Lime Post

Soup Container Giveaway: Winner + Easy Recipe Ideas

2012-02-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

National Soup Month has come to an end and so has our soul-warming Soup Container Giveaway. Congratulations to Maya Y. who's won a Kids Konserve Insulated Food Jar to keep her favourite Corn Chowder warm. We think there's still many soup-y days to come so we've included below Maya's recipe and a few other extra yummy-looking ones we received via email as well. More easy recipe ideas for soup can be found on our blog. We're always on the hunt for quick and easy meal ideas and thought you too might appreciate these suggestions that are tried, true and loved by real people. Our sincere thanks to everyone who shared their favourite soup with us - and special thanks to those who sent in recipes - this was one of our most successful giveaways yet! For more soup recipes, click here.

Mediterranean Pesto Sausage Soup (recipe below)

Corn Chowder (from Maya Y.)

1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons butter
3 cups potatoes, diced
2 cups water
1 can cream style corn
1 cup corn kernels
1 can evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste

In a skillet, saute onion and pepper in butter until onion is translucent. Add potatoes and water; simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
Stir in creamed corn, corn kernels and evaporated milk. Add 1 cup water (may use empty milk can). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Simmer 15 minutes and remove from heat. May serve warm or cool.

Mediterranean Pesto Sausage Soup (from Cindy H.)

olive oil
1lb smoked pork sausage (I use Italian chicken sausage ~ I squeeze it out of the casing and brown)
1 red onion, finely diced
1T. minced fresh garlic
2 1/3 cups red lentils
28oz can diced tomatoes
8 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup fresh basil, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
4 oz pesto

Saute the sausage in the olive oil until broken up and browned. Add the red onion and garlic. Saute until onion is tender.

Add the lentils, tomatoes, and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until lentils are tender and breaking up.

Add salt and pepper and pesto and serve with julienned basil for garnish.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup (From Manal C.)

6 large red and/or yellow peppers
1 medium potato
4 cups vegetable stock
1 cup milk
Half cup yogurt
2 cloves garlic
Directions

Grill or roast the peppers until the skin is blackened. Place in an airtight container to “sweat” for half an hour, so that the skins slip off easily.
Cut the peeled, deseeded pepper into strips and place in a pot with a generous swirl of olive oil and a clove of garlic, cut in half. Fry for 5 minutes.
Add the potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes, and the vegetable stock, to cover (no more).
Cook on a medium heat until the potato is tender.
Blend the soup, adding the milk.
Add a finely minced clove of garlic to the cup of yogurt.

Chicken and Rice Soup (from Jennifer T.)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 celery ribs, cut into1/2-inch-thick slices
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 quarts chicken broth
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup long grain white rice
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey, I like to use leftover
rotisserie chicken or roasted turkey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place a soup pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the
onion, carrots, and celery. Cook til veggies are soft but not brown.
Add garlic at the end to prevent burning. Add thyme and bay leaf. Pour
in the chicken broth and water- bring the liquid to a boil. Add in the
rice and chicken; season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium-low
until the rice is tender-about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Creamy Potato Leek Soup (from Shannon)

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, washed and thinly sliced
2 cups chopped yellow onion
1/2 tsp sea salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 pound) peeled and cubed in 1/2" cubes
4 cups vegetable stock
2-3 tsp fresh rosemary leaves

1. Heat a 4-quart pot over medium heat and add the oil.

2. Add the leeks, onions, and sea salt and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion begins to turn translucent.

3. Add the garlic and stir well. Cook for about 1 minutes more.

4. Add the potatoes and vegetable stock, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.

5. Remove the soup from the heat and use a stick blender to blend the soup in the pot. Blend the soup with the rosemary leaves until smooth and free of chucks.

6. Transfer the blended soup back to the original pot and warm over low heat until heated through. Serve hot.

Yield: 7 cups

5 Ways to Green Robert Burns Day

2012-01-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

Robert Burns Day is tomorrow. Time to celebrate the life of Scotland's most famous poet, and 'the greatest Scot of all time', according to a recent public vote by Scottish Television. If you're hosting a Burns Supper or attending one tomorrow or even this weekend, here are five suggestions to keep in mind that can help make yours a more eco-friendly Robert Burns Day.

1. Eat the Haggis. If you're off offal, Haggis may not be for you, but Haggis contains sheep parts that are often thrown out so if you think about eating it as helping reduce waste, you might just get past the fact it contains sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs). Dowsing Haggis with whisky can help too.
2. Wear tartan. If your kilt is at the cleaners, be sure to reuse a piece of tartan ribbon you already have and pin it on your lapel, wear it in your hair or incorporate it in your outfit somehow. Dressing to impress with a plaid shirt from your closet can work too.
3. Light candles. In keeping with Burns' reputation as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement, shun electric lights in favour of candlelight. Adorn your table with candles - not only will you be setting a softer, more intimate mood for your guests, but you'll be saving electricity too.
4. Read poetry. Open that old copy of Robert Burns poetry or borrow one from a friend, even the library and offer some good ol' fashioned live entertainment, without the electric gadgets. Aside from his famous Address to a Haggis, A Red, Red Rose and To a Mouse always do well.
5. Use Scotch on your nails. Don't go to dinner without fantastic nails and for this, go natural with the aptly named Scotch Naturals nail polish. With names like 'Kiltlifter' and 'Flying Scotsman', polish can easily transform your nails into your best accessory, especially at dinner where everyone sees them up close, in action.

Best Kids Snow Activities: Snow Painting

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

They scooped it, they rolled it, they threw it, and even licked it - what more can kids do with snow? Paint it. A great way to keep kids outdoors in the fresh air for just a little longer is to ask them to paint their snow sculpture after they've built it. Naturally, we recommend non-toxic natural paint. We woke up to more snow in Vancouver this morning and another pro-D day. In an effort to keep busy, we pulled out the paints. Painting snow proved so fun, the neighbourhood kids joined in and gave it the thumbs up as one of the best activities for snow!

Cash & Carry In-Store Event Jan 20-21

2012-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

Our Lavish & Lime warehouse needs a clearout, you save big - it's a win-win! Visit our Cash & Carry In-Store Event at our warehouse in North Vancouver (272 East 1st Street) this Friday and Saturday, January 20-21 and save up to 60% OFF. Enjoy some of our biggest discounts ever on eco finds like water bottles, water clocks, paper jewellery, reclaimed cotton scarves and loads more. Shop big reductions on brands like Automoblox, Mimi the Sardine and Potting Shed Creations. This is a cash-only event that’s not available online. Bring cash and walk away with your purchases - while stocks last - and BYOB, please bring your own reusable bag! For a map, click here.

Soup Container Giveaway

2012-01-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

January is National Soup Month and there’s no better way to celebrate than by enjoying the ultimate comfort food whenever and wherever you wish. Our insulated food jars are ideal containers for soup. They keep food warm and are a great solution for nourishing soup on-the-go. You can choose from two different types, both made of non-leaching stainless steel with BPA-free lids - graphic thermal food containers or Kids Konserve insulated food jars with coloured lids. Each type offers a variety of colours that make for interesting hot soup containers for both adults and kids. Enter our Soup Container Giveaway and you could win your own Kids Konserve insulated food jar in the colour of your choice! Tell us what your favourite soup is and for an extra entry, send us the recipe. Your favourite soup recipe may just get published here on our blog!

WIN IT!
Tell us what your favourite soup is and you could win a BPA-free Kids Konserve insulated food jar in the colour of your choice in our random draw. Choose from moss green, ocean grey blue or pastel sky blue.

Leave your answer in a comment below or email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Soup Container Giveaway' in the subject line. **Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.**

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Provide the recipe for your favourite soup either via email to customerservice@lavishandlime.com or in a comment below
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered to win the Soup Container Giveaway at www.lavishandlime.com"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Tuesday, January 31st. The winner will be notified Wednesday, February 1st. Open to Canadian residents only.

Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper Pledges More Eco Friendly Living in 2012

2012-01-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper took a step towards more eco friendly living Friday when he made a pledge to use reusable bottles more frequently. While in discussion with small business owners at a January 13th roundtable event in Vancouver hosted by eco boutique Lavish & Lime, the Prime Minister of Canada agreed using more reusable containers is the way to. "My green new year's resolution is to use fewer disposable cups at the rink," he said. Lavish & Lime presented the Stephen Harper with an insulated stainless steel S'well bottle to help keep his favourite Tim Hortons coffee warm at the hockey games and curling matches he loves to watch. The Prime Minister was also given a Lunchbots Uno Stainless Steel food container for his son Ben, a Peace Sign Rume Reusable Baggie for his daughter Rachel and a reusable Grover Envirosax bag to transport it all back to Ottawa. For more, click here.

Our daughter presented Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with an eco-friendly S'well bottle.

The Prime Minister said he would use his new reusable S'well bottle at the rink to reduce use of disposable cups.

Prime Minister Roundtable at Lavish & Lime in North Vancouver

2012-01-13T13:58:00.001-08:00

It was a high octane morning at our Lavish & Lime warehouse in North Vancouver today filled with vehicles, dogs, cameras and lots of serious looking men in dark suits. Prime Minister Stephen Harper came by for a chat about issues facing small business as part of his pre-budget consultations. There we were with four other local business owners having a roundtable with the Prime Minister -- quite an experience! A major issue that came up was making government information more easily accessible to business. Naturally, we turned the discussion green and asked the Prime Minister if he had any green new year's resolutions. He agreed that reusable containers are the way to go and said his resolution was to "use fewer disposable cups at the rink". He loves watching hockey and curling so we know he'll have plenty of opportunity to put his pledge into practice. We thought we'd help him along and presented him with a double walled stainless steel S'Well bottle, to keep that Tim Hortons coffee warm... we'll post more photos as we get them.

That's our co-founder Colin Campbell sitting on the PM's right.

Our warehouse never looked like this before - a reorganized inside, loads of black vehicles outside. The PM stopped to chat to our neighbours too.

Lavish & Lime Winter Sale Now On - 30% OFF

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's here - our big Winter Sale is on! Lavish & Lime wants to help people keep their new year's resolution to live a greener, healthier life so for the next three days we're offering each and every one of our non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative products at an amazing 30% OFF! Shop your choice of eco items -- from waste-free lunch gear and natural body care to non-toxic art supplies, reusable shopping bags and more -- and take almost 1/3 off the regular price. Simply enter coupon code SAVE30 in your shopping cart when prompted. Hurry, offer ends midnight Friday, January 13th or while stocks last -- whichever comes first! To start shopping, click here.

True Story: Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

2012-01-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

In the run up to Christmas, Elyssa D. a good friend (and customer too!), said she had to share something about one of our products with us. Naturally, we were all ears. Elyssa said over the last little while a number of her friends and colleagues had started asking her if she'd done something different with her hair. Cut it? No. Coloured it? No. After several more days of confusing compliments, she figured it out. She'd come to our eco shopping night in November and after talking with Phillip Adam, the creator of our Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo, she decided to give it a try. After about two weeks of using this new shampoo - made with only natural-based ingredients - the compliments started flowing. Phillip had told her it would take about that long for the shampoo to start really having an effect and strip her hair of any nasty build up, leaving it shiny and silky smooth. She was amazed and absolutely sold on the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Thanks for sharing Elyssa! For more, click here.

Great Green New Year's Resolution Giveaway

2012-01-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

The New Year is here and with it a great opportunity for a fresh start. Time to take stock, evaluate and decide how to live a greener, healthier life in 2012 - and it doesn't have to be complicated. How about resolving to use both sides of every piece of paper? Walking if your destination is less than four blocks away? Starting a home garden this spring? All very do-able, with just a bit of effort. Tell us about your green New Year's resolution and you could win a Brightbin lunch box cube - to help make your lunches waste free in 2012. We love these two-layer BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free lunch containers with plenty of different compartments. For more about the lunch cube, click here.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED *** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER, JONNIE H.

WIN IT!
Tell us what your green resolution is for 2012 and you could win a BPA-free Brightbin lunch cube container in our random draw.

Leave your answer in a comment below or email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Green Resolution Giveaway' in the subject line. **Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.**

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered to win the Green Resolution Giveaway at www.lavishandlime.com"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Extended: deadline for entries is midnight PST Friday, January 13th. The winner will be notifiedMondayday, January 16th. Open to Canadian residents only.

Give a Gorgeous Gift of Empowerment

2011-12-14T13:10:00.001-08:00

We've just received our first shipment of gorgeous eco necklaces and bracelets from socially minded company 31 Bits - and we're thrilled! We love this jewellery for three reasons. First, it looks phenomenal. If it didn't look good it wouldn't be worn. Personal faves include the Tally Berry Blue bracelet and the extra long Bella necklace -- the compliments are endless. Second, it's made from recycled bits of posters, fliers and textbooks and sealed with a non-toxic, water-based varnish so it's eco-friendly. Third, it helps empower individual women in Uganda to rise above poverty. The concept behind 31 Bits is to help individual women with a holistic approach to development, meaning not only do the creators of this jewellery receive a sustainable monthly income, but they also receive finance training, English lessons, health education, business training and spiritual support. It's just as much about the consumer as it is about the creator. To be frank, we love this concept. Give a lovely bracelet or necklace this Christmas -- or treat yourself! -- and you'll be giving the gift of empowerment to woman who needs it. For more, click here.

Thank You Facebook Fans Giveaway

2011-12-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

We've reached the 4000 facebook fan mark - and we couldn't be more thrilled! Thank you to everyone who's joined us on our official Lavish & Lime facebook page. We love reading your comments, your likes and appreciate your support. Keep checking in for more of our latest eco products, tips, news and giveaways, like this one. To mark this milestone, we've put together a short video of thanks from our founder Colin Campbell below. In it, you'll see the letters 'THX'. Tell us which eco product we've used to spell them out and you could win a reusable lunch bag for Christmas! To view our facebook page, click here.

WIN IT!
Tell us which product we've used to spell 'THX' in the video above and you could win a neoprene-like Big Cheese Reusable Lunch Sack from Dabbawalla Bags in our random draw.

Leave your answer in a comment below or email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Facebook Fans Giveawy' in the subject line. **Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.**

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered to win a Big Cheese Lunch Bag at www.lavishandlime.com"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Sunday, December 18th. The winner will be notified Monday, December 19th. Open to Canadian residents only.

The Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011

2011-12-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

We started out in November on a search for the Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011. After 2 online votes and a final draw the results are in. Hopscotch Natural Nail Polish for Kids is the Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011 as chosen by you, our customers and friends. A total of 33 different gifts were suggested by our community and voted on. Two nominees were tied for first place - Hopscotch and our Brown Bird Insulated Lunch Bag from So Young Mother. A tie-breaker vote followed and the winner was Hopscotch with a total of 50 votes over the lunch bag's 37 votes. As four different people recommended Hopscotch as the best gift, we held a random draw to determine the winner of the $25 gift certificate to be awarded to the person who suggested the winning gift. The winner of this draw was Debbie S. " ‎**GASP** Thank you! I will make my acceptance speech a short one! So excited! Guess what I am going to order???? Hopscotch nail polish!" she said. Honourable mention goes to Jamie M. who nominated the So Young Mother Lunch Bag and a big thank you to all who participated for helping us find the Best Green Christmas Gift of 2011!

8 Great Green Gifts for Men

2011-12-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

It seems we save the best - and hardest to buy for - until last and with Christmas shopping, this more often than not includes at least one or two guys. Wrap up your list with these eight great mens gifts for those hard-to-buy-for men in your life from our eco collection at Lavish & Lime. If you're looking for something a little bit different, that unique gift for him that will 'wow' him Christmas morning - look no further. For more gifts for men, click here.

1. Keep him warm with a touch of green
Double layer reclaimed wool sweater sleeve scarf $37
2. Style up with eco-friendly cufflinks
Recycled skateboard cufflinks with silver-plated hardware. $35
3. Speedy sustainable travel
Hand painted all metal bicycle bell $24
4. Tires turned travel accessories
Waterproof recycled rubber tire passport cover $22
5. More for the traveller
Eco-friendly recycled rubber luggage tags $10
6. H2O eco gadget
No batteries, no electricity, no winding, just good old H2O powers this water powered alarm clock $45
7. Sun-powered light
Solar LED pull flashlight in red, blue or silver $25
8. Timed water use
Save water & energy with our automatic lawn sprinkler timer $38

The Top 10 Best Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffer Ideas

2011-12-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Shop 'til you drop? We don't think so. Filling your stockings is just a click away. Avoid the crowds and shop responsibly from the comfort of home with these unique stocking stuffer ideas ranging from $2-$17 that are sure to bring smiles on Christmas day. For more, click here.

1. Reusable Elmo Shopping Bag $10.95
2. Mini Water Painting Buddha Board $10
3. Organic Cotton Veggie Character Produce/Bulk Reusable Bags 3-Pack $23
4. 100% Soy Scented Tea Lights 6-Pack $8.50
5. Stainless Steel Cutlery Travel Set $8.50
6. Silicone Protected Glass Water Bottle 450ml $24
7. Recycled Eco Star Crayons 20-Pack $11
8. Recycled Newspaper Animal Pencils with Facts 2-Pack $2
9. Hopscotch Kids Water Colours Natural Nail Polish $13.50
10. Reusable Peace Sign Baggie Hold All $6.50

Warehouse Shop Now Open Saturdays

2011-12-02T16:16:00.001-08:00

We're opening the doors of our Vancouver warehouse shop on Saturday mornings in December so you can shop in person. Come down to Lower Lonsdale and browse the hundreds of unique gifts and everyday eco finds in our extensive collection of eco-friendly and non-toxic/natural alternatives at Lavish & Lime. Stop by between 9am and 12pm December 3rd, 10th and 17th for some relaxed eco Christmas shopping. We look forward to meeting you! For more, click here.

VOTE: The Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011

2011-11-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

The Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011 is in your hands! You've sent us your recommendations. We've collected them below and now the choice is up to you - vote for your favourite! Tell us which is your favourite in a comment below or send us an email at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Best Green Gift' in the subject line. Alternatively, you can visit our Lavish & Lime Facebook page and 'Like' your favourite gift there. We'll tally up the votes to determine the absolute Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011, as recommended by you. The person who suggests the winning gift wins a $25 gift certificate at lavishandlime.com - so go on, encourage your friends to vote for your gift and you could win $25 to help with your holiday shopping! In the case where more than one person has recommended a gift and that gift wins, a random draw will take place by Lavish & Lime to determine the winner. Voting closes at midnight PST, December 5th. The winner will be announced later the next day. And we know how hard it can be to choose just one, so feel free to vote for more than one favourite - vote now!

Envirosax Bags: the perfect gift for women

2011-11-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

They're not romantic, they're not luxurious and as a concept, they're not particularly unique. Yet reusable Envirosax shopping bags are the perfect Christmas present for any woman on your list for three reasons. 1. Envirosax bags are built fairly large to hold lots of stuff - whether it's groceries, workout gear, books, whatever - up to 44 lbs. or two plastic bags of groceries. Plus the double stitch design ensures they last. 2. Envirosax bags look great. These are designer bags that are definitely 'on trend' with new stunning bags every season. Take your pick from florals, romantics, the season's hottest animal prints, or go retro with Sesame Street Envirosax. 3. These bags roll up to the size of a piece of sushi and come with an Envirosax pouch option to keep them in - all organized, all in one place for easy storage and transport. For a gift that's guaranteed to be well received, we vote Envirosax. For more, click here.

5 Reasons to use Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Shampoo

2011-11-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

Love the fresh smell of apples? Want shiny, squeaky clean hair? Then like us, you'll love Phillip Adam's Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Shampoo. The use of apple cider vinegar is an age old method of removing soap residue from hair after washing. Former Vancouver hair dresser, Adam, with more than 50 years of experience in the beauty industry has incorporated the soap and vinegar in one shampoo to achieve this. Here are five good reasons to use Adam's specially formulated vinegar hair shampoo. 1. The perfectly balanced formula automatically adjusts the ph balance in your hair to help control dandruff. 2. The apple cider vinegar component of the shampoo rinses out hair more thoroughly and faster than most other shampoos, leaving hair squeaky clean and shiny - verging on glossy - and at the same time using less water and taking less time. 3. This biodegradable formula is proven safe for use on coloured hair and has been used in salons for 13 years. 4. It does not contain potentially harmful ingredients like parabens and sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and is free of harsh preservatives, artificial colourings and petro-chemicals. 5. The yummy natural apple scent smells amazing - according to one writer, it's as if it's 'distilled from a crate of Granny Smiths'. You can't get fresher than that! For more, click here.

Win $25 with your Best Green Gift

2011-11-09T08:18:00.001-08:00

Help us find the Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011 and you could win a $25 gift certificate at Lavish & Lime! We've decided to put this all important decision - perhaps the most important gift pick of the year - in your trusted hands, knowing everyone has an opinion and every opinion counts. Simply tell us which is your favourite Christmas gift from our eco collection. We'll put your suggestions to a vote and depending on the number received, may have to whittle them down a wee bit first. The person who suggests the winning gift wins $25 well in time to help with the Christmas shopping. If more than one person suggests the winning gift, the first person to do so will win the gift certificate.

WIN IT!
Answer the following question and a $25 Lavish & Lime gift certificate could be yours!

Which is your favourite gift for Christmas at Lavish & Lime?
It can be from any category on our site. You could have bought it, received it, or simply seen it on our site! Do you like it because it's unusual, it's good for you, it's good for the environment or you simply think it's a great gift? To view all gifts, click here.

Leave your answer in a comment below, email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Best Green Gift for Christmas' in the subject line or post it on our Facebook Page. Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.

One entry per person. Finalist gift suggestions will be chosen by Lavish & Lime and posted on Facebook and in a blog post for a vote. The suggested gift with the most votes will be named Best Green Gift for Christmas 2011 and the first person that suggested it named the winner. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Saturday, November 26th. Voting will take place November 27th-30th. The winner will be notified and announced on December 1st.

Discount Shopping Night November 24th

2011-11-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

Join us for an evening of samples, yummy treats, door prizes and discount shopping at our Vancouver warehouse on Thursday, November 24th from 6pm to 9pm. Bring a friend and browse our eco collection of unusual Christmas gifts in person at 272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver - just off Lonsdale and minutes from the seabus. Enjoy delectable desserts from our favourite local restaurant, Ethical Kitchen & bubbles too (the kind you can drive home with). Plus we'll be giving away door prizes and some of our favourite manufacturers will be on hand to answer questions and hand out free samples, including Phillip Adam, creator of our new Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo. He has 50+ years in the beauty industry and will be happy to answer all your hair care questions. You'll save big on any purchases you make plus we'll be offering spotlight deals on specific products, including 50% OFF our entire felt jewellery collection. Come celebrate getting in the Christmas spirit and save! Feel free to give us a call with any questions, 778-340-5463. Hope you can make it!

10 Easy Going Green Tips to Save You $2429

2011-10-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled to have our waste-free lunch gear featured in a recent episode of CTV's popular The Marilyn Denis Show as part of eco expert Candice Baptista's 10 easy going green tips to save you $2429.25. Baptista provides some great information throughout the segment that we're certain you'll find helpful. Plus she shows off our Kids Konserve nesting trio of stainless steel food containers and clear velcro snack packs. Click to view the video here.

Kudos to Coke for Helping Polar Bears

2011-10-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

According to the folks at Coca-Cola, white is the new red. This Christmas, Coke cans will turn from their iconic red colour to white in honour of the polar bear. Feel better about indulging in that odd can of sugar-laden Coke over the holidays, knowing that each sip helps raise awareness of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) efforts to protect the polar bear's habitat. With nearly two-thirds of the world's polar bears living here in Canada, they are clearly an important part of our ecosystem and culture. Through the "Arctic Home" campaign, Coca-Cola will match consumer donations made until March 15, 2012, up to $1 million USD. Canadians can visit iCoke.ca to make their donation. Funds will go towards the WWF's polar bear conservation work. Our generation is witnessing million-year-old glaciers melting and sea-ice disappearing. Whole communities of people and wildlife could lose their homes. According to the WWF, this is a critical time for us to work together to ensure thriving lives and livelihoods in our beautiful North. Help raise awareness of the plight of the polar bear this Christmas... just be sure to recycle that can. For more, click here.

The Quickie: WIN a Sandwich Wrap Tomorrow

2011-10-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

We're loving our new reusable sandwich wrap designs so much it's taken us a couple of weeks to decide to part with one - and give it away for free! We have to do it quickly before we change our minds, so we're choosing the winner tomorrow. Our easy-to-clean sandwich wraps are a great way to reduce the amount of plastic you use. This is one innovative product you'll find yourself using again and again for well over an entire school year! Plus, it keeps sandwiches - and snacks - fresh and opens up to provide a clean place to eat (a healthier alternative to a bacteria-ridden desktop). Just arrived are these fantastic designs: stars on black, tattoo hearts, green dinosaurs and hockey. We also received more of our best selling picnick-y red gingham. Check them all out for yourself and our 'how to' video - click here.

WIN IT!
Tell us which is your favourite NEW reusable sandwich wrap design and it could be yours - tomorrow! View all wraps here.

Leave your answer in a comment below or email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Sandwich Wrap Giveaway' in the subject line. Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered the Quickie to win a reusable sandwich wrap at Lavish & Lime"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Deadline for entries is noon PST Friday, October 21st. The winner will be notified by the end of Friday, October 21st. Open to Canadian residents only.

Halloween Costume Swap & Save

2011-10-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

This Halloween swap a costume instead of buying new and you'll save on materials, packaging - and money too! Our first ever Eek-O Friendly Costume Swap event earlier this month was a hit (pics below) - lots of swapping between families and we managed to raise a nice sum for The Lynn Valley Ecology Centre plus some great support from The North Shore Recycling Program - thanks to all! Through generous donations, we've ended up with some fantastic costumes over and above those that were swapped. So we're extending the swap through to next week during normal business hours. Pop into our Lavish & Lime Warehouse at 272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver anytime 9am-5:30pm during the week until next Friday, October 28th. Bring a costume to swap or take any costume you want with a donation to the Ecology Centre. Unicorn, horse, cat, motor cross rider, transformer, zorro, spiderman, princess & lots more to choose from! For more about us, click here.

The Eek-O Friendly Costume Swap

2011-10-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

Looking for a Halloween costume? Swap and save at our Eek-O Friendly Costume Swap on Saturday, October 15th. Bring a costume, take a costume or simply make a donation to the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre and take what you need. Either way, you'll be making an eco-friendly difference by saving materials, resources, packaging - and money too! Instead of buying new, swapping a costume makes economical and ecological sense. Bring a costume and receive $5 OFF any Lavish & Lime purchase of $45 or more. According to use-less-stuff.com, swapping half the costumes kids wear at Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons, equal to the weight of 2,500 midsize cars! Join in the eeko-friendly fun on October 15th at our Lavish & Lime warehouse at 272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver from 9am-1pm. In addition to choosing a costume, kids can enjoy colouring and face painting too. All costumes must be brought in clean and in good condition on a hanger. Both kids and adult costumes welcome, costume accessories too. Check out just some of the costumes dropped off in advance below. For more information, click here.

Halloween Giveaway: Win Non-Toxic Face Paint Pencils

2011-09-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Play it safe this Halloween with non-toxic face paint pencils. Tests show that many face paints contain lead and other heavy metals. Lead acts as a neurotoxin and heavy metals like nickel, cobalt and chromium can cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Enter our Halloween Giveaway and you could be dressing your kids up without the nasty chemicals - for free! We're giving away a six-pack of non-toxic Lyra face paint pencils made in Germany. These top quality wood-encased pencils require no water, have undergone rigorous safety testing and are both lead-free and paraben-free. Simply answer the question below and you'll be entered to win - good luck!
***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!***

WIN IT!
Answer the following question and a pack of Lyra non-toxic face paint pencils could be yours!

What is your favourite homemade costume of all time?
You could have worn it, you could have seen it, you could have/will be dressing your kids in it this year!

Leave your answer in a comment below, email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Halloween Giveaway' in the subject line or feel free to drop it by our warehouse shop Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm: 272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver V7L 1B3. Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and leave this comment on our wall:
"I just entered to win a pack of non-toxic face paint pencils at Lavish & Lime - check it out for yourself here: www.lavishandlime.com"
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Deadline for entries is noon PST Monday, October 24th. The winner will be notified by the end of Monday, October 24th. Open to Canadian residents only.

Top 3: best ways to store Thanksgiving leftovers

2011-09-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Cranberries and pumpkin filling are front and centre in the grocery stores which means Thanksgiving isn't far off. Much time is spent planning and cooking our spectacular turkey meals, but what about post-feast? Historically, we've not given this aspect of Thanksgiving dinner too much thought until lately, when we've started thinking about the downside of storing food in plastic containers, using oodles of disposable plastic wrap and far-from-eco-friendly tin foil. This year, why not try a few eco-friendly food storage alternatives? Instead of covering bowls with plastic wrap or foil, try a reusable option like eco food covers. Made of food-grade silicone, they stretch to fit any number of dishes plus they're BPA-free and oven, freezer, microwave and dishwasher-safe. Glass containers are one of our favourites for leftovers. Not only is glass 100% recyclable, non-leaching and easy to clean, but you can actually see what's inside - and the state it's in. New Wean Green tubs with leak-proof locking lids are a great option for little bits. Finally, for durability you can't be stainless steel food storage containers. These too are non-leaching, recyclable and they'll probably outlive you! For more information, click here.

Natural Teeth Whitening Tip

2011-09-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

For whiter teeth without the chemicals, look no further than your fruit basket. Want to know our latest cheap little all-natural secret? Bananas. Not only are they a healthy, delicious snack full of potassium, vitamins and dietary fibre but they're also great for brightening your smile. Simply rub the inside of a banana peel in a circular motion on your teeth for about two minutes. Yes, in our experience you'll get a mouthful of what feels like banana peel pulp but this is easy to rinse away and you'll notice a difference - smoother, cleaner feeling teeth even after just one application. Twice a day is recommended. After about two weeks you should notice the whitening benefits. The minerals in the peel such as potassium, magnesium and manganese absorb into your teeth and whiten them. Banana peels are a safe, natural, affordable way to whiten your teeth - and they're easier on the environment than chemical formulas. Compostable toothbrushes and compostable floss picks are two more great ideas for keeping your teeth healthy and the planet too. Read testimonials about the incredible teeth whitening effects of bananas here. For step-by-step instruction on how to use banana peels to whiten your teeth, click here.

Stainless Steel Stackers are Sick

2011-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Some people say their food doesn't taste the same in stainless steel. We say, if you're looking for durability without toxicity, stainless steel is a great option for food storage on the go or in the fridge. American company Kids Konserve have introduced two new colourways for their leak proof stainless steel nesting trio containers and we couldn't be happier. Now in addition to the Moss three-pack with BPA-free lids in neutral orange and green, you can choose more feminine-coloured Sky lids of pastel pink, yellow and blue or a more boy-themed Ocean pack featuring red, blue-grey and green lids. These new colours are great for kids keen on 'cool' -- or as we've been told by our eight year-old, 'sick' -- colours with shall we say, discerning taste. Made of high quality 304 grade stainless steel, the containers themselves are fantastic not only because they fit inside one another for easy storage but because the lids, while easy enough to get off and on, are leak proof. For more details, click here.

Even Halle Has a Bird Bag

2011-09-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

We love our Brown Bird Lunch Cooler Bag from Canadian company So Young Mother. Apparently, so do many of you - we have a hard time keeping it in stock. Now we find out it's a favourite of the Hollywood set too. Oscar winning actress Halle Berry was spotted carrying this same Birds Cooler Bag with her daughter Nahla in tow. It's no wonder. Not only is this bag free of nasties like PVC, lead and phthalates, but it's insulated, easy to clean and made with natural linen. The carry handle is adjustable so you can strap it to a stroller or another bag and it comes with detachable shoulder straps so you can always sling it over one or both shoulders and carry it on your back. The bird graphics are gorgeous and the zipper opens on three sides for easy packing plus there's an ID card inside and an exterior mesh pocket on back. Above all else, our absolute favourite thing about this cooler lunch bag is its upright style that allows for stacking containers or standing bottles upright. It's a great option for back to school or work lunches. For more details, click here.

Back to School Warehouse Evening Event

2011-08-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Whether you're wrapping up your back to school shopping or just starting out, don't forget to include the coolest, safest waste-free lunch gear on the market - and we can help. Stop by our Lavish & Lime Back to School Warehouse Evening Event on Tuesday, August 30th, 6:30-8pm at 272 East 1st Street in North Vancouver's trendy Lower Lonsdale area (Lolo). We'll have all the latest lunch gear on the market available for you check out, plus a selection of top backpacks and some green school supplies too. Hope you can join us - we'd love to meet you!

*DISCOUNT SHOPPING * FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE * DOOR PRIZES

Cool Canvas Bags for Kids

2011-08-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Kids don't necessarily care what a lunch bag is made of -- it's what's on the outside that counts. That's why we're so excited about our new line of insulated cotton canvas lunch bags for kids. The fantastic graphics are colourful and kid-friendly yet being made of cotton, these reusable lunch bags are free of PVC (the poison plastic) and tested lead safe. Parents can like them too, knowing they're safe for kids to use daily. The insulated bags keep food cool until lunch time. Other features include a cushioned handle, outside pocket, interior mesh pocket, ID tag and a sturdy three-sided zip for full opening and easy packing. The exterior of these funky lunch totes is treated with a non-toxic waterproof and stain resistant coating, the inside is easy to wipe clean on a daily basis. The good news is they're also machine washable on delicate with a line dry for a more thorough clean. Take your pick from butterflies, owl, peace skulls, monsters and robots. For more details, click here .

Win a $100+ Waste-Free Lunch Kit

2011-08-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

Start the year off right and beat those back to school blues with your choice of lunch kit - all shiny and new. Enter our Cool Back to School Giveaway and you could be sending your child off to school this fall in eco style - for free! In conjunction with The North Shore News we're giving away a reusable lunch bag filled with the season's latest waste-free lunch gear valued at more than $100. Simply answer the question below and you'll be entered to win. The winner will be able to choose a PVC-free cotton canvas lunch bag from six different designs plus a set of girl or boy-themed lunch gear from Kids Konserve, including a sweat-free, non-toxic ice pack, an insulated food jar for keeping pastas, soups and stews warm plus a trio of stainless steel food containers with coloured lids.

WIN IT!
Answer the following question and our $100+ waste-free lunch kit could be yours!
Why is packing a waste-free lunch important to you?
Leave your answer in a comment below, email it to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with 'Lunch Kit Giveaway' in the subject line or feel free to drop it by our warehouse: 272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver V7L 1B3. Please be sure to include your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
Do any of the following and be sure to tell us you did!
- Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment about this giveaway with this link: http://bit.ly/nCQlJE
- Sign up to receive our email newsletter
- Follow us on Twitter

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random draw by Lavish & Lime. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Wednesday, August 31st. The winner will be notified by Friday, September 2nd. Open to Canadian residents only. Good luck!

A Fruity Farewell

2011-08-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

One of our favourite upsides of summer is the lovely local fruit. The downside? Fruit flies - seemingly everywhere. We've found an easy way to rid yourself of these pesky (and potentially harmful) creatures without resorting to a nasty chemical-laden store bought concoction. Try white wine. Simply pour some into a small jar and cover it with a bit of plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap with a pencil. The flies go in, but can't get out. For a more eco-friendly option, use a tall, narrow necked bottle and you can eliminate use of the plastic wrap. (This was figured out post-pic.) We tried balsamic vinegar too but wine won hands down 19-3. Do you have a tried and true homemade fruit fly remedy to share?

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.

Our Cool Back to School Warehouse Event

2011-08-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

Aside from new clothes and shoes, back to school shopping these days includes hunting high and low for the coolest, safest waste-free lunch gear. If you're in Vancouver, stop by our Lavish & Lime Back to School Warehouse Event on Tuesday, August 16th, 10am-12pm at 272 East 1st Street in North Vancouver's trendy Lower Lonsdale area (Lolo), just minutes from the seabus. We'll have all the latest lunch gear on the market on display for you and your kids to check out. Enjoy discount shopping and a free gift with purchase, naturally. Plus we'll have art activities to keep the little ones busy while you chat with the product specialists we'll have on hand. Bring along your school queries/concerns too - an elementary school teacher will be available to answer any questions you might have. Hope you can join us!

Evolutionary Eco Sunscreen

2011-08-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

If it's possible to love sunscreen, this summer we've had an affair to remember. We've been testing all natural Eco sunscreen from Ecological Skin Care through July and hand on heart, it's the best chemical-free sunscreen we've ever tried. It's not too thick, easy to spread and non-whitening. It's also very water resistant, non-greasy and doesn't clog pores. Eco sunscreen is biodegradable, hypoallergenic, free of artificial preservatives and fragrances and offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. The active ingredient that makes it work is zinc oxide. Basically, Eco sunscreen ticks all the boxes - and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) agrees. It gives Eco top honours in the EWG's sunscreen reports, with the lowest possible hazard rating #1. Read more on the EWG's site. Choose from three different formulas - Baby, Body and Face, although all are safe enough to be applied to children under six months. For more details, click here.

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.

Cotton Cartoons for Lunch

2011-08-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

For the absolute coolest in waste-free lunch products, look no further than our new snack flap snack pouches - in anime blue. What better way to ensure all that expensive lunch gear comes home than to make it so cool they want to keep it. Kids love cartoons and they'll love our new Japanese anime design. Peace signs, grumpy stars with shades, gladiator bears licking popsicles, karate chopping monkeys - quirky, fun and so much more! Each time you look at these snack pouches, you see something new. Ideal snack pouches for girls and boys in the brightest of bright colours on cool blue. The 100% cotton exterior fabric is lined with a waterproof, machine washable interior that is free of phthalates, BPA, PVC and lead. Choose from our single snack flap with a wide bottom panel, ideal for muffins, buns, apples, etc. or our snack flap duo that keeps two different snacks separate. Made in British Columbia. For more details, click here.

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.

The Sandwich Solution

2011-07-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

Forgo the boring old plastic baggie and dress up your sandwich instead in funky dots, trendy cupcakes, classic camo or monochrome soccer balls. New reusable sandwich wrap designs have just arrived. Easy to use and even easier to wipe clean, innovative sandwich wraps are the answer to any sandwich storage issue. Perfect for picnics, school and work. Simply fold up your sammy, attach the velcro strip and your lunch is good to go. Open it up when your hunger pangs hit and you have a clean place mat from which to eat. Our sandwich wraps are free of nasties like BPA, lead, PVC, phthalates and last at least a school year, usually longer. Why wouldn't you invest in a gorgeous reusable like this rather than load up the landfill with disposable alternatives? For more details and to view our 'how to' video, click here.

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.

Giveaway: Cool it with a Vapur Bottle

2011-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's called the 'Anti-Bottle'. We call it the most convenient water bottle in our cupboard. The innovative Vapur bottle folds up like a tube of toothpaste when empty, making it perfect for walking, hiking and any on-the-go drinking. In the summer heat, freeze it first so your water stays cold on the go. Our kids love it. Lightweight and BPA-free, the Vapur reusable water bottle features a sturdy caribiner clip so you can carry it outside your bag or on your belt loop. The focus is good old tap water, not bottled water and Vapur uses less energy to make and transport these collapsible bottles than required by traditional rigid bottles. Choose from the original .5L bottle or our 2-pack of .4L bottles. Loads of colours too. For more details, click here.

WIN IT!
We have a Vapur bottle to give away to one lucky winner. Check out our range of Vapur water bottles available in Canada at Lavish & Lime and tell us in a comment below which colour you'd like to win and why - it 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 with this link: http://bit.ly/q5Sv56

It's just starting to heat up here in Vancouver, so we're extending the deadline for entries for this giveaway until midnight PST Wednesday, August 3rd -- to give all the locals who temporarily lost faith in the summer weather a chance to still win this great way to beat the heat. We'll announce the randomly chosen winner on this blog post and on Facebook Thursday, August 4th. Open to Canadian residents only. 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.

10 Best Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

2011-07-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

It may be far from stifling hot here Vancouver, but as a heat wave crosses the rest of Canada and the U.S. and rising temperatures are predicted here later this month, we've come up with some ways to keep your cool. Most of these summer tips are eco-friendly, all are easy.

Post by Louise

Here are 10 of our favourite ways to beat the heat this summer.

1. Turn off your Dishwasher Early - Turn off the drying cycle on your dishwasher. Open the door before it begins and let your dishes air dry. It can be just as quick and much more energy efficient.

2. Use Power Bars - Mod cons often heat up your home. Leaving the TV on can raise a room temperature by a couple of degrees. Electric appliances like TV’s and computers can emit heat even when not in use. money too! Plugged into a power bar, these devices can be switched off easily and with our Smartstrip surge protector, automatically - saving you money and keeping the temperature dow

3. Crash the Kiddie Pool - When it's hot, kiddie pools aren't just for kids. Fill a pool or tub with cold water and try to keep it in the shade. Dip your toes, legs - or more - in for an immediate cool down!

4. Eat Cool Treats - Cold and frozen foods offer immediate relief from the heat. Make your own frozen treats and you’ll not only avoid copious sugar and artificial ingredients but you’ll save money too! Invest in durable, BPA-free popsicle makers like our stackable molds from Italy. Check out this collection of close to 200 popsicle recipes to make yourself and if cocktails are your thing, try these yummy-looking mango mojito popsicles. Alternatively, munch on frozen grapes - they're a healthy, tasty, cool treat too!

5. Keep Cool Air Inside - Open windows at night and close them in the morning to keep cool air in and the hot air out. Try to keep windows closed during the hottest part of the day. If you do open one, open a second to create a cross breeze. On especially hot days, hang a wet sheet in front of an open window to cool the air down.

6. Protect your Skin - Slather on the sunscreen when you venture outside. Look for one with zinc - it’s the only sunscreen ingredient that protects from the full spectrum of UV light, ie UVA, UVB and UVC rays. Zinc is found in natural sunscreens that are also free of potentially nasty chemicals. Top natural brands include Badger Sunscreen and made in Canada, Heiko Kids Sunscreen.

7. Cover Up - Keep a hat on and you’ll help prevent over heating and sunstroke. Look for a wide brim that points downwards to keep the sun off your face and neck. Tight woven, breathable SPF tested fabric is best. Our adjustable sun hats for kids tick all the boxes - and they grow with your child so they last for years.

8. Wet a Bandana - If you're working outside, soak a bandana in cold water, wring it slightly and tie it around your head - even under your sun hat - to keep cool.

9. Stay Hydrated - Drink, drink, drink and drink some more. It's no secret that if you drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, you’ll help stop the headaches, etc. that come with dehydration. Having the right water bottle helps. Does it fit in your car drink holder? Your bag? Is it too big? Too heavy? Do you want your water kept icy cold? Filtered? Glass vs. steel or BPA-free plastic? Do you like the colour? Shape? So many questions - good thing there’s loads of options like these reusable water bottles from top brands Camelbak, S'Well, Lifefactory Glass Bottles - all in Canada.

10. Reduce Blow Drying Time - Break the habit of using your blow dryer. Let your hair dry naturally or only blow dry it part way and let the rest dry naturally. Your bathroom won't heat up like an inferno, your head will stay cooler while your hair is drying and you'll also save money on electricity!

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

Decrease your dependence on a hair dryer. Either stop drying midway through your routine or let it dry completely naturally. This will prevent your bathroom from becoming too tropical, and your head cool as your hair dries.

Source: Green Living Ideas (http://s.tt/12GD

Keep the windows closed during the hottest parts of the day. When you do choose to open a window, make sure a second window is opened to allow a cross breeze.

Source: Green Living Ideas (http://s.tt/12GDo)

Keep the windows closed during the hottest parts of the day. When you do choose to open a window, make sure a second window is opened to allow a cross breeze.

Source: Green Living Ideas (http://s.tt/12GDo)

Fight BC's Mosquito Uprising Naturally

2011-07-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

With British Columbia - and the mighty Fraser River - having more than our fair share of water this summer, so it seems the mosquitoes follow. Reports from the Fraser Health System show "a definite upswing in the mosquito population." It's time to tap into our favourite bug juice of choice: Buzz Away, North America's #1 bestselling natural mosquito repellent.

Post by Louise

A recent trip the Sunshine Coast found us surrounded by the critters and caught unaware - mosquitoes at the seashore? Never noticed them in previous years.

Next time, we'll be sure to arm ourselves with DEET-free Buzz Away. The chemical-free formula is lab tested to be effective and keeps bugs at bay for hours. Buzz Away is made from pure essential oils and is 100% natural. It works and it's natural -- what more could you want from an insect spray?
Easy application and Buzz Away has that too. Choose from a Buzz Away pump spray or Buzz Away easy-wipe towlettes. Plus there's Buzz Away Sting Soothe for bug bite itch relief, just in case the skeeters get there before the Buzz Away repellent does.

Buzz Away insect repellent products are available in Canada at eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about repelling mosquitoes and other insects, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Giveaway: Biodegradable Toothbrush Pack

2011-07-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's summer and although there's loads of local fresh fruit to enjoy, somehow plenty of popsicles, ice creams and other summer sweets slip in under the radar too. Keep the sugar bugs at bay with our eco-friendly toothbrushes and flossers that literally disappear!

When we think dental products, we generally think about all the plastic we end up throwing out after use. Plastic that pretty much stays around forever.

Now there's another, more eco-friendly dental option, thanks to our friends at Clean Idea right here in Vancouver. Our Clean Idea biodegradable toothbrush is made from renewable crops like corn, wheat, tapioca and potatoes, instead of petroleum. This eco-friendly toothbrush will become organic soil in 180 days -- so you never have to feel guilty about disposing of your manual plastic toothbrush again!
Our biodegradable toothbrush has an angled head to comfortably and easily reach back teeth and only soft bristles are used for effective cleaning that is gentle on your gums. Guaranteed to clean your teeth as effectively as any national brand manual toothbrush - and it will last the same length of time too. Our biodegradable toothbrush comes in two sizes - adult and children.
All these same great properties go for our eco-friendly biodegradable flossers too - except the biodegradable kids floss picks also feature a fun tooth-y character molded right into the pick.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER CINDY H.!***

WIN IT!
We have a biodegradable toothbrush pack to give away to one lucky winner. Visit Lavish & Lime and tell us in a comment below which product above all others you wish you could have this summer and a toothbrush pack -- including 1 adult biodegradable toothbrush, 1 child's toothbrush, 1 pack of 30 adult flossers and 1 pack of 30 children's flossers -- 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 with this link: http://bit.ly/r571gd

This is our Friday Freebie, and we're happy to take entries through to Wednesday. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Wednesday, July 13th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on this blog post and on Facebook Thursday, July 14th - in good time for the launch of our next Friday Freebie. Open to Canadian residents only. 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 Made in Canada Products

2011-06-30T07:51:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Lavish & Lime Announces Eco Art Contest Winners

2011-05-31T06:27:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation here at Lavish & Lime and beyond, we're pleased to announce the winners of our Earth Day 2011 Eco Art Contest.

First, a big thank you to all entrants for taking the time to participate in this contest. We were impressed with all entries received and all your efforts in creating with recycled materials deserve to be commended. Coming up with just three winners was decidedly difficult.

Thank you also to our judges, Juno-nominated green music duo Bobs & Lolo, nationally eco-aware Babyvibe.ca and one of Canada's premier artists Cori Creed whose work is presently showing in Vancouver, San Francisco and New York. Your participation was greatly appreciated.

We'd also like to thank everyone who gave their input online regarding our finalists.

The results
Our runners up entries are Caged Intelligence by Judie S. aka Colourful Canary and Hamm by Caryn S. and her son.

Our overall Eco Art Contest winner is Callum F. with his piece entitled Albert.

The judging process wasn't easy, as judges Bobs & Lolo explain with their experience. "It was a tough choice for us, and we definitely feel that all submissions/artists deserve recognition for their creations," said Bobs & Lolo. "We do feel that our first choice - Albert - clearly represents 'getting creative with your recycling' particularly with materials that are traditionally difficult to recycle. It was fun to see a creative use of an old CD! Hamm and Caged Intelligence need to be equally commended for their efforts."

Winner
Artist: Callum F. Title: Albert Materials: Recycled spool, CD, metal caps, rubber tubes, plastic springs, ceramic hand, ceramic shoes, felt

Runner Up
Artist: Judie S. aka Colourful Canary Title: Caged Intelligence Materials: Pencil, recycled office paper, reclaimed fencepost wood & wire, and natural materials (organic cornstarch, organic gelatin & organic powdered herbs) to represent the filthy conditions of factory caged birds. The portraits are renderings of actual beautiful intelligent birds.

Runner Up
Artist: Caryn S. Title: Hamm (after the pig from Toy Story) Materials: Old plastic mayo jar for body, 4 bumps off of an egg carton for legs, newspaper strips and flour for homemade paper mache, pink felt for ears, pink pipe cleaner for tail, red and white art foam for eyes and tongue, pink paint.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and congratulations to our winners!

Looking to live life a little greener and healthier? Lavish & Lime is a great place to start. We have hundreds of unusual gifts and everyday eco finds all good for you and the planet too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about greener living, please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you!

Friday Freebie: Stainless Steel Snack Container Giveaway

2011-05-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Looking for a non-leaching, non-toxic, durable alternative to plastic for storing snacks on the go? Stainless steel snack containers are a great reusable, eco-friendly option - and for kids, colourful designs are best.

Let's face it, stainless steel anything is an investment. There are no concerns about toxins leaching into your food and yes, they'll probably outlast us all but they're also more costly than disposable plastic options. Don't get us wrong, without a doubt the investment is worth it in savings in the long run, but to help ensure your stainless steel containers last for the long run - without getting lost at school - we suggest choosing fun, colourful designs that make kids want to hold on to them.

Our Blue Panda Stainless Steel Snack Containers Set and our pretty Pink Fairy Tea Party Snack Set both include two containers of different sizes: one 8oz. and one 16oz. container. They're perfect for all kinds of snacks and the screw on lid combined with the silicone seal (you get an extra one of these with each container) means these snack containers are leak proof and airtight. They're so airtight, the manufacturer recommends them for storing loose leaf tea and spices too!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS SOOZLE! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.

WIN IT!
We have one pink fairy stainless steel 8oz. snack container to give away. Tell us in a comment below what you would pack in it and it 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, May 29th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on our blog and on Facebook Monday, May 30th. 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.

Projecting Change Film Festival Ticket Giveaway

2011-05-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Four days packed with 20+ films all about change - that's Vancouver’s Projecting Change Film Festival this weekend May 27-29th at the SFU Woodward's Goldcorp Centre for Performing Arts.

To help you get inspired for change, we're giving away tickets to the Festival's Gala Event this Sunday, May 29th at 7pm featuring the Canadian premiere of Mother: Caring our Way out of the Population Dilemma and an after party at swanky NU Restaurant (value $120). Enter to win below.

The Projecting Change Film Festival is a three-day event featuring eye-opening and award-winning films from around the globe, each followed by a dynamic speaker and panel discussion. The unique festival format is a platform for audience engagement, with all proceeds donated back to local initiatives.

“PCFF is about positive change," says co-founder Brady Dahmer. "Come to our festival hungry for knowledge and we promise you will leave with a head full of inspiration.” Inspiration no doubt in part due to the participation of such luminaries as Dr. David Suzuki, Captain Paul Watson and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson – all former festival speakers.

This year's line up includes the witty and provocative documentary What's on your Plate about kids and food politics plus Vanishing of the Bees about Colony Collapse Disorder, the phenomenon that has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Our favourite pick is Climate of Change narrated by Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton. The full schedule of films can be viewed here.

Leave a comment below telling us which film you'd like to see at the Festival -- and be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win! You could win two tickets to the Closing Gala event which includes the Canadian premiere of Mother: Caring our Way out of the Population Dilemma and the after party at NU Restaurant.

Extra entries:

Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook page and say something about the Projecting Change Film Festival on our wall.

Deadline for entries to this random draw is midnight Friday, May 27th.

Good luck!

Eco Art Contest Finalists: Pick your Favourite

2011-05-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

We've whittled down the entries received for our Lavish & Lime Eco Art Contest to five finalists. Which do you like best?

Entrants across Canada were asked to get creative with their recycling and send us a photo. Below are our top five picks of all the works of art we received.

We'd love to hear your thoughts before we send the final three on to our judging panel which includes Juno-nominated green music duo Bobs & Lolo, editor of Canada's eco-aware Babyvibe.ca, founder of national family site WeeWelcome.ca and one of Canada's premier artists Cori Creed whose work is presently showing in Vancouver, San Francisco and New York. The judges will determine our grand prize and runners up winners. These will be announced on or before May 31st.

Leave a comment below telling us which is your favourite by Monday, May 23rd!

Finalist #1
Artist: Crystal H. Title: Untitled Materials: Water bottles and decaying flowers

Finalist #2
Artist: Judy S. aka Colourful Canary Title: Caged Intelligence Materials: Pencil, recycled office paper, reclaimed fencepost wood & wire, and natural materials (organic cornstarch, organic gelatin & organic powdered herbs) to represent the filthy conditions of factory caged birds. The portraits are renderings of actual beautiful intelligent birds.

Finalist #3
Artist: Callum F. Title: Albert Materials: Recycled spool, CD, metal caps, rubber tubes, plastic springs, ceramic hand, ceramic shoes, felt

Finalist #4
Artist: Caryn S. Title: Hamm (after the pig from Toy Story) Materials: Old plastic mayo jar for body, 4 bumps off of an egg carton for legs, newspaper strips and flour for homemade paper mache, pink felt for ears, pink pipe cleaner for tail, red and white art foam for eyes and tounge, pink paint.

Finalist #5

Artist: Maureen A. Title: Sunflowers Materials: Back of old shed, old spray paint

Looking to live life a little greener and healthier? Lavish & Lime is a great place to start. We have hundreds of unusual gifts and everyday eco finds all good for you and the planet too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about the Eco Art Contest entries above, please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you!

PeeWee the Seal: a Star is Born with Ocean Release Video

2011-05-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ellen, National Geographic, The Huffington Post -- adorable PeeWee, the Northern Fur Seal, has done them all.

What's so special about PeeWee? In a word, freedom. The rehydrated seal was released back into the ocean locally off the west coast of Vancouver Island (near Tofino) after 2 1/2 months of rehabilitation at The Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. A video of PeeWee's exhilarating taste of new found freedom has gone viral.

At first PeeWee is apprehensive and unsure of returning to the wild, but when he realizes what's happening and gets a taste of the ocean, his excitement is captivating.

Click below to watch little PeeWee's release. We guarantee your heart will melt.

The waters off Vancouver Island are home to many Northern Fur Seals, according to the authors of the video at the Wildlife Natural Care Centre. Juvenile Fur Seals spend two years out at sea, hunting, evading predators, and swimming between Alaska and California.

For more information about helping beleaguered seals like PeeWee plus more adorable videos and pics, visit sealrescue.org.

Looking to live life a little greener and healthier? Lavish & Lime is a great place to start. We have hundreds of unusual gifts and everyday eco finds all good for you and the planet too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about PeeWee or wildlife rehabilitation in general, please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you!

The S'well Bottle: coolest new BPA Free Water Bottles come to Canada

2011-05-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Did you know that even in this era of reduce, reuse, recycle less than 20% of the 200 billion disposable plastic bottles still consumed globally each year are recycled? The best bet for you and the planet too are BPA-free, non-toxic water bottles that can be used again and again.

Post by Louise

One of the coolest and best designed water bottles to hit the US market in the last year is the S'well Bottle and now it's available in Canada too.

S'well bottles tick all the right boxes:

they're made of the highest quality, non-leaching, toxin-free stainless steel with no worries about Bisphenol-A (BPA) leaching into your water;
feature a double wall design using the latest metals science technology so they insulate your beverage keeping it hot all day or cold well into tomorrow;
are built to last with a top opening that allows for easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher so you can use it again and again;
are designed to be functional: yes, the top opening is large enough to slip ice inside; yes, there's a silicone seal in the secure screw top lid to prevent leaks and yes, the slimline design is ergonomically shaped to fit your hand, your bag and your car cup holder;
resemble a true glass bottle shape in a rainbow of colours - plus classic black - making S'well one of the coolest looking water bottles around.

We love both the look and feel of S'well bottles. These are substantial water bottles that are cool not just because they're sleek and stylish, but because they're insulating too. We love that at 500ml, they're big enough to hold a reasonable amount of water to quench an adult's thirst, but yet small enough to be easily handled by a child, without them drenching themselves.
Plus there's the added bonus that each purchase helps support the non-profit WaterAid in providing access to safe, clean water, hygiene and sanitation education to the world's poorest communities.

Healthy, helpful and happy (as written on all S'well bottles) -- that truly is S'well.

S'well bottles and more green living ideas are available at our Lavish & Lime eco shop. If you have any thoughts or comments about S'well bottles or reusable water bottles in general, please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you!

The i-Spy Green Game #1: Free Giveaway

2011-05-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Like to play i-Spy? Play with us and you'll be spying eco-friendly products -- we like to call it the i-Spy Green Game -- and have the chance to win them!

Simply leave a comment below telling us which Lavish & Lime product you think is featured in this image and you'll be entered to win it! *Please include your email address so we can get in touch if you win.*

Deadline for entries is noon PST this Friday, May 13th. The winner will be chosen randomly from all correct entries. We want to make someone's Friday the 13th a lucky one and will announce the winner that afternoon!

Extra Entries:
Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and say Hi on our wall!

Post this on your wall: "I'm playing the i-Spy Green Game @Lavish & Lime and hope to win! Check it out for yourself and play too: Lavish & Lime's i-Spy Green Game #1." -- and tell us you did!

Good luck and happy spying... click here to get started!

If you're looking to live life a little greener and healthier, Lavish & Lime is a great place to start. We've got a great selection of non-toxic and eco-friendly alternatives that are safe, healthy choices for you and the planet too.

5 Mothers Day Presents for Green Thumb Mom

2011-05-02T13:33:00.001-07:00

Looking for unusual gifts for Mother's Day 2011? We've got some great organic gardening Mother's Day presents perfect for any Mom with a green thumb -- or any Mom who enjoys looking at a bit of green. These unique Mother's Day presents are all about Mom growing her own flowers and herbs and enjoying the satisfaction of watching them flourish. Available now for Mother's Day delivery.

Post by Louise

Here are five of our top eco-friendly gifts for Mother's Day 2011. All are new to our eco garden collection, except the first, our Happy Mother's Day Garden in a Bag -- a perennial favourite!

Happy Mother's Day Garden in a Bag $12
Mom can grow her own colourful zinnias - everything she needs is in the bag!Hydroponic Basil Grow Bottle $39
Grow sweet-smelling basil in a recycled wine bottle with reusable clay pebbles with this unusual hydroponic growing kit.Flowering Gardenia Bonsai Kit $35
A recycled steel growing box, scissors, gardenia seed, growing material and instructions are all included in this attractive bonsai kit. Perfect for a first Mothers Day.Hummingbird Scatter Flower Garden Gift Pack $12
Plant organic seeds that bring hummingbirds to you! Contains close to 20 different varieties of flowers and covers 100 square feet.
Urban Lavender Bamboo Grow Pot $23
Grow lovely scented heirloom lavender in a contemporary leak-proof bamboo pot.For more green gifts for Mother's Day 2011, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about Mother's Day gifts or Mother's Day in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Mother's Day Greenest Mom Giveaway

2011-04-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

Calling all kids of eco-minded Moms! We know your Mom thinks about you, but does she think about the planet too? Is she green - in a good, planet-friendly way? If so, enter to win our Mother's Day Greenest Mom Giveaway and you could win your Mom a $50 green shopping spree at eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Tell us your Mom's name (first name with last initial is great), where she lives, along with a few words about what she does to be green, ie. what kinds of things she does for the good of our planet. Post your entry below -- please include your email address so we can contact you if you win -- or email your entry to us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com.

If you wanted to include a photo -- that would be great too!

Deadline for entries is noon Thursday, May 5th.

Our plan is to post finalists on Facebook that afternoon and ask your thoughts about who should be named the winner. At noon on Friday, May 6th we'll take all likes and comments into consideration and will notify the winner that same afternoon of May 6th via email. The final judging will be done by The Lavish & Lime Team. The aim is to have an emailed gift certificate in the winner's hands in time to give to Mom on Mother's Day.

Good luck winning one for Mom!

The Small Print:
No purchase necessary.

Entries must feature a mom over the age of 18.

All entries become the exclusive property of Lavish & Lime and will not be acknowledged or returned. By entering this competition you agree to allow Lavish & Lime to use your entry, including any words and photos, freely for marketing purposes on the internet and elsewhere, including but not limited to our blog, website, newsletter and Facebook page.

Contest is open to legal residents of Canada and the US. Void where prohibited by law. Sponsors’ suppliers are ineligible. All federal, provincial, state and local laws, rules and regulations apply.

For green living ideas, learn about non-toxic and eco-friendly alternatives at eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have thoughts about your Mom's green habits and would like to post them here, feel free! We always love hearing about people living a greener, healthier life.

Get Lucky this Earth Day with Lavish & Lime

2011-04-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Feeling lucky? This Earth Day we've teamed up with a few of our favourite Canadian blogs and sites to offer you loads of chances to win eco-friendly products and Lavish & Lime gift certificates -- all aimed at helping you live a greener, healthier life.

Post by Louise

Earth Day is a great time to rethink the simple things we do every day. Reduce the amount of plastic we're using, turn off that tap when we're brushing our teeth, don't pour grease down the drain... so many little things we can do that together can make a difference to the well being of our planet - and us.

In celebration of Earth Day, we're sponsoring a number of giveaways around the net -- we've put together a round up below. Go ahead and enter, it's the only way you can win -- and let us help you go green!

Natural Mama: Win a $50 gift certificate for Lavish & Lime

Glimpse Reviews: Win a Bamboo Grow Pot of your Choice

My Wee View: Win a $50 gift certificate for Lavish & Lime

True Cuddles: Win 1 of 3 Envirosax 5-Pack Pouches

Today's Parent: Win a $75 gift certificate for Lavish & Lime

Weewelcome.ca: Win an Envirosax 5-Pack Pouch

Good luck and Happy Earth Day to you!

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll learn about non-toxic and eco-friendly alternatives that are good for you and the planet too. If you have any thoughts or ideas about Earth Day, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Make your Own Natural Easter Egg Dyes with these Easy Recipes

2011-04-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Want to colour eggs with the kids but without the chemicals? You might think certified food dyes are fine but even these can include petroleum derivatives. We've found some easy recipes for making your egg dyes with things from around your kitchen that are a whole lot safer -- think onions, beetroot, lemons and carrots.

Post by Louise

Making your own egg dyes may take a wee bit long than dropping tablets into water, but it'll be well worth it.

We found these clever recipes at care2.com and more details can be found there. Some of the dyes are boiled with the eggs (as noted). If you are using juice, just use it straight. Bulky materials will be boiled with the eggs or boiled and allowed to cool for dipping. Don't forget to draw on the eggs with crayon for a batik effect or use rubber bands for lines. Another great idea is to rub your dyed eggs with vegetable oil when dry for a glossy look.

Red
Red onion skins, use a lot (boil with eggs)
Pomegranate juice

Orange
Yellow onion skins (boil with eggs)

Yellow
Lemon or orange peel (boil with eggs)
Carrot tops (boil with eggs)
Celery seed (boil with eggs)
Ground cumin (boil with eggs)
Ground turmeric (boil with eggs)

Yellow Brown
Dill seeds (boil with eggs)

Brown
Strong coffee
Instant coffee
Black walnut shells (boil with eggs)

Yellow Green
Bright green apple peels (boil with eggs)

Green
Spinach leaves (boil with eggs)

Blue
Canned blueberries and their juice
Red cabbage leaves (boil with eggs)
Purple grape juice

Violet Blue
Violet blossoms
Red onion skins, less amount than you need to make red (boil with eggs)

Lavender
Diluted purple grape juice
Violet blossoms plus squeeze of lemon (boil with eggs)

Pink
Beets, fresh or canned
Cranberries or cranberry juice
Raspberries
Red grape juice

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you can learn about non-toxic and eco-friendly alternatives for a healthier life and a healthier planet. If you have any thoughts or ideas about Easter crafts or dyeing eggs, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you.

5 Reasons to Travel Sustainably to School

2011-04-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

The kids love it, we love it, it's cheap, it's easy -- the question is, why don't we do it more often? I suspect, as with most things these days, it's about making the time. Yet walking or biking to school is a great example of how sustainable travel can improve your quality of life.

Post by Louise

Instead of jumping in the car for the ride to school or even that short trip to the store, or library, consider getting there sustainably -- without using your own gas and creating more pollution.

With Earth Day coming up, here are five benefits of sustainable travel to get you thinking about choosing alternative modes of transport.

Improves your health - walking or biking even short distances helps you stay in better shape and decrease your risk of getting sick. Statistics show that when you're more active, you decrease your risk for cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. You can include your workout as part of your daily activity, which not only ensures that workout happens but helps you meet your fitness goals.
Better for the environment - choosing a greener form of transportation helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution.
Makes you happier - exercise and fresh air gives you more energy throughout the day and positively impact your health and happiness. Your focus shifts to your surroundings -- the blossoming trees, the birds tweeting, thereby increasing your awareness of the link between you and your environment, your community. I think some fresh air is a great way for kids to clear their heads and start the day fresh -- and ready to learn.
Improves your relationships - choosing a slower mode of transport allows you to enjoy a shared experience with whomever you're traveling. Walking, in particular, provides a great opportunity to chat to your child about their day, what's happening at school, etc.
Saves you money - power yourself and you save money on gas bills, on car maintenance, on parking costs.

Do you really want to be stuck in a traffic jam like this at pick up and drop off?

We're lucky we're just a few blocks from school and can walk. Unfortunately, more often than not, it seems we don't -- but we are trying. When the weather's nice, walking is a must, as are 'Walk to School Wednesdays'. We've also set up a 'walking school bus' with a neighbour so they come by and walk our kids to school one day a week and we take theirs one a day week. It's amazing how, with just a little effort and planning, walking to school can resemble a habit -- becoming something you actually miss when you don't do it.

Now we just have to work on walking home.

For more information about sustainable travel, visit TravelSmart.ca.

Learn about non-toxic and eco-friendly alternatives for greener living at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts about sustainable travel or more specifically, walking to school, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Get Plastic Savvy for Earth Day - Online Q&A Event

2011-04-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Are you keen to create a safe, healthy home for you and your family but feel overwhelmed with all the information out there? Get the real scoop on plastics, find out about alternatives and learn easy steps to take to green your nest at our live Q&A event with the experts on April 20th at 6:30pm PST on Facebook.

Post by Louise

RSVP YES TO THIS EVENT & YOU'LL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED TO WIN A REUSABLE SANDWICH WRAP. DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE START OF THIS EVENT.

Why is PVC so bad? Does stainless steel rust in the dishwasher? Are bioplastics safe? Bring your questions to our Facebook wall and get answers direct from the experts.

6:30pm - Mamamaven, green guru & former toxicologist
7:00pm - Jane Nicol, bioplastics specialist
7:30pm - Annette Yang, stainless steel products manufacturer

Join in the conversation with questions or queries and you could win one of our prize giveaways happening throughout the event - including stainless steel lunch containers and compostable dental accessories.

WE HAVE MORE THAN $150 WORTH OF PRIZES TO GIVE AWAY!

All participants will receive a special code for discount shopping.

We hope you can join us (at least drop in for a bit) for this fun, informative session!

Disney African Cats Advance Ticket Giveaway - Canada

2011-04-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Be the first in Canada to see Disneynature's new film for Earth Day 2011 -- African Cats -- with our advance ticket giveaway! We've teamed up with Disneynature again this year to give 12 lucky families the chance to see this exciting new film narrated by Samuel L. Jackson at special advance screening events in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Post by Louise

The Lion King comes to life in the epic true story African Cats set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth. Narrated by Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, the story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons. An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, African Cats leaps into theatres on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.

Enter to win our Advance Ticket Giveaway and you may not have to wait until Earth Day to see this stunning film! We're giving away family passes (four tickets) to advance screening events on Monday, April 18th at 7pm to two lucky winners in each of the following cities: Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

To Enter:
To help raise awareness about the importance of wildlife to our Earth, in conjunction with the African Cats giveaway, we're launching our new Recycled Newspaper Wildlife Pencil 2-Packs from O'Bon. Simply tell us which O'Bon Wildlife Pencil 2-Pack you like best and why. There are four different vivid, realistic animal designs to choose from. View them here.

Leave a comment below telling us which is your favourite animal pencil pack and why. ***Please also let us know which city you'd like to enter for and be sure to include your email address so we can get in touch if you win.***

Deadline for entries is midnight PST, Thursday, April 14th. Winners will be notified Friday, April 15th.

Extra Entries:

Become a Lavish & Lime Facebook fan and tell us you did.
Follow Lavish & Lime on Twitter and tell us.
Sign up for our Lavish & Lime e-newsletter and tell us.
'Like' our Recycled Newspaper Wildlife Pencil 2-Packs on the product page and tell us.

Click below to see the trailer for African Cats. We guarantee you won't want to miss out on the chance to see this amazing film first!

If you still need convincing, (after the trailer, we're pretty sure you won't) consider this:

African Cats is the third Earth Day release for Disneynature
Earth, the first film, garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary
Oceans opened last year for Earth Day 2010 and was the #1 film that day. It is the third highest grossing feature-length nature film in history.

The skinny? Disneynature films are amazing and well worth seeing. Your family and friends will love you even more for winning tickets to see this one. Good luck!

African Cats Advance Screening Ticket Giveaway (the fine print):

Giveaway closes 11:59 pm PST Thursday, April 14, 2011, the contest closing date. No purchase necessary. More than one entry per person can be counted with bonus entries, but winners will be limited to one prize (family pass of four tickets) per person. To enter, tell us which of our Recycled Newspaper Wildlife Pencil Twin Packs you like best and why. Leave a comment here on this blog post or on our Facebook wall to enter.
For bonus entries, become a Lavish & Lime facebook fan, twitter follower or subscribe to the Lavish & Lime e-newsletter. You can also like the wildlife pencil twin pack product page.
Winners of the 12 family passes to African Cats provided by Disneynature will be chosen by a random draw by a representative of Lavish & Lime (the Contest Sponsor) at approximately 9am on April 15th. Selected entrants will be notified on April 15th by email as set out on their entry comment or via Facebook if their entry appears on our wall. As the screenings take place on April 18th and time is of the essence, if a selected entrant cannot be reached within 24 hours or declines the prize, another entrant will be selected.
This contest is open to residents of Canada who are over the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. Prize must be accepted as awarded and may not be transferred or exchanged. It is not redeemable for cash and is non-refundable.
Contest Sponsor is not responsible for cancellation of any of the associated screening events.

Stainless Steel Bus Plate: Best Plate for Toddlers

2011-04-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Looking for children's dishes but not so sure about the Disney melamine and IKEA plastics anymore? We've found a great alternative in one of our latest finds -- the safe, durable and easy-to-clean Stainless Steel Divided Bus Plate.

Post by Louise

The 'Wheels on the Bus' take on a whole new meaning with our bus-shaped divided children's plate as your picky eaters will likely be speeding to the table just to use it! Kids love compartments -- at least ours do -- and many of them are adamant about keeping foods separate. Don't even think about mixing those mashed potatoes together with the peas!

Your kids aren't the only ones who will love this plate - you will too. Here's why:

it's safe and non-toxic - no BPA, phthalates, PVC or lead will leach into your child's food, as can be the worry with some conventional kids' dish options, especially if they get scratched or heated in the dishwasher
it will basically last forever. Made of top quality 304 food grade stainless steel this children's divided plate can easily stand up to all a toddler can throw at it and be thrown.
it's easy to clean. Unlike many plastic dishes, stainless steel is exactly that -- stain resistant -- and it can go in the dishwasher, top rack recommended
the five different compartments allow you to (and remind you to) introduce the five different food groups in an interesting and appealing way
it's 100% recyclable.

The stainless steel bus plate can last a child well beyond the toddler years. Our sleek and simply designed Square Children's Divided Food Tray is another great option if your child is perhaps not into moving vehicles or is a wee bit older.

Both stainless steel children's plates are available online at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime or feel free to drop by our warehouse shop in Vancouver, BC. For more ideas about living life a little greener and healthier, stop by our website.

CBC Marketplace Lousy Labels: Canada's Top 10 Misleading Natural Products

2011-03-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Blog Party 2011: Hello! Thank you for stopping by our blog. We're an eco boutique based in Vancouver, BC and we're all about helping you live a greener & healthier life. Learn about non-toxic, BPA free and eco-friendly alternatives for everyday living that are safe for you and the planet too. Visit our boutique or join us on Facebook for great giveaways, tips and deals. Hope to make some friends through this party. Greenest regards, Louise PS. Pressed the wrong link button so this isn't a dedicated Blog Party post, but it's a great example of what we're all about.

Ever wonder how 'natural' or 'organic' those body care products lining the shelves of your local drug store really are? If so, the recent 'Lousy Labels' episode of the popular watchdog show CBC Marketplace and countdown of the top 10 misleading natural products is a must-see.

Post by Louise

Fa, Aveeno, Covergirl, Aubrey Organics, Avalon Organics -- even Seventh Generation diapers make the Lousy Label black list. The #1 misleading product? Huggies natural care baby wipes - a baby product cited as natural yet it not only contains parabens but a nasty ingredient on Health Canada's hot list.

Watch the show here:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/lousylabels/

Host Erica Johnson hits the shelves and people's homes with environmental activist Adria Vasil to investigate green labelling on many of Canada's most popular personal care products marketed to us as 'natural' or 'organic'. They find the labels rife with exaggeration, misleading verbage and many of them contain ingredients no different than those found in regular, cheaper brands.

Most shocking -- the companies behind these products hide behind excuses of 'proprietary information' and ignorance when asked directly about the percentage of 'natural' or 'organic' ingredients contained in their products.

In this episode, the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association is no help. The spokesperson repeatedly states without regulation it's up to the consumer to check and compare labels - a little difficult when you're rushing around the grocery store with one or two toddlers in hand. He does get it right though, when he says the best thing to do if you're not sure, is simply stop buying the product.

There's so much more to say about safe ingredients, labelling, product comparison -- this brief investigation is a great start and an eye-opener about how important educating yourself is if you're interested in knowing what exactly you're putting on your body.

For a great selection of truly natural body care products -- we've checked the ingredients lists ourselves and gone through them with the manufacturers -- visit us at Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or comments about labelling or this Marketplace episode, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Earth Hour: 5 Fun Things to Do When the Lights Go Out

2011-03-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Think ahead and you'll find there's more to do than just sit around in the dark when you turn out your lights for an hour on Saturday night to help raise awareness about climate change.

Post by Louise

The WWF started Earth Hour four years ago in an effort to get people to turn out their lights and raise general awareness about the need to take action around climate change. It's grown to become a worldwide phenomenon with Earth Hour 2010 reaching 1.3 billion people. A record 128 countries and territories took part making it the largest voluntary action ever witnessed.

So what to do when you turn out your lights at 8:30pm this Saturday, March 26th? We've come up with some fun ideas to keep you so busy, one hour just won't seem long enough!

1. Forget the i-Pod touch, the DS and Wii, sit down with the kids and play a good old-fashioned board game with actual dice, playing pieces, cards, etc.

2. Set up a 'camp' inside, turn on the fireplace and read stories by flashlight -- a great way to bring a much-loved outdoor activity in.

3. Prepare dinner in advance, including the table setting, then have a late night candlelit dinner with the kids - something so out of the ordinary, they (and you) will love it!

4. Cozy up by candlelight or flashlight and look through favourite old photos and photo albums. Remember when we were diligent about printing photos rather than letting them sit on our cameras and computers? An hour goes quickly when you're walking down a lane of baby, party, holiday and other memories.

5. Get outside and go for a late night walk under the stars. Take advantage of the fact that with lots of lights out, the night time sky will be less cluttered with light pollution and more visible to the naked eye -- fingers crossed the local cloud cover isn't too thick. Brush up on your constellations before you head out and play 'i-Spy in the sky' - a great way to teach kids about the stars.

Whatever you do during Earth Hour 2011, feel good knowing that you'll be joining more than a billion other people around the globe in taking a stand for the future of our planet -- having fun will be a bonus.

For more ideas about living a greener, healthier life and a great selection of the latest eco-friendly and non-toxic everyday alternatives, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Best Ways to Get Plastic Savvy for Big Results

2011-03-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Plastic can be dangerous. Plastic is everywhere in our homes. It off-gasses into our air, it leaches into our food and it never goes away. These are just some of the facts about plastics Tanis Frame, aka Mamamaven, made clear at our recent Lavish & Lime Get Plastic Savvy workshop.

Post by Louise

Did you know that every piece of plastic that has ever been created still exists? It just keeps getting broken down but it's still here complicating the ecosystem, except for for the little bit that has been incinerated, which releases toxic chemicals.

According to Mamamaven, the first step to greening your nest and rid yourself of the potentially harmful effects of plastics in your home is to get fresh air. "Get outside and play!" she says. "Bring the fresh air in - open windows every day and bring in the plants to purify the air."

Mamamaven suggests trying Wide Open Wednesdays as a great way to remember to open your windows at least once a week.

While we all know about them, sometimes it's hard to keep the plastics numbers straight. Here's the lowdown once and for all:

opt for #2, #4, #5 -- these are the safest
don't reuse #1 -- many plastic water bottles are made with this
avoid #3, #6, #7, unless confirmed bioplastic
look for phthalate-free and BPA-free labels

Mamamaven recognizes we all have plastics in our homes and offers some basic do's and don'ts when dealing with them:

avoid microwaving plastics
avoid hot contents
hand wash all plastics, DO NOT put in dishwasher
discard worn plastics -- scratches, cloudiness -- put these to a safer non-food use

She also points out that many everyday electronic devices like key fobs, cell phones, blackberries, etc. contain plastics made with chemicals like flame retardants. These are by no means food-safe plastics and should not be in children's mouths.

Getting savvy about plastics use means looking to alternatives: stainless steel, wood, bamboo, glass, wool, fabric, lead-free ceramics are all great options. There are also safer plastics that are free of nasty toxins like bisphenol-A (BPA), PVC and phthalates. Some of these are new bioplastics made of starch-based resins from sustainable, renewable plant crops like wheat, corn, tapioca and potato. The bioplastics market is growing 20-30% per year at the moment.

It can all be overwhelming, but Mamamaven suggests taking even little steps like opening the windows can make a big difference. She recommends making these three areas top priorities when looking to green your nest and make it safe from toxic-laden plastics:

hot or wet food storage
toys that go in the mouth
finding and removing PVC#3 'vinyl' poison plastic items, found in everything from shower curtains and blackout blinds to flooring, backpacks and lunch bags

More ways to live a greener, healthier life and reduce the effects of harmful plastics:

choosing reusables over disposables
refusing excessive plastic packaging
buying in bulk, buy concentrated products, buy refill packs
buying powders in paper rather than liquids in big plastic jugs

Some great resources for further learning include:

Watch for our Live Facebook Forum featuring Mamamaven coming in April. Become a Lavish & Lime facebook fan now so you can receive updates about this exciting upcoming event.

For a great selection of eco-friendly and non-toxic alternatives for everyday products and more ideas about living a greener, healthier life, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Eco-Friendly Floss Picks & Toothbrush for Guilt-Free Brushing

2011-03-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ever feel bad about using those little plastic flossers or manual toothbrushes then throwing them away? We've found a solution: eco-friendly compostable floss picks and an eco-friendly toothbrush for easy, guilt-free dental care!

Post by Louise

Our natural eco flossers biodegrade in a compost facility within 180 days into organic soil - a little longer if you simply throw them in your home compost or garden. That's because they're made from renewable crops like corn and potatoes instead of petroleum, like name brand conventional flossers.

It took five years of development and consultation with dental professionals to come up with this truly environmentally sustainable product made of the new safe plastic option: bioplastic. Bioplastics are made from renewable, sustainable plant-based crops. Our eco-friendly flossers are made of starch-based resins from corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches -- ecologically sound substitues for petroleum-based plastic products -- that come from primarily the Midwest (versus oil from the Middle East).

Not only are these natural eco flossers free of potentially harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, but they're fully certified biodegradable and compostable in the US and Europe. (Canada does not yet have certifications for biodegradability and compostability.) Unlike materials designated as biodegradable, those certified as compostable are designed to compost quickly, within 60-180 days, without releasing any toxic residues.

In terms of functionality and quality, our natural eco-friendly floss picks work just as well, if not better, than their conventional counterparts -- and the little 'Mr. Molar' character on the top of the kids' design is a favourite with little ones. The adult eco flossers feature a pointed end, ideal for cleaning specifics in between teeth.

Complete your dental care with our eco-friendly toothbrushes for kids and adults -- also made from safe, sustainable and biodegradable bioplastic. Similar to conventional toothbrushes, our compostable eco-friendly toothbrush lasts about three months and the children's eco-friendly toothbrush is good for kids up to about 12 years.

It's spring and a great time to rethink our old ways with fresh, new ideas. Why not feel good about cleaner teeth and a cleaner planet with effective dental products made from plants?

The eco-friendly flossers and compostable toothbrushes mentioned above are available at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about dental products or care, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Go Green with St. Patrick's Day Recipes

2011-03-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

On St. Patrick's Day, going green takes on a whole new meaning. It's no longer about our usual healthier, planet-friendly goals.

Post by Louise

Going green on March 17th literally means looking the colour green: wearing it -- or risk getting pinched -- and even eating or drinking green-coloured foods. While in Ireland the colour green was long thought to be unlucky, here we've always thought the opposite, especially on St. Patrick's Day.

Regardless of luck or not, it's always fun to get into the spirit and one of the best ways is to go green for kids and adults alike. Check out these green recipes we've found and bring a little luck of the Irish to every meal you cook today and through the weekend! Remember to pick up organic ingredients when you can...

Apple and Avocado Smoothie
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Risotto
Beer Battered Broccoli
Green Chocolate Slimedoo

Enjoy your day and if you want to go green in an eco-friendly way, be sure to check out the special St. Patrick's Day savings in our Sale Shop - save 40% on every item there! Use code STPATRICK March 17-18th.

A Safer Option: Stainless Steel Dishes & Cups

2011-03-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Looking for a kids cups and dishes that don't leach nasty chemicals but can handle being chucked across the room, from a high chair, over your head? We've found it with our stainless steel cup and dish set.

Post by Louise

It seems everyone has those plastic kids' dishes from Ikea. You know, the ones that are either in the shape of a flower or a rectangle and come in a rainbow of colours. Problem is, if you put them in the dishwasher or if they're scratched, chances are they could be leaking potentially harmful chemicals into your children's food and drink. The alternative?

Finally, we've found one in stainless steel. It's uber durable, dishwasher-safe and non-leaching. Our Kids Stainless Steel Dish Set from Lunchbots, makers of quality food containers, features a mug, bowl and plate. It's sleek-looking and sturdy and will last, well, forever.

If you're looking just for cups, check out our single Stainless Steel Cup. It's exactly the same size as the Ikea cups and stands up to kids just as well - only it's safer because it doesn't have the potential to leak chemicals into its contents.

Have qualms about putting metal in or near the mouth? Trust us, kids don't. They love these shiny products.

Stainless steel cups and dish sets are available at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

9 Ways to Refresh your Waste-Free Lunch Box

2011-03-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's six months into the school year and while we're generally pretty good at keeping track of our kids' footwear and clothing, what about the state of their lunch gear? It's March Break -- a great opportunity to take stock and freshen up that waste-free lunch.

Post by Louise

After daily use, water bottles, lunch bags and food storage containers can take a battering. Does the lunch bag need a good wash? Is that water bottle seriously dented from repeatedly being dropped? If you pack plastic food containers, are they scratched or have they gone cloudy? If so, they may be releasing carcinogenic toxins and now would be a good time to move them to the craft table or garage for storing items other than food. Safe options for replacements include glass food storage containers, various stainless steel containers or BPA-free plastic food containers.

To make things easy, we've singled out our top three picks for lunch bags, water bottles and food storage containers. That's nine ways to refresh your lunch box -- many of which are new for Spring 2011.

Reusable Lunch Bags
For older girls, we recommend the new Scattered Leaves Gourmet Getaway from Built NY. Made of lead safe neoprene (the wetsuit material), this stylish bag is machine washable, insulated, zippered and stretches to fit any number of containers and foods.

Our Freezable Packit Lunch Bag in black or blue is perfect for older boys. Simply put it in the freezer overnight, take it out and pack it and will keep his lunch and after school snacks cold for up to 10 hours.

For the younger set, our Coated Linen Lunch Boxes for Kids are a great option - especially the new pink Giraffe square lunch box for girls and the bright turquoise scooter lunch box for boys. PVC-free, phthalate-free and lead safe, these eco friendly lunch boxes for kids are fully zippered and insulated.

Water Bottles
New for us this spring are Lifefactory glass water bottles in the smaller, more child-appropriate 450ml size with colourful and funky silicone sleeves. You might think they're not ideal for children, but don't underestimate your wee ones or the protective nature of the silicone covers. Plus the colours are fantastic - graphite grey Lifefactory bottle, raspberry pink, royal purple and more.

Our leakproof Camelbak stainless steel bottles for kids remain popular. The bite valve with a straw means sipping is quiet -- a point we didn't realize was of vital importance in class until we heard it from kids! The two best selling designs continue to be Camelbak Kids Dinosaurs and Butterflies.

For older kids, there's a larger new Camelbak option that keeps their water fresh and cold - the Camelbak Stainless Steel Insulated Better Bottle. Choose from classic steely silver or pretty purple plum - yes, a purple stainless steel bottle!

Food Storage Containers
Our BPA-free, reusable Fruit Guard created by three Vancouver doctors remains one of our top-selling food storage containers for apples, grapes, pears, peaches and other soft fruits. Choose from six rainbow colours.

New for spring is our highly durable airtight glass and steel food container, featuring a stainless steel lid with a vacuum seal button. Just as great for storing then reheating leftovers, our smaller size airtight steel and glass container is particularly perfect for lunch on-the-go.

Also new are our leakproof stainless steel food containers with BPA-free plastic lids. Choose from pink magenta or mud brown easy-to-remove and replace lids.

Additional ways to spice up your child's lunch and help encourage eco-friendly, waste-free eating include our new Light My Fire Spork with 3-in-1 functionality, our Thermal Food Containers with funky characters and images designed to keep hot foods hot and for little ones, our BPA-free Lunch Punch Sandwich Cutters, always useful in encouraging them to eat.

For more waste-free lunch ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts about packing a litterless lunch or would like to share ideas about your favourite lunch gear items, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Birds and our Bodies Bear Brunt of Plastic Overload

2011-03-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

Post by Louise

Did you know there are more than 50 different groups of plastics and hundreds of varieties? That the stomachs of birds in some of the remotest parts of the Earth are full of plastics?

These facts combined with news reports, research and all those numbers - it's no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed when faced with decisions surrounding the copious plastic products we deal with on a daily basis.

The first human made plastic arrived in 1855 and since then, because of their low cost and versatility plastics have proliferated. They've replaced many traditional, more natural materials and are virtually everywhere, especially in products used around children in large part because they last.

Yet, the hidden costs of plastics -- to our health and to the environment -- are being uncovered every day. They release toxins into our food, air, drinks and with their incredible durability, they create enduring pollution. Every piece of plastic that has ever been created still exists, except for the little bit that has been incinerated, which releases toxic chemicals. That's why we hear alarming statistics like this:

plastic makes up 60-80% of all garbage floating in the oceans
plastic debris causes the deaths of a million seabirds yearly

An informative article in today's Vancouver Sun reports that 84% of the water skimming, strong flying Fulmar birds researchers examined from two Arctic colonies had plastics in the their guts.

Next steps to rid ourselves of the potential dangers of plastics aren't always easy to see, or do. Former toxicologist and green guru, Tanis Frame -- founder of Mamamaven -- is someone who can help. Tanis cuts through all the research and reports and gives you the skinny on what you really need to know. She demystifies the numbering system and tells you how to use those little numbers in the triangles for more than just sorting what goes in your blue box.

Come hear Tanis this week at a free workshop hosted by us at our Lavish & Lime Warehouse Shop.

7:00pm-8:00pm Thursday, March 10th
Lavish & Lime Warehouse Shop
272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC
(just off Lower Lonsdale -- plenty of street parking)

You'll take away an action plan of easy steps to rid your home of plastics and the knowledge you need to make safe choices to create a healthy home for you and your family.

Plus: receive a free eco gift ~ door prizes ~ discount shopping!

For more information and to RSVP, email customerservice@lavishandlime.com or call us on 778 340 5463.

If you can't make this event and have questions about plastics, please post a comment below and we'll be sure to get you answers.

For everyday eco finds and more green living ideas, visit Lavish & Lime.

Elton John & our Recycled Wool Animal Puppets

2011-03-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

Post by Louise

Ever wonder what A-list celebs like to play with? In the case of Elton John, it's more fun if it's recycled - especially if it's a puppet!

In a recent interview on CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show, Sir Elton hammed it up with a recycled wool animal puppet - the very same we carry here at Lavish & Lime.

Check out a clip of the interview here. Go directly to the puppet show at count 13:40.

Sir Elton clearly loves the puppet. We've decided we love stars doing impromptu puppet shows!

Recycled wool animal puppets are available in Canada at eco boutique Lavish & Lime. Choose from dog puppets, frog puppets, giraffe puppets and monkey recycled wool puppets.

Concern Rising Over Chemicals in Cosmetics

2011-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Post by Louise

We've known for sometime nasty chemicals lurk within many of our skincare and beauty products but recently the issue seems to be getting a lot of airplay, making us think concern is on the rise.

In a recent article on the David Suzuki Foundation's website, Linda Coulter wrote about the secret ingredients in the skincare products we use on our bodies daily - including deodorant and shampoo. In fact, according to Coulter "No law in Canada (or the U.S.) requires manufacturers to disclose all ingredients in consumer products. Cosmetics manufacturers get away with using the catch-all terms 'fragrance' or 'parfum', code words for over 3,000 chemicals, most of which haven't been tested for toxicity. "

Last week The Huffington Post featured an interesting and informative article by Estelle Hayes which she begins with the question, "Sodium lauryl sulfate is an effective degreaser used to clean oil stains from the floor of my mechanic's repair shop; what's it doing in my toothpaste and my daughter's bubble bath?"

Hayes continues "Everything from lip balm to hand lotion is filled with stuff we wouldn't dream of putting in our stomachs. Instead, we eagerly spread it over the largest organ of the body -- ensuring effective absorption and exposure to a daily dose of illness-inducing and cancer-causing garbage."

She goes on to compare the U.S. to Canada and Europe and perhaps we are, slightly better off - at least we don't rely on a voluntary reporting system for monitoring public safety with these products. Hayes points out that, unlike in the U.S. "Incidents -- from adverse reactions to longitudinal health surveys -- are made public by law."

To date, we've heard lots about parabens and increasingly more about sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan and fragrance/parfum are next up but there are plenty of other toxins to watch out for as well. Check out the Dirty Dozen Cosmetic Chemicals to Avoid for a comprehensive list. Another great source we use is the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Safety Database. Here you can plug in ingredients or product names and learn for yourself what they're all about.

The more you know the less likely you are to lather yourself in toxic chemicals on a daily basis -- because at the moment, relying on labels just isn't enough.

For information about specific toxin-free skincare and cosmetic products, visit our natural skincare section.

Eco Event - Greening your Nest: Get Plastic Savvy

2011-02-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Post by Louise

We first met Tanis Frame (aka Mamamaven) over coffee in the Gumboot Cafe on British Columbia's gorgeous Sunshine Coast.

We were so impressed with her knowledge and easy-going, informative style we decided there and then we wanted to work with her, we just didn't know when. Happily, we do now.

Greening your Nest: Get Plastic Savvy
Thursday, March 10th, 7-8pm
Lavish & Lime
272 East 1st Street, North Vancouver
(plenty of street parking - click here for directions)

We're thrilled to host Greening your Nest: Get Plastic Savvy at our warehouse shop in North Vancouver on March 10th. It will be a fab, fun, informative hour with Mamamaven as the featured guest speaker, a FREE eco gift for everyone who attends plus door prizes and discount shopping!

If you care at all about creating a healthy and safe home for you and your family, you won't want to miss this event!

Learn about the research and hype surrounding plastics and find out easy steps you can take to reduce harmful exposure to plastics in your home. You'll leave with an action plan and the information you need to navigate your world of plastics and make smart choices for you and your family. You'll no longer feel bewildered nor overwhelmed with plastics and what to do about them.

About Mamamaven:
Tanis Frame, founder of MamaMaven, has a background in facilitation, research, toxicology and children’s environmental health. She is a popular guest speaker and runs fun and informative workshops designed to help you navigate the information overload on healthy topics.

Tanis has a reputation for removing any guilt or pressure in her presentations and makes the information easy to understand. She immediately puts you at easy with her fun, easy-going personality and trust us, you'll definitely leave feeling you've learned something.

Hope you can make it:
If possible, we'd appreciate RSVP's (just so we have enough chairs!) to customerservice@lavishandlime.com or give us a quick call 778-340-5463. We're happy to answer any questions you might have too!

For hundreds of green living ideas - everyday eco finds and unusual planet-friendly gifts - visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Guide to Going Green: Your Green Family Blueprint

2011-02-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

We're all being bombarded with so much information about 'going green' it can be overwhelming - we know.

That's why when we were approached by local BC author Tracy Lydiatt about her new book Your Green Family Blueprint, we got more than a little excited and readily agreed to help her launch this great how-to guide that can really help families live life a little greener.

Tracy's book makes sustainability easy, accessible and interesting. It also reminds us that going green has an impact on our health, how we connect with our community and our family members.

Read an excerpt from Your Green Family Blueprint here.

When you purchase the book between February 16th and 20th and register your purchase – you will have access to over $1400 in gifts and prizes contributed by Tracy’s book launch partners, including us!

Let us know what you think of this book - we'd love to hear your comments - and for more green living ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime.

Stuffies with Purpose: upcycled pillow pals

2011-02-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

It really is amazing how many stuffed animals kids can accumulate. At our house, the stuffie population feels overwhelming at times - despite semi-frequent cullings that more often than not end with 'not that one, I love that one.' That's why when we came across these purpose built Pillow Pals, we breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, they're adorable, lovable and yes, being handmade of reclaimed wool they're ultra soft, cuddly and planet-friendly. Yet, even more importantly for us - in the realm of stuffed animals - they have a purpose. Each one of these eco-friendly animal stuffies are designed in such a way that a child can really snuggle with them and lay his/her head down on them. Perfect for watching TV, napping wherever or snoozing in bed.

If you're a sewer, a crafter or simply love to follow along with Martha Stewart, you're in luck. The Canadian designer behind our Pillow Pals is featured on marthastewart.com where you can download templates and follow instructions to make your own Pillow Pals.

Or if you're like us and sewing an actual pillow seems rather daunting, you can simply order these adorable eco-friendly stuffed animals handcrafted in Canada by experts and we'll send them to you pronto. Being made from reclaimed wool, each stuffie is unique but you can choose from a happy hippo in generally girl-ish colours or an adorable dog in browns and blues.

Also from this designer are our popular reclaimed wool animal puppets - choose from our dog puppet, giraffe puppet, frog puppet or monkey puppet.

For more eco-friendly gift ideas for kids, visit Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about eco-friendly craft projects, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Plastic Sandwich Bag Lands Quebec Boy on Wrong Side of Eco Fence

2011-02-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

The recent story of the Quebec boy who was excluded from a kindergarten draw because he had a plastic sandwich bag is unfortunate. It's also a great lesson about the key role information plays in generating positive change.

Special school activities around planet-friendly practices can have a positive, memorable effect on learning as long as they're backed up with education and adequate advance information. Incorporating background lessons into the curriculum and sending notices home or posting on the school website are great ways to inform everyone involved - including parents - and get some buzz going about the activity so the kids are excited about participating in it.

In the case of six-year-old Felix from Laval, Quebec, somehow the information didn't reach everyone.

As reported in the National Post, Felix's father, Marc-Andre Lanciault says he'd heard nothing of the draw for a stuffie for students who did not bring plastic sandwich bags to school or anything about the school's environmental policy until his son was begging for his sandwich not to be put in a plastic bag.

"Felix explained with lots of emotion and tears in his eyes that there was a simple condition to entering the drawing: Don't use a Ziploc bag in their lunch," Lanciault wrote on his blog, Notre Vie (Our Life). "Seeing the use of a ziploc by his Mum, Felix reacted as if someone had slaughtered a pig for slicing into his ham sandwich," wrote Lanciault.

Normally, Felix takes Tupperware to school, but on this occasion it was all in the dishwasher so his sandwich was packed in a plastic sandwich bag.

When questioned about Felix's exclusion from the contest because of a plastic bag, his teacher said, "You know Mr. Lanciault, it is not very good for the environment, we have to take care of our planet, and the bags do not decompose well, etc."

Education and encouragement through positive reinforcement are undoubtedly the better choice over penalty and preaching. In this case, while the kids in Felix's class who didn't bring a plastic sandwich bag that day were rewarded positively with entry into the draw, the unfortunate plastic sandwich bag faux pas landed poor Felix on the other unfriendly side of the environmental fence.

Should Felix be held responsible for his parents' actions at such a young age? No. A good alternative is to run activities by class, especially at the primary levels. 'Waste-free lunch days' or 'walk to school challenges' run as a competition between classes within a school rather than between individuals can be effective without singling out students in a potentially negative way.

Are activities like contests the proper vehicle for educating kids about environmental responsibility? Yes, if they're backed up by an educational component and the science behind it - naturally at a level the kids can understand. A contest is far more interesting and memorable than hearing the same message from the teacher.

And if our child tearily begged us to pack a reusable container that was in the dishwasher? We have to say, we'd probably take a few minutes to wash one by hand.

If you have any thoughts or ideas about eco-friendly activities in schools or generating positive change, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

For the latest waste-free lunch gear, including the bestselling reusable sandwich wrap - a great alternative to plastic sandwich bags - visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. Packed with hundreds of everyday eco finds, Lavish & Lime is a great source for ideas about greener living.

Hopscotch Natural Nail Polish Valentines Giveaway Winner

2011-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Anna - winner of our Hopscotch Kids Natural Nail Polish Valentine's Giveaway who says she really likes the colour Miss Mary Mack (black).

Please email us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com with your shipping information so we can get your nail polish + natural nail polish remover out to you in time for Valentine's Day.

Big thanks to everyone who entered. Watch out for our next giveaway...

Hopscotch Kids Water Colors Safe Natural Nail Polish is available at Lavish & Lime. For adults, check out our Scotch Naturals Watercolors Nail Polish, from the makers of Hopscotch. For more greener living ideas, please come by and browse our eco boutique at www.lavishandlime.com.

Heart of the Matter: Raising Awareness of Heart Health Month

2011-02-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

What's the number one health threat for women? Heart disease. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, women are more likely to die from heart disease than any other disease. That's why when we were approached by Woman's Day Magazine to support their 8th Annual Red Dress Awards next week, we said yes.

February is Heart Month and it's all about raising awareness and funds for research into heart disease. The Red Dress Awards is an event held in New York to honour those who’ve made a significant contribution to the fight against heart disease in women. Barbara Walters is among this year’s honorees and the event itself features Natasha Bedingfield, Charice and is co-hosted by Mario Lopez, of Dancing with the Stars fame.

We're pleased to report we've teamed up with Cleanwell, makers of our popular natural hand sanitizers and liquid soaps, to support this worthy event. Among the goodies in the VIP swag bags will be a Cleanwell natural hand sanitizer spray in the yummy vanilla orange scent. WIN your own hand sanitizer spray - see details below.

Let's face it, women are - in many respects - head of the household. To take care their families, they need to look after themselves. Ever notice what happens to the running of the house when Mom gets sick? Raising awareness about heart disease means raising awareness about prevention and the importance of making smart choices to lead a healthier, greener lifestyle.

What is heart disease?
The term heart disease can mean any one of a number of different heart problems. The most common kind of heart disease is coronary heart disease. This happens when a fatty substance called plaque clogs the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart. If a blood vessel becomes completely blocked, a heart attack can happen.

Eating healthy, being healthy and exercising regularly can go a long way to helping fight heart disease. While menopause, family history, race and socioeconomic factors are key, so are high cholesterol, physical inactivity, hypertension, excessive weight, diabetes and tobacco smoke - things we can aim to control.

Taking steps to live life a little greener in terms of what you put in your body and what you do with your body is a great start.

WIN 1 of 5 NATURAL HAND SANITIZERS! Tell us how you keep your heart healthy in a comment below or on our Facebook wall and you could win a Cleanwell hand sanitizer - just like in the VIP swag bags at the Woman's Day Red Dress Event. Random draw will take place this Friday, February 11th. Be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch if you win!

For more information, check out these sites:
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Womenshealthmatters.ca
Dietitians of Canada

For more green living ideas, visit eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts about heart disease or living a healthier, greener life in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Lifefactory Love: 5 Reasons to use 450ml Glass Water Bottles

2011-02-02T22:07:00.000-08:00

Six new additions to our popular line of Lifefactory glass water bottles have just arrived - and we think you're going to like them as much as we do.
It's the smaller 450ml glass water bottle in six great cap-and-bottle matching colours, four of which are new. Choose from: Raspberry Pink, Spring Green, Pearl White, Turquoise, Royal Purple and Graphite Grey. If the colours themselves aren't enough to make you want to snap one up, here are five more reasons you might want to rethink your current water bottle.

Our glass water bottles are not only gorgeous, but we really like them because:

They're free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC. These water bottles are made of good old-fashioned glass and are 100% non-toxic - and recyclable too.
The colourful, funky and most importantly - protective - silicone sleeve makes these glass water bottles virtually unbreakable so they not only look good but are practical too. View our glass water bottle drop test video here.
There's no metallic taste.
The 450ml size fits most car and stroller drink holders.
The wide mouth is ideal for ice cubes, fruit slices, etc.

This new version of our 650ml glass water bottle is smaller all around and works particularly well for older kids and seniors.

Lifefactory 450ml glass water bottles are available at eco boutique Lavish & Lime. For more green living ideas, visit www.lavishandlime.com. If you have any thoughts about glass water bottles or water bottles in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!