Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

The very best part of my job is discovering awesome products made all across this beautiful land of ours. This week, I was blown away by Krumpers Solar Blinds, based in Ottawa and run by dynamo Diana Livshits.

Diana is passionate about her products, with good reasons. Krumpers Solar Blinds are the only 2-sided reversible blinds on the market: one side for the summer and one side for the winter. They help regulate the temperature inside your home all through the year; saving you money on heating and cooling by up to 40%. See how they work in this demo:

That demo says it all, doesn't it?!

Krumpers Solar Blinds act like sunglasses for your windows:

1) They reduce glare by 70-80%;

2) They stop more than 92% of UV rays;

3) They protect your furnishings and décor from fade.

Krumpers Solar Blinds act like insulation for your windows:

1) In the summer: they keep the heat outside, reducing heat transfer by up to 76%;

2) In the winter: they keep the heat inside, reducing heat loss by up to 45%.

Krumpers Solar Blinds are completely transparent:

1) They do not obstruct the outside view;

2) They do not add colour or texture to a room, so you can decorate as you wish;

3) They offer full privacy during the day: you cannot see through them into the house.

Krumpers Solar Blinds are made-to-measure and come in 3 different styles:

1) Roller blinds;

2) Vertical blinds;

3) Fix panels.

They are strong, durable and easy to clean with a damp wet cloth. And best of all, they will pay for themselves within a few years and will continue to save you money for years to come. Now that’s a true investment!

Check out their handy price calculator and read some awesome consumer reviews.

We are so excited to bring you a great offer from Krumpers Solar Blinds, exclusive to Buy Canadian First readers, followers and fans:

Get 10% off any blinds, from now until December 31st 2012!

Just mention "Buy Canadian First" when placing your order. Then sit back and watch your heating bills melt away!

Images courtesy of Krumpers Solar Blinds.

Wellness and sleep are closely related. How have you been sleeping lately? Since you spend about one third of your life in bed, it's well worth considering what kind of mattress you (and your kids) sleep on every night. 

A good sleep is everyone's wish, but what about the stuff you breathe in all night? Did you know that most mattresses are made with toxic foams, glues and chemically treated fabrics that emit harmful VOCs? Not to mention that they are a breeding ground for dust mites and other allergens. That’s enough to keep you up at night, right?

We did a little digging and found a healthy, Canadian-made alternative: natural memory foam mattresses made in Montreal by Essentia. Using all-natural ingredients, Essentia has created the World's ONLY natural memory foam, which they use in their collection of mattresses and pillows.

Naturally dust mite and bed bug resistant, this hypoallergenic foam is made from the sap of the rubber tree, organic essential oils, natural plant extracts, and water. Unlike all other memory foams on the market (which are made with petrochemicals!), Essentia mattresses and pillows are breathable and will not leave you hot and sticky. And as far as comfort goes, experts agree that memory foam is best, as it contours the body and provides excellent custom-made support for a restful sleep.

Essentia has been featured on Dr. OZ, Anderson Live, Rachael Ray and the Dragon's Den.

You're probably wondering if you can afford an Essentia mattress. Well, we’ve got excellent news for you! The answer is YES!

We have partnered with Essentia to offer you their biggest sale this year, exclusive to Buy Canadian First readers like you: get 20% back in Essentia products with every mattress purchased.

This exclusive offer is available online, or in any of their retail locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa. Just mention the promo code: Buy Canadian First

Choose among a wide selection of mattresses for the entire family, including your pooch! Add pillows, organic cotton sheets, mattress covers, etc. You will be well on your way to a healthy & restful sleep, made in Canada.

Good night...zzz

We're off to Toronto for another visit with Canada AM! Although I visit with them every morning through the magic of television (and now Twitter!), it’s always so awesome to be right there on-set!

In honour of Mother Earth, we are featuring some great Canadian-made products which are good for the environment. That’s a double-bonus in my books!

You can watch the segment here, and here’s a recap of what we were showing today:

Canned tuna & salmon from Raincoast Trading in B.C. A fourth-generation family-owned fishing business dedicated to sustainability in all they do: from fishing to processing and packaging. Truly outstanding products and company.

Environmentally-responsible gardening products from Green Earth (Premier Tech) in Ontario. Safe to use, they are formulated with ingredients derived from botanical, mineral and animal source. So now you can have a beautiful and healthy garden!

Natural laundry care & house hold cleaners from NatureClean in Ontario. A third-generation family business dedicated to healthier living every day. Sporting a new look this Spring, their products are good for people and for the planet!

Natural body care is what The Great Canadian Soap Company from PEI is all about. This unique company is farm-based and raises its own goats to supply the pure and natural goats milk which goes in many of their products. They welcome visitors, and that's a place I can't wait to go! Watch this video and you"ll understand why!  

And last but definitely not least: children’s playhouse and car made of recycled material from Cascades Boutique in Quebec. These adorable items are part of a larger line of fun cardboard playthings for kids but also for pets! And of course, they are fully recyclable!

Oh, and in case you’re curious, I’m wearing Lundstrom made in Toronto!

Thanks again to the entire Canada AM team, as well as to fellow-Montreal Todd Van Der Heyden! 

P.S. If you have not yet entered our Earth Day giveaway, hurry! Entries are accepted until Friday April 20th at 5:00 PM ET. Up for grabs is a gift pack full of Canadian-made eco-friendly products with a total value of over $550! The contest is here.

Good luck!

Images courtesy of CTV and Buy Canadian First members

Each year, in Canada and around the world, April 22nd is dedicated to honouring our planet and focussing on ways we can lessen our environmental impact.

I’ve never considered myself a tree-hugger, in any sense of the word. But we do recycle (at home and at the office) and use our city’s composting program. We also have a small (organic) vegetable patch in the backyard where we grow mainly tomatoes and fresh basil (yum!). But as I was preparing to write this post, I’ve been thinking that maybe I am kinder to Mother Earth that I originally thought...How, you ask? By buying Canadian!

1)    Every time I purchase a product made in Canada, I do my part to lower my carbon footprint. 9 times out of 10, a product made here will travel a much shorter distance to reach me than one made overseas. Less pollution is created by using less fossil fuel to bring the product to market.

2)    I know that Canadian manufacturing facilities are highly regulated in terms of allowable emissions and waste management. Not so in many other countries.

3)    A product made in Canada will not contain harmful components such as BPA, lead, melamine, etc. It keeps me, my family and my environment safe!

So buying Canadian is good for the environment! That calls for a celebration, no? Absolutely! Join us in celebrating Earth Day and you could win an awesome prize pack chock-full of healthy & eco-friendly products made in Canada! Included are:

1)    Natural memory foam Comfort Pillow made in Quebec, from Essentia. (value: $129)

2)    Organic wild rice products from Manitoba (rice, rice flour, rice flour linguine), from Naosap Harvest (value: $ 24.50)

 

3)    Natural liquid laundry detergent, shampoo & conditioner made in Ontario, from NatureClean (value: $30)

4)    Arm-bag made from recycled store banners in Quebec, from Eco-Handbags (value: $45.99)

5)    Eco-friendly "Green Earth" garden products made in Ontario, from Premier Tech (value: $80)

6)    Natural lip balms made in Ontario, from Fitlips (value:$24)

7)    Vouchers for organic non-dairy SoNice products made in B.C., from Earth’s Own (value: $30)

8)    Natural health products to reduce joint pain made in Ontario, from St.Francis Herb Farm (value: $60)

9)    Biodegradable garden waste bags made in Quebec, from Cascades (value: $16.50)

10)    Natural skin care products made in P.E.I., from The Great Canadian Soap Company (value: $30)

11)    Sustainable canned fish products processed in B.C., from Raincoast Trading (value:

12)    Natural mascara and lipstick made in Manitoba, from Pure Anada (value: $26)

13)    Gardener’s Dream Lotion made in B.C., from Aroma Crystal (value: $39.99)

14)    Majesta paper products made in N.B., from Majesta (value: $20.00)

15) Reusable produce bags made in Quebec, from Credo Bags (value: $25)

Total value: over $ 550.00 !!!

To enter the giveaway, do as many of the 3 following things as possible, as they each count for one entry. The more the merrier (and luckier)!

•    Leave us a comment below telling us what you do to help protect Mother Earth (Comments are moderated, so don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away!);

•    Follow us on Twitter and mention the following: @BuyCndianFirst loves @EarthDayCanada #madeincanada;

•    Like us on Facebook.

The giveaway ends on Friday, April 20th at 5:00 PM ET. We will pick one name at random from all entries and the winner will be announced on Sunday, April 22nd.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER: ANNE, FROM VICTORIA, B.C.

Good luck!

Images courtesy of BuyCanadian First members

Are you the lucky duck responsible for giving a baby shower in the near future? In light of the fact that Canadian babies are responsible for 4 million disposable diapers in the landfill each day, why not consider throwing a great green Canadian baby shower? Don't forget that a great way to go green is to buy locally! 

We hope that this guide will help you to do just that!

1. Invitations

Start off green with the baby shower invitations! ecojot is an eco-friendly stationery brand based in Scarborough, Ontario and created in 2007 by designer Carolyn Gavin, her brother Mark Gavin and family. The paper content used in all their products, including the great EcoCards shown below, is 100% post-consumer recycled and all products are designed and printed in Canada. Or consider printing these free invitations from Canadian Living onto recycled paper.

2. Wrapping

Hey, why not pull out those brown paper lunch bags to wrap baby gifts in! You can stamp on them with a potato and poster paints. What about wrapping a gift in a baby blanket or (clean) cloth diaper?  Also consider putting gifts in a reusable, recycled shopping tote such as these great Gourmet Market Totes from Eco-Handbags.

3. Decor

What could be greener than fresh flowers, or better yet, potted plants that can be replanted in the garden or left as is to brighten a mom-to-be's kitchen? Bunting, also called pennants or flag garlands, are the hottest trend right now in party decor. They are easy to make by cutting triangles out of wrapping paper or feltand attaching them to a long string or ribbon. Here's a great & easy tutorial. Save them for other parties!

4. Food

Fresh and local food is de rigeur at a green baby shower! Try triangles of Canadian cheddar cheese grilled with thin slices of Red Prince apple on toast together with a crisp spinach salad. Or how do fruit or vegetable kebabs sound, with a variety of yummy dipping sauces on the side?

5. Location

If possible, why not try for a party outside? Backyard BBQS are great fun and you can often find BBQs to use in local parks, if you don't have one yourself.

6. Gifts

There are so many great green Canadian baby gifts out there, that we have put them in their own section.

What are your great green baby shower ideas?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Ecojot, Eco-Hanbags, and Peak of the Market, as well as Gwenny Penny

I am not the only one who gripes about how many more hours are required in one day. If we really needed more we could fly to Venus for their generous 5,832 hour day, except that the air quality isn't so great. Luckily, we can save ourselves the 38 million kilometre journey and be thrilled to get an extra hour this weekend, albeit at 2 in the morning. For those at you with night lives, last call has been extended! Those of you with kids...you'll be up to see the dawn, I'll have the coffee brewing!

Daylight savings time was first implemented in Germany in 1915 and was soon adopted by Great Britain, Europe and Canada, though Benjamin Franklin had first suggested the idea a century earlier. Because the Sun shines while everyone is still asleep, pushing the clocks forward in the Spring causes people to wake up earlier and be able to better use the Sun's light. That is why we 'spring ahead' the second Sunday of March and "fall back' the first Sunday in November.

In Canada, it is up to each province to decide to use daylight time, and most follow the program. The exceptions are most of Saskatchewan, who has remained on standard time since 1966 and is joined by some border towns in Manitoba and Alberta. There are some pockets of Ontario and BC as well as Quebec, north of 63 degree west longitude, who remain on Atlantic time year round. Frankly, it's all a little confusing. I wonder if it is really worth the effort? In the winter it feels like you travel to work in the dark and you trudge home in dark, making the little sunlight you do see, bliss, as it sparkles on the snow.

In a nutshell,  daylight savings was designed to help save energy by timing our lives better to the times that the Sun is available.

Now that you have this elusive extra hour in your life there are a few things that you must accomplish. This is the time of year to think about your smoke alarms and to check their batteries. It is important to have a working smoke detector on every floor and in every room used for sleeping. For more information about smoke alarms please read this Health Canada page.  While you are carting around the ladder, why not exchange your regular bulbs with energy efficient CLFs bulbs? Each one will save you $40.00 over the course of it's lifetime!

So, Canada, fall back one hour this Sunday morning, check your smoke alarms and change your bulbs and when all is said and done, you'll be safer, energy efficient and without that one gained hour! Who's taken the map to Venus?

Do you have routines for when it's time to set the clocks back one hour?

::Images courtesy of Flickr.

          ~ Songs My Paddle Sings, E. Pauline Johnson

                     Photo courtesy of Clipper Canoes

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Did you know that it has been 40 years since the first Earth Day was initiated in the United States in 1970!? It is celebrated worldwide every April 22 and brings attention to crucial environmental causes and issues. In 1990, Canada became part of the first International Earth Day.

I don't have to tell you that Earth Day and its principles should be, and need to be, celebrated every day! You can participate and make your contributions very personal by practicing simple, common sense ways to conserve, reuse and recycle around your home and your community, on a daily basis. Even something seemingly as small as buying Canadian first as often as possible, can make a huge impact, for the better, on the environment!

If your New Year's resolution to clear your personal environment of clutter has run out of steam, maybe Earth Day can help you get your Spring-cleaning mojo back! Instead of taking things to the dump, try Kijiji.ca, a fantastic place to post free ads. You can give your stuff away or sell it, locally or world-wide. Craigslist.ca can also help you get rid of items that you don't want in an environmentally friendly way.

Call your town hall or City Services for larger items that you can 't sell or give away. They will either pick it up on a certain day or tell you the best way to dispose of your item. The same goes for your hazardous waste.  Your city will be able to give you all the information that you need to dispose of unsafe items safely.

Your local newspaper will usually have a yardsale kit that you can purchase for a low price and that delivers signs to post, a handy yard sale checklist and a listing in their weekly yard sale column.

Try organizing a gently used clothing swap with your friends or neighbours. It can be for children's clothing or grown-up clothing for yourselves. You can also do this with craft supplies, fabrics, books or toys! Ride your bike to the swap!

Consider contacting the Canadian Diabetes Society . They will come to you, pick up your good used clothing and resell it at Value Village stores.

Top 10 actions to reduce your impact on the environment:

1) Smart Shopping

• “Buy what you need, not what you want”
• Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
• Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores

2) Simple Savers

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact  fluorescent bulbs
• Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
• Weatherstrip windows and doors

3) Transportation Alternatives

• Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
• When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
• Consider car sharing programs or renting

4) Food Choices

• Choose local and organic foods that are in season,  and support local food producers
• Eat less meat

5) Washing and Drying

• Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

6) Heating and cooling

• For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C
• For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
• Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats

7) Close to Home

• Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible

8) Bathroom Basics

• Take short showers instead of baths
• Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9) Careful Cleaning

• Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
• Make natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10) Don’t Discard

• Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
• Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc.  should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers

Are you doing anything special to celebrate Earth Day's 40th anniversary this year?

Image sources: Earth Day Canada, Kijiji, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

One of my favourite moments and joys in life are when there's a chill outside, but the sun is beaming and you just know that if it wasn't for the cold front, it would otherwise be a hot day. The sun is warming your face when the gusts of wind subside, yet your nose and fingertips stay cold. A day like that, whether it's winter or early spring, is a day when I love to be outside. Dressed warmly, walking alone, or with my boyfriend, or my dog (or both) and I'm in no hurry to get anywhere fast. All I do is walk, appreciate the moment and enjoy the now rare sight of a perfectly blue sky and the feeling of the bright sun's heat while sipping on some home brewed coffee that I made just for the outing. My senses are heightened on days like that. Suddenly, the sound of crushing snow underfoot is amplified, colours seem brighter and sharper and my taste buds are just loving the hot coffee as it goes down my throat. It's like it's the bestest cup of coffee I ever had in my life. Every time.

I don’t drink a lot of coffee. Typically one cup a day, yet as I get ready to go out on days like the one I just described, having my travel mug filled with my own hot brew sweetened with Quebec maple syrup, that warms me with every sip, brings comfort to me. It fits with my mood and my plan of the perfect afternoon I’m about to embark on.

I was once one of those suckers people who spent almost $5 on a medium latté every week day. I truly did love the taste, which made the price tolerable in my mind but eventually, common sense kicked-in and I stopped that terrible daily habit cold. Instead, I invested in a French press (like a Bodum) and a coffee bean grinder (got both for about $30, but sadly neither are made here. Never found either made in Canada).

Even if you buy premium organic and free trade coffee beans, which I think in this day and age everyone should, it still only ends up costing about $1 per coffee. You can’t argue with that, right? My all-time favourite brand of coffee is Kicking Horse Coffee (isn’t that a cool name?). They’re a Canadian company that imports only organic fair trade beans and roast them to perfection, at their plant in Invermere, BC. They have been a around since 1998 but only recently have they gotten a broader distribution. You can now buy Kicking Horse Coffee in the organic section of your supermarket, in most Shoppers Drug Marts’ - Pharmaprix in Quebec, or you can stock-up from their website here. My blend of choice these days is their Three Sisters, which is a medium roast, but they have other blends that are just as delicious with equally cool names like: 454 Horse Power, Cliff Hanger Espresso, Kick Ass and Hoodoo Jo, to name a few.

If you come across Kicking Horse products at the supermarket, give them a try. If you don’t have a grinder, remember that you could always use the grinder right there in the coffee isle and reseal your bag. There is nothing like the taste of coffee when the beans are freshly ground!

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons, KickingHorse.com

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

Every Christmas it never ceases to amaze me the trash that accumulates in my home during the Christmas season. Large garbage bags filled to the gills with foil wrap, plastic do-dads and other non-recyclable materials. To think that this is occurring in every other home in my neighbourhood and province, is simply outrageous! In the United States from Thanksgiving through to New Years trash increases by 25%, I imagine it is much the same here in Canada. So before you run to the store to buy your wrapping paper, maybe it's time to spruce your gifts up with some of these green ideas.

Fabric Bags 
With a little time,  some left over fabric or some old Christmas inspired clothing and some needle and tread (or a sewing machine) you can make great fabric bags to wrap your gift in. Wrap up the top with a gorgeous fabric ribbon to complete a wonderful presentation. These can be saved and used year after year. If there is not one single crafty bone in your body then zip on over to Buy Canadian First Member Green Planet Parties and find several different kinds of festive reusable fabric gift bags. The great thing is all these festive bags are handmade by BC moms!

Newspaper
Yes newspaper inexpensive but not cheap! I prefer the comics for the fun colours and pictures and the stock pages for the continuous columns of tiny writing but any section will do.  Do not forget to add a bow on top, just follow these easy instructions from adele.com.

 

Children's Art
Do you have a growing stack of the most beautiful artwork and no more wall space to display them? Use these creation as gift wrap. Children's art is great for creating greeting cards and gift tags for the holiday season. Everyone will love it and the kids will feel great when the "oohs" and "aahs' start over the unique and special gift wrap.

Old Posters, Maps and More
If you are a browser of estate and rummage sales, thrift stores and yard sales you may come across old maps, blueprints, posters and patterns that can all be used as alternatives to traditional gift wrap. These papers can also be tailored to fit the giftee; maps for the travel buff, blueprints for the architect.

Furoshiki
Is a Japanese technique of wrapping items using only a piece of cloth, possibly dating as far back as the Nara Period of Japanese history. Furoshiki means 'bath spread' and was used to bundle ones clothes while at the public baths but eventually was used in everyday life from carrying items to wrapping up gifts. Your Furoshiki could begin as some fabric, a scarf or a beautiful decorative cloth that wraps yet another gift. Check out this great Video!

Wrap Gifts in Gifts
 This is a lot of fun and the ideas are endless. When you wrap a gift in a gift it is easier if you think up a theme; kitchen items wrapped up in place mats, tea towels or a table cloth, bedroom accessories all wrapped in a pillowcase, etc. Always be on the look out for creative ideas. 

Purposeful Bagging
We can all go to the dollar store and pick up some heavy paper reusable gifts bags but we can go a step father still and buy cloth market bags. Buy Canadian First member Betty Bags has several selection of market bags available like the Patsy Pocket and the Sally Shoppe. Member Everything Eco has some reusable produce bags that would make a beautiful wrap before it starts bringing the apples home, and a Tote Bag from Member Monster Factory.

Toppers
Complete your gift with equally sustainable alternatives. Use raffia with a cluster of gingerbread men, sprigs of pine branches, mistletoe and holly (be aware of plant toxicity for your pets) make a beautiful recyclable topper, a small handmade ornament, cinnamon sticks and bells.

Truly you are only limited to the scope of your imagination when it comes to wrapping a gift. So take a deep breath and let the ideas for a (nearly) garbage free holiday shine through.

Image sources: Green Planet Parties, Adele.com, Monster Factory