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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.

When I am not writing for Buy Canadian First, I moonlight as an early childhood educator. I have seen all kinds of breakfasts, lunches and snacks come out of lunch boxes, and fortunately, most have been 'fantabulicious'. Don't get me wrong, we're not perfect in my house. Every now and again we nibble guiltlessly on our favourites, chocolate, ice cream, bacon, perogies and onion rings, along with our whole grains and veggies.

Proper nutrition all through the year is so critical to infants and children in all stages of development. Children who are well nourished have been shown to have improved memory, problem-solving skills and creative abilities - overall, they perform better in school. In Canada, though, 31% of our elementary kids and 65% of our high schoolers, are not eating breakfast (for more info read my last year's post on the Breakfast for Learning program). By the time lunch arrives, these children haven't eaten anything for at least 12 to 16 hours!!! As a parent of 3, I know how nutty mornings can be, but we never leave the house without breakfasts in our bellies or breakfast on the go.

Breakfast can be next to impossible with cranky, sleepy-eyed cuties causing riots and rebellion in the critical last few minutes before everyone is late. Sometimes, it's just better to take breakfast-to-go, whether to be eaten in transit or at your daycare provider's place. It eases the stress of the morning routine and may also be more agreeable to your children's natural waking rhythms. Here are some fabulous breakfast recipes you can prepare ahead of time for quick, nutritious and easy morning fare.

Breakfast pizza: Use either a homemade or bought 12 inch pizza crust (Calgarians  should check out out our member Engel's Bakeries for their fresh pizza crust  and baked goods). This bacon and egg pizza recipe looks fabulous from Canadian Living, and you can mix and match your ingredients. Like any other pizza this heats up great in the microwave to grab on the way out the door.

 

 

Oatmeal - In the winter we love eating oatmeal. I will make a crock pot full oats and divide them into single serve containers for breakfasts and snacks either at home or at the daycare. To serve four, your measurments are usually 1 cup steel cut oats to 4 1/2 cups water, a dash of salt and a dab of butter. In my house we triple the recipe. Place all your ingredients in a crock pot and let it cook over night on low for 6-8 hours. That first cold morning when you wake up to hot oats is divine! I've added dried fruit as well as fruit juice and milk along with the water during the cooking process. My next overnight crock pot adventure will be to make a multigrain hot cereal and our members New Life Organic Foods have an impressive selection of Cracked organic grain and mixed cereals to choose from.

Homemade pancakes and waffles - (No, I am not joking). Pancakes and waffles are awesome and can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and popped into the toaster for a quick breakfast. In my house, homemade toaster pancakes and waffles save us a bundle in money by not having to buy bread. I also scored my waffle iron at a rummage sale for $3.00! Once toasted, serve waffles in strips with apple sauce for dipping and a sippy cup of milk. I am all over this recipe from recipeshare.ca this weekend: Make-ahead whole-wheat blueberry pancakes. Buy Canadian First Member, Shoal Lake Wild Rice, has an awesome pancake and waffle mix made with wild rice flour in their Zizania line of products.

Breakfast can be awesome even when mornings are not. A little preparation and thought it all it takes to carry your kids through a successful morning. Watch for part 2 for some great lunch tips and ideas.

What are your favourite breakfast recipes and tricks?

The last time I was in Winnipeg was 16 years ago. I was backpacking alone across this great country of ours by train, stopping in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Sault Ste Marie, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper, Kamloops and Vancouver, staying in youth hostels along the way. At the time (I was about to turn 19) this was something I felt I had to do before I started travelling to foreign countries. I only spent 3 days in Winnipeg but have great memories of this fun and historically rich city.

So obviously you could understand why I was excited to get a call from the producer at BT Winnipeg inviting Buy Canadian First to be on their show... and I'm thrilled to say that my second time out to Winnipeg was equally fun. I stayed at the Inn at the Forks. Primarily because of location as the CityTV studio is litterally around the corner from the hotel, but boy what a gorgeous boutique hotel!

Once there (at 7:00AM Wednesday morning), I was welcomed by the security guard and then the set director who gave me the 411 on how things were going to happen. He was really helpful and also very curious about what Buy Canadian First was about. As I crossed the set, while the BT crew was on a commercial break, Pay Chen, producer and co-host, recognized me. "Hi Melissa!" she yelled and waved. So nice... I set everything up for our first segment that I would be doing with Pay. Jon Ljungberg, her co-host, came by to chat with me and to talk about the wine we were going to feature (huge fan of Canadian wines)... The crew was also very inquisitive about the products and even gave me a few leads on Manitoban-made products they knew of (thanks guys!). I had a bit of time left to run through the layout with Pay and then we went live!   

Segment 1: Spring Cleaning for the Mind, Body & Soul. These are the companies we featured:

The Garlic Box, Ontario (official website)

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

As skies begin to darken and the lights are low, you stand outside in the approaching darkness and look around... the silence broken only by the rustling of dead leaves on gnarly tree branches...

 

Dark clouds, like long bony fingers, reach across the nearly full moon shining overhead, and your senses become heightened by eerie spirits and a touch of magic in the air... Hallowe'en is upon us once again.

The term Hallowe'en, now often spelled Halloween, is shortened from All Hallows' Eve (eve being an abbreviation of even, an older word for evening.) The "e'en" in Hallowe'en comes from "even" shortened to e'en, from the Old English term meaning "All Hallows' Evening".

 

The history of the celebrations are long and times have changed from when we would put an old bed sheet over our heads, grab a pillowcase or strong plastic bag and rush out to try to get as many candies as possible. Nowadays it has become a big celebration, filled with parties and theme events for children, adults and dogs alike. Hallowe'en activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, reading scary stories, cornfield mazes, carving pumpkins, watching horror films — just to name a few.

A few tips on how to have a ghoulish good time for Hallowe'en:
Kids of all ages will still want to dress up so take a gander at the selection of costumes from Creative Education Canada. Since it may be chilly in some parts of the country, you  may want to pick up some of these adorable Winter Kitty Hats, add a tail and... Voilà ! your children have been transformed into one of the best known animals of the holiday.

 

Should you decide to dress up your dog, take care to ensure that the costumes do not have any small parts on which they can choke. Oh, and try to remember your dog's dignity, as they do have sensitive egos.

Treats will be a must for any get together. Check out the variety of goodies from Original Foods or, for a nice Canadian twist to the regular lollipops, try this sweet Maple Flavoured Sucker from Jakeman's. For Potato Chips, I suggest these 100% Canadian Hardbite Chips by Naturally Homegrown Foods, from British Columbia.

 

 They come in a variety of flavours, such as

• All Natural
• Smokin BBQ
• Chedder & Onion
• Salt & Vinegar
• Jalapeno
• Wild Onion & Yoghurt
• Creamy Coconut and Curry Oriental
• Honey Dijon

and even as sticks instead of chips, in Smokin and Jalapeno flavours. Not only are they 100% Canadian, but they are healthy as well. They can be found at many Health Food Stores across the country.

Another great Canadian company who manufactures tasty products such as Nougat Bars, Jelly Beans, Pal O Mine Bars, Bagged Candy and much much more is the Ganong Company, from Saint Stephen, New Brunswick.

 

What is even better is that Ganong contributes a portion of the proceeds of all their products marked with a pink ribbon to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Something which makes every bite just so much sweeter.

 

I have seen many reusable eco-bags at local grocery stores with Hallowe'en themes, which can be used instead of the usual plastic bags should you go trick-or-treating. 

How about some homemade delights? Chef Michael Smith, a well known Canadian chef who encourages the use of local produce in his recipes, has some wonderful Hallowe'en treats:

• Devil’s Food Cupcake Ice Cream Cones
• Ghoulish Hallowe'en Punch
• Roast Eight Winged Bat

More fun recipes:

 

Witches Brooms
Ingredients
String cheese
Licorice strips
Pretzel sticks

Directions
Shred apart pieces of string cheese in long strips. Take a pretzel stick, and pressing the cheese strips around the end of the stick, tie a piece of string licorice around it, creating a sweep for the broom. Press the licorice and cheese firmly to the pretzel to secure. Continue with remaining pretzels. 

 

Hallowe'en Magic Wands
Ingredients
Pretzel Sticks
Chocolate (melted)
Granular Sugar

Directions
Take the pretzel sticks and dip them into the melted chocolate. Roll the chocolate end in the sugar sprinkles to make the glitter. Continue with remaining pretzels.

Be creative, have fun!

 

Tim Horton's  has Pumpkin Spiced Donuts as well. You can pick up a dozen for the party, or have one with your Pumpkin Spice Muffin and specialty Pumpkin Spice Tea each day until the weekend.  Either way, a great way to get your taste buds started toward all the other goodies.

Note: If you would like your dog to share in any Hallowe'en treats, please only give them small pieces of fresh apples and some mashed pumpkin. Sugar and chocolate is toxic for pooches. If you feel like baking special treats, Dogs in Canada magazine has a delicious looking Pumpkin Brownie recipe (without chocolate, of course). 

Tarot is another interesting activity to have at your party, either to perform readings or for meditation. The Spiritual Light Tarot by Canadian Marcia Masino is worth exploring. The artwork is inspiring and has the essence of the Aurora Borealis. Marcia Masino is the author of two best selling Tarot books: Easy Tarot Guide and Best Tarot Practices, available through Chapters Indigo and has designed two Tarot Decks.

No Hallowe'en would be complete without mentioning one of the many Haunted Tours across the country.  Here are some tours you can check out in Ontario and Quebec:

• Haunted Walk Tours
• Muddy York Tours
• Ghost Tours of Quebec
  

Find one in your local area or make a trip out of it. Hallowe'en tours are on now until October 31.

Now gather around the bonfire and look out for the Ghosts and Spirits all around us — can you sense them? Happy Hallowe'en! 

Image Sources: Flickr Creative Commons, John Morgan, Andy Hay, Allen Dale Thompson, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Homegrown Foods, Ganong, Flicker Creative Commons, Tara Alton, Tim Horton's

Each year, thousands of Canadians are touched by breast cancer. It not only impacts the individuals living with the disease, but their families, friends and loved ones as well.  

These words are quoted from the member profile of Buy Canadian First member Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It is hard not to be affected by breast cancer in one way or another and even men are not immune to this.

What is Breast Cancer?
If cancer is first found in the breast it is called breast cancer. There are various types of breast cancer and the region runs from the breast to the collarbone and from the armpit to the breast bone.

Cancer is a disease that strikes at a cellular level. Our bodies are made of up of cells that each contain our DNA which stores genetic information and the function of the cell. The DNA usually controls the function, growth and reproduction of a cell unless it is changed. Then the cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner. This cell growth becomes a lump and has two outcomes: They are benign (non-cancerous) and not life threatening,  or they begin to invade neighboring healthy cells and are thus called malignant. This condition is cancer. The process known as metastasis is when cancerous cells break free and spread to other parts of the body creating new malignant cell growths.

 

Be Breast Aware
The breasts change through life and being breast aware means that you are aware of how your breasts normally look and feel. This way if something does seem different you will (hopefully) notice them early.  Keep in mind that a change to the breast does not mean breast cancer, it could be a benign condition the key is to know what to look for and to discover malignant growth early. All women  of any age need to be aware. Become Breast Aware with these 5 simple steps.

 

All the Ways to Help.
Donating to the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation can be done as a single, monthly or tribute donation online, by email,  over the phone, fax or post.You could give through a personal giving or get your company involved. You could also donate to one of the many run participants of the CIBC run for the cure.

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Your dog was skunked? No problem! Read our recent post entitled Tackling Aromatic Encounters - Preparation for information on how to make a home remedy to combat this problem, roll up your sleeves and get ready for the fun part! Oh and don’t forget those all important items of lavender, hops and herbs.

The bath and beyond
After mixing up the ingredients previously recommended (recap: Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and dishwashing liquid)

 

pour the solution over your dog, often using sponges will help in the process, and massage well into the fur. Make sure none of the bath water gets into your dog's eyes or face as it is a very strong irritant. Gently wash the face by using a paper towel and soft strokes, ensuring to keep it out of the eyes and mouth. Also Hydrogen Peroxide should not be digested internally, so no drinking out of the tub! Leave the solution on the dog's fur for about five minutes and then rinse well. Pour the water out and make a new solution and repeat the entire process.

 

Optional: Many people use vinegar for the first rinse, then clear water, then do the second washing and then they repeat again. If you are using white vinegar, it is best to dilute it with water to minimize skin irritation. Apple cider vinegar is a good alternate solution as it has some medicinal properties and helps the fur.

If your dog was sprayed directly in the face, make a thorough inspection of the eyes, call your veterinarian if at all possible, and rinse her eyes with a natural saline eye drops or artificial tears. You may want to use some drops for yourself to ease the effect on your eyes from the strong skunk vapours. The spray from the skunk is extremely irritating and can also cause some nausea.

Dry the dog off with some eco-friendly paper towels and old towels (it is best to not to use your best bath towels for this). Dispose of any items which are unsalvageable in bio-degradable bags.

After you get the smell out, it is a good idea to use natural Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo to revitalize the skin and fur. Your dog's fur may bleach from the solution and may shed more for about a month until it recovers, however, the wonderful aroma should be eliminated. Any lingering scent may come from the dog’s face but it will dissipate.

Lavender, Hops and Herbs

 

Now you are probably wondering where the lavender, hops and herbs come in? After such a wonderful ordeal, you will no doubt need to calm your nerves. Lavender oil is a great essential oil which calms the skin and nerves, for men, women and dogs. You can mix some up in water or try member's Tuscan Farm Gardens product Lavender Body Spray and spray it on the dog's bed and on yourself. Even better, use the spray for the dog and take a bath using their  Lavender Milk Bath, so you can relax and regain a sense of well-being while allowing the sodium bicarbonate to soothe your skin.

 

The solution is strong and although you should be wearing gloves, some solution may make it's way into your gloves and could roughen up your hands. If so, don't worry. You can get the care you need, all the while also supporting made-in-Canada brands: Buy Canadian First has members who manufacture and sell some pretty great hand and body lotions: Upper Canada Soap has an amazing hand care collection called All About Hands. Through our retailer Well.ca, try Ella's Botanicals Yummy Almond Hand and Body Lotion. You can also check out Canus Goat's Milk product Canus Goat's Milk Moisturizing Lotion with Shea Butter or Mont-Echo Naturels, Inc. product purSea Hand Lotion.

 

Afterwards, have a fine relaxing herbal tea, such as member Nature Bella's product Algonquin peace tea by Mother Earth herbal teas.

If you feel you need something stronger, hops is also a great herb for relaxation (seriously). You can buy some in bulk at your local health food store. Or perhaps a nice bottle of beer from one of our local microbreweries may fair you well. A Boréale perhaps? The Quebec-owned microbrewery, Les Brasseurs du Nord, have six ale-type beers with a lot of character to help you chill. Or maybe a choice selection from la microbrasserie Unibroue, such as a Maudite or Fin du Monde, since no doubt you thought it was the end of the world until you were completely free of that smell!

Source: Flickr Creative Commons, Oakley Originals, Flickr Creative Commons, Selma Broeder, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Nature-Bella.com

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Even with the best intentions of preventing such an encounter, unexpected things can unfortunately happen — especially when you own a curious pooch — and your greatest fears may be realized:

You or your dog, or worse, both of you met a skunk!

Don’t panic. Just remember to be prepared and to know of a simple home remedy for that lovely aroma these creatures leave behind on our dogs and ourselves.

To recover, you will need the following:

• One skunked dog
• Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution: You may want to  have two bottles of Canadian-made Résérvé Hydrogen peroxide 10 Volume 450ml, manufactured by Groupe Pharmessor in Boucherville, Quebec, in the house as a topical antiseptic for minor wounds and skunk emergencies
• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda): Try Canadian made Eco-Pioneer Pure Baking Soda by Verve Naturals

• Dishwashing Liquid: Buy Canadian First member Attitude has amazing environmentally-friendly, biodegradable and non toxic dishwashing liquids, available in Grapefruit & Bergamot or Ylang Ylang & Lime. Any citric dishwashing will do, just make sure there is no tea tree oil in the product you choose as tea tree oil can be toxic to pets.

 

Other useful items:

• Rubber gloves & rubber boots: Try these Waterproof Rainboots available from Buy Canadian First member Rallye Footwear Inc.
• Vinegar: President's Choice The Natural Vinegar (white vinegar) can be used if diluted with water, or Apple Cider Vinegar. You can learn more about the Vinegar Market in Canada by reading articles on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada web site.
• Bio-degradable Plastic bags
• Paper towels: Buy Canadian First member, Cascades Inc. makes some wonderful products. Check out their Cascades Enviro 100% Recycled Paper Towels, which are made without new tree pulp
• Old Towels
• Toothpaste: Any brand will do, but you may want to check out Buy Canadian First member Green Beaver's natural toothpastes, such as the Green Beaver Green Apple Toothpaste

• Sponges: Try Buy Canadian First member Polyad Industries Ltd. various collections of sponges, such as the The O’Maré® Seahorse™ Sponge Collection - sponges which will pamper the skin and foam up with minimal soap, Equest® Sponge Collection - great for bathing horses or skunked dogs, or the SOAKER® Sponge Collection, all by SOAKER® Seahorse™
• Dog Shampoo: an oatmeal and aloe shampoo would be good to soothe the skin and help the coat
• Lavender, hops and herbs

 

The procedure
Step one - Preparation

First do not let the dog, or anyone who was sprayed, in the house or car. Then mix the following concoction together:

1 litre Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution
50 ml (1/4 cup) sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
5 ml (1 tsp) dishwashing liquid

But wait! What about the tomato juice, you ask? The best thing to do with tomato juice when it comes to skunks, is to pour it in a glass and drink it, or even better, get some Canadian invented Clamato Juice and Canadian vodka, like Polar Ice and mix yourself a Bloody Caesar, and take a sip. It may help in bracing yourself for the next step ;)

 

It is best to wear old clothes, rubber boots and especially rubber gloves so that you do not get the smell on your hands. If you should already have some from catching your dog, you can either put some toothpaste on your hands and rinse or wash them in the solution you just mixed together, then dry them with some eco-friendly paper towels, roll up your sleeves and put on your gloves.

Ready? Okay, now remember this important concoction and stay tuned, as in the next segment I will give tips on how to survive the actual bath!

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons, Oakley Originals, Attitude, labonneattitude.com, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Flickr Creative Commons, Kristen Taylor

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

One of the marvels of living in Canada, and occasionally its challenge, is how we live side by side with our wild neighbours. Our vast land from coast-to-coast-to-coast is the habitat for a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Summertime to early Autumn in Canada is often filled with many joyous and memorable adventures, however, probably its least appealing attribute is that it is also a great time to encounter a skunk.

 

Striped Skunks are found across the country and are well known by all Canadians, urban and rural alike, whether we live in the Maritimes to British Columbia or even Nunavut. There may be some of us who have never actually seen a live skunk, but it is doubtful anyone does not know the distinct scent that can travel up to a kilometre in the wind from its source.

In general, skunks are not aggressive creatures and would rather avoid people than confront them, something which can be used to our advantage.

Prevention is always the best method of avoiding the skunk's wonderful perfume. Lights and sounds can temporarily discourage them from moving in, however, they are rather persistent creatures and, thus, permanent measurements are required to keep them out. Always ensure you have no skunks in the areas you are sealing before you permanently close the opening.

As with any wild animal prevention, it is always advisable to make your home and land less appealing to them:

( ) Limit "ready made" dens by blocking openings with wood and metal screens, burying the screens at least 15-20 cm into the ground to discourage digging
( ) Keep your yard uncluttered
( ) Opt for secure garbage and compost bin that have tight lids
( ) Make pet food, water dishes and food scraps unavailable at night

If an unwanted visitor has entered any part of your home or sheds, leave the doors as wide open as possible to allow them easy access to exits. Give them wide berth, and do not try to chase them out or startle them and keep your pets away as well as you may end up being sprayed.

To properly skunk-proof your living area, besides the raw materials of lumber and metal screens, you may also require the following items:

 

( ) A pair of good work gloves (Try these Canadian Deer Grain Work Gloves from Buy Canadian First member Sterling Gloves Company Ltd.)
( ) A measuring tape and metal cutters
( ) A saw (also available from Buy Canadian First member Trail Blazer Products)
( ) Nails or Screws
( ) Hammer or Screwdriver (perhaps a Canadian invented Robertson screwdriver?)

 

( ) A shovel or gardening tools (try Trail Blazer Garden Tools)
( ) A new garbage can with lid & bags
( ) A compost with secure lid (you can check out the Envirocycle Composter by Envirolet compost bin which is manufactured and assembled in Canada and has a latching lid)

Now you should be equipped to properly deter and prevent skunks from becoming tenants — Happy skunk proofing!

Source: Flickr Creative Commons Kevin Collins, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Envirolet

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

The summer is coming to an end and all those days filled with free time spent at camp, summer jobs, or just lolly gagging in the sunshine are soon over, kiddo! The count down has begun just about 3 weeks left! As a kid, I spent the better part of my summers either at the lake with my grandparents or the farm with my aunt and uncle, so going back to school was always exciting. Going shopping for new clothes, sporting a cool new bag and seeing all my friends were the highlights of a new school year. I think that still applies today, so here is your back to school shopping guide, the made-in-Canada way. Before you read on make sure you check out our founder, Isabelle Remy, and her back to school spot on Canada AM.

Elementary school children need oodles of things for school, in fact the list can be daunting in both cost and patience, especially when teachers request a certain brand and colour of an item. Childhood is an adventure of fun and learning. Small responsibilities in a world of imagination, playtime and laughter.

• Send a homemade tasty lunch in this gorgeous Cotton Lunch Bag from Buy Canadian First member Eco-Handbags
  
• The Sharpest Pencil Earrings by the Tiny Fig of Vancouver
  
• Reuseable Sandwich Bags by Nana Brown of Red Deer
• New storytime books that are more age appropriate like these ones, written by famed children's book authors, available through Indigo's website.
  

 

The high schooler is an independent beast that is neither child nor adult but a little of both. Image is key as they invent and re-invent themselves. Looking great at school is just as important as getting the grades (even though you may not agree with their style) so finding the right mix between the current styles and individual preference sounds tough but if you know the kid, it's as easy as slamming a door.

• Owl Messenger Bag in Blue by Mehran of Vancouver  
  
• Super cute and eco-friendly Workbooks from Buy Canadian First member EcoJot
  
• Keep teen acne at bay with Green Beaver's Blemish Mousse, available from our member Well.ca
  
• Dixon Pink Pearl Erasers at Wallack's of Ottawa
• Book by Ann Douglas and her daughter Julie on body image and self-confidence entitled Body Talk: The Straight Facts (a must for any young girl)
  

 

The college student is forging forward with their aspirations and dreams, spending more time studying, working and partying, than sleeping. Besides a mattress filled with cold hard cash, our college student could use some great essentials as well as some wonderful functional luxuries. 

• Long Twilight Mittens in Charcoal Grey by Arly of Montreal
  
• Keep organized and connected with a Blackberry Smart phone by Buy Canadian First member Research in Motion
  
• A great bag is a must! Check out the NY Messenger in Jasper Leather from out member Roots Canada
  
• Keep thoughts and more in this gorgeous Zebra Rebound Journal by Prairie Peasant of Winnipeg
  

 

Happy shopping everyone and remember to Buy Canadian First when shopping for your back to school supplies.