Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Decorations to Make Yourself

We've found one of the best green crafts for Christmas that also makes great eco-friendly Christmas tree decorations - Creature Creations. We spotted this craft while admiring the Christmas tree at North Vancouver's Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre.

These little creatures struck us beautiful, unique and being made of reused egg cartons, they're eco-friendly decorations too!

Simply cut one or more compartments out of a cardboard egg carton then paint or draw your favourite animal - a bird or owl works well. Non-toxic paints and natural felt markers are ideal, especially if you're making this craft with kids. Use colourful pipe cleaners or twist ties to tie the creature creation to the branches of your Christmas tree - or even poke a couple of holes and thread the pipe cleaner through to the branch.

This is a great eco0-friendly Christmas craft to keep the kids busy over the holidays and the result is a beautiful tree decoration for your tree or someone else's. A handmade Creature Creation makes a great Christmas Gift!

Natural non-toxic paints, felt markers and other non-toxic art supplies for kids are available at eco boutique Lavish & Lime. Visit www.lavishandlime.com for more greener living and giving ideas. If you have any thoughts or ideas about eco-friendly Christmas crafts, please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you!

Travel Tea Infuser Mug is Ideal for On the Go

Tea drinkers rejoice! Now you can enjoy a proper cuppa of loose leaf tea on-the-go with our Travel Tea Infuser Mug. The thermal double wall construction features non-leaching glass inside and a large, easy grip handle. The fine stainless steel mesh filter is ideal for roiboos and herbal teas.

The health-conscious inner glass wall of these unique tea travel mugs is BPA-free with no potentially toxic chemicals leaching into your tea. The exterior of the mug is made of safe and durable polycarbonate plastic that's on-the-go friendly.

A built-in stainless steel fine mesh filter keeps tea leaves in the tea and out of your mouth. It works just as well with tea bags. The filter is easy to remove for quick access and easy cleaning when adding or emptying loose leaf tea. The clear walls allow you to see through to your tea as you enjoy it! The lid and drinking lip on this tea infuser mug are both BPA-free and the double wall construction ensures your hot tea stays warm for about an hour.

Similar in design to our popular Travel Tea Glass, the Travel Tea Infuser Mug is slightly shorter and wider for a large stable base and features a handle for easy gripping.

The mug style is great for home and office and 'on the go'. Simply add hot water to enjoy your favourite loose leaf tea.

Say no to single use disposable cups for your tea when you're out and about - take your travel tea infuser mug instead!

The travel tea infuser mug is available at online eco boutique Lavish & Lime. For more greener living ideas, visit www.lavishandlime.com. If you have any thoughts or comments about tea travel mugs or on-the-go drinking in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Celebrate Grandparents Day September 12th

Believe it or not, there is more to September than Back to School. There's National Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 12th. For those of you with roots in the UK, the official day there is October 3rd - and we've got a few green suggestions for celebrating it.

"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children."
Alex Haley

As with many holidays, Grandparent's Day began in the U.S. It was first proclaimed in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter at the instigation of a housewife from West Virginia, Marian McQuade. It was designated an official day by our own House of Commons in 1995.

According to the National Grandparents Day website, the aim of National Grandparents Day is:

• To honour grandparents
• To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children
• To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.

Celebrate Grandparents Day with a memorable green gift like an organic viola garden-in-a-bag the grandkids can personalize with colouring and a message. Then grandma or grandpa can grow some flowers on a windowsill indoors at any time of year - everything they need to do so is in the bag! If you're thinking of taking flowers, pick up a recyclable plastic vase. It's unbreakable, folds flat for storage and is ideal for nursing homes or hospitals. Alternatively, ask the kids to make their own family tree picture. It's fun for them to do and certain to become a treasured gift.

For more greener gift ideas, visit online eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about Grandparents Day, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Grandparent's Day: Give a Memory

Although it' seems hard to believe, there is more to September than 'back to school'.

The first Sunday after Labour Day - this year it's September 7 - is officially dedicated as National Grandparent's Day, a celebration of the role our elders play in shaping our lives and the lives of our children.

As with most holidays, Grandparent's Day began in the U.S. It was first proclaimed in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter and was designated an official day by our own House of Commons in 1995.

Officially the purpose is to 'acknowledge their importance to the structure of the family in nurturing, upbringing and education of children'. We think this is great, but perhaps more simply, it should be about appreciation. Taking time to appreciate who our grandparents are, their devotion and the fact that without 'them' there'd be no 'us'.

More than ever it seems many grandparents are playing a significant role in shaping children's lives. Whether it's one day, two days or five days a week, as the cost of daycare continues to rise, lots of families rely on grandparents to provide care giving as Mom returns to work.

In British Columbia alone, 9932 children are being raising in the homes of grandparents, 45% of which are single grandparents, according to the North Shore Neighbourhood House's Grandparents Connections Program. The Program offers a weekly support group, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren so grandparents can share any challenges, issues and joys they're experiencing in their role as caregivers.

Make your grandparent's day on September 7 by giving a memory for them to look at and remember. Why not frame a favourite photo in a lovely photo frame, album or a unique photo serving tray? How about giving a keepsake leather journal and asking your grandparent to jot down some memories for you to keep, or better yet, sit down and do it together.

Grandparent's Day is a great reminder that these fantastic people in our lives are a wealth of wisdom and love. Let's teach our children to treasure them on this day and beyond.

For a selection of thoughtful and unique gifts for Grandparent's Day and any day of the year, visit Lavish & Lime.We offer gift wrapping, complimentary gift card enclosures and will ship your gift anywhere in Canada.