Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Motherhood has evolved over the many decades and the traditional image of motherhood, while it still exists, is no longer the only one. As our society evolves women have changed what it means to be a mother but despite these constant social, economic and cultural changes some things do not change. I believe that regardless of circumstance, all mothers want their children to feel loved, be safe, thrive and make happy successful lives for themselves.

Our moms made our lunches, washed our clothes, helped us be brave, helped us to finish science projects, let us keep that tatty kitten, kissed our boo-boos, held us when we were sick, let us go so we could fly and always let us know that we had a safe place to land; because of that we should not wait until the last moment to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Babies in the first months of life sleep in erratic shifts and will still wake up some nights when they are older because of bad dreams or (God forbid) illness and once they are teenagers, well they may keep you up at night wondering if they are ok or when will they be home... Sleep deprived moms are everywhere in the world, and although they manage well enough, what if you could make the sleep that she does get a little more restful as well as provide some healing? The Align-Right Sleeping Pillow was designed by Judy Blondin for her neck related sleep issues, later in tests these Canadian-made pillows proved a 93% decrease in pain and a 75% decrease of pain medications! The Align-Right Sleeping Pillow's purpose is to support the head and keep the neck in cervical alignment, thus providing you with a more restful sleep and heal some major health issues, find out how here.  While talking with Jim Blondin, I was amazed at what this little pillow could do for your health and it can be used as a nursing pillow! You can buy this pillow from a distributor in your area or if you buy online you will receive a travel roll for free!

Regardless of what most mothers say, reading in low light will not harm your eyesight, it may give you a headache but otherwise you'll be fine. I think it would be better stated that reading in good light is much easier and with the beautiful fixtures from Contraste Lighting, you'll want the lights on all the time. The company was founded in 1989 by Michel Lecluze, a craftsman with a passion for lighting products, where he set up shop in St. Jean Chrysostome, Quebec. Contraste Lighting has grown ten-fold since then and is celebrating 20 years of innovation and excellence across the continent. I know I wouldn't be sad if a light fixture (the upstairs hall light, honey) was changed with something so beautiful. 

Long nights and busy days can lead to mom feeling that she isn't looking her best, even though she always looks great. Chemical awareness has sparked a whole new kind of skin care product, made up of minerals and organic products, designed to make you look good and prevent chemical leaching into your bloodstream. Mompreneur Shelli of Natural Beauty in British Columbia has a beautiful selection of mineral cosmetics that is all natural and safe, even for the little ones for dress up time. Maybe give mom an extra glow with a 100% mineral bronzer so she can shine on the outside too. If you are really not certain what to get or what colors would be best, contact Shelli and she will set you up with gift certificate!

A Canadian-made Mother's Day is divine but do not leave it to just this one day, be sure to show mom everyday how special she really is.

 What do you have planned for your mom?

Earth Day was April 22 and was first established in the United States in 1970 marking the environmental movement. Today 6 million Canadians along with billions of people from 141 countries celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is not just a day, but a way of life and this year I am going to use it to make some ‘Eco-lutions'. I can't think of a better time to start, with 2 young children in the house, I can promote good green habits and an earth-smart attitude. There is so much information about being eco friendly that it can seem hard to know where to start. Don't give up, small steps lead to giant leaps, one person can make a difference, YOU can make a difference. Here are some Eco-lutions you can adopt today!

1. Become a vegetarian - If you aren't already then give it a shot, at least for  a couple meals a week. Meat production is inefficient and energy consuming. For every 1 Kg of beef 6-7 Kg of grain has been used. Not to mention all the time and energy used to harvest the grain. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have estimated that livestock are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases which is more than the estimated global transportation sector (14%). Remember, it's just as important to buy local and (if you can) buy organic. Don't be worried though. Cooking vegetarian or vegan is easier than you might think! There are tons of recipes available online. A sure bet is the 100 Mile Challenge reality show now airing on the Food Network Canada.
   
2. Change your light bulbs - Regular bulbs may be less expensive at the store but give off 90% of their energy as heat. An average 60 watt light bulb lasting an average of 8,000 hours will use about 480 kWh, at an average of 11.64 cents a kWh, your light bulb will cost you about $55.00 to use. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) use 75% less energy than a regular bulb and last longer. In comparison, a 13 watt CFL bulb lasting the same time will use about 104 kWh, at the same price of 11.64 cents, your  cost will only be about $12.00. Not only are you saving energy but money, lots and lots of money every year. How many light bulbs do you have in your house? There is one noteworthy tidbit about the CFL bulbs: They do contain a small amount of mercury. Since the mercury is encased within the bulb, there is no risk to us. The mercury cannot escape, but like batteries, CFL bulbs should be disposed of properly. for more information, read this Energy Star fact sheet on the CFL.
3. Bring your own bag shopping - Get yourself into the habit of bringing your own bags for shopping trips. These bags are not only stronger but have less of an environmental impact than their disposable paper and plastic cousins. Stores usually have them available for purchase. Superstore has launched their new campaign to push the use of cloth reusable bags. They hope that raising the price of the disposable plastic bags and promoting cloth ones will divert 1 billion bags from ending up in landfills by years end. If you are not keen on the store brand cloth bags you can buy them from local artisans in stylish designs. Buy Canadian First member Betty Bags has several cute styles of shopping bags including: The Sally Shopper and The Patsy Pocket Pac. Both styles fold up into a convenient size for your purse or pocket, never be without your shopping bags again. You can find a retailer near you here.
4. Travel right - Walk, cycle, take a bus and car pool to reduce your carbon foot print and when you travel, try the train. Trains are popular in Europe but have been grossly overlooked here in North America. A train produces less greenhouse emissions per passenger kilometer than an airplane and is 25% safer than cars. Try Via Rail. They have some great rates a special offers page you can browse.
5. Finally Read, Learn, Act and tell everyone to join you!
   

Did you know that Canadian caribou and boreal forest birds are in danger?
Pollinator numbers are on the decline, insects like bees and butterflies are at risk! These issues and more, like our oceans, need our attention. Find a cause that strikes a chord in you and fight for it!

Remember that your one voice, letter or action will make a difference, the world is changed one person at a time. What are your Eco-lutions this year?

Your lawn is a sea of green blades, the platform of picnics, something to squish your toes in and the best place to play croquet. In the middle of last century a green lawn was usually the source of competition. He with the greenest and most manicured lawn wins. In those days pesticides like chlordane were readily used on lawns. Chlordane is a man made pesticide banned in 1988 for personal use and completely banned in 1995 for commercial use of termite control. Chlordane is suspected of being the cause of several health issues including: child cancers, neuroblastoma, leukemia, chronic infections, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, infertility, neurological disorders, aggression and depression. Who was the winner? Certainly it was not the children who played in those lawns, they are often most vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals.

With the David Suzuki Foundation watching, lawn care is a whole different story as provinces are banning the sale of pesticides for cosmetic use. Quebec and Ontario have already put into place provincial bans of the sale of pesticides for lawn and garden use. Prince Edward Island is joining the ban in 2010. New Brunswick, Alberta and British Columbia have all started the ball rolling in this direction but are still in need of amending their legislations and committing to a total product ban. The rest of the country needs our voice to tell them that we want a ban on these products polluting our communities and children. You can take action here.

So what exactly is going on our lawns today? I called a nearby southern Manitoba garden center requesting the best way to care for my lawn and was recommended a weed and feed product. Most weed and feed products are chemical soups or granules that usually contain 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid ) a herbicide readily available in the provinces without the residential bans.  2,4-D has shown to cause cancer in humans, high toxic effect in fish, and moderate exposure of 2,4-D to honey bees severely impaired their reproduction. If that is not incentive enough this may be, over 6000 Canadians suffer from acute pesticide poisoning every year and nearly half of those are children under 6 years old. Think about it!

So how do you care for your lawn without all the chemicals? It is quite simple really, in fact with a little love and attention your lawn will surly thrive without the use of chemicals. 

1. Your lawn needs some water. The most optimum time to water your lawn is early in the morning as it allows for a good saturation and protection from the days sun. Early in the spring it is recommended to not water your lawn until mid to late June, the drought effect builds a better root system and suppresses weeds. This rule does not apply for newly seeded grass, which needs to be watered often.
2. Weeds are a pain. The rule of thumb is to cut your lawn to 6 -7.5 cm. This will usually keep any weeds from seeding and discourage growth. It is beneficial to leave your grass clippings on your lawn. This layer of mulch in rich in nitrogen and another weed growth suppressant.
3. Fertilizer and lime are essential to your lawn. Most often if you have good soil, leave your trimmings and water regularly you may have little need to fertilize your lawn. In the fall you can take your soil to a garden center or lab to have it tested for quality and PH. Organic fertilizers such as dried blood, bone meal, dehydrated manure, fish emulsion or seaweed are good but if you require a scientific mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 
4. Seeding is best done in the fall while the days are still warm but lacking the scorching summer heat. A thick lush grass will naturally suffocate the weeds.
   

For more lawn information including more watering tips, thatch help and seasonal charts, please visit the Environment Canada lawn care page. 

Buy Canadian First's member Sure-Gro can help you with your fertilizer and grass seed needs with products from C-I-L, So Green, Perfectly Natural, and Vigoro.

"Oh but I still really need a herbicide, what can I do?"  Well, good old weed picking is one way and a spray of vinegar as well but there is a new product made of corn gluten. Turf Maize Bio-Weed N'Feed Lawn Fertilizer is made of 98% corn gluten. Turf Maize boasts great lawns, totally safe for your family and doesn't have fillers, animal waste and sludge.

 

Happy walking barefoot in the grass Canada! What are your favourite lawn tips and your favourite playing-in-the-grass activities?

I have to admit we have rarely sought out the advice of experts for rearing our kids. For us, me especially, parenting has been about following my instinct and getting to know and simply trusting my children. Our first was an easy going adventurous young boy who learned quickly, our youth combined with a different parenting style warranted us a raised eyebrow or 2 and warnings that we will be fostering spoiled and selfish behaviors. What we watched was a young boy who grew into an independent young man with goals and aspirations and the ability to make wise decisions for himself. Don't get me wrong he is still 15; mess scattered about his room, hours spent on the computer or video games, some sass and the occasional bout of selective hearing, which are all perfectly fine to me.

Raising baby naturally is a conscious choice made by many parents today. Topics like self weaning, baby wearing and co-sleeping are common words in the parental vocabulary, new words for old practices. Parents are not only concerned with their kids' emotional health but their physical health as well. Scares of contaminants or toxins in our foods, toys and hygienic products, and statistic showing an increase in food and other allergies are pushing parents and our culture to ‘greener' and natural solutions.

Baby wearing was a term coined by America's pediatrician Dr. Sears as he and his wife ‘wore' their children. Baby carriers have been around for centuries, as you can read in this article, but in more ‘cultured' societies, carried babies were less common. There was often the stigma that only the low income and status people carried their babies, but this is changing now. Buy Canadian First member Rolz & Sassy, designers of baby carriers, have a whole web page devoted to the benefits of carrying your baby with informative outside links. Babies who are worn cry less, learn more, and are protected from germs but these are only a few of many more compelling reasons. Rolz and Sassy have a stunning collection of fabrics and two styles, the ring sling and the sassy wrap, to choose from. If you haven't worn your baby today may be a good day to try her on! Rolz and Sassy items can be bought on their online shop, or in other e-shops and retail outlets.

Bath and body products contain harmful chemicals. Some shampoos contain something called methylisothiazoline, or MIT, and it has shown to cause nervous system disorders. Other substances include something called D4 and D5 (Siloxanes), while in small quarantines is allegedly not harmful to humans, the large waste loads from industry may pose a risk to fish and aquatic life. Buy Canadian First member ViDoma Naturals offers a wide selection of natural products for the whole family.

Their products are the combined knowledge of a certified aroma therapist and a clinical herbalist who work in the alternative health care field. ViDoma's full line of baby products include baby body wash, baby body lotion, baby bum cream, baby soft laundry soap and baby eczema lotion. They have sunscreen lotion and a child friendly, deet free Out & About (Insect Repellent) Lotion, that I am eyeing for my toddler. The wonderful thing about Vidoma's site is the full disclosure of ingredients accompanied by an ingredient information page, eliminating all doubt as to what you are putting on baby's skin. You can shop online at ViDoma's store or find a retail location near you.

If there was ever a time to reconsider where you buy toys for your baby perhaps it is now. With recent news headline shouting recalls for lead paint, loose magnets and other big manufacturing disasters it's sometimes scary shopping for toys. Buy Canadian First member Organically Hatched  has a fabulous handmade in Canada straight or knotted natural baby teether made of  Canadian maple and 100% organic cotton by Ringley. This combination is a wonder tactile contrast proving soothing to the teeth, interesting to explore and above all safe to chew. The Ringley teether is available online at Organically Hatched.

Raising baby naturally seems to just makes sense. I would love to read your own tips on the subject!

The origins of Easter lead to the Germanic goddess of spring and fertility known interchangeably as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos, derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Eostre was known to be accompanied by white hare who laid brightly colored eggs. The myth states that a wounded bird was found in the winter, in order to keep her warm Eostre transformed her in to a white hare who laid brightly coloured eggs. There are several variants to the legend but they seem to all include a beautiful maiden and her Hare. Christians abstained from meat during lent, 40 days prior to Easter, so the gift of an egg was not only a religious symbol but a welcome treat after a long fast.

Believe it or not some of the pre-Christian-era Pagan rituals were adopted by Christians. The egg soon symbolized the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is said that Mary Magdalene would bring eggs to the tomb for the mourners and the day of the resurrection all the eggs turned red. In the United Kingdom and Europe the earliest eggs were painted or dyed, like the Ukrainian Pysanka. By the end of the 17th century fabricated eggs of various materials were able to be purchased. Eggs continued to evolve through time as we see the stunning Fabergé eggs, ornate jewel encrusted eggs made for the Czar of Russia, by French jeweller Carl Fabergé. The Early 1800's sparked the first chocolate eggs appeared in Germany and France and spread through Europe. The chocolate Easter eggs were well established worldwide by the 1960's. Today Easter eggs traditions include egg tapping, egg rolling, egg decorating and egg hunts.

Hot Cross buns were another item of Pagan cultures believe to symbolize the moon's four phases. Later it was looked upon as a cross and became an Easter tradition. English folklore includes many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns, here's one: Sharing a hot cross bun with someone is said to ensure the friendship lasts throughout the year. When the bun is presented, the friend says, "Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be".

Hot Cross buns were another item of Pre-Christian cultures where it was believed to symbolize the moon's four phases. Later it was looked upon as a cross and became an Easter tradition. Make your own delicious buns with the help of this Canadian Living recipe.

Since Easter is symbolically and literally about rebirth it is customary to wear new clothes at Easter time. So if we are chasing rabbits, finding eggs, eating sweet bread and nibbling on chocolate then why oh why break tradition? Let's get some new clothes. Looking your Sunday best is easy with the talented selection of designers we have in Canada.

For the men we are going to pop into Buy Canadian First member Tristan for this gorgeous light grey men's blazer and pants. Beautifully tailored and detailed this will look great and comes in sizes 36-48. Go to the Tristan website to find their new collection and a retailer near you.

For the ladies I suggest The Loni Anderson Wrap around Dress from Buy Canadian First member Jennifer Glasgow (pictured above). Available in black, red, coral stripe or green stripe, this dress is simple and easy. I have to say it would also look perfect accompanied by a basket filled with mountains of flowers and chocolate. To see all of her beautiful designs visit her website and retailer list.

Let me know your Easter or spring traditions! I would love to hear how Canada celebrates.

Image sources: Old pixels, Wiki, Christine Picheca,Tristan and Jennifer Glasgow

 

It is maple season and what better way to celebrate then putting a little maple hugs on all your meals! Orillia, Ontario's own Everything Maple is well versed in the sweet and savory of it all. With over 70 maple products created by Tracy Moore, former caterer and chocolatier, it's safe to say that maple syrup  is not just for breakfast anymore. This is clearly a truth when the top seller is the Maple Balsamic Reduction Sauce, followed closely by Add a Little Love: Maple Roasted Garlic Dressing.

Each of the Everything Maple products begins with at least 30% to 90% pure Maple Syrup, which is naturally fat free. Studies show that maple syrup also contains antioxidants as well as significant amounts of manganese, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. A serving of maple syrup is comparable to a serving of broccoli! Everything Maple always have natural products with no artificial additives or chemicals and with 3 of their 8 top selling products contains zero fat, the Everything Maple slogan - Maple, what's not to love - is right on the money.

What are Everything Maple's top 8 selling products? They are:

• Maple Barbeque Sauce, Yikes! and Maple Barbeque Sauce with a Kick. Made with a perfected balance of spices, garlic and tomato combined with a wholesome serving of 40% pure maple syrup, the tangy sweetness of this barbeque sauce makes it one of their most popular products. The sauce is available in two heats: Original is a mild heat sauce, and Yikes! is a medium heat sauce.
• Maple & Berries Vinaigrette. A delightful combination of fresh raspberry, blackberry and blueberry bits swimming in a tangy mix of poppy seeds, cracked pepper, lemon, and pure maple syrup for a simply exquisite product.
• Maple Citrus Twist. The zing of mangos, lemons, orange, and grapefruit added to pure maple syrup give this product a light, fresh sweet and sour taste.
• Maple Balsamic Reduction. Blending the full rich flavour of balsamic into the smoothness of pure maple syrup quite possibly makes this our most versatile product.
• Maple Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Dressing. Nicknamed ‘Add a Little Love', this savoury product is a marriage made in heaven of inspired ingredients.
• Maple & Roasted Garlic Dip Mix. This funky product was initially intended to have its savoury contents blended with cream cheese to create an incredible dip to serve with veggies, fruit, or even to spread on a bagel.
  Now, the ideas seem never-ending for this product!
• Hot Maple Mustard. This product is complimented by the taste of pure maple syrup and a blend of ingredient that is sure to kick food up a notch.

Don't these sound amazing? And those are just the top 8. There are dozens more to pick from.

Not quite sure what to do with these delectable sauces, that's ok because Everything Maple are one step ahead of you with some tasty recipe ideas but they are always  excited to hear from their Everything Maple Foodies. So much so they have set up a great contest:

Tell us which of our Everything Maple products you are enjoying and how you are using them. You'll be entered for a chance to WIN each time you give us your feedback.

Check out all the details here.

Everything Maple Products can be ordered online or find a retailer near you .

 

The food labelling guidelines have changed for foods produced after December the 31st 2008, stringent new rules as to what can be labelled a product of Canada. I believe it is new social trends (the Buy Local and the 100 mile diet phenomenons) that have put this in motion and it is exactly what the Canadian public has been asking for. Under previous guidelines, which was created in the 1980's, it states that if a company incurs more than 51% of its production costs in Canada and the goods were transformed here, it can have a Product of Canada label. What does that mean? It means the product doesn't have to contain any domestic goods at all. So, for example, you can have a can of coconut milk with a Product of Canada label on it because the coconuts were transformed in Canada. CBC's Marketplace did a whole piece on the subject in October 2007. You can watch it here or click below:

In Stephen Harper's press conference on May 21st 2008 he announced that changes would be made. The new guideline, under the Conservative government's proposed Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, will change both the ‘Product of Canada' and ‘Made in Canada' guidelines. This is how:

Product of Canada will now be redefined to include a 98 per cent domestic product content as well as all processing and labour are done here as well. So then ‘Product of Canada' will mean that consumers can be confident that their food is grown and made here, supporting Canadian farmers and jobs.

Made in Canada is defined as having the last major transformation done in Canada. Any product that has more than 2 per cent foreign content will have the Made in Canada label but, it will have to also have the stipulation of either: "...from domestic and imported ingredients" or "...from imported ingredients." So to elaborate my peanut butter brand that says Product of Canada will be, under the new guideline, Made in Canada from imported ingredients, which can include peanuts from China, Nigeria, the United States and India.

If you are nutty for peanuts, be very excited, because we have peanut growers in Ontario! I talked with Nancy Racz of Kernel Peanuts Limited, who confirmed she grows Valencia peanuts that are transformed, on site, into tantalizing peanut treats. For a limited time Kernel Peanuts Limited is offering the Buy Canadian First readers a fantastic promotion: Buy any three products and get 20% off, visit their shop today!

Just so you know, this particular labelling is voluntary and only applies if a company wishes to state they have a Canadian product. It is likely we will not see very many examples of the new labelling out on the shelves yet, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency excludes the products that were produced before December 31st, 2008 (when the new guidelines took effect). If you are uncertain about where your food is coming from, contact the 1-800 number on the product, most companies are happy to answer all your questions.

Finally most unprocessed agricultural commodities fall under a country of origin labelling, that is why, when shopping at the supermarket, it's shown the bananas come from Mexico. Other products that fall in this category are meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs and honey, to name a few.

How do we feel about this at Buy Canadian First? Well obviously we would like to see more wholly Canadian-made products and their Product of Canada labels on store shelves, but we must also concede that with the Made in Canada goods made from foreign ingredients, the companies who have decided to participate with the new guidelines are offering full disclosure about the origin of the ingredients. That's something. AND, these transformation plants employ thousands of Canadians. This being said, the more information that is given to the consumers, the better equipped they are to make an educated decision about which product is worthy of their hard earned money.

So the next time you go to the supermarket, as much as possible, try to buy products that are labelled Made in Canada or choose produce that was grown in Canada or specifically, your province. If nothing appeals to you, widen your radius to include the US, then Mexico (there is a growing Buy North American movement happening too... but that's a different post ;-)