Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

To me, there is little else that smells as wonderful as honey, so when my box of Made in Canada Honey Candles  arrived, I ripped open the package and breathed in that wonderful scent. It was bliss. Over the following week, I found myself stealing moments throughout the day to enjoy the scent of my beeswax candles. I had no idea that this wee bit of bliss was coming from a company with so much heart.

Honey Candles is owned by Roy and Leah Honkanen, a husband and wife team that have been married for over thirty years. The staff  at Honey Candles have been with them for nearly as long as they have owned the company. They share common values and have evolved together. Honey Candles manufactures beautiful candles, but they also do a whole lot more ! Their commitment to each other, the environment , sustainable business practices , the relationships they hold with each other, their suppliers, their customers and of course the bees  are unparalleled. I found it difficult to tear myself away from their website, and as I read through the About  section, I felt evermore fortunate to have had the opportunity to discover Honey Candles and host their products in my home.

It seems fitting that the first product I tried was the beeswax birthday candles, to celebrate my daughter's 6th birthday. I noticed the beautiful colours of the candles as my mom and I clumsily lit them, in no particular order, while attempting not be burned by each other's lit match or by the lit candles. This process always takes a little time and is accompanied by giggles and pools of wax on the cake, except this time all messy drips were absent. Awesome!

Since the day I started using their pillars, I adore the warm comforting glow that these candles produce, as well as their light sweet scent. I am certain they will be my first choice in my future candle purchases, and here are ten reasons why. Take a moment to scroll through their website, I am certain you will be as riveted as I was reading about this home-grown Canadian company. 

What are your favourite candles?

Image source; Honey Candles, Andrea Willowcat

When I was a kid, I spent quite a lot of time in Whiteshell Provincial Park, with my grandparents.  As an only child on Summer vacation, I grew accustomed to entertaining myself in this glorious corner of eastern Manitoba. My creativity blossomed as I created intricate frog villages in the sand adorned with natural items such as pinecones, pebbles and twigs. I would collect shells and stones and arrange them into patterns as well as draw on the docks with charcoal taken from old campsites; these endeavours would take hours. Despite the amazing time that I had as a child, my adult brain, aware of the dangers, would have a hard time allowing my children that same kind of freedom. We, as parents or caregivers, can still give children the health and creative benefits of the outdoors! This week at the daycare we spent the better part of it outside. The best part about being outdoors is that it naturally sparks creativity and you need very little in the way of supplies.

Mud is messy and wonderful outside! You can make bricks to dry in the sun for a fort, bird nests, bowls, pots, pie and soup (which is the best soup of all); all this and the fun and laughs of getting messy and dirty! Mud is so great that it even has it's own international day !! Perhaps some tools from Buy Canadian First member Garant will make all the difference.

Yesterday, at the daycare, the school-aged kids  and I went for a nature walk while the smaller ones slept. We collected all sorts of interesting natural items and some found items, too. Later that afternoon we sat down to create nature collages with our found items; all we needed was glue and cardboard.

We often take containers of paint and big brushes outside. Whether we paint on the sidewalks or on large sheets of paper, the big brushes and large painting space creates a sense of freedom in creativity, as there is no mess to make! Of course, don't forget to bring the sidewalk chalk as well!

Outside crafts and activities are often most fun if you follow your child's lead and add the needed supplies as you go. Get messy, try and follow a bird and then make her a feeder or look for interesting, recyclable materials to create toad homes in your garden. Take lots of pictures! The memories will be well worth the effort.

What kind of creative, outdoor activities does your family do?

 image credit: Buy Canadian First Member Garant and Andrea Willowcat

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

Calling all parents and their little ones! Nature Clean®, is hosting meet and greet sessions with the lovable character, Ruby, from Treehouse’s popular show, "Max & Ruby"! You can meet Ruby at various Loblaw’s locations  across the greater Toronto area this August. If you bring your camera, you are invited to join Ruby and her team for a picture, free samples and other fun goodies!

 

 

Today we're spotlighting Buy Canadian First member, Heiko, who understands Canadian skin and believes that the beauty and freshness of nature are the result of a perfect balance of elements.

Heiko, which means balance in Japanese, makes use of this knowledge from nature to create their line of Canadian-made products, offering an effective and 100% natural solution to finding and keeping your skin's perfect balance. Heiko is nature's wisdom right at our fingertips and just what my skin needs after a long, hard Canadian Winter!

Did you know that Heiko is the first beauty care company in North America to offer a complete range of skin care products that are inspired entirely by homeopathy? Homeopathy is an alternative medicine, favoured by the British royal family, among others. Homeopathic biochemist Shirley Duplessis started Heiko in her Quebec clinic, where she made creams for her patients.

It was the homeopathy that really caught registered nutritionist, Linda Miner's, eye. She is excited about Heiko's sunscreen and skincare. As someone who suffers from allergies, the purity of Heiko's natural ingredients made a difference to Linda's wellbeing. I found out from her that Heiko's sunscreen actually scored a rating of 1 on the Environmental Working Group's list of best sunscreens! (That's awesome!).
 

Whatever the season, it's safe to say that Heiko has a product that will replenish and protect your skin!

Do you use sunscreen in the Summer, all year round or never?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Heiko

Last week I wrote about receiving some of the lush products made by Earth to Body, containing either emu oil or argan oil . I did some research and discovered that one of the alleged benefits of using emu oil is the potential for relief from arthritic pain. This past year, arthritis finally caught up with Mom, mainly in her left hand and in her legs. She is also experiencing a dry and itchy scalp, exacerbated by Winter conditions. So, I have given Mom the emu oil products to try on her joints and skin and then report back to you about. Mom, 94 years young this July,  will be our "field reporter"!

                     Earth to Body Argan Moisturizer

I have started using the argan oil products on my own Winter-distressed skin and on my wrist tattoo! (It sucks to have people ask what my tattoo is a picture of because of dry skin!). Both argan and emu oils are also supposed to be really good at reducing and fading the appearance of stretch marks and scar tissue, like tattoos or C-sections! The lip balms are great for fast touch-ups of trouble spots, believe it or not! They are in a really convenient format and they feel amazing! Read my review here.

                    Earth to Body Baby Package

If you're a new mom, you will love the Earth to Baby Organics Package, which includes the basic  necessities for both your baby and you! You get a gentle cleansing soap, a calming spray, absorbable and loving massage oil and a soothing, protecting diaper area salve. Each item is 100% natural, with no artificial preservatives (parabens), alcohol, toxins, fragrances or dyes. Healthy nutrients for baby's skin is Earth to Body's utmost priority and also multi-purpose usage is also a big factor!

                              Rose Lavender Spray

I have a sample of the spray, which is a gentle, cleansing organic hydrosol using lavendar and rose. It is a perfect diaper area spray to replace chemical baby wipes, leaving baby feeling clean, calm and comfortable and it is also ideal as a linen spray and room freshener! I use it on my face when I need perking up and I also spray it in our car and on the dogs' beds and coats, which makes me a good pet mom! Talk about an "all-purpose" product! Read my review here.

What's in the products that you use on your babies?

:: images courtesy Buy Canadian First member, Earth To Body.

Last week, our publisher, Isabelle, sent me some Canadian-made natural, hand crafted skin products from Earth to Body to use and review. You can find my reviews under the specific products on the Earth to Body member pages. In honour of Earth Day on the 22nd, I will be posting the reviews all through April as I try everything from hair rinse, lip balm and face cream to hand and nail lotions and foot cream!

                                     Argan Moisturizer

Earth to Body is a family oriented business located on the shores of Lac St. Louis, on Montreal's West Island, in Quebec. I like the look of these products, I can tell you that! The packaging is streamlined and convenient and, best of all, doesn't scream "Old Lady Cream". It does say "Skin Nutrition" loud and clear, though, and looks very modern and clean. 
 

                         Martha and John Shannon

Now, imagine my surprise and delight to unexpectedly discover Earth to Body at our local home and garden show this past weekend! I was actually applying their argan lip balm as their large booth came into view. Meeting Martha and John Shannon, the dynamic couple who started Earth to Body, was such a treat! Having met them makes using their products even more meaningful. They are both passionate about what they make and sell and contagious in their enthusiasm for natural skin care.

John told me all about how Earth to Body is the latest thing in Chicago right now and how all the blogs are buzzing about them there. Martha, (whose skin, by the way, absolutely glows!) excitedly described a new oil that she has introduced to their line, called Tamanu. She also told me about their latest customer service innovation, which is a referral system that will earn you points towards more of their products.

 
                             Revitalizing eye oil

You can check out where Martha and John will be this year and perhaps be fortunate to have the opportunity to meet them and experience their skin nourishing wares. They pull their home behind them as they travel across Canada, setting up their booth at craft fairs and shows, nation wide!
In the meantime, explore their website .  It is very easy to navigate and has lots of valuable information. You can even shop there!

Do you have a skin regime or do you just hope for the best?

:: images courtesy Buy Canadian First member, Earth to Body.

                                     

 

 
                               

                              

                              

Image sources: Buy Canadian First member Brookside Foods

It's the perfect time of the year to spotlight this Buy Canadian First Member ! There's nothing like a Canadian Winter to dry the skin and nothing like goat's milk to nourish and soften it.  You won't have any trouble finding Caprina products as customers insist on them!

In conjunction with the 10 year anniversary of Canus Goat’s Milk Products, the brand has revamped its name to Caprina.  The meaning of the name Caprina pertains to goats, (think Capricorn) who are a symbol of practical wisdom and diligence.

                              The Caprina Show

Caprina is not only the new name of their brand, but is in fact, the fresh, new face of Canus and the sassiest “Goat-ess” around! This charming spokes-goat has debuted her very own talk show on the Caprina website! I watched an episode and laughed my head off! Caprina assures us  that their  faithful customers need not worry: only the name has been revamped. The products remain the same high quality that customers  have come to expect! 

                              Fresh Goat's Milk Lip Balm 

While some brands choose to use processed and/or powdered goat’s milk, Caprina prides itself on its unique use of fresh goat’s milk. Using fresh goat’s milk ensures that more of its therapeutic properties are effectively maintained. Goat’s milk is composed of smaller molecules, which are more easily absorbed by the skin. Who knew?

                         Fresh Goat's Milk Soap 

In addition to balancing the PH level of the skin, this buttery milk also contains high concentrations of caprylic acid, which promotes the absorption of emollients—a substance that helps to enhance the suppleness of your skin. The goats that generously provide their milk to Caprina products are raised in humane, hormone-free, and eco-friendly conditions. Happy goats, happy milk, happy skin!

 

The head office of Canus Goat’s Milk Products is located in Montreal, Quebec and they have offices based in Vermont, USA and Luxembourg. Their products range from a soap bar, liquid hand soap, body wash and foaming milk bath, to body butter, body lotion, and lip balm. Caprina by Canus and Lil Goat’s Milk Products are available across Canada at all major drug, pharmacy, mass merchandiser, and grocery stores. You can find them on Facebook, too!

Couldn't your skin use a drink of fresh goat's milk right about now?

There is something about the cooler Fall weather that makes me absoloutely crave apples! I don't know if this is a result of Nature or Nurture. Luckily, it's apple picking time in Canada, and I can satisfy my craving with more kinds of apples than ever! Whether you pick your apples at the supermarket, the farmer's market or right off the tree, why not make a point of trying an apple that you haven't tasted before?

 

Harold and Janice Wagner, along with their children, Matt, Melissa and Katrina, operate the farm, and they are always happy to discuss any and all farming practices with their city guests! Their motto is "Families that Pick Together, Stick Together!" and they certainly are the proof in that apple pudding!

The Wagners are proud to be able to claim that they raise their own beef, pork and poultry free of hormones, chemicals and antibiotics. Their fruit trees have the minimal amount of chemicals needed to produce high quality fruit and where possible, natural pest control is used rather than insecticide.  At Wagner's, all the food is grown in the healthiest possible way.

What new apple varieties  do you want to try this Fall?