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Aging. Unfortunately, this is something that all of us must undergo throughout our lifetime. Many of us try very hard to slow this process. There are many companies researching incredients that can help reverse the signs of aging. One such new skin care ingredient that is being increasingly used and studied is Sea Buckthorn oil.

Sea Buckthorn is a plant that is native to central Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Asia. It has been used for medicinal purposes in Europe since Grecian times. Sea Buckthorn is now more readily available in North America as there are more and more growers. These little golden berries have taken the Canadian natural skincare industry by storm. The fruit itself is full of antioxidants, omega fatty acids and vitamins. The oil that's extracted has been known to help several skin conditions like roseacea, eczema, acne and wrinkles. The oil naturally filters UV rays and was also found to aid in skin and tissue regenration (therefore great for treating cuts and burns). 

 

Mont Echo is a Canadian company based in Quebec.  The company was founded almost ten years ago when Sea Buckthorn plants were first brought to Quebec. Since then, the Mont Echo orchards has been expanded to several thousand plants. The focus of Mont Echo is to create Sea Buckthorn products for bath and body uses as well as for consumption. Mont Echo is a member of the APAQ (Quebec Sea Buckthorn Grower's Association).

 

Mont Echo has an assortment of Sea Buckthorn products. A list of products can be found here.

A couple of their products definitely caught my eye while browsing their products. PurSea lip balm is made with infused sea buckthorn oils, which is great for dry lips. And who doesn't need lip balm anyway?  I know I always have lip balm in my purse and can always use more. Another product I noticed is PurSea moisturizing lotion. It is made with a variety of soothing oils including Sea Buckthorn oil. With winter coming, I know lotion is an important part of my daily regimen and should be one of yours too.

   

Mont Echo products are available online and at select retailers. Please visit their website for more details.

Have you used Sea Buckthorn products and want to share feedback on them?  Feel free to leave us a comment.  We would love to hear from you!

Image sources: BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Mont Echo

What if there was a way to improve your concentration, learning ability and help you maintain a healthy weight? What if this could also help your kids get better grades and improve their behavior?

Would you take 10 minutes (or less) everyday and give it a try? It is a simple thing: just eat a healthy breakfast.

 

A recent study on Breakfast for Learning shows that 31% of all elementary school children and 62% of secondary school children do not eat a healthy breakfast. This is dreadful. A skipped breakfast means that a child will not eat until lunch time, leaving anywhere between 12-16 hours from their last meal! Food is the body and brain's source of nutrition and energy, not eating breakfast is akin to dragging your car to work, this is why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 

 

Breakfast for Learning is the leading, national non-profit organization solely dedicated to child nutrition programs in Canada.

They provide:

• Nutrition grants to obtain food
• Staff and equipment to meet the need of the school community
• Child nutrition education resources
• Research information to support the link between child nutrition and learning
• and a voice that advocates a national meal program in Canada. 

Breakfast for Learning funded over 3,000 meal programs in the 2007/08 school-year serving over 56 million breakfasts, snacks and lunches to more than 360,000 students! That is truly amazing and still it doesn't meet the national needs, as they were only able to grant 27% of all fund requests last year. 

There are several reasons why children go hungry in the morning; 1 in 9 children live below the poverty line, long commutes, unsupervised meal time and busy morning routines leave children hungry. This in conjunction with the alarming rate of children who are obese and being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well as other health issues it is very important to educate children and their families about proper nutrition.  Please take a few moments and visit the website, they have a brilliant resource page and if you are able to donate, it is certainly an investment in all of our future. Especially the little people in our lives.

A good rule of thumb for a balanced healthy breakfast is to use at least 3 of the 4 food groups. Here is a handy recipe and breakfast idea list that may require some weekend prep but make for quick and easy and healthy breakfasts.

 

• Protein bars (Road Grill Food Network Canada) serve with either a glass of milk or juice.
• Vanilla yogurt topped with berries and granola
• Cheesy scrambled eggs stuffed in a pita with a glass of juice
• Banana and Date Flaxseed Bread (recipeshare.ca) with peanut butter and apple slices.
• Hot oatmeal with blueberries and milk
• A slice of leftover homemade pizza

Take the time for some breakfast. The short term and long term benefits are so worth the few minutes spent every day to prepare them.

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Ah! Fall has arrived at last! A season when dog owners, and all Canadians across the country, can still rush to get outdoors without multiple layers of clothes and coats, or fear of sinking belly deep in snow ... Just yet. The joys of hiking in the wilderness, exploring the countryside and enjoying nature at its best with your canine friend is sure to put smiles on every face. Dog lovers across the country will attest that there is nothing quite like it.

 

Preparing for an outing is important, even if you don't have far to go. Five kilometres from home is still a fair hike if you find yourself in need of something which is laying on your kitchen table.

Some basics for a pleasant trek in the country with your pup:

 

( ) A Hat. Personally I love my "Handcrafted in Canada with Care" Tilley hat for sun protection, however, you can find others. Perhaps a made in Canada Blurr Flora Cap or a MEC Rover Hat from Mountain Equipment Co-op is more to your liking?

( ) Bio bags. Try eco-friendly bags such as those from Sacsmunger, Epi-global or Natursac.

( ) Rubber boots. I use the traditional Canadian Marshland Red Sole Rubber Boots from Canadian Tire, but you can also try these Waterproof Rainboots available from Buy Canadian First member Rallye Footwear Inc.

 

( ) Quality sunglasses

( ) Water. If you haven't done so already, get a refillable aluminium water bottle, like Otterbottles. Otterbottles are not Made in Canada (nobody seems to make aluminium or steel bottles in Canada) but they are a great Canadian company - They even received a thumbs up from David Suzuki!

( ) Waist / Backpack

( ) Basic first-aid items

( ) Sun screen

( ) Lip balm. Try Buy Canadian First member's products like the Clear Lip Saver by Aroma Crystal Therapy, Tuscan Farm Gardens Organic Lavender Honey Lip Balm, or Pursea Lip Balm.

 

( ) Natural bug repellant. I make my own but try the Natural Insect Repellent by Glengarry Gardens for yourself and maybe the Tuscan Farm Gardens Lavender Body Spray for your dog.

 

( ) Natural doggy treats (not essential but always appreciated)

( ) Leather leash and collar. I really like this leather dog lead and leather dog collar from Buy Canadian First member Roots.

 

 

And don't forget your camera! Even during short walks just this past week, I was able to sight a red-winged blackbird flying over the crop fields, a deer feeding in the early morning sunlight and a rainbow arching across the sky. You just never know what is in store for you, even in your own backyard.

Explore, discover and enjoy!

A camera is also handy to capture any antics your dog may decide to throw your way. Dogs In Canada magazine often has a photo contest and, who knows, you may just get that winning image!

 

Being prepared makes all adventures more enjoyable and that includes learning about your area and what natural wonders you can find. Summer to early autumn, as even urban lovers know, is a time when wildlife is in abundance. An encounter we all dread is one with our friendly neighbourhood striped skunk. You can't get more natural than a skunk, however, there are some things in nature we may like to live without.

 Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons, Jesse Yardley (Fotographix.ca), BuyCanadianFirst.ca

As I look out my window this morning, I see a few leaves starting to turn a lovely golden orange colour.  Summer is dwindling and fall is rapidly approaching.  School has started and my garden is yielding wonderful bounties.  I do admit I start to get a bit sad when I know that winter will be here before long.  But like many other people, I do prepare my family for winter by freezing a few vegetables and fruit harvested and I even make some of my own jams, jellies and relishes.  When tomatoes are plentiful, I even manage to make some of my own salsa.

Nothing tastes better to me than homemade.  I admit, I am spoiled, my mother had a very large garden when we were growing up.  We were spoiled with homemade jams and other goodies.  Now I am happy that I can make some of the things mom and grandma made for my children.  My oldest started school this fall and she is very happy to have some of mommy's strawberry or raspberry jam on toast. My husband loves my homemade salsa, especially when I make it a little spicy.

I use my own fruits and vegetables when I can but also buy locally what I can't produce myself. I also try to buy Canadian grown fruits like peaches and cherries.  

I am so pleased to blog about a  Canadian company that have all the necessary tools for making your own canned goods. This company is called Bernardin and I use their products all of the time in home canning.

Bernardin has all products for home canning ranging from Mason jars (made in Canada) and lids, home canning accessories, recipe books and food products.  I use their pectin for my own jams and jellies and really like how they turn out. I discovered this past year that Bernardin makes a No-Sugar needed pectin which works with artificial sweetners or fruit juices. I will be trying this in the future as we all are trying to cut down on sugars in our diets. 

For those that are afraid of using a canner, they also offer Freezer Jam pectin.  Nothing is easier than making freezer jams and you certainly can't beat the taste either.

 

There is also a recipe section on the Bernardin website for use with their products. I have used these recipes and they do turn out well.  There are lots of interesting and delicious recipes.  There is even a recipe for a Tomato-Peach salsa that was featured on the television show CanadaAM.

Bernardin products can be found in your local grocery stores and you can even purchase their products online.

Why not try your hand at making your own jam or jelly?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Feel free to share with us your comments!

Image source: Bernardin, Tina Farthing

Like most people today, I'm watching my spending. I mean, I always paid attention to what was in my wallet but not to the same extent as today. Economists and the media could say what they want about the recession being over in Canada, but until I see it first hand, in my bank account, on my investment statements, I will continue to count my pennies. It's just common sense to do so anyway.

Me being me, I kinda took it to another level in the last couple of weeks: I've been scouring the web for deals and discount coupons and contests. This means that I've taken a huge interest in coupons and special promotions. I spent some time exploring RedFlagDeals.com and lo and behold, they had coupons for some Canadian-made goods and services. Some pointed to VisaPerks' website and that's where I hit the mother-load! I've been Tweeting about these deals all week, but I thought it would be better to put them all down here and link you guys to the right pages. Here they are alphabetically.

Happy bargain hunting y'all!

Birks - 10% (think Canadian Diamonds and Gold!) - Expires: Nov 1, 09

 

 Cake Beauty - 30% - Expires: Dec 31, 09

 

Canada's style at home magazine - 75% - Expires: Jan 31, 10
 
Canadian family magazine - 70% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Canadian Gardening magazine - 60% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Canadian HomeWorkshop - 55% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Elle Canada magazine - 75% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Escents - 20% - Expires: Jan 31, 10
 
Foxy Originals - 25% - Expires: Feb 1, 10

Hockey News - 65% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Ice.com (think Canadian Diamonds and Gold!) - 25% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

lavish & lime (great made-in-Canada section!) - $10 - Expires: Jan 31,10

Lush - $10 - Expires: Sep 30, 09 (that's really soon!)

Outdoor Canada magazine - 60% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

rasberry kids (carry great Canadian-made brands) - 15% - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Toronto Life magazine - 75% - Expires: Jan 31, 10
 
Well.ca (all Canadian brands flagged) - $10 - Expires: Jan 31, 10

Out with the frills, flowers and the adventure wear because in comes the 80's, biker chick and 40's wartime lady.

The rebellious roar of the biker chick is barreling through the runways and streets in black leather, studded clothes and accessories, 'paint on' leggings and metal adornments as well as thigh high boots that fit to the leg like a second skin. A little fetish and a lot of sass, if there is a bad girl in you this season is the time to let her out.

The 80's are still with us and gaining momentum with immense shoulders, neon knits, acid washed denim and leggings that are worn solo, layered with mini skirts, over sized shirts or tunics and men's suit (boyfriend) jackets. Satin frilly dresses and other over the top styles with ruffles and lace that reminiscent of the Madonna 'Like a Virgin' video. 

Retro glam, the ultimate of lady fashion, reminds us of  movie star vixens Ingrid Bergman and Katherine Hepburn. Beautiful tailored jackets, gloves, somber colours and fur wraps take us back to the early 20th century. Dresses that follow the natural line of the body and long sleek gloves are a must have this fall.

Sink your fingers into beautiful fabric textures of tweed, velvet and suede and adorn your black staples with some crimson, hot pink, rust, indigo and gold. Studded leather jackets and bags, the cozy 'snood' as well as black bottoms with the perfect crisp white shirt are all in this fall.

This season the fashions are fabulous so free your inner femme fatale with these 5 fashion must haves.

Thigh high boots - Worn over your leggings under your tweed skirt. A a footware staple not to be over looked. Check out the Sandie boot, made by Montreal's own La Canadienne.

 

The perfect white blouse paired up with black pants - Perfect for the black and white look or pair the blouse with a fall coloured pencil skirt, like dark organge (rust) and a matching jacket for the beautiful retro glam. We love this white Aferditie Blouse by Buy Candian First Member Dace.

 

The snood - A multi purpose accessory that can be draped on the shoulders, worn as a hood over your head or as a scarf and all of the above. Check out a Hamilton-made Cambridge drop stitch extra long cowl by YarnOverMovement

 

Leggings - Another fashion staple that goes the extra mile by enabling the fashionista to wear them a gazillion ways. Not for you? Think again! ELLE Canada has legging fashion tips for all shapes and sizes. Check out Mondor's leggings. Find a retailer near you here.

 

Bold shoulder jackets - Pair one with fitted, straight leg pants and a faux or vintage fur snood or just with leggings, thigh-high boots and a-line tunic. This jacket is by Thieves.

 

One can not forget the ultimate feeling of a beautifully fitted skirt suit. Buy Canadian First member Tristan has a beautiful selection of mix and match pieces this fall. You should check out their collection. All their Made in Canada pieces are clearly identified too (we love that about them!) . 

What is your must-have piece that you just have to get for your Fall wardrobe?

The time has come, once again to think about packing lunches. Parents are often concerned about how much lunch is eaten and how much is given away. The goal for lunch time is to make the lunch enviable by other children while it is happily eaten by your own. Here are some great tips and lunch ideas to make your lunch the best kibble in the room!

Know your child and what they enjoy eating. Lunch time is not the venue to test crazy creations or new foods (unless your child enjoys a culinary adventure). If this means that they wish to eat the same thing all week, so be it.

Prepackaged lunch foods look like fun for the kids but are truly frightening especially with some varieties can be as much as 500 calories with 27g of fat and then add the salt and sugar too. Recreate these fun lunches using whole grain crackers, flat breads, multi grain chips, real Canadian cheeses homemade salsas and sliced turkey or lean ground beef. 

Have fun with bento box style lunches. Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine usually consisting of rice, fish or meat and one or more pickled or steamed veggies arranged in a box. I have noticed that this has sparked a global interest with people creating bento style lunches from traditional to off the wall edible artwork and the ultimate in cute.

Get creative and play with your kids' food! You do not need to have fancy bento boxes to pack your creations, try the great containers from Buy Canadian First member Era Seal plastic lunch containers, they can be found at your local Dollarama.

Make fruit and veggies a fun addition to lunch by cutting them up into bite sized portions. Include a yogurt dip for the fruit as well as a savoury dip for the veggies.

Have a favourite supper do double duty just by making a little bit extra for lunch. Things like pizza, noodles, lasagna, roasts or poultry for sandwiches, soup, stew, and breaded chicken are great supper-time meals transformed into lunch. Send a note or email to your teacher asking if your child has access to a microwave.

Stock up on large and small cookie cutters and create some cute sandwiches (keep the crusts and make croutons for your salads).

Keep your lunch safe with these great tips from Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Instead of using ice packs that may or may not make it back to your freezer at the end of the day, try freezing juice boxes instead. Works just as well!

Make lunch part of your meal planning when doing your grocery list. Here's one that I came up with that got rave reviews from the little people in my life.

Five Day School Lunch Plan

Day 1: Pasta salad (Catelli Noodles with  Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil, quartered cherry tomatoes, thin sliced celery, chopped parsley, salt and pepper), grape halves, cucumber sticks with dip and fresh apple cider.

Day 2: Nuts To You sunflower seed butter and Buy Canadian First Member Verry Berry Honey sandwiches (use cookie cutters for fun sandwich shapes), a small apple, small cauliflower florets with dip and milk (Nuts To You can be found in most health food stores or health food aisles in your grocery).

Day 3: Mini homemade meatballs (make these when you are cooking with ground beef or pork and freeze some for lunch) with seasoned sour cream dipping sauce, cheese cubes, avocado chunks, cherry tomatoes, whole grain tortilla chips and veggie juice.

Day 4: Chicken drumstick, celery sticks filled with cream cheese topped with raisins, fruit kebobs with strawberry yogurt dip, mini fun shaped crackers and milk.

 

Day 5: 3 mini homemade pancakes (here's my favourite recipe from Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash Ltd), sliced bananas with blueberries, Buy Canadian First member Jakeman's maple syrup, a breakfast sausage, some yogurt and orange juice.

Top off all the lunches with a little treat, Buy Canadian First has several members with tasty treats: Maple snacks from Jakeman's, chocolate treats from Chocolate Signatures and Purdy's Chocolate.

Lunch for kids can be fun, exciting, unpredictable and healthy. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box and some preparation to create unique lunches that your children will never trade for the processed convenience variety.

Check out Savvy Mom's website for more great ideas on preparing lunches.

What about you? Tell us what lunches you prepare for your kids that get you the biggest raves every time! We'd all like to know.

I was looking through our member list and am absolutely thrilled to tell you we have 238 members on Buy Canadian First who so far who have listed over 2,100 made in Canada products in the catalogue! That is 238 manufacturers and retailers that make and sell consumer goods labelled made in Canada. How cool is that? The best part is that I know more are signing up as we speak.  Since we have so many members I thought it would be great to do a Member roundup. I am picking five new fantastic members out of the proverbial hat so go grab a coffee and get ready for some introductions.

The Toy Maker of Lunenburg has been creating smart toys and more since 1979. Kevin Vickers a native of Nova Scotia has built a reputation based on satisfaction and honesty with a personal touch. The Toy Maker's creations are hand crafted and last for generations. My favourite is Maggy Clinger and her family of Clingers.

 

Billy Bones started creating guitars because "any knuckle-dragger can do it." When the factory he was employed at shut down, Billy took a plunge and started Sparrow Guitars. He discovered a genius way to keep these hand painted beauties affordable. Sparrow Guitars' creations start at only $450, which is a steal for both the beginner or seasoned rocker. Check 'em out.

 

Spoons and spinners and wobblers, oh my! Lucky Strike Bait Works Ltd has provided the wares for Canadian fishing nuts for more than 80 years. Lucky Strike is also the oldest and largest North American tackle and landing net manufacturer, providing over 2,000 different fishing related products.

 

The philosophy of this next company, in my opinion, is spot on, especially this line: "We must first maintain balance within ourselves if we want to live in harmony with our surroundings." Bain Ultra transports your bathroom into your own personal spa. Over three decades of excellence and the invention of the air jet bath, Bain Ultra will restore balance and wellness in the comfort of your home.  

 

Cake Beauty is yummy. The sassy looking logo, the product descriptions and the tasty names, Cake fulfills your culinary cravings by allowing your skin to indulge instead. Heather Reier tirelessly created the ultimate of creams, suds and scrubs that benefit both physical and emotional needs. The "Cake MIX", coined perfectly by the girl is all about living deliciously, trusting your taste, exuding sweet style, having a tender center and getting it while it's hot. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this first member roundup. Canada sure does make something special for everyone. Be sure to spend a few moments checking out our other members: You can search by member, by product and by product category (use the drop down menu in the search field) and, of course, check back here for our next Buy Canadian First Roundup.  Yeehaw!