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DWR is now carrying this cool line of rubber vessels made of recycled tires.  Use the indestructable Rubber Tubs as outdoor planters and the handled Rubber Tote for anything from kids’ toys, firewood, or an extra place to stash cold bevvies at a party. I first saw these chic tubs at a design shop in a small town in Sweden 2 years ago. Their eco-appeal almost convinced me to try to get some on the plane with me but my love of traveling light won the day. I am glad to know that I can now get them in time to pimp my summer garden.

Photos: dwr.com

I mentioned in a previous post that I was in love with the Korres line of natural beauty products and cosmetics. At the time I had purchased my Cherry Full Color Gloss from their retail location in London, England. However, I wanted to let you know that Sephora is now exclusively carrying their full line of makeup. I think I will try their nude shade of gloss for summer and perhaps the Lip Butter in Pomegranate for those windy days when gloss becomes a hair hazard. And while you are online, check out their wide array of Eyeshadow colours in both shimmering and matte finishes - try the shimmering pink and golden green shades this Spring.

The other beauty update I have is on mark. by Avon. I personally don’t usually think of Avon when shopping for cosmetics but their mark. line is on trend and has some very reasonable prices and waste-conscious packaging. If you read my beauty picks, I am a big fan of the all-over colour stick and their Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint is the perfect thing to throw into your tote - at $6, why not try a few colours? Save space in your cosmetic case and the landfill with the mark. Hook Up or Pop In Colour systems for gloss, eyeliner and shadow. Aside from makeup, mark. also does a small range of apparel and accessories. Check out this cute Get Set Eyelet Dress for for $35, a great basic for this time of year when you aren’t sure if you should be wearing your boots or your wedges.

Photos: Sephora, Avon

A new eco-boutique has hit Toronto and now offers online shopping too. green is black is a family and friend venture that attempts to achieve zero footprint while also adorning themselves with sustainable, hip, soft, and beautiful body-celebrating clothing, shoes and accessories. Some people equate eco-friendly clothing with shapeless, colourless sacks. The reality is that there are now many eco designers that create amazing clothing that has little impact on our earth. Check out these achingly trendy indigo high-waisted Del Forte Willow Jeans. If you are going to buy designer jeans in Canada, the $185 price tag on these is definitely well within the normal range of what you would pay. The Beau Criss Cross dress has high-fashion detail and falls into a flattering a-line shape in 100% organic cotton.

They carry the jack&marjorie line of handbags; the madeline, shown above, is a steal at $80. I have seen many of their designs up close and they are really well made with amazing details. Finally, I must admit, it is difficult to find earth-friendly shoes that make an outfit…until now. Check out the bellini by Charmone. Vegan and sweatshop free, they aren’t environmentally perfect but they sure would look great with those high-waisted Del Forte jeans this Spring. The site is simple and has a decent online selection and variety of designers. It has some room for improvement so for that: 4 stars.

Photos: green is black

Since this will be my last post for a few days I thought I would share with you some of the preparations we have been doing at my house for the arrival of our twin boys. I am trying to make everything as eco-friendly and natural as possible since (a) I am responsible for the health and well-being of these little guys and (b) because there are so many ‘new’ things to bring into the house that making the ethical and healthy choice is relatively easy. First, we chose Canadian-made cribs that use non-toxic stains and lacquers from Sweden. We struggled over the choice between used vs. new but since babies can and do gnaw on cribs we felt more comfortable with the non-toxic route. We bought ours at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards in Toronto but they don’t yet sell online.  I did however find lots of great organic cotton and bamboo sources for bedding and bath based in Canada. At Zia and Tia in Montreal I found luxuriously soft, chemical-free bamboo washcloths and plush hooded towels from Bamboosa to keep those little noggins dry and warm. The bamboo prices seem to be more reasonable than organic cotton alternatives at $12 for a pack of 5 washcloths and $28 for a hooded towel. They offer a decent selection of other baby items and I couldn’t resist these adorable little organic cotton hats with very cute embroidered patches in 11 different designs.

I also had good luck at Mom Knows Best where I found Organic Crib Mattresses on sale (bonus) and Organic Wool Moisture Pad Protectors. I did the research and they definitely had the best prices on these products by quite a large margin. I also ordered some flannel Coyuchi fitted crib sheets and organic Egyptian cotton swaddle blankets that I am happy to report are super fine, soft and perfect for a newborn’s delicate skin. It is sometimes difficult to purchase these kinds of products online since it is such an experiential thing when you touch the fabric. I hope my notes have helped you feel a bit more confident ordering because it really saves a lot of time when you don’t have to visit every baby store in your city. I also wanted to let you know that Mom Knows Best carries the Born Free line of BPA-free bottles - definitely something you want to consider with all of the research on leaching plastics. They now carry the organic cotton clothing line Speesees too, very simple but very cute. Well, I am off to enjoy a few work-free days with the family and I hope you are doing the same. Happy Holidays!

Photos: retailers mentioned above

When I first visited Goneshopping.ca I thought that yes, they had some interesting products but there wasn’t anything that was really enticing me to browse around. Yet as I looked for gift sources this week I came to realize that the deeper you dig, the more interesting girly solutions you find. It is a great resource for hard-to-find lifestyle products including beauty, home and fashion items that make great gifts or treats for yourself when you need that little pick-me-up. There are a few items that made my shopping list (I can’t say who because they might be reading).

The first must-have item is Kiss Me Mascara. Do you hate wearing mascara because of the difficult clean-up, messy smearing and eye-irritating qualities? I do. Well, this mascara is different because it puts little tubes around your eyelashes to thicken them instead of just painting them. No clumping and comes off with no residue. Sounds like a dream product especially for a gift since at $30, it might not be something you buy for yourself until you really know it works.

The next product is the Nearly Nude Extra Low Tank. A slimming tank to wear under low cut tops and extra long to smooth out any lumps you may have. Some could even get away with wearing it without a bra - yippee. The last product I am going to mention is the Foot Petals Sole Stopperz. Again, another great girly solution for those slippery pumps and boots. Whether it’s on an icy night out or a greasy bar floor, these are much cheaper than taking every pair of shoes to the shoemaker to add that extra grip on your soles. With many more gifts and solutions for kids, men and even the eco-conscious, Goneshopping.ca is a good go-to site for the perfect prezzie. Free shipping for orders over $79 and returns however the site could be better organized, I find that some of the categories are a bit confusing and you really have to dig to turn up the most interesting products: 4 stars.

Photos: Goneshopping.ca

I am happy to report that Bare Escentuals (available to Canadian shoppers on Sephora), the 100% pure minerals, preservative-, talc-, dye-, oil- and chemical-free line of cosmetics from San Francisco is really heating up their fashion element and adding eye kits, diamond-infused makeup and ‘Sex Pot’ Eye Glimmers to their makeup mix. It’s not just a skin system anymore, you can replace your entire cosmetic bag with all-natural pigments and products. The Guilty Pleasures Eye Kit is a great place to start with 9 perfect mini-colours, at US$48. A little goes a long way.

I recommend the combination of Bon Bon + Gold Dipped or Sugar Plum + Champagne for the perfect evening eye. Finish with a swipe of their lip gloss in Wearable Nude for the former eye combination and Rose Radiance for the latter and a natural blush. I actually look forward to wearing this makeup. Now find me a mascara that disappears with the snap of my fingers at the end of the day - just dreaming…

Photos: Sephora

Ottawa e-shop Lilou Organics has a wide variety of high-quality, all natural body and beauty products from which to choose. I have mentioned them a few times before for individual products that I liked but I thought it was time for a review now that the holidays are approaching and you no doubt have some treehuggers on your list. In my opinion, the best lines they carry in terms of depth of choice and effectiveness are Dr.Hauschka, Suki and Juice Beauty. European line Dr.Hauschka has been around for years and can be found in many a celebrity’s daily beauty regime. With subtle scents like Rose and Quince, they offer complete facial or body beauty care along with a good selection of cosmetics to complete the look. 

Juice Beauty, from California, is a line of organic facial care with an organic juice base formula rich in potent antioxidants and vitamins. I have used their products with success although I have learned my lesson that with natural beauty products, don’t try to combine too many steps into one, for example, your SPF goes on separately from your facial moisturizer. Oh, and I wasn’t too impressed with their tinted lip balm either - their strength lies in their facial care products. Finally, Suki offers rich, organic products for face, body and cosmetics. Afraid of committing to a new brand? Try one of their mini care kits to test out what products work for you. The site is very well-designed, provides returns and a selection of reasonably-priced gift wrap and cards. They have products for women, men, teens and babies so you will definitely cross someone off of your list here: 5 stars.

Photos: Lilou Organics

Do you get a little concerned about the strong odours emanating from your nail polish? Well you should. Many ingredients in a typical nail polish are very toxic. There are a few brands of ‘healthier option’ nail polishes out there but Frilly Lilly’s new line has a wide range of hip hues that are all free of DBP (dibutyl phthalate - linked to cancer in lab animals), Toluene (considered an unclassifiable carcinogen by the WHO) and Formaldehyde (can cause flu-, asthma- and allergy-like symptoms). Really, you should consider making the switch if you are an avid polisher - although there is more potential for harm from inhalation rather than from absorption by your body by having the polish on your nails. Check it out girls - one coat of Respectable on your fingernails for a feminine but simple manicured look…2 coats of Racy for the vixen in you…finish off with Charismatic on your toes, just because. Buy it for your friends this Holiday Season and let them know how their favourite name brand polishes (including OPI) aren’t as sexy looking as they thought. Don’t polish your own digits? Just bring it along to the salon.

Photos: Frilly Lilly

As you may or may not know, violet is a big colour this Fall. A lot of people are afraid of purple for some reason - I believe it has something to do with the childhood trauma caused by a giant purple dinosaur called Barney. In reality, I think you just have to know what shade looks best on you. I have discovered that a more rasberry purple looks best on me but lavender or primary purple? Forget about it. Since the weather is still fairly warm and you have the chance to show off some toe at night, try a little purple on your toenails. A friend of mine had the best dark aubergine polish put on a few weeks back and it looked tres sexy without looking goth. Her aesthitician even accented her big toes with the tiniest crystal stud to make it that much more special. I know what you are thinking, jewels on the nails are typically tacky…trust me, these ones, being so tiny, looked more sweet than street. However, you have to make sure that your nails are kept short and groomed.

I searched for the best likeness and came up with OPI’s new Deliciously Dark and Russian Collections. The options all sound very sultry: Lincoln Park At Midnight, Lincoln Park After Dark, Midnight in Moscow, Siberian Nights. Even if you have already moved to socks and boots, it is still fun to know that your little pigs are looking glam underneath all of those layers. OPI is available at Spaboutique.ca for CD$11. Finally for the more natural nail-painter, vegan line SpaRitual has a lacquer called ‘I Feel The Earth Move‘ available online at Fred Segal Beauty for US$10. Anybody up for purple now?

Photos: Spaboutique.ca, Fred Segal Beauty, Flickr

I am going to write about a website that has recently stopped allowing Canadians to order online only because (a) Canadians can still browse online and submit their order over the phone and (b) it is difficult to find reasonably priced wool area rugs that don’t smell like a factory and this is one alternative. Flor manufactures and sells eco-friendly square carpet tiles in a variety of colourways and textures to carpet your home or create interesting and inexpensive area rugs. Just look at all of the options in the pictures for every room of the house. A soft and natural tone tile for getting out of the tub and something spicy for the kitchen shown above.

Shaggy neutrals to tonal oranges in the living room. You can easily replace single tiles if you have a spill. 

And finally something more durable but still pretty for high traffic areas like the family bathroom or laundry room. They run approximately $300 to $600 for an 8′ x 10′ area rug and samples are available for colour matching.

Photos: Flor