Mother's Day Greenest Mom Giveaway

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

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

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

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.

1. 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.
2. Better for the environment - choosing a greener form of transportation helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

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

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

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.