscreen brands is Badger. Made of all natural ingredients, Badger rates high on the Environmental Working Group's list of recommended safe sunscreens. It uses the mineral zinc oxide to provide broad spectrum protection and contains organic olive oil, shea butter and cocoa butter for a moisturizing effect. In addition to zinc, Badger is made up of all USDA certified organic plant oils and extracts that are biodegradable and safe for the environment - you could even eat this stuff! So naturally, it's safe for children.

WIN IT

We have a Badger SPF30 Natural Sunscreen Face Stick to give away to one lucky winner! Tell us in a comment below which sunscreen brand you used last summer and why you'd like to try Badger. You could win it! Please be sure to include your email address so we can get in touch if you win.

EXTRA ENTRY

Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment on our wall about this giveaway.

DEADLINE

This is our Friday Freebie, but we're happy to take entries through the weekend. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Sunday, June 12th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on Monday, June 13th.

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.

Friday Freebie: Scotch Naturals Nail Polish Giveaway

It's mani/pedi season and we couldn't be more excited! We've had a chance to check out our new Scotch Naturals shades of natural non-toxic nail polish for Summer 2011 and we're thinking our favourite deep purple Velvet Kilt may just have to be replaced by the lighter lavender Morning Glory Fizz.

Nails seem to be one of the last bits of the bod that many of us are still dousing with chemicals. If you're concerned about your body absorbing toxins, think again about your nail polish. Dibutyl phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde are some of the big concerns with many conventional nail polishes. Phthalates are of such concern, they've been banned in cosmetics in Europe. Toluene and formaldehyde have been linked to organ damage and, potentially, cancer. Click here for more about the dangers of nail polish.

Luckily, the makers of our popular kids Hopscotch Watercolors Nail Polish have come up with a line of non-toxic salon quality polish for us too, Scotch Naturals. We've come across a few 'natural' nail polish products recently, but this one's been tested and rated the safest polish out there by Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. Scotch Naturals is water-based and free of the nasty chemicals found in most solvent-based polishes. With repeated use it actually nourishes and strengthens nails. Scotch Naturals is non-yellowing and requires no base or top coat. When you open it, the smell is not overwhelming.

We love this product and the fact that Scotch has just launched a natural spray soy remover that takes off both conventional solvent-based polish and water-based polish. This way you can still use up the polish that's crowding your cupboard. If you've already cleaned out your conventional polish, Scotch plant-based remover for water-based, natural polish only is your best bet. Conventional removers will not work with Scotch. When removing Scotch Naturals, keep in mind it's a natural product and may take a bit more time. Best to do it after a soak in the tub then spray or soak with a cotton pad for a few minutes before rubbing off.

Enough of us raving about Scotch Naturals - check out the press that love it too. Scotch has made it into InStyle, Elle, Martha Stewart Living and was just spotted on actress Selma Blair on People.com. We love this last feature more for the fact a pregnant woman is making a safer, greener choice than a celeb is wearing Scotch. For an honest review with great pics by a lacquer expert, read this article at You've Got Nail...

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER FRUGALDEB & THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

WIN IT!
We have a bottle of Scotch Naturals nail polish to give away to one lucky winner. Tell us in a comment below which is your favourite shade and it could be yours! Check out our Scotch Naturals colours here. Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

Extra entry:
Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment on our wall about this giveaway.

This is our Friday Freebie, but we're happy to take entries through the weekend. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Sunday, June 5th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on this blog post and on Facebook Monday, June 6th. Good luck!

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.

5 Best Green Father's Day Gifts for Dads for 2011

Looking for an unusual father's day ideas to surprise Dad on Sunday, June 19th? Here are five great green gifts for dads that he's sure to love. All are either eco-friendly, natural/non-toxic and/or made in Canada. Each one is for a different kind of Dad, can you spot one for yours?

Post by Louise

1. For Boarder to Boardroom Dad: Recycled Skateboard Cufflinks
Made from recycled skateboards, these links are sure to ramp up Dad's style. Choose from green turquoise, indigo, fuschia and our newly arrived fire engine red.

2. For Biking Dad: All Metal Bike Bell
Whether he cycles to work or spends weekends biking off road, a funky bell like this Speed-o-Meter simply makes safety sense.
3. For Zen Dad: Elm Tree Bonsai Kit
Zen Dad can zone out and focus on gardening. This recycled steel growing box contains everything Dad needs to relax, focus and grow his own bonsai tree, including the all important scissors.
4. For Golfer Dad: Biodegradable Golf Tees
We're sure he stays the course on course but in case he doesn't, this pack of 50 eco-friendly golf tees made of wheat will biodegrade in the bushes within 90 days, so no worries about impacting the earth.5. For Chef Dad: Hydroponic Basil Grow Bottle
Place on the kitchen window sill and he'll be able to keep fresh herbs at his fingertips. Everything needed to grow sweet-smelling basil is contained in this recycled wine bottle.
For more green living ideas and unusual gifts for fathers, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.