Let There Be Light

My next upcycling project for my apartment was our lamps. Since I met him my boyfriend had always had these terrible looking lamps in his bedroom. The stand was tarnished gold and for some reason the shade always made me think of the inside of a genies lamp. Worst of all they were covered in dust that never seemed to disappear. 

Needless to say, there was no way I was going to have these lamps in my new appt looking like that. So I decided to transform them. 

We bought a can of black spray paint and sprayed the bases and I went out and bought new lamp shades. The bases turned out to be amazing - the black really brought out all of the intricate detail (a feature that I hated before, but is now one of my favourite things about the lamps). 

Ideally I would have loved to cover the old metal frame of the lamp shade with some sort of inexpensive material like burlap however the existing frames were in pretty rough shape so I decided against it. 

Here is the finished product! 

In the end I think we spent approximately $35 to complete both lamps (would have been much less if I could have salvaged the shade frames) and they look great! Who could ask for anything more. 

Upcycling My Apartment

For some time now I have been obsessed with the idea of upcycling - Taking something used or something that could be considered waste and turning it into something fantastic!  For me the most fascinating type of upcycling is anything involving skids - possibly due to my past in retail. Skids are just so versatile - tables, deck chairs, planters, you name it… you can do it.  I must admit Pinterest has only fed the fire, giving me more and more ideas for projects that I have no time to complete or no where to put. 

Luckily I recently moved out of my parents house and into my own apartment! I am now a grown up. Even more fortunate… I have a man friend who is handy with tools.  When we moved in we had very little furniture for our living room - we spent a few weeks with out a couch… repainted a terribly ugly bookshelf… inherited a TV stand and we are currently using another TV stand as a side table. The one piece I knew that I wanted my man friend to make was a coffee table out of… you guessed it… skids. So he worked his butt off and pulled together this amazing table!  

I love it! From what I am told our coffee table cost about $25 - essentially the cost of the stain and varnish.  Way better than the majority of coffee tables we saw while we were couch shopping with a similar style costing over $150. 

Not only was the table cheap … it is also something that is unique to our apartment - something that no one else has (those of you that know me know that that is probably my favourite part). 

Next, I'm hoping that eventually we can find time to pull together some side tables to match. 

Green Beaver Beauty

I'm finally back at it... and as promised I wanted to let you all know the natural beauty products I use!

Green Beaver is my FAVOURITE natural beauty brand. Their products have never disappointed me, they are not uber expensive, AND they are Canadian! I'm so proud. Green Beaver products are made of 100% natural ingredients, all organic, gluten free and vegan. Most importantly... THEY WORK!

I first fell in love with Green Beaver's "Daily Facial Cleanser for sensitive and acne prone skin" after trying some on a trip I took with one of my friends.  My skin felt super clean and smooth after I used it so I went out and bought my own as soon as I could. It's made with grapefruit enzymes, which gets rid of excess oil and smells delish, and aloe vera, which is gentle on skin and helps to reduce redness. The thing that makes me the happiest is that you don't have to use much which means that one tube lasts a very long time. This cleanser is by far my favourite natural beauty product that I've come across so far.

And then came Christmas! My parents gave me a collection of Green Beaver products -  tooth paste, boreal body lotion, and boreal hand balm.  I will admit that the toothpaste is not my favourite but I am super picky about my natural toothpastes.  The body lotions and balm on the other hand are awesome.  They leave your skin a little bit tingly (i think they have eucalyptus in them) and the only way I can describe how they smell is "like a forest" which is oddly appealing. 

Even better are my latest purchases - green beaver's fresh mint hand soap and fresh mint body wash. I have a bit of an obsession with body products with mint in them. It is  one of my favourite smells. Once again these two products make your skin tingle, they always smell delicious and they leave you feeling clean - which is the most important thing!! Next, I am hoping to try Green Beavers shampoo and conditioner - I have high hopes! 

Moral of the story... if you are thinking about switching your beauty products, Green Beaver is an excellent place to start!

The Cost of Beauty

Over the past 20+ years of my life I have exercised my right as a women to own an impressive amount of beauty products.  From shampoos and body lotions to mascara and foundation, I'm sure that I have multiples of them all.  So over the past year I have been attempting to whittle away at my overwhelming collection. 

Not only was my goal to get rid of some of the clutter my collection caused, but also to start switching over to more environmentally friendly products.  The logic behind this - Curb my product addiction (reduce my consumption), align my behaviour with my beliefs and most importantly buy products that are better for my body.

For the longest time I didn't realize how much CRAP was in the stuff I put on my skin.  It's a little scary really.  Chemicals that cause cancer, reduce fertility and cause birth defects etc etc have no business being in my beauty products.

Many companies are beginning to replace some of these chemicals but their products may still be far from clean... Other companies are boasting that their products are free of this thing or that in an effort to get you to buy by making you think that they are better than their competitors.  Some of these things can be as simple as sodium chloride - which is table salt - others are things that have been banned from all products.  Sneaky... I know. So be careful.

Here are some of the resources that I have used to navigate the natural beauty world and avoid these attempts at 'greenwashing':

• Skin Deep Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) 

This database was created by the environmental working group. Based on the information that they have gathered they give each product a score, as well as a breakdown of the ingredients in the product and their health and environmental implications. I find this website very helpful if I am looking to buy a new product and don't know the brand etc.  Definitely worth checking out. 

• Ecoholic Body' by Adria Vasil 

I just bought this book and even without reading the whole thing I have found it very helpful.  The book discussing everything from makeup to clothing - everything that touches your body. She talks about the toxins that are in traditional products and companies that have changed their products. She also rates different products in each beauty and suggests homemade recipes for things like shampoo (baking soda and water - I tried it... and to my surprise it worked).

Next post I will let you know how my beauty product cleanse is going and which new products that I love!

Hey! I Wanted to Eat That!

Those of you who know me well, know that I hate to waste food.  Especially restaurant food.  Whether its the handful of fries that everyone tells me "you can't heat up," the left over veggies that didn't get eaten or the toast that I never touch at breakfast, I always have the urge to get them 'to-go' (even if they weren't on my plate). Add in the fact that I rarely ever finish a full restaurant meal, so I almost always get a second meal out of it). I'm not sure if it's that I paid for the food so I am definitely going to get my money's worth or if it's that I know that it's going straight into the garbage and directly to the landfill.

Either way... in my mind food waste = money waste.  Check out this video that I created for my ecopreneurship class!

Plus... there is just so much you can do with left overs. Cut up the fries, toss them in the frying pan to crisp up, add veggies and an egg and Voila... Breakfast! Add a chicken breast to left over pasta and you have another meal.  The possibilities are endless so why not take advantage of them.

Here is my issue though... The containers. I really don't need a giant-sized Styrofoam or plastic take out container that for a little bit of food.  And to make matters worse... We can't even recycle these in Halton so when I get home I have to throw the container in the garbage anyways.  For me it turns into a toss up.  Do I waste the food (and the money) or do I waste the container?

In most cases, my desire to get another meal out of my purchase wins, so to combat this I have, on many occasions, brought a container with me. Now even though my purse is ginormous so that I can hold my water bottles and coffee mugs, toting a large container around on top of all that can be quite a pain! So instead I have been on the hunt for an alternative.

In my research, I've seen many people keep ziplocks in their bags, but because using less ziplocks this year is my resolution... I'm choosing to avoid that one. I could keep on of my lunchskin bags in my purse, but most meals would either end up smushed or result in food being spread throughout the inside of my purse. Not ideal! 

I recently came across an article on the We Hate To Waste web site called 'The Future of Doggie Bags' (http://www.wehatetowaste.com/doggie-bags/) and I found the solution to all of my food problems... Collapsible Silicone Containers! You know, like the collapsible strainers etc. Toss it in my purse before heading out to eat and it won't take up a ton of space and then pop it open and fill it with food before I leave.  It seems like the perfect solution!

I haven't purchased anything yet - I was trying to look for them at some of my local shops downtown but came up dry. So now I just have to find the right brand and order it online. I'm excited! Has anyone seen these around, or have them at home? Any other ideas to deal with your leftovers?

Every Drop Counts

I have been programmed from a very young age to be concerned about water. As I said in my first post, We ran out of water far too frequently and had to conserve where we could. Turning off the shower to soap and shampoo, flushing the toilet every other time, etc.

When we renovated our house, we switched to low-flow toilets, updated taps and a front loading washing machine. Even with an extra bathroom, these things made a world of difference.

If these solutions seem a little too pricey and the prospect of the 'every other flush' makes you queasy... Do Not Fret... There is another way...

Here are a few simple things that you can do around the house to help make 'every drop counts':

• SIMPLY USE LESS - Make sure that you and your family are shutting off the water when they don't need it. When you brush your teeth, wash your face, in the shower etc. Only run the dishwasher and the washing machine when they are full and don't run the water when you are washing the dishes.  Take shorter showers,

• LISTEN - Listen for the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet. Sometimes you may not have turned the faucet off all the way... but in other cases you may have a leak. So if you are handy, try and tighten everything up... if you are like me, find someone handier and ask nicely!

• ADD SOME AIR - Reduce your water consumption by adding low-flow aerators and shower heads. Aerators spread out the water stream to reduce water use while maintaining performance. This can reduce your water use by more than 30% and most faucet aerators cost around $2-$5.

• DON'T FLUSH IT AWAY - Instead of spending money on a new low flow toilet, you can just add something heavy (a brick, a container filled with water, etc.) in the tank of your toilet.  This will reduce the amount of water needed to fill the tank and limit the amount of water that you flush away.

• CHECK FOR LEAKS - Put some food colouring in the tank of your toilet.  If you find your toilet water changing colour that you have a leak. Fixing this can often be as simple as purchasing a new stopper (for around $10). If that doesn't fix your leak, contact a plumber. It can save you up to 1,000 gallons each month.

• SAVE WHAT YOU CAN - Try saving water where you can... Water that your guests do not drink, that you use to boil an egg, that you use to rinse fruit with can all be used to water flowers! 

Water is becoming one of the most precious commodities and every drop counts... so do your part save what you can! 

Last Minute Gifts That Will Change Lives

Surprise! The world didn't end today... We are all still here but now we face a new dilemma. All of those presents we were putting off buying because 'the world is going to end anyways' are now needed!

The idea of facing a mall this late in the game makes me nauseous and the chances of getting something you order online in time for Christmas is a little bit scarce! So what do you do?

You buy a goat of course! For years one of my good friends asks her family to buy a goat for a family in a third world country - I can't remember if she ever got her goat!

I thought about this when I was attempting to find something for a few members of my family who have everything. So I googled 'buying a goat' and came across the Oxfam Unwrapped web site.

I was amazed by the amount of options they had. Not only could I buy a goat or a chicken or a sheep. I could also buy seeds, plant trees, provide education about HIV and AIDS and clean drinking water etc. Fantastic! My mom was just given a bee hive from one of her classmates. They have options for all budgets!

If you prefer to give back in your community, make a donation in the name of the receiver! Or donate to something of importance to that person - humane society for the animal lover, local school for the teacher etc.

If you still want to make sure they have something to open on Christmas morning, buy them something small and wrap that. Or wrap up the piece of paper that tells them about the amazing donation that you made for them.

Not only will they appreciate your uniqueness... Many more people will benefit from your creative generosity!

Wrap it Up!

So you've finished (hopefully) all of your Christmas shopping and now it is time to wrap. You could go out and spend more of your money on wrapping paper and tape, bows and ribbon (most of which will just end up in the trash) OR you could chose to go green with your gift wrapping this year.

Now, when I hear the term Eco-friendly gift wrapping, my mind automatically goes to boring boxes wrapped up in old newspaper. However, as I have recently discovered Eco-friendly wrap can be quite pretty. It just takes a little bit of creativity and items that you may have lying around the house. Not only will you eliminate a lot of the garbage produced by your family Christmas, but you will also save money too!

If you want to go the newspaper route, add a nice ribbon to make it look festive. You can use the comic section for wrapping children's toys or for something a little different, use old maps instead... maybe from a recent vacation or a trip you are planning to take. For a fun grandparents gift, wrap your presents in scrap paper and have the kiddies decorate the packages!

For those of you who are fantastic scrapbookers, use plain brown paper bags and jazz them up with fun paper cut outs, ribbon, glitter etc. You can also cut the bags up and fold them around your boxes like this... And once the presents are unwrapped the bags can be tossed in the recycle bin. You can even make your own bows to put on your presents!

Using fabric can also add a special touch... Use old clothes and pillow cases and tie them ribbon.  For big presents use a sheet! You can use the wrap over again or donate it when Christmas is over... Either way it will look great under your tree.

Fill a reusable cookie tin with hot chocolate, cookies or other home made treats.  Create a gardening themed gift by filling a watering can with hand tools, pruners and seeds and top it off with some tissue paper. No need for wrapping paper!

For those of you who are less creative, all is not lost! Instead of wrapping paper... just use gift bags and tissue paper instead.  Super Simple! They can be re-used over and over again and the tissue paper can be thrown into the green bin when you are done with it!

And if wrapping paper is truly what you want to stick with... not a problem!  Just try to find wrapping paper that is not only made from recycled material but also can be recycled (most paper has to go in the trash).  You can also find biodegradable wrapping paper that can be put in the green bin or compost bin!

For more eco-friendly wrapping ideas Try this Web Site! The key is to have some fun with it... and no matter what you create your friends and family will have tons more fun unwrapping it!

Keeping it Real... The Tree That Is!

There is a great debate amongst Christmas tree owners about whether an artificial or a real tree will make or break their holiday season. For many people, the decision is deeply personal and they are not afraid to make their opinions known. These days, artificial trees are being made to look more realistic and more convenient, with lights already on the tree and more authentic looking branch tips. Even though the artificial trees popularity has grown, when it comes down to environmental impact... KEEPING IT REAL comes out on top! 
    

Now going out and chopping down a tree does seem to be a really UN-environmentally friendly option, but when compared to the alternative... real is the way to go. Most artificial trees are made from plastics, which not only use a lot of oil to make but also create a lot of emissions throughout the manufacturing process. On the other hand, most Christmas trees are grown on tree farms. These farms not only sequester carbon dioxide, they are also often located in areas that are unusable for other crops, like the areas under power lines. 

Some may argue that artificial trees, when used year after year, do not generate the same amount waste that real trees create. True... However, artificial trees are made from non-renewable resources and will eventually end up in the trash while real Christmas trees are biodegradable. Many municipalities have designated Christmas tree pick up days in January, and the trees are converted to mulch and compost. 

Real Christmas trees are not without their flaws. Tree farms can consume large amounts of water and often use pesticides and fertilizers to keep the trees looking healthy - you can check with your local tree farmer to see what chemicals they use. Also, as is the case in my family, some people are allergic to the real trees so choose what works best for your family!

The most environmentally friendly type of tree, besides forgoing the tree this year, is to buy a potted tree or a tree with roots intact so it can be replanted after Christmas. Here’s the downside, this type of tree should only be kept inside for about a week, and has to be very well cared for or it will die and your efforts will be wasted. As I have little luck when it comes living things, I am staying away from this option. 

Another important thing to remember if you still haven’t gotten out to get your tree is to shop locally. Not only will you save gas but you will also help reduce the impact of your Christmas tree. If you are buying a tree from a store or a tree lot, keep in mind the distance that the tree has traveled. And if you do choose a real Christmas tree make you sure you keep it well watered to reduce the risk of it drying out and catching fire.  

What type of Christmas tree does your family have?

Tis the Season

As the holiday season approaches, it is easy to throw all of your good habits away. Whether it’s going to the gym, eating right or staying green, we tend to lose track of them as Christmas gets closer. 

In my next few posts, I will provide some tips to that will allow you to have a great Christmas, as well as a Green Christmas! Today’s post is all about shopping!

We have all had it drilled into our heads that we should be bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store with us. I have a plethora of reusable bags stashed in my closet - from every chain of grocery store in town, from some clothing stores and from every environmental event I have attended in the past few years – and yet I still forget them almost every time. I’m that girl you see in the parking lot loading groceries into her car item by item because I refuse to take a plastic bag.  

Most grocery stores have stopped charging for their plastic bags, but a lot of us still use reusable bags for groceries. If you haven’t gotten into that habit, try keeping bags in your car. Just make sure you bring them into the store with you to pack up your Christmas feast and put them back into your car after you unpack (that one is usually my downfall). 

 A less common occurrence is the sight of reusable shopping bags at the shopping mall. Now as much fun as it would be to carry around a couple of those thick canvas totes as you do your Christmas shopping... That’s not what I am talking about. Believe it or not, they do make reusable shopping bags that are compact and actually practical when it comes to shopping. Plus they come in all different styles colors and sizes for the fashionista in you! 

Pack one or two in your purse or pocket before you hit the mall and pull it out when you make your first purchase. If you forget to bring them, try to put all of your purchases in one bag – just ignore the strange look you get when you tell the cashier “I don’t need a bag for that.”

Also, consider giving a compact shopping bag as a gift for Christmas - they would make a great stocking stuffer. That way your family and friends can make an impact too!

Bring Your Own Mug and Save Money

After making the switch to reusable water bottles, making the switch to reusable coffee mugs for my morning coffee was easy. I use Contigo mugs with AutoSeal technology. They don't leak (unless they have been dropped) and they keep your coffee or tea warm for hours! I love them!

There is nothing worse than cold coffee and for someone who takes three hours to finish a mug of coffee - something that occurs far too often in my life - being able to return to it and find it still drinkable is amazing. 

When I worked in an office, I kept a regular household mug at my desk and used it for coffee, tea and water throughout the day.

If the waste isn't a concern of yours, money may be.  Did you know that most coffee spots (including Tim Horton's and Starbucks) offer a 10 cent discount if you bring a reusable mug. Add that up and you could save yourself $36.50 in one year if you buy a coffee everyday. If you avoid the coffee shop altogether the saving only go up from there.

What ever coffee option you choose, make sure that you pick an option that is easy and works best for you! 

Rethink the Bottle

Kicking my plastic water bottle habit has been my biggest challenge. It wasn’t until a few years into university that I finally made the switch... All it took was living on my own (which meant paying for my own groceries) and a lot of peer pressure.

When you actually think about it, the concept of bottled water is a little ridiculous. Some genius came up with the idea to take tap water (which is what many bottled water companies use in Ontario) which is virtually free and marking the price up by up to 4000%... And people are still willing to pay for it!! 

I think it is time to rethink the bottle.

If you are worried about the safety of tap water versus bottled water, listen to this. In Canada, municipal tap water has very strict monitoring guidelines. These guidelines do not apply to bottled water and the testing is not as frequent. Not to mention, as the bottle breaks down over time (especially in hot temperatures) chemicals leach into the water – and who knows how long that case of water has been sitting in a warehouse or on the shelf? 

If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, DON’T PANIC! Pick up a water filter, either a standalone filter to put in your fridge or one to put on your tap, like Pur water filters, to change the taste of your water. While you’re at it, pick up some colorful reusable water bottles. I use metal bottles, but my sister finds that it can give off a metallic taste. Reusable plastic bottles also work well... Just make sure they are BPA free.

Make it a habit of taking your new bottle with you. That way you have it on hand and won’t have to buy a bottle of water when you get thirsty. I keep one in my purse at all times and bring at least one extra with me to work. Not only is it convenient, but it’s also FREE. And once you get used to bringing your bottle everywhere, I promise you won’t miss the plastic!

My Environmental Journey

I grew up in the country, which I believe has given me a different perspective on certain things that most people take for granted.

Water, for instance, was a very precious commodity to us growing up. We had a very small well which made doing laundry, washing dishes, showering and using the toilets very challenging for a family of five. On many occasions we would get part way through a shower only to have the water run out. We would then have to sit and wait in the cold, covered in shampoo for 15 minutes until we had enough water to rinse off. I remember having birthday parties where we would have to put a sign in the bathroom asking our guests to 'flush every other time please.' Try explaining that at the age of nine.

We also didn't have - and still don't have - garbage pickup. Instead we take our garbage directly to the dump... Paying for each visit. Because of this my family and I became experts at composting at recycling... Driving our plastics and paper across town to the sorting facility and braving the cold to the compost bin in our backyard. We have since been given recycling and green bin pick up but this need to divert as much as we can to minimize our trips to the dump has stuck with me.

It wasn't until I hit university that I started making conscious decisions to make my life more sustainable - which for me was a big deal. I'm going to be honest with you... I am a creature of habit and as such I HATE CHANGE! I have altered my life for the better in many ways but I admit that I am not perfect and I still have a long way to go.

Here I will share some of the simple changes I have made to my life and that you can easily make too. SIMPLE ACTIONS MATTER and the more small steps you take - the more you 'lean into green' - the bigger the impact you will have on the planet, the future and even your wallet!