ShoptoBeGreen.com Offers Organic, Natural & Sustainable Products

If you don't have a small family-owned green products retailer near you, you know have one online.

Shoptobegreen.com offers organic, natural and sustainable products for your body and your home. Many factors go into the careful selection of vendors and their products. They ask themselves,"Can this product reduce the public's use of petroleum products; lower landfill contribution either through bio-degradability, pre-cycle and recycle usage; and lowering chemical exposure by providing naturally made alternatives?"

They also prefer to carry products "made out of recycled materials created in an environmentally friendly way; like our reclaimed wood furniture, recycled water bottle felt pillows, and junk mail greeting cards. We also choose to carry a lot of products that are handmade by small family owned companies (like Tumbleweed Bead Co, GB Proudfoot, Decoylab and Beehive Kitchenware). One of the many reasons we love small companies is because their products tend to be handmade at the time you place your order so there are no large warehouses of inventory sucking up energy."

You can tell they've put a lot of thought into this:

"We look for items that can replace petroleum based products (like soy candles) and products that can help conserve energy usage (like LED lights and solar electronics). We carry jewelry made only from recycled metals and we will only carry antique or Canada mined diamonds so you can rest assured that it is not a conflict diamond. Our policy on products from outside of the US is to find companies that help reduce waste like Verterra’s biodegradable disposable kitchenware, Chaba reclaimed wood decor, and AquaOvo Therm-o glass bottle. We look for companies with Fair Trade policies such as our Pomiare Clayware, BeeHive Kitchenware Ceramics, and Himalayan salt lamps."

Not only is that a time-saver from shopping store to store, but it's a heartwarmer too - you can feel good about absolutely everything you purchase here. How great to support these smaller, independent producers!

I got to try Solay Wellness, for instance, which I'd never come across before. Their Whipped Body Butter is so luxurious and light, that I've been slathering all over my body ever since it arrived. And my skin has never been so soft! And the Detox Face Mask is the perfect way to combat a stressful day and/or damaged skin.

G.B. Proudfoot is another company I hadn't heard of and was thrilled to discover. Their Original Organic Lip Balm is not only soothing, it's got the most invigorating scent - ginger and orange - you'll want to eat it! For truly soft, renewed skin, their Tea with Lemon & Honey Scrub (pictured above) goes to work on ridding you of any dry skin and leaves behind rich, moist skin, all done with natural ingredients.

Not only is Shoptobegreen.com a fantastic place to shop for yourself, it makes gift-giving a breeze.

Shop now. Shop green. Shop responsibly.

Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care Helps Communities Beat Unfair Conditions

It's not often that you can make a difference by buying skincare.

But Alaffia cares about more than your skin. They are advancing gender equality and alleviating poverty through the fair trade of handcrafted shea butter in Togo, West Africa and their amazing products.

Alaffia's Skincare line is superb, one of the best I've ever tried. And crazy inexpensive! When I saw the quality of the ingredients and how it transformed my skin, I thought for sure these bottles would be at least $60 each. 

Not even close!

My routine starts with the Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Facial Cleanser. Using a combination of  handcrafted shea butter, virgin coconut oil, rooibos tea, aloe and African wild honey, it feels soft and gentle on your skin, but considering that I had some waterproof makeup on, it really went to work on getting everything off - with no effort on my part.

I love the feeling of having a freshly washed face before bed, but learned long ago that soap dries out your skin. My skin's dry enough, thank you very much, so I really appreciate that after having used this cleanser, my skin feels softer than before I put on my makeup this morning.

Next, I apply the tea-coloured Rooibos & Shea Antioxidant Facial Toner, sprayed on a cotton ball. The refreshing, revitalizing blend of rooibos tea, shea leaf extracts, witch-hazel and African wild honey prepped my fave like a canvas. See, it's formulated to "naturally balance your skin's pH and help maximize hydration," and because there's no drying alcohol, your skin simply looks clean and luminescent. 

My favourite part has got to be putting on Alaffia's Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Face Cream. I think it's because it feels so good to smooth on (the texture is soft and silky) and you can feel your skin immediately hydrate and soften upon application. Really, it works that quickly. It's their amazing products that you see throughout the line - unrefined shea butter, virgin coconut oil, rooibos tea and African wild honey. My skin became so supple and toned after using this just after a few days. And after just one day of use, my fella came home and said, "Your skin looks really good."

That really says it all, doesn't it?

You should shop Alaffia for many reasons:

- their products work

- they are incredibly affordable

- purchasing their products goes to help women in West Africa

- the fragrance of the ingredients is intoxicating - kind of like Chinese 5 spice powder

So shop Alaffia now and make a difference - to your skin and to those in need.

The Secret to Mouth-Watering Meals? Olivado Oils

This week, I took my 4 book clubs to a restaurant I'd chosen to go with the book we'd just read. The restaurant serves Southern Italian cuisine and the simplest foods were made extraordinary by their exquisite olive oil. Plain bread and sauteed kale were no longer plain.

And that's the difference great olive oil makes.

One of the best I've tried , and now my go-to brand, is Olivado.

The proof was dinner last week. I started a new project that I worked on all day and left me exhausted at night. As much as I wanted to make something memorable, I couldn't tend to anything too complicated. So I roasted chicken, made some rice and broiled some asparagus I'd tossed with Olivado Avocado Oil. Out of all the items, despite marinating the organic, free-run chicken and adding exotic spices to the rice, it was the asparagus that my fiance fell for. And it being January, the asparagus certainly wasn't in season or at its peak. The flavour came from the oil.

So when I made steak a few nights later and rubbed ------ on it, it was the oil that brought it to life.

Olivado Avocado Oil is excellent for high heat cooking (it has one of the highest smoke points at 250) and enhances your dishes instead of overpowering them. It is rich in chlorophylls that reduce your risk of cancer and all the vitamin E helps reduce incidences of cardiovascular disease.

It contains no trans fats or cholesterol and is high in monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

In case that's not exciting enough, consider that Olivado Avocado Oil meets the Heart & Stroke Fountain Health Check Criteria, has 10 times more chlorophyll than olive oil and has twice as much beta-sitosterol than olive oil, which reduces cholesterol absorption in the body.

I am hooked for life on Olivado Avocado Oil. Their Avocado Zest Oil too If you are on a raw diet or want another oil with a high smoke point (410), try their Macadamia Nut Oil. Olivado Omega Plus Oil is a great all-purpose oil that is a blend of cold-pressed, extra virgin avocado, olive and flaxseed oils.

These rich oils are so flavourful and fresh that you'll be looking for any excuse to have them. I'm making homemade dressings, marinades and roasting vegetables left, right and centre just to envelop myself in Olivado's fine flavours.

If you want to take your food to the next level, get yourself Olivado Oils.

Give a Fair Trade Gift This Season From Ten Thousand Villages

Fair Trade products are handcrafted from sustainable materials using environmentally-friendly methods.

Ten Thousand Villages have been providing vital, fair income to people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East by selling their handicrafts and telling their stories since 1946.

In 2011, Ten Thousand Villages will be celebrating its 65th anniversary, making it Canada's largest and oldest Fair Trade organizations.

Ten Thousand Villages Stores are staffed in part by volunteers, but please feel free to shop online if you like (I like going to the store in my neighbourhood as it is welcoming and warm and happens to be just around the corner - there are 49 stores across Canada). You can shop for handcrafted jewelry, personal accessories, home decor, textiles, skin care, food products, toys and instruments as well as many other items. For each items, there is printed product information so your gift comes with a real story.

For Christmas, there are amazing decoration and ornaments to select from, as well as unique Nativity Scenes. They even have a Stocking Stuffers category, to make shopping that much easier for you.

If you're really stuck for what to choose, try these lists: Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Kids, Gifts for the Hostess, Gifts for Teachers and Corporate Gift Ideas.

Here are some of my favourite picks:

- Coiled Paper Ball Ornaments add so much colour to the tree.

- I'm a big fan of Putumayo CDs.

- The Tea Holder/Box makes your tea a little extra special.

- Embossed Boxes can transform into a beautiful and meaningful  memory box.

- What a statement piece! I love the Black Metal Lamp and Shade.

- The Blue Tibetan Wool Accent Rug (pictured above) will be something they cherish forever.

- I am fascinated by the Himalayan Calendar and 40-Year Calendar.

- The Hogla Leaf Storage Stool is 2 gifts in one - nice!

- Ooh, I love the Handwoven Grey Silk Scarf.

- Give the gift of an indoor garden with the Ceramic Herb Pots (3 Pieces).

- Blow their minds with the Upside Down Map.

And for the food lover on your list, these cookbooks are a great gift that keeps on giving and the Black Horn Salad Servers are a classy gift. The Eight Piece Ceramic Sushi Set is simply fabulous and the Elegant Olive Wood Cutting Board is a cook's dream.

Two other wonderful options are Gift Cards and Living Gifts.

It's easy to see why it pays to shop at Ten Thousand Villages.

Shop now and make this holiday a meaningful, memorable one.

Make the Switch to Better For GrownUps Reusable Organic Cotton Tissues

This year I want to make some changes in how I do things.  

I vigorously recycle and compost at home, and donate my clothes on a regular basis.  

But there's got to be something more...

Better For GrownUps has a host of products that can help and their Reusable Organic Cotton Tissues are a great place to start. 

The first to love about them is that they are soft (Fair Trade & Certified Organic cotton), so you'll actual want to use them.  Who wouldn't rather feel sateen against their skin than paper?  And while soft, these little guys are strong, so go ahead and sneeze right into 'em - they can take it!  

The box they come in is smart - your tissues are dispensed just like the traditional ones you've been using up until now, but there is a drawer compartment built into this one, that allows you to discard your used tissues with ease.  Then just toss them into the wash with the rest of your laundry. It's that easy!

You get 12 tissues to start and refill packs are available.  

Switching to Better for GrownUps Reusable Organic Cotton Tissues is a change you can feel good about.

See what else you can do.

Shop at Ten Thousand Villages and Make a Real Difference!

Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit Fair Trade organizations that sells stylish, ethnically-inspired and ethically sources products in stores and online.

They provide vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America.

By shopping at Ten Thousand Villages, you can buy gifts with meaning, green gifts and shop ethically for you and your home all in one convenient location. Just imagine how meaningful a graduation, wedding or anniversary gift when it's been handcrafted with such love, care and dedication. And they have a gift registry, which is wonderful.

You can choose from personal accessories, home furnishing, textiles, books and stationery, plant and garden, jewelry, skin care, food items, toys and musical instruments, some of which are made from reused, reclaimed, sustainable or organic materials.

Here are some of my recent favourites:

The Cotton Ikat Tablecloth w/ Gingham shows off the season's biggest trend and is just in time for patio season. Your backyard barbecue never looked better. On second thought, you'd better get the matching napkinsfor a truly complete look.

We use a Bamboo Folding Table as our coffee table so that our living room can work in a number of different ways.

I think the Natural & Lime Kaisa Basket is the perfect accent piece for my breakfast bar. And the Reverse Painted Serving Tray (pictured above) is a wonderful time saver when entertaining.

For no-fail gift giving, Portraits is a stellar choice, as is The BitterSweet World of Chocolate. Bookends are always useful and what about a wine rack that folds up? Perfect for taking up to the cottage for the week! And who doesn't love jewelry as a gift?

Being an avid cook, I love how fresh the food and ingredients are, as well as the fact it is all fairly-traded and much of it is organic - all at completely and affordable prices! I get my spices here (like their wonderful curry and za'atar) and I pay LESS for them than at my local grocery store!

Last year, I bought over half of my Christmas presents at Ten Thousand Villages and for once, I felt good about shopping. My purchases really meant something.

You can visit them online via the US or Canada or go in person to one of their many store locations.

Do Your Shopping With a Cute, Sustainable Tote From Olive & Myrtle!

I bet you're going to be picking up a few things on your lunch hour or after work today.

I've got to get a bunch of stuff as well. It doesn't matter that I grocery shopped both days on the weekend. I still manage to be out of a number of things...

I wanted something pretty and eco-conscious to carry my items in. That's why I went to Olive & Myrtle.

Their Recycled Cotton Tote Bag: Fruits & Veggies (pictured above) is perfect. Not only is it made from 100% recycled cotton and printed with water-based inks, but is Fair Wage and Fair Labor Certified, so your money is being well, and fairly spent.

The bag is bigger than a grocery bag (19" wide x 15.5" tall x 7.5" bottom gusset. 22" handles), which means you can absolutely pick up those sweet potatoes that would be a great complement to your roast or that set of books that are sale that would be perfect for Mother's Day. I certainly appreciate it as I walk everywhere and would much rather carry one big bag than 5 small ones.

The exclusive design by San Francisco-based Lab Partners makes me think of old cookbooks and rustic recipes that result in comforting, one dish meals with browned breadcrumbs on top. Isn't is amazing? It is the ultimate "to market" bag, I think! And where I live, many of the big farmer's markets start up again next week, so I can stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, locally raised, hormone-free meats and homemade goodies that I will press into the hands of friends and family.

Of course there are other cool designs to be had. And Olive & Myrtle do way more than tote bags - check out their entire store for amazing products that are eco-conscious as well as pretty and completely amazing in their design.

I'm heading out with my cute bag. I won't be surprised if people stop to ask where I got it. After all, it really is something!

Discover Zoka Coffee and Change Your Day, Your Life!

Stop drinking that awful no-name sludge and get yourself some Zoka Coffee.

This right here will change not only your mornings, but your entire day!

Columbia Villa Rica Cup of Excellence Coffee is a fascinating blend of jasmine, mango and dark chocolate mace. Take that, grocery store coffee! It is rich and bold without being at all acidic. Which means, you can enjoy it without any stomach burn or other side effects that you might associate with a strong cuppa.

And because it is only roasted on Mondays, your products will shop the first Monday following your date order, so that you are sure to get the freshest cup possible. How amazing is that?!

Mmm. The Organic Sumatra Putra Rimbun is amazing. Fruity and hearty, it is one of those coffees that will have you going back for seconds, and possibly thirds. I like it first thing in the morning, as well as after dinner.

Oh, Tangletown. Ye with the cool name and fantastic flavour profile of sweet and floral. You are what gets me up in the morn and what I crave right before bed. Thank goodness you have a Decaf version as well!

And you've got to try the Fair Trade Organic Zoka Java Blend. But it comes with a warning - it is completely addictive. We served this when friends came over and now they won't stop visiting! We suspect it's only for the coffee, but can we blame them?

Zoka Coffee ROCKS! And at these affordable prices, you can get a whole whack of them. Or join their Coffee Club and never run out again!