So you’re married (Congratulations!), nostalgia has slightly warn off and now have a basement full of wedding stuff and don’t know what to do with; OR your planning your dream wedding (Congratulations!) and would like stay within a reasonable budget.

In either case, we have the PERFECT solution for you. SmartBride Boutique will help you help the enivronment and recoup some of the money you spent OR save you some money while planning your wedding!

Introducing Smartbride Boutique, www.smartbrideboutique.ca an online bridal boutique where you can buy and sell everything from your wedding dress right down to the decor you used that day!

Currently this online boutique services Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg. The listings are free and there are no commissions.

When Andrea Lown, the founder, was planning her own wedding she disliked the department store feel of other online sites and thought she would give it a try. Her partner Leah Andrew thought this was a great idea for Canadian women to plan the wedding of their dreams and still recoup some of the money they spent after the fact.

Over the next couple of weeks will be beginning a series on this excellent company, giving you tips for buyers and sellers and also about their community involvement! Learn everything you need to know about buying (slightly) used wedding items online!

And don’t forget to check out the site: www.smartbrideboutique.ca 

Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

Sustainable Living is a learning process, but the great thing is there are incredible resources out there to help you every step of the way. If you’re a reader and would like to learn more about the Green Revolution going on right now, don’t hesitate to check out these books from your local library or bookstore!

1. Sustainable Living: 25 International Examples by Dominque Gauzin-Muller (9783764374679)

Want to know what kind of things people are doing around the world? The book provides extensive and technically detailed documentation of 25 sustainable residential structures. If you’re looking for something a bit more architecturally savy this is the book for you. The examples are chosen from 18 different countries on five continents and come from both rural regions and urban areas.

2. Sufficient: A Modern Guide to Sustainable Living by Tom Petherick (9781862057739)

Ever had the idea that you were living beyond your means? Ever feel like you would like to scale back to a more simpler life? Slowing down, consuming less, embracing artisan foods, and championing human-scale organic growing methods are different things you can do to help the environment and your peace of mind. Sufficient is a book to inspire, educate and encourage a process of change towards a simple, gentle, and sustainable way of living. 

3. The Renewal Energy Handbook : A guide to rural energy independance, off-grid and sustainable living by: William H. Kemp (9780973323320)

Are you ready to go off the grid? As oil prices continue to rise, many people are starting to think about how to unhook from the power grid. In The Renewable Energy Handbook Kemp focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and energy independence in a rural setting.

4. Green By Design: Creating a Home for Sustainable Living by Angela Dean (9781586851729)

Just because you’re house was made before the green revolution doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate green living principles right now. Architect Angela Dean teaches her readers how to incorporate green building into your home, including using healthy building materials such as straw bales and natural flooring, taking advantage of local materials and resources, reusing gray water for landscaping, and incorporating passive solar design. A great start for those looking to redesign their home to fit their sustainable lifestyle!

5. Living a Sustainable Lifestyle for Our Children’s Children by R. Warren Flint (9780595200139)

Save the world for you and future generations. This book will give you advice and tips on how you can live a sustainable life and change the path of those after you.

6. Real Goods Solar Living Source Book: Special 30th Anniversary Edition: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living by John Schaeffer (9780916571061)

Learn all about how renewable energy affects you. This book will teach you all about clean technologies such as solar power, wind power and biodiesel fuel are soaring in popularity.

7. Sustainable City Living by Georgia Mayfield (9781934393185)

Hey Urbanite! Do you need your very own instruction manual helping you live the urban life while still making a different environmentally? This book offers practical advice and helpful tips on ways to save energy and improve self-sufficiency. Some topics include container gardening, canning and preserving food, recycling, home improvements for reducing energy consumption, using alternative energy sources such as solar power, and information on greener transportation options.

8. The Earth’s Blanket: Traditional Teachings of Sustainable Living by Nancy Turner  (9781553651802)

Ever wonder where all this Global Warming information came from? The Earth’s Blanket explores the traditional teachings of sustainable living  and the personal connection to the land and history that is encoded in indigenous stories and lifeways, and what they may be able to teach all of us about living in harmony with our surroundings.

9. Sustainable Living: The Role of Whole Life Cost and Values by Nalaine Mithraratne (9780750680639)

With all the green buildings being built right now, it’s no wonder we can be confused about what it takes to be green and the design and construction of a sustainable building. Moreover, what happens once a building is occupied is absolutely critical. This is a great book about how the choices designers, developers and building users make impact on sustainability over the life span of a building. This Green Building Introduction gives you a  holistic approach to sustainable building development considering costs, energy use, environmental impact, global warming potential as well as items which a usually disregarded such as finishes, furniture and appliances is needed to achieve best practice.

10. 365 Ways to Live Green - Your Everyday Guide to Saving the Enviroment by Diane Gow McGilda (9781598698084)

So it is almost time to make that pesky New Year’s Resolution, some may decide to play it safe with a familiar “lose weight; eat better; spend more time with family” mantra… but not you! You’ve decided to make a resolution to join the environmental revolution (errr.. okay maybe not necessarily join but go to a few meetings?) Either way, even thought it is cold outside there are still a few things that you can do to help reduce waste in 2009.

1. Reduce the Brrrr…

Take the necessary steps to use caulking in any cracks you may see and insulate your windows and reduce the drafts in your house. If your home is airtight you will stay warm this winter.

2. Using your appliances efficiently

Instead of washing your clothes in hot water why not try washing your clothes in cold-water. Also, you can make sure your dishwasher is full before running it and try running it at night.

3. Reduce your waste

Simply bring a resuable shopping bag whenever you shop be it clothing or groceries. Replace your plastic wrap with an air tight container and try to find products with reduced packaging.

You can also learn more from our previous blogs:

• Top Product/Ideas for 2008
• The Good Life

If you need more information check out these websites:

• www.futurefriendlybrands.ca
• www.rco.on.ca
• www.energyefficiency.ca
• www.canuhome.com

Cheers for 2009!

Amalia & Tiffany

Wow 2008 was a big year! The year that environmental awareness really began to take root and since this the time for yearly “Top Lists” may we present to you the Top Environmental Products/Ideas of 2008 as voted by the Metro Life Panel Members:

1. Reusable Shopping Bags
2. Buying Locally Grown Food
3. Taking Transit
4. Compact Flurescent light Bulbs
5. Resuable water bottles
6. Recycling Bins
7. Riding Bicycles
8. Reusable coffee mugs
9. Programmable Thermostats
10. Low-flow showerheads

If you are looking for more ideas or products on how to become more green please check out our previous blog on “The Good Life” by WWF or check out http://green.cbc.ca

Cheers

Amalia & Tiffany

With everyone trying to jump on the sustainable lifestyle bandwagon, it is so easy to get caught up in all of the different terminology. As we are embarking on understanding what this lifestyle entails, we thought we would do a series on the different eco-labels we have come across and what they really mean.

“Certified Organic”

Produce that is not fertilized by synthetic fertlizers, pestcides and sewage sludge. Produce that is not genetically modified using organisms or irradiation. It employs proper soil and manure  management.
Where these products are produce goes under strict inspections, detailed record keeping and the testing of the soil and water that is used to grow the produce.

“Natural”

Are products that contain no preservatives, artifical colours or ingredients, unlike organic products which are regulated under strict rules, natural products can have some of the things that organic products don’t; like genetically altered hormones and can be minimally processed.

“Vegan”

Simple defintion of vegan is  a philosophy and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.Vegans do not use or consume animal products of any kind. We recently did a full blog on what is vegan — Check it out!

“Cruelty-Free”

Cruelty-Free is a label that is commonly used by the cosmetic industry to indicate products that were made with out the using of animal testing in it’s creation. This label is a voluntary label and currently there is no inspection or auditing.

“Biodegradable”

Is a product that can dissolve and breakdown easily into the environment without destroying nature.

As we come across more labels well be adding them to this series.. so stay tuned and of course..

Happy Shopping!

Tiffany and Amalia

• Try to avoid taxis or renting cars instead see your destination on foot or use public transit to get from place to place. You will see and experience more of your destination, and who knows? You might pick up fonder memories then you would have!
• Look for green hotels – Look for hotels that have made changes to minimize their carbon footprint on the environment and practice a sustainable lifestyle. To find out more, ask about their energy reduction practices and waste management practices for starters, this should give you a good idea as to the type of hotel you are staying at. And of course, if you run the risk of staying somewhere where your safety is at risk — go with the less green/safer alternative! That just means you need to do a bit more research before you travel next!
• Reuse your towels rather than having clean ones brought to you every day – this saves on bleach and reduces water usage.
• Before you leave your hotel room, make sure all your lights are turned off and electronic charger devices are unplugged. Even though you may not be charging your devices they are still pulling unnecessary electricity.
• Interested in Souvenirs? Look at buying locally made merchandise! That way, not only with you have something that is local to the place that you are visiting, but you are also helping out their local economy.
• Use a digital camera, as you don’t have to pay for developing costs and none of the processing chemicals are required to print the pictures.
• Try Local! : Instead of purchasing pre-packaged snacks why not try eating locally grown foods. Not only are they not under the duress of chemicals and you can reduce waste.

These are just a few tips that you can do, to maintain your sustainable lifestyle while experiencing the world.

Happy Travelling!

Tiffany & Amalia

Eco Wedding Dress

Hi Everyone,

It’s time to pick up the dresses and the tuxes, but wait, you’re probably wondering if you can keep to your “green” theme and still have the wedding attire of your dreams? Of course! We present you the 3R’s of Wedding Attire as proposed by Emily Andersen of Eco-Chic Weddings:

Reduce

• Say no to white: Get a dress in your best colour and truly dazzle with your unique flair. Opt for not-quite-white and get a wedding dress made from non-chemically treated, natural, earth-friendly fabric; soy, hemp silk, organic silk, organic cotton, organic wool, tencel and bamboo are the main fabrics available.
• Support fair trade: Purchase your gown from a company that practices fair trade. (Fair trade practices include: good wages for workers, adequate employee benefits like healthy work environments, fair hours, and health care.)
• Keep it simple: Get a simple dress and add the pretty details yourself.

Reuse

• Wear your mother’s dress: Can you wear your mother’s dress? Or maybe your grandmother, aunt, cousin or friend would welcome sharing their own gown with you for your special day.
• Share your dress: Pick a dress with a friend, sister or cousin who is also getting married and make a pact to share the dress between the two of you. This will give even more meaning to the dress because it will hold such special memories for both of you.
• Use earth-friendly dry cleaning: It’s better for your dress and better for the environment. Don’t wrap it in plastic — the chemicals from the plastic could ruin your dress. Put it in a box (with no window) wrapped in non-dyed paper. Store it in a mild, dry climate — a cedar closet would be ideal. You will ensure someone, someday can wear your dress on their wedding day.

Recycle

• Think ahead: Get a dress that can be remade into a fun, flirty cocktail dress post-wedding.
• Help someone else: Donate your dress to a charitable organization and help make someone else’s wedding dreams come true.
• Invest in recyclable materials: Natural fabric that hasn’t been dyed or treated with toxic chemicals is not only healthier for you, but it is more beautiful and richer feeling than chemically altered material. You can also be sure it will be recycled someday rather than seeping chemicals back into the earth in a landfill.

For more information about eco-wedding attire check out:
Eco-Chic Weddings by Emily Andersen

Happy Attire Hunting

Tiffany & Amalia

Can’t seem to find a store to register in that has items you would actually use? Wish that you could have a registry at your favorite local business?

RegisterLocally is here to help.

Registerlocally is a website that allows you to create a gift registry at your favorite, independently owned local business. If you don’t see your favorite local store listed on our website you can use the registry to input gifts. Sometimes, small stores have bridal gift registries that can be filled out by hand. If you duplicate the wedding registry here online, then it is accessible to out of town wedding guests. Now you can have a unique eco-friendly wedding registry with all the hemp, recycled, bamboo, natural, organic, green, charitable, local and fair trade gifts you can think of!

On top of that they offer tips & resources to help you plan your special day right down to environmentally responsible wedding rings & bands that you can buy for .99 cents!

Check out www.registerlocally.com for more information.

Until next time, Happy Planning!

Tiffany & Amalia

Burts Bees

Since 1991, Burt’s Bees has been offering distinctive natural personal care products. Today they offer more than 150 Earth-friendly, natural personal care products, including face care, body care, hair care, lip care, personal wash, men’s grooming, baby care, outdoor remedies, and kits & gifts. More so,  their products contain the highest level of natural ingredients, nature-safe processes, and environmentally sensitive packaging among their competitors. Sounds like a reason to love them — yes, but not why we love them.

We love them for what they are doing for the world of natural personal care products, and their focus on research and development. Recently they decided to take on a whole new level of standardization in natural products — they made their own.  According to the findings of a recently commissioned a consumer
study by TSC, a division of Yankelovich Partners Inc. they realized that the public is by and large very confused about what constitutes as “natural” and what the standards actually mean.

We understand the confusion.

The Public Perception is that 78% of American women think natural personal care is currently regulated or don’t know if it is, while 97% think it should be. When in actuality, The natural personal care industry is not regulated.

So what’s Burt’s Bees Response? Since natural personal care is not currently regulated, Burt’s Bees is setting the natural standard to help lay the foundation and help customers define what “natural” personal care products really mean.

And for that - we love them. (We also love them for their Super Shiny Lip Gloss.. but that’s another story.)

Have a Wonderful Day!

Amalia & Tiffany

On the ps, if you’d like more information about Burt’s Bees:

Burt’s Bees Website
Burt’s Bees Blog

If you recently read our post on Organic Wines or have been hearing all the buzz about organic foods and beverages and want to know more, welcome! Organic beverages are a great addition to your sustainable lifestyle and actually taste incredible too. So the next time you put on your party shoes and need to head out to the liquor store for a house warming gift — why not give the gift of organic?

What is Organic?

As I mentioned in the other post, Organic Farming is a more natural way of farming that eliminates the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulations and additives. Instead of these foreign substances and chemicals being added to your food, farmers let nature run its course and produce food naturally.  More so, farmers really have to take a lot of old farmers techniques into consideration.. things like crop rotation, and residues to mechanical cultivation will really help them grow the best crops possible. Organic beers are no different, there are primarily made from barley, hops and wheat so producing these crops usually include lots of pesticides and fertilizers which we’ve seen pose a threat to our health and the environment. Beyond that the transportation of this beer consumes fossil fuels by the truckloads.. literally, with statistics showing that a beer travels as much as 1400 km. before it hits your belly.

How do I know what I’m looking at?

When you walk into a store, shopping organic might not be the easiest thing in the world. It might take a little research before you know what you’re buying. There aren’t many organic beers on the market, but they are easy identifiable. Keep your eyes open for the “Certified Organic” label on the beer which means, like organic wines follow all the standards set by the USDA, which include standards for chemicals used to clean breweries. You can also find beers “made with organic ingredients” which are made from organic grains, but not processed in certified organic breweries.

Buying Local

Another great way to enjoy a beverage without the carbon addage is to take a trip to your local microbreweries. While it’s not organic (although some microbrewers do carry organic brands) buying local beer reduces the amount of fossil fuels used in shipping, and supports smaller, local businesses.

For more information about Organic Beers don’t hesitate to check out the following links:

Green Guide to Organic Beer
The Fermenting Barrel: Is Organic Beer Bad?
Organic or Bust: All about Organic Beer

Enjoy your night out and BYOB, it can be a great conversation starter

Amalia & Tiffany