Friday Freebie: Scotch Naturals Nail Polish Giveaway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Valentines Giveaway: Win a Hopscotch Kids Natural Nail Polish + Remover

We love seeing little divas all decked out but what we really love is when they glam it up with natural products that we know won't cause them harm. Our girls love Hopscotch Kids Natural Nail Polish (so do we) and with our Valentines Day 2011 Giveaway - we hope you do too!

Our Hopscotch Kids Water Colors nail polish is completely water-based and produced with none of the harmful toxic chemicals found in most nail polishes. There is no formaldehyde, phthalates or fd&c (toxic colouring). This safe nail polish does not result in yellowing or drying of the nails, there's no awful 'chemical smell' to deal with and it is 100% biodegradable. The more you use it, the more it actually conditions and nourishes nails.

Choose from nine different Hopscotch Kids Nail Colors with great names, including Red Rover, Ice Cream Soda Pop, Bubble Gum in a Dish, Teddy Bear, and Peter Pumpkin Eater.

We believe in giving gifts that we think kids will actually use, not abandon immediately after opening. One of our best Valentine's gifts for kids along this line would be a Hopscotch Kids Natural Nail Polish plus a Hopscotch Natural Nail Polish Remover - we're certain these great Valentine's gifts would make any little Valentine swoon.

HOW TO WIN A HOPSCOTCH NAIL POLISH OF YOUR CHOICE - for Valentine's Day
Leave a comment below telling us which colour of Hopscotch Kids Natural Safe Natural Polish you'd like to win, why and you might just win it PLUS a Hopscotch polish remover ($25 value)! Please include your email address so we can contact you if you win. Random draw will be on February 8th so we can ship the prize in time for February 14th.

Extra entries: join us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook page and tell us below for two extra entries.

Good luck!

This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only.

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.

Eco-Tip: Recycle Household Water

This is the first of what we're planning to be many tips on light green living.

These eco-tips are for those of us who are definitely not litterbugs, but we're not tree huggers either. They are ideas and suggestions about taking easy, little - do-able - steps towards living life a little greener.

So here we go.

Eco-Tip: Put a bucket in the shower

It's watering restriction time again for the garden (at least in Vancouver) and while we watch the amount of water we use outside the house, what about inside?

Do you know retro shower heads use about 20 litres of water per minute? That you'll waste 15 litres of water per minute by leaving the tap running? Or that 30% of water use in the home is in the shower?

Why not recycle household water? One of the simplest ways is to put a bucket in the shower. Use the water you collect to water your garden, or even your houseplants. What about washing the car? And dare we say it, the dog?

You could always reduce the amount of water you use inside too. Yes, you can install a new shower head or you can simply pick up a shower timer. A great way to reduce your shower time from 20 minutes to the Aussie-recommended 4 minutes. Yes, a bit of push to get all your bits done, but the upside is more time to enjoy that extra morning cuppa!

Do you have ideas or tips about recycling household water? Please add them below! Everyone who leaves a comment before July 31st will be entered to win a sport size all natural sunscreen from Soleo Organics.

Today's Deal: Waffle Shower Cap

Our Daily Deal today is a must for any bath diva on the go.

High quality and classic white, our bath cap is the perfect bathroom accessory when you don't have time to wash your hair.

For today only we've reduced the price by 40%, and only while stocks last. Simply click below for more information and to purchase.

Today's Daily Deal is...

Waffle Shower Cap
Was: $34
Now: $20.40
SAVE 40%

BUY NOW
Keep hair dry while bathing with this stylish shower hat from Australia. The sturdy waterproof liner is covered with a cotton/satin/polyester outer in a classic white waffle design. Time for the plastic caps from hotels and dye boxes to hit the bin! One size fits all.

For more great deals during our winter sale, check out our sale shop at Lavish & Lime. And be sure to check back here again for tomorrow's Daily Deal.

Today's Deal: Natural Baby Gift Pack

Today's Daily Deal is for the wee ones out there.

A great shower, baby, first birthday gift, this sampler pack of paraben-free, all natural body care products is certain to be a hit with any babe - and any Mom.

Not only are these products ideal for baby's sensitive skin but they're 100% naturally made here in Canada.

For today only we're offering this lovely gift pack at 50% OFF and only while stocks last. Simply click below to purchase.

Today's Daily Deal is...

Natural Baby Gift Pack
Was: $40
Now: $20
SAVE 50%

BUY NOW
Five different body care products - all free of preservatives - plus an organic cotton washcloth are presented in an attractive frosted gift pack tied with colourful raffia ribbon. The pack contains Smooth as a Baby's Bum Balm (35g), Sweet Dreams Foaming Baby Body Wash (60ml), Oh Baby! Massage Oil (60ml), Bottoms Up! Baby Bum Spray (60ml), Sweet Cheeks Baby Bum Powder (5g) and a washcloth. All products are paraben-free and not tested on animals. Made in Calgary, Alberta.

For more great deals during our winter sale, check out our sale shop at Lavish & Lime. And be sure to check back here again for tomorrow's Daily Deal.

Sister's Day: A Dose of Sibling Love

“A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.”
~Marion C. Garretty

Happy Sister’s Day! Haven’t heard of it? Neither had we until a few weeks ago.

Apparently, Sister’s Day happens the first Sunday of August and the intention is to celebrate being or having a sister.

Nobody seems to know its origins, but Hallmark and Crayola are big proponents. OK, so maybe this is simply another creative marketing invention, but isn’t it a nice one?

Sisters play such a big role in our lives – a playmate in childhood, a confidente in our teens and an invaluable friend as we grow older. How often do we take time out to celebrate our relationship with them?

We are incredibly lucky to have two little girls. Right now they’re becoming the best of friends, spending umpteen hours with each other, especially over the summer months. Our hope is that this closeness carries through but naturally, what happens in their adult years will be up to them.

Thinking about your sister? Surprise her with a thoughtful gift. A lovely necklace, earrings, body brush gift set or even a cheeky apron ‘Will cook for shoes’ or retro mirror compact ‘You’ll always be my best friend, you know too much’ all make great gifts. If she's into green living, how about a collapsible eco-basket? And if she likes gardening, a tin of paraben-free natural hand salve - great for green thumbs.

For something special for your sister any day of the year, check out our collection of gifts at Lavish & Lime.

DEET-Free: Natural Insect Repellent is Safer Option

Dread heading to the great outdoors - or even your back deck in the evenings - for fear of being eaten alive by the wee beasties? Don’t relish the thought of slathering yourself with sticky, smelly, toxic insect repellent? Try going au natural – it’s safer.

Most major insect repellent brands contain DEET – a controversial bug repellent classified as ‘slightly toxic’. Application of DEET can cause important skin and eye problems, including rashes, conjunctivitis, contact dermatitis, and has been linked to neurological problems, according to the Sierra Club of Canada.

Citing health risks, Health Canada banned insect repellents with more than 30% active DEET in April 2002.

If you do use a DEET-based repellent, the Sierra Club suggests not applying it indoors and that it not used by pregnant women, children under two years or people taking antihistamines.

As a safe alternative try a natural insect repellent with non-toxic, essential oils such as citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus with strong bug discouraging properties and bug repellent scents. Natural repellents are non-greasy, generally non-aerosol and have a pleasant odour – to us.

Other non-toxic bug tips include:

1. Wear long-sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially from dusk until dawn. Loose clothing made of thicker materials are more difficult for mosquitoes to bite through.
2. Replace outdoor incandescent lights with yellow ‘bug lights’ which attract fewer mosquitoes.
3. Burn a citronella candle.

At Lavish & Lime, our natural insect repellent Bug Joose! is completely DEET-free. Made in Canada of pure essential oils, including citronella and lemon grass, it comes in a non-pressurized pump bottle - it's safe for you and for the environment too.