Come & Be Merry with GnG and Essential Yoga Studio

The holidays are here, and we're a celebrating!  Join Gorgeous and Green at the Essential Yoga Studio in Fernie, for some fine holiday shopping, tastie treats by Raw Food Fernie, and Hand Massages by The Massage Place. 

Location:  The Essential Yoga Studio 761 7th Avenue Fernie


Date & Time:  Tuesday December 15th, 2009 from 5-8pm.

Look forward to seeing you there! 

Eco & Edible Holiday Ornaments

Want to try something new to spruce up your holiday tree this Christmas?  Bake up a batch of these Gingerbread Cookies and use them to decorate your tree.  Then when you are ready to put away your tree, just eat up the decorations...if there's any left!

Caroline's Gingerbread Cookies - from the Whitewater Cooks at Home (one of my favourite Cookbooks).

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
2. tbsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, slighly beaten
1/2 cup molasses

METHOD:
Sift together flour, cocoa, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg then gradually beat in the molasses.  Slowly beat in the flour until just combined.
Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently a few times.
Divide the dough into 4 pieces and flatten into disks.  Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare tow parchment lined baking sheets.
Roll dough out to desired thickness.  We like them pretty thin but it depends n how big your cutters are.  If little kids are handling them you may want to roll them a little thicker.  Cut out shapes and place on baking sheet.
Bake for about 10 minutes but be careful not to overbake.
Cool on a rack before decorating with your favourite icing.

If you are using these for decorating your tree, use a royal icing made with egg whites and flavoured with a bit of lemon juice.

Bigger cookies like gingerbread men will take longer to bake than small stars.  For a pretty and crunchy cookie, sprinkle cookies with course sugar after icing.

Give the Gift that Gives

Are you tired of giving gifts that stay unused in the back of the closet? Why not give a gift that actually means something - like a goat!  I'm not kidding! Give a needy family in the developing world a goat, they'll get about a quart of fresh milk a day, 2-3 offspring a year, and great fertilizing manure for their vegetable garden. Not sure where to get that goat? Well, neither was I until I came across Changing the Present. Through their website you can access all kinds of usable gift donations such as for $100 you can purchase one family's share in a community water system in Nepal, for $12 you can purchase two mosquito bed nets for children in Africa, for $5 you can purchase a hygiene packet for a family of five in Peru that includes soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and oral reydration salts. You can feel good knowing that your money is going to good use, and not just sitting in the back of that closet.

Check out this fantastic video by Changing the Present:

Change the present this Holiday Season, one gift at a time.

Child Labour in North America

When we think of Child Labour we often think of sweatshops overseas. However a shocking report by ABC News has revealed that one of North America's largest blueberry producers - Adkin Blue Ribbon Packaging Company located in Michigan, found young children, including one child as young as five working in its fields. The five-year-old girl, named Suli, was seen lugging two heavy buckets of blueberries picked by her parents and brothers who were aged seven and eight. US laws state children must be at least 12 years old to work. Since the announcement, Walmart and Kroger have severed ties with Adkin.

In this age of huge industrialized food processing, it only makes the argument stronger to really think about where your food comes from. If the price seems to good to be true, it probably is. The lowest price is not always the best option. Lowest price often means Made in China or child labour. The next time you pick something up off the shelf, try to consider where it came from.

Support small, local business!

Lights Out

As Daylight Savings Time comes to an end this weekend, it may be tempting to keep the lights on. But did you know that dimming the light by just 10% doubles the bulb's life. Check out these simple lighting tips to help conserve energy and keep money in your pocket.

* Use one stronger bulb rather than 4 weaker bulbs. Ie. one 100-watt bulb gives off more light then four 25-watt bulbs.
* For outdoor lights, get motion sensors. Instead of keeping a steady stream on all night, a motion sensor only lights things up when needed.
* Create mood lighting with a beeswax or soy candle instead of switching on the lights.
* If you leave the room for more then 5 minutes, turn out the lights. Regular bulbs are very energy inefficient and should be turned off as soon as you leave the room.
* Use a lighter lampshade - darker colours soak up the bulb's rays and waste energy.

How to Green your Halloween

Let's face it. Halloween isn't exactly the easiest holiday to be environmentally friendly. But you'd be surprised at how much you can do, with little effort. Try these eco-friendly tips to tread a little lighter this Halloween.

1) Try walking with your kids during trick-or-treating as opposed to driving. Not only will it save money and CO2 emissions, but you'll have more fun with your family.

2) Support local farmers by buying locally grown pumpkins and other fall decorations like gourds & squash.

3) Use up that pumpkin! From roasting the seeds, to delicious pumpkin muffins, pie or soup. Finally compost the jack-o-lantern shell when finished.

4) Choose beeswax or soy candles to set that spooky mood. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum and can release harmful toxins when lit.

5) Why waste that cute little lion costume? Hand down costumes to friends & family.

6) And finally....recycle! Don't forget to recycle throughout this halloween season. From candy wrappers, to costumes and decorations. Every little bit counts.

Fall Cleaning

I definitely thought Spring was for Cleaning, but after the weather turned cold this weekend, well let's just say we got our clean on! My husband and I have been on a bit of a de-cluttering kick. And after many years of putting off cleaning out the basement, we finally decided to tackle it this weekend. I must say, we did a great job, and the basement has never looked so clean.

We had been putting off a number of little things, because we did not know what to do with them. Well a lot of it turned out to be incredibly easy and were good for the planet. Here is a little list of some easy ways to help out our planet when getting rid of junk!

1) Recycle your paint. Not sure what to do with your leftover paint? As long as your paint/stain is in its original container, they are all recyclable.

2) Recycle your electronics. We had a stack of old printers & computers that we didn't know what to do with. They were too old to be donated, and luckily it turns out they too can be recycled.

3) Donate old/read books to the Salvation Army. We had a pile of books left behind by an old roommate. Not our style of books, so we donated them for others to enjoy.

4) Give it to a neighbour. Have some of that fine China that you will never use? Well, ask your neighbour if they would like to have it. Ours did, and we felt good about giving it to someone who will appreciate it, as opposed to having it collect dust in our basement.

5) Let friends and family know when you are getting rid of something. Your trash might be someone else's treasure. It turns out my old computer chair was very loved by one of my friends. And after this weekend, well, now it is hers!

And, as we discovered while cleaning out the basement. Really think about your future purchases. In this day and age, it seems like there is a lot of junk out there. Go for quality purchases over quantity. After all, if its going to end up in the landfill in just a few months, why even bother? Save your money and save the earth!

Play tough and sleep well!

West Paw Designs has taken the eco-friendly dog market by storm. Their Eco Friendly Toys, Beds, and Apparel are an evolution in style, in concept, in color. In an age of disposability, these products stand the test of time.

Their Zisc - West Paws version of the frisbee is made from recyclable plastic. It is unbelievably durable, yet soft in your dogs mouth. All of their products are made in Montana and they have an extensive environmental program. Get outside! Play tough and sleep well!

The Joy of Social Lending

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a wonderful organization called Kiva. They connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering people to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe. The concept is simple, individually it can be hard to lend money to people in the third world. But through Kiva, our money is pooled together to loan to aspiring entrepreneurs. Through their website, you can choose which entrepreneur you would like to lend to. When you make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve their quality of life. Once the loan term is up, the entrepreneur pays back the borrowed amount, and the money is returned to you. And then you can reloan your money to another person, if you choose.

Since becoming a Kiva lender, Gorgeous and Green has loaned money to 4 individuals, from Peru, Cambodia, Senegal and Uganda. It is wonderful to see how our money can help change peoples lives. Pictured here is Sabe Niang who lives in Senegal. We loaned to Sabe so that she could purchase a special tinted fabric called 'Thioub", which is very popular in Senegal. She also purchased a horse and carriage for transport, for her retail venture. Since loaning to Sabe, she has repayed her loan in full.

To view our Gorgeous and Green lending page visit: http://www.kiva.org/lender/lenka3743

For more information, or to become a Lender yourself, please visit: http://www.kiva.org

Forget Me Not

Do you have the same problem as me? Getting to the grocery store and realizing that you forgot your reusable shopping bag? Well, I used to have that problem, but now thanks to the folks at Credo Bags, and their handy Eco-Shopper, I always have one tucked in my purse. The Eco-Shopper has a handy little carrying pouch that the bag tucks into, so they only take up a small space in my purse. These bags are amazing! Each can carry up to 25 lbs. of groceries or the equivalent of 3-4 plastic bags worth! They are strong, durable and washable.

And did I mention, the colours are gorgeous! They have an array from black & royal blue, to raspberry & lime.

Say 'no thank you' to plastic and paper bags at the grocery stores. And help keep plastic bags out of landfills. For more information, click here: http://www.gorgeousandgreen.ca/Credo_Eco_Shopper_p/credobags%20eco-shopper.htm

yoyobelly Blog Reviews our organicKidz Baby Bottles

yoyobelly Blog is a wonderful blog for expecting mothers, based out of Vancouver, BC. They are here to help make growing your baby and growing into motherhood less yoyo-like with weekly helpful hints and hip info. We were very pleased when they chose to review our OrganicKidz Stainless Steel Baby Bottles, and it sounds like they were just as pleased as we were.

Check out their review:

all bottled up

There are so many things to consider when you’re getting ready for your new arrival, everything from picking the perfect car seat to sleeping arrangements to whether or not to switch to non-toxic cleaning products. And then there are bottles. Canada was a leader in banning BPA in baby bottles, but even “safer” plastics don’t always appeal. And glass bottles are great, but they’re not super portable, what with not being shatterproof and all. Which is why we’re more than a bit smitten with these stainless steel baby bottles from Canadian company organicKidz.

Made of food-grade stainless steel these bottles are lead, BPA and PVC-free, naturally bacterial resistant and they come with a silicon nipple, though they are also compatible with most narrow necked nipples. Each bottle also comes with a lid that doubles as a measuring cup for mixing formula, measuring other liquids in and out or even holding snacks. You have your choice of three different sizes depending on your babe’s age. The 4 and 7 oz bottles are single hulled for quick and easy warming, while the 9 oz bottle is vacuum-insulated to keep things hot or cold for five to six hours. And they come in fun colours and patterns as well.

Our intrepid young tester (and his mum) loved the bottle. The only thing they weren’t so keen on was the difficulty in telling how much milk or formula is in the bottle and has been consumed by your tot. They combatted this by using a measuring cup before to keep track. And the single hulled bottles – which you can heat in all the same ways as a “regular” bottle (microwave excepted of course) – have a scale on their sides to allow you to feel how much is inside. Oh and they’re dishwasher and sterilizer safe as well.

Priced from $18 to $22, they’re not the cheapest bottles around. But they are quite possibly the most durable. And organicKids will soon be introducing a sippy cup conversion kit and sports spout, so one bottle could last your baby right through their toddlerhood and preschoolhood. And when they finally do outgrow it, why you can just recycle it.

And for the record, when it comes to cleaning products we always come down on the side of non-toxic.

organicKidz stainless steel baby bottles: www.gorgeousandgreen.ca

yoyobelly blog: http://www.yoyobelly.ca

It's time to get OFF the bottle!

Remember the days when if you were thirsty, you would find the nearest fountain? They were everywhere, from schools to parks, to shopping malls. And although they are still there, somehow we have all bought into this concept that drinking from a plastic water bottle was somehow better. The facts that I found from the Sierra Club of Canada, are absolutely shocking (Source: http://www.sierraclub.ca)

Did you know that:
* 1.5 million tonnes of plastics are used globally each year for water bottles.
* 1.5 million tonnes of oil are required to manufacture the water bottles used in the US alone in one year.
* In Canada only 15% of plastic water bottles were recycled last year.
* The cost to drink Bottled Water is enormous! Bottled water costs the consumer $1.20 per gallon. Whereas filtered tap water is under $0.20 per gallon and tap water is virtually free.
* Canadians bought more than 700 million litres of bottled water last year.
* Canadians should not assume that bottled water is safer than tap water. The requirements set for municipal drinking water is far stricter then the bottled water industry.
* Plastic water bottles leach Bisphenol-A, a known hormone disruptor.

It's time to get OFF the bottle! Take action personally! Carry a Stainless Steel Water Bottle with you. Bring an extra empty bottle with you when you travel, to fill along the way. After all, it doesn't just make economical sense, it makes environmental sense!

Act Locally

As summer ramps up it is a great time to remind ourselves to act locally. In this day and age, when we walk through our grocery stores, the shelves are stocked with products that are 'Made in China'. And although it has become the norm to eat strawberries year round, we should consider, where our food came from and how much energy it took to produce, nevermind ship it to your local store.

With Farmers' Markets popping up virtually everywhere, it is an easy way to eat locally. Not only does it taste better, but it makes me feel good. Knowing that the tomato I just bought, was cared for by a local farmer who lives just a few kilometers away is well, priceless. If you happen to be in Fernie this summer, be sure to visit the Farmers Market at the Rotary Park on Sunday mornings. Now don't forget to sample a delicious Sweet Cake, a wonderful little cupcake made by my friend Becky. Don't let the lineups deter you, they are worth it!!

It's the in between that counts

Brring. Brring. Some of you may have seen me in my new 'Delivery Vehicle'. I just picked up my new 'townie' from my local bike shop. I have always wanted a cruiser bike, and I must say, it is even better then I could have imagined. I can hardly hold back my grin when I hop onboard. What a wonderful way to start the day, cruising through town to the Post Office, with G and G packages loaded in the cargo basket. My Golden Retriever - Murdoch, jaunts alongside for his morning walk. A stop for a fresh Bagel at my local Bagel Shop. It is no longer about the destination....its the journey that is special. Brring, brring - coming through!