Shop Local!

I'm lucky enough to live in a city with a thriving downtown. Beautiful historic buildings, unique shops, great restaurants and coffee shops, and a friendly atmosphere. Sure, we have the big box stores too, but downtown is the place to be. Its where you find the coolest clothes and decor, unique items that not everyone has. I can literally wander for hours, window shopping, actually shopping, enjoying a cool beverage on a sunny patio, and running into familiar friendly faces. It just feels like home. But I wonder if people realize that these amazing areas in every town are in constant jeopardy. Big box stores come to town, offering low low prices on cheap merchandise shipped in from the other side of the world. The more we give in to the lure of convenience and rock-bottom prices, the more our local businesses suffer. The thing is, WE decide what kind of town (and what kind of world) we want to live in, and we cast our vote with ever dollar we spend. Who do you want to support? The giant, multinational, faceless corporation, or Mr. Smith, who lives down the street, and makes his honest living in your town, and in turn, spends his money in your town, and gives back to your community? When you support local businesses, you support your community. Here's a quick read on some of the many reasons to shop local: article.

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DIY: Message Board

I'm always searching for functional objects that are also beautiful. Most people have a message board somewhere in their house. A place to write grocery lists, honey-do lists, and jot quick notes to your family. Most of the dry erase boards I've seen in stores are, lets face it, ugly. Utilitarian, simple, no style to speak of. So I decided to make my own. It's super simple and inexpensive too! I went to my local dollar store and picked up a picture frame, some scrapbook paper and a pack of dry erase markers. I cut the paper to fit in the frame and assembled it. That's it. You can use dry erase markers on pretty much any non-porous surface, so it doesn't matter if the frame has glass or plastic in front. Here's how mine turned out:

I used scrapbook paper, but you could also use wallpaper remnants, a favorite photo, a cool image clipped from a magazine, sheet music, or even fabric. Although, if you choose fabric, I would recommend taping or gluing it to a thin piece of cardboard so it doesn't slip down inside the frame. One final tip, I would use a fairly light colour scheme so that the marker shows up over it. Happy crafting!

Natural Blemish Buster

If Tea Tree Oil isn't already a staple in your medicine cabinet, now is the time to add this natural powerhouse to your bag of tricks. Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil produced by steam distilling the Australian plant Melaleuca Alternifolia. Applied topically, it has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiseptic properties. This means it can be used to treat a wide variety of common problems. Some of these conditions include:

- Acne

- Athlete's Foot

- Dandruff

- Lice

- Minor Abrasions

- Skin Irritations

- Bug Bites

- And many more...

Due to it's antibacterial properties, it can also be used in homemade cleaning products. You can add 2 tsp of the oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle to use as an all-purpose cleaner. I like to mix a few drops into some baking soda to use as a tub scrub. My favorite use for Tea Tree Oil is as a natural blemish buster. Apply a little oil to a cotton swab and dab onto blemishes a few times a day. It has been found to be as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide, but with fewer side effects.

For more information on Tea Tree Oil, see articles here, here and here.

Cautions: Do not ingest Tea Tree Oil.

Its strong, so be conservative, a little goes a long way.

Be Green - Recycle!

Now THIS is cool! I just found out about this amazing recycling program from TerraCycle. This organization accepts all kinds of waste that your local recycling program may reject, and turns it into cool and useful recycled products! They take everything from candy bar wrappers to cosmetic containers to pens. Its available in many countries around the world, including here in Canada. Here's how it works:

1. Visit www.terracycle.ca to sign up for free.

2. Pick the type of waste you'd like to collect.

3. Put out a collection box, get the word out, and wait for the box to fill.

4. Download and print a shipping label and ship to TerraCycle for FREE via UPS.

5. They turn your garbage into NEW products and materials.

6. On many items, they donate $0.02 per unit of waste to a charity of your choice!

You win, the planet wins and so does a worthy cause! I'll be signing up and collecting items through my work. You should too!

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Stay Cool

We are officially in a heat wave! Feels like 41 with the humidex today. Please excuse me while I melt. In fact, its so hot, I couldn't even have my usual cup of coffee this morning. That's a problem for me. I'm the first to admit that I'm an addict. Need that java to start my day. Lucky for me, I had coffee ice cubes on hand! A lovely friend gave me this Fred & Friends Cool Beans Coffee Ice Cube Tray as a gift, and I have gotten so much use out of it!

You just pour your leftover coffee in the tray and freeze. The tray is made of silicone, so its easy to squeeze out the bean shaped cubes. This morning I just added a few cubes to a glass of milk, but you could also toss them in the blender with milk (soy or almond milk if you prefer) to make a delicious frosty coffee beverage, or even put a couple in a glass of Bailey's or Kahlua if you're feeling saucy. Cheers!

Nuts for Coconut Oil

Lets take a moment to appreciate one of nature's best kept secrets... Coconut Oil! This stuff is amazing! Not only is it a fantastic addition to your diet, as it is the BEST oil to use for high temperature cooking (it doesn't oxidize and turn into free radicals like some other oils), but its also fantastic for your skin, hair and nails.  There are literally hundreds of uses for this hard-working natural product, which I can't even begin to list here. Check out this helpful infographic to get a general sense of its awesomeness, and for more detailed information, read this article.

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How do I use coconut oil? I use this organic extra virgin coconut oil for cooking, in smoothies, as a moisturizer for my face and body, as a deep conditioning hair treatment, and as a base in homemade body products (scrubs, lotions, lip balm, etc). It is truly a super hero! You may have trouble finding it in the grocery store, but it is readily available at many health food stores. This is a MUST TRY!

Mean 15

While we're on the subject of beauty products and toxic ingredients, I thought I'd share this handy tool. Visit the Ecoholic website to download and print the Mean 15 pocket guide. Keep it in your wallet, and whip it out next time you visit the drugstore for shampoo, deodorant, moisturizer and more. Do yourself and the planet a BIG favour and become a label-reader. It may take longer, but its well worth the effort.

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Summer Reading

I just picked up a copy of Adria Vasil's Ecoholic Body. Loving this book so far! Third in her hugely popular Ecoholic series, this volume deals with personal care. From shampoo to shoes, Ms. Vasil runs down the list of all the chemical nasties lurking behind the pretty packaging and glossy ads. She teaches us what to look for in ingredient lists, recommends products that have passed the test, and even shows us how to make it ourselves! Jam packed with important information on our health and the health of the planet, Ecoholic Body shows us how to simplify and green up our lifestyle, something we could ALL benefit from.

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The Infamous Sock Bun

So, if you know me at all, you probably know that I have very little skill when it comes to styling my hair. I have been cursed with fine, slippery, straight hair... and very little patience. So you can imagine my excitement when I mastered a fun, pretty hairstyle. Armed with a tutorial found on Pinterest, a lonely, mateless sock, and a good helping of determination, I set off on my quest to conquer the Sock Bun. Follow these instructions and you too can have a big, beautiful bun that will fool everyone into thinking you have long, thick and luscious hair.

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Music Maven

 

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The concert season is upon us once again. For me, summer means rock shows in parks and amphitheatres. Of course, the order of the day is rocking out, so comfort is key. Flat, closed toe shoes are a necessity, as is a cross body bag to stash your camera, cash and (ahem) contraband. Hands should be free to throw in the air, fist pump, and wave the occasional peace sign. Don't forget copious amounts of sunscreen!

My concert season was supposed to start over the weekend with the much anticipated Radiohead show at Downsview Park in Toronto. As a long time fan, I was so excited. That excitement, however, turned to shock and heartbreak, as a massive accident occurred just before the gates were set to open. The enormous stage setup collapsed as it was being erected, killing a member of Radiohead's road crew, and injuring 3 more. Obviously the concert was cancelled. Such a tragedy. Condolences go out to the victim's family and friends. See CBC News for all the details.

Casual Coral

The days are getting hotter, and the outfits are getting cuter! The steadily rising mercury calls for breezy tops, comfy shorts and sandals to show off that well deserved summer pedicure. My favorite colour combo? Coral and turquoise call to mind tropical destinations, even when my only destination is the patio down the street. Neutral brown grounds the palette, and chic sunglasses always finish off a cool summer look.

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