As we said in our previous post about Green Beauty - it pays to stay informed! If you want to be as natural as possible, staying informed is the only path to progress - especially when you’re mixing products! Beyond that, we’d love to share what organizations like the Women’s Environmental Network is up to help you stay naturally beautiful.
What is the Women’s Environmental Network?
The Women’s Environmental Network Is a non-profit organization in the United Kingdom, that focuses on getting women together and empowering them to change the enivornment for the better. Created in 1988, their core belief has always been to offer women the information needed to make informed and fair choices about the products they use everyday. They also believe that a precautionary approach is the healthiest choice for people and the planet.
What is the cocktail effect?
The cocktail effect is the combination of two or more chemicals that result in a toxic reaction. Some of the more known reactions can range from tissue inflammation to irration and in some serious cases people have developed dermatitis.
There are many opinions as to whether this “cocktail effect” really exists, but think about it: If you look at the ingredients list of just TWO of the products you use regularly you’re going to find a list of chemicals that you’ve 1) never heard of or 2) don’t know enough about them to decide whether or not they are good for you. Multiply that to all the hundreds of other products that come in contact with your body daily and you have to assume that one or two of those thousands of ingredients won’t mix.
What can you do to avoid it while still maintaining that beautiful glow?
Limit your exposure to chemical beauty products or take some time to look at what those ingredients actually do to your body. I mean, if you’re like us you probably take about 20 minutes to decide between two moisterizers any way, why not take the same time to research the ingredients in those products? Also, take a look at the Women’s Environmental Network website and learn about all the great research they’re up to!
And as always,
Happy Planning!
Amalia & Tiffany
If you’re like us you’ve probably been quite confused between the whole water curfuffle that’s been filling the airwaves. Water = Good, Plastic Bottles= Bad. The sheer convenience of bringing a water bottle makes it a hard habit to break, but we’re here to tell you it’s possible. If you haven’t been a water drinker up till now but have decided to ditch the carbonated drinks and alcohol by drinking more water we’re here to help you as while. Below are 3 easy steps that can help you on your way to a healthy H20 lifestyle.
1. Ditch the Plastic Bottles for Good
Did you know that Canadians consumption of bottled water jumped for 22.4 litres in 1998 to 68 litres in 2006, according to Statistics Canada. It’s about that time when the big plastic jugs became harder to find and tap water didn’t seem as appealing… Now it looks like all this water bottle chaos might have caused us some permanent damage since it takes an estimated 30 years for that bottle to disapper in a landfill.
To help you break that bottle habit Brita Canada has begun a campaign to ditch the plastic bottle, you can pledge to do just that at www.filterforgood.ca. Who knows? Perhaps it might be easier for you to do so in the company of thousands like you!
Some Canadian citites that have a either eliminated the use of plastic bottles or are taking the steps to do so are London, Kitchener, Vancouver; Nelson, Charlottetown and St. John’s. Check our your local government’s environmental office to see what kind of steps they’re taking to reduce the water bottle fiasco forever.
2. Buy a Nalgene bottle or Stainless steel reusable bottle - So you’ve seen people walking around with their Nalgene and yes they usually have some athletic outdoorsy look to them, but they know something you don’t– After you buy the bottle — The WATER is FREE! Using tap water or filtered water from home and trekking it around in your water bottle is a great way to save money and stop the use of water bottles forever. Just remember to replace your Nalgene Bottle every couple of years.
3. Drink Tap Water - It’s better than you think — and most of the time has nutrients that your body needs that might be filtered out in the usual spring water filtering system.
A simple little step like reducing the amount of plastic water bottles you use can make a huge impact! Before you know it you will have helped the environment and saved yourself a little money in the process!
Until next time, Happy Hydrating,
Amalia & Tiffany
Looking to redo your backyard in a way that’s chic, functional and sustainable? Well, don’t fret outdoor furniture has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years and can now be one of the easiest eco-friendly decisions you make this year.
What makes outdoor furniture eco-friendly?
Eco-friendly outdoor furniture can created using a number of green ways. There is eco-friendly patio furniture with recycled materials such as wrought iron or lumber or deck furniture from lumber that’s been grown responsibly and harvested and even plasboard lumber, a material made from recycled plastics that can be used to make anything from Backyard to Adirondack furniture.
What is Plasboard?
PLASBOARD is an ecofriendly alternative to rood building that has been used for patio and lawn furniture and can be used as a substitute for concrete, wood and metals. Canadian Plastic Lumber (CPL) reported this year that they will turn over 2,000,000 pounds of post consumer plastic waste into plastic lumber which helps clean up the thousands of tons of disposable plastic we find in sites each year.
What makes Plasboard so great?
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It helps you look like an eco-friendly rock star! – Coming in all shapes and sizes, you can tell all your BBQ guests how eco-chic you are when you explain to them you have the greenest patio furniture around. And the best part, because it’s UV and water resistant, you’ll never have to use harsh and nasty chemicals on it in the future.
- Looks like new year after year! – Thanks to its UV resistance, your furniture will never lack in lustre. So you can choose any color you want without worry that it will change over the years.
- Keeps those nasty bugs away! – Since your furniture is made out of plastic, you’ll never have a problem with bugs trying to get at it keeping you bug-free into the summer months!
- Say Goodbye to Splinters! – The 100% recycled plastic material will never flake, splinter, or peel leaving you free and clear from any pesky injuries.
- Great Balls of Fire! – Or not, since plastic lumber is self-extinguishing you’ll never run the risk of losing it in the event of a fire.
- Cleaning is a Breeze! – Only mild soap and water is needed to clean up which gives you more of a reason to throw away those pesky chemicals you have under your kitchen sink.
- Prevents Water Damage! – Plasboard is water resistant, so it can be used in any environment without the risk of peeling or damaging. Beyond that it won’t need to be sealed or painted… ever!
Where can I find Eco-friendly Outdoor Furniture like PLASBOARD?
Bosman Home Front is a leader in prefabricated structures like arbour kits, gazebos, and recycled plastic furniture. They have been in business for over 8 years serving Toronto, Ontario and surrounding provinces. Through their network of Bosman Home Front dealers they are able to offer a quality product and outstanding service you can’t find anywhere else. And you decide to viist, their Teviotdale location has 2 floors of indoor furniture with home decor and 4 ACRES of outdoor structures and furniture that you can look through.
For more information check out: http://www.bosman.ca
Hi All!
We know there are some out there who been green some or all of their lives, and we congratulate you! We also know that there are some out there who are starting out fresh. For those of you out there who are new to the eco-friendly scene and would like to give their life a sustainability makeover, this is the blog for you! It’s time to take your first step into the green world — by calculating your Carbon Footprint.
Why Calculate your Carbon Footprint?
When you were a kid in school you might have dreaded your report card. Years late you still might get goosebumps at the thougt of a review at work. Have no Fear! Your Carbon Footprint calculator isn’t a stressful activity. I mean, hey you know you might not be the most eco-savvy person in the world but this assessment will allow you a summary or benchmark of where you’re at as well as give you an idea of your first steps of improvement.
Think of this little experience as your first wiegh in. Something that might make you a little nervous for starters but in a couple of months is the perfect benchmark to see how far you’ve come. And we promise, when you calculate how far you’ve come in a few months we won’t tell ANYONE about that pint of Ben & Jerry’s icecream you rewarded yourself with.
There are a dozen carbon footprint calculators out there. So pick one and stick to it. Each are slightly different so make sure you use the same one to measure yourself over time.
Carbon Calculators
So take a look and measure yourself today and welcome to your first day of your new eco-friendly life!
And As Always…
Happy Planning!
Amalia & Tiffany
The Green Revolution has brought about tons of new words: “Green”, “Eco-friendly”, “Natural”, “All Natural” and sometimes its hard to decipher between what’s Green and what’s… well… “Green.” There’s nothing worse than using a product that you THINK its great for the environment only to find out that it’s not. So we’re hear to help you with some of the green beauty words you’ll find out there in the consumer landscape.
What is All Natural?
All natural can mean many things, but it’s safe to say if a company is saying this then you have a true product. These products have different meanings such as:
- Plant Based
- Cold Processed
- Not Chemically Refined or Bleached
- Fragranced only with essential oils or CO2 extracts.
- The products themselves with the lowerst possible heat if any to perserve the botanical properties of each component.
Why is All Natural a good thing?
All Natural is a good thing because you’re not exposing your body to as many damaging chemicals and toxins. After awhile these toxins can cause you serious health issues.
What’s the downfall of an All Natural Product?
There are some negatives to using an all natural product. First, they have a shorter shelf life. Secondly, they might not be as “all natural” as you would expect. A good rule of thumb is if you don’t understand what the ingredients are then you probably shouldn’t use it!
What can you take from this?
If you’re ingesting something or using it externally you should educate yourself about what is in all the products you regularly use. If you don’t like what you see, then try your hand at the green beauty products available in your local market.
Stay Beautiful..
Tiffany & Amalia
Back in 2737 BC Shien Non Shei found a plant that would revolutionize the medical world. Chinese used green tea for medicinal purposes. It was the drink of choice among countries leaders and the wealthy. It wasn’t until the fall of the Mongolian Empire that the rest of the population began drinking green tea.
Between 1405 and 1433 when Chinese sailors were off to sea, they were given necessary amounts of green tea to fight off disease, it was felt that antioxidants in tea helped save the sailors from bouts of scruvy that would kill the European sailors. It was first Introduced to the North American market buy Chinese immigrants in their restaurants during the 1940’s. It was then that people began to think of Green Tea as a beauty product.
Beauty benefits of Green tea
- Used externally on skin for added glow
- Heal blemishes, cuts and rashes
- Soothe tired eyes and feet
- Protection against the sun
Green Tea has approximately 20 times the antioxidants than Vitamin A, C and E, these anti-oxidants block against free radical damage.
If you are looking for more information on how Green Tea can help your current beauty routine, check out the book “The Book of Green Tea”, by Diana Rosen.
We hoped you enjoyed this little eco-friendly tip!
Until next time.. Happy Planning!
Amalia & Tiffany
Weddings take a lot of time to plan, and there are always emotions wrapped up in your special day. This is why here at Talen Events we believe that the bride and groom should take the time to relieve some of the stress kicked up during their engagement. What do we suggest? Our #1 Wedding stress reliever — Hot Stone Therapy.
Hot Stone Therapy
Hot Stone Therapy is a type of massage therapy where water treated stones are placed on specific areas of the body to promote relaxation and help open energy pathways. Basalt stones, polished, hardened lava rocks, are heated by water in an electric roaster. The heated stones are then placed strategically along pressure points to help melt away tension creating a calming atmosphere. Muscles pretreated with heated stones allow a therapists to perform deep tissue manipulations. Cool stones can also be used alternately with hot stones. Massage oils are also incorporated.
Why does Hot Stone Therapy Work?
Hot stone therapy is a perfect way to achieve mental wellness Stress, deadlines, stress, and anxieties and all other life annoyances will disappear long enough for your mind to relax at the deepest level. Insomnia is often cured through the use of hot stone massages because of its ability to put the mind at ease. It is also known that depression can be helped by the use hot stone therapy.
What makes it ecofriendly?
Considering the alternatives, this is a wonderful natural way to achieve mental wellness. Stones are heated in a roaster with hot water and essential oils are used to relax the body.
In those days leading up to your big day there are always feelings of “Did I get everything done?” What am I missing? Why not treat you and your partner to a Hot Stone Massage. Go into your marriage relaxed and stress free. At Talen Events, we offer a day of wedding package to take care of all your wedding day needs so that you can relax and enjoy your special day!
Happy Planning and until next time…
Amalia & Tiffany
