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Friday April 29, 2011. 

This is the day that Prince William will marry Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London.  I am sure it is the most anticipated wedding of all of 2011.  I will be watching the events that day from my living room as I am sure many will be, here in Canada, and around the world.  Until then, I have been watching "The Royal Wedding" website on CTV.ca.  It is packed with lots of juicy tidbits about the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, from the Royal invitations to the bachelor party guest list.  There is even a Facebook  and Twitter page so you don't miss any of the details!

 

I have been happily married to my husband for almost 12 years. It seems like so long ago that I was planning our day.  Trends have certainly changed since then.  I thought it would be fun to write a blog post about weddings and trends for those of you who, like Kate and William, are planning a wedding in 2011.  I love a great party and always find weddings so much fun and excitement!

Canadian Bride has a listing of the popular wedding theme colours for 2011, which are gold, purple, pink, blue, green and black, white and red.

What about invitations?  The Royal invitations are stunning, simple and beautiful.  There are many options available for invitations such as making your own or having them printed professionally.  Why not check your local free classified ads on Kijiji and use someone in your own city to make them for you? 

I remember that, when I was about to be married, choosing my dress was a very special time.  I found these fabulous dresses made by Canadian designer, Adele Wechsler.  Her designs have been featured in places like Flare magazine and even Martha!  She has a stunning ecocouture collection that is made of sustainable products from right here in Canada.

Another Canadian designer that I found is Nina Duong, of Nina Duong Haute Couture.  These designs are also stunning and have been featured in Wedding Bells magazine.

Buy Canadian First member, Chapeaux De Madeleine, has this gorgeous ivory flower veil, that would sure make a statement on your wedding day.  I am certain that Kate will have a fantastic veil when she walks down the aisle in April.

I always enjoy checking out the wedding cake when I attend a wedding.  They are always so beautiful and I admire the hard work it takes to make such cakes.  It seems that rolled fondant cakes are becoming the norm, but I also think a traditional frosted cake can be so beautiful.  I can imagine a cake covered in white fondant with lovely scrolled details in black and black ribbon wrapped around the bottoms of the layers.............classy!  Check with your local bakeries, I am sure you can work out the details with them to create the cake of your dreams!

Wedding music?  There are many great Canadian musicians, with fantastic music that could be played at your wedding. Chapters-Indigo has a vast selection of music...why don't you check it out?  Of course, one of my first choices would be Michael Buble. 

 

Now that the mood has been set with music, you and your guests can have a magical evening.   I hope that my picks help give you some ideas.

Are you excited about the Royal Wedding?  Will you be watching?  What do you think about this elaborate event?  Please feel free to share your comments with us!

 

:: Image sources: Ctv.ca, Adele Wechsler, BuyCanadianFirst Member Chapeaux De Madeleine and Chapters Indigo, Flickr Creative Commons member sweetcakesbyrebecca

During the day I play with a bunch of noisy, boisterous wondernuts; some are almost as tall as a meter stick. They are all adorable and moody, honest and tough as nails but made of custard none the less, and frankly I wouldn`t have it any other way. Working at a daycare has been both gruelling and rewarding. Watching the kids grow, celebrating their victories and seeing them off as they go into kindergarten, truly has been a blessing. My two youngest  children attend the daycare centre so I am both a parent and an educator there. It`s not always easy but I adore being able to be with them all day and not miss any good stuff while at work. I have been very fortunate.

Prior to working at the centre, I could never imagine how early childhood educators (ECE) did it! I see the same look in parents' eyes when they drop off their child at a room full of children. The look in their eyes seems to say "Wow, better you than me", as they make a hasty escape. Yes, we have our hands full, yes, we are busy, yes, it is often organised chaos and yes, it's a whole lot of fun. Caring for your children is a privilege but there are a few things us ECE's would love every parent to know.  These tips will make both our day and your child's day run a lot smoother.

1. Label everything! When 16 kids come in from outside, they take off their boots, coats, mittens and scarves all at once and everything ends up scattered all over the place. The older kids know what their things look like and promptly put them away. This is not always the case with the little kids or the new ones who are not familiar with their belongings or the routine. Labeling helps us educators save time and prevents items from getting lost and it also helps children learn how to recognize their names. A permanent marker is a convenient, quick solution for the job. Another option is from Canadian company, Lovable Labels,  who make labelling colourful and easy with a fabulous collection of labels, stickers, tags and more. Your daycare provider will thank you.

2. Have the proper attire for the season. We go outside, everyday, even in the rain and often in the Winter. The proper gear is so very important. Summer requires hats, sunscreen and bug spray. Please do not send your child with flip-flops or sandals. Their outside shoes should be a good 'runner'. The Fall calls for light mittens, a hat, a sweater and a Fall coat. In the Winter, layers are key, so please make sure your child has a cozy sweater to wear under her Winter coat. Other must haves items are ski-pants, boots, waterproof mittens, a toque, extra mittens and scarf. The Winter to Spring transition, for me, is the worst. It is freezing in the morning and warm in the afternoon, it snows and rains and you can never quite tell what will happen. Keep a raincoat and boots, like these adorable duckies  from Buy Canadian First member Rallye's Footwear, at the centre so that we are always prepared for play despite what Mother Nature has in store. If your child does not have these items with her, it may mean she will have to remain indoors while her peers play outside.

 

3. A change of clothes. Include a change of underwear, socks and shoes, as well as tops and bottoms. One never knows when a spill, sickness or accident will happen.

5. Call when late or when you are not coming. We are expecting you and hope you are safe when you aren`t there. Calling us eases our minds and helps us better plan the rest of the day.

It is important that child care workers and families work together so that the best things can happen for the kids!! Are you an ECE? What do you wish parents would do? Parents, what would you like to see from your ECE?

PhotoCredit : Lovable Lables site,  Rallye Footwear and Blue Celery

 

 

Sapadilla makes "nice little eco-cleaners" from their headquarters in Burnaby, BC. Co-founder Jill Goodbrand (how could you not be an entrepreneur with a name like that?) kindly agreed to answer my questions via email. If you read the whole interview, you too can learn terms like surfactants and saponify.

She also sent me a bunch of their products to check out. I haven't cracked them open yet, but I'll report back on what I think.

 

1Y1C: A couple of my friends actually recommend Sapadilla to me. Tell me a little about why you started the company.

Jill: I was working as a copywriter for big ad agencies, and Steve, who holds a Masters of Environmental Science, was working in his field - but in stuffy offices. We both wanted to do our own thing, partly because we've got entrepreneurial genes and partly because both of us felt frustrated about being a small piece of a big puzzle. We wanted to create a company that allowed us to be involved in things full circle. And, of course, it had to be something we felt good about bringing into the world.

Several years ago, we took a look at the cleaning category, and found it lacking. Natural cleaners have been around for quite a while, but we felt there was nothing to love. No companies producing the type of high quality product you might get excited about, the way you can about some products in other categories, like fine foods or bath and body. And so, we set about researching and developing our line, aiming to create high quality natural cleaning products that were enjoyable to use. We stuck to three key factors: essential oil aromas, package design and earth-friendly formulations.

1Y1C: When you hear from customers, what do they like about your products?

We actually receive regular emails from enthusiastic customers telling us how much they love our products, which is definitely very rewarding. What we hear the most is how much they love our aromas. People are generally exposed to synthetic fragrance, so it's a very refreshing change to use only pure and natural essential oils. Next to that, customers get excited that we're local.

1Y1C: How do you differentiate your cleaners from other natural cleaners on the market?

Again, it's all about the essential oil aromas. We worked with a natural perfumist to create our blends, so they smell wonderfully fresh and natural. We use these oils at high concentrations, making our products more special and high-end.

1Y1C: Are any of your products entirely sourced in Canada? That is, do all of the ingredients come from Canada? If not, what are the barriers to sourcing Canadian ingredients. I'd imagine price would be the major one, but can you simply not get some ingredients in Canada?

No, not entirely sourced in Canada and here's why. Cleaning products are made with ingredients called surfactants. Some good, some bad, some really bad. Conventional cleaning products use petroleum-based surfactants (among other nasties), while most natural cleaning products use plant-derived ones. Of the plant-based surfactants we use, one is made in Canada (Cocamidopropyl Betaine), but our main cleaning ingredients are from the Alkyl Polyglucoside family and, as far as we know, these are not manufactured in Canada.

We use this ingredient because it is has a far superior environmental and health profile to other plant-based surfactants that are available in Canada (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate). We get our plant-derived APG's from a manufacturer in the US, but they can also come from Europe or Asia. We purchase all our ingredients through Canadian suppliers, but they come from all over: Canada, the US, Europe and other areas. That said, all the manufacturing of our products is done here, so they are made in Canada as far as NAFTA is concerned.

To clean your home with ingredients 100% grown in Canada would be very difficult. I'm not sure if any basics like vinegar or baking soda are manufactured anywhere here, but you could look into that. Probably safe to assume lemons are out!  Plus, you'd need some sort of soap for dishes, laundry, etc. and, actually, you'd have a tough time making basic soap entirely sourced here too.

You could find corn, hemp or soy oil (or animal tallow), but unless you can find a Canadian manufacturer of lye (sodium hydroxide), which is required to saponify the oils (that is turn them into soap), you'd be out of luck. You could get really extreme, I suppose, and made your own wood ash lye, but I don't imagine too many people are up for that!

The issue isn't really cost, it's the availability of one of our major ingredients. It would be wonderful for us if all ingredients were made in Canada.

Note: Jill heard back from more of her suppliers so the above answer was amended slightly on March 11, 2011. It now reflects the fact that you can find one surfactant that's manufactured in Canada. Previously it indicated that no surfactants were made in Canada.

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked on the 1Y1C Facebook page if anybody knew any designers in Calgary who I might connect with. I was passing through Cowtown for a speaking engagement, and had a few extra hours to do an interview. I received a suggestion that I talk with Hadija Gabunga of Hipband.

 

We met at the Art Gallery of Calgary, where I shot this video:

 

Being a rookie video interviewer, I failed to ask where she got her fabrics from. In a follow-up email, she tells me they're manufactured in Montreal.

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

:: images courtesy of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

As regular readers know, there will be a contest each month on OneYearOneCanadian.ca. Last month I gave away an MEC gift card.

This month, courtesy of the good people at Tilley Endurables, I'm giving away a hat. In fact, the winner gets a hat of their choice from the Tilley website. I note, in addition to the traditional out-and-about traveling hats, they've got a nice I'm-an-Irish-gentleman-or-hipster cap and even a ball-cap. All their hats are designed and manufactured in Toronto.

How do you win one of these chapeaus? Simply leave a comment answering this question: what is your favourite piece of Canadian clothing?

You can define ‘Canadian clothing' as broadly as you like-there are no wrong answers. Given that it's already February 15, I'm going to run this contest through March 10, and then randomly draw a winner.

UPDATE: I had a couple of colleagues randomly choose numbers, and I combined them (for, you know, further randomness). Congratulations to Deryck, who's won himself a Tilley hat!

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

The theme for this year's Black History Month is "Our Canadian Story: Guiding Our Youth to Success" and the four black Canadians chosen for recognition exemplify the attributes one hopes to find in role models.

  

Women in front of YWCA’s Ontario House, 698 Ontario Street - ca. 1912
                             Photographer: William James
                       City of Toronto Archives - Fonds 1244, Item 71.22

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement, February 1, in Ottawa, Ontario, in recognition of Black History Month:

 

            Coat of Arms of the Prime Minister of Canada 

"February is Black History Month and an opportunity to celebrate the values of perseverance and dignity that have defined the black community in Canada. “

This year, we celebrate four outstanding Canadian icons whose stories characterize the pride, strength and dignity that have driven black Canadians to realize their ambitions in different fields.

  

                                    Dr. Carrie Best

John Ware, born into slavery in South Carolina, moved to Alberta where he achieved success and fame. As a pioneer of “steer wrestling,” his legacy is enjoyed by more than a million people each year at the Calgary Stampede. “

At the turn of the 20th century, Dr. Carrie Best broke down barriers and changed mindsets - thriving as a broadcaster, author, human rights activist and the founder of the first black-owned newspaper in Nova Scotia.

Two of Canada's greatest athletes also overcame obstacles and changed attitudes in professional sports. Ferguson Jenkins became the only Canadian player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, while Jarome Iginla was the first black captain in the National Hockey League.

“During Black History Month, I encourage Canadians to learn more about the important contributions of black Canadians to our great nation and to participate in various events celebrating this part of our culture."

  

                      Chapters-Indigo

Chapters-Indigo has several excellent Reading Lists for Black History Month.  You can find out what Black History Month activities are happening in your neighbourhood by Googling "Black History Month + your place name".  The Black History Canada site, also has helpful resources, including event listings.

Are you planning on attending any events in your area?

Source: www.pm.gc.ca

In 1850, Great Britain produced almost all of the world's finished cotton. Now, of course, it makes almost none.

In 1850, our nation wasn't even, well, much of a nation. So how much finished cotton does Canada produce today?

That's one of the questions I'll be exploring in this month's new category, Clothing. Last month's Household Goods were a good introduction, but now we're getting serious. The game is definitely afoot.

What am I hoping to learn about Canadian clothing? Let's see:

• Where do our clothes come from?
• Do we actually manufacture any fabrics or other source materials in Canada?
• Can I buy a suit made from Canadian-made fabric?
• Are there Canadian-made running shoes?
• Is it even possible to create a wardrobe of clothes that are entirely sourced in Canada (without, you know, knitting and sewing them myself)?
• Why has the rest of the world adopted the term ‘toque'?

What in my wardrobe is already Canadian? For years, I've been a frequent Stanfield's customer, underwear made with pride in Truro, Nova Scotia. I also usually get my dress shoes from John Fluevog (certified Satan-resistant, it says so on the sole). Neither products are sourced in Canada, but they're a small start.

 

The Rules

I'd like to start from zero clothes in my closet, but that's not practical. Not only would it be exorbitantly expensive to build an entirely gold-standard Canadian wardrobe, but I suspect that it's virtually impossible. I also need to remain gainfully employed, and my work requires that I occasionally dress up. I can't very well wear only Stanfield's underwear and a Cowichan sweater to a speaking gig, can I?

So, I'm only going to add Canadian-made clothes to my wardrobe for the balance of 2011. As per my Made in Canada rules, I'm going to work as hard as I can to create entire outfits that comprise clothes sourced, manufactured and designed in Canada. Pray to your cold, Canadian gods for me.

I'm going to have to cancel two of my favourite clothes-by-mail services: the Threadless t-shirt a month club and Man Packs, for t-shirts, socks and underwear.

Have you got any recommendations for clothes that are made in Canada?

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

Your heart, we've discussed it in  February of 2009 and again in February of 2010. We've discussed strokes, exercise and even the mathematical formula for the approximate shape of a heart ( (x2+y2-1)3-x2y3=0). We spoke of the importance of exercise, weight control and quitting smoking, but, this year I won't get so technical. This year, we are going to the kitchen and having a little fun cooking and grocery shopping with help from Simply HeartSmart Cooking from Canada's cooking guru, Bonnie Stern. 

Shopping can be a dangerous event, especially if we are starving, so never do it hungry and stay focused by using a list. The Heart and Stroke Foundation follows the Canada Food Guide as a healthy way of eating by showing you what foods are important and how many daily servings you require. The average adult needs 5-12 servings of grain products, 5-10 servings of fruit and veggies, 3.4 servings of dairy and 2-3 servings of meats and alternatives. 

Upon first glance at the amount of grains, one may think that it is a lot, but it's not. The complex carbs keep our engines running and, of course, the serving amounts are based upon your age, sex and activity level, see chart here . When choosing your grain products think whole grains, add flax to your baking, try new grains as a new alternate to rice (like quinoa) and think of your fiber intake. Fiber is so important and adults should try and get about 25-35g of it daily. Not only does it keep you regular but it may also help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of cancer and lower blood cholesterol.

 

 

 

When it comes to dairy, if you are over the age of 5, choose low fat or skim milk  to get the protein and calcium benefits without all the fats.

When choosing your meats and alternatives remember to look outside the meat cooler. Fish is an excellent choice and should be considered at least twice a week (like salmon or rainbow trout) but be aware of the mercury content in your fish . Including beans and other legumes in your diet packs a huge fiber and protein punch without all the animal fats. I made this recipe this weekend and it was so good! I had my patty with a salad without a bun and my son made a monster burger with his. We added the recipe to our home recipe book.

Falafel Veggie Burgers
makes 8 burgers
1-1L4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2- 540 ml (19oz ) cans (rinsed and drained)
1 284ml/10 oz can of mushrooms, drained and patted dried.
4 slices of bread moistened and squeesed dry
1 tsp baking powder
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion finely chopped
1 small carrot grated
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp hot red pepper sauce
1tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Tahini sauce:
1/2 cup soft yogurt cheese or thick yogurt
2 TBSP Tahiti
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp hot red pepper
salt to taste
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1. In food processor, combine chick peas, mushrooms, bread and baking soda until finely chopped but not quite a paste (chop in batches if necessary). Add garlic, carrot, onion, parsley, cumin, coriander, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Mix lightly and shape mixture gently into 8 patties.
2. Bake burgers in single layer in preheated 350F/180C oven for 30 minutes. Or brush a large non-stick skillet with oil, heat and cook burgers on both sides until brown and crisp.
3. To make sauce, combine yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, hot pepper sauce and salt in food processor or blender. Blend in mint and cilantro. taste and adjust seasonings if required. Serve burgers with sauce.

  

We need fats but only from the right kinds of fats. Try and avoid convenience and snack foods are they are usually high in fat and the ones labeled fat free are usually high in sugar and salts. Limit saturated fats from fatty meats, butter, lard, shortening and hard margarine and avoid trans-fats. Choose unsaturated oils such as canola, olive, and flax as well as non-hydrogenated margarine (trans-fat free).

Finally limit your salt, alcohol and caffeine intake.

Grocery shopping need not be any more of a hassle when shopping Heart Smart. With a good meal plan, especially from Bonnie Sterns recipe book, and following Canada's food guide, you are all set up to succeed. Read your labels for fat and fiber contents. Of course always shop Canadian first, items such as oatmeal, flax seed, root veggies (even in the winter), meats, fish, canned beans, milk and baking supplies may be made in Canada! Think of what a good, no amazing, shopper you will be! In fact an amazing shopper with a healthy heart!

What are your Heart Smart food habits? 

 

 photo credits : chapters-indigo, health's delight, buy canadian first, the heart and stroke foundation

 

:: Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Kruger Products Ltd.

How do I identify what counts as ‘made in Canada' for this project? As I've said before, there are rules for each month, and they're up for debate. However, for all of the products, I'm applying these (deceivingly) simple criteria:

• Gold - The product is designed, manufactured and entirely sourced in Canada.
• Silver - The product is designed and manufactured in Canada, but its constituent parts or ingredients don't all originate here.
• Bronze - The product is designed here, but neither manufactured nor entirely sourced in Canada.

Does somebody have an Olympics hangover?

 

My goal is always the gold standard, but I'm afraid there will be compromises. More on this in my next post, about this month's category of clothing. I'm also going to write about the official ‘Product of Canada' standards that the federal government has established, which differ considerably from mine.

What do you think of my approach?

Photo by Tom Magliery.

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

We visited the library the other day, with with the kids from the daycare. Trying to amuse them indoors after another day of 35 below weather, we decided to treat them to a film. I didn't really want to watch the cartoon so I grabbed a book from the shelves. It wasn't by accident I picked the one that I did as I was curious about what the author had to say. I had no commitment to reading the book in its entirety. I just wanted a little escape from Franklin the Turtle and to just flip through the pages. The book I chose was Mars and Venus Together Forever. I was curious to see what the hype was all about. It sucked me in and I couldn`t put it down even though some parts were a little cheesy.

"Hmmm", I thought. Could it be  as simple as appreciation and communication? I don't know, but it sounds like a great start! So, on Valentine's Day, to show our appreciation for the men in our lives, here is my top 5 great Canadian made gifts for your man.

1. The Chevrolet Camaro - Oh yeahh! Find out all the details on the Buy Canadian First member page of the Chevy Camaro. Gorgeous, safe and efficient! Think of all the fun you'll have cruising around!

 

 

 

2. Lucky Strike -  The things that we have in common glue us together and the things we don`t, keep us interesting. As much as a couple are stitched together and, somedays they are all that the other needs, we still need to do the things we enjoy as individuals. So whether it be golf, woodworking or fishing, get him a small token like these great lures from our member Lucky Strike to encourage him to take some down time doing the things he enjoys.

3. Go hide in your cave - So your Mister comes home at the end of the day and you are filled with information; important dates, tales from the day, a rant or two and of course, we can`t forget to tell him to take out the trash. You can`t help but notice that he`s not quite there. Instead he is occupied with the news,  the sports updates or the newspaper rather than giving you his undivided attention. In the book, it is described as `being in the cave` and eventually he`ll emerge and be all ears, but while he`s there, consider some books from his favourite authors at Chapters-Indigo or a subscription from Canadian Magazines to help take his mind off the day.

 

4. The summer position - Just as an armchair in the living room is a welcomed treat so, too, would be comfy seating for the balmy summer days. Imagine a sultry, summer evening of giggling children, a thirsty garden, a thirsty couple enjoying some beer (my pick would be from Half Pints Brewing Company),  watering the garden, hand in hand, while lounging in this great love seat lodge chair by Jardinique. Those are the days you'll remember 40 years from now.

 

5. Sleep on it - We spend one third of our lives in bed sleeping and what not, and as I age little, I find little comforts such as a good bed really make the difference. Treat your guy to the promise of a restful night (or *wink) with the fabulous line of mattresses from our member Essentia.

 

 

 

Really though, isn't that the truth for us all?  This Valentine's day, and, frankly every single day, don`t forget to smother him with tight squishy hugs and long slow kisses.

How are you telling your man you adore him? Share your Valentine day ideas with us.

 

Photo credits: Buy Candadian First members Chevrolet, Lucky Strike, Chapters Indigo, Jardinique, Essentia

Quote credits Gray, J. (1996). Mars and Venus Together Forever  

 

I really enjoy reading the back stories of our Canadian entrepreneurs! They are very inspiring! I also appreciate wearing accessories like these, that have so much thought and integrity put into them. And flair!

:: all images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Truth