Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

A brand new year is just around the corner, and with a new year comes a new list of goals and resolutions that people make. It's a good time for starting over or trying something new.

But do people still follow resolutions? One of the most common that I see is to 'lose weight' or 'eat better'. Both are difficult to accomplish without some planning and support.

Personally, I decided to make a list of goals for myself this year (one of them includes learning how to cook rack of lamb!) and will try to accomplish those goals. 

One of my biggest goals is to be better at managing my time. Because really, my time is no longer my own - it primarily belongs to my children and their schedules. Finding a balance between them and the things I need to accomplish can be difficult, but I will work on it. I think I already am off to a good start - I now have a More Time Moms Family Organizer for the wall! It includes a monthly calendar with large spaces for writing and stickers to flag really important days (like show and tell which I really can't forget!)

There are a lot of great calendar options out there, including this one from Wyman publishing for your office:

I know that many people have a Blackberry to help them keep track of their time, I don't yet and I know some people are old fashioned and prefer to write notes done. For those of us who need to carry a small planner around in our purse or car, I like the prettiness of this small monthly planner:

Sometimes I not only need to remember dates but websites, thoughts, ideas or milestones with the kids. To do that, I have note pads lying all over the house, but mostly these notes are on scrap pieces of paper or sticky notes.  What I really need are pretty, neat looking notebooks like these ones from Ecojot:

Are you making any resolutions this year?  And better yet, do you think you can follow them?  How are you ensuring you keep yourself on track?

Image sources: BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Wyman Publishing

Do you ever tell yourself that in the Spring you're going to do a big cleanup and get all your stuff organized?  Well, I say, let's do it now!  I would much rather do this type of thing in the Winter when it's -20 degrees outside and it's just too cold to do anything, than in the Spring when it's finally warming up and you just want to go out and take advantage of the beautiful new season.

The first thing I like to do is clean out my closets.  You know the drill, take out every pair of shoes and every piece of clothing you have and then analyze them one by one and go by process of elimination.  If you haven't worn it in the last 2 years, than you obviously won't wear it again.  If it's something that you just can't seem to let go of, or if you think it's something that might be useful to you in the future, I recommend storing it in handy storage bins.  Bins are great because you can put a lot of stuff in them, and they are stackable, so they are easy to keep out of the way and it's just as easy to pull them out when you need to get something out of them.  The best way to keep them organized is to label them using simple mailing labels that you probably have on hand or can purchase at Staples all across Canada.  Try to keep everything of the same category in your bins, that way it's easier for you to keep track and stay organized.

Bins aren't just for clothes or shoes either; on the contrary, you can store all kinds of different things in various sized bins.  Take buttons, for example. We've all purchased a piece of clothing at one point or another that came with spare buttons. But where do we put those spare buttons?  At first, I just used to throw them in a drawer in my nightstand or in my desk drawer or anywhere else.  But the problem with that is that when you actually need that spare button, trying to track it down can be a pain.  I use little plastic containers now to store them, so now they are all in one place and I'm not searching high and low for them.  I use the basic plastic containers from Dollarama which are not only affordable but Made in Canada!

Plastic lunch container - Dollarama

Another great way to be organized and green all at the same time is to start composting.  You can easily do this in any home whether you live in a house in the country or an apartment in the city.  Lee Valley Tools has made this easier for you to do with their kitchen compost pails, which come in different sizes. Each one includes an activated charcoal filter to absorb odours and will fit nicely on your countertop, inside a cupboard door or in a little corner of your kitchen.

Kitchen Compost Pails $ 18.50 - Lee Valley Tools

If you're like me and like to have everything in your life super organized from the kitchen, to your desk, to your CD's, DVD's, books etc., you might be a fan of lists.  I've been meaning to get my CD's and books organized for years and the time has finally come.  Being keen on making lists, I plan on keeping a notebook and having all my lists in one book.  You can get great notebooks from Hilroy that are not only made in Canada, but also have subject separators built right in, to make it simpler to list everything into categories.  So, now, I'll finally have a list of all my CD's and the books in my bookshelf and be able to avoid getting doubles as well as being able to track the items I lend out.

5-subject notebook - Hilroy

It doesn't take much to be organized, you just need a little bit of time to get started. Once you've got the basics down, it's just a question of keeping at it and staying organized to avoid having chaos and clutter overwhelm you.

How about you, how will you get organized this year?

By Annie Curran

Like a programmed robot, (the good kind, not the scary kind), my mind always turns to back-to-school supplies in September. New pens and pencils, pencil cases, markers, notebooks, binders.....the hairs on my arms raise in anticipation at the thought!

Although its disturbing to see Hallowe'en decorations out in August, the site of fresh office supplies, book bags and cool new gizmos always lifts my spirits! And hey, I still use "back-to-school" supplies, everyday, in one way or another. I bet you do, too! Several of our Buy Canadian First members make it easy and environmentally friendly to get great back-to-school stuff!

A Hilroy notebook sits on the arm of the couch next to me, acting as a rough journal for an online art class that I am taking. A Hilroy binder keeps my class print-outs neat and orderly. Hilroy, by the way, has a cool programme going on, geared at school children and teachers, called "Spread the Word" . It focuses on introducing important environmental issues and sustainable living. Parents and other interested people can participate as well, of course, and there are lots of things to print out and do with your family and friends.

Ecojot® is another company that has wonderful back-to-school supplies and is concerned with the environment. Their  beautiful range of Canadian made, 100% post-consumer recycled paper products are earth friendly and people friendly too!

• They use acid-free, processed chlorine-free paper & board.
• All inks & glues are vegetable-based, and bio-degradable.
• No new trees are used to make paper & the paper mill is powered by bio-gas harnessed from a nearby landfill.
• All protective packaging is corn-based.
• As much as possible, locally made, raw material is used.

Ecojot supports Evergreen and contributes a monthly portion of sales to this great cause.

 Here's a great pouch to keep your pencils in and get motivation from!  This pouch is produced in Canada by Cha Cha! It's made of vegetable tanned leather, then screen-printed by hand. Zippy and inspiring! I want to put my new markers in it!

Are back-to-school items just for the kids or do you get excited about them too?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members.

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

Are you a student? Have you ever thought of taking a volunteer vacation? This may be just what you are searching for!

Me to We is an organization which works with youth to help promote change by action. Schools can register their students, thus giving them the opportunity to help such organizations as Free the Children and travelling abroad to places like Kenya, Africa, to build schools, dig wells for fresh water, plant trees and more.

We Day was recently hosted in Vancouver on September 29, 2009, and now We Day Toronto has moved to the Air Canada Centre for Monday, October 5, 2009. Registration for tickets is closed, however, you can still catch a LIVE webcast on Monday, from 09:00 to 14:30 EST at ctv.ca/weday. We Day Hamilton will return to Hamilton Place, for the second year in a row, on November 5, 2009. This unique event is a celebration of the power to change the world, and is always attended by inspirational speakers and performers. At We Day Vancouver, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to the 16,000 students who filled GM Place. Every one of the attendees at a We Day event is committed to help make the world better.

If you are attending university and wondering what you should do during the next summer break, wonder no more. Me to We Trips will offer you something unique, something that will impact your life. You will be able to apply knowledge you have learned during your school year to real life applications.

 Embark on a trip to a place like Kenya, Africa, and:

• help build a school so children can have a place to learn
• work at providing clean, safe drinking water for the communities
• learn about the traditional culture of another land
• participate in hands-on workshops to learn about issues in Africa

That is only the beginning. While there, you also get to experience and be awed by the natural environment around you. Spend evenings under starry skies and days taking a safari to see the wildlife — lions, zebra, wildebeest — living on the vast savannah. This will definitely be a trip filled with memories which will last a lifetime.

If you plan to embark on such a volunteer vacation, you will need to bring quite a few items. You can purchase great and meaningful apparel directly from the Me to We Style online store where fifty percent of all the proceeds will go to the Free the Children organization (and you'll be happy to know that everything is made-in-Canada too).

And be sure to check out some of the items we have here through Buy Canadian First members.

• First of all, a strong backpack will come in handy to carry your personal items. Check out the medium backpack from Fort McPherson Tent & Canvas.
• You then have to consider that you will be working and walking a lot, thus a good pair of work gloves and well-fitting hiking boots are also a must.
• The sun is stronger in Africa, and many of the places to which you would travel, than it is here, so a supply of good Lip Balm will also be important. Try the Honey Trap Lip Balms by Lush. We also really like the idea behind their Charity Pot Body Lotion. Lush selects different non-profit organization and to which they donate all the proceeds of their sales to. Lush hand-makes their products in Ontario and British-Columbia to ensure quality, they source their ingredients ethically from around the world and they generously give proceeds to charities, so you can help a cause each time you buy their products.

• Since the work you will be doing will require that you can move freely and efficiently, you will need to have a good pair of pants, such as the Sport Fit Pant by Respecterre, which will allow you the flexibility you need.

• Lastly, organic cotton clothing, such as those made by Attraction in their facilities at Lac Drolet, Quebec, will help show your commitment to the environment and the betterment of the world, as well as, wearing something which will breathe while you work.

Go out and try something new, join the cause, learn while helping others and exploring the world and realize what impact you can have on those around you.

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons Stevie Withers, Flickr Creative Commons Greg Westfall, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

Ah, sweet summertime, children running about all day playing in the sprinklers, skipping rope in the front street, street hockey in the back lane... what? What do you mean whose children am I talking about? Is the scene in your house more like a bunch of sloths sprawled across your floors and sofas, loafing around watching TV and playing video games? As a child I was playing outside in my neighbourhood rather than watching television or playing my Atari (!) system. Perhaps it is the 24/7 availability of children's programming, state of the art game systems, mind blowing graphics, busy parents, lazy parents, safety issues and whatever else but kids are less active these days and it shows with a growing rate of obesity and diabetes in children. In fact type 2 diabetes was once considered an illness for the aging is now affecting children and young adults at an alarming rate, see some statistics and information here.  

Here are some great items that are also made in Canada that will get the kids and their parents playing, creating and having fun!

• Test your slow pitch arm with Pro-Am Sand Bag Game from Buy Canadian First member Bojeux
• Boogie all day long with Bobs and Lolo available from member Organically Hatched
• Hone your putting skills or your slap shot with great products from our member DOM Sports
• Gather all the kids and have a neighborhood baseball game using Combat Youth Baseball Bat - B2YB  from member Combat Sports.

For more fantastic summer ideas be sure to check out these creative and talented Canadian bloggers too:

Outdoor Activities 

• How to play hopscotch by  Quiet Fish
• Butterfly Feeder by Our Big Earth
• Can Stilts from Hudsonny

In the Kitchen

• Rhubarb Juice Concentrate from Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash
• Popcorn Ball from FiveForty  
• Perfect Lemonade from Canadian Parent

Arts and Craft

• Stenciled T-Shirts from RikRak
• Secret Fold Note Book from My Hand Bound Books
• Cornstarch Clay Activity from High On craft

There is no excuse Canada to not get kids and grown-ups in motion! Be sure to inquire into the summer activities at your local community centers, parks and pools. Seek adventure and have fun!

PS: In case you still run out of ideas here are hundreds more from author, illustrator and guerilla artist Keri Smith 

Planning that special day is one of the most exciting times in a bride-to-be's life.  As a bride, we all want that day to be perfect and exactly how we have envisioned it. There are lots of things to think about when it comes to planning a wedding - from the dress to the rings to the honeymoon and everything in between.  In this post, I hope to share a few ideas to help the brides of 2009 plan their special day.

 

Bridal shows are a great place to start your planning. They feature many local products and services to help make your day complete. The My Canadian Wedding website is a great resource. From their bridal shows page, you can link to all available bridal shows by province. How neat! You can also find information about local bridal shows in local newspapers and wedding supply shops. 

If you are overwhelmed by all of the information you can obtain at a bridal show (and it can be overwhelming) a wedding planner can be a very wise investment. A list of local wedding planners can be found at a bridal show in your city.  Your telephone directory should also have information on wedding planners.  Just look in the yellow pages under wedding planning.

Finding that perfect dress can be a daunting experience. Many women have an idea of what they are looking for and once they see "the dress" the decision is easily made. The My Canadian Wedding website also has a list of wedding vendors by province.

Once the dress is purchased, rings will need to be purchased as well.  I previously wrote an article here about Canadian jewelry and diamonds.  When purchasing your rings, ask the jeweller for Canadian-made. You won't regret it.

The honeymoon is a wonderful way for the new couple to celebrate their union.  There are many places right here in Canada that would make a great honeymoon getaway.  From romantic getaways such as Niagara Falls to rugged getaways in the Rocky Mountains, choosing to honeymoon in Canada is a wonderful choice. There are many great attractions to accommodate all tastes. The Canadian Tourism department website is fantastic.  It breaks down travel within Canada into groups based on your travel tastes. Why not spend your honeymoon here in Canada and see what this great country has to offer?

I wish you the best of luck planning your special day and Congratulations!

Image source: Flickr-Creative Commons, The Shopping Channel